Fantastically Fun Fort

06/28/2011

Last week I wrote about an indoor fort that my 16-year-old daughter and I constructed. Our makeshift hide-out was an impromptu project that was thrown together with dining room chairs, blankets, and lots of pillows. Who knew we’d end up falling in love with it!

Last night I created a more substantial fort. Why you ask?! Because forts are forever fabulously fun! Really….honestly..and….truly! Forts are the perfect place to nap, read, meditate, and dream big!

I replaced the temporary floppy version with a sturdier model. I pitched a tent, yep, in the house, and then “cherried” it out! Floral fabrics, battery operated candles, paper lanterns, and tons of pillows helped make it extra cozy. Here are a few pics of my new and improved fort. Do you have a fort ?….if so, please share!

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Midway Madness

06/24/2011

midway madness

intoxicating midnight air

makes me crave purple painted ponies

and giant wheels of speeding light.

i’m a morphing shutter speed freak

addicted to bending metal

with just one click.

a time stopping iso wizardress

transforming ordinary into

extraordinary.

hypnotized by blurry lines

and twisted neon shades

a flurry of delicious

dopamine driven images

i’m a slave to my rebel

Last weekend I remembered what it feels like to be a free-spirited young girl again. While L. and I were working on a project in the “camper”, ferris wheels suddenly became the topic of conversation. You could see her (ferris) wheels turning as she said “Hey the county fair is still in town, wanna go?!” I paused, glanced at the clock, and surprised myself when I said yes! It was almost midnight.

We excitedly grabbed our Canons, worn-out flip flops, and ran out the door. Luckily we made it in time to shoot a few photos. As usual my artsy pal taught me a few amazing tricks with the camera. Here are some images from that night.

 

 

 

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Happy Pop’s Day

06/19/2011

Just a quick shout out wishing everyone a Happy Father’s Day! Hoping you’re having a wonderfully relaxing day! Be back next week with lot’s of fun new posts! Stay tuned!

"blooms and bike" watercolor

 

 

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Fort Therapy

06/19/2011

On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the worst, yesterday was a 12. It started off with a root canal, yes that dreaded procedure that gives one chills just thinking about. Luckily the two-hour appointment was pain-free, however quite a shaky affair. I don’t suffer with tremors unless I’m faced with stress, anxiety, or fear. Yesterday I had all three. If you met me in person you’d have a hard time telling I have Parkinson’s Disease. Besides a slow right hand and foot, I’m doing pretty well.

I’m a complete scaredy cat when it comes to dental work. This fear topped off with tons of lidocaine turned me into a mess. I was relieved when the nurse placed a pair of dorky dark glasses over my eyes, it ended up hiding some unexpected tears. I felt surprisingly vulnerable and exposed as the right side of my body did the cha-cha. Truth be told I was down right embarrassed. This is the first time I’ve felt this as a PD patient. I asked for a blanket, not only to put pressure on my jumping limbs, but mostly to hide my tremors. Millions of thoughts raced through my brain for the next two hours.

I’ve been praised for being courageously inspirational. Yesterday I began to think about my upbeat attitude towards my illness. Maybe I’m positive right now simply because my disease hasn’t moved into advanced stages yet. I worry that when they do become more noticeable I won’t have the strength to cope with it as gracefully.

PD can turn a patient into a recluse….probably one of the worst side effects of the disease. Yesterday was the first time I understood how this can happen. We all want to appear in control and attractive to those around us. The last thing we want is for anyone to pity us. As my right side shook uncontrollably under the blanket, I wished I was invisible.

I can pull out a charming anecdote or a funny one-liner in most sticky situations, however I was too shook up to even go there…no pun intended. I arrived home with a heavy heart. I put on my pj’s, curled up on the couch with Honeydew (my favorite hippo pillow), and quietly prayed. I reminded myself there’s meaning in my journey and I do have the strength to cope and thrive. My faith in a higher power surfaced and I reminded myself to stay in the spiritual backseat. I sometimes forget the view is better from the back and God knows all the short-cuts.

My day came to a close with a heart to heart talk with my beautiful daughter Emma Rose. She’s a brilliant bright light who makes my heart smile. Amazing kid? yes…however still a typical 16-year-old teenager who occasionally needs help staying on track…last night was one of those nights. If you happen to have kids in your life, here’s a great tip: Before having a soulful one on one with any kid (or adult), build a fort. Yep, a fort. Just like the ones you made with your sibs when you were seven.

Together we constructed a cool fort out of quilts, chairs, pillows, and a standing lamp. We hung a battery operated paper lantern, turned out the lights, and crawled inside. The comfort and camaraderie of building our fort together set the mood for honest sharing. My girl went to bed happy, I slept like a baby, and the fort still stands. P.S. Mikey loves “his” fort.

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It’s A Dog’s Life

06/16/2011

I adore animals, especially dogs. Doesn’t matter if they’re big, small, hairy or bald….I’m crazy about all of them! I had tons of fun shooting photos of some beautiful beach dogs while on the coastline. These salty sea dogs must love the beach, because they all seemed to be smiling! Here are just a few of my new furry friends;

These two fellas were taking their owner for a stroll. Named them Mario and Getty.

See her smile? Named her P.D. No, not for Parkinson's Disease....for Phyliss Diller :)

This sweet doggie reminded me of my beloved CoCo. Named him CoCotoo.

I named him Linus because he loved his blankie.

Loved this trio! Named them Benson, Bosco, and Biff.

One terrific Terrier! Named her Tiddlywinks.

This guy was an unbelievable swimmer....named him Spitz.

A cool dude sportin' a scarf. Named him Scout.

I named him Harrison just because.

An elegant lass who liked her tummy scratched.

This little sweetheart is named Liberty, she has the soul of an angel. Her proud Mom and Pop rescued her from a race track where she was kept in a cage for hours on end. She loves her new life of freedom on the beach!

Liberty's wonderful parents feel truly blessed to have this amazing dog in their lives. They were extremely warm and gracious and let me takes a few shots. Thanks guys!

Carmel dogs make a good impression :)

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Got Hipstamatic?

06/15/2011

I recently discovered Hipstamatic, a cool iPhone application that brings back the look and feel of plastic cameras from the past. The following Hipstamatic images were taken last week while driving to the coast….sort of an “ode to the road” album. The images totally crack me up because they look like my old family fotos! Yep, it’s true what they say….. “Everything old is new again.”

Monterey bound!

Co-pilot position rocks.

ice ice baby.

View from the filling station.

Road Trip Food! None for me...sigh.

Icee! Nope, off limits...sigh.

Peanuts! Yes!

Giddy Getaway Smile.

I remember when H2o and O were free.

On the road again.

Wondered if there were hidden vintage treasures in this barn.

Made it to the hotel safe and sound.

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“I do.”

06/13/2011

We were married in Kauai under a beautiful orange blossomed wiliwili tree.

Terry and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at the Hotel Pacific in Monterey, CA. We had a wonderful time exploring the magic that Monterey and Carmel have to offer. A few highlights included a lovely lunch on the point where we were entertained by playful sea otters, dancing dolphins, and enormous barking seals…amazing! Holding hands while walking and talking thru the streets of quaint Carmel. Eating incredibly fresh fish, cuddling by a warm fireplace, and sleeping in until 9:00 a.m. Munching on grilled artichokes, sea bass, fresh salmon, and Caesar salads. Sharing snacks in bed at midnight while watching Chelsea Handler. Buying trinkets and treasures in touristy type shops. Moseying through historical gardens and while clicking cameras in unison. Smiling at brave dogs leaping through white crested waves. Laughing at goofy t-shirts, dreaming about our future, and stealing romantic kisses.

This special getaway reminded me of our deep connection and the lifelong commitment we made to each other 11 years ago….I came home feeling very blessed.

our private patio.

 

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The Eagles Who Live On A Hill

06/07/2011

Every now and then I encounter earthly magic….today was one of those days. I had the pleasure of meeting three unique human beings who are perfectly perched on a hill where the eagles soar. This amazing clan radiates warmth, generosity, and peace….and they graciously shared their loving hearts with ours. In a matter of  minutes, I felt as if I had known all three of them forever. Together they form an inseparable triangle, their spirits adding strength and character to each corner. Together they form a family that honors their differences and delights in their similarities.

Their beautiful and peaceful home is filled with light and love, and is carefully dotted with soulful treasures that make a stranger feel as if they have arrived “home”. The keeper of the house is a gorgeous Aussie mix named Lucy. She gently protects her brood and tenderly approaches when her instincts give the green light.

Terry and Micky were both born in Hawaii and together these two die hard fisherman enjoy their innate aloha spirit. It’s makes me smile to see the island connection the two of them share. We sipped iced tea, nibbled on sushi and sweet cherries, and talked non-stop about our personal journeys.

Barbara is a gentle spirited woman whose smile could light up New York City. Her soft voice and kind mannerisms makes one feel like everything is just as it should be. She casually mentioned that she dabbles in paint, and I almost fell over when I spotted one of her stunning floral watercolors…..one word, wow! No worries, I posted a pic of it below…you’ll see what I mean!

Micky is a strong man, with an insightful spirit. He understands the law of the universe, and freely trusts the wise lessons that Mother Nature has to offer. His respect for his homeland radiates through his beautiful words, and has given him the ability to softly walk tall.

Then there’s Shon! Shon is their brilliant son who is brighter than a jar of lightening bugs on a summer night! I was so thrilled to meet him, and my heart melted when I saw him run towards Terry and wrap his arms around him. We have great lessons to learn from Shon….he knows the secret to life. It took me fifty years to figure out that all that really matters is l-o-v-e…… I’m convinced Shon knew this at birth.

Our two hour visit felt more like two minutes, and I left filled up to the brim with joy. I smiled on the car ride home knowing I have been blessed with eagle friends who live on a hill.

Here are some shots of my magic day~

Micky, Shon and Barbara.

Terry's friend Shon.

Me and Barb.

My new pal Shon.

Girl with the golden heart.

Barbara's beautiful watercolor.

A masterpiece by Shon.

My portrait by Shon ... Love it!

Barbara has her own Starshine.

The family's homemade fairy house (made from a gourd).

It even has a fairy seashell chandelier.

Hawaiian moss, kindly gifted at the end of our visit, now hangs in my garden.

A special gift from Micky: A magical rock and driftwood from Hanamo Bay.

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The World According To Mikey and Boz

06/06/2011

Mikey is the young whipper snapper on the left, Boz is the dapper dude on the right

I’m blessed with amazing animals in my life. Perfectly trained pets? No way. Sweet hearted lovies full of endless affection? Yes!

Nothing like a bit of sunshine on the face!

Bozzy knows how to work his copper pennied eyes!

The two special canine souls in our brood are Mikey and Boswell, Bozzy for short. Boz is a seven year old Petit Basset Griffon Vandeen, otherwise known as a PBGV. These animated french hounds are becoming more and more popular in the US, and are sometimes described as cartoon characters in dog suits. Mikey is a spunky one year old Llasa Apso, and is named after my hero Michael J. Fox. At least once a day we address him by his full name, which is usually when he’s being naughty.

There's no hiding from Mikey!

Brothers.

Life Lessons from Mikey:

 1. Play hard…sleep hard.                                                    

 2. Eat plenty…eat plenty.

 3. Cats have sharp claws when provoked.

 4. Always try new things and hope for the best.

 5. It’s better to be looked over, than overlooked. 

Life Lessons from Bozzy:

1. Non-stop napping makes perfect sense.

2. Exercise is over-rated.

3. Snacks are the key to inner happiness.

4. Batting one’s eyelashes works every time.

5. All you need is love.

I can’t imagine a world without animals. They quietly remind us of our humanity, our innate goodness, and our ability to love without fear.

Wheeeeeeee!

I lost a dear friend two years ago, a brilliant border collie who had wings hidden under his thick black overcoat. I’m convinced he’s now in charge of rainbow scheduling for planet Earth. Keep an eye out for rare double rainbows….Cody can be seen sliding down them on clear days.

P.S. i love u CoCo.

Cowboy Cody Jr.

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Porch Tweets and This Month’s Winner!

06/04/2011

I’ve been waiting with bated breathe for the babies to arrive…our feathered ones that is! This is the second year in a row that two swallows have made their mud nest in the eaves of our porch. Yes, it’s messy…and yes, the cement requires constant rinsing to remove the droppings, however  it’s totally worth it. What a treat to glimpse into the world of these adorable critters. Take a peek for yourself! (Mama bird can be seen in the first two shots, and three chubby babies are in the last two…enjoy!)

Oh yeah, almost forgot…the lucky winner of this month’s giveaway is Sharon S.! Congrats on winning the colorful still life titled “Tropical Treasures”. You’ll be contacted by e-mail today!

Cute huh?!!!

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