A Look at the Morning.

Today, I thought I'd take you through my morning routine as I plan my day in my mind. Let's go out into the backyard. Of course, we must have coffee. It looks like Mrs. Goose needs a new outfit, maybe I'll change her later. The humble fountain is babbling happily. I just love this ornamental tree. No idea what variety, but it reminds me of little clusters of purple grapes hanging on vines.How are the herbs? The little Thai ornamental peppers are just darling. The sprinkler head is only about 3/4 in. in diameter, so you can see how tiny the peppers are. The dill has gone to flower, I should have trimmed that back sooner. Oh wellllllllll! My mint have overcome the cilantro. It's dead. Bummer, dude. I never use the mint and always use cilantro. Ah, the irony! Thyme looks lovely. Yummy with chicken and lemon. We can never have enough thyme, or is that TIME? Curly parsley and chives. Lovely in deviled eggs. Flat leaf parsley and flowers...this variety tastes so much better. It goes in everything. Oregano is thriving. Mmm...just a little in my chili. I wanted to show you the not air balloons in the background. Alas, they are too far away and the atmosphere is hazy. One of these days! My favorite. Not 1, not 2, but 3 kinds of Basil! I love, love, love, love, (did I say love?), Pesto! Incidentally, that is my son's name...pronounced Bazzil, in the British form. Yikes, the feeder! This is a failed venture. I wanted to draw the hummingbirds in and try to get the elusive photo of them. However, the ants(don't think you can see in the photo) have completely taken over so this will have to come down. Where are my gloves? Let's wander out front. D is so proud of owning this palm tree as he is a Chicago boy. He has finally 'arrived' in Cali. now! The mums are SO happy and cheerful. They've gone completely mad this past week. They're having a party in the flower bed! I'm admiring my car's shiny 'shoes'. I washed and waxed the car yesterday and of course, you just have to shine the wheels or it's like putting on dirty old yard shoes with a lovely new sun dress! Back to the back yard. Xena is waiting, IMPLORING me to return! Let's go in and check on the sour dough starter. This is the 5th day of fermenting and it is appropriately smelly and bubbly! I've never made it before, but I am very excited to be able to make a loaf tomorrow! And here's my latest stitching piece that is likely going to be neglected today. When I'm finished with my elusive and frustrating job hunt this morning, I think I will work on my blue collage. Well, I'm off to post on my 36 Parks and a Puppy blog. Have a happy day!

John Magee Park(#7)

QOD:6 feet of earth makes us all equal.-Italian

Simply stated and thought-provoking, isn't it?

This simple park was basically a square lot with a swingset and a few scant trees. I had to work hard to find photo ops!Peacocks in the tree. Well, that's what they remind me of, or some kind of crane with a fancy crest.
Tree graffiti...and sidewalk graffiti. I remember the whole using-lightening-bolts-for-S's thing in high school. Back in the 80's...long ago and far away.This dried up leaf was out of place and looked like a feather on the grass---Xena went to investigate and interrupted my shot.Dew drop. You have no idea how many pics I took to get this in focus. But, I've got it finally! I figured out which button was for still shots, up close!
And on the way to the car, a lucky penny!I'm off to post on my Eclections blog and then continue the elusive job hunt(perhaps the lucky penny will help with that). Happy trails!

A Pretty Ending, Finally

I have to tell you...this purse gave me FITS. In the wash, my little embellishment yarn fell off, mostly. Without a doubt, I hated it anyway and yanked it all off. Next, I cut the hole for the 'handle'. I don't know, the proportions were all wrong for me. The color wasn't as I saw it. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ok, thinking...I love pink and brown together and have a dress to match. What to do with the pink yarn? I tried a few things like making a freeform heart to glue on the front. Hanging it off the bottom. NoThe top. No. No, no, no. Then I folded the top down and wished that I hadn't cut the handle hole. But that turned into an idea as I solved the problem of the hole. I had some paper flowers and attached them with brads(I didn't feel like sewing anything on!) It seems to work. Next, I added the pink yarn as handles by cutting two small holes(yes, BRAVELY cutting MORE holes in poor thing--it was all or nothing at this point; the thing was inches from the trash can at this point!) and threading the yarn through and tying the two ends under the flap that had been created when I folded the top of the purse down. Ok. I know. That was a seriously-hideous run-on sentence. Really, I can write extremely well. However, sometimes, it just doesn't convey the mood or my personality when I write everything in correct form. You know? And lookie!!!! Isn't it cute as a button now? I just have to pull the cardboard out of it after it dries in shape. Now I think I will go call my sweetie and see if he wants to go out for dinner so that I can use my new purse with my favorite dress!(never gonna happen, he wants to golf) Hey, I can dream can't I?

Crochet Discovery and an Answer

Some have asked where I am going on my travels with my new travel journal(yesterday's post). The answer is: I have no idea. Hee hee! I can tell you that I will be getting married at the end of the year, so perhaps then I'll use it. I'm trying to talk my fiance into doing the Pacific Coast Highway for a honeymoon. Lots of places to go and things to see on the coast and maybe visit my old coastal town. Also, I know that I'm going to visit NYC next summer, so maybe then. But, who knows? Sooner or later I will travel somewhere.


Well, yesterday, I began to crochet a little purse for fun. However, I found that I had forgotten when you loop for single crochet. So I did what any good blogger would do. I looked it up on You Tube. I did indeed find a demo. Interestingly, the woman showed only inserting through the top loop for a stitch. She said that some go through both, which I always had. Also, she said that it didn't make a difference. I had to test this, of course. Look what happened: On one side, it didn't look much different(not shown). On the other side, there is a subtle raised line where I stitched using only the top loop. Kind of an embossed effect. I don't think it will show after I felt this purse. But, it is a great idea to add texture to scarves or sweaters or whatever. Probably, this is a known method to avid crochet-ers. Whatever, it's new to me. Ok, I'm off to finish this baby off so that I can use it and of course show it off here! Have a wonderful day!

Sunset Park(#28)

QOD: Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of it.-William Danforth

Have you conquered a fear?Today, Xena and I drove across town to Sunset Park. It is an itty bitty neighborhood park with kiddie stuff and a few paths. She's sporting her new hair cut. Yes, I did it. No, I don't know what I'm doing. She needs a touch up job, I know!We are shrouded in mist once again. It's hard to believe that it's an hour later and the sky is bright blue and clear!
Down.Up.Snuffling in the sand.Red and green pine cones.I was really struck by the colorful foliage of the trees.A close-up of the above tree. The yellow look like leaves but are actually blossoms.Bad bloom shot.Good bloom shot.This embankment actually had a 'tunnel-ish' feel to it. The shot didn't work as I got down low. In retrospect, I think I should have gotten up high for the shot.Can't sleep...mushrooms will eat me!These bushes look like my hair right now!

And off home to begin my day! Happy trails!