FLOWER GIRL

 

I am enjoying my morning coffee from my favorite new cup.

This was how my Granddaughter Lauren asked me to be in her wedding.

It's hard to believe it was a whole week ago, yesterday.

Fantastic special memories.

This is the first time using the new blogger.

I sure don't like how it compresses the photo.

I hope I figured this out correctly.

Enjoy your day

A FEW MORE PHOTOS

Here are a few photos from the wedding preparations.

These are mostly for me so I can print them in my yearly photo journal.


My Hubby and I fixing all the napkins for the reception dinner.

Dave fixing the table decorations

Lots of work to make things look "just right".

Love my Granddaughter Amanda.

Arranging the flowers for the centerpieces.

Rehearsal for the big day...

Mark and Lauren..

After the ceremony.

Dave and I...Grandma and Papa...

It was such an honor to be a part of Lauren's wedding as her Flower Girl.

Don't forget to enlarge them.

I'm so glad my Daughter in Law captured some of these moments for me.

I'M BACK....

It's so good to be back.

This last few days has really been a whirl-wind of activity.

Our oldest Granddaughter Lauren got married.

COVID had really put a monkey wrench into every one of her plans.

Nothing was as she had dreamed of since she was a little girl..

But at the end of the whole wedding she said to her Daddy,

This was the best wedding and I had the time of my life.

She lives in Las Vegas, NV and is in management at a Hilton property there.

I will have to wait for the "official" photos of the wedding,

But I took a few of the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception with my phone.

Lauren's dad (our son Steve) drove us..to LV...it's a 10+ hour drive.  Long but we had a great time chatting and catching up on life.

I have to say that the best and most special thing about the wedding for me was....

I got to be in the wedding.  I was Lauren's "Flower Girl"  It was a very special moment for me.

She wanted me to be a part of everything.

I can't wait to show you those photos when they are ready.

Menu from the rehearsal dinner

Everything was served family style...so these aren't my desserts and salad.
Sorry the photo of Steve and his wife Sigrid is out of focus....

My Hubby and granddaughter Amanda and her boyfriend Billy awaiting our rehearsal dinner.

The Bride to be...
Lauren at the rehearsal dinner.

The head chef from Planet Hollywood prepared all the fabulous dishes for the wedding reception.

Ahi Tuna, Steak, green beans, coucus and salad.

It was a meal fit for the princess that Lauren is.

After the ceremony awaiting dinner.

Perfect balmy evening and the air was clear too.

Beautiful bride Lauren, her maid of honor and sister Amanda and their Papa.

My very favorite photo...

My Hubby dancing with Lauren....

This is special because as a rule, Dave doesn't ever dance.

I can't wait for the photos to be ready so I can see them myself and share some with you.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Here's a quote I read today from my Guideposts magazine.

Just some encouragement when things don't seem to go the way we want them to.

On another note...

My ugly bugs seem to be a lot calmer since yesterday....

Perhaps all the wind and smoke from the fires up and down our state

Did something to them...

Maybe it's coming to the end of their life cycle...

Who knows?

At least they don't sting or bite...

They are just invasive and I sure don't like them getting into our house.

I'm taking a break from Blogger for a few days.

We just have too much going on right now.

I will fill you in next week...

So, as I've said before...

To be continued...

RETURN of the BODY SNATCHERS

How's that for a leading title??

We have been invaded by a super ugly bug.

I put out a plea for help on FaceBook and found out our Body Snatchers were

Box Elder Beetles...

A gazillion of them have exploded from our backyard tree.

At least I found out the name of the tree that is so beautiful in the fall

and gives us wonderful shade in the Summer

But

It also has given us critters that have even come into our bedroom!

There isn't a sure cure for getting rid of them, except for getting rid of the tree...

They are small but are also mating fools...

Some people call them Love bugs for this very reason.

Hopefully their love "urges" will soon be passed and they will disappear.

We have sprayed and I have become the "Wapping Gal" with my faithful

Fly Swatter...

Beetles...take that...Bye Bye...

Wap and Splat...

That's how I spent my Sunday in 108F temperatures...

To be continued...

LAST DAY OF BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE #7

I think one week was long enough for the Black and White challenge.

Today is #7...

THE   ALIENS   HAVE LANDED..

You probably have to use your imagination for this one.

It's what I immediately saw when I took this photo.

Can you see the eyes, nose and open mouth?

Can you figure out what this actually is??

It's the trunk of a palm tree.

All the shadows and bumps make it look like something from Outer Space.

Don't forget to enlarge it.

Happy Sunday

Stay cool

Be kind

Love covers a multitude of things.

BLACK and WHITE CHALLENGE # 6

It seems that this week is flying by.

I am already at day #6 of my Black and White challenge.

Its been fun to see things in a monochrome fashion.

Here are two for your Saturday viewing pleasure.

I think one sees things differently when the color is removed.

Give it a try...

I think it's fun.

BLACK AND WHITE #5 and FLASHBACK FRIDAY

Here's another Black and White image from my archives.

My sons and I love visiting old cemeteries.

There is so much character in the statuary.

It's fun to remember this time a few years ago.

Nevada has a few forlorn cemeteries that are worth checking out.

Even though she has seen better days

She was still watching graveside.

I really like her tender look.

The sky does look blown out but it was a gray almost white sky.

Snow was on the way.

Don't forget to look at this one enlarged.

BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE #4

Today is THANKFUL THURSDAY and THROWBACK THURSDAY.

I have added my BLACK and WHITE challenge to the whole kit and kaboodle.

I am thankful for the many strong, capable Women that shaped our world.

I'm grateful for that Pioneering Spirit.

Look at that determined expression on her face, despite the cob webs surrounding it.

I took this photo in the Gold Country of the California foothills .

Remember to enlarge this photo see see the detail.

BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE #3 and WORDS OF WISDOM

I am enjoying finding Black and White photos.

Love to have someone else join in too.

Todays...

Poor Lady..I guess she's lost her head and her mind during this Pandemic.

Thanks for looking...

BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE #2

Here's another photo for my Black and White challenge.

Love to have somebody else jump on this challenge too.

Day #2

The composition isn't the greatest but  it was the best I could do for this stranger's pet...

As always enlarging the photo will show the detail better.

BLACK AND WHITE CHALLENGE

The Photo Club that I belong to had a challenge this week

It was to post a Black and White photo.

This was my choice...actually it was hard to choose from several I like.

When you enlarge this you will be able to see the seams

and delicate hand work on the life size doll.

I believe the face and hands were made from old nylon hosiery.

The farmer is vintage and can be found at the Larsen Apple Orchard museum.

My challenge to you..

Post a black and white photo over the next few weeks.

It hones the eye into seeing things differently.

I'm going to try to post a different one each day for the next week.

Enjoy

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

I know I have posted this photos before

But, I have a lot on my mind today and don't feel too creative.

These 3 photos are from my Hubby's and my church trip to Henche , Haiti.

The year was 2006.

It was quite an experience and we met many lovely people.

I'm so glad I don't have to go down to the river to wash my clothes.

I don't think my neck could handle this way of doing laundry.

Mama has her hands full....

We are really spoiled, I think.

Thanks for looking.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

I will make it short and sweet for my Wednesday Wisdom:

Is this your goal too?

Happy Middle of the Week....

PHOTO CLUB CHALLENGE : RED

The photo club I belong to has a weekly challenge.

Here is our photo challenge for this week.

RED

Since I'm not getting out much to do any photo shoots I had to make do with what was around me.

What could be better than Homemade Plum Jam from our own trees?

Add an antique red glass and see a red reflection shadow..

There you go...

My challenge completed for this week.

RED !!!

SMOKE AND UPDATE

Fires are still raging in California.

Thankfully we are safe...that being said ,

I feel so sorry for others that have lost their homes and livelyhood.

The smoke is still heavy in our area and the air is very still.

Our friends that had been evacuated were able to return and their property is okay.

This photo is from 5 PM Thursday night.

One can barely see the town down the hill from where we took this photo.

Our internet went out during a power outage yesterday.

So glad we are back up and running again.

Enjoy your weekend

Be safe

Be kind

CALIFORNIA IS BURNING

I know my title will have some people saying that's what California deserves....

But

There are many good people in this State.

This post is not about politics or opinions.

This is about the terrible wildfires happening up and down our state.

We are safe but the air quality from the smoke is unsafe and terrible.

We can hardly see across our street now as the day progresses.

The first photo is from last night about 7PM.

Murky and smokey.

This one is from 9:30 this morning.

Acrid smell and I could almost taste it.

It's only gotten worse as the day has progressed.

We can hardly see the homes down the road.

You can see by the heavy shadows that the sun is having a difficult time.

Praying for all of those in harms way.

Praying for the First Responders.

THOUGHTFUL TUESDAY

It's another very hot day today...108F.

This is not my temperature of choice..for sure...

So, I thought I would just post a flower from my archives

to give us something lovely to think about today.

Here's a thought game to get your brain juices flowing today.

Have a great day...

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

Several nights ago we finally had some beautiful color in our sky.

The skies have been so cloudless for quite a few weeks.

It was hot and humid but I sure enjoyed seeing color again.

I missed the most spectacular part which happened about 6 minutes later...

According to my friends.

It had gotten so humid I went back inside.

It's not very often that we have humidity here in the Greater Sacramento area.

I know it's not like Florida or the Deep South....

But, it's plenty uncomfortable for me.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Thankful Thursday and Throwback Thursday.

I am so thankful for old photos that bring back so many memories.

I have been going through a huge pile of old photos lately.

Here's two of me on Christmas Day, 1949.

This became my favorite doll that day.

What a gift for this girl that spent many hours "playing dolls".

Her name was Snoozie and I loved her so much.

I still have her packed away in a plastic tub...

Wonderful memories.

It was a great Christmas.

I also remember this scratchy royal blue taffeta dress.

SOMETHINGS IN OUR HOME

Not too long ago, Sandra of MadSnapper said she loved seeing what was in other bloggers homes.

So I decided to show you two animation cels we have hanging in our hall.

What is an animation cel you ask?

A cel is short for celluloid...a transparent sheet on which objects are drawn or painted.

EACH cel has been handpainted and then photographed over a hand painted background to create ONE FRAME of the finished production.

There are 24 Frames per SECOND of production to make animated movement.

That means that just a SINGLE minute of animation can be up to 1400 separate pieces of celluloid...

each with a unique drawing plastered on its surface....

Now multiply that by 90....

That's what it takes to make a 90 minute full length animated movie.

We are collectors of all things Disney.

The first Cel we purchased is from the Disney movie... PETE'S DRAGON... made in 1977.

This is Elliott the gentle Dragon .

He was created by Ken Anderson.

Elliott is the movie's sole animated character.  Ken was a master at smoothly transitioning

the character with live acting.

Dave and I had the honor of knowing Ken and being able to chat with him at many conventions.


The second cel is from THE LITTLE MERMAID.

The one we were able to purchase is of ERIC the prince in the story.

He is with Grimsby the Prince's elderly adviser and valet.

Max the Old English Sheepdog is also on the cel.

We cherish this type of art because it's a dying almost dead breed.

Since digital has become the choice of the day...

Many of the true artists have lost their jobs.

Digital is a great thing but seeing the work of the artist's hands does a lot for me.

Thanks for looking.  I hope I explained this clearly enough for you to understand.

Don't forget to enlarge the photos to see the detail.

These were hard to photograph because celluloid is glare-y and our hall is dark.

Its a good place to hang these because heat and light make the paint dry and crumble.

SMILE, IT'S SUNDAY

Good morning....

Smile it's Sunday....

Yes, that's my choice for today too.