Holocaust Films

I recently saw this special edition magazine on Anne Frank at the neighborhood grocery store in Mendocino a week ago and had to buy it to read.

CD Storage or Hikidashi Box

CD Storage

A cool way to store up to 38 regular size CD's. Or, you can store neatly folded underwear in the Marie Kondo style. Hikidashi box, Japanese storage style.

Wedding Day Photos!

I can finally post some photos from our wedding. I've been very busy these past several weeks as most of you can guess. We had our wedding to plan, a trip to Monterey for three nights following the reception, a trip to Leavenworth, WA, with John's family the following weekend, then our honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean. What a great time we had on the cruise, too!

It's been back to work since we returned the end of May. Sawdust has been flying in my workshop.

All photos by Ashley Forsyth.

The Ceremony.

I was blessed that my daddy could walk me down the aisle.

New Life, New Beginnings, New Adventures

Many of you remember when my loving husband, Michael, passed away suddenly from a massive stroke in August of 2017. I went through a dark period of much grief and sadness and missed him terribly. I still love and miss Michael and I will rejoice when we will see each other again in the Lord's presence.

However, God had another plan for my life and I have a story to tell you.

I received a phone call from our pastor (Dan) when Mike was on life support that week. Dan asked me if I knew this other couple (John and Diedre Eckle) at church and began to tell me how the wife had suddenly died in a motorcycle accident while vacationing in Alaska. They were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary on a cruise. I didn't know the couple or really who they were. I did attend a couple of the Alpha tea events for ladies a few times with my daughter and her in-laws over the years but I never met Diedre. Diedre was the Executive Director of the Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center in our area. Link here to the story about Diedre.

Five days later, August 8th, Michael died and I had my own sorrow to deal with. Throughout the next several months though, I would often remember and think of John and his family. They were periodically on my mind and I remember thinking more often of John and how much he must miss Diedre and how hard it must be for him. I knew. I was going through the same thing. I knew how very hard it was.

A week after Easter, on April 8th, I was passing John at church and we made eye contact and so I figured that was a good time to introduce myself to him. I wanted him to basically know that he wasn't alone and I wasn't sure if anyone had told him that someone else had lost their spouse just days apart. We spoke very briefly.

On June 10th, our church had a pot luck bbq after service. John was there and we ended up chatting a little bit near the buffet table and before we said goodbye, he asked me if I'd like to go out after church some day to talk about our experience since we were both going through the same thing. I told him that would be fine.

A little unknown detail: My friend, Jeanne, was trying to get me to say the exact same thing John said to me at the potluck that since we were both going through the same thing, how would he like to go out and talk about our experience. What is so amazing is that John said word for word exactly what Jeanne was trying to get me to say to him, which I don't think I ever would have. That has to be God!

The following week, June 17th, Fathers Day, I went to the water fountain to get a drink and when I came back inside the sanctuary, John was there and asked me if today would be good and I said yes. After church service we went to Panera Bread and had an open conversation about what we both went through. I think we talked for about two and a half hours.

The next day John came to my house to see my wood shop and we've been texting, talking to and seeing each other every day since. He had me to his place the following Sunday, June 24th, and cooked some salmon for dinner. I don't know if he planned it to be but it was a romantic dinner. He played love songs from the 70's and 80's, music I hadn't heard in a long time. Soft love songs. I really didn't know what was happening. I wasn't looking for love. He wasn't looking either. It all happened so fast for both of us. We have so much in common, it's incredible. There is a mutual attraction, too, which is very nice.

It's kind of funny but John kept telling me to go slow. Darn it! He's so good looking, how could I go slow? Plus, he was always playing romantic songs around me. (I think he tried but couldn't go slow either) haha

John asked me to marry him on December 6th and I said yes. We're getting married April 27th! Can you believe this? I can hardly believe it. I'm getting married!

John and I continue to be amazed by our own story of how the Lord brought us together. We believe He planned this from the beginning. We believe it's God's design that took Mike and Diedre from us so that we would know each other.

Our pastor, Dan, did both Mike and Diedre's memorial service and is the one that will marry us.

Some people might not get it or understand or even like it, but we know we're in His plan for our lives. Who can really put a time frame on something like this? Plus, we weren't looking.

Where this is going to take us, our future, is still a question mark but it's going to be an adventure.

Don't worry, I'm not going to quit woodworking. I love what I do and John wants me to continue with it if I want to, and I want to. He will probably join me in some woodworking eventually. He has some furniture plans up in his head that he'd like to try out. For now, he's pretty busy with his own new job adventure. Recently John was offered a position in a company as CFO and accepted it. So...we have lots of new things going on in our lives.

We have yet to go ring shopping....lol

July 4th, our first hike up Pena Adobe Park. Super windy!!

July 9th, our first bike ride.

July 22, John went hiking with a friend in Auburn and brought me back some Indian Paintbrush.

Our second bike ride together, August 20, 2018.

September 29th at Seven Artisans. Our first dance.

Trip to Tahoe. October 2, John took me to see a tribute band his friend was playing in.

Dinner in Tahoe.

A Little Glamour., Mi Amor.

Two new color samples to show. Stained Mahogany with Brown or Leaf Green Trees, Deep Purple Doors and Gold Gilding surrounding the cabinet edges, doors and trees for a more glamorous look.

All Boats

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Point Richmond

Bodega Bay

My late husband, Michael, took the above photo over a period of several years. His goal was to take a photo each year on the same month to show how it deteriorated over time and make a calendar of it. One year, several later, he went there and the boat was pretty much gone, broken up and washed out to sea.

Monterey

Michael took the above and the below photos as well. He gets the credit for these three, the rest are my photos.

Monterey

Bodega Bay

The story behind this boat is the man was drunk and ran aground in Bodega Bay. I believe he got into some kind of trouble over this.

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

There's something about a photograph. A moment in time. It can never be repeated no matter how hard you try to recapture it.

Ready for Rain

Hot August. California has seen it's share of recent fires and we're not even into the fire season yet. October is always the worst time of year for fires here. The ground is baked and dry from a fairly hot summer and I'm looking forward to fall and winter. Sweater weather. Boots and tights and short skirts.

I'm sure we'll see more triple digit days although it's cooled off for now. The highs are only in the mid 70s to low 80s this week which is a treat to enjoy.

It's been a long and slow year for me. I guess slow is good, right?

River Cats Game

Yesterday was sort of a lazy day around the house for me. Slow but steady. I did the usual. Hit the gym first thing in the morning came home and had a bowl of oatmeal. I've been making large batches of oatmeal to last me throughout the week. Each morning either before (if I have time) or after the gym, I heat some in the microwave, add nuts, a teaspoon of pure maple syrup and some dried powerhouse berries. Delicious and nutritious.

I was able to clean the bathrooms and the floors yesterday. That made me feel good because I like a sparkling clean house. My house isn't always sparkling but it's clean.

Today I'm going to clean the ceiling fans. There are certain things around the house that I clean at least twice per year: ceiling fans, curtains, baseboards, vent grates, window jams and trim and wash down all the doors. Is that the norm? I don't know but it's how I do it.

In the evening I went to the Sacramento River Cats game with my friend, John. His company had a party suite with food and drinks. We sat on the balcony overlooking the game and munching on homemade potato chips, popcorn, veggie and meat snacks and other goodies along with a glass of wine.

The first thing we saw upon entering the stadium were these sweet young dancers and I had to grab a couple of shots with my phone. I wish I'd brought my good camera. I think I'm going to have to start carrying my camera with me. It takes much better photos, less grainy and better for cropping and has a zoom lens if I need it.

August Monday

I'm off to a new and fresh start to my blogging. I'm going to do my best to try to stay regular with it.

This past year has brought some very big and unexpected changes in my life and I'm still sorting my way through it all.

My granddaughter and me.

May Flowers

Another late start to my morning. Feeling a bit lazy, drinking my tea and working on the computer before I actually get to work on things. I have a custom order for a shore bird painting and I'm going to work on that today. My panel is prepared with gesso. I gesso and sand layer after layer on my masonite to prepare it to accept the oil paint.

Day Trip

Helllooo there, I've been very neglectful of my posts. Sorry.

Our Camping Trip

This was my first camping trip in the 5th wheel without Mike.

Haitian Artist, Leonce Love

It's been so long since I've posted anything. To be honest,

Title and link: Kouzen Zaka (Father of Agriculture) 

Black Diamond Mines Regional Park Antioch California Plein Air Oil Painting

I began the day early,

Just Around the Corner

Getting ready for spring. New beginnings.

New Plein Air Paintings

Here's my most recent pieces along with a cabinet I designed to hold original oil paintings.  These were all painted on location, en plein air at various locations around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Blue House link

Awesome Blossoms - Paint Out

The alarm blazed at 6:30 a.m. and promptly I shut it off.  Drowsily

Sonoma Paint Out - The Farm

Today's paint out was at 'the farm' in Sonoma. A beautiful and private location. It was a bit windy out there today but not unbearable. Many artists showed up to paint, I was thrilled! So happy to finally meet some of my artist friends in person and be able to paint alongside them.

Church Birdhouse

Yesterday I made this cute white little church birdhouse. I'm having fun designing and making these. Each one can be customized on the church color and window trim/roof colors.

New Item for the Shop!

Today was a good day. I woke up early enough to get my butt to