Monday, December 28, 2009

Chinese New Year 2010 MEtal Tiger~painted tintype


click the image to see it larger in my Etsy store
I was so excited that last night I sold 2 original painted photos. One was a tintype of a little Queenie girl and the other was a painted cdv. What is truly amazing about this if anything was the evening before while watching the Suns basketball game I was painting the above tinype and wondering after a year of not having done anything like this, why was I taking the time when I was exhausted and should have been lying in bed. I believe now that putting forth the energy created the customer to come to my store. I am not sure this is possible but really the unverse does work in mysterious ways.
I just put up a treasury here
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=102475
and decided to call it "Metal Tiger" as this is what the Chinese New Year will be. I looked up my astrological birthday reading and lo and behold, I was born in the year of the Metal Tiger, 1950. The horoscope says it is going to be a very good year for me and could even mean"too much of a good thing". Is that possible?

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Snow in the Desert 12-23-09


Yeah!! we have snow here in Sedona. It started last night about 9pm and continued to give the dry earth a white blanket by morning! This is hopefully here for a few hours but here comes the sun. This is predictable as it is here almost every day of the year. But we did get our snow for however long it may last and I am going to get dressed and go out and frolic in it before it melts!!
I have christmas swedish bread rising and the tree is all lit!

I am wishing each and every one of you a very Merry christmas and happy hannukah or kwanza and a unversal happy new year!!
lets remember mother earth for 2010. She needs us!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Beautiful Lillies and Fresias


This is a photograph that I took of a beautiful bouquet that my oldest daughter sent to me on my birthday. My surprise to hear the doorbell with a florist guy delivering this huge bouquet in a 1940s flat vase. Just beautiful! I was really overwhelmed for my birthday this year on the 14th. I heard from almost every family member and friend and received so many wonderful well wishes and great gifts. My youngest gave me the gift of a beautiful basketball game where she sacrificed her body at one point taking a charge and stopping the opposing team from scoring. I almost charged the stands as I was so worried she broke her back. Does she think she is Steve Nash?
The Red Rock Scorpions won by one point with Rita making at least 15 points and having many assists, guarding like a maniac and just all around great playing.
I really enjoyed the day and night and it was topped off at Hiros for some sushi. I won't forget that day for a long time, maybe never!
So Christmas is around the corner and I am feeling pretty calm compared to last year. This year I made each member of my family a wax painting and enjoyed doing it. I also gave a substantial amount to the Heifer foundation in the name of each person. That was a gift to me as I have wanted to do that for years instead of buying things and mailing them that will be forgotten in no time. This was a gift to a family of a goat, a flock of chickens and part of a heifer cow.
Everyone seemed thrilled by the gift and I think I will do that again next year as well.
So as the day draws nigh I hope each and everyone of you will have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas or Hannuka!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gratitude and Giving


I am adding a new photo but leaving the charity info up for another few days.
Happy Tuesday. Dec 1st!!!


In this beginning of the season of giving and sharing , I hope we can all remember to be grateful for our lives and what we have and to remember that there are so many who go without. I have three charities I want to share and am providing links to them so if you feel so inclined you might give just a little to each one or even one and expand your heart chakra and make a family feel that there are people out there who care about them. First is the American Cancer Foundation and the team epe in hopes to find a cure for cancer which affects so many of us, our family our friends and a dear friend Laura Slocum who has ovarian cancer. Please click on her face on the right and you will go to where you can donate to the cause.

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Second is the Heifer Foundation, get involved, give hope in the form of a cow, sheep, goat, chickens, ducks, a beehive for as little as $20 teach your children that we are all in this together on planet earth and what better way than to send a family in need an animal that will help them to help themselves. My mother has always given my daughter a flock of chickens on her birthday instead of a toy or gift, this has been good, because it has given her a sense of belonging to the world that she has made a difference by having a family have something to help them survive instead of another video game or pair of jeans she doesn't need.
Her is a link to their site, please check it out and show your kids, no matter what age. My teen who is 17 is donating all her profits in her Colourshoppevintage store on Etsy to getting a CBC or as she calls it, a Cow before Christmas for the Heifer group. So far she has saved $100 and I am matching every penny she saves for it. If interested you can donate directly to her or to the foundation and specify you want it to go towards a cow and let us know and we will add to it. "The idea behind Heifer ... is similar to the notion that it's better to teach a man to fish so he can feed himself than to give him a fish that will feed him just once. One animal could eventually benefit an entire community."
Here is the link HEIFER international~pass on the gift
Another wonderful cause is

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Collateral Repair Project
~ a group of women in Amman Jordan who have been helping the refugees of the Iraq war who came to Jordan when the bombing started years ago without work visas because they feared for their lives and their children, and considering how many died in Iraq this was probably something any of us would have done to protect our kids. I read about this woman who started the program and how she is trying to keep young girls from dancing in strip clubs because that was the only labor that was possible due to the fact that Jordan refused to give work visas to the parents, many middle class and also many professionals such as nurses and teachers, unable to work. SO these women joined forces to help the refugees there and its snowballed into them making and selling their crafts and the kids are now going to school after being unable to for years. If you read their stories and see their faces, you will not believe how much they appreciate the care. Its called Collateral Repair Project. In some way our country has created their situations because we bombed Iraq and many thousands were displaced due to that and none of us truly can imagine what the families have gone through, innocent kids and families caught up in the war. If interested please check their site. I recently gave a gift of $25 to my sister as a birthday gift and I know she knew it was a wonderful idea and was grateful.
here is the link Collateral Repair Project
I am grateful to be here in America and not a day goes by I don't imagine how hard it would be anywhere else.
Have a wonderful thanksgiving weekend with family and friends. Remember to give in this season of shopping and spending.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

November is such a Wonderful Month~shop online

Bluemoon Rose's Shop on Etsy~Bridget Clancy
click her name to go to the shop to see this wonderful hat!
Gnome Cottages Hat kids age 2 to 10



Sharon Clancy wonderful Jewelry

click here to go to her store
HEDGIE - mixed gemstone and sterling silver charm necklace

Krysta Alves store Poppylove
click here to go to her store
JONQUIL... Vintage Lucite Earrings

Rita Clancy's Colourshoppevintage store
Bright Red Hippie Vest

My neice Amy Clancy's Swirly Hats Perfect for Christmas Gifts
click above to go to her store
DEEP RED infant/kids swirl hat... any size.

I think we should all shop on Etsy and am going to promote my sisters, daughter and niece who all have shops on Etsy and, these are all items that would please anyone in your family. Click the link above the items to go to their stores.

I am getting excited as I am heading to Eugene Oregon to see my daughter and her children and my sister and nieces and their children for Thanksgiving. Its the first time I have ever traveled at This holiday and although I don't look forward to the long trip taking almost 11 hours and 3 stops I will be happy to be there and see everyone and I might as well get used to the rain as I am moving away from the sun and back to BLuegene after being gone for more than 20 years. I spend every summer there except the last one and now to move back will be so nice and be near all the kids and the university and the saturday market and museums and 2 hrs from Portland.. I will soak up as much sun here in Arizona as is possible before I go and come back and visit here often.
Enjoy Thanksgiving and remember to be grateful for what we have.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Blanche Ollie and her Christmas Doll


This is a retouched photo I did for Etsy. The little girl's name was Blanche Ollie. Her mother was the school teacher I listed a few days ago named Blanche Mae Mcquillan. She had one daughter, Blanche Ollie, named after her uncle Olander Young. She was a lovely child in every way and just by looking at the photos they took of her growing up getting married and having one child of her own she was well rounded, could shoot a rifle and also cook and became a teacher like her mom. ITs funny, her mom was an only daughter/child and so was she and her own child a single girl who also had one daughter a girl. How unusual is that. Just one girl for 4 generations. I love this photo of her because she really shows through her eyes how much she loves her doll. The original was 1by 1 inch. click the link to see it bigger in my store. I love the fur coat on her doll, so cute!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

veterans day~ bow your head!


I think we should all bow our heads for a moment and be grateful for all the men and women who gave their lives for wars. I don't know how they did it. Life seems like such a fragile and short stint as it is and for them to go into a job knowing they might die, well...its almost unimaginable! So I bow my head in respect. I hate war and despise those who sit in Washington not getting their hands dirty while they send men and women to do the dirty work. But really they are not in the equation today. Its about those fallen who gave up living to die for others.
Lets hear it for them. Lets work to not lose any more!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Monday morning still dark out~nov 9th


This photo was made from foliage from my front yard area, well in front of my condo, which is my front yard. I am going out today to take more photos as I don't want the last days of fall and the beautiful colors that are out there to disappear before I get some memories. This is my last fall in Sedona and I am trying to relish every minute of it. It was still warm enough yesterday with a warm breeze blowing that we left the doors open all day. I took a very long walk with Blue and soaked in every ounce of sunshine I could get before coming home and working the rest of the day.
We hardly ever eat red meat but last night I was longing for a steak and so I cooked a nice NY, a small one and split it w Rita. Yellow finn roasted potatoes, broccoli and a pumkin cookie homemade from the health food store to split. I ate small portions of everything and felt great afterwards.
I keep thinking about how fortunate we all are here in America. We have had our trials and hurricanes and political divisions but really for the size of our country we are doing really well. I think we forget alot of the time that we have it so good. This month for me will be about being grateful and so far I think I am. I have a wonderful family, children, parents and friends. I wouldn't trade any of that for another life. I think because I read Ram Dass' book in the 70s"Be Here Now" I always keep a mantra in the back of my mind, he said everything that happens in life,"It's all just grist for the mill". I guess I love that as it incorporates grain and that is really what life is about, bread and surviving and loving your life. So my little mantra for you is to be grateful. It frees up so much of the fear we can always slip back into. Have a wonderful day and an awesome week!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Blanche Mae McQuillan School TEacher Colorado 1909


I really must share the story of a young woman from Salida Colorado. Her name was Blanche Mae McQuillan. she was born in Nebraska to a Railroad father and stay home farm mother. She went to Salida with her family by age 5 and never left. She traveled but never moved from Salida. She married a young man named Roy Young who was also from Nebraska moved to Salida. She was an only child, they had one child, but her husband was one of 12. She went to teacher's college in Colorado and then immediately took a job alone at a young age of about 19 or 20 working on a farm not far from her home in Salida on the Watters ranch. She had a log cabin school house and taught over 20 children, many who belonged to the Watters family and the hired hands' children. Every child was dressed to the tee despite living on a ranch. Clean and spic and span and she worked there a year living on the ranch. This photo of her could be when she first arrived. Some how there was always a camera around or people taking photos so that lucky for me I have 3 full albums of her family, well, it really is mostly of his extended family. Her sister in law Pearl Huston was the youngest of the 12 children of the Young family and she was also a school teacher out in Gunnison county. Women went to college and then into the wilds back then. This image is that of a strong woman who spent many years in her golden years, putting together a genealogy which is hand typed, that I aquired when I bought her albums. I am not sure what to do with it. The details go back to civil war era.
This is Blanche. She aged gracefully. Her husband worked for Texaco for awhile in Salida that is from a photo they included. If interested in following her story I will be listing the images of Blanche and her photo album family for the next few weeks on my eBay store which you can get to from clicking on the girls on the right who are swinging.
History is an amazing thing-let us not forget, those who came before us and how they paved our way.

Monday, October 26, 2009

That roadside stand in Sedona~Monday


This is a life size sign that was probably atop a pole at a gas station many years ago and now adorns the fence with many others at a roadside tourist stop outside downtown Sedona heading towards Village of Oak Creek. So many wonderful things to look at, I had so much fun with Rita looking and eventually spending too much money on gifty this and that little items that I couldn't do without like a scorpion in glass (even though Rita begged me not to support it, I knew my grandson would love it), several varieties of spicy and sweet popcorn packaged for my grandaughter's dorm room late night snack. A string of chili peppers for an aunt's upcoming birthday. There was so much to see, it was like a trip to Mexico without the airfare. Well not really but there were so many things to see outside and in the large all wooden store. Here are a few photos from there. Several are in my Etsy store as prints if you decide you cannot live without one of them.



Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Please Vote! ~MyCinderella White Pumpkin


I am so thrilled that someone voted my white Cinderella pumpkin in the Etsy vote your favorite autumnal item. This is my first ever nomination for anything on Etsy and I am pretty close to the top of favorites which makes me so happy!! Why do I care you ask. I don't know but it is fun to be in the contest and know that folks like my work. If you have not yet voted, you can click the link here and vote once until I believe Sunday is deadline. IF you do give me your vote..thanks ahead of time! here is the link

Saturday, October 17, 2009

BLue Witch~Saturday


Here it is Saturday again. I know when I started this blog I had vowed to myself that every day was a blog day...who was I kidding? I really had to get up early today. Another cross country meet for Rita and this time in Phoenix. Its supposed to be triple digits today. that is true. Christmas on the FP of Etsy and hot hot Arizona. SO that is fine, I heard it snowed in Vermont. Well that does make sense and I won't complain as I walked the dog to the bank and back yesterday and it was 83, shorts and felt like 90. He is allowed into the bank but immediately tries to withdraw money and only gets a cookie.
Sedona is such a laid back town, until scandal hits. This past week a tragedy of huge proportions when a sweat lodge in the area killed 2 people and sent over 20 to the hospital. Apparently there were toxic fumes and the temps were 122. Sadly the woman who died was a friend of my daughter's in Mexico, a 39 yr old woman with so much living left to do. I have never done a sweat lodge but believe me living in Sedona I have been asked to many times. I guess the best advice is to only use items from nature when doing it.

I have posted a beautiful young 1920s blue witch photo which(haha) I listed in my Etsy store yesterday. It was such a wonderful find and I tucked it away and forgot I had the original until it showed up in a box of special saved photos yesterday. I love her dress and how she is holding up her home made pumpkin. Come take a look and maybe get a card to send to someone you know loves Halloween. Now that the month is half over I don't feel bad getting into the spirit of it. I did notice some Christmas and Hanukkah front pages recently on Etsy. Here comes the holidays.

Enjoy your wonderful warm or cold or wet Saturday....go romp in a pumpkin field or visit a cider house.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Time is all we need~Time HAs Come TOday Chambers Brothers



Here is a photo from 1930s or earlier of a window display of table top clocks. I remember my grandma Clancy had one of these in the dining room. It would chime on the hour and you could hear the ticking. I have never been able to stand a ticking clock, let alone a chiming one. It is just the constant reminder of every second and minute and hour that passes by. I think clocks are really a burden of sorts, unless of course you want to get somewhere for an appt. then the necessity becomes obvious.
I always think of the song
Time has Come Today by The Chambers Brothers


Hear the song here

Monday, October 12, 2009

Birch Tree Canopy~Monday holiday!


This may not look like the right size photo and its not. I am experimenting with photoshop here and loved the sparkling sun in the birch trees so much yesterday that it almost seemed like an ethereal experience to be in them twinkling in the early morning fall sun with the crisp blue sky above them to keep them humble. There is something about birch that stems from my childhood days. I cannot say what it is but that it is mystical. I give you the master of birch trees..here is the link to my store for a larger viewing.

introducing Mr Robert Frost:

Birches by Robert Frost

When I see birches bend to left and right
Across the lines of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.
But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay
As ice-storms do. Often you must have seen them
Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning
After a rain. They click upon themselves
As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.
Soon the sun’s warmth makes them shed crystal shells
Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust–
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away
You’d think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.
They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the woods
Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.
But I was going to say when Truth broke in
With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm
I should prefer to have some boy bend them
As he went out and in to fetch the cows–
Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,
Whose only play was what he found himself,
Summer or winter, and could play alone.
One by one he subdued his father’s trees
By riding them down over and over again
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer. He learned all there was
To learn about not launching out too soon
And so not carrying the tree away
Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise
To the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,
Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.
So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It’s when I’m weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig’s having lashed across it open.
I’d like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth’s the right place for love:
I don’t know where it’s likely to go better.
I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Keeping it Simple~Obama wins nobel peace prize~white pumpkin


Friday is here and this week the time flew by. Obama has a new prize and its quite Nobel if I do say so! I do believe that the world is a safer and better place with him as president. I know not everyone believes this but I do a little comparison using the euro method and that is since he took office almost 30% of people around the world believe we have a safer world since he took office and I think that is due to the fact we had to compare him to the previous one.
I give him the white pumpkin award. I love this white pumpkin. I got in Safeway a few weeks ago and photographed it until I was happy and have it listed in my etsy store, if you like to see it larger its a click away...

I watched a show last night that had a guy on the show who lived without leaving a carbon footprint for an entire year. He lived in NY and up a large building and he and his wife walked the stairs instead of using the elevator

Colin Beavan

Colin Beavan spent a year making no environmental impact in the hope of finding a way to live that's better for the planet. link to clip is here.
I think that is living simple..




Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday~ Indian Summer~Clarkdale



Here are a few shots from a small town called Clarkdale, Arizona. The town has homes made of different colored brick such as this lounge is made of. Most homes are 2 bedroom, with ceramic sunshine of some sort on the front porch. A quiet desert breeze was blowing through the town last Saturday, the sun was shining brightly and like a ghost town it had the feel that people were all sleeping. Only a few old folks sat in front of the grocery store and one man with greasy hair stood outside this lounge wearing a sleeveless leather vest w no shirt under it, smoking. I chose not to take his photo.
We were in Clarkdale for a track meet w Sedona school. Rita came in 21st in her division which was pretty amazing considering there were almost 100 girls. She ran straight up a steep rocky hillside and down again. Clarkdale school was where the meet was and the town about 1/2 mile down the road.
I think if you were a writer you might like it here. It was quiet and warm and the view was of a mine still in operation that took white rock from the hillside. I think I spent 5 minutes driving around and stopped once for these few photos and drove away. On the way out of town I stopped at a very bleak flea market and talked to the two women in the photo. I actually put up with the chain smoking because they were the only living things out of doors that day. I didn't take a photo but there was a beautiful park and gazebo across the street from the flea market and not one child or adult in it and it was a beautiful day about 80 degrees with a breeze. That baffled me. Were they all indoors watching football or playing video games. I could not understand this at all. Anyway I won't be back to that town again as it was Rita's last year running that race. I will include a photo of her girls team too.


Saturday, October 3, 2009

Candy Wax Lips Kiss 1940s LAdies~SAturday


This image was found a few days ago in a photo album. It had my name written all over it!
The women all in their B-V hats decided to each wear a pair of wax candy lips. I love love this one and made it into a card on Etsy. Come see!
Staurday and in just a few minutes will walk the dog then drive to CLarkdale.. yes same town made famous by the Monkees. Rita has a grueling uphill track meet that I will support her to run. Grabbed a treasuy this early a.m. after missing 2 yesterday. Work will do that to you!
HAppy that the aunties and mom and dad made it back to Michigan and Port Angeles safe and sound and back to their routines and families.
I am about to go enjoy some of this wonderful cool desert air. I took some photos to post and will do that today or tomorrow of the early morning desert. Click the photo to go to my store to see the card and have a wonderful SAturday!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Carlos and the Aunties and Mom


As promised here is the photo of my aunties and mom amd Carlos from Switzerland. He was just standing there and helped them down off that ledge behind them. In doing so he garnered the love of all 4 of these women for eternity as they did not stop talking about how cute he was and what a gentleman until we were back to the car. It was about 95 outside so they might have had a little heat stroke too. I thought it was the perfect ending to our wonderful lunch and outing to the beautiful red rocks of Sedona.

here is the video... you can hear their further comments about Carlos. Little did he know what an impression he made. Enjoy your Wednesday!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Wonderful Weekend w Aunties from Michigan~A Michigan Glass Negative


this is a photo that was made from one from a series of glass negatives from Michigan. Click on this link to go to the auction on eBay if you are interested.

I had a wonderful weekend, my mom and three aunts from Michigan were visiting. It was so nice to see all of them and for the aunts and my mother a chance to reconnect after so long not seeing each other. I think sisters are so important and I for one am so happy to have them. I try to let them know now and again by a phone call or birthday card and gift and also just a thoughtful email now and again. I realize I wouldn't be the same person without all my sisters. I have 5 living and one that has passed on. It makes the ones still here even more special.

I loved having the aunties yesterday in my tiny condo and making a huge and delicious lunch for everyone, and Rita helped by cleaning up all the dishes afterwords. Today they left for their drive to Las Vegas for the first time visit before they fly back home. I hope they win big. This will probably be the last time flying for all 3 of them as they have families and pets and grand kids they left back there and this truly was a once in a lifetime trip for at least 2 of them. My youngest aunt Patty who is only 3 years older than me still has a lot of travel left in her. Who knows, it could be the start of a new life for all three of them. I know they talked about it for months before the trip and will probably talk about the gorgeous Spanish guy Carlos they met yesterday when I took them down to the local Red Rock Crossing to get some wonderful snaps of the red rocks on the river. There was a slight drop of a few feet to the beach and he helped each one down, one by one, with them fawning all over him until we got a posed photo with them and him. I promise to post that one soon. He had moved from Portugal to Switzerland and was on a visit to Sedona.

Friday, September 25, 2009

T-REX ~PAris Blues ~FRIDAY! hooray!


Here is someone who probably would need a really good dentist to look over all his wonderful pointed teeth. He was or still is a roadside attraction in California somewhere. Tried to find it an even w google it was nowhere. I have always been amazed at roadside folk art and even bought a book once to go looking for the more unusual. I love anything that is real looking but fake. I remember once as a photo student at the University of Oregon we went to Portland and I loved the restaurants with the fake food in the window. It was made of plastic but looked so real. It would never go bad. Of course I saw Jurassic Park a few times and was afraid every time. That is one of the better scary movies to see. I saw a wonderful film the other night with Paul Newman, Joanne woodward, Sydney Poitier, and Dinah Carroll called PAris Blues. REnt it... its jazz at the underground cafe in Paris in 1961, black adn white.. doesn't get better. The story was good and there was a guest appearance and horn ensemble with Louis Armstrong. I really enjoyed it.
Joanne Woodward steals the film. I think they have always been one of my favortie Hollywood couples. I met their daughter once in APtos at our little small store there. They had a second home there for awhile and she was a local who I believe took over her parents' food business. They gave so much to charity and were such a cute couple! Here is a beautiful photo of them.
Poitier and Carroll also sizzle!newmanwoodwardpariblues
click here is a link to a promo for the film on youtube

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

California Mission San Juan Bautista~Tuesday


This is my most recent addition to my Etsy store. I took this in the late 1990s on one of many trips taken there for an afternoon away from Santa Cruz. It took about an hour to get there and it was always such a peaceful and relaxing place to go. Quiet and like stepping back in time. Often there were small festivals held there where they would do demonstrations of how to weave baskets or carve a wooden toy. I was always fascinated with this place because it was where Alfred Hitchcock filmed Vertigo. Being a huge fan of his I was thrilled to see where he set his final scene of that movie. There was a small cemetery behind the church where the original Fr were buried. From the looks of their website which I include as a link here you can see that in 10 years they have cleaned the place up quite a bit since I took this photo. Here is an excerpt from their website"

The Old Mission San Juan Bautista...

...began with a group of leather-jacketed soldiers and a few Native Americans watching a tonsured Franciscan priest raise his eyes and hands toward the sky...

"In the name of our blessed Father, and the saint whose feast we commemorate today, St. John the Baptist..."

The day was June 24, 1797, a Saturday, and the priest was Fr. Fermin de Lasuen, Presidente of the California Missions successor to Blessed Junipero Serra. This mission was one of four established by Fr. Lasuen in the summer of 1797 and the fifteenth of the twenty-one missions in Alta, California.

Construction began almost immediately under the care of Fathers Jose Manuel de Martiarena and Pedro Martinez. By Christmas, because of the friendly and
cooperative indigenous people, not only was there an
adobe church built but also a grainary, barracks, a monastery, and some adobe houses...
If you are ever in that area of California, drive off the road about a mile when you see the sign and visit this mission. Its really quite a nice one.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Blue Sky Nothing but Blue Sky


Really there is nothing but blue sky..above my house. this is one cloud, one of millions that float by here every day. What is so special about that you say.. well nothing. I don't need a reason to have a cloud be special. I just love that they are there and keeping the sky busy with all of their whiteness. This is Sedona on Sunday. You really need to see an Arizona sky to understand that the desert skies are really something special. Look up once in awhile. If you live in a crowded city or a town or country, check out those clouds. I think we need to have a cloud day now and then where we all look up and thank goodness for real clouds and not artificial ones that are often produced by other things that I won't get into right now because it might bring me down...off my cloud.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Red Roses in a Blue Vase~Farewell to Otis


Here it is Tuesday already, actually its dinner time so the day is almost done. I was in such a home maker mood today. I know why, the change in the weather. It was so gorgeous today with temps in 80s and a slight breeze. That is fall here. Last night my neighbor Susan and her friend Eleanor were out walking Susan's new little long hair dachshund puppy named Remington(Remy for short). Her other dog Otis(who was my dog Blue's best friend), died last week at the age of 3 yrs because he was hoarding money. He kept eating change he would find and although they were able to save him once before this time the coins were too much and the poor dog died. I tried to tell her from day one to give the dog tap water because at least there are natural minerals in that but she wanted him to have the best and gave him bottled water only, so he craved minerals and that is what happened to Otis. Now Remy is only 3 months old but soft as can be and a red head like Susan. She told me not to bring Blue out to meet him as Remy had been"attacked" and bitten already by a dog and he was"afraid" to meet any dogs. So poor Blue whined at the door hearing Eleanor and Susan's voice and not knowing why he was kept inside.

The stars were like I had never seen before. I mean we get gorgeous desert nights but this is one that I could have stayed outside all night and just walked aimlessly for the delight of the temperature and the zillions of stars in the sky. Nothing could bring me down. I hugged Sandy and gave my condolences but that brought out a bucket of crying which no verbal juggling could have held back those tears. I truly felt for her. This woman has had her share of sorrow moving to this town by really throwing a dart on the map. That is how many folks end up in Sedona, they come to get away, to heal or hide or find a vortex.

I think little Remy is cute enough he will heal her sadness in no time. I went back in and hugged Blue. Rita mentioned how little the dog was, anyone could miss it if it not looking. A dog like Blue is just too hard to miss. I know I would miss him if he were gone. I am giving a silent prayer to Otis..he had boundless energy and a taste for cheap coins. May he rest in doggie heaven.

The painted photo above was done over a photo of old roses from my garden in California.. I took the photo, printed it and painted over it. I never tire of that option, to cover a photo with paint. It seems to have a timeless appeal to me. If interested to see it bigger click the link.

Friday, September 11, 2009

BAby Iris Welcome!~Blindsight MOvie!


While watching one of the best movies ever made called BLindsight, I finished my watercolor for FAwna's baby who was born 2 weeks ago, Iris. Again this is gouache and its getting easier to work with after a month of practice. Please see that movie~ about a blind young woman from Sweden who alone goes to Tibet to open the first blind school for children. She succeeds on horseback going door to door getting a group of children, most of whom the parents are happy to let go as they feel it a burden for the family. She writes a man who lives in Colorado who is blind to come visit and tell the kids his story of climbing Mt Everest, instead he comes with an entire team of climbers and a film crew and they climb the mountain. I defy a dry eye at the end of this one when the little boy sings through the credits....please see this film!!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Labor Day-Indian Summer- School girls painting



Here it is Monday and a holiday. I awake to a sunny blue sky day and a dog who I love. My daughter harder to wake up than the dog, has to go to cross country practice at 8:30. The weather couldn't be better for a run or anything on this bright and beautiful Labor Day. I myself will be laboring. I am warned and pleaded with to take a day off. I find that every day is a work day, and that although I am not a physical laborer,(I have done plenty of that in my lifetime), I am pleased with the job I have created for myself. I have met the most amazing people, loving, creative with a passion for history and art and also have been fulfilled by earning a living working for myself and not being bossed around. I never was happy with that, and being the oldest of 11, it was always hard to take orders from anyone.
So, hopefully today, as we honor labor, we will remember all those who work for us, the men and women in the fields of central California, bringing us our vegetables and fruits, those in China who really sew all our clothing, make our toys and walk to work and back. Let's not forget the construction men and women who work out of doors to construct our buildings, homes and roads. What about those who work the hospitals and universities, schools, we owe them so much. I also do not want to forget anyone and I am sure I have, but I want to pay tribute to the mothers and fathers who work every day to keep their children fed and clothed and sheltered, who care and clean for their families. I honor the workers of the world.

I have finished another gouache painting-this time of two older teen schoolgirls. This from another gem photo that I found and just loved. Enjoy your holiday day and the week to come. Fall is on its way and then winter. The last days of Indian summer are upon us.

Friday, September 4, 2009

The Swimmers~Ode to the Wind by Percy Shelley


This couple seeming to have slightly more fun than the last one I painted. They are swimming under a waterfall created by a small dam in Texas somewhere. that is all I know of the photo I used to paint it from. Again it has been painted with gouache and was a big challenge as my mediums have always been acrylic and watercolor. This paint is rich in opacity but difficult in layering. Nevertheless a challenge is always good for an artist. This one was no exception as I spent 2 nights on it and now am happy with the results.

I have had a week filled with both excitement and work, lots of it. I am selling the vintage photos on Etsy almost daily and to get to my Ebay customers is difficult sometimes as so much is ending without sales but really I love both venues so will continue to work on them both.

I realized that its important to meet strangers. I have met a few this week, one on the internet which I am happy to say has become a friend somewhat as we have so much in common that I like being able to converse about our past, our children and our families. Another was a woman with two children I met this morning when her tea cup chihuahua got loose and chased after Blue barking and I thought he might go to the street so walked back to meet her. After talking to the owner a nice woman named Alicia and her two daughters I found out the dog's name was Mayan and he thought he was a pitbull although can fit in your hand. Her oldest daughter is obsessed with the Titanic and is 9 years old. She loves history and cannot understand why people are not more fascinated by it. I think I like this kid already. So the bad news is that after a year of living there they are moving across town and I will not see them again. Now I wish I had met them sooner. Oh well. I guess I am mentioning this as its always a good thing to meet a neighbor or stranger you see alot of. You never know who they are and they could be a friend all along and then they will move and you will never know that they could be so. My advice, don't wait, say hello to people as you walk or pass them.
I also would like to recommend a poet, someone that I discovered never too late and his name is Percy Shelley. His wife wrote Frankenstein and he was probably the most famous of all the English poets and I am going to leave you with the only poem I have read of his so far. Its really worth the read. The last stanza or section seemed to resonate with me so much. Enjoy it. And enjoy the coming weekend!

Percy Bysshe Shelley. 1792–1822
Ode to the West Wind

O WILD West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being

Thou from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,


Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed


The wingèd seeds, where they lie cold and low,

Each like a corpse within its grave, until

Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow


Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill

(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)

With living hues and odours plain and hill;


Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;

Destroyer and preserver; hear, O hear!


II


Thou on whose stream, 'mid the steep sky's commotion,
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Loose clouds like earth's decaying leaves are shed,

Shook from the tangled boughs of heaven and ocean,


Angels of rain and lightning! there are spread

On the blue surface of thine airy surge,

Like the bright hair uplifted from the head
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Of some fierce Mænad, even from the dim verge

Of the horizon to the zenith's height,

The locks of the approaching storm. Thou dirge


Of the dying year, to which this closing night

Will be the dome of a vast sepulchre,
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Vaulted with all thy congregated might


Of vapours, from whose solid atmosphere

Black rain, and fire, and hail, will burst: O hear!


III


Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams

The blue Mediterranean, where he lay,
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Lull'd by the coil of his crystàlline streams,


Beside a pumice isle in Baiæ's bay,

And saw in sleep old palaces and towers

Quivering within the wave's intenser day,


All overgrown with azure moss, and flowers
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So sweet, the sense faints picturing them! Thou

For whose path the Atlantic's level powers


Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below

The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear

The sapless foliage of the ocean, know
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Thy voice, and suddenly grow gray with fear,

And tremble and despoil themselves: O hear!


IV


If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear;

If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;

A wave to pant beneath thy power, and share
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The impulse of thy strength, only less free

Than thou, O uncontrollable! if even

I were as in my boyhood, and could be


The comrade of thy wanderings over heaven,

As then, when to outstrip thy skiey speed
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Scarce seem'd a vision—I would ne'er have striven


As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need.

O! lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!

I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!


A heavy weight of hours has chain'd and bow'd
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One too like thee—tameless, and swift, and proud.


V


Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is:

What if my leaves are falling like its own?

The tumult of thy mighty harmonies


Will take from both a deep autumnal tone,
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Sweet though in sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce,

My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!


Drive my dead thoughts over the universe,

Like wither'd leaves, to quicken a new birth;

And, by the incantation of this verse,
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Scatter, as from an unextinguish'd hearth

Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!

Be through my lips to unawaken'd earth


The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Saturday, August 29, 2009

SAturday August 30th~waiting for treasury to open


I decided to write a little bit while I wait for the treasury to open. I have been trying to do more creative things for myself instead of just working all the time. tonight I made the best dinner and wanted to share the recipe, I should have taken a photo but that will not happen as dinner is over.
I made slow cooked pork roast, small one in orange juice and cilantro and about 6 large tomatillos cut up. Cook for 4-5 hours and after 3 hours on low-medium heat break up the meat and do it again until it is completely torn apart. Keep the lid on the whole time until the last 1/2 hour.
Par cook an ear of white corn off the cob and add it to the following:
1/2 jalapeno chili raw minced
1/4 chopped red onion
1/2tomato chopped
lime juice from 1/2 of fresh lime
avocado perfect cut into cubes...too soft is not good
stir around and this is the salsa

Tortillas or corn tortillas warmed with some melted cheese and pinto or black beans. add the meat in chunks with some of the green sauce , throw the salsa over the top and if you are bold add a dash of sour cream and some shredded cabbage or lettuce. This is the best meal!
Here is the image above made into a gouache painting last night. (revamped original in previous post).I posted it on facebook as well.
I already have an idea for another I will attempt tonight. Now I really want to do some serious writing but when the time? If only a good Dictaphone were available for the MACs.

Friday, August 28, 2009

A Young Couple BAck in Time~ Friday already!


I admit I have neglected my dear ole blog. But then again so much is going on. I am working on both etsy and ebay full force. The dog is always begging for me to throw the ball and the phone is ringing alot with friends, family and today I had to do some photo washing in the sink, the photos are almost always stuck to the album with paste or glue and I don't like to sell them with scrapbook on back unless I have to. I just took a delicious tuna casserole out of the oven that I made with greek yogurt and breadcrumbs and parmesan on the top. I think I forgot the peas. Oh there will be no forgiveness for that one! But maybe the sweet yellow beets with vinegar and feta will help to heal that mistake.
I was going to put up a photo of Ted Kennedy but figured everyone had seen so many already.
I watched a special last night on the Kennedy family and really I was crying before it was over. I especially felt bad for Rose and Ethel Kennedy, the mother and wife of Bobby. Did you know Ethel was pregnant with their ninth child when Bobby was gunned down. Did you know also how hard it was on TEd with all the responsibility of the brother's wives and children under him. I feel that with the last Kennedy man dead of that generation that we have lost a good man and a good politician. I think he always stood up for those he believed in. Yes he made mistakes but heh what politician has not made some bad ones.
And considering the situation Ted was in, I think he pulled through very well.
So the end to a family that will often in history on into the future define a whole generation.
I recommend the film it was called"the ninth child" maybe because Ted was the 9th. Only his 81 yr old sister suvives. A farewell flag will fly for Ted Kennedy.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Hazel from Dallas The Fruit Shed ~Sunday!



Introducing Hazel Smith from Dallas. I finished this last night while watching a superb historical movie called The Lost Prince about a royal child w epilepsy who was innocent and brilliant but forced to live apart from his family and created a beautiful garden and learned to play the trumpet. Please rent this. IT is excellent film although my copy from Netflix was damaged so try to get it from a video store if possible or even view online for free. The scenery, costumes and acting really were the best.
Hazel is this woman's true name and I did the painting from a gem miniature photo. I am fascinated by those gems and have found incredible sources from them for paintings. the detail is always good and they were usually printed from strips of glass plate negatives. I know this because I have a huge collection of them that I have not even so much as printed one as yet. Oh were does the time go. I really wish I had an assistant as I could so use one. Couldn't we all?
I guess that is a good thing to have so much to do and not enough time. The worse case would be so much time and nothing to do. Being my mother's daughter I do not forsee that day.
I want to congratulate my father as he won 2nd prize at the Port Angeles County Fair this weekend for a wonderful painting he did of an antique shed with wooden work table covered w vegetables and ball jars with light coming in the window. I do believe it should have won a first place but what do the judges know of truly fine art at the local fair.



Sorry, I entered enough of them to know this. It is a wonderful time of year with the county fairs going on and the expensive greasy food. Still its something of a tradition in America and hopefully it will always be. Enjoy your Sunday! Don't forget to take the trash and recycling out tonight(that is a message to myself)

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday already~New Watercolor/gouache


This is a gouache/watercolor of two young women who have stopped on the side of a creek somewhere to pick herbs or wildflowers. One holds her apron or skirt for the other to put the flowers in. This is a gauche painting from a photo that really spoke to me. The tenderness of the act. The simplicity of the two walking along and maybe one man who was their friend snapped the photo. This was not a clear image but rather a dark one and I had little detail to work with. I am not unhappy with the results as it really does look like the image. I love the process of translating photos to a softer medium such as watercolor or gouache. The later is rather unforgiving and so I am a novice with the medium and hope to find its true nature soon.
I hope the weekend ahead will bring a wonderful sense of a new beginning as it is the new moon and I have put up a new treasury with that title on Etsy Treasury West.
For all you mom's who are readying your kids to start back to school soon, take them somewhere fun this weekend to celebrate the end of their summer.. and the beginning of your time without them, either sadly, or with a mixed sense.
I met one mother through Ebay who is sending her boy to kindergarten this next week for the first time. Her story was so poignant about how he was her only, late in life baby and how hard it will be to be away from him. I wrote and told her that it really doesn't get better because even though my daughter is 17 she is now driving and doing things that make me worry and miss her still. Sounds funny but its true. Everything in life has its moments of separation and for that mom as she said"there are not enough Kleenex's in the world to help on his first day away from me." I love that LOVE and just had to share it!
have a good one!!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Penny w Horn Rim glasses~ Monday


As many of you know, I am a seller of vintage photos on EBay. Hundreds upon hundreds of photos pass by my eyes and through my hands. I pick the ones I believe will have interest to my long and loyal customers and then list them with whatever information I have to go with them. This young girl was found in an album of high school chums with 30 or so "gem miniatures" on one page. I have named her Penny. She was a black and white photo and now I tinted it slightly to give it some charm. There is something so wonderful about this image. I cannot say what it is but I am certain she was a gal with lots of style and charm. I share it with you.

I have decided, along with my hand painted photos and vintage glass negative prints on Etsy, to start selling vintage photos in my store as well. If ever an interest comes along to need or want to collect a few, I am offering as many as I can each day.

So here comes Monday and for us in Sedona Arizona the skies are filled with smoke. Last night on the news they announced there are 9 fires right now. Just letting the dog out I could not breathe and he came in sneezing. He has bad allergies like myself. Funny how I got a dog like that. But thinking of Rita in cross country this afternoon running in 100 degree heat with fires burning is pretty bad. I am sure her coach will have the sense not to run them and to work out in the weight room instead.

My grandaughter is in Barcelona and this morning started day one of an intensive Spanish course. She was raised in Mexico in private schools and her high school years in Oregon so she is more than fluent in Spanish. I am so proud and thrilled for her. I hope she enjoys the next 3 weeks she will be there. Thank goodness for facebook.

I also wanted to say that I heard yesterday the fires in Bonny Doon, Santa Cruz, Calif are out of control so bad. The smoke in the area is also just horrible so if you can avoid that area do so. My sister who lives there, picked the perfect time to take a vacation to San Diego and I hope she and her family enjoy it there and that there are no fires.

Enjoy Monday and have a great fresh start to the week.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

End of Summer Storm~Finally


After a long day of work, and heat, I decided to take an evening walk with the dog around the block. The sky gathering grey clouds from the north, winds were blowing the willow tree leaves around me in gusts. No one was out because although it was the first time in the day that the heat wasn't oppresive, the night was slowly creeping up and with it the bats and other creatures that keep many of us desert dwellers indoors. But feeling like I would burst if I didn't get some exercise I walked Blue around the block a few times and then when we returned I sat in the driveway on the curb and just watched as this beautiful cloud rolled in. There was lightening shooting out from it and lots of thunder. I got a few nice images and believe it or not this is untouched in photoshop. Minutes later the sky turned dark and blue purple and then we had our short lived rain. I am so longing to have cooler weather and today got up to grey skies and 67 degrees. I walked with a light sprinkle for almost an hour and relished every cool minute of it. I happened upon several people I knew both who were so glad it had cooled. One old woman said to me"I don't even care if it rains, no umbrella, what do I care" I agreed and went on my way.
Funny how much you can appreciate what someone else takes for granted or even loathes, the rain and grey skies. It could be the opposite for my mom and sister who live in the very far northwest where warm and sunny are something they experience about 2 weeks of the year.
Although there was a heat wave for a week this summer up there.
I for one will not complain when the fall is truly here. I so look forward to it.
School has started and the seasons are changing..I hope!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Koi Pond


here is a digitally altered image of Koi that I photographed in Hawaii and now have listed in my shop on Etsy. I had so much fun with this photo and am pretty happy with the results. I wanted to make the fish jump off the page with the color so I worked and reworked the tones.
Well it has finally come, tomorrow is the first day of school for Rita, a senior and I am very proud of her. She really has accomplished alot in her 4 years in academics and sports and honestly I could not have imagined it any other way for her.
Now last night she started her essay for the colleges and it will be a small task to accomplish the next phase of the year and that is finishing up all that needs to be done to graduate and move on to college.
Our weather has really cooled down alot, mornings are now in the high 70s and very nice for walking the dog. I am going further now that the heat has let up a bit although it still gets 99 in afternoons here but I will not complain as there is rain in many areas.
I guess summer is starting to wind down everywhere and that brings on Indian summer which the colors in the Koi pond remind me of. I miss terribly the leaves changing and look forward some day to returning to a place to see nature's painterly schemes in the fall.
I am reading a wonderful book that is called Shantaram by Gregory Roberts, a huge novel based on his life as an escaped convict who fleas New Zealand and ends up in Bombay. I am only 2 chapters in but every word is wonderful and I recommend it highly!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Back to School 1924 style


I wanted to try a little something different today. After looking at Rita's blog which she has spent a great deal of time creating animalgamalia, I decided to try a different approach to the layout. Not sure I will like it but will see how it looks when I am done with it. The boy who is all dapper in his wool suit and bow tie above with his school books in hand was a young man named Bobby Freeman from Pasadena, CA, 1924. He was the oldest of 5 children and also the only one to cause his mother any worry. He was driving their car at 14 and eventually sent off to a Toronto boarding school which was taught in the British fashion. I love this photo of him because from what I have learned of Bobby he was a bit of a rebel and also a very charasmatic young man. He traveled on a ship at a young age with his father to Alaska to a religious camp to minister to the native people there. His father was a minister of the largest church in Pasadena at the time. ALl the children were schooled in Montessori style schools to teach the children independence and it paid off for all of their children I am sure.

For myself growing up, August in Michigan meant a month left to have freedom and fun and not worry about school until after labor day. For my own daughter now she is reading her AP biology book in preparation of what will be a class that will require 3 hours of reading for only one class and as an incoming senior she will be having alot on her plate. There is the senior project, applications to colleges, letters of recommendation to the colleges, cross country running for which she has already started to train by running 4 miles a day, student council and her 4 other classes. This seems like alot to do but then preparing for college is not like any other preparation that a young teen will face for that is the big leap, one which will set their course. I want to start a mother's group for those who have seniors. Let us compare notes to see how we do, how our children manage and what little and big things we all face. I have mixed feelings but really they are all filled with hope. I hope our economy picks up. I hope that our country can get back on its feet. I hope they find a cure for cancer. I hope the sky will stay blue and the stars continue to shine down on us all. Fall approaches and although its 100 degrees in the desert I am really one who looks forward to cooler weather and hope it comes soon~

About Me

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I am a mother of 2 wonderful girls, grandmother of 4, don't worry you will see photos of them one day! I live in Sedona Arizona, a beautiful place, lots of sun and blue blue skies! I listen to politics and my favorite radio channel is Cinemix. I am the oldest of 11 , I love my kids, my parents and my siblings and my friends!!

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