Pink Saturday

If I was at home, I would think of sharing photos of pink lustre tea cups or pretty pink linens or the pink pointsettia I purchased for the shop.

But I am in the desert and discovered there are some beautiful pinks amongst the succulents!

A Barrel Cactus

Different Barrel Cacti


Prickly Pear
genus Opuntia
(genus info supplied by my environmentalist son)


Prickly Pear
with insect residue.
(I tried to remove it to make a prettier picture, but well, that seemed a little to0 punctilious, even for me!)


Being together with our kids is such a joy. We all went to The Living Desert the day before Christmas. The guys went hiking, the women looked at the animals (cats were the favs). When my daughter got tired of it all and wanted to read Harry Potter, I wandered off into the gardens, happily taking pictures and enjoying the quiet of being by myself.

Happy Boxing Day!
Hope your Christmas was full of love, joy, family and good things.

and now, since we are at a desert resort, we're all going swimming!

Out and Back Again

My dear friend Lori wrote and asked if all was well. After sending her a long note I thought I ought to post something here.

I've just been working out some personal issues.
I'm fine and all is well with my family!

We are off to the desert for Christmas.

My son's internship is out near Death Valley and since he wasn't coming home, we decided to go out and hang with him.

I promise to share all my fun things of Silver Bella and the antiquing trip home, and our holiday in sun, sand and cactus after the new year.

ps these photos were taken by my son. I think they are amazing!
correction, the desert photos were taken by my son.

Antiquing in Iowa

Who Knew?
Iowa is a fantastic place to antique.
I am writing this from the Amana Visitors Center.
I will post pictures when I can.
I am having a blast and can't wait to share all the pretty images and cool stuff I have been able to find on this trip home.

Later Friends,
~Marilee

On My Way Back Home

Again, if I had music on this blog, it would be playing what I think might be a Paul McCartney tune from his first solo album. As I remember it, some where in it there are the lines I'm on my way home/ on/ my/ way/ back/ home. I can hear it in my head, but couldn't find it on goggle.

I'd hum it for you, but you'd never get it then!
If you can remember it, do let me know.


The same bags going home.


Plus all these fabulous swap treasures.

Silver Bella was amazing. I am still processing it all. The classes were incredible. I felt such a connection with all the teachers and learned so many new techniques. I did the vendor fair and that was another great learning experience. I will post more about this adventure when I return home.

Play Day

Saturday was all about play and it had lots of different components.

UP IN THE AIR JUNIOR BIRDMAN

I took the day off from glittering and Kath took the day off from policy making and we played!


We didn't go up in the plane, which is playing for Kathy & her friends.

The wind would just have bounced the aircraft around.

I am being offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly in a WWII training plane.
It wouldn't work out time-wise, but the truth is, I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to little planes.

FARM GIRL FOR A DAY

Down the road from the hangars, a family related farm festival was going on.

Broom Making

Sorghum is used to make the brooms.

Colored Sorghum.

Corn
Turned in to meal and made into pancakes.
We bought a bag of mix and it's today's breakfast!

I like the historical irony!

This wringer washing machine certainly would not be considered easy by today's standards. But I bet it was a whole lot easier than what the farm wife had before.

Vintage and antique farm equipment

Well used, rusty vehicles.

Equipment in show condition.

Notice the blades of grass out of focus at the bottom on this pic?

Kath was down on the grass taking beautiful close-up arty photographs.

I grabbed the camera out of her hands, told her to stay put and captured her "technique!"
Hard not to laugh!

On My Way

If I had music on this blog, it would be playing the catchy opening tune of Ice Age.

As I don't, you'll just have to hum it yourself!

My bags are packed.


Here's my packing list.
Notice how close-up I could get on this photo?


I have a new camera and it is fabulous!
10x zoom, smallish and oh so easy to use!
Can't wait to take pics of all the wonderful things along the way.

Happy Halloween

The images seem right for the season, don't they?

I have not done much Halloween decorating this year. With no kids at home and no trick or treaters (really, no one comes to our house), I just never got around to it.


As I was hanging this lace from the clothesline I was reminded of cobwebs in school carnival haunted houses. Its as close to Halloween decorating as I got this year!


Have I mentioned the intense involvement I had in my kids' elementary school PTA? Maybe one day I will write about the joy (and frustration) I found in that full-time, unpaid position. Needless to say, I am very familiar with school carnival haunted houses!

The wind was picking up when I hung these pieces of lace.

Untangling lace is almost as difficult as untangling small necklace chains and much scarier!


Have a wonderful day & evening.
I'll be thinking of my kids and wondering, despite their 20-something-ness, are out there in great costumes, politely (or not) calling
"TRICK OR TREAT!"