Tuesday, October 31, 2006

places where I've slept

San Giuliano

ah this is like paradise!

my dream hotel

k o r a k i a

visit palm springs!
if anywhere I'd want to take a lover,,,
this is it!!!

travel channel lists this as one of the
top 10 swimming pools in the country!

Monday, October 30, 2006

word of the day - ancillary

an·cil·lar·y (ns-lr) KEY
ADJECTIVE:
Of secondary importance: "For Degas, sculpture was never more than ancillary to his painting" (Herbert Read).
Auxiliary; helping: an ancillary pump.
NOUN: pl. an·cil·lar·ies
Something, such as a workbook, that is subordinate to something else, such as a textbook.
Archaic A servant.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ancilla, maidservant, feminine diminutive of anculus, servant; see kwel- 1 in Indo-European roots

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Colorado sand dunes in September

Barb & Lou didn't want to walk

So I left them
Then I came back.

What a cool place.
Can't wait to climb to the top!

yummy dinner

My mother treated me to a chicken n noodle dinner at a church downtown. Wasn't her church, but many of her friends were there. I probably should have made more of an effort to fix my hair.. or something, anyway, nothing like church lady food! Yum! I think it's better for ya just cuz they made it.

First there was the salad table. Little dishes of 20 different kinds of salad. It was hard to chose, but I picked a sunflower ramen noodle with a vinaigrette type dressing.

Then it was to the pie table. Oh yeah, everything is good in pie crust. Chocolate with a 3" thick meringue, raisin, rhubarb, cherry, oh cherry is one of my favs. Mmm and blueberry or pecan. Well I ate cheesecake. Thick, creamy, rich, satisfying cheesecake topped with a little cherry pie filling and shaves of chocolate. oh yeah...

and the highlight, homemade chicken and homemade noodles. Thick and clumpy, I love old fashioned noodles like that. Always wanted to make them & never have. And I've read it's pretty easy. I remember being young & seeing them drying, draped all over every table, chair and space in mom's dining room...
So the noodle goop was good. Fake taters which I'll tolerate cuz of the topping. Side of green beans (gotta have yer veggie), wheat roll and like, what more do ya need?

maybe some mint tea. just cuz I ate just a little too much. I think I'll settle for ice cream. Vanilla.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

slowing down


gotta take time to smell the roses

now they just have to add the scratch & sniff module to this blog....

best friend tatoos


Tanya & Leslie


best friends

Connie on a good day



meet Tanya's Aunt Connie

she's my favorite sister in~law

:)

it's a new day


I made it thru a day of work --yippee skippee!!!

this is Caryol Ann's garden in Encinitas California. Shared by Connie...thanx connie!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

A life & death story

Last month a classmate's sister died.

Sarah was my friend in early grade school years. Our parents were friends. In fact both our mother's were named Mary. She lived out in the country and I remember going with her out her back yard into the forest. Into a land I thought was the most glorious place on earth. There was a creek and maybe a river. I remember it like a fairy tale. An experience so wonderous, it was surreal.

So I guess her sister, Anna, fell and never woke up. Went into a coma, slept for a while without waking and that was about it. I hear she died after a period of time in a hospice. Those hospice joints are starting to be something I hear about a little too often. Bless the souls who work in any hospice type situation.

Her son is 19. Tis a bit young to be losing a mother. Ah, it's always too young. Mother's are so very very loved & needed.

Anyway, ya just never know about life or when it's going to end. Quite a mysterious journey we're all taking. You'd think we'd hold it just a little more precious......

Sunset over Memphis

Lake Woodruff Deland FL

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

send me a job

Dear Lord,

I need a new job.

I've got lots of talents (you already know about) and I would like to be useful while in this world.

Thanks so much for some extra consideration.

Sincerely,

me

Monday, October 16, 2006

Ledges State Park-the story

Nothing like a good hike to put one's thoughts in perspective. A crisp fall day, it was much warmer than it has been, an absolute splendid day for enjoying the out of doors.

I love hiking and especially on old stairways. Here I've got limestone slabs placed in the 1930's when all those programs were going on. Today I found the park to be private & quiet, quite a different scene compared to mid July when the place was packed & every cove contained people, dogs & more people.

Thoughtfully placed man made cement stone blocks stand in a path every junction where the road crosses water. Water levels were rather high in Pea's creek and almost blocked my dry path across. Later when I was skipping down the front hill path, it made me think of crossing a creek. I like jumping from rock to rock and was choosing rocks compared to the smooth path worn next to the old stairway. The last time I'd done tried to cross a creek and stay dry, in Colorado, I slipped in (so did my hiking partner) and a soggy tennis shoe and shared laughter was my reward. Originally more organized, years of earth movement and erosion made this forest path look like a dry creekbed. To me it was like a game of hopscotch played all by myself with no ball, numbered squares or friends.

Rotting oak leaves scented the wind & I loved hearing them crunch underfoot. Golden browns lit my eyes and made me think of white months ahead.

Next time I think I'll try to take my dogs.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Reincarnate of Eden

As close to paradise as I've ever seen
gardens right out of my dreams!

We planted garlic.

The Family Tree- Herbs and Everlastings

CAMERA WANTED!

Last year my camera got stolen.
This weekend I lost my daughter's camera I barrowed from her.

I love to take pictures! Can't someone help & send me a camera from heaven?!

Just a thought.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

a new blog

I have decided to remove monarch from my real world & begin to put it in the box it deserves. Feel free to visit my profile & check out all my blogs. And please leave comments! thanx!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

my home
















maybe I should rake up some of those leaves....

praying mantis


garden flowers

nasturtium














these marigolds got around 4' tall





red zinnia

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

First Frost

Tonight we are expecting our first hard freeze of the season.
Every year I go through this same ritual: pick all vegies close to ripeness, collect green tomatoes large enough to bother with, strip all flower patches of any vase worthy blooms.
My house suddenly becomes alive with season's last bursts of color. If only for a week or two, I can still view bits of warm days soon to be wilted memories of time.

After collecting, I covered my mums and other favorite plants (the lavender) with bed sheets in hopes a little protection will be enough to nurse them through to be enjoyed a couple more weeks. Usually it's 1 or 2 cold days followed by a couple warmer weeks. Seeing all those pretty plants nipped, killed by cold it can't help but tug at sentimental summer zones installed in my heart. Somehow my gathering delays the shock just a little...

My brother had been in the garden earlier in the day. My nose detected a familiar pepper smell; like freshly chopped in a huge bowl for salsa, that's what popped into my mind. I found fresh pulled pepper plants stacked in several piles laid close to where they used to be standing in dirt. No fresh salsa today. All seeds now are ideas for next year's benefit. Farming dreams & plans planted as mental notes only.

Makes me think of frequently neglected human needs. It's always good to take time enough for breathing & recharging personal energy. In my garden, I'm going to dump a large load of manure, barely till it in and give it all winter to mature. I wish it was that easy in my life.

Step 1: cover problem with shit
step 2: mix
step 3: wait a while
step 4: enjoy newly hatched ideas
step 5: watch new problems sprout, repeat with step 1
wait a min....!!!!!

All day a north wind blew it's chill into all available space. I wore insulated coveralls, my bones not yet accustomed to these lower temperatures. Funny, last Monday morning when I got home from Colorado, I was warmed by these lowland winds. How quickly converting takes place as I was able to enjoy those few last days in celebration by adorning my body with my very favorite short sleeve shirts.

Change is always hard. Even watching the weather sparks melancholy flames....

Of all the season choices, I think I like spring & fall the best. Changing is intense, as shown in the immediate color display. Spring green with life, fall oranges with renew. Right now it's time for closing growth spurts to rest & regroup for next year. Older, stronger, matured to be more valuable than before.
Ah, observing life's energy flow.



Tuesday, October 10, 2006

stupid people tricks

Man in thong tapes himself attempting burglary

happy hounds or 5am alarm clocks

lady butterfly


one of the season's stragglers

monarch colorado

thanx Rick for stopping the truck

today


today
I'm happy to be home
I'm happy to be me
I'm happy to not be sad
today
I was the lady
in her front yard
in fluffy slippers and uncombed hair
filling the bird bath
leaves crunching underfoot
Polly, my cat
crunched her own leaves
inspector of flower beds
watch out moving critters
and all innocent bugs
last week
she left a dead mouse on the back step
and a grasshopper on the front
she
is a busy cat
today
I just happened
to notice

happiness

sometimes
when we search for happiness
we forget
to look under our feet

home sweet home

a cat's view















the back yard

looking north from the driveway

Friday, October 06, 2006

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

single girls

lucky girl
not lonesome
just blessed
with solitude

Colorado Scenes

Sunset lit San de Cristo mountain range
285 heading south
on the road to Joyful Journey hot springs















Changing Aspen


Monarch Fall 2006




Monday, October 02, 2006

and in the castle unrest grew in their monarchy.
The jealous queen attacked the ambitious princess and had her expelled from the land.

The princess flew in her retreat directly to Indian Springs Hot Spring resort where she soaked in ancient Indian caves and prayed for assistance in cleansing her soul. Her desires climbed high and tried not to get their feet wet in the damp, distasteful stench from yesterday.

Spirits granted her prayers and sailed her back home. Greeted by 2 very grateful dogs, she realized what a blessing this accidental return really was.