Merry Christmas

Just a few Christmas memories of a very young me interspersed with a little Christmas decorating. How well I remember...

Trying my best not to nod off during midnight mass!

I don’t care if I did grow up in Hawaii, Santa did not come in on a surfboard or an outrigger canoe! He flew in with a team of eight reindeer and landed on the roof. I know because I’m sure I heard them one Christmas Eve!

My mother’s one rule when decorating the Christmas tree, tinsel was not to be thrown on willy nilly, it went on one tinsel at a time!

And while we were decorating the tree, we listened to two Christmas albums, one was a children’s chorale and the other was the Jackson 5. I can still hear Michael Jackson singing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

I remember making festively decorated candles with my mother and using milk cartons as the mold.

Christmas dinner was usually a repeat of Thanksgiving, lots of turkey and stuffing, yummy!

Waking up Christmas morning very early and the torment of having to wait for my parents to get up.

Sometimes my father wasn't able to join us on Christmas morning because he worked as a pilot and was either working or on call. It pretty much was like that on any holiday.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a life-sized stuffed dog, a poodle that had a little squeaker on the tip of its tail.

I loved watching a Christmas Carol every year. It was an old black and white, filmed in the 50’s and I shiver every time Scrooge says…are there no prisons, no workhouses? My other favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas.

I would like to wish everyone of you…

Peace,

Love,

Joy

and much, much happiness.

Merry Christmas from Bonnie Sadie and The Gato

I'm back!

Unleash the hounds!

It's good to be back!

The reason for my abrupt disappearance is that real life took over - I accepted a job. The reality was tho I flourished in blogville, realsville was another matter. So off I trudge each Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 to a job that may not be my dream job but it is the job that pays the bills and other sundries.

Since returning to the work a day world I’ve noticed a few things….

Hosiery: Have you noticed no one wears stockings anymore? I always wear pantyhose or tights when I am in anything that closely resembles a skirt or dress. My sister says it dates me and I guess I am old school in that regard.

I hear the 70's calling my name - remember when L'eggs came in an egg?

My wardrobe: I have not worn any of my work clothes in almost two years and I discovered something BIG! My working wardrobe has become a little ill fitting. In other words I must have lost some weight! While that’s GREAT it also presents a dilemma, I NEED new clothes.

If only!

Lunch: Ok, have you ever noticed people just chilling in their cars having coffee, reading, writing bills, whatever. I always thought that was a little weird but I must tell you that I have since discovered the joys of having lunch in my car - I know, just plain weird! But it affords me a chance to chill, get a bite to eat and read my latest book. It’s also warmer in my car than it is in the office so I get to warm up a bit. My car has suddenly become more than a vehicle that takes me from A to B, it’s become my own little sanctuary.

Wait a minute, I'm NOT the lunch! I sit in my car and have lunch!

The dog and cat: Kitty is just fine and has adjusted to my new schedule. Sadie though is a creature of habit and has gotten used to walking twice a day. Now I must get up extra early to do a quick walk around the block. She cannot just go in the backyard, she MUST take a walk or she will pout and things may get dicey in the house if you know what I mean.

Sadie and Kitty in front of their window on the world but check out the computer in the upper left. I got that in 2000 but it seems so clunky now.

Getting up on time: UGH , so hard to do now that the weather is chilly and it’s the rainy season. It has become more and more difficult to kick those blankets off at 5:30 in the morning.

I would like to send a SHOUT OUT to some pretty awesome blogger friends who have inquired after me whilst I was on my little hiatis. They are...

Sal, who is about to become a mom, at Candycane is Married
Anita sitting pretty at Castles Crowns and Cottages
Barb crafting up a storm at The French Elements
Helga awesomely outrageous at Helga von Trollop
Bonnie cooking up something yummy at From a Writer's Kitchen
Penny creating something lovely at Angel's Door

Thanks for sending out a holler wondering where on earth I was. It gives me the warm fuzzies to know that people enjoy following along with me as much as I enjoy following along with all of you out there. I know I'll have fun catching up on the latest!

Hope you are staying warm and enjoying the last weekend before the Christmas holiday!

It never rains in California...

...it pours, MAN it pours!

Our corner of the world anxiously awaited a BIG rainstorm to blow through last night. Well, I waited and waited and waited some more but nary a drop fell in our neighborhood. The morning news reported that it rained and thundered and lightninged (ok, I know there is no such word!) apparently in PARTS of San Diego. Whataaa? It finally came for us around 10:30-11 this morning with a vengence! However, it seemed that as quickly and ferociously as it came, it stopped. The whole day was one big drizzle after the big downpour.

Batten down the hatches!

Current weather conditions:

Currently: 64°F Rain
San Diego, California
Currently: 18°C Rain
Wind: North at 0 MPH
Humidity: 77%
Dewpoint: 57°F
Barometer: 29.89 inches

Raindrops keep falling on my...

Forecast for the week

Rain swept street in front of my house.

Sadie softly snoring through the mid-morning rain storm safe in her bed. She's snuggled in her serape that I got at a neighbor's yard sale for $1.

Kitty positioned himself on Sadie's other bed in front of the picture window in the living room. He was resting peacefully until I disturbed him - sorry Kitty.

Hope you are managing to stay dry wherever you are in the world!

Mid week interlude

Photographs du jour, taken on our morning walk. Just little bits and bobs going on in our neighborhood.

A little peek into a garden

Feeling a bit naughty, who would miss just one banana?

I love figs. I know it's a wierd fruit with a funny texture. As a kid I loved fig newtons and fairly recently a friend's grandma made a fig cake and it was delicious.

A neighbor's grape vine, they look like champagne grapes I think.


I thought this vine was pretty.


Gorgeous flowers


Funny sign on a local business.


An amusing little fellow with some magic mushrooms!


Door knocker on a garden gate

Notice how the garden is in a circle? I call it the San Diego version of Stonehenge.

A remnant of happier times

If you like pinwheels, I'm sure Martha Stweart can show you how to make one.

A mail box almost hidden by the vines

Allrighty then!

Hello kitties!

It's Mikey, a furry little dynamo!

The lovely Sadie who did not want to pose for this picture!

Is it Halloween yet?

This house is always about Halloween every year

This is more my speed!

And finally, Sadie and I saw a great bumper sticker that said....

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

tea pots, bargains and john lennon

If anyone is thinking of coming out to southern California, now would be the time! The weather has cleared up, the temperature is mild and in the low to mid 80s, and there is nothing but sunshine. Is there nothing better than basking in the sun's warmth after a week of cold rainy weather?

Beautiful La Jolla Cove

This calls for a day of searching for bargains and I found myself another teapot at Goodwill! I have such an obsession with tea pots and while I do have some that are functional most of them are purely decorative like this little beauty. I really couldn't pass this one by at $4.

Isn't it cute how the lid sits askew atop the tea pot?

And while at Goodwill I picked up a new blankie for Sadie as cooler weather promises to be rolling in soon. It's actually a baby blanket which is exactly how I think of Sadie...my little girl.

On a recent cruise past a yard sale, a lovely lady watched me pick up this little pitcher and said I could have it for free! I couldn't pass that up - here it is:

And finally, always one on the lookout for a bargain, I was at JC Penney's big blowout sale not so long ago where I found a pair of cropped jeans. It had some bling on it, not something I would search out, but it was my size so I figured why not. It fit, ok, should I get it? When I looked at the price tag I couldn't believe it....

...Yes, the original price was $68 and I only paid $6.49 for it...a total savings of $62! It was the find of the century!

I'm not one for ripped jeans or jeans with bling but this pair has grown on me, and they are comfortable! A close up of the bling, silver sequins.

Here I am with a bracelet from Foverever 21 and Jones NY shoes.

By now I'm sure you've heard it was John Lennon's birthday yesterday. Hard to believe he would have been 70. I still think of the Beatles as being young, very young.

like this...

or this...

or like this

Last Sunday I happened to catch CBS Sunday Morning and they had a wonderful interview with Julian Lennon on the occassion of the opening of his photography exhibit in New York. It was insightful and amazing as he talked of his father, his love of his brother, his extended family and speaking of family, the Lennon family feud. Julian said he sent invitations to his mom and Yoko and they both knew the other was invited. I think you'll be surprised when you watch this video.

Julian Lennon interview on CBS

I couldn't find any John Lennon or Beatles music on Playlist so instead please enjoy the music of Julian Lennon and Sean Lennon!

Have a great weekend.