Potpourri

I like oatmeal and I save it for cold mornings.

It is an oatmeal day!

*

Christmas is just around the corner. 

Time to share a reproduction vintage postcard.
The artist on the original card was Margaret Evans Price
 and it was published around 1922.

"I'd like to share with you the joys of Christmas day,

so I send this little card on its

Merry Christmas way."

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

**

We girls (Cassie and Mina and moi) got an early Christmas present

and you might say that Teddy got one too.

It was time for Teddy's six month ultrasound on his heart.

He has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and is on medication.

He passed with flying colors yesterday.

His wonderful vet said there was very little if any change.

The medication is working.

Yippee! 

***

I haven't decided if I'm finished decorating. 

While I'm deciding, 

Cassie burrows under the tree skirt and moves the non-breakable ornaments

on the bottom of the tree onto the floor.

"Just helping, Mummy!"

****

The Rice University Owl football team is playing for the conference championship

tomorrow. I'm going. I'll probably freeze my fanny and other parts of my anatomy off,

but this doesn't happen often and I want to be there to see these scholar-athletes

get the job done. The football program here has the third highest graduation rate

for college football programs in the country.

Go OWLS.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Potpourri

It's Friday!

This week has really flown by.

Time for some this and that with a little randomness thrown in. 

*

Believe it or not, I never had a Barbie doll. 

**

Halloween is just around the corner.
I'm keeping my eye on some Halloween decorations at my favorite gift shop.
Hoping one or more of my favorites will be 50% off one day!

***

But, if I really told the truth -- the best reason to visit the gift shop is the *manager*, Lucy!

Isn't she cute!!!!!
Talk about a perpetual motion machine.

****


I'm going to join another challenge in November ...
Art Every Day Month.
I've been looking at some of my art and craft books.
I'd like to try some new techniques.
This should be a good way to use up some of the *stuff* I have.



*****

Here's another reproduction Halloween postcard.

The artist of the original postcard was Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle (January 8, 1865 - January 7, 1934) an American illustrator/commercial artist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Not only is her style greatly admired and well recognized, today she is recognized as the most prolific souvenir/postcard and greeting card artist of her era. From the Halloween Postcard Book published by Darling & Co., Seattle.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Thank you Nancy!

Wishing all of you well and much joy.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Potpourri

It's Friday.

A little this and that with a dash of randomness is called for.

*

I've been sort of blah this week.

Our wedding anniversary was Tuesday.

We would have been married 30 years.

I call it our legal anniversary as we lived together several years before we married.

Gosh, darn it all.

I seem to miss Mr. Dragon more each day.

Life has gotten easier -- more used to him not being here.

But my heart still cries out to him.

**
Now for some fun.
Halloween is just around the corner.
It's been awhile since I've shared a postcard.

This is a reproduction postcard from a book of Halloween postcards

published by Darling and Company, Seattle.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

***

Here's my version of a happy witch.

I really do enjoy playing with water color.

The witch and the cat both look like they've been hitting the hard cider a little too much.

Those eyes!!!

****

The weather has been lovely.

Teddy and I have been sitting on the balcony watching the world go by.

Cassie and Mina haven't been interested in sitting with us.

That's fine.

I'm afraid that Mina would see a squirrel and she'd be over the edge in a flash!

She's an action first and think about it after kind of girl. 

*****

Another lovely day today and I'm going to take advantage.

Off to the Japanese Garden and the Zoo!

YeeHaw!

Thank you Nancy!

Wishing all of YOU well and much joy.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Random Things

It's Random 5 Friday.

This and That time!

Can I hear a big YEEHAW?!!!

Looks like Spring has finally sprung.

More tulips for you.

This is a postcard of tulips at Tulip Town, Mount Vernon, Washington.

The photo for this postcard was taken by Jon Gnass and was published in

Tulips of the Northwest: A Postcard Book.

Many thanks to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

**

Several of you have asked about the EARTH PRAYERS book that has

been showing up in my photos.

I've had this little gem for over 20 years (copyright date of 1991 and its first printing).

It was edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon.

It contains 365 prayers, poems, and invocations for honoring the earth from authors like:

Walt Whitman, T.S. Eliot, Margaret Atwood, Robert Frost, Annie Besant, May Sarton,

Dylan Thomas, Starhawk, D.H. Lawrence, Thich Nhat Hanh, Black Elk --

you get the idea!

It is divided into sections: Ecology, a Sacred Place, Passion of the Earth, Healing the Whole,

The Elements, Blessing and Invocations, Praise and Thanksgiving, Benediction for the Animals,

Cycles of Life, The Daily Round, Meditations. 

There is a calendar at the back of the book with suggested readings.

Did you know that today is the birthday of John James Audubon?

"It is neither spring nor summer: it is Always,

With towhees, finches, chickadees, California

quail, wood doves.

With wrens, sparrows, juncos, cedar waxwings, 

flickers,

With Baltimore orioles, Michigan bobolinks,

And those birds forever dead,

The Passenger pigeon, the great auk, the

Carolina paraquet,

All birds remembered, O never forgotten!

All in my yard, of a perpetual Sunday,

All morning! All morning!"

~Theodore Roethke

***

Speaking of books -- do you like cookbooks?

Do you have a favorite?

I've been going through all my cookbooks.

Making a stack of those that I love and can't part with -- yet -- and all the others.

The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celebration and Healing

by Grace Young is one of my favorites.

Lovely photos, great recipes and wonderful family stories.

I also have

Stir-Frying to The Sky's Edge: The Ultimate Guide To Mastery, With Authentic Recipes and Stories

by Grace Young.

Another winner!

****

Looks like our nice cool spring is over.

It is heating up and the humidity is rising. 

It can't be perfect all the time!

*****

Horticulture tour at the zoo tomorrow!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Random Things

I'm joining Nancy at Rural Journal for Random 5 Friday.

Do you have a bucket list?

One of the things on my list is tulips.

Yes, tulips.

I've often thought it would marvelous to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands.

I also figure it would be easier for me to visit the tulip fields in the Pacific North West.

Like this:

This is a postcard of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon.

The photo was taken by Jon Gnass and I found the image in TULIPS OF THE NORTHWEST:

A Postcard Book.

Can you imagine?

Field after field of tulips.

Heaven on earth!

(Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday)

**

I went to the grocery store and while there decided to check out the cut flowers.

I found more daffodils.

They were a little past their prime, but I couldn't resist.

Along with the daffodils, the Easter decorations were half off.

Now I ask you -- how could I pass up a bunny wearing tennis shoes?

***

One of my favorite cozy mystery series is The White House Chef by Julie Hyzy.

FONDUING FATHERS is the latest in the series.

Fun characters, good background story, good mystery, believable amateur sleuth.

Highly recommend but be sure you start with the first one

(STATE OF THE ONION)

and read them in order.

****

The garden fairies are very happy.

The Gardenias have started to bloom in Musashi's Garden.

*****

I'm going to the zoo today.

It is going to be on the cool side with low humidity.

Perfect!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five Random Things

It's Friday.

Sit back and relax.

I have some random, this and that, things for you.

Thank you, Nancy!

*

Since today is Good Friday and Easter is Sunday,

here is a reproduction vintage postcard celebrating the holiday.

No artist, publisher or date was listed.

Can you hear the music?!!!

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

**

Sometimes the kitties think simplest toys are the best.

Like an empty box.

In this case, it was a waded up piece of paper.

I think the sound got Cassie's attention.

I threw it across the room, Cassie fetched, and we had a game going that's lasted all week.

Of course, the other two had to get in on the act and two more pieces of paper gave their all in

two furious games of soccer for Teddy and Mina.

***

I mentioned that I finished a counted cross stitch project.

I couldn't share it with you as it was a birthday gift.

The gift has been delivered and here is the project all finished.

This is a kit I purchased from The Stitchery.

****

I'm taking part in the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap.

This is my first postcard swap and the reason I liked it --

I could use photographs of art I had previously made.

Five postcards (goes well with 5 random things) could be made of one image or more.

I made five different postcards using 4 Index Card a Day images and one tea image.

Kat Sloma put the swap together and I should be seeing postcards in the mail by mid April.

I'll share as they come in.

Thank you Kat!

*****

I've started reading As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis Devoto

Food, Friendship and the Making of a Masterpiece edited by Joan Reardon.

What a lovely book and what lovely letter writing.

It really makes you think about the lost art of writing ... and writing letters.

I'm taking the letters a few at a time.

Wishing YOU well and much joy this holiday season.

Happy Spring!

Five Random Things

I have Five Random Things for you today.

Sit back and relax!

I've been stash busting.

All of this yarn was left from the Christmas afghans I made two years ago.

I like lapghans and thought there was enough to make one for me.

Not bad!

It's just simple granny squares.
It is a little lop-sided, but then so am I.
It fits nicely!
I finished it just in time -- the days are getting longer and warmer!

**

One of my favorite things to do when the weather cooperates

is to walk into my Village and have breakfast or lunch. 

I was leaving the restaurant with my ice tea to go in one hand and a book

in the other when a very handsome man in a three piece suit walked into the restaurant.

He was tall -- basketball player kind of tall.

I am short -- as in getting older every year, shrinking, now under five feet tall.

Mutt and Jeff.

I said "Good Morning".

He said "Good Morning".

And then he was opening the door for me.

I said "thank you very much".

And he said "you are welcome very much".

Wow.
(I could have opened the door using the *back end* method.)

Now, I'm no spring chicken and I'll tell you ladies --

I appreciated a very handsome man with good manners.

His Mama taught him well!

I was smiling the rest of the day.

And, my baseball Owls won their game that evening.

***

Maybe it was the luck of the Irish or perhaps the Easter Bunny made an early visit.

 I won the Martha White giveaway on a Semi Homemade Mom.

Mina had to supervise as I unpacked the goodies.

The blue Martha White tote bag held all these goodies.

There's a t-shirt, an apron, muffin cups, a cupcake timer, 6 packages of

Martha White cornbread mix, spatulas, wooden spoons, hot pads, grocery lists, recipe holders.

Martha White has recipes on their website. 

It's a good thing that I LOVE cornbread! 

****

Since St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner,

here is a vintage reproduction postcard for you.

Many thanks to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

*****

Lastly, I am reading

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

by Candice Millard.

It is not my usual kind of read -- it is not fluff!

I'm the first to say that my American history is not very good.

I remember very little of what I learned in school.

I knew Teddy Roosevelt was a president and some thing of a wild man.

This book is fascinating - a real look at his personality and an amazing tale of

exploration in the Amazon along the River of Doubt.

Candice Millard is an historian and a former writer and editor for National Geographic.

She's made the whole adventure come to life. 

I am half way through the book and had to take a break and come up for air! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

This and That

You probably heard me yell a very big

YEEHAW

over the weekend when I found gerbera daisies at Home Depot!

I have a lovely orange gerbera, but I wanted some other colors.

Jackpot!

Now I just have to keep them happy with a freeze coming this weekend.

*

I love taking photos.

I am a definite photoholic.

But what to do with all of them.

I had a lovely book made of my favorite garden photos.

What else could I do other than just printing out my favorites?

I decided to try having one printed on canvas.

It was an experiment to see if the color was true.

What about size?

Thin or thick wrap?

I picked a photo I'd recently taken of the Shoebill Stork at the Houston Zoo.
I was very pleased with the color.
Next time I'll get the thick wrap and have the photo printed larger than 11 x 14.

He looks like he's going to walk right off the wall!

**

I had a surprise in the garden this morning.

Can you see him?

When I first saw this bird several years ago, 

at first glance I thought it was hummingbird.

So small and so quick.

It is a Ruby Crowned Kinglet and how lucky to see his ruby crown.

He must have been in the bath first and was drying off here -- showing off his crown.

He didn't stay long.

Zip!

***

Friday means Postcard Friendship Friday

and I have a special one for those of you still in the midst of winter.

My sista went to Kauai recently and sent me this reproduction vintage postcard.

The original was titled Isle O' Dreams and was first published around 1939.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

*****

I'm still coughing.

I'm really tired of it.

Calgon take me away (and take the allergies, too).

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Yungang Grottoes

I have a very special Postcard Friendship Friday to share with you.

My dear friend, Vivian, is a Fulbright Scholar studying in China this year completing her PhD.

I first met Vivian at the Museum of Fine Arts where we both worked on updating and

reinstalling the Asian Galleries.

We also spent a good deal of time temple hopping in Houston.

With a large Asian population, the city has many beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temples.

When Vivian left for China she asked what I wanted (besides tea) and I said

POSTCARDS!

Vivan was able to vist the amazing Yungang Grottoes in Datong city in the Shanxi Province.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 252 caves and 51,000 statues that

represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries.

For a student of Art History, Buddhism and Archaeology -- what a wondrous place!

Vivian sent these to me in early December and they are just arriving.

Talk about the slow boat FROM China!

The Buddhist tradition of religious cave art achieved its first major impact at Yungang, 

where it developed its own distinct character and artistic power. The Yungang cave art represents the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from south and central Asia with Chinese cultural traditions, starting in the 5th century AD under imperial auspices. At the same time it vividly illustrates the power and endurance of Buddhist belief in China. As Buddhism spread over Asia, it was able

to successfully assimilate with the local traditions and Yungang is a good example.

You can read more about the Yungang Grottoes here.

You can find many photographs of the grottoes by "googling".

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

I'm also joining Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you well and much joy!

This and That

I've been waking up to foggy mornings.

Once the fog burns off the bird bath and fountain gets busy.
The robins have really enjoyed the fountain.

I added a pop of color to Musashi's Garden with a couple of geraniums.

The crochet baby blanket is finished.

This was a kit from Herrschner's called: Lil' Lullabies Baby Blanket.

The crochet group meets Saturday and I think I'm going to use this pattern

to use up some stash yarn ... with a few changes.

I have a thing for lapghans and think this pattern will make a very good one.

*

I had a lovely lunch with some museum friends this week 

and while I was there I visited the Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces From The Prado.

The exhibitions closes March 31 and then is off to Brisbane, Australia. 

The Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia by Alonso Sanchez Coello

greets you as you enter the exhibition.

*

Lastly, I have another postcard for you from the kiss box.

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing all of you well and much joy!

This and That

It's Friday and the sun is shining!

YeeHaw!

After a week of dark, dreary, cold (for us) days it is nice to see the sun.

So, what am I going to do today to celebrate the sun?

I'm going to sneak a quick walk into the village and perhaps have some ice cream!

I'm working on a baby blanket. It's a little different in that the edge is made first

(the granny squares) and then the body is crocheted (easy, peasy chain and single crochet).

I like the pattern and think it would be a good stash buster lapghan.

I've started reading Prayer of the Dragon by Eliot Patison.

This series set in Tibet is one of my favorites.

I've been saving two books in the series waiting (and hoping) for another in the series.

YES!

There is another! 

I've been looking around the house (closet searching)

for decorations for Valentine's Day. 

The snowmen from Christmas are still out.

It is still winter!

But, I did come across my "Box of Kisses" published by Chronicle.

40 reproduction vintage postcards that are perfect for Valentine's Day.

He looks like a very happy fellow!

I love the fashions on these cards.

Look at the gloves and beaded bag!

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing you well, much joy and a little sunshine!

Happy Yule!

Yule

The Winter Solstice celebrates the rebirth of the sun.

The cultural winter holidays that share this Solstice time

focus on the return of light and the birth of something precious and holy.

We are offered a time to connect with each other.

Feast

Make Merry

The earth rests, dreams.

We smell wood smoke, spices like cinnamon, clove, cranberries, tangerines and oranges.

Green that never dies celebrated with balsam, pine, spruce, holly.

It is a festival of light.

The Sun -- Son will return. 

Light those candles.

Get out the strings of electric lights.

Make the winter season a season of light.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

This postcard is from the Victorian Design Christmas Postcard Book 

published by Darling and Company, Seattle.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a Happy Yule!

This and That

Here's a little James Taylor for you to enjoy while you read!

Music

*

How do you feel about Christmas cards?

I love them!

I like hand addressing the envelope,

writing a short message on the inside of the card.

I put a short Christmas letter together for those I don't see often during the year.

Emails are nice, but I miss the personal touch.

I love receiving Christmas cards.

I get excited about figuring out the postman's timings! 

What gorgeous card, what beautiful message will I find in my post today?

It's like receiving a smile in the mail.

The simplest things in life are often the most magical.

What joy that simple Christmas card can bring!

**

Speaking of beautiful cards.

Here is a reproduction of a vintage postcard.

Looks like they are off for a day of fun.

Delivering packages, decorating a tree, walking in the snow

and all with a furry friend.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

***

I love snowmen.

I love Christmas cactus.

They look happy together!

****

I found a crochet group that meets twice a month

at my favorite breakfast spot in my Village.

They are a fun group of ladies and they sure know their hooks!

The last two meetings, I've been taking my Santa mug rug/coaster/hot pads.

Finally, they are finished.

I made a whole bunch of them using my stash yarn.

Jingle, Jingle and Ho-Ho-Ho!

*****

A  couple of holiday links for you today:

The first one is from a dear friend, Karen Harvey Cox.

Karen has made an advent calendar for all of us with her beautiful art.

Welcome to The Gift of an Advent Calendar here.

Poppytalk again this week for winter scenes in Mason jars.

I love the VW bug with the tree on top!

Your holiday photos are probably already taken, 

but here are a few suggestions from the Focusing On Life Group

on taking holiday pictures.

*****

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a fun filled weekend.

******

Okay kitties. We still have some more decorating to do. 

Everyone hop to it!

Leave the Christmas Cactus alone, please!

Nap time is later!