BANAR DESIGNS

Sepia Saturday- Doll Decapitated

2012-01-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

This was my beloved childhood doll. I saved her in my old "hope chest". When I gave the hope chest away lately I cleaned it out... wedding dress, veil, several other "hopeless" things and my doll. Alas, she was also hopeless. She seems to have been made of some kind of rubber that deteriorated. Her head was made of something else and and is still alive...she still opens and closes her eyes.

One cute little hand is also O.K. but looks like the fingers are about to fall off.

Her beautiful velvet dress is in pretty good shape.

It looks like the same dress in this blurry old photo, but on a different doll.

In the background is my sister, Nancy's Donald Duck bank. She still has it.

Somewhere there's a picture of her with her much loved bank but, try as I might, I couldn't find it.

And in the near background I think that's a hitching post...could it be? Maybe just a water spigot.

And in the far background is an old car that I'm sure one of you "old car buffs" could identify.

See more doll stories at http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com

The dogs of Del Mar

2012-01-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

Are all Del Mar dogs white? ....Almost

More from Christmas at Del Mar

2012-01-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

An early morning walk on the beach.

Pretty fancy beach chairs...well it is Del Mar.

Great weather vanes.

Fashionably dressed beachgoers.

It wouldn't be the beach without the Goodyear Blimp.

I stopped to talk to this nicely attired Del Mar Bag Lady and dog.

Not sure how much of her story to believe. I couldn't quite follow it, but she obviously manages to take good care of her cute little dog. I gave her a little money which I hope will help a little. It will probably only buy a little dog food.

Nancy managed to get her work done every day.

Brother, Bob came for Christmas

Nancy and Bob toast Christmas. Nancy made a wonderful Christmas dinner. Sounds like Nancy did all the work, but I cleaned up. I also had to stay home 2 days to work. So we shared the pain...and the fun.

Days end.

Christmas in Del Mar

2012-01-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Nancy and I have a timeshare in Del Mar that we hardly ever use. We do sometimes spend Christmas there. This year we were really glad we did because the weather was beautiful.

Someone had written this greeting in the sand.


Not quite a snowman.

The life guard station. I'm not counting on him to save me!

The end of the GOP ?

2011-12-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

Raise taxes?

2011-12-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

Diva Zentangle Challenge #51- Fife

2011-12-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

Climate Summit

2011-12-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Blue Pacific Realtors Client Appreciation Party, 2011

2011-12-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

Every year Kurt Kinsey, our realtor (and friend) has a party for his clients. Each year he draws names to give away a trip. One year Nancy and I won a trip to Ireland. It was wonderful!

This year the prize was a cruise to Hawaii. So the party was Hawaiian themed.

The couple that won the trip, Candy and Don Hoffman, weren't able to attend the party so I didn't get their photo. But congratulations to them. I'm sure they'll have a great time.

The second prize was this beautiful Hawaiian centerpiece. It was won by Toni and Jack Risley.

Diva's weekly Zentangle challenge # 50- Biggify"

2011-12-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

The challenge was to work bigger than usual but in the same 3 1/2" size space. No easy feat, and I must say, not quite as fun. But it was a challenge!

The mess the protesters left behind

2011-11-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

Sepia Saturday- Celebrating 100 posts. My post-My Uncle Glen

2011-11-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Good old Sepia Saturday! This is their 100th week of posts.

My Uncle Glen almost made it to 100. He died at 99. He was an interesting person who became quite an accomplished artist in his second life, after he retired.

We dedicated one of our books to him.

To see more sepia saturdays click here- http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/

Diva challenge # 47- Lest We Forget

2011-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

From "The Diva"-
This week's challenge is simply to remember. Canadians have "Remembrance Day" up here (Nov 11) - and every year starting on the last Friday of October the Cadets stand in Mall Entrances offering Lapel Poppies for donation. The idea of the lapel poppy is pretty neat - based on the Poem "In Flanders Field" written by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Mariachi Garibaldi concert at the library

2011-11-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

Mariachi Garibaldi is a fascinating group of Mariachis from Southwestern University. It's the first (and only) college in the country to offer a degree in Mariachi music. The director of this group is the professor (a gringo!!!) and he gives an interesting history of the music. He's been involved with this music since he was a child. I've loved the music since I was very young, also. We saw them last year in the old library. This year they had a wonderful new and much larger space for their performance.

The leader is the trumpet player.

There are even two girls in the group. Something unusual in the past!
(I only got a picture of one of them.)

A little boy in the audience obviously wants to be a Mariachi when he grows up. He was copying their every move and dancing. Here he's singing into an imaginary microphone.

They had a new singer in the group...another Gringo. What is this world coming to??? He was pretty good, but not as good as the real Mariachis. The oldest man in the group was a wonderful singer. I wish I had recorded him, but instead I recorded a little bit of the Gringo.
(This is the first time I've tried recording. )
(I couldn't figure out how to turn it sideways.)

R.I.P Muammar... (Rest In Pieces)

2011-10-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my stack of artwork from last year's classes, (the day after the death of Khadafi) and I found this:

My teacher, Mary Tomaskevitch, had brought in several newspaper clippings to use as reference material for that day's lesson. I ended up with a picture of Gaddafi. It wasn't a very good painting and I just filed it away and forgot about it until the day after that fateful day.

Alabama's new law- Rewriting the Gospel

2011-10-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Zentangle Weekly Challenge #43- The Sunflower Fund

2011-10-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Pennyb from The Republic Of South Africa came up with this weeks' challenge.

The Sunflower Fund sells sunflower bandanas to raise money for the South African

Bone Marrow Registry. So she suggested sunflowers as our challenge.

I think I got a little carried away.

See more Zentangle sunflowers at http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

Birthday and Autumn

2011-10-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Autumn brought both my birthday and Fall colors.

A beautifully wrapped present from Nancy, and inside...

every Zentangle addicts favorite gift...

My gift from nature...

And some beautiful toiletries from Bed, Bath and Beyond courtesy of my thoughtful niece, Megan.

Diva's Zentangle challenge # 41- Duo- Tangle: Jonqal & Opus

2011-09-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

Rocky Horror Show & Dinner at The Prado

2011-09-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend, Marge, we enjoyed a wonderfully quirky musical at The Old Globe. While some people were partaking of Shakespeare next door (The Tempest, I think) we were singing along to the joyful, shocking, campy music of the Rocky Horror Show.

The movie became a cult classic and was known for the audience participation and costumes. The audience here in San Diego was a little more staid, except for this guy.

Before the show we had dinner at The Prado, which is a beautiful restaurant right here in Balboa Park. It's also walking distance to the Old Globe. It was Restaurant Week in San Diego so they had special dinners with special prices.

Nancy, Marge and Jane had the salmon.

I had Thai Chicken with bright orange pasta. I thought it was covered in carrots when it first appeared.

Nancy had a beautiful sculpture topping her flan.

It was a wonderful evening!

Pinwheels for Peace- Diva's weekly challenge #40

2011-09-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Sept. 21 was The International Day Of Peace also Pinwheels For Peace Day (also my peaceful and pleasant birthday).

Up In The Clouds- Morning view from my new house.

2011-09-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

I looked out my bedroom window this morning and I felt like I was on cloud 9.

It also had the scary reminiscent feeling of the fires of a few years ago - luckily without the smell of smoke.

The front yard looked pretty in the morning sunlight, too.

However, the inside still looks like this!

Quasimodo's replacement- just for a laugh!

2011-09-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Martin's blog- http://fridgesoup.blogspot.com. It was posted by friko and it made me laugh. (Shows what kind of a sense of humor I have!)

After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed.

The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.

After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day.

Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer's job. The bishop was incredulous.

'You have no arms !'

'No matter,' said the man. 'Observe !'

And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.

The bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo.

But suddenly, as he rushed forward to strike the bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below.

The stunned bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church steps, when he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moment before.

As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked,

'Bishop, who was this man ?'.

'I don't know his name,' the bishop sadly replied,

( scroll down )

' ................ BUT HIS FACE RINGS A BELL'

WAIT ! WAIT ! There's more

The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame.

The first man to approach him said, 'Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday.

I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty.'

The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, twirled around, and died on the spot.

Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side.

'What has happened ? Who is this man ?' the first monk asked breathlessly.

'I don't know his name,' sighed the distraught bishop, 'but..'

(. . . Wait for it ...)

(.. . . It's worth it.. ..)

'HE'S A DEAD RINGER FOR HIS BROTHER.'

Diva challenge- Love

2011-09-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Grim Reaper takes an interest in politics

2011-09-16T14:42:00.001-07:00

Obsessed with Paradox

2011-09-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Paradox is the title of a Zentangle tangle. It's one of the more difficult ones. I've been trying to do it for the longest time and now I've finally got it. And now I can't stop.
The Diva Challenge this week was to use only Paradox. She calls it "Pair of Ducks" because that's what comes to her mind whenever she says it. So here's my "Pair of Ducks". And lots more Paradox.

A few of the cats and dogs in our life.

2011-08-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

You can lead a dog to water...

Time for the beauty salon!

Living on the edge!

Could you get me the next size up?

The new cat houses are built and ready for occupancy.

This one is right outside the office.

This one is off my bedroom...

...with a beautiful view. I hope Chloe and Zoe appreciate it.

Standard & Poor

2011-08-17T11:03:00.001-07:00

zendalas

2011-08-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

What if millionaires paid their fair share?

2011-08-04T10:54:00.001-07:00

If millionaires were simply paying the same level of federal income taxes as they were in the mid-1990s, the federal government would have collected an additional $65 billion in revenues in 2009. That amount of revenue over 10 years, $650 billion, exceeds the cuts to domestic discretionary programs in the budget deal. Those $600 billion in cuts will result in reduced investment in infrastructure, education, housing, public health, food and drug safety, medical research, law enforcement, and other important areas.

Proponents of the Bush tax cuts argued that lower taxes on top earners would boost the economy. That didn’t happen. The United States experienced real economic growth of 3.2 percent during the 10 years before the Bush tax cuts but only 1.7 percent since. (And this anemic growth was not just a result of the Great Recession; pre-recession growth from 2002 to 2007 averaged only 2.7 percent.) The IRS data also show the effect of the recession on middle-class families: Average income declined 14 percent from 2007 to 2009.
By Seth Hanlon, Director of Fiscal Reform at the Center for American Progress.

Tax cuts

2011-08-03T16:06:00.001-07:00

Sepia Saturday- Running boards

2011-07-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

The theme this week is "running boards".

I posted this photo last year and wrote about the rumble seat. So here it is again, doing double duty as a "running board" photo.

( I just went back to "Sepia Saturday" and noticed that I remembered it wrong. The theme isn't running boards, it's "bumpers". Boy, do I feel dumb!!! Well, this car does have bumpers. )

I'm not sure who the people are. The woman looks like my Aunt Phyllis and the man behind her looks like her husband, my Uncle Glenn. But it also looks like Glenn's brother, Bob. If it's Uncle Bob....shame on her. But maybe Glenn is taking the picture.

I think the man in the front is Jimmie O'Conner, a friend of my father's. The only thing I know about him is from a picture of him pointing to the lake with a caption that says, "this is where Jimmie fell in the lake. That photo always made my father laugh.

For more Sepia Saturday click here.

New Zentangles (Diva's Challenge #32) and a Zendala

2011-07-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Pants on fire!!!

2011-07-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ayn Rand, defrocked

2011-07-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

The next time one of your "tea bagger" friends quotes Ayn Rand to you here's some ammunition. It's from an excellent article by Herb Crowther. If you're interested read the whole article here:

"the heroine of the new Republicans was a pacifist who opposed the Vietnam War, a feminist who supported abortion, an adulteress who preached free love, a bohemian who mocked family life and child-bearing, an elitist who sneered at the common man, and, after all her “nanny state” rhetoric, a recipient of Social Security and Medicare and a late, sick convert to the benefits of socialized medicine."

"A passion for the prose and philosophy of Ayn Rand tells us a great deal about an individual, none of it good. There are few surer signs of a poor reader, a poor thinker and an unpleasant person than a well-thumbed copy of Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead."

The Whining of the Bulls

2011-07-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Fair Composite

2011-07-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Robert, from Blue Heron Blast, made this composite from two of my Fair photos.

I love it!

Thanks, Robert.

(How did you do that?)

Meet me at the fair

2011-07-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

The San Diego County Fair at Del Mar. A few photos.

Some prize winning flowers.

The fun to shoot "fun zone".

The beautiful merry go round.

Bananas seemed to be the most sought after prize from the game booths. Everyone was walking around with one, from small ones to these gigantic ones with dreadlocks.

Lots of wonderful tee shirts.

Girls, too tired to be afraid of the monster over their shoulder.

Etc.

Sorry, I'm a Zentangle addict! Diva's latest challenge # 27

2011-06-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

The challenge was to use only two "tangles". They're called "Dex" and "Verdigogh".

Two new zentangles- swirls

2011-06-15T13:02:00.001-07:00

New house- still moving

2011-06-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

The new refrigerator.

The newly painted art room. Now awaiting a tile floor so I can throw paint around.

Not nearly enough bookcases. This is the bedroom. Every other room has bookcases, also, but still not enough.

The dining room/ den. I love this cut-out panel over the window.

It reflects the design onto the opposite wall.

I haven't moved the table yet because we're still using it at the other house.

My ex-husband's painting and some peacock feathers from my previous house (where peacocks ran wild).

The front entry looking towards the bedroom. I haven't really decorated yet. Things are just sitting where they first landed.

It's a walled world after all

2011-06-02T17:01:00.001-07:00

Politicians- 2 microphones

2011-06-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

Not exactly Sepia Saturday- but dog themed (sort of)

2011-05-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time this weekend to look up old pictures or research relatives with dogs- the theme this week. I'm still in the middle of moving. But here's what I saw yesterday while driving a load of stuff to the new house.

A couple taking a walk with their three "dogs". Look closely and you'll see that one of them is actually a miniature donkey. They had just taken the two real dogs to the groomer and were walking home.

I asked if the donkey got to come in the house and they said he could but could only stay for about 20 minutes because he wasn't "potty trained". (20 minutes???)

They're all best friends but sometimes the dogs give the donkey a little nip (maybe it's a kiss) and the donkey get's irritated and gives them a little nip back. They assured me it never got serious.

They were a real nice couple. The two dogs are therapy dogs and visit hospitals and schools. Maybe the donkey does, too.

For some real Sepia Saturday click here http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com

Zentangle Weekly Challenge #23- String Theory

2011-05-26T14:41:00.000-07:00


To see more Zentangles all made with the same string go to http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

Sepia Saturday - Organ Magic

2011-05-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

My second job, when I was 20 years old (about 1959), was at Tops Records. I was thrilled. I got to design record album covers (remember those?). Here's one of my creations that I found in a used record store. I also notice that it's for sale on Amazon. It's not exactly a masterpiece! I used the old childrens technique of painting the background in bright colors and then coloring over it all in black crayon and scratching the design into the crayon.

I remember when they were trying to think of a name for the album someone suggested "The Majestic Organ" and all the men in the office laughed. I didn't get it until much later. (When I was a little more adult.)

Tops was a strange little record company that not only produced the records but actually made them right there in the same place as our office. We were upstairs and the hot wax was poured downstairs. I wonder if it was toxic?

It was the first record company to sell to drug stores and others that weren't just record stores. They had some famous artists who were a little out of fashion at the time, like Lena Horne for instance.

They also had some famous artists who were under contract to some other company and so used a pseudonym. I guess you would call it a cut- rate company. I didn't care, though because I got to design record covers.

One of my bosses was a well-known jazz saxophonist named Dave Pell. He was the A&R director- (artists and repertoire). He chose the music and the performers. He was a really nice guy who took me out for my first legal drink when I turned 21.

So just who is Kenneth Lane at the Magic Organ? I looked him up on Wikipedia:

Kermit "Ken" Lane (December 20, 1912 – November 23, 1996) was an American musician from Brooklyn, New York. He was best known to audiences as Dean Martin's pianist on The Dean Martin Show in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but was already well known in the film community before that.
With Irving Taylor, Lane co-wrote "Everybody Loves Somebody" in 1947. Frank Sinatra recorded it first, followed by Dinah Washington and Peggy Lee before Martin recorded it in 1964 and took it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in August of that year. It would be Lane's biggest hit as a composer. He also arranged the music for Tars and Spars, Monsieur Beaucaire, California, Ladies' Man, Champagne For Two, Smooth Sailing, and Paris In The Spring in 1946 and 1947.
Lane composed the music for Lucy Gets Lucky, a 1975 made-for-TV movie starring Lucille Ball.
Lane's daughter is rock singer Robin Lane of "Robin Lane and the Chartbusters."
Ken Lane also has a son, his name is (Christopher Kit Lane).
Lane died of emphysema in Lake Tahoe, California.

To see more Sepia Saturday go to http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com

Nancy's birthday bouquet

2011-05-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

Megan sent Nancy this beautiful bouquet on her birthday, May 4.

Nancy loved it,

and so did Tootie.

Anger management

2011-05-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Ebony

2011-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Ebony went to her final reward the day after Osama Bin Laden. I don't know whether that means anything but she was a way better cat than he was a human being.

My friend, Robin, always called her "Mama Kitty" because when she first showed up at my door she was trailed by 5 kittens. ( I still have one of them, called "Baby Kitty" by Robin, but Jeri always called him "Linus"). Jeri has her own name for Ebony, too. She calls her Molly. So Ebony has three names. But like most cats, doesn't come when she's called anyway. So, what's in a name?

Robin and Jeri both knew Ebony (Mama Kitty, Molly) well. Robin often babysat for her and the rest of the cats. Jeri shared an office with her, the rest of the cats, and Nancy and I. Besides Jeri's other office duties she usually fed Ebony (and the others). She often babysat for her, also.

The thing I'll remember most about Ebony was her beautiful, graceful walk. It was exactly like a model on the "catwalk". I think that must be where the name came from.

The new house- starting to move

2011-05-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

I love the entrance, but it's a long way to go to get the paper or take out the trash.

I wasn't sure whether I liked these elephants or not. There tusks were broken off and they were a wee bit odd, but I sort of liked them. The decision was made for me, though. They're gone now. I think the old owner must have taken them... should I make a fuss and try to get them back or should I assume they weren't fated to stay with me?

The wisteria just finished blooming on one of the decks. It was beautiful, however, I just found out they've been causing havoc with the wood. Wood- rot galore. They're going to have to be cut way back and most of the deck has to be re-done. Not something I had budgeted for.

We've taken boxes and boxes of books over and haven't even made a dent. All the rooms in the house will be full of book cases.

Don't forget me!

Sepia Saturday- Easter

2011-04-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I had anything for Sepia Saturday today. Then I remembered my great uncle's post card scrapbooks. They were full of Easter cards. Most of them not too interesting.

This one is slightly funny.

It says "A Happy Eastertide".

It should have a P.S. " I hope you don't find a bug in your Easter egg!"

To see more Sepia Saturday click here. http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com

The hedgehog tree

2011-04-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know hedgehogs grew on trees?

We saw these on our noon- day walk.

Sepia Saturday- Camels, politicians....

2011-04-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

When my sister, Nancy, saw the Sepia Saturday photo and theme this week -Camels, politicians, etc...(President Roosevelt riding a camel) she said "you've got the perfect camel photo".
And, indeed, I have.

(Sorry, it's not sepia)

You would assume that this photo of me might have been taken at a "photo op" in Egypt. But if you look closely you can see The Great Wall in the background. I didn't know they had camels in China. I suppose they do in the dessert but that's not where this was. This was not too far from Beijing.

So there's the photo of me riding a camel and here's one of me and a politician (two of the possible themes):

These were taken in about 1985 (before The Tianamen Protests of 1989).

We were there on a business trip. A sort of strange business trip. Our business at the time was needlework kits and books. Making things with doilies was popular at the time. We had several kits and books on the subject. So we imported doilies through an importer in San Francisco. He was the main (and at the time, only) importer of doilies from China. He was called "The Doily King". He took us with him on one of his buying trips. It wasn't a fun trip but it sure was interesting.

There weren't many foreigners in China at the time, so we often attracted attention.

Here's Nancy and I strolling on The Great Wall.

It was actually quite steep, at least at this point and not at all good for strolling. More like climbing, and very exhausting.

To see more Sepia Saturday click here.

Zentangle weekly challenge #16 Mooka

2011-04-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

I put this on Sepia Saturday by mistake. #28 on Mr. Linky is the right one. I'll bet you Sepia Saturday people are wondering "What the heck is a Zentangle. Well now you have a slight idea. If you're interested, leave a comment and I'll tell you more about it.

And you Zentangle folks are probably wondering what Sepia Saturday is.

Maria Thomas (who, along with her husband, Rick, developed Zentangles) designed and named this "tangle" after Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) the great Art Nouveau artist. You can read more about it here and see how to do it (The official Zentagle Newsletter- Mooka).
He's one of my favorite artists. When you think Art Nouveau you think Mucha.

The face is a (slightly doctored) rubber stamp.

There's just a little bit of "Mooka" on the butterfly's antenna.

To see more go to The Diva's Weekly Challenge

The Ladies Who Lunch- at Connie's La Jolla house

2011-04-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

Connie in front of her pretty house in La Jolla.

She served us a wonderful lunch, starting with hors d'oeuvres.

Three different salads and homemade pumpkin rolls.

Nancy and Jean dig in.

We then took a walk along the shore watching the pelicans fly by.

We walked through the beautiful neighborhood full of charming houses.

with lush gardens.

wonderful details.

It's a very dog-friendly neighborhood.

A painter captures the ocean... and poses for my camera. The colors of his shirt exactly match his painting.

We tried to walk down to the beach but the recent big waves (from the Japanese tsunami) had washed away so much sand that the last step was way too steep.

It was a wonderful day full of good food, good conversation and a great walk along the shore and through the beautiful neighborhood. Connie is such a good hostess.

Zentangle weekly challenge #15- Curves

2011-04-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Zentangle weekly challenge #14- I'll walk the line.

2011-03-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

The challenge is to do a zentangle using only straight lines.

To see more go to Diva's weekly challenge

Shepard Fairey and Martin Usborne Art Openings

2011-03-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Megan's friend, Martin, has a photography show in Santa Monica. His opening and Shephard Fairey's (the graffiti artist famous for the Obama poster) were on the same night at the fabulous Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Martin is a fantastic photographer. His show was called:

Here's a couple of his wonderful photos. I've always loved the image of a dog in a car, especially when they're in the driver's seat. Martin finds it sad. I'm only upset when it's a hot day. Then I go crazy trying to find the owner or putting mean notes on the window.

A lot of people brought their dogs, which seemed appropriate.

Part of the fun was seeing the fashions.

These girls were in the very long line to get into the Shephard Fairey show.

His artwork was all done as if they were record album covers. I particularly liked that since designing album covers was one of my first jobs.

Here's the buffet table:

Here's the entertainment:

They were a wonderfully costumed heavy metal/mariachi band. I love mariachis, hate heavy metal, but I must admit I liked them. And I love the creativity of the combination.

We could have gotten our pictures taken with them like this guy did. I've been regretting that we didn't ever since. I would have treasured that picture!

Before the show we were wandering around and I saw a guy sneak up to a pole and stick a sticker on it. I recognized him...it was Shephard Fairey! I said HI! He turned around and in a really cute sweet voice said HI! and then disappeared, just as he does when he's doing his graffiti. What a thrill.

Here he is posing for pictures and signing autographs. He's so cute and looks about 14 years old.

We had a wonderful time.

Bottoms Up- Pub songs for Sepia Saturday

2011-03-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

A book of drinking songs from 1933 with drink recipes and toasts. These should come in handy for your next party. Sorry, I don't have room to show you all the songs. I just chose a couple of the funnier ones.

At the bottom of the page it says: The yodel refrain may be omitted, ad lib. In the verse, experts in hiccoughs can insert a "hic" after each phrase, if desired.

To see more Sepia Saturdays click here.

Zentangle Weekly Challenge #13- Non Dominatrix

2011-03-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

The challenge was to do the Zentangle ONLY with your non-dominant hand.
I did the whole thing with my left hand but when I went to fill in the solid black areas I just couldn't do it.
So I cheated and filled them in with my right hand, therefore wrecking the whole concept.
I never was much of a dominatrix!

Click on the "Diva's Weekly Challenge" logo on the upper left hand column to see more non- dominatrix Zentangles.

Sepia Saturday- Mistake?

2011-03-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

Off on the honeymoon- 1958

Mistake?- I'll say!

Time will tell?- That's for sure!

I was 18 years old. What more can I say?

Sepia Saturday is sort of car- themed this time. When I saw the photo that Alan posted I immediately thought of this picture.

It's not the same car or quite the same year but close. I think it's a Buick. It was my parents' car. I remember always being embarrassed by it because it wasn't just two-toned, it was three-toned: black, red and cream. I'm not sure why this was embarrassing but I dreaded having my father pick me up in it.

So here I was going off on my honeymoon in it! As if the colors weren't embarrassing enough we drove quite a ways with the painted inscriptions on it before my new husband stopped and washed it off. Also someone had put rocks in the hubcaps so people passing by would be sure to notice us.

The marriage lasted about three years. After that I got on with my real life. I wonder what ever happened to that guy.

Click here to see more Sepia Saturday.

Weekly Zentangle Challenge #12- Something Blue

2011-03-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

See more blue Zentangles here

A tribute to Artie from Moose

2011-03-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Click on the link in the post below to see a nice tribute to Megan's dog, Artie, by her friend Martin's dog, Moose. While you're there read Moose's blog. You'll love it.

A sad day for dogs

2011-03-06T22:08:00.000-08:00

A sad day for dogs

Rest in peace, Artie

2011-03-06T18:10:00.000-08:00

Artie had quite a few challenges in his life. He started out in a puppy mill but luckily was rescued and adopted. Later he made news by being dognapped. He was rescued again. Then his adoptive parents had to give him up because they had a very sick baby that required all their care and attention. This is when Nancy's daughter, Megan found him and adopted him. They lived in New York and had a very full life. He got a lot of loving with Megan.

Artie drove across country with Nancy and Megan last year.

Artie and Megan were planning on moving here from New York. That plan didn't work out so Artie stayed here with Nancy while Megan flew back to make further plans. He wasn't expected to live very much longer. He had several health problems, among them being blind and deaf. He got along pretty well, though, but had a diminished quality of life.

Nancy's dog, Tootie wasn't very welcoming but she tolerated him. They made their peace with each other.

Artie settled in and came to the office with Nancy and Tootie every day, where he had his own special pillow and plenty of treats.

Sometimes he slept in Tootie's bed with Tootie's favorite toy. Usually she didn't get mad.

They sometimes went on walks together while Artie was still able.

He loved the water.

Sometimes he could be naughty. He may have been blind and deaf but he still had an excellent sense of smell. He noticed that there were some dog bones in this bag of groceries.

He appreciated art. But sometimes it just put him to sleep.

He often took time to smell the daisies.

Nancy took very good care of Artie and his favorite sleeping place was in her lap.

Or under a colorful fleece blanket.

Artie died a couple of weeks ago.

This is how I picture him in "Doggie Heaven".

Zentangle challenge #11

2011-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

The challenge was called "Monotangle" because you're supposed to use only one type of tangle for the whole design. I really enjoyed it and did several.
I think I like this one best but here are several more.

See more at Laura Harms' blog

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-02-20T11:46:00.000-08:00


At the Oceanside, CA library

An art installation at the Oceanside Museum of Art

I haven't participated in Shadow Shot Sunday for a while but I haven't stopped shooting.There are a few more shadow shots in my previous post from the Oceanside Museum.

To see more shadow shots click here.

Suzanne McNeil's yearly visit and Zentangling on gourds

2011-02-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

Suzanne comes to California every year for the Craft and Hobby (CHA) trade show. We had participated at these shows for years (maybe 20). We met her at one of them several years ago and have been friends ever since. She has a book publishing business (Design Originals) much like ours used to be. She's still going strong while we've gone off in other directions. We don't have to do trade shows anymore which is both good and bad. We don't miss all the hard work but we do miss seeing all our old friends and customers.
The first day Suzanne was here she went to the Welburn Gourd Farm, one of her favorite places. She bought a lot of gourds. She gave one each to Nancy and I and showed us how to Zentangle them. First we painted them with acrylic paint ( you can also use gesso). Then we tangled with a Micron pen. The ink goes on perfectly. Suzanne and I got most of ours done, but Nancy isn't as addicted to Zentangling as we are and didn't get very far.

Suzanne catches us up on all the news and gossip from the CHA show and we always do a little sightseeing with her while she's here. This year we stayed close to Fallbrook and went to the Pala Indian Reservation. There's not much there except a big casino (which we didn't go to) and a small mission with a museum and gift shop. When we got to the mission it was closed even though I had called ahead to make sure it was open.

There's an interesting mission cemetery with both ancient and new graves.

It wasn't a very pretty or well-kept cemetery but the graves seemed very well-loved and well-visited.

The next day we went to the wonderful quilt show at the Oceanside Art Museum (Quilt Visions).

Just one of the beautiful quilts.

Then we went into one of the other galleries in the museum ( Imogene Cunningham's photographs) and while taking pictures we noticed our own "shadow pictures". So we had fun making shadows to post on "Shadow Shot Sunday" .

After that we went to the farmers market that they have every Thursday right outside the museum.

The library, which is in the same block as the museum, was having a book sale so we ended the fun day by buying more books to fill both of our overstocked home libraries.

We had a great time and hated to see Suzanne go.

Zentangle for Artoo

2011-02-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

Laura Harms, who hosts the weekly Zentangle challenge at I Am The Diva has a baby boy, whose nickname is Artoo. He was born prematurely last October and has been having lots of problems. He's doing well now and just got out of the hospital after having some breathing problems. The latest challenge was to create a heart using two of the previous challenges. I didn't follow the rules exactly but here's my Zentangle for Artoo.

Love poems, etc. in my great grandmothers autograph book

2011-02-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

La Moille, Jan. 8th, 1888 Remember me when far, far off

Where woodchucks die of the whooping cough.

Your friend, E.L. Anstith

Roseland , March 13, 1890

Friend Katie,

Let your moto(?) be honest and truthfully,

and I hope someday you will make

some man a happy wife.

Your true friend, R.S. Bayler

What care I for gold

or silver, or all the money

in the land, Give me a

wife and sixteen children,

a bobtail horse and a

peanut stand.

Van Orin Shambaugh

This one is legible. It must be from one of my Aunts.

Sublette, Ill., Dec. 28th, 1887

To Katie,

You may fall into war,

You may fall from above,

But be careful, Katie,

Don't fall into love.

Boys are handsome, Fellows

are plenty, But don't you

get married Before you are twenty.

Your friend, Henry Biester.

As sure as comes your wedding day,

a broom to you I will send,

in sunshine use the bushy part,

in storm the other end. J.W. Stoll

Sublette, Ill, Feb. 2 1905

Dear Mother: I love you little,

I love you big,

I love you better than

The groundhog day. Your Daughter Mabel

And finally some good advice:

Sublette, Ill. Feb. 2, 1905

Dear Katie, Don't have any more

children then 1/2 dozen,

for those are plenty for you.

From your friend Katie Shraemer (?)

My great grandmother, Kate Daehler on the right

click here to see more Sepia Saturday

Fallbrook's wonderful new library

2011-02-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

Mosaic murals including bits of memories supplied by the community.

The roof of the patio

More mosaics, more bits of memorabilia. Notes in the bottles.

There's even a very classy fire pit. I think this would be a very cool place for teen-agers to sit and do their homework.

Nancy and Beth try out the huge avocado couch in the kid's room.

Even the tiny kids are enjoying the libraries computers.

More mosaics. This one, of Fallbrook's claim to fame- the avocado. Notice there are also several old photos embedded in the mosaic. These were contributed by the community members.

Weekly Zentangle Challenge- Breathe

2011-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

The challenge was to breathe while doing your Zentangle, also relax and smile.

I guess this is where the "Zen" comes in!

See others at: http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Lunchtime walk photos

2011-02-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

A bubbling brook after a heavy rain

The lover trees

A coyote's half-eaten meal

Look closely and you'll see another wood gnarl discovery- a bunnies head!

A teeny tiny mushroom

This is how teeny tiny !

An omen?

Weekly Zentangle Challenge-Ixorus

2011-01-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

The challenge was to use the Zentangle pattern called Ixorus. It's the one in the lower right corner.

See others at: http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Sepia Saturday- Gilda Gray "The Shimmy Queen" or Gilda Gray "Wanna Be" ?

2011-01-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

I usually prefer to read about people's real families in the Sepia Saturday posts but sometimes you find some "non-family" photos that are too good not to share. These were in our huge cache of old photos. They are in an envelope that says :

G.G.I.E.

San Francisco Fair '39

Most of photos after end of July 1939

(Last ride in Buick Road.)

After return from SLC

Gilda Gray is famous for inventing "The Shimmy" and was a film star in the '20s -'30s.

The lady in the envelope

The real Gilda Gray (from the internet)

She criticizes herself and the photographer: PHOTOGRAPHER ! Wasted space and other hand & fern stand cut off. To herself: Front hand turned up & elbow slightly bent or just as is.

On the back: Shallon, Nautch Oriental (I looked this up and it's an type of dance), South Sea, Gilda Gray Hula, Beautiful Costumes.


My face gives it away but I tried to give the interpretation of Oriental & Queenly: Dignity, Charm, Poise, Height, and to look Older.

Beware of slanting camera. Should have stood EXACTLY BETWEEN SETTING OBJECTS.


THE SPIRIT OF YOUTH: Left arm shoulda have been straight- horizontal. Right knee shoulda been held higher. To see more Sepia Saturdays click here

Zentangle Challenge #5- Orbs

2011-01-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

See more Orb challenges at Laura Harms blog: http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

Sepia Saturday-Mr. Finwall builds his "dream" house.

2011-01-15T10:58:00.000-08:00

My Grandfather built his own house (sometime around the turn of the century). According to my Uncle Glenn it was next to a swamp. I don't think Chicago had swamps so I'm not sure what he meant. One can only imagine! I don't really think it was his dream house but it served the purpose. He was an artist not an architect. He illustrated sheet music. I would love to see some of his work but apparently it was all destroyed during a flood. The house is still there, though, at 7250 Maplewood, Chicago.

The back of the house with his first born, my Uncle Glenn, my grandmother, great aunt, and my great grandmother. (It looks like it's already stating to fall apart.)

The front steps with their growing family.


My sister and I visited the house(in about 2000) which is still standing, although looking a little different.


We met one of the tenants who lived upstairs. A very nice but slightly goofy guy. He enjoyed posing for our camera. See more Sepia Saturday here

What is a Zentangle?

2011-01-14T18:08:00.000-08:00

Here's the definition from the official Zentangle site:

Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest. It was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.
I know this doesn't quite explain it but it is something you have to experience to really know what it is.
I was skeptical when my friend, Suzanne McNeil, first told me about it. After taking a class with her, I was hooked and now I'm completely addicted. It's a wonderful addiction, though. It is so relaxing after a stressful day. If you're interested and want to know more about it go to http://zentangle.blogspot.co

Zentangle challenges

2011-01-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Laura Harms has started weekly zentangles challenges.
I missed the first one but here is week 2.

Draw your "string" using 2 pencils at once.

Week 3 Eyes Wide Shut-
Draw the "string" with your eyes closed.

Week 4- Use the letters of your name to choose the patterns. (I think this is what she meant but I wasn't completely clear.
B- bales, A-arrowheads, R-rain, B-beehive, A-ambler, R-rain dotty, A -alpha tangle(I think)
on the second one I also used "betweed" for the B.

To see more go to http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Oooops! It was Linda Farmer at http://tanglepatterns.com that had the "Name" challenge which I thought was "Diva's" challenge #4. Linda's is a wonderful Zentangle site. She has a great library of patterns.

And to learn all about Zentangles go to http://www.zentangle.com/gallery.php

Some recent Zentangles

2011-01-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

My feelings, exactly.

2011-01-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

Huntington Library and Mark Taper all on one Saturday

2010-12-31T15:56:00.000-08:00

Marge had tickets for a docent tour of the Huntington Library in Pasadena. She had won them at her high school reunion. The Library is a wonderful treasure trove of art, books and gardens. It's most famous for housing "Pinky" and "Blue Boy" but there's so much more. Way more than we had time for on a Saturday morning when we were also on our way to L.A. and the Mark Taper Forum. It was the last show of our season's tickets. It was wonderful--"Harps and Angels" by Randy Newman. I've always liked him, ever since "Short People". Even though he's pretty hard on us short people. If you're familiar with Randy Newman you'll imagine that it was a very unusual, controversial, iconoclastic musical.

At the Huntington Library:
Marge, Jane, Nancy, & I

Our docent, Penny. It turns out that she had gone to school in Pomona, as we all did, and she had given the prize of the tour at the reunion. She had graduated in 1959 , Marge, Jane & Nancy in 1960. Penny's mother had been a teacher at Westmont Grammar School and Jane was in her class.

When I first saw this, years ago, I thought it looked like Nancy. Of course, that was back in the "big hair" days.

Tootie on a tree

2010-12-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does this tree gnarl look a lot like Tootie?

Holiday greeting

2010-12-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Sepia Saturday- Annis Hawkins White

2010-12-11T10:23:00.000-08:00


Annis Hawkins White (1805-1872)

This is my 3rd great grandmother on my mother's side. Isn't this a fabulous coach? I don't know anything about this picture and very little about her. Does anyone know anything about this type of carriage? I wonder if it belonged to her or was used for some special occasion- like a funeral.

She was born in Bridgewater, Windsor, Vermont(1805) and died in Sublette, Illinois.(1872).

See other Sepia Saturday posts here.

Sepia Saturday- Good News, Bad News

2010-12-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

I don't know anything about this cartoon. I'm not sure where it came from or how it got into my pile of stuff. I don't even get the joke. But on the wall near the door is the name of the office (law firm? advertising agency?) and it's "Millman, Stokes & Finwall. That's me---Finwall.

It's from the Chicago Tribune-1981. My step-Grandfather worked there for many years but his name wasn't Finwall, although he was married to my grandmother who had been a Finwall. I think he was dead and gone from the Tribune way before the 80's.

Another ever so slightly odd thing is that my mother had a best friend named Stokes, but this was many years later and in California.

Such a mystery! I'm sure there's a lot more interesting things I could have written about but this was the first thing that popped up- so here it is. A lazy Sepia Saturday!

Be sure and check out all the more interesting Sepia Saturdays at Sepia Saturday

My new house?

2010-11-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

I just sold a condo that I've had for many years and to save the capital gains tax I'm going to exchange it. I had to identify three properties to exchange into. Here's one of them, the most likely.

I've put an offer on this house and am now trying to get approved for a loan. No easy task.

There are a lot of things I like about it but a few problems: no air conditioning; a very, very long way to the main road to get the paper, mail, and take out the trash;

the green color (can easily be changed); lots of big eucalyptus trees threatening to fall on the house; no garage.

BUT the good things are: the most fantastic view which you can enjoy from several decks; a beautiful swimming pool which Nancy says she'll pay for the upkeep of because she's the only one that will use it. She doesn't have a pool at her house;

a nice office area with a fireplace and built in bookcases (here seen from the nice kitchen);

a cute little living room with a beautiful view;

A living/dining area (with another fireplace) that I'll be able to mess up while keeping the other living room clean for whenever a guest happens to show up.;

Also 2 nice bedrooms each with a bath and a deck. Downstairs there are two more rooms and a bath. These could be guest rooms or maybe later, a small apt.
The grounds are very nice and have some beautiful trees (that aren't threatening to fall on the house).
There are two storage sheds which will partially take the place of the missing garage for storage.

Should I buy it if I get the loan?

War is hell, but.....

2010-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Small Works Show at the Brandon Gallery

2010-11-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

I got two things accepted in the Small Works Show.

A collage and a Zentangle (below)

I was very surprised to have a Zentangle accepted. I wasn't sure how galleries felt about Zentangles. I went into the gallery today and noticed that it's been sold. Another surprise. A wonderful surprise! I wonder who bought it. I think I'm going to be sorry to see it go. I don't always like my own artwork but I did like this. The birds were drawn on pages from a Japanese book.

Nancy Kreile, Amanda Fisher, and Nancy at the opening.

Signs from the Rally To Restore Sanity

2010-11-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

A few photos from the Rally To Restore Sanity- Washington, D.C.

2010-11-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

It was wonderful! We had a day to visit some of the great museums. Not nearly enough time, of course. The rally itself was fun, funny and inspiring. So nice to be in a crowd of over 200,000 like-minded people.

Nancy and Connie, my traveling companions.

The subway crush.

At the airport for the trip home.

New cartoon

2010-10-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

I Went To A Garden Party

2010-10-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

A potluck garden party in Nancy Kreile's beautiful garden.

The pretty table setting, with a gift of lavender for each of us.

Nancy Kreile, Jean Hester, Connie Forest.

Also attending, Peggy Kesterson, Nancy Javier and I.

After lunch, a tour of Nancy's very cute house. I was talking too much and didn't take enough photos.

This headboard was painted on the wall by Nancy's talented mother, Anne.

One of Nancy's photographs. It's hard to tell from my photo but it's Nancy's cat's paw peeking out of the bedcovers. Nancy is a wonderful photographer.

I wish I had taken more pictures because Nancy's house was so pretty and she had so many interesting things.

The beautiful garden.

Nancy J. and Connie in the back country.

Sepia Saturday- Sort of a love letter

2010-10-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

Like most men of my father's generation, he didn't often express his feelings. I was surprised to find this "semi" love letter among my mother's keepsakes. It was written in 1944.

Apparently my mother (and we three kids) were staying with relatives in her hometown of Dixon, Ill. while my father was in Watseka, Ill. where he worked. He was looking for a house. These cities were quite far apart so they weren't seeing each other very often. He must have been very lonesome and he made reference to my mother being despondent.

Since this is a little hard to read I'll tell you a little of what it says:

He had written his last letter at work and everyone marveled that he would write such a long letter to a "mere" wife and that if it was a girlfriend it would be different. He replied that she WAS his girlfriend.

He goes on to say that my mother's card playing friends thought he looked lonely and he said he was lonely but none of them took the hint so he thought he was going to keep "baching".

I told you it was a "semi" love letter.

It goes on for 6 pages but mostly about work and house hunting. He mentioned that he looked at a house for $4000 that he thought could be had for $3500. Those were the days!!!

For some reason he enclosed the phone bill and there was a call to Dixon for $1.45 which must have been a fortune in those days. So apparently they were also talking on the phone a lot.

He always ended his letters with a drawing for the kids.

He wasn't much of an artist but I love these anyway.

The happy couple before they were married.

Click here to see more Sepia Saturdays

Art-filled Fall lunch at Connie's house

2010-10-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

Connie invited us to her charming art-filled house for a pot-luck lunch.

The beauty started at the front door which was decorated with delicate glass beads.

A niche in the entryway.

The table was decorated with a Fall theme and a gift of home-made peach jam was at each plate.

Nancy sits below one of the paintings from Connie's wonderful art collection.

Jean didn't feel well after catching a cold from her grandchild. She was afraid she would infect us all so stood at the door with her salad and had to be persuaded to come in. As far as I know none of us caught the cold. We were so glad she decided to stay.

In the background you can just barely see some of Connie's amazing Mexican folk art collection.

I wish I had taken pictures of each and every piece but somehow got none of it. I'll have to go back for a photo session.

Nancy Kreile listens carefully.

After lunch we toured the lovely garden.

A beautifully decorated wall in the garden.

A piece of Mexican wrought iron hangs on another wall.

Back inside and a beautiful painting by a Mexican artist.

Even Connie's cat fit in with the decor.

The rest of the group consisted of Connie and I. I didn't get a good picture of either of us.

A wonderful time was had by all.

But a mosque would be inappropriate!

2010-09-30T14:16:00.001-07:00

Animal House

2010-09-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Here's what all the animals at Banar Designs are doing right now:

Sassie naps in the "in" box on my messy desk.

Baby Kitty rules the roost.

Tootie looks cute.

Artie blends in.

Chloe poses for a cat food ad.

Zoe stretches out on a long box of feathers next to a file of colored paper.

Abbie snores quietly in a basket on my desk.

Ebony quenches her thirst.

A meme ?- 7 things about me

2010-09-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

I don't quite understand "memes" but Doug (http://crazyasacoolfox.blogspot.com/) tagged me to do one so here goes:

7 things about me-

1. Generally speaking, I like animals better than people.

2. I cook so seldom (read-never) that I have to dust my stove.

3. I love to read...books, newspapers, magazines, internet articles, anything.

4. I'm a zentangle addict ( a form of doodling that's supposed to put you in a zen-like state.) I also like other forms of art- collage, watercolor, pastels, drawing, etc.

5. I identify with hoarders-but I don't think I'm there, yet. I hate to throw anything away... I might need it tomorrow. Some people think I'm a cat hoarder but I don't think 6 qualifies.

6. I spent the first half of my adult life living a life just like the T.V. show "Mad Men" in L.A. advertising agencies and design studios. The second half in the publishing and craft kit business with my sister.

7. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and proud of it.

Now I'm supposed to get 7 more people to do this-

I've sent emails to the following people asking them to write seven facts we don't know about them on their blog, then tag seven others. (and I hope they'll forgive me)

Nancy Javier
Helen McHargue http://guacamolegulch.blogspot.com/
Larry http://ldburgus.blogspot.com/
Penny Smith
California Girl http://emptynestevolution.blogspot.com/
Ticklebear http://www.ticklebear4u.com/
Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Ground Zero Mosque

2010-09-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sepia Saturday- Clang, clang, clang went the house!

2010-09-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

This is my Uncle Glenn's house in Chicago.
The copy says : Commuters waiting for a streetcar at 104th and State wonder if they are "off their trolley" when a two story frame house comes rollin' down the track. But it's only moving day for the Glenn Finwall family. Last April, Finwall purchased building for $500 after it was marked for razing. Today, movers start nudging house to 98th and Eggleston from original site at 104th and Michigan.

I remember this house well. My sister and brother and I had many good times there. In the upstairs there was a large playroom between the bedrooms at either end of the house. My cousin, Carol Ann, and I spent many hours playing with paper dolls, many of which we made ourselves. She was a wonderful artist and I think this is where I got my love of art. This may have been the start of my whole career in the art field. I wish I could thank her but unfortunately she died when she was in her early 20's.

Jackie, Danny, Carol Ann and ? on their front porch.


Uncle Glenn and Aunt Phyllis enjoying their back yard.

Her brothers, Danny and Jackie (now known as Glenn Jr. and Jack) were also fun playmates for my younger sister and brother. Their mother, my Aunt Phyllis was a wonderful aunt. She had a freezer in the basement which she kept stocked with popsicles. She loved to go to auctions and find bargains. I think I was also influenced by this because I love garage sales and thrift stores.

If you follow my blog you'll have met my Uncle Glenn. He was the one who, as an eleven year old, saved his family in a car wreck. He also became a wonderful artist in his later years.
You can see his art here

To see more Sepia Saturdays Click here