Pictures Lost

Yesterday we spent the day with our family at the Western Railway Train Museum's pumpkin patch and of course brought along my trusty little CoolPix camera.  I took a few pictures on the train and tons of pictures of Angelina, Aiden, the scarecrows, the large hay maze for climbing on and through, the little critter petting area, the face painting and so on.  At some point toward the end of the day, I was looking through my pictures, only to discover that all of my pictures except the couple I took on the train were missing.  All my pictures gone just like that as though they never existed.  You can imagine how bummed I was and still am.  Oh well, I went back to the petting area to try to recapture a few more and took a look.  Yep, it showed the new pictures.  Came home and just uploaded to my computer only to discover those last few I took near the animal area are also gone.  Vanished.

Happy conductor.  He loves his job!

Flipping the chairs back for the return trip.  100+ yr. old train that used to go across the San Francisco Bay Bridge ferrying people back and forth.

Guess it's time for a new camera, something I depend upon.

Feel like cookin'?

Finally saw the movie, Julie and Julia, a week or so ago and ever since watching it, I've had this irresistible urge to cook and bake.  If anything, it's an excuse to wear my pretty little aprons.  ;-)

The house smells wonderful!  On Wednesday I made Italian Gravy, yesterday; Minestrone Soup (delicious) and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies with walnuts (you can't eat only one) and today I made Chicken Saute Sec, Chocolate Cream Pie and a delectable Fresh Strawberry Pie.  We now have quite a few containers of freezer dinners tucked away for those days that I don't feel like or don't have time to cook.  Next week:  Chili Beans, Pasta Vazoole, Chicken Stew.

Tonight we're going to a little dinner party and I'm bringing both pies to serve with freshly whipped and sweetened whip cream.  My very first Fresh Strawberry Pie with homemade glaze:   

Isn't it luscious looking?

What a Love Story!

We watched another classic flick the other night.  What a treat!  Starring Greer Garson as Paula and Ronald Colman as Charles Rainier.

Paula meets wounded amnesiac patient, Charles.

Charles is a wounded World War I soldier that has no memory of his past.  He meets beautiful music hall star, Paula, and they fall madly in love.

Gorgeous Greer Garson 1904-1996

She's oh so beautiful and classy!

Charles goes in search of a job in a nearby city, gets hit by a car and loses all memory of his time spent with Paula.

Dashing Ronald Colman 1891-1958

Due to the accident he regains the memory of his previous life, goes home to be with his wealthy relatives and proceeds to manage the family fortune without any memory of his three years spent with Paula.  In his pocket is a key...and opens which door, he knows not.

Their lovely little cottage in the country; the three years he lost memory of.

Here's the twist: Paula learns of his misfortune and secures a job as secretary to be ever near him even though it's torturous not tell him she's his wife.

Patient Paula.

A very lovely movie.

Parking Lot Confusion

Went to Raley's on Thursday afternoon to pick up something quick for dinner, worked all day, no time to cook.

As I steered into my parking space, an old lady dressed in a classic button front shirt and casual khaki pants, was at her trunk fiddling with some contraption, struggling to fit it into a sack of some kind. Heading into the grocery store I overheard someone asking if she needed help.  Took about 45 min. in the market, paid for my things at the self service checkout, walked to my VW Cabriolet - she was still there.  By this time, the trunk is now closed, she's wandering around checking her car and what looked to me, mumbling.  No one is nearby except myself.

The weather was warm, I loaded my bags and started the engine.  Backing out I notice she seemed a little confused, at least by all appearances, so I inquired if she needed help with anything.  The woman informed me her husband was inside, was just making certain the car was locked and she was about to go inside the store.

Warily keeping my eye on her, I drove off.  In my rear view mirror I noticed she began to walk in the direction of the store, but as she got near the cart return area did an about face and turned toward her vehicle.  What the heck???

Halfway home, couldn't get her outta my mind, remembering Mom who has Alzheimer's Disease, I made a U turn just before Mike's Barber Shop and drove back to check on her.  Ripped open a bag of Lay's Potato Chips to munch on because I was hungry.  By the time I arrive, she's inside her car, fidgeting and mumbling.  Parked my car, walked over to say hello and I ended up telling her that I was concerned and introduced myself.  We chatted for about 15 minutes, her husband's a writer, she's very active and mentally alert, they play chess, etc, blah, blah, blah, a very nice woman of 88 years.  As I'm starting to get anxious of the lunch meat and sliced cheese packages sitting inside my hot car, the husband, Tom, arrives.  He'd been inside the pharmacy filling a prescription and had this, who in the world is this person speaking to my wife, look on his face.  Margerie half-assed related the story to him and then sincerely thanked me for it.  "If only more people would look out for others, the world would be a better place" she sweetly replied.  We said our goodbyes.

Michael and I had chicken sandwiches and chips for supper.

My Old High School

Heading up to the maintenance office to get permission to go into the auditorium.

Years of wear going up and down these stairs.

Taken directly from Wikipedia:

It was at the Alameda Board of Education meeting held on March 6, 1874, that the suggestion to open a ‘Preparatory Department of a High School' was first presented. On April 17, 1874, C. Y. Johns was elected the first principal. Classes began with 52 students, in July 1874, in a rented room over a drugstore on Park Street known as "Boehmer's Hall".  The building still exists today as the China House restaurant.

Boehmer's Hall was only temporary. Already a new building was being built on a site on Santa Clara at Chestnut, completed and occupied in 1875. The high school shared space with the Grammar Department in what became known as ‘Haight School', a site still occupied by this school today. The class of 1878, totalling nine students, was the first to graduate from Alameda High School.

Beautiful Alameda High - Ate lunch many a day on these steps.

Played here in my childhood.

Elegant giants.

It wasn't long before the number of students enrolled in the high school outgrew the space available at Haight. Temporary quarters were located at Porter school, located on Alameda Avenue, by 1900. A campaign was started for a new separate high school building.

With the help of the high school student body, a bond was passed in the city for the new school. The cornerstone was laid in 1902 on the new site at Central and Walnut. The building was dedicated in 1903 and occupied in time for the December 1903 term.

Neoclassical Architecture

Continued growth in enrollment required an even larger campus. In 1925 a new bond issue was voted on. The new school, dedicated in 1926, comprised three connected buildings, including the original 1903 structure which was refurbished to blend with the architectural style of the other two. The architecture, designed by local architect Carl Werner, is early-twentieth-century Neo-Classical Revival in nature, evoking images of ancient Greek temples with Ionic columns in front of the Kofman Auditorium, a facility known throughout the Bay Area as one of the best of the local playhouses.

Gorgeous patina

Our old lockers.

This morning was spent at Dr. Mitchell's office in Alameda.  Nearby is my old high school and I couldn't resist the urge to visit for some shots.  Seems like forever I've admired these old, massive buildings and regarded them with a sort of awe.  Growing up, we lived directly across the street from Porter School (In 1973 Porter burns down while I attended and was in the 7th grade) and later became the back of the high school.  Very advantageous to live so close, I could walk home for lunch if I'd wanted or could run back home if I forgot my homework and still have a little time to spare.  In grammar school, before Porter burned down, I played Two Square for hours and hours with my friend, Craig Huffman.  When session was out in the summer, I'd cross the street to the school to wander amongst the old deserted buildings if I was feeling melancholy, somehow it made me feel better.  Sounds strange, I know.

Today was a special treat in that I was allowed to go into the auditorium and wander around freely to snap pictures.  A nice lady with the maintenance dept. even turned on the lights for me and it was a good thing she did because it's very dark inside.  The auditorium is another remarkable section of this antique dwelling.  Take a look for yourself:

Taken from above within her office peeking through the screen.

Taken from the stage.

Suspended lights!

Like a flower!

Always loved this and have read it many times.

Have never been on this stage until now.

I can remember watching this clock, waiting for the bell to ring.

A raised relief on each side of the stage.

Magnificent!

Each outer chair has an element of design, row after row.

Like a ghost.

Noteworthy alumni:

Jim Morrison of 'The Doors' attended Alameda High in 1958 (did not graduate here)
Debbie Fields creator of 'Mrs. Fields Bakery'
Sharon Tate class of 1961, actress, Manson family murder victim
Dick Bartell Professional baseball player, New York Giants

Gold digger or true love?

The Heiress

1949 The Heiress

Starring Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift and Ralph Richardson in The Heiress.  One of my all time favorite films, Olivia de Havilland in her best performance ever, hands down.  It's the middle of the 19th century and Catherine Sloper (de Havilland) lives with her emotionally detached father, Dr. Sloper, (Richardson) in Washington Square, an upper class neighborhood of New York.

Dr. Sloper has never gotten over the death of his spouse and is constantly comparing his sweet daughter to the wife whom he idolizes.  His wife was beautiful, Catherine is homely.  She was talented, Catherine's only talent is her embroidery.  The wife was outgoing, witty and delightful company, Catherine is extremely shy and tongue tied in social affairs.  It's obvious to the viewer that no matter what the daughter does she'll never live up to her father's unrealistic expectations.

Olivia de Havilland as Catherine

In love

To complicate matters, Catherine lives on a tidy inheritance left by her mother of $10,000 per year.  In the event her father passes away, she stands to inherit another $20,000 annually and the very opulent family home. 

According to the father, it's not likely that Catherine will ever marry because of her extreme shyness and lack of social skills.  Due to the lack of affection from the father, it's only natural that when handsome and smooth talking Morris Townsend (Clift) comes along and gives her the attention she so desperately craves, she falls fast and hard in love.

Dr. Sloper suspects that Morris is after Catherine for one thing only: her riches.  It doesn't help Catherine that her unintelligent and hopelessly romantic Aunt Lavinia (Mariam Hopkins) encourages her to pursue this relationship regardless of her father's voiced suspicion.

Montgomery Clift as Morris Townsend

With a little hard work Morris obtains a devoted promise of marriage from Catherine.  Morris inadvertently finds out Dr. Sloper plans to disinherit Catherine if she marries Morris against his wishes.  On the eve of their planned elopement, she eagerly waits for him to arrive to sweep her far, far away from her father whom she has come to believe has never truly loved her. Morris never appears.  Catherine is shattered and heartbroken.  A day or so later Catherine and her father get into an argument to which she challenges him to alter his will.  He refuses and in fact has informed his daughter that he is dying. 

Several years pass and Catherine is now a very wealthy woman.  Guess who comes knocking on her door?  You got it!  Morris has the nerve to confess his undying love for her and that he only deserted Catherine because he didn't want her to lose her inheritance.  He's conceitedly wrapped up in himself that he doesn't notice her coldness and how she backs away from his every touch.  She lets him believe she still loves him, sends him on his way believing she's going to pack her belongings for their wedlock and honeymoon. 

When he returns, she calmly has the door bolted leaving Morris desperately pounding it as he repeatedly cries her name.  She finishes the last embroidery stitches, gathers her lighted glass oil lamp and steadily ascends the stairs retiring for the night.

Bitterness and revenge

Olivia de Havilland gives an impeccable performance.  She begins her character as the insecure and shy Catherine (blank face, meek, fading into the background) which transforms into the madly in love Catherine (gleaming eyes, vibrant and facial expressions full of life) and finally into the jilted Catherine (hardened features, vindictive eyes, full of self assurance in her determined movements).

I highly recommend this movie even though I've told you so much already!  You won't regret it, in fact, I plan on watching this one again someday, for the brilliant acting skills alone. 

Six Weeks Sober

My son, Seth, keyboardist for the band Six Weeks Sober.  Performed live on Fox News here and Take Five on ABC here.

Seth is second from the left side in the tank shirt.  Isn't he handsome?

Two new and very pretty things for our shop!

Handmade Mirror Towel Bar Shelf

Arts & Crafts Style Lamp

Solid Wood Laundry Hamper

Our newest furniture item!  I've been begging Michael to make this for me for the longest time and now that it's finished, we want to offer it as a regular item in our shop.  It turned out just as I'd dreamed and imagined it would and I painted it in our Antique Lemon Sherbet.  This one is mine to keep!  ;D

Laundry Day

The Will to Survive

I have a liking for stories of survival in the midst of incredible odds and The Island on Bird Street is one that moved my soul.  Alex, his father and uncle, Boruch, live in German occupied Poland during World War II.  The German soldiers are emptying the ghetto and transporting people on trains to be taken away to concentration camps.  It's during one of these raids with all the commotion surrounding him that Alex finds himself separated from his father and alone in the ghetto fighting for his very existence.  He ends up in an abandoned, bombed up building on Bird Street that becomes his shelter and hiding place.

He encounters various characters in the ghetto that come and go, but throughout, his constant companion is Snow, his itty-bitty and intelligent pet mouse.  Alex must hunt for food all the while keeping himself hidden from the soldiers.  His main objective besides his will to survive is to be reunited with his missing father.

Jordan Kiziuk plays Alex in the movie and does a marvelous job.  Alex is a child that has seen and felt it all, hunger, devastation, hatred, greed, selfishness, murder and utter isolation in a time of one of the worst wars in human history.  I was drawn in immediately with his innocent and sad eyes, his beautiful smile, his infectious laugh and Alex melted and won my heart completely.  I loved this movie.  

The Island on Bird Street was written in 1985 byUri Orlev, an Israeli author.

Calendar 2012

Here's a calendar we created using the best of the best pictures from our recent two week vacation. 

Honey's Treasures Calendar