Meeting Michael Jeneid....

Following on from yesterday's post.....

After paddling we walked along the beach and as I'm very nosy interested I wanted to get a close up look at one of the beach houses I could see in the distance.
As we got closer to the house I stopped to take some photos of Sam and Fred and suddenly this guy came striding along the beach with ski poles. He stopped and kindly offered to take a photo of the three of us. From his accent (well actually lack of it) I knew he was English and we got chatting. He explained he lives here on the beach and began to tell us about his life~ he did like to talk about himself but he has actually led an interesting life and I was quite fascinated. He started birdwatching as a young lad and kayaking as a teenager. Later he joined the Royal Marines and learned to cross country ski. He has travelled in many countries and written numerous books about birds, kayaking and cross country skiing. He now organises small group trips of birdwatching by kayak, and he lectures and runs workshops on these topics. As we said our goodbyes I asked his name as I wanted to check him out, so if you want to find out more about Michael Jeneid look here
As we left Stinson and climbed up out of the valley Sam stopped the car for me to take one last look and a couple of photos.

Archives:
2007: I felt like the Ambassador's Guest

Bring me sunshine.....

Why can't the weather make up it's mind and stay settled at least for a few days! After yesterday's sun, today is very windy. In fact gale force winds and rain have been predicted and I've already been chasing my recycling bin around the yard in lashing rain!! I'm sure you get the picture....what would I like to be doing...how about this!!

These pictures were taken when I was in San Francisco last year~ well Stinson Beach actually! While we were walking on this beach a guy stopped and offered to to take a photo of us. We got chatting and it turned out he was English and a writer but I'll save that for another post!

Archives:
2007: Where have I been today

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for all the good wishes my blogging friends sent to my mother. It really means a lot to know that there are so many caring and supportive people in the world.

Thank you
Chris

Witty Wednesday # 35

I think these have been around for a while but as Embee sent them to me I though I'd better share them just in case you haven't seen them!! That's all folks I have a busy day ahead and the sun is shining so I feel happy.

Archives:
2007: Food Cooperative cont.

500 posts later....

Just thought I might mention that I have now reached the 500 mark and that in the past 16 months I've had a lot of fun and met some some great people.

I haven't quite read all of yesterday's Fun Monday posts but I will get there!
I spent yesterday afternoon at the hospital with my mother. She had to have a small biopsy of an area on her leg that has not been healing. We saw a lovely doctor who pointed out a lot of areas of sun damage, on her face and hands as well as her legs. We now have to wait for the results and the stitches come out next week. It may just be pre-cancerous and heal with the cream that has to be applied twice a day for the next 3-4 weeks. However, if it proves to be otherwise than it might need a bigger operation to remove the affected area and skin grafting was mentioned! We are hoping that the cream is all that will be needed, apparently many fair skinned people have these areas that never develop. Please send good vibes to my mother thank you.


Archives: 2007: Fun Monday..pictorial view of growing up

Fun Monday # 51 My bedside drawers!

Angela over at The Lurchers may only have joined in during the past few Mondays, but she has come up with a really good assignment this week she says......

So continuing in the spirit of "being interested in people", I would like to know, or see, what's on, in or under your bedside table! So open those draws and bare your soul to us! Is there anything special there that has a story or a memory that you can tell us about? Books that you keep there to delve into from time to time? Trinkets that you don't know where else to put? Let's see!

This sets the scene... my bedside shelves and two drawers...with a peep inside! Oh and just to show I didn't tidy up completely that necklace hangs on the wardrobe knob to stop it getting tangled I need to do what Robin suggests!

From inside the drawers I've picked out a few things, there is my old Christmas stocking that Sam made when the girls used fill stockings for me and embee which was rather sweet, lots of the little things you see are those presents. My old leather photo frame has early pictures of me and my parents, it's falling apart which is why I keep it in the drawer. The paper cutting is a picture of Beccy's classmates when she was in infant school, I don't remember the project they had done or why it was in the local paper~maybe you can tell us Beccy!. The stamp album is a relic from my childhood, when back in the mid 1950's I enjoyed this hobby.
I'd forgotten which books I had languishing in the bottom drawer, shows how often I open it! There are a couple I haven't read yet, however, the 'Empty Nest' is a very good read, particularly if like me, you hate the thought of your children leaving home. Don't get me wrong I always encouraged my children to be independent, but I was not prepared for how it would actually affect me. Looking back I was probably quite depressed without ever realising it, the experience is very akin to going through the bereavement process.
'You can heal your life' is a book I still dip in and out of sometimes. Blogging has seriously interfered with my reading and I now have a huge pile of books (not shown here) that need my attention!
Sam was in a Hugo Boss promotion for their perfume 'Women". For a short time she edited a competition magazine, she wrote on competitions for the Daily Mail, oh and for a while she had a 5 minute slot on a TV programme called 'The Big Breakfast way back in 1992~in the days of Chris Evans and Paula Yates!

Although I don't drink tea myself I always have tea in the house. In 1970 there was a celebration of 100 Years of British Achievement. You could collect cards on the Typhoo tea packets and in the interest of educating my children I used to save them, but alas there is one of the 24 that I could never find! I'm not really sure why I keep them!
One year Embee gave me this set of tennis cards. I think the intention was that I would frame them but I never got around to that!

This scrappy piece of paper is something my mother wrote out and gave me so I keep it~ she calls it the gifts of Spirit.
I show you this because it made me laugh when I found it in the drawer~ when my grandchildren were small they used to jump into bed with me and to keep them occupied I used to think up little games and one day (way before Mollie could read) I made up a quick crossword for her and I seem to remember she was quite good. I think it's as well she couldn't read looking at some of my spelling~ since when is this the way to spell 'handd'!!
I think it's time I was off to see what's lurking in your drawer!!

Archives:
2007: Old Haunts Revisited

de Young fine arts museum

When I was in San Francisco Sam and Fred took me to visit this wonderful fine arts museum. There were so many wonderful collections, and exhibitions that include beautiful paintings, sculpture, ethnic art and craft, furniture.
When we visited The Diane and Sandy Besser Collection really caught my eye. The teapot collection was amazing, as was all the African bead work. I couldn't take any teapot photos as there was too reflection from the glass and the lights which was quite disappointing.
The top of the building gave some lovely views, the day we were there the distance was a bit hazy. Can you spot the eye sore that spoiled the view in this photo!!
This is a pretty area you see as you move between the ground and first floor.
I would definitely recommend a visit.
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Hint # 5

Just one this week especially for the dog owners amongst us!!

Lawns with no brown patches
Put a tablespoon of vinegar in your dogs drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog's urine. (But will the dog drink the water!!)

Archives:
2007: Shop til we dropped

I nearly didn't join the party....

When I read Robin was allowing late comers to join her party I decided to gatecrash~ well good parties last the whole weekend don't they!!...and I'm bringing something to tempt the palate! See what you think.

photograph copyright Sam Breach

Sam makes brilliant party food so instead of baking myself I would employ her to cook for me and this is what I would choose. Sam made these Phancy Philly Cheesesteak Turnovers for a Super Bowl Party back in 2006. If you read her post you might be amused at how she came to name them! Also if you like the look of them you will find the recipe there. I've never tasted them but I just know I would like them and as they were a success back in 2006 I'm equally sure that they would be well received in 2008!!

Keeping Sam company!

I often phone Sam while she is on the train going to work. For me this is around 4pm and for her around 8am. However, these calls have been costing her quite a lot of money, because although I always make the call she is also charged. So to remedy this Sam has set up skype on her laptop and woo-hoo! we were able to talk yesterday for free. Well I say talk, it was more whisper so as not to disturb the other passengers. This made it difficult to have a real conversation but it was nice to actually be able to see her and great fun to see everything whizzing past the windows. I even took quick picture!


Sam Auntie Jill was delighted to get her 'Menu for Hope' biscuits, she brought them to show me and I took a picture so that you could see them. It's only a very small box, about eight little biscuits, unfortunately they got a bit crumbled in the post, but they look nice and she says thank you.

P.S. I would just like to thank everyone for the lovely Birthday wishes you sent me for yesterday.
Embee came home with these aren't they beautiful! I would just say the flowers that look blue are actually purple. Oh and I think he was a bit miffed that I hadn't mentioned he is also giving me a flight to Dublin. So now I can go twice~ I think he wants to get rid of me~ while the cats away Mickey mouse will play!!!

Archives:
2007: A huge thank you and Sleeping Beauty

I'm so lucky......

This post would have fitted very nicely with yesterday's because I am thanking my lovely family for some wonderful birthday presents. My grandchildren painted me pictures,
Beccy made me some really pretty note cards, and she and Julian bought me a flight voucher so that I can go and visit them.
Sam sent me something rather special for my computer as you can see from the these photos
For those who are wondering what this is have a look here. I know I'm going to have a lot of fun with this~ once I've managed to install it~ on reading the instructions the first thing it's telling me to do is turn off my virus protection program.... do I have one of these on my mac......haven't a clue......help Sam.... now I have to wait until this afternoon to speak to you...can't wait ....must have patience...anyone who knows me will understand how difficult this is!!!!

PS Sam now I see how you created your Question of the Day!

Archives:
2007: Birthday Girl

Thankful Thursday # 2

Last week Julie invited everyone to join her each week and post something that makes us thankful. I don't know why I didn't join in, because, come Thursday when I read some of the posts I regretted my decision. Yesterday Julie's reminder prompted me to sign up and so I am very thankful for that.

There are so many things that I am thankful for...

At this time of the year I am thankful that we get a few more minutes of daylight each day which means that the worst of the winter darkness is behind us. I am thankful that my winter blanket will lift as soon as the Spring sun appears and the flowers begin to come out of hiding~ I can't wait!

I am also thankful that my mother, who was in hospital, this time last year, has now recovered from her recent fall, which some of you will have read about in my past posts. She keeps telling me that she may not be around much longer, and at 84 this I know is probably true. I feel guilty because I often grumble at her demands and get fed up with her constant interruptions but I am very thankful that she has been happy living here with us for about the last 15 years. I will also be thankful if she is around for many years to come!

Archives:
2007: Before and After

Witty Wednesday # 34

From embee
Little Johnny watched his daddy's car pass by the school Playground and go into the woods. Curious, he followed the car and saw Daddy and Aunt Jane in a passionate embrace.
Little Johnny found this so exciting that he could hardly contain himself as he ran home and started to tell his mother.
"Mommy, I was at the playground and I saw Daddy's car go into the woods with Aunt Jane. I went back to look and he was giving Aunt Jane a big kiss, and then he helped her take off her shirt. Then Aunt Jane helped Daddy take his pants off, then Aunt Jane..."
At this point Mommy cut him off and said, "Johnny, this is such an interesting story, suppose you save the rest of it for supper time. I want to see the look on Daddy's face when you tell it tonight."
At the dinner table that evening, Mommy asked little Johnny to tell his story.
Johnny started his story, "I was at the playground and I saw Daddy's car go into the woods with Aunt Jane. I went back to look and he was giving Aunt Jane a big kiss, then he helped her take off her shirt. Then Aunt Jane helped Daddy take his pants off, then Aunt Jane and Daddy started doing the same thing that Mommy and Uncle Bill used to do when Daddy was in the Army."
Mommy fainted!

Moral: Sometimes you need to listen to the
whole story before you interrupt!
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Also one of Embee's

Two elderly academics were talking in the saloon one said to the other 'have you read Marx?' 'Yes' said the other 'its these darned wicker chairs!'
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A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.

After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings and made it safely to his van.

However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.

When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and the make such an obvious error, he replied

"Monsieur that is the reason I stole the paintings.



I had no Monet

to buy Degas

to make the Van Gogh"

See if you have De Gaulle to send this on to someone else.

I sent it to you because I figured I had nothing Toulouse.
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Smile and the world smiles with you :)

Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?
Author: George Eliot

Archives:

2007: Guilty Secret

An 'Excellent' Award

Alison is a fairly new friend of mine, at the moment she is telling us about a very special journey she has been on and if you haven't been reading her posts I would urge you to pop over and see what I'm talking about!
I'm very flattered that she has been kind enough to give me this award because she likes my photos~ this is what she said............

"Ms. Cellania - her photography is beautiful. I am very upset that she was in my neck of the woods before I got to know her...I would have loved to meet her and have a cup of tea with her". (Alison you never know what the future holds~ oh and make that coffee or better still a glass of something bubbly!!)

I am going to pass this award on to Caroline who you will find Walking the Beach. She is Marnie's mom and started her own blog back in November. She deserves this award because she has made an excellent start to blogging. Also I hope we might get some inside info on the romance!! now that would be really excellent (Caroline~ don't mind my sense of humour)!

(Alison just so you know~I will be proudly displaying my award on my link page).

Archives:
2007: Fun Monday~View from my Front Porch

Fun Monday # 50 1st Anniversary

Who would have thought that after Vicki was nosy interested enough to ask to see the view from our front doors that a whole year on we would be still satisfying our desires to peep and poke into other bloggers homes and thoughts. I, personally, think that during the past year we have had a lot of fun. There have only been a couple of holiday weeks when there were no topics, which is pretty good going!
So I would like to say a big thank you to Vicki and Willowtree, who encouraged her, for starting the ball rolling.

This is my view last year, the sun happened to be shinning when I took the photo unlike today, which is grey and raining, although you might not realise it from the photo below!


Now on to my First ever post on September 20th 2006. It was this pathetic little offering and do you know I was so pleased with myself!
I didn't know anything about htmls, linking to other blogs, uploading a photo was like a talking a foreign language. Side bar, bloglines, and stat counter what's that (in fact I think uploading a stat counter was one of the first things I ever did)!!

Gradually over the weeks and months, I tried things out and thus became my addiction to blogging!! My next big thing is going to be changing my header.. but don't hold your breath it's not likely to happen anytime soon. I have been offered help but I sort of want to do it myself and now I have photoshop I really ought to be able create something suitable~ however, that's if I only knew how to use it effectively....need I say more!!!!!!!!

Here's to the next yearSee you soon! You will find links to all the other Fun Monday party goers on Vicki's sidebar.

Archives:
2007: No Archive