pookieville

Seems like nice way to spend the day....
Happy New  Years to you all!!

Christmas eve in California

Sorry my friends in the North- but today is sunny and clear and probably around 75 degrees out. Cuban jazz is playing in the background, and the husband is in the kitchen cooking up his crazy Italian soul food soup. This is Christmas eve for us here. I have a turkey in the oven, and everything else is  ready to go- just waiting for our family and friends to come and fill our home with noise and laughter. Something I like to do  when I have people over, is to make something I have never made before.   This morning I decided to do a bread pudding. I know, not that difficult, but I have never done one, and the idea of having it while a fire is roaring tonight was too strong of a pull. I think it came out - it looks so lovely, and smells great. I used some egg nog in it in place of the milk and the edges that I have nibbled are delicious!                                                                           
Here is Mr. H- I only asked him to smile for me- I think this holiday pressure is getting to him.

doesn't my bread puddin' look yummy?!

whoops- I fell down and couldn't get back up

Nothing like the holiday hustle and bustle and a little food poisoning. I get it at least once a year. I should probably have my digestive tract removed completely- it might be safer.    The sucky part is that the older I get the less quickly I bounce back. H had a really good laugh when I expressed my surprise at not being 100% yesterday. Today is my first human day, and I am still not too sure about food in general. I am sticking to my tea and ginger ale today thank you very much. At least it won't try and kill me. Actually I did sneak out into the garden this morning and snacked on some fresh peas that I have growing. yum.  But that's it! no more food.
So everything is ready for our Christmas eve party, well, except I have to clean the house and buy food, but other than that- its all good. We are looking forward to family and friends - a big fire, and food for some ( not me- never again I say) and hopefully a lot of laughs.  I hope the same for all of you. Be safe, be well, and hug your family a lot. Happy Christmas.

I am  doing so much better with the new camera. I am still having a bit of trouble "finding" my pictures once they are downloaded, but I am learning. Let me show you my latest pictures!!
This first picture is from the street, next to my garage, looking up on to my property. See the fence? That is my neighbors fence. See the palm? Oh yea- that's right, they removed it. Yup, they had their Gardner come on to our property and remove a fan palm. Funny. humm... the next  picture shows the hole where my plant used to be.

This last picture is my attempt at extreme photography... I am hanging my arm over the fence to show you my palm in my neighbors trash. Look at the colors and the crispness I am getting with my new camera. I am also impressed with the stabilization of the camera, as my hand was shaking quite a bit from horror and anger. Love my new camera!!!

It is funny that time  suddenly in such short supply around the holidays. There are so many things that I want to do before New Years, so many that I will never get them all done.... Did I use my year to its fullest if I still have so many things to do left on my mental check list?? I think I did, but as usual I wish it had been more. This past year I read 26 books. I was shooting for 52, but I had to do some laundry. I am happy with my 26. I planted my pumpkin patch . I finally grew some tomatoes. I planted my sweet pea patch. I had the weeds under control for a while anyway.  Set up a little sitting garden with rose bushes and cosmos, now with nasturtiums going crazy. I painted a bathroom. I met with my chunky book friends for art and food regularly. Taught some fun classes, and met some great people, and reconnected with a lost friend, and met a blogging hero. I set up an art/craft room. I let go and got rid of a lot of stuff. I was in 2 gallery shows, and did 6 holiday sales. It's good. I wish the weeds were still under control. I wish I had cleaned out 3 closets and let go of more stuff. I wish I had been brave enough to open the mystery bathroom door and begin to fix what is behind it. I wish I taken the carpet out of my art/craft room and moved the giant tool pile. I wish I had cleaned out the shed and basement. I wish I had had friends over more. I wish I had called my far away friends more. I think that all of those things are still good goals to hang on to and make happen in coming months. I still have some time though, and I am going to see what kind of magic I can pull outta my *** and get done before I am given that fresh,  clean and limitless New Year.

Gallery Show this weekend!!!

 

Coming, Saturday, December 15, 2007

3rd Annual

I Holiday

                  * * *  * * *


Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 12 noon to 6:00 pm

The Arroyo Arts Collective and the Avenue 50 Studio invite you to stop by for a Holiday Sale of original and affordable art by the following artists (partial listing):

Drewcilla Annese , Benito Campos, Kay Brown , Val Echavarria, Jack Fenn,

Margaret Garcia, Germs, CiCi Gonzalez,
Cidne Hart, Kevin Hass, Heather Hoggan, Abelar Kummerow, Elva Lauter ,

Pola Lopez, Jose Lozano, Heriberto Luna,
Poli Marichal, Don Normark, Gil Ortiz,  Juanita Rivas Raymer, Sonia Romero,

Stormie, the Los de Abajo Collective, J. Michael Walker

In addition, Cash & Carry Again is on the walls of the Acorn Gallery, including Judith Amdur, Kari Atol, Tyn Atol, Mike Beiriger, Marcela Ciszewski,

Ruth De Nicola, Sharon Eaton, Edem Elesh, Jeanie Frias, Maggie Gerard,

Cicely Gilman , Guadulesa, Peter Hess, Karen Hovanitz, Sandy Huse,

Patty Sue Jones, Pat Lee, Gregory Liffick, Leo Límon, Ginger Mayerson,

Heather McLarty, Gurdon Miller, Susan Moss, Karen Neubert, Joe Oliver,

Shirley Pettibone, Rourk Reagan, Deborah Thomas, Kacy Treadway ,

Betty Wan, Martin Waterman, Nan Wollman

If you're a last-minute shopper in need of buying presents (and something for yourself),
stop by the Acorn Gallery and Avenue 50 Studio for a chance to support local artists and galleries.

Music, tamales, punche de navidad, and other holiday refreshments throughout the day
Avenue 50 Studio/Arroyo Arts Collective
131-135 No. Avenue 50
Highland Park , CA 90042
323/258-1435
www.avenue50studio.com   

www.arroyoartscollective.org

 

 

new camera

I have not posted pictures in a bit for a reason- I owned one of the last wind up cameras in North America. Not really, but it was old and the batteries only lasted about 10 min. ( really) and it was just such a pain in the  ***  to use, AND I was quite tired of the ridicule of my "friends" about the antiquity of my sad camera. Yes you know who you are- hang your heads in shame!!! Shame on you for trying to move me into this century!!! I bought a new camera. I got a Canon A570 I S.  It is so pretty and light and I was so excited. Right about now, please note that there are no pictures attached to this post. That's right- I am too stupid to use my beautiful new camera. Oh and last night I was so proud of myself for reading the book and figuring it out . I got up early this morning to take pictures of some art work and post it on etsy. My thinking was that now that I could take descent pictures I could stop tormenting shop browsers and my shop was going to look good and I was going to post more often. You have noted the lack of photos in this post right?? Yea- well this girl can't seem to download the pictures to her computer.  I have installed, re- installed, prayed, chanted, sworn, had breakfast, and now I am just going to give up. I am going to do something easy. I am going to the post office.  Have a nice Monday.

I'll bet you thought I fell off that bucking bronco didn't you?? Well I didn't, I was just a bit sore from the ride and needed a rest. But, not too long!!! I managed to weasel my way into a show at Cactus Gallery thanks to Kari and Michelle's encouragement . I have already sold some of the pieces and the opening isn't until tomorrow!! YIPPEE! I also have my last artist sale of this year on Saturday. Pray for no rain- it is outdoors and I really want to go. I don't know much about it, as Kari booked it. I am just going to show up and smile and sell my pant off! I do know that it is called the Blair Street Fair held at Blair H.S. in Pasadena and I know that it ends at 4:00.  Not very good PR on my part - sorry. BUT, I do have the invite for Cactus Gallery for you, I am shooting to be there around 6:00 myself, and I know that Michelle Caplan will be there too as will Kari and lots of other artist, so do stop on in!!!
4534 Eagle Rock Blvd.  90041