My Latest Creation.....

Well I had a few girlfriends over this last week to show them how to make a purse and my friend Debbie is on a role now.  I got her creative juices going and she is already on her third purse!  I can't have that!  So you know me....I have to do something about that!  I made a purse.  I realized I didn't have a pink one so here it is.  I embellished it with vintage broaches and made the rest of the jewelry as usual to hang on it.  I can't wait to get Debbie and Tina together.  They are two very creative girls and I would love to see what they could come up with for our next girls night together.  So til the next time.....

Winter Time Creativity.....

Well it's been almost a years since I've moved into Uncle Ducky's house and I think he would be real pleased to see what I have done with his little house.  He use to love to come to my home and would always comment to me how much he loved the things that I would do with my house.  Although, each and everyday I think of Uncle Duck and how I can't believe that he is not here with us, I still can't help think that he will always be here.  Although many things have changed here in his home, there are still touches of the Duck's here.  Every time I move a rock in our yard or get on the hill to do weeding I think of him.  Although the yard looks a lot different with greenery now, we will always keep rocks as part of the landscape to remind us of the Ducks.  Everytime I cook in the kitchen on his old stove I think of how he cooked here.  When I rake the leaves in the backyard I think of how much he hated those eucalyptus trees out back.  There are so many memories of Uncle Duck's here and I've been very happy to make his house our home.  I finally hung up some curtains in the kitchen and put my glass crystals in the kitchen window and now they reflect the sunlight just right.  Things are starting to look cozy. And I think I'm ready to start those creative juices flowing and have the girls over now.....

What To Do????? About My Hair?????

I have been thinking for sometime now about what to do about this hair!!!!  As you can see I have been through some pretty not so good stages with this hair so I am very nervous about what to do.  I have been wearing my hair like this for so long and I'm getting older now so I thought it might be time to do something about this and come into the next century.  I thought of going drastic and cutting it all off and doing something sassy, but Kim thinks it will make me look to old.  I also am a no maintenance kind of girl so I don't want something that will take a lot of work.  And then there is what to do about this gray hair that I have to dye each week and oh yeah not to mention that my hair is super curly!!!!!   So what should I do???? I need some ideas!!!!  Help!!!!!

Cherish Your Family & Friends

I can truly say that my life has been blessed with such wonderful friends and family.  With the recent loss of a friend of ours and with the loss of family members this past few years, we were reminded that we don't say "I love you" enough.  Or at least we don't tell our loved ones or friends that we love them enough and how much they mean to us.  We just assume that they know that. This collage represents just a fraction of the family and friends that have touched our lives.  But I just thought that all of you (and you know who you are if you have been any part of our life) should know that we love you and thank you for being part of our life....... 

Camping In San Elijo....

Ok, I finally make it for my camping trip in San Elijo for the end of the summer and it definately was an interesting adventure!  It was raining on our way down there and we got to the campground and set up very quickly.  As we finished we decided to go inside the trailer to stay dry and warm up (so we thought) and my mom sat on the bed and it started leaking right above the bed!  We were exhausted and cold and wanted to just kick back and relax but of course we couldn't do that YET!!!  We had to go to Homedepot and buy a tarp to put over my trailer so that I wouldn't have a completely soaked bed that night!  But Kim came to the rescue and secured us until the rain clouds were gone.

The next day we were able to experience this beautiful rainbow right outside the trailer!  I knew that it was going to be ok after that!  The clouds cleared and it turned out to be a pretty good day.

Of course as soon as Tina arrives our campsite comes alive!  Tina really knows how to decorate a campsite.  You have to experience it......Really, you just sit there and watch Tina do her thing.  Isn't it pretty!  We have the cutest campsite in San Elijo! 

She even brings flowers from her yard and embellishes our site with beautiful flowers!  I love it!

Mom is enjoying the rest and relaxation just reading her book.

And then night time comes......That's when the atmosphere really gets enchanting......Look at Tina's cute Burro lit up! And we have candles everywhere!  Too cute!

Even inside my trailer we had candles and wine and it was just enchanting....

Here's a glimse of our bohemian retreat!  Mom and I got our beds ready for the night after a long day of reading and playing cards with Tina. 

The next day we woke up and looked up and we couldn't help laughing because there was a wedding party at the beach the night before and they decided to decorate the statue in the middle of the night.  Too cute!

Too Funny!

And of course our camping trip is not complete unless we do some shopping at Cedros Street.  It is so fun window shopping and getting ideas for our craft nights.  I will look forward to May or June of next year when it will be that time again to camp here at San Elijo.  So until the next camping trip........I will hold on to these memories and look back with a smile of what an adventure it was getting here.

It's Starting To Come Together......

Ok, this is my logo so far.  She is taking a break from this hot weather.  Poor Pam has been doing this in that heat!  She has to complete the lettering of the logo and some minor touch ups.

Kim decided to paint the windows black.  I like it.

This is how detailed my friend Marti got with the inside of my cabinets.  Isn't that cool!

All of the cabinets are different colors and they all have different knobs on them to give them more character.

See all the different knobs......

I finished the cushions...yeah!!!! I must admit, I have had a complete melt-down now and I am almost at the point of giving up hope of my camping trip but my friend Marti came over again this morning and started helping Kim paint the outside (she loves to paint) while it was cool outside (at 6:30 a.m.) What a friend! 

Then not only did she help do that...but she was so anxious to see the inside come together so she went inside and started finishing my kitchen floor so that we could put the cushions on the table! 

But that wasn't enough....I totally gave up on making my curtains at this point because I am completely exhausted and anyone who knows me knows that I am not a morning person (Marti woke us up to paint at 6:00 a.m.) and she helped me drape some lace curtains for privacy and they look great!  Although I am completely out of energy and I just want to cry, I am so glad that Marti pushed me through this process because it really is coming together now. I really owe her big time!!!! Thank You Marti!!!

Notice the new floor?

I painted the bathroom floor because I wasn't about to go around that toilet with tile. 

And look how beautiful my clothes closet looks!  Thank you Ms. Marti!!!!!

The range hood was painted pink and I wallpapered and antiqued the paper.

Needless to say, I have a very colorful trailer now!  I can't wait to go camping! I NEED A VACATION!!!!!

The outside is still a work in progress.....To be continued.....

Another Trailer Update......

Ok, since my last melt-down....my friend Marti Williams came to my rescue.  AND DO I MEAN RESCUE!!!  She has completely painted my cabinets inside and lined them (which is totally a Marti thing and a job I am just too lazy to do) but they look absolutely beautiful inside and they look brand new!  You should see the closet.  It was dark brown paneling and looked actually scarey to put your clothes in.  But now it looks just fresh and clean!  She has renewed my zeal for my trailer!  I THINK I'M GETTING A SECOND WIND NOW! So now I am going to make the cushions!

My friend Pam McKee has made a drawing of my "Damsel In De-Stress" logo and she came by to sketch it onto the trailer during the evening.

She came back during the day to start filling the logo in with color.  Isn't it Cute!

I'm Having A Melt Down!!!!!!

Ok, it feels like its at least 100 degrees outside and for the last week and a half I've been working non-stop on this travel trailer that I know will eventually look just too cute but right now I just want to break it to pieces!!!!!   I am sooo HOT!!!! And TIRED!!!! And I've also been fighting a cold for the last week which is why I have not stamina at all!!!  I really want to put it away and just give up!!!Where are all of my girlfriends when I need them!!!!!!

This is exactly how I feel!  I have made some progress even though the list seems never-ending!  I have just one door left to paint and that's the bathroom door.  Kim promised me that he would finish up the painting on the outside but of course, he has somewhere to go this  evening, leaving just Thursday after work and Friday if he is willing to work on it.  If not I will be taking it the way it is (with primer) down to the beach in two weeks.

I sure could use a hug about now!!!!!

I Love the Clouds......

As I left my house today to run a few errands I couldn't help but look up!  The formation of the clouds were just too pretty to pass up a picture to share with you.  I am always so amazed with them.  They are beautiful and they have often made me stop in my steps and just appreciate that I was able to see them that day. 

Just think about it.....these clouds will never form like this EVER AGAIN.  This is a one-of-a-kind look at this formation!  Just another one of Jehovah's amazing creations!  I love it!

My mom's first gathering at her home....

This past weekend we enjoyed time with some friends from our congregation.  We wanted to have a barbeque and since my mom has the largest and most perfect yard for a gathering.....She hosted it at her house!!!!  There were approx. 21 friends who came and there was plenty of food and goodies!  Everybody seemed to have had a great time.  Most of the friends stayed til long after dark as we played a mind boggling game that was introduced to us by my Uncle Tony many many years ago.

Richard Torres was in his element right behind the barbeque.  And boy was it great!  Ribs, chicken, tri-tip, and swordfish.  And also grilled vegetables. Yummmmy!!!! Richard is the one in the apron and his son is watching on while he cook's.  There's Sharon, Richards wife walking toward them on the left.

Mom actually sat a took a break to enjoy the wonderful food prepared by everyone.

Victor Besancon and one of the Luna boys are in deep conversation while they enjoy their meal.

Chad and Pam are enjoying their meal while visiting.

This is my friend Pam's daughter Emma. Kim loves to tease her and call her Gemma.

My new friend Sarah is visiting from the French congregation.  She is here for her circuit assembly.  She now has a new game to play with the french speaking friends that will drive them crazy!

Here is Dave Camacho and Bro. Wiems relaxing and having a great time.  It's always good to get together with our friends.  We live in such stressful times so I think that we need to do this more often and really get to know one another better.  I really enjoyed the time we had to spend with just a hand full of our friends and I look forward to doing this again real soon.