Sunday, February 27, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

Bethany Hamilton

I hope you are feeling good
 and enjoying your week so far.
Wow, I can't believe a week has gone
by with no posts.  I had planned to
keep up with my posts, but each day
seems to fly by.  I know everyone
 can relate to that. But each day is a
 new beginning so no regrets, right?
I wanted to mention another
lovely person I came across last week.
Before the movie Gnomeo and Juliet,
one of the trailers shown was the
new movie, Soul Surfer.  Have you
heard about it?   It is the story of
Bethany Hamilton, the little gal
who was attacked by a shark in
Hawaii back in 2003. (I remember
when it happened and can't believe
 it has been nearly 8 years ago)  She
 lost one of her arms, but was
 determined to surf again and boy has she!

Look at this awesome photo of her
in 2009!   (Click on photo for full image,
 she is inside the wave) Just amazing
 and what a great shot....I love it !
She just turned 21 this month
and is another inspirational person
...living her Faith and living her
 dream!  Check out her website HERE
I can't wait to see her movie,
Soul Surfer! I think it comes
out in April.  Thanks Bethany!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A LIVE
YOUR DREAM WEEK!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Gnomeo and Juliet

OK, Disney has done it again! 
  Gnomeo and Juliet was just
 so darling and sweet.
Need a little escape? 
  Go see it!
I was good and didn't have
 any sugar or soda, but lots
 of buttered popcorn for sure.  :o)
Photo from www.rottentomatoes.com 
I haven't been to a Starbucks for
39 days!   I guess I will have to
stop counting.




The below pic is our covey of about
 20 quail that seem to come around
 every year. I took the pic from the
 window and the flash went off so
 there is a bit of a glare.....I started
 to take another and something
spooked them and they all flew
 into one of the walnut trees.
It was pouring rain, but most were
out and about.   We have a row of
oleanders lining the driveway and
they seem to like it under them.
But I see the neighborhood cats
hang out there too.  So far, so good.
Click on photo to see close-up.


I am working on a free give-away,
 so stay tuned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A HAPPY DAY!

Monday, February 14, 2011

HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEK !

Love is patient and kind:
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing.
Love bears all things, hopes all
things, endures all things...
so now faith, hope and love
abide, these three; but the
greatest of these is Love.
--- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I hope everyone is having a loving day
and if you are alone, remember we
are truly never alone as long as we
have God in our heart.
(And we all do, so you cannot be alone.)


Today I am going to the movies
to see Gnomeo and Juliet with a friend.
It looks so darling and fun...hope they
have a happy ending though!


This heart pin is available in
my Etsy shop.
Click HERE to see.


 
 A handmade Valentine card from
my dear friend Marie.

This is a meditation from a
Unity booklet titled "The
 Healing Aspect of Change". 
I thought it would be nice to
 do this always.  As Mahatma
 Gandhi said " Be the change
 you wish to see in the world".
I hope you enjoy it.
As I meet others today, dear
God, let me look at each one
with eyes of love.  Let me listen
with ears of love, speak with a
voice of love, and touch with
hands of love.
Grant me the grace, dear God,
to embrace all people with
understanding, patience and
tolerance.  Through the changes
wrought by time and circumstance,
let me see the Christ in every
face and hear the Christ in every
voice.
May I know when to speak and
when to keep silent.  May I freely
express my divine heritage as Your
child in the truest manner possible,
and may I allow others the same
freedom.
Let my faith be strong in every
circumstance, and when my faith
seems to waver, uphold me with thy
gracious, loving spirit.
Let me be an example of Your wisdom
in all that I think, say and do.  May my
thoughts create the wonder of Your
world, my words demonstrate my love
for You, and my actions bring glory
and honor to Your name.
I thank You, dear God, for all the
wonderful people who fill my world,
who share in this marvelous experience
of life.  May I be worthy of their love,
and may I reflect only Your light,
Your life, and Your love to them.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May you have a week
 filled with much Love
 and perfect health.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Reggie Bibbs / Neurofibromatosis


Well, I found another inspirational
guy today on the Discovery channel.
(Somehow I end up watching these
shows late Sunday afternoons!)
Actually two guys, the show
"My Brand New Face"
also included Maurice Simpson.
 Maurice was also very inspirational
 and inspired Reggie to get out of his
comfort zone more.   Reggie had already
 started a foundation several years ago
 called The Just Ask! Foundation
which helps raise awareness of
Neurofibromatosis.
NF is a genetic disorder of the nervous
 system which causes tumors to form
 on the nerves anywhere in the body
 at any time.  NF is not a rare disorder,
 it is the most common neurological
disorder caused by a single gene.
For more information on this
wonderful guy and to buy a
 Just Ask T-Shirt (I ordered 2)
please go HERE

I couldn't find anything on this
true sentiment.   Aren't new
friends wonderful?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A "GET OUT THERE" DAY!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Giraffes on water

by William Blake


Isn't this a great photo?!
"Endangered Rothschild giraffes
 are relocated to Ruko Game
 Conservancy by barge on
 Wednesday, Feb. 9. This was
 the first-ever attempt to transport
 giraffes by water in Kenya.
Supported and executed by The
 Northern Rangelands Trust and
 Samatian Island Lodge - a luxury
 camp situated on a private
 island in Lake Baringo – the
 project took four years to plan
 as giraffes are some of the
 most difficult animals to move."
Eight
 giraffes in Kenya got a very rare
 ride to their new home — in a
 boat, the Associated Press reports.
More info and photos Here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A FUN DAY!

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Stars, a Camellia and Mamie the cat

A few days ago I told you
 about my camellia bush
 HERESince I am trying
 to finish things I start, here
are the promised pictures.

And here is the poor little bush
 below.   Later in the spring I think
I will transplant it again into a
larger pot.   And religiously
 fertilize and water it more. 

 In the background you can see 2
 hot pink chairs.   The one on the
 right has a feral cat that I have
 been feeding regularly the past
 few months.   Actually she has been
around for 4 years.  In fact, she
 is one of the cats we got spayed
(we fixed close to 15 cats), but
 not before she had 3 kittens, which
 we were able to catch and tame
for adoption.  Well, actually one was
 quite the hellion, which is why I
 named her Angel (I kept wanting to
 call her devil cat) but she loved to
 be rubbed on her tummy and
 would tolerant being picked up
 for a minute or two.   Finally a friend
 with 40 acres took her a couple of
years ago and she is doing well
 in her new home.  I didn't want
 to re-release her here as when we
 move I would feel responsible to
take herHer mama, Mamie (my neighbor named her that) used to
 spend more time at his place, but
for some reason decided to come
 stay with us for awhile.   That is
 why I put a pillow and towel on the
 chair for her to sleep on.  But she
 doesn't sleep there at night.   I
don't know where she goes, but I
suspect she sleeps under one of
the sheds.   She still runs off a little
 when I feed her, but lately has
 been staying within several feet. 
  She is a funny little cat, but aren't
they all?   :o)   I just remembered,
 I have a pic of her......shown below
 and taken a couple of months ago.
She is mottled multi-color gray.



I couldn't find the author
 of this quote either.
True sentiment...
wouldn't you agree?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A WEEKEND FULL OF
MAGICAL STARLIGHT!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mendocino, Fort Bragg and the Pacific Ocean


I found a similar saying,
 but this one is anonymous.
Remember, you can smile
at many people and your
smile will shine just as
brightly as before.   :o)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wanted to get these pics posted
before the time got away from me.
   As you know, I am always saying
 I will post stories and pictures
 later and hardly ever do!   Trying
to work on that this year.  I still
plan to post some pics from
 a Halloween party we went to
 and our Disneyland trip during
Thanksgiving.  Maybe I will
start next week as it is 
suppose to start raining
 again in Northern California.
Below are a few pics from our
overnight trip to Fort Bragg/
Mendocino on Super Bowl
Sunday.
Arrived 2-6-11, looking off our
 deck at the Beachcomber Motel
 in Fort Bragg.

Down on the beach...high tide.

SUNSET 2-6-11
Pacific Ocean


Morning 2-7-11
Pudding Creek Beach



My favorite tidepool.  Looking
down, it looks like the old
 Submarine ride at Disneyland!  :o)
(Which is now, Finding Nemo) 
 
Mike looking for treasures.
  This is looking towards the
 Beachcomber Motel.
The tidepool and ocean are
behind us.
Someone's sweet little footprint.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Off to Mendocino.  It is about
 12 miles South of the motel.
 This is the main street along
 the "cove" (which is to the
 right) in Mendocino.
The ocean is behind me.
The two-story building with
the dormers is one of my
dream buildings.  It is for sale
for $ 1.3 million...it also has a
house behind it with a lovely
garden.  I have posted a pic
of the garden in the past.
We always have to stop here for
my favorite dark chocolate-covered
peanuts.  Yes, I did have them and
I took a pic, but I can't find it now.
They were delicious and quite
large.   :o)

One last pic before we go.... 
Mendocino Headlands Park...
looking South.  It
was so windy I could barely
stand up to take this pic!  Mike
stayed in the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A BEACHY DAY!
For wonderful photos go to:
A Beach Cottage