Happy Halloween

Thanks Mark for all the carving.

Mark started carving before he started kindergarten.

Look what is right around the corner.  It was a very busy
weekend indeed. 

Pumpkin Patch

Popeye.

The hunt is on.

Dia de los Muertos

What a lovely day spent remembering and honoring loved ones
 at Rose Hills.


Altars.

A sugar skull in the chapel. 

Holly thought this lady was beautiful but chickened out when
she approached us to say hi.  Jacob was thrilled to be
photographed with what he could only describe as
awesome.

Jacob is wearing the Donate Life California
green bracelet.

Jumble Sales and Thrift Shops

Trying on a new word for size: jumble.
Doesn't it sound better than a rummage, garage or tag sale?
But no matter what you call it getting something vintage at
a great price is one of the best thrills.

Thrift shopping satisfies the need for the hunt and sometimes the
little something you can't live without comes at 
rock bottom prices.
The best part, though, is all the neighborly people we meet.

The jewel of a cookbook pictured above includes
dated color photos and fantastic food line
drawings.  The volunteer that rang up this purchase
received an exact copy as a bridal shower gift for her first
marriage over 50 years ago.
She highly recommended two recipes from page 24:

Classic Beef Stroganoff and Hungarian Goulash. 

I think I may have skipped just a little bit as I exited the store.

Gourd Adventures

We recently visited the Baiamonte Floral & Gourd Farm for jewelry gourds. 
As you can probably imagine, jewelry gourds are small but gourds come
in all sizes and shapes.
 

I will be making gourd turkeys for Thanksgiving again this year.
They are so popular. 
After purchasing the gourds, scrubbing the gourds and finally painting the gourds.
I start on the structure of the assembly. 
First, each peg doll stand gets a
spray painting.

Just a gradual process. 

Parabéns Mae

My mother never ever forgot our birthdays or anniversaries.
We loved celebrating her birthday because not only was she our mother but she was born in the
loveliest month of the year, October.
This photo is very special because she rarely wore anything but black head to toe. Later she would wear black and white but this color is so becoming so happy. Like the flowers she loved.
She is not smiling with her mouth but her eyes definitely have a sparkle. A bit of
a grin growing across her face.

It still breaks my heart.  I still long to hear her voice, see her face and hold her hand.

The famous Pao de Lo cake always made an appearance for our
birthday celebrations.

Parabéns Mae

Antiquing in Riverside

October afternoons are best spent seeking inspiration.

My favorites glitter, dirt and wire.........and crystal sparkling like diamonds.

A girl's dress up fantasy.  Sparkling jewelry.

GlitterFest Fall 2011

This is a must attend event in a always decked out venue. 
Everyone is so welcoming and truly creative.

I've highlighted just a few seasonal items but there really
is something for everyone.  Check out this jacket.

 Holly's glitter boots to celebrate the event.  

The yummy cupcakes  we look forward to.  Holly is holding
an orange pumpkin spice cake pop that she declared delicious.

A little break from the excitement. 

Please check out Rita's blog for more inspiration.

A Little Bit of Knowledge

What did I do?  Messing around with blog templates should not be allow for experimentation for a novice like me.  Please accept my apologies as I learn.  

I rarely watch the regular news.  It is almost always awful and l figure my life is complicated enough but  Friday morning as sat in my hairstylist;s chair, my heart broke as I watched the District Attorney of Orange County choke up as he spoke of the mass murders committed in a Seal Beach, California beauty shop.  He was reflecting on a  little 7 year old boy's life that was forever changed by the murder of his mother and 7 patrons.  His father is accused of allegedly committing the murders in an execution style.  There is no way I can even comprehend the terror of the victims last moments.  The losses sustained by so many families for no viable justifiable reason.  These victims were minding their own business.

What parent won't ache for a child put in the worst of possible circumstances by a person claiming to love him?

I often joke that my beauty appointments are cheaper than therapy but there is some truth in my joke.  Women often congregate in beauty salons for a bit of pampering, friendship and comfort. Salons are sanctuaries where kind men and women normally congregate.  It's not impossible for me to fathom the insanity of domestic violence but why harm other innocent strangers?

Today, I was outside spray painting some of my holiday crafts when I heard loud thuds in the distance.  I looked up into the park across the street only to see a teenager hitting everything he could with a baseball bat.  I yelled out for him to stop.  Only I wasn't very lady like.

It is hard to understand how everything seems to have gotten out of control.  How unsupervised children have no respect for adults, for where they live and for the property of others.  Growing up it  was plain.  I knew my parents loved me but I also had a tremendous amount of respect and fear.  There wasn't a person that I feared more than my mother.  Not the police or the mean girls at school. 

I knew to lower my eyes when adults spoke to me and to show respect to elders.  There wasn't a single instant where I would have considered damaging personal property or stealing. It felt good then and it feels good now to know that I am trusted and respected.  This self awareness and sense of dignity helped me move away from relationships that didn't feel respectful or safe.  As a woman, I knew that if a man loved me he would never strike me with his hands or with his words. 

I owe everything to my parents.   Alzira and Jose. 

Coffee and Waffles

In all you do, in all you think, be beautiful.  Your round mahogany table shines its benevolence through dainty lace-work.  The flowers, those most essential companions of all that is best in life, are adapted to the season.


                                                                                                                    -Alice Foote MacDougall

Primo Gabriel Moitoso; Olinda Simas, my grandmother; my Tia Olinda in
1952.  My grandmother, Olinda, was a card.  She was always happy and singing.
See the expression on her face?  Always joking even when life was hard. 

Our cousins Mabel and Gabriel Moitoso were our sponsors to United States. 
The land of milk and honey.

October Memories

October is Pumpkin Festival Revisited

Nicholas turns 21 this year but here he is
under ten years old....

Granny's House

"As a designer," says Robert Novogratz, "you've failed if your house looks like your grandmother's."

Now I don't know about as a designer but I love the granny look.I loved my grandmothers' houses.  I wish my house looked like my paternal grandmother's, Ursula, house with its ocean view, handmade quilts, crocheted dollies, Victorian lamps, and built in cupboards.  My maternal grandmother's home wasn't shabby either. Olinda, had a huge home just large enough for 13 children and their broods.  The kitchen had room for a last supper style table and scrubbed wooden floors. I'll post a photo another day.

 
That's my mother on the far left, my grandmother, Olinda, in the nightgown, my sister Dulce to her left.
The oldest sister, Mericia, standing directly behind my grandmother. Mericia is holding her daughter, Christine.  This is  during the summer of 1976. Four generations.
I share my family photo history hopefully inspire others to take photos.
My mother is probably 47 in this photo so close to my age with grown daughters and a granddaughter.  
Unfortunately, I don't recognize the other guests.  I was probably behind the camera.
A table full of celebration, a green cupboard, lace curtains, wood panel ceiling and stone walls.
This was my grandmother's cabin near the center of town seen below. 

Yes, the granny look is for me.  Always has been always will be.  It may have all started with a little metal play house like the one pictured below.  My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Henage, gave me a similar house at the end of the school year.  All those hours of playing and planning definitely influenced my future.  Yes, indeed.