Happy First Day Of Spring

Went back to childhood when we would do the New Years table like this.  The hyacinth was not in full bloom, indicating my lack of preplanning. :)  When I was a kid my real goldfish was put on the table, but, this time a Pepperidge Farm one substituted. Nowruz Mubarak!

 

Focus on the hole, not the pole

On a walk with friend, came upon a gate. From a distance, didn't know if there was a way around. One said "We can get under." The other said "No!" The one who said it could be done, did it. 

Legal and fun in result. Did end up leaving phone behind, which took about an hour or so of backtracking. Would do it again, perhaps with a better pocket check upon being upright again. 

"Focus on the hole, not the pole". A phrase that has stayed with me since I heard my brother say it to me when we were going fast (faster than I wanted) on a tandem through various metal poles on the path. It has stayed with me as thought process for projects and accomplishments...yes, still thinking of what you are doing, but seeking/fostering/creating opportunity. 

1928 Grocery Records

 

Great Grandma kept quite a record of her grocery shopping. The page below is for August of 1928.  She lived in California. Not sure how much cream you get for $.15, let alone how many eggs you got for $.70.  Smiled that eggplant was on the list. Can you imagine writing down every item you bought, then recording the price, and adding it all up in a record book like this? Jeepers. 

Bluey and a Sloth

 

Know someone who likes Bluey and sloths. Local chain store happened to have them across from each other in one aisle last month I took the opportunity to pair them, and then put hem in a setting that they might both enjoy. 

Thought maybe we could all start a game of finding stuff in a store and doing something along the lines of juxtaposition readjusted again. Not that Bluey and a sloth might not want to get together, but....

Snowman

Had a fantastic weekend celebrating a big birthday of my cousin. Lots of family branches around, many I hadn't seen in some time.   Took about four hours to get there, and eight hours to get back...this snowman might have a smerk on his face, just hiding it.  All worth it bud...hope I you float down the streams to my county some day.  

 

Project with Love...how it sticks

I had a casual card project going on, and had cut hearts in sets of five.  I was going to walk them upstairs, and found the wool of my sweater a fine resting spot. "Wear your heart on your sleeve" -- I wonder if that came up in a similar fashion ( I don't wonder enough to google it).  My wonder for today is why "fiery" isn't spelled "firey." (PS: I looked it up -- goes back to about year 1600...wonder why we haven't changed it). 

 

Dress and Jacket

 

Knit. Fabric construction made seam ripping a bit treacherous -- I had cut the sleeve curve and a few other fit points by eye, and I didn't do it right the first time. But, installed some innovative (😏) fixes, and it works ok. Laughed at myself for having such a cavalier approach to it all, in part because of the contrast to my Mom and Grandmother's finesse to doing sewing/stitching/handwork properly.  Grandma -- I remember when you pulled out all my knitted rows because I dropped a stitch way back 10 rows or so  -- I know you did it with a good heart so I could fix it --  but that experience has guided me proceed on some handwork with a less than perfect rendering -- I would rather do it, than do it perfectly. 

Birthday cake book -- for the "kid" who loves to read

 

Ok, this got a little sloppy, but concept there. Was running out of time, and the writing, in particular, took a hit with a incorrect handling of supply. Had cut out two pages of the story in gingerbread, but I didn't cut them small enough, so could only put one page on the open book cake version. Luckily, family is appreciative, even when it is dorky.  Made for my niece, who is an avid reader -- going back to one of the many books she was read as a child -- this one was the same actual book as her Dad had in his baby hands at her Grandmas house. 

Figure in the trunk, and up from the trunk

 

Smiles as I saw this shape in the trunk.  Was walking around a reservoir, so they took care to clear some of the forested areas...too bad the tree had to get chopped, but it continues to bring beauty.  Another tree, maybe that fell by itself, had a nice crop of offspring coming  up from its trunk. 

Waterfall in the redwoods by a hill named after a donkey

 

One of a few waterfalls on the walk this past weekend. Didn't see any salmon this time, but hopefully they were in the streams flourishing. 

Stir fry smile

It did it all by itself. Nice when life gives you stuff like that. 
 

The light comes through...

The light comes through...important to look at it. And act. Remember that K.
 

Fun adventures

Spiral aloe  (above) was one of the finds. Enjoyed the Nuns laughing and singing by the coast That is them way up on the rock. Friend in town -- worked together ages ago...we had fun exploring all sorts of places around here. 

 

Same Mountain, several different walks last week

 

Is so iconic for the county, and the clear days and walks back to back..10 miles was the longest this week...let me see it from different angles. Last three photos are from that mountain today. 

Volleyball Cake for Birthday Kid

 

Two bowls to form, licorice to help define shape, fondant to enhance.  6 layers