THANKSGIVING DAY

No, no pictures of turkey and mounds of good food, although we certainly had our share.  We did what has become a tradition in our family.  We went to GAYLORDS on Kauai.  A wonderful restaurant in a plantation setting.  It was everything that we have come to expect -- over-the-top excellence.  


My first stop was to visit the sunny steps where every year we have seen what we call 'our Kauai Cat'.  I have photographs of her on the same sunny step every year on Thanksgiving Day since 2007.  Would she still be there again this year?


OH-OH....

THE STEPS ARE EMPTY!!...

Then my husband called.."Here she is!"   And there she was curled up  on a comfy chair.  When I got closer I saw a notice on the chair...

 Can you read it?.... AWWW...!

(Taken on the way out.)

So we let her sleep.  Hope she's there next year!

S IS FOR...

S  IS FOR...
                  ...SUN, SAND, SEA, SURF  and SORRY... Sorry, that is, for not having any up-to-date photos of our SHANGRILA  in Kauai, Hawaii.
We just arrived last night and today was not a SIGHT-SEEING or picture-taking day.  Too busy SETTLING in, SLEEPING in, (me, to recover from the long flight which doesn't agree with my fibromyalgia) and SHOPPING so we won't STARVE in the days to come.

Here is a SAMPLE

Kauai is one of the less populated and less 'touristified' of the Hawaiian Islands.  It has been our place of destination for quite a few Thanksgiving Holidays.  It is known as the Garden Isle.  I think that a really good description of its beauty is to say that it has all the lush greenness and beauty of England with temperatures at a balmy 78- 80 degrees, and mild sea breezes. 

More photos to follow, I promise.

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S is also for  Scottish girl -- one of my earlier paintings, which I don't think I've posted before.  I love her red hair and green eyes.  I can see things in this painting that I would change or add now, but then of course, I always can.  I think I never know when to stop with my paintings.

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S is also for STEEPLES.  We are doing a bit of globe hopping on this post.

This magnificent cathedral is in Ecuador, which was one of the places we visited last year.  In fact I sat quietly for about half an hour here in the cool shade and away from the busy park square, while Moth was buzzing around taking photos. (I took this one.  He wouldn't have cut off the top of the SPIRE as I have done!) It was a great people watching spot.

S is also for Scruffy -- how could I not include him?  I have to stop myself from looking at his photos all the time, because I miss him -- yes, even with all this beauty around us.  

That look is just so typical of him (see similar photo in side bar).  It is a patient, expectant look.  He sits just this way with his paws so neat and looking up at you, saying, "I'm being a very good boy.  So please will you let me go outside?"

I am sure he is blissfully snoozing, even snoring and not missing me at all, (but I'd like to think he is missing me a little bit).

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On Thursday we will be going to GAYLORDS and will see if that tortie cat is still asleep on that very same step as he has been every Thanksgiving for years. See my post for the letter K on September 27 this year for more details about this.

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This post is for ABC WEDNESDAY, Mrs. Nesbitt's SOUNDLY, SUCCESSFUL SEGMENT.  To see more SIZZLING S's please click on the link above.

COFFEE KLATCH NOVEMBER 18TH

This week we are to share a photograph a day  from the past week of things for which we are thankful.  Not too difficult to do because there are so many things for which I am thankful.  I really should have tried to be a little more creative but our vacation is coming up very soon and my days are crammed full of getting things together for it.

Nevertheless, here are my PHOTOS OF THANKFULNESS

SATURDAY: My family. (So obvious, but still true).  The three handsome men in my life who I love deeply and who have been a major support and encouragement to me throughout the ups and downs of my life.  I am so proud of them!

The Boss

                                           Son #1                                       Son #2

SUNDAY:  My Church which, after nearly 40 years, is my other family. What would I do without them and what would I do without the Lord?

MONDAY:  Scruffy, my sweet and beautiful cat who brings me so much fun and joy. There is another cute photo of him on my side-bar. He is a sweet, sweet charmer.

TUESDAY:  My home -- the outside, front and back, some of which I helped design. You can't see the patio on which I'm standing, but it has a waterfall and bird feeders. My favorite summer time spot.

WEDNESDAY:  My Ladies' Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study, when I learn as much, if not more than they do.  This group has been going for 3 years.  Before that I had another group for 10 years.  Such a blessing!

THURSDAY:  My home, the inside.  It's not that I am so proud of my home, but that it is just how I like it --  convenient and comfortable.  We've had many years in this house and lots of opportunities to make changes.  It's never perfect, but it reflects me.

                                Part of the Living Room                        Kitchen/dining area 

FRIDAY:  My hobby of painting and drawing, which I found later in my life but which gives me hours and hours of pleasure. ( Water colors and Prismacolor pencils).

Rooster in Hawaii

Thanks for this opportunity to share.  I may not be able to make it for the next couple of weeks -- but 

I  WILL BE BACK!

Meanwhile, visit Tapestry of Life to meet the other members of our group.  Click on the button below.

R... IS FOR...

R ...IS FOR ....

...Christina ROSSETTI

Christina was a British poet with a famous father, Gabriele Rossetti, a poet and political exile, and a famous brother, Danti Gabriele Rossetti who was an artist and poet.

I chose Christina Rossetti for "R' day because she is actually the first poet I ever knew anything about.  Several of her poems were featured in my school Reader when I was in the equivalent of Grade 2 at about 6 years old. (British schools started at age 5 back then and perhaps still do.)  I was of course drawn to her because of her first name.  Mine was Christine so it was near enough to intrigue me. I read her poems with great interest.  I liked to read and would read almost anything I could get my hands on even at that young age. 
I have since discovered that she wrote quite a lot of children's poems, but these two posted here were in my school book.  They actually don't seem as much like children's poems to me as do some of her others written specifically for children.

Do you remember this one?

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you:

But when the leaves hang trembling

The wind is passing thro'.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I:

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by.

How about this one?

"Ferry me across the water,

Do, boatman, do."

"If you've a penny in your purse

I'll ferry you."

"I have a penny in my purse,

And my eyes are blue;

So ferry me across the water,

Do, boatman, do."

"Step into my ferry-boat,

Be they black or blue,

And for the penny in your purse

I'll ferry you."

Christina Rossetti is also the author of a famous Christmas Carol.  I'm sure you'll know this one, but I'm going to place it at the end of this post because it is long and Christmas will be a tiny bit closer (about one minute) than when you began reading this blog! ( I do dislike having Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving!)

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R is also for RAINBOW...

...which is a pretty obvious choice for 'R' day, but this photo taken by my friend Charlene is so outstanding that I had to include it here: 

This is taken at Iguazu Falls, which are found in the middle of the jungle, on the border of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.  I've been there and it was one of the most exciting days of my life. To be standing in the middle of a South American jungle, in one of the most exotic places in the world was a dream come true.  It was on my bucket list!  Thanks Charlene!

R is also for Reflection...

... I've been waiting for a chance to post this photograph:

It was taken by my sister in my back yard when she was visiting us a while ago.  I thought it was cool because she caught the reflection of the philodendron that was growing above this very cute planter that was full of rainwater.  I have a very talented sister!

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Now here is the Christmas Carol written by Christina Rossetti:

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

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AND THAT'S MY CONTRIBUTION FOR MRS. NESBITT'S ABC WEDNESDAY'S  'R' DAY.

For more entries in this intriguing and informative project please click on the link above.

Q IS FOR...

Q IS FOR …QUOTATIONS … AND QUESTIONS…

  
“The power of man has grown in every sphere except over himself.”

                                                                        Winston S. Churchill  

           

I came across this QUOTATION a few weeks ago and the truth of these words struck me forcibly. Yet the QUOTATION raises the inevitable QUESTION….WHY?   Why hasn’t man gained power over himself? There must be thousands, if not millions who genuinely want be perfect – strive to be perfect, want others to be perfect so that we can live in a perfect world. But for as long as man has existed he has never attained perfection.

    

BUT WHY?  Why can’t we make ourselves perfect? We can do so many other things through the modern miracles of science.  We all want the kind of perfection that would remove hatred, war, anger, theft, greed, murder and all those horrible imperfections that ensnare our daily lives. Why can’t we make ourselves perfect?

Christians believe that we can’t make ourselves perfect because we have an innate sinful nature and only God can change that.

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 Now here are some more  excellent quotations from that great, but not perfect, man 

Winston S. Churchill:

(Warning:  some need thinking about).

1.  (This one’s for me…) “A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

2.  If you destroy a free market, you create a black market.

3.  One should be just before one is generous.

4.  Where there is a great deal of free speech, there is always a certain amount of foolish speech.

5.  War is horrible but slavery is worse.

6.  The price of greatness is responsibility.

7.  The last thing that represents democracy is mob law.

8.  I am going to give a long speech today.  I haven’t had time to prepare a short one. (Think about this one.)

9.  When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber.

10.  Nourish your hopes but do not overlook realities.

AND….”A gentleman does not have a ham sandwich without mustard.” (Gray Poupon).

This is my contribtion to Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday.  Why not click on this link and see what others have contributed for this week's letter Q.

NOVEMBER 5, 2011 -- CARLSBAD

After the heavy rain Friday, the sun shone brightly and those who could, headed for the beach, especially because another storm is forecast for tomorrow.  The sky was blue and temps in the high fifties, or so they said, but it certainly seemed warmer.

Like everyone else we went down to Tamarack beach and the beautiful promenade. Barry was able to get his hour long walk and me my  slow 20 minute one. We saw a number of dolphins jumping.  At first we thought they were whales but decided they were too close in to shore.  This is whale watching season (the California Gray Whale)  There was much excitement a week or so ago when a number of blue whales were seen off the coast for a few days.  That is pretty rare for us.  They were probably after the krill which was quite abundant for a week or so.

The dog walkers were out in force.  These people very graciously, even happily, agreed to let me photograph them.  This is a dog walker's paradise.  Sorry I cut off the top of their heads.  I love my camera but it has one major fault.  It has no view finder and in bright sunshine you just can't see the picture at all in the LCD, so it really is a 'just point and shoot' camera. You have to shoot in faith!

This guy was stretched out soaking up the sunshine but decided to sit up just as I took the photo.  The patch of grass he is lying on is an 'historic' part of Carlsbad. About 25 years ago  someone among the city fathers, decided that we needed a small park on this triangle of grass.  It was designed by an artist in New York and looked just like a big city park -- lots of cement pillars, a shallow reflecting pool, flat concrete benches and worst of all a railing with much larger bars than can be seen in the picture above, separating the road and the ocean.  

Oh what an outcry there was!  A great campaign began:  GET RID OF THE BARS!  Eventually, after months of uproar (almost unheard of in Carlsbad) the city council removed the park and the bars, but not before some settlement had to be made with the designer!  Now it is just a large triangle of open, flat, healthy, lawn-like grass where families sit, little kids play, joggers do stretching exercises and dogs play with their owners or each other. Drinking fountains for man and dog, and doggy poop bags, are available, and restrooms just down at the beach below.  The mile long Tamarack ocean front walk begins here.

This small home faces onto the ocean, with the historic Hwy 101 in front of it.  It is bounded on either side by well designed ocean front condos.  The bright, white picket fence was what caught my eye.

As always, meeting up with other sun and sea seekers happens effortlessly.  I shared a bench with this lady and guess where she was from -- DONCASTER! -- although she has been over here a long while, as have we. She now lives near Palm Springs.  We had a good 'natter' about how we got here and being Yorkshire lasses who both married a lad from Lancashire.

The clocks go back tonight so I thankfully get an extra hour of sleep before getting up to go to church at 10:15 a.m.  Even though another storm is coming in, -- to be followed by two or three more beautiful days -- Sunday will be an ideal day to give thanks for the special blessing of living here.  Even though we have lived here 38 years, we always feel so blessed.  We didn't seek to live here....but   that is another story.  Maybe one day I will tell how it all came about.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME;   ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD

PUSS IN BOOTS -- WHAT FUN!!!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON NOVEMBER 1st.....

I so wanted to go to see this movie.  First, if you visit my blog much, you know I love cats. Second I do like Antonio Banderas especially in ZORRO.  He seems to be very fond of children.  What few movies of his I have seen, he always has a young child figuring in some of the scenes.  He often gives the child a pat on the head or does something that shows his love of children.

Since no grown-ups wanted to go with me, I settled on my 'grandaughter' Haley, even though it was a bit young for her.  She loves cats and school was out for a couple of days for parent/teacher conferences.

It was a great movie!  Soooo cute!  Imagine! Puss-in-Boots' girl friend was called 'Kitty-Soft-Paws'!   :)  And Puss in Boots was another Zorro. It is deliberately slanted towards younger children, but that didn't bother Haley or me.  We didn't go 3D -- too expensive, but I imagine for older children the 3D aspect would make the movie really exciting. 

We had such a great time and followed the movie with a visit to our favorite yogurt place, MENCHIES. I had pomegranite -raspberry (oh, that is SUCH a delicious flavor) with chocolate chips, a couple of cherries and butter finger crumbles.  Haley had vanilla with waffle crunchies and a couple of cherries also.  They actually have about 20 different toppings.

Now look at that sunshine! Yes it was November 1st and the temperature was about 75 degrees at 3.30 in the afternoon.  Today, 3 days later, it poured with rain which came down as snow in the near-by  mountains about an hour and a half away.  Temps in the 50's.  That's southern California for you!