Things to Share with the World

Today I want to show off pictures that I haven't had a place for up until now, but really should have a place. (Like this lovely rose; it's great taking pictures of flowers, but I rarely use them). Yes, all that is to follow are pictures that need a home. Enjoy!






Yes, that is a shark made of cucumber floating in a sea of shrimp...pretty awesome! Apparently, someone in the sea food section is an artist!


I should give an explanation on this (the place deserves that). This was taken on the beach in Santa Monica. This is Arlington West, and it's a memorial to fallen soldiers. The crosses are on the beach every Sunday from sunrise to sunset. "Veteran's for Peace" maintains it, and I highly recommend visiting it if you ever have the chance.


This is Heart Castle, by the way. I also recommend this place (Mr. Hearst very heavily "borrowed" from existing European structures...that gate is from a nunnery).





Well, this collection of photos is scandalously random, but I hope that you enjoy it. :o)

Here I am

I look at this almost every day. They are some of the things that I keep with me at work to remind me that there is art and beauty in the world. The painting is something I had done over a few lunches, and it is like a window into a world of color and imagination. The Russian dolls are also something that I love. Someone I think very highly of brought them back from Russia for me.


These are the pins that I got from Vintage Sanctuary that I blogged about last time. The one with the ruby slippers has already found it's way to a friend. I acted as ambulance last night when my friend hurt her foot at a soft ball game. It's not broken, but she's a bit banged up. I gave her the Ruby Slipper pin at the hospital as an encouragement that all will be well, and "There's No Place Like Home." (However, it occurred to me later that this particular friend isn't a fan of the Wizard of Oz...that's all right; the rest of the evening was a comedy of errors anyway).
I also played softball last night, and managed not to break my foot...though I was another likely candidate. This is actually a momentous event, because I have not willingly played a softball game in quite a while. One never knows what they day will bring, I suppose.

Today

I've had a fairly satisfying weekend. Those origami creatures to the left are some of the fruits of my efforts this weekend. Some of the best, most worth while things that I do are of no practical value. It's nice to have something light and friendly float through the air next to you. My crane-mobile was this week's art project. I think that origami is supposed to be good for patience...at least it has been teaching me patience.


I've discovered a wonderful vintage store in Oceanside with friendly employees, by the way. So far, I've got several different buttons (apparently, the owner makes them...very DIY...I like it), and a used rosary from Vintage Sanctuary. They have a huge assortment of vintage clothes and it's all pretty reasonably priced (which I appreciate; some vintage stores charge prices that I find rather high). Also, had a nice talk about the Beatles too.
If you'll notice (as I just did), this picture has a poster for the 4th of July Parade in Oceanside (which will actually take place on the 3rd at 10am). Sounds pretty awesome! I haven't been to any parade since I was a kid, I think. Maybe we should all give it a try.

I love this picture from inside Vintage Sanctuary. It's such a jumble that I can't focus on anything...but it's such a mass of little treasures and odds and ends that I'd just want to sit down and explore for awhile.
Apparently, they are opening another location in July that will have vintage furniture. This is quite fortuitous for me, because I am looking for a nice beat up frame for some of my art work...something nice and weathered and loved will do.
Until later, happy Monday. Please remember to create impractical things, and explore your local vintage store. You never know what you will find!

More wanderings and ramblings

Isn't this just fantastically lovely? It makes one believe in angels and heaven! And of course, the view was even better in person! The ocean is a good idea...especially when complimented with streams of sunbeams!
It's Thursday, you know; at least, it's Thursday in my part of the world. I have no problem with Thursday, especially since it's Friday's Friday. But it can still weigh one down a bit...being still stuck at work and all. It helps to remind me that somewhere in the world there is another shot like the one above going on. They aren't just a weekend thing. Nature does not wait for the weekends to create; I should listen more to nature.


I found this pig in front of the library at Fuller Theological Seminary. Apparently, there is a theologian out there who likes to draw pigs. I added my own little bits to him, actually (Microsoft Paint can be pretty useful). I think that I'll call him...Jacque! It seems friendly enough for a friendly pig. And thank you to whomever, drew him; you brightened my day a bit!

I have to show you something that I'm really excited about! They're my latest art pieces!


I have so many magazines, and I hate to just throw them away, so I've started to use magazine picts and text in some of my art work. I find it more earth friendly and I like the more edgy pieces I can come up with.
The second one is for a friend. The sheet music is from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. And the pressed flowers are primarily from an afternoon walk I took a few weeks back. That orange flower is from an obliging flower picker in Oceanside (sadly, this person is completely unknown to me). I like how this came out because it is fresh, while at the same time being weathered. I rather enjoy it when I can get two completely opposing notions to get a long well together; it so rarely happens that way in life.
I think that's all for the moment, but I will come up with more things for "Show and Tell."

The first one

And this is my very first entry of my new blog. It's actually been a long time coming, because I've been mulling over exactly what I want...exactly what I thought would be interesting. I finally decided that I would write about all of the cool things that happen to me, and post all of the cool pictures of those things.
So, all of you my loyal readers (both current and future) will get the benefit of my wanderings, thoughts...and probably a few of my art pieces that will make their way up here.
The coolest thing that happened today is that I found out that there's a Farmer's Market happening every Wednesday this summer right across from my office building (yes, I also have my Clark Kent persona going on). If you happen to be in Pasadena any Wednesday this summer, then it'll be in the Walgreen's parking lot on Lake Avenue.



I'm really digging all of the great veggie colors (yes, I know tomatoes are technically a fruit...but they will always be welcome in my veggie salad). I got some really nice bell peppers there that I intend to enjoy shortly.


And this is how I spent Memorial Day...at the beach taking pictures of sites that struck my fancy. I have a love for umbrellas; there is just something terribly friendly about them. I took this shot a little down the way from someone who was rumored to have caught a shark (don't worry, he got away...and he probably wasn't a shark...but it sounds better that way).

Well, I will post more sometime very soon. Until then, enjoy the little things, and eat local.