Power and Grace

I forgot I took some photos during the Pairs event.  It's really hard to get a good shot but this one turned out pretty damn nice.  This is John Coughlin and Caydee Denney.  She was National Champion with her partner in 2010 and he was National Champion with his partner in 2011.  They've only been training as a pair for about five months.  They look terrific and have a chemistry and energy that is very exciting.

Go Team USA!

Weird and Wonderful

We went walking in between events in Ontario and discovered these strange trees growing all along the boulevard.  The trunks were covered with spiky little protrusions which were very hard and very sharp. Further on we saw the same tree with these gorgeous flowers in bloom.  It was pretty windy, the flowers were dancing all around, blurry pic.

Anyone know what they are?

Peace

Photo of the day

Last night on my way to the Range this heavily laden vehicle was ahead of me.  As I got closer I could read the bumper sticker on the back.

It says:

CAUTION - This vehicle may be transporting political promises.

I got to fly Southwest Airlines this weekend.  They are always friendly and efficient and they try really hard to make things fun.

As we landed our flight attendant welcomed us to Hawaii, everyone cheered.  Then, as we taxied into the unloading bay she sang us the song, "In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight...".  You could hear folks whistling, humming and singing softly to themselves as they walked off the airplane.

Laughing still...

Heavenly

Spending time with my daughter.

We had another picture taken on Sunday, this one is better of me but she likes the first one of her best, oh well, equal time.

Back to Nevada City today.  I love the quick flights between LA and Sacramento, barely an hour from up to down, my legs don't have time to feel cramped.

Heavenly is being back in the clear mountain air.

Peace

Skate America 2011

We are loving every minute of being together and watching some great skating.
Peace

Leaving...

...on a jet plane!  Heading out to LA for the weekend, back soon!  My house sitter is here and ready to take over, the boys are always a little sad when I pack a bag.

I get to see my baby girl, woot!

Peace

Weird product of the day...

Personally, I love Williams-Sonoma.  They have fabulous products, great service and even some great recipes.  I've spent a lot of money there on coffee makers, fabulous knives, beautiful linens and whatnot.  However, every now and then they come up with a product that makes me scratch my head and wonder who would be stupid enough to actually buy it.

Here's the link to the Clay Chicken Roasting Kit

It's only $14.95 unless you feel you need to put out another 20 bucks for the special olive wood mallet to break through the clay once it's cooked.

WTF?  This is a one time product to roast a stupid chicken.  What a waste of money and let's all dump some more trash into the landfill.  Now, if you could crumble it all up, add some water and reconstitute the clay to use again I'd say, "Yippee Skippy, go for it!".

Remember the clay roasters?  I'd bet there are a few hundred thousand of those sitting around on the "soon to be in a garage sale" shelf.  Along with the ice cream makers and those nifty little napkin holder ring things that no one ever uses.

Stuff we buy seems to fit into three categories:

First and best is the thing we use everyday and wouldn't be able to get along without.  For me it's my Wusthof Ikon Blackwood knives, well balanced, beautiful, supremely useful items.

Second is the stuff we buy and use infrequently but wouldn't part with because those few times make all the difference, things like roasting pans, my Ruffoni hammered stock pot, and the champagne cork.

And then there's the "what the hell was I thinking" product like the Clay Chicken Roasting Kit, the Monkeybread pan, the electric hot dog cooker and the make your own ice cream sandwich press.

I have to confess I own one of those products.  Tell me your dirty secrets, what have you got hidden way back in the cupboard, come on now, fess up!

Peace

Pinch me...

It's almost too good to be true.  I LOVE this house, it's everything I want and need.  I got to spend a couple of hours there today while the inspections went on and my family and friends stopped in to check it out.  Being there just makes me happy, it's got that sense of serenity that I was hoping for.

The entry and on into the living room, all new wood floors.

Dining room and the glorious kitchen.

The dining room has a nice sliding door out to the peaceful side yard, with a fountain splashing.  The kitchen is in the back of the house with windows looking out at a huge maple tree and on out into the state owned Empire Mine property.

The downstairs bedroom, mine.

The upstairs, still old knotty pine, which we will paint, it will look like a seaside cottage.

And the outside back and side.

It's going to be really hard to be patient.

Happy Day!

Full Speed

Inspection today...pics to follow.

Looking at appliances.

Meeting some interesting new people.

Heading to LA this weekend to meet up with my daughter and engage in some spectator skating.

Preparing for a gallery exhibit.

Trying to remember to breathe.

Life is exhilarating lately.

I don't know if I posted this pic already, some finished earrings.  I think these will go into the ASIF Small Works Show which begins November 4th.

Peace

Mi Casa

One cozy cottage nestled amidst flowering dogwood trees and big pines.

I can't believe it's going to be mine, sometimes you can be so happy you cry.

Peaceful dreams.

Crazy Quilt

Yep, I know, it's sort of weird and wonderful and totally crazy, isn't it?

It certainly suits me on this cold, rainy day.

Hope you like it.

Peace

Santa Baby

Just slip a Porsche under the tree, for me, been an awful good girl..

Lovely weekend at Infineon hanging out with people who love the smell of race fuel in the morning.

Here are the big three getting ready to roll on Sunday.

Here they are running 2nd and 3rd on turn seven.

And now home, back to the boys, ready for a fun week.

Peace