A Day With Pam and Don

Our long walk to the waterfall near Point Arena Lighthouse.

Cows in the field encounter.

Big Sinkhole (foreground) Point Arena (background)

Big hole at the bottom (is it a sinkhole?)

We made it.  See the waterfall spilling into the ocean at the right?

Waterfall.

The smart ones dressed warmly.  Me: my ears were not protected from the wind.  Ouch.

Don and some sort of observation panel near the waterfall.

College observation center.

Wild ocean iris.

A charming woodland path.

Evergreen tree with unique looking pine berry cones.

Troublesome Pine Tree

Looks like PG&E won't be able to take the tree out until fall, however it sounds as if they will do it for us because of the high voltage lines the tree grows through. 

Finished!

We're going to put the shed in this corner.

New landscaping coming soon.

The fence is in.  In the top picture, in the corner behind the fountain is going to be a new shed that Michael and I are going to build.  More storage!  We're working with PG&E to remove the pine tree.  Every year they have to come out and trim the tree away from the wires so I'm trying to get them to remove it for free persuading them that it's in their best interest to do this to save PG&E time and money.  I think we have a pretty good case, it's a high voltage line and connecting from pole to pole and goes through our neighbor's yards as well.  We're supposed to hear something by the end of next week.  Cannot wait! 

Once the tree is out, we can build our cute little shed.  Then the grass (with weeds) will be taken out and a low maintenance yard will be going in.  One with paths that lead all around the yard to various spots; fountain, hammock, tables and chairs, etc..  For the paths we're thinking of re-purposing our bricks from the patio and various areas around the yard along with some homemade mosaic stepping stones that I'll be making.  I love doing mosaics; birds, suns, flowers will be the focus I think and maybe a face or two or three.  I will show pictures as we progress with the tree, the shed, the yard, etc.. 

Helpful Tips

Got this link from someone on Twitter;  50 Amazingly Helpful Time Tested Tips for the Kitchen

Psst...I'm dying to try #15 relating to popcorn.

A Handful of Dust

Last night we watched: A Handful of Dust.  Set in the 1930's it tells the story of Tony and Brenda Last.  They live in his family mansion, Hetton Abbey, which is an example of Victorian Gothic architecture.  An acquaintance of the husband whose name is John Beaver, invites himself to Hetton for a short visit.  John and Brenda begin an affair which concludes with a bleak and tragic ending for Tony.  I really don't want to tell too much more in case someone decides to rent it.  Kristin Scott Thomas, Angelica Huston, Judi Dench and Alec Guinnes are the movie stars I'm familiar with that star in it. 

The title of the movie is an allusion to T.S. Eliot's 1922 poem The Waste Land.

I will show you something different from either

Your shadow at morning striding behind you

Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;

I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

 

 

Standing Sentry

Wooden Soldier Skittle

It's Hot

We've had an unusual spring here in northern Ca., all the way into the middle of June; lots of rain, cold, wind.  Finally summer is here and it's hot.  I've had a nagging little headache all afternoon, I suppose from the heat.  Michael is enjoying the heat, he's loving it.  He's actually outside cutting down the ivy in preparation for the new fence.  He came home from work, had dinner and is working outside right now.  I feel guilty.  I should go help him.  I think I'll grab a glass of lemonade and check out one of our new books on garden design to get some ideas for our new yard.  That's work, isn't it?  Coming up with a plan, someone's got to.

My Michael

My Blue Hydrangeas

My Little Woodland Day Lily

Fence Project

There were some delays in getting our fence completed.  Finally on Monday we'll have the new fence in.  Yay!

We took off to go camping last Thursday and our truck broke down (turbo ceased) just shortly after we got on the freeway.  Our 5th wheel is in the dealership's pkg. lot while our truck is being fixed.  It seems that every time we head out to go camping something happens.  New Year's weekend started with a flat tire and ended with an accident.  Not a good way to begin the new year.

What We're Watching

Berkeley Square

Drizzle Again.

Been a gloomy day with some drizzle off and on.  One side of the new fence is completed and next week the rest of the fence gets put in.  We worked on some orders, got a few things shipped off and pulled some weeds in the front yard.  I'm going out to work in the garage now.  Have a couple of wine racks to paint and another Dirty Little Pig, to paint.  This one I'm doing in our newest color, Antique Cream Soda. 

My first Dirty Little Pig.  Oink!

Petaluma

Drove to Petaluma to drop off some things at The Find.  It's a charming little consignment shop that takes our things.  Janet has been wonderful to us.  Drop by if you're ever in Petaluma.

Here's some snapshots from our day;

Just a cool shop window.

Antique Chicken Hatchery.

I want to make a cacti display.

Rainy Day Dinner - Vintage Set Table for Four

It's been raining all day, unusual weather lately for California in June.  Can you believe we're still using our heater?  Having our friends, Gary and Jan, over for dinner tonight; thought I'd make it special and set a pretty table with some vintage linen, plates, silver and some pretty vintage cloths from the 30's.  Lot's of hand done needlework in these two pieces that I laid on the diagonal and placed my vintage linen place mats at each setting.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  The fresh flowers are from our garden.

My favorite hand carved birdies that Michael made.

Wooden Knobs

We got a lot of these at an estate sale and are available for use on our shelves and breadboxes.  Choices available are from light to dark wood.  We will use the larger sized knobs on the breadboxes as that would look very nice. 

New Fence and Backyard!

Yep, we're tearing down the ivy, the beautiful ivy which made our backyard like an English garden.

It's been a tough decision but we realize it's time.  The ivy is out of control no matter how much we trim our side of the fence back, it's become a real monster.  Some of the branches are as big around as a tree trunk and it's pushing the fence down and rotting the wood.

We've decided, not only are we going to change that area of the yard but the whole backyard is going to get a new look.  We're taking out the grass (weeds, too) and putting in curving paths that lead you around to various places such as a hammock, an outdoor dining table and some raised planters.  I finally get to grow my own tomatoes along with a few other vegetables.  I'm so excited!

 

We're thinking about making our raised beds for the garden out of stone, similar to this.  Won't that be beautiful?

Mr. Black Cherry; A Pirate Tin Man

My newest tin man pirate crafted from an antique oil can, antique beer can, old fishing lure for his earring, old tin, recycled tin cans and part of an antique table leg for his peg leg.  Love this guy!

Pretty Oil Painting

What's up.

Went to an estate sale this morning.  The poor lady had fallen in her backyard and hit her head many years ago, the neighbor said she was never the same after that.  Her husband has been in a nursing home for some time now and the wife had been in a home as well.  The house has sat empty for the past five years.  A time capsule.  The dear lady recently passed away and her husband is still alive and in excellent mental health with a good sense of humor.  The neighbor shared some information about the couple as we were waiting to go inside.  On a recent visit to the care home he told us of how the husband had joked with him about how "it's not so bad here."  The old gentleman said, "The ratio of girls to men is about 9/1."

Some people might think it's a little morbid or give them an odd feeling to go through the personal belongings of a stranger.  Doing dishes at my sink tonight the thought struck me that one day after I'm gone people might come into our home and someone might pick up the very bowl that I had just washed and want to buy it for a buck or two.  Is that an offense to me?  No.  I'd be glad that someone might enjoy the things that delighted me, that is, if my children don't wish to have any of my junk.

That's the funny thing, we go to these estate sales all the time.  I ask the person running it if there are children living and don't they want anything here?  The answer is invariably the same: they don't want any of it, "it's not to their taste."  Here we are today with people like us going through their things and discovering new treasures for ourselves or others to use and enjoy.  So...   

This hair dryer belonged to the former lady of the house.  Don't you just love it?  Can't you picture her sitting at the kitchen table with her hair in curlers sipping some tea and going over her errands and chores for the day?  

1950s or 60s GE Deluxe Hair Dryer with Bonnet

Wildflower

Have you seen this movie?  It's such a tender love story.

Raggedy Ann and Andy - Vintage Love

Aren't they so sweet?

tea and scones

Ever since the tea party on Thursday I've been craving tea and scones.  Being a relaxing Saturday as it is, I went ahead and made a double batch of homemade chocolate chip scones and now I'm enjoying a nice cup of tea to go with one of them.  Or two.   Why is it always a 'nice' cup of tea?  Oh, here's a site I just found you might like: A Nice Cup of Tea