Random Thoughts 7/19/2012

Granddaughter and great-granddaughter were in California recently visiting with our daughter. This video made by granddaughter makes us laugh as we're the great-grandparents. But as you know, I don't show much in the way of Caroline on here so as not to bore you but I am a very proud, doting great-grandmother so you'll have to indulge me once in a while. ;-) We are pretty sure the dogs were so severely traumatized they refused any walks thereafter with Miss Caroline. BTW, our son says our granddaughter and I sound exactly alike. So now you know what I sound like.

 *

Just some random thoughts today.

I cannot tell you how many times here on my blog I get questions from people who post as anonymous, have no blog, and/or don't leave me an email to respond to their question. I truly try to find a way to respond but that just doesn't happen. I don't know if they read every post so I can't post an answer on one of my posts. Please, if you want a question answered from me, leave an email address or ask me by sending an email, which is on my sidebar. I'll definitely get back to you.
*

Oh, and another thing. I monitor every single comment. EVERY ONE. So if you're trying to advertise your real estate site, your computer software site, removing stickers site, payday loans site, rapid cash site, garage storage site or your  tent trailer site, don't even bother. It'll never see the light of day on here.
*

I read a lot of espionage, mystery and thriller books. I always wonder how good a spy I would have made. I'd love to work for the CIA. Wonder if they take 70 year old great grandmas? That would be a perfect cover I think!
*

I recently found a fashion blog. She just posts photos of fashion, no writing or text, just photos. Not really any advertising either. But down at the bottom there is a "Donate" button. For the life of me I can't figure out to what a person would be donating. Her blog? Her lifestyle? I have no idea. Nice try though. I suggest she go out and look for a job instead of begging.
*

Every kid is a frustrated lawyer. Example:
Why do you ask?
How do you know that?
What about it?
I don't have to tell you anything.
Sigh...
*

Power tools. We women know how to use them; we just prefer to let the men get their hands dirty and have the broken nails instead of us. Why do something when men love doing it? That way my hands stay clean. I have my own tools and they're clean. Hubs are greasy, dirty and gross. Need I say more? Hmmmm?
~*~

Isn't this bouquet and vase exquisite? What a stunning display for a table setting.

Lacy ornaments in a basket.

Another refurbished, decorated bottle. So simple to do with just any bottle.

A cottage for rent in Brittany, France.

Beautiful vintage window with pansies and lace curtains.

A crown table display for a birthday party. Cute!

Lovely potting shed.

Scrumptious-looking cake.

I. Would. Love. To have this fence and flowers in my yard!!!!

I need to make more of these for a friend who is having a baby in September. They are easy to make, just time consuming since I make mine by hand.

THIS is the color of yellow I love with pink! Gorgeous.

Another sweet little cottage in France.

This is the inside of a Carmel, California, cottage. I wish everyone could pay a visit to Carmel. It is like another world there.

Or you might like this little cutie.

I have some old tiny wine crates I got in Napa Valley. I think I'll paint them white and display some things like this in them. Adorable.

 *

Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. ;-)
~*~

My Son, the Golfer

My son loves golf. I mean L.O.V.E.S. golf. His dream job is being a golf pro. And he'd do it for nothing if given the chance. As an aside, you may like to read this post I did over 3 years ago now on what happened to him on his birthday. This is my son in Scotland with the happiest smile on his face.

He and his wife own care homes in Southern California. They have been very blessed in life financially. We, his mother and father, attribute this to his wife's ability, not his. ;-) He doesn't have to work but in his mid-forties he decided to go back to school and get a nursing degree because he was bored staying home. He works at a hospital and absolutely loves it. He likes taking care of the elderly and listening to their stories. (My son is a great story teller also. His father, hubs, rambles!) He's now finishing up for an advanced degree in nursing. And both of my kids have never, ever been slackers. They worked hard for everything they've attained in life.

Anyway, he went to Scotland last year for two weeks to golf. He loved it but since his wife wasn't interested in going, his one son was in college (just graduated UC San Diego) and his other son was in school, he went alone. He missed them greatly. So this year, he's going for only one week. And here is where the story begins.

I tried calling him last Friday night and no answer. So I thought maybe he had left already and just left a message for him to call me. He emailed me, his wife and a couple of friends/golfing buddies Saturday morning. He was in Scotland and had already played a round of golf trying to "acclimate" to the area/golf course/time, etc. He never wastes time when a golf game is available. Never. The email mentioned for me to email him and he'd keep in touch the best he could with a seven hour time difference. Cell phone availability was spotty at best.

But in the email he mentions his son and his son's girlfriend. He hadn't heard from them. He was talking to his wife in this email also and asked if B. and girlfriend were in France or had gone on to Italy. I was stunned. I didn't even know our grandson was going to Europe. I hate it when my kids and grandkids fly or go out of the country! Hate it. And now I have my son and his son, my grandson, not only flying but out of the country together? I may just smack them both when they return. I think this is definitely attributable to my fear of flying and not wanting to leave the good ol' USA ever again. Don't nag me about this; it's my phobia and I can have it if I want!!
*

I love this cute living room. So quaint and homey.

Another little town in the UK somewhere with pretty cottages.

Eye candy for you.

Yep, another bathroom you can view. I know, I know. How many bathrooms can you view? A lot. They're all delightful, so hush up!

This home looks like it got chopped off on one side, but truly unique. It's in France.

What to do when a girl doesn't have a closet in her tiny apartment. Display all her clothing in a unique fashion. It has to be kept tidy that way.

Another adorable kitchen somewhere in the world other than the U.S.

A pretty blue kitchen area.

Small dining area with refurbished painted chairs.

More eye candy.

Where do some people get such darling plates, place mats and boxes? This is adorable.

A pretty, tiny thatched cottage with daffodils in the front yard.

I'm pretty sure I couldn't deal with a chartreuse-colored refrigerator but it is unique. The purple is a complementary color for chartreuse.

A gorgeous color of blue.

Cute vignette. I wonder if this is a child's room.

~*~

Couture #8

 You might enjoy reading two posts I have regarding couture and why I'm doing it: here and here.

But I'm pausing the couture series for a while. But it'll be back in a few weeks. If this distresses you, please seek the help of a qualified therapist. ;-) Just wanting to post some other posts instead of the couture.

Enjoy! But remember to view the details and the fabrics as well as the construction of the gowns and dresses.

~*~

Lovin' My Camera

I've loved cameras and photography ever since they became digital. I was absolutely horrible at photos before. When I started purchasing digital cameras, I started with a Kodak and it was fun and much nicer than the old regular cameras. Then I started purchasing Canons and never looked back. I love Canon cameras! I've bought up probably 2 or 3 times now and currently have a EOS Rebel XS with 10 megapixels and paid $500 for it and that's about twice what I paid for the previous Canons . It's a very good camera and adequate for me as I'm not a professional photographer and cannot justify buying another one at this point. I love this camera, absolutely love it.

My friend, Stacy, has had Nikons for a while. She's a professional photographer and very good at it. But when her Nikon broke right in the middle of a family reunion holiday and she sent it off, the cost was extraordinarily high for a replacement for the part that broke. It cost her close to what she originally paid for the whole Nikon.

She has now switched to Canon and loves them also. While I could only sing the praises of Canon as a non-professional, she listened and acted. But she paid $1800 for just the body with no lens and it was a used one. Then she purchased a lens. I lust after her camera, but it just isn't feasible financially for me, a non-pro. She also rented a very wide lens to take on another family reunion this summer. She loved it. I don't know if she'll purchase a wide angle lens but before she sent it back she was kind and gracious enough to rush over and snap my living room in wide angle. I love how the photos came out. I have never, ever been able to capture this small living room like her wide angle 20 megapixels did. She's my best bud forever now! This is that photo:

This book is the first one I bought on decorating so to speak. Oh, I'd bought plenty of the hardback ones with glorious photos from a book club, but this is the one that touched my heart as no other one could. It is enthralling to the nth degree. I've bought several for giveaways and only have 2 left. So, I just ordered 3 more to give away. Mine is the original cover and the new ones have a different cover but they are all the same inside. I plan on sharing these in giveaways soon. Not in this post, but soon! So stay tuned. It changed my life in the way I decorated, thought about decorating, lived my life and thought about others and living in general. It's wonderfully written and I believe you'll enjoy it. But don't go buy one because you just may win one from me!!! BUT to be fair to my Followers, you must be one to win. I love the people who decided to follow me. They definitely get preferential treatment. That's just the way it is. Loyalty counts in my book! ;-)

I have no ability with growing anything, but hubs can grow anything, especially our gorgeous roses.

As most of you, I love roses more than anything and have a small rose garden in front of our home.

This one is ruffly. Not a good photo but it was taken weeks ago so it is what it is. Focus is off. You just try taking a photo with the camera in one hand and the flower in the other and see how good YOU can do. ;-)

This one is gorgeous with the ends of the petals sort of scalloped. When it's open, it's very, very full.

This one has a tinge of yellow at its center. Beautiful when in full bloom.

Deep pink rose color on this one.

Just another view of one bush.

In full bloom with a yellow tinge in center.

A secluded and lush patio surrounded by palms and succulents. Probably in a southern part of the U.S. I actually love living in the Idaho southwest desert. We have an abundance of trees but the climate is dry and not humid. Perfect for me, except in the summers with 103° heat. I then rarely venture out of doors.

Isn't it cute how this homeowner incorporated the red glass in the windows and doors adding a little pizzazz there?

A beautiful shade of blue. I think this is in a European city mainly because of no cabinets, the sink and water faucet and the appliances are a bit different.

A stone house with a tile roof that must be in a desert somewhere. I love that door also, very sturdy looking.

Squeeeeeal!!! I have several unfinished small birdhouses I need to decorate and have hubs put on a shelf like this for our extra keys. Fabulous!!!!

*

 The person who invents underwear that comes out of the dryer right side out should be made President for life, knighted and given sainthood!
 ~*~

Linking up with SOS and No Minimalist Here and At The Picket Fence  
and 2805