Ketchup = Catch up

The problem with trying to write about a long trip, I find myself thinking, is you (I) have to be sure you (I) don't run out of steam before you (I) actually finish writing about the whole trip. So far, I think I've gotten just half way through our trip up the Coast.

I need to regroup a little, get back to editing and posting the photos from the trip and checking my notes to finish sharing the stories.

In the meantime, October was really long. LOOOOooooOOOng. And, wow, where did November go? Maybe finishing writing about the trip will be a Start-of-2012 project. [Ahem]

October:

Mini pumpkins -

Finished crocheting a scarf -
(taking a nice photo of it is on my to-do list)

Got sick -
(I'm sure you can imagine it without the visuals)

November:

Rain -
(See? It does rain in Southern California)

Turkey, with all the trimmings, twice -



Got to 500 miles Run/Walking for the year-
(photo already posted, below)

December:

So far, Big Wind (Pasadena was called the epicenter of the windstorm).

[sigh]

Magenta ribbons

We just finished up Summer term. With Senior Show, Graduation and interviews, that adds a few more layers of craziness to life, in a good way. The image above was (I think) a final project for an installation art class, sheets of colored paper inset into the huge black metal beams that make up the iconic structure of The Building. It stayed up well beyond its final presentation, through graduation, adding a really nice touch to my many treks across the bridge those last few days.

In adding that link, above, I noticed that the background image at the school website is much like my photo:



See the reflection? Ooooh.... nice ...



so it's safe to say that this student project made quite the impression.

Summer graduation is kind of like that: just a bit more lighthearted and festive. Even the building couldn't resist getting a little gussied up.

So. I'm slowly going through the photos from our trip, piecing together details, wishing I'd taken more coherent notes (ie. complete sentences or whole paragraphs, or even on consecutive pages in my travel notebook). It's slow going.

I did run across a great blog post that I wanted to pass along, though. I wish I had written it and taken those photos; do you ever run across writing like that? You wish you'd written it? Couldn't I have given up going on and on about our new camp beds and written something more thoughtful about the Sequoias, like this? I read this and went, "Doh!". Thankfully, that quickly gave way to, "Ooooo, look at those photos...". We were in the same place, having the same thoughts about these lovely, majestic giant trees. I'm grateful that one of us got out the words that really need to be said. Go and click on over, and enjoy a visit with the giant Sequoias.

You'll thank me. And you'll thank Alissa (thanks, Alissa!).

Hibernating

I've been hibernating. Yes, Fall might have finally arrived in Southern California (this summer was pretty mild, truth be told). J and I are still expecting one good blast of 90+ degree temperatures that will cause one more tremendous explosion of germinating spores, giving me one last bout with hayfever before it's all said and done. Ai.

Hibernating.

Which involves fattening up:


After 6 weeks of searching not-as-obsessively-as-you're-imagining for a lone chocolate cupcake in celebration of my birthday, here we go! Finally! I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have chocolate frosting and sprinkles as well, until this fine cupcake rolled off its plate and onto my white shirt. The basically white oreo icing was just fine, thank you.
Okay, and, no, I'm not really fattening up.
And you're also thanking me for not posting a 'Large' sized photo of the cupcake, while we're at it. Go ahead and click it, I dare you! [drool].

and pondering:



and gathering with friends:


Patti Digh's reading in San Diego and Jane LaFazio snapping a photo of Patti's watercolor paintings (Patti is taking Jane's online Sketchbook and Watercolor: Journal Style class).

and worrying about the MoneyPlant, which seems to be in some kind of distress, dropping its leaves ...

My art is in it!

Here's some exciting news:
My art is published!
I answered Patti Digh's call for art for her new book, “Four Word Self Help - Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives”, and my art is in it!

The publisher describes it as “Pithy, provocative, poignant advice on a variety of self-help topics—in four well-chosen words”.

Four words. Yes, even I can finish off these chapters.

And the art! What a treasure! This is no skinny collection where the cover boards are thicker than the actual body text of the book. There's plenty of these little four-word morsels to savor, with longer essays added throughout the mix.

You must get yourself a copy. Must.

My copy arrived and I tore the packaging open and flipped through the pages and went “Woo hoo!”.

J peered over at me, moseyed over to my side of the couch and flipped my hand so he could see the cover. He exclaimed, “Oh, that Patti D… DigHh person! D-, um, Dig-HH?”
Me: “No, 'Die'. Patti 'Die'.”
Him: “Oh, right. Okay.”
Me: (Losing patience and pointing very animatedly)
“Look! At! My! Painting!!”
Him: (eyes getting big) “Ooooooo.”

It's not so hard to imagine that scene, right? All the same, I insist that you reenact it yourself.

Once you have your very own copy of this lovely book in your hands, turn to page xi and let out a good “Woo hoo!” for me.

Woo Hoo!

It's ..

beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Here's a thought: The Virtual Cookie Exchange is a holiday cookie/yummy exchange. I'm still working through a couple of boxes of chocolate samplers. Even just the idea of cookies, real or otherwise, ehhh, even for a chocoholic like me, it's a bit too much. I say let's enjoy the real nummies and cookies and food and company, and we'll celebrate with photos and documentation of all sorts of Virtual yummies from all the holidays, all the way through New Years. In the meantime, Marta has been doing some nice coffee mugs. They'd go so nicely with cookies, eh?

Virtual Cookie Exchange!

After several years of wanting to do a holiday open house and getting sick each year (lying dejectly with the flu on the sofa when I ought to have been baking instead), I've decided to try it the smart and all-inclusive way. This way I can still plan a party, without having to clean; can still bake, but not have to save all the cookies for one big party.

I mean, let’s be real:
Saving several batches of cookies in the freezer around here would be impossible.
[shaking my head]

So, you are invited to the 2007 (Progressive) Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange!
Where else but TheFridgeDoor, eh?

Create a tasty little treat* to share:
You can bake, draw, paint, sew, draft it.
Whatever. I won’t be picky.
You could even discover it and share a photo of what you’ve found.

Then, send a digital image of what you’ve created to me.

Or, better yet, why don’t you share a few warm holiday memories and plan a Blog Entry to bring to the Cookie Exchange?

In December (let’s say starting around December 10th), we’ll share all the yummy goodies, nice little coffee breaks for the busy, bustling holidays.

I’d be happy to post images, but it’d be even better to share a list of blogs and postings. It’d be a great excuse for everyone to visit each other and share a memory or two.

Go ahead and forward this post to your crafty and artistic friends and have them whip up a batch of creative (digital) yumminess, too!

My guy, reading the artwork, said "Virtual Cookie swap? Sounds disappointingly low-cal..."

Best wishes to you all.

*Tasty little treats like these, and not like these.

Thanks!

With the holidays pretty much here, it's time for us to indulge in rituals of comfort, food, tradition. Every Thanksgiving, I wonder if this is the great American holiday. Forget the Fourth-of-July and corn on the cob, barbeque and burgers and dogs! No matter where you are in the world, I imagine that everyone has at least a teeny craving for roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie. At least, this is what I like to think - that we're all sitting down to a national dinner.

There are the quirky traditions, too, like olives, celery sticks filled with cream cheese, the universal method of drawing a turkey (see above), eating too much, turkey soup a few days later, and everything else. There's so much at stake in preparing the food that I've seen all-out mayhem break out in kitchens. It seems more and more that there's more stress and expectation involved in preparing this one meal than Christmas! OMG! And sadly, that stress and craziness has become part of the ritual for a lot of people, too. Sigh.

People do pause to say Thanks, but it really has become just a moment, that lingering pause right before we all start digging into all that food [Lips smacking: Nom nom nom nom!].
Sigh.

There's a lot of gratitude floating around the blogosphere, though. I don't think we need to save it all for just one day. Expressing Thanks is a good thing; it keeps you humble, happy, keeps things in perspective and spreads the light and warmth of a smile on your day.

I am thankful for my man, his warm hands, warm words and warm heart.
I am thankful for notes of courage, friendship, encouragement and support that I get.
I am thankful for the beauty that others capture and create and share so openly, work that inspires.
I am thankful for the chance to teach and to continue to learn.
and I am so thankful that for the better part of my job, I get to draw! Yay!

What are you thankful for?

Now! Let's get to the cooking part of it all!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! xox -w

HB2Me!

... to me!

When was the last time you saw a 4" diameter birthday cake?
Isn't that just the cutest?
Weren't you wondering why I was coming into all this good stuff?

Just back from a weekend up in the Owens Valley and beyond. We stopped for an afternoon meandering through Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite), where I discovered ...


... where Blind Contour Sheep come from.

We stopped by Lake Sabrina, outside of Bishop.

See the photos:


here!

Secret hopes

What do you secretly hope for?

- a portable/table easel
- sushi
- a new wallet
- great, funky/designer-y black leather shoes
- a completely guilt-free afternoon at Burke Williams spa
- getting my car cd player fixed
- ginger blossoms
- some time with Jack
- something really purple to wear. Stylish, but purple.

And then, sometimes, well, gosh, just lookit!


A paintbox (Karen claps, “Yay! Finally!”)
and some really, *really* cute shoes.

There are deeper wishes, indeed, (balance, affordable healthcare, quiet, strength, financial security...)
but for today, I’m going to keep it light here, and just share some of the fun stuff that’s come my way.

Here's a really nice read about even better secret hopes that come true.

xox, -w

A matching pair

She: You know what I was doing last Valentine’s Day?
He: Hm. Sorting your socks?

[detour:
If I were sorting my socks on Valentine's Day, you might be tempted to suspect that part of it might have been that there weren’t too many other distractions with which to canoodle away. Mayyyyybe. Well, I happen to have a great washer and dryer and really enjoy doing my laundry. The reality was closer to the notion that I would have much rather been doing something I enjoy - doing laundry and sorting socks - than putting up with, how shall we say, mmmm, really inadequate company. No, I’ll just say it: really lame guys. At least with laundry, you know you’ll end up with something nice, clean, warm and comforting to snuggle up with, right? ... um, Anyway.]

He, continuing, smiling, with full knowledge of all that: … because we both know how much you enjoy sorting your sock drawer.
She: Maybe. No, wait. Well, you know I used to do laundry on Fridays, and Valentine’s Day was in the middle of the week last year, so … probably not. Nope, no socks. That’s not what I had in mind.
He: Okay, then. What were you doing on Valentine’s day last year?
She: Well, gee. Hoping for a man like you!
He: … shucks …

Ooooo, that’s so mushy!

No, I don’t make these up.

====

I’ve been reading different thoughts on Valentine’s Day that have been posted. I know there’s a lot of romance in the air, but am also mindful that there are difficult emotions involved too: childhood spitefulness, empty detachment in adults, defiant bravado, disappointment.

[sigh]

I wish everyone a bit of warmth; one good peaceful moment filled with gratitude and love.

But (bounding back), well, remember, it is Valentine’s Day, after all. ;)

Warm hugs and socks to you all!

And especially you! Mwah!
xox,
-w

Ain't it grand?

Wendee's birthday out at Balboa Island, from a coupl'a weeks ago.

You guys have a safe weekend out there.
-w

Like we needed an excuse?

Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.