Happy Independence Day To All !

Here is to our ongoing independence. I hope all of you have a Happy 4th, and be careful with the Firecrackers.

Mother Of Pearl Passion

Mother of pearl is so beautiful, and this is another passion for me, religious things. I have them all over the house. Some might think I am over religious, but not so, I just love the uniqueness of it. From crosses to cherubs, to holy water fountains you can find these here in my home. So, I am always on the look out for it. I paid $4.99 for this at my favorite thrift shop, and I just love how pretty it is. It's small but powerful.

Cut Out The Sugar !

I have to cut out the sugar as much as possible. I am getting fat in places that is depressing. So, I've decided to use this product instead. I have used Sugar in the Raw for years now and much prefer it over white sugar, but I've noticed some changes that I am appalled at in my legs etc....

I have got to motivate myself to get out and walk daily. Below, you'll find info from the site about Stevia :

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an herb in the compositae family that grows as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves make it incredibly sweet, a property that is unique among the nearly 300 species of stevia plants. Stevia has been used to sweeten beverages and medicines for over 400 years. A scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its use by native tribes in 1887.

Stevia is now grown and harvested in many countries around the world, predominantly China and Brazil. It has also been vastly popular in Japan for more than three decades, now representing 41% of that country's sugar substitute market. Stevia is also found as an ingredient in many products, such as ice cream, bread and soft drinks, throughout Asia and South America.

Stevia Extract In The Raw gets its delicious, natural sweetness from Rebiana (aka Reb-A) — an extract from the Stevia plant. This extract is the sweetest part of the plant and has recently been isolated to provide pure sweetening power without the licorice-like aftertaste that many of our predecessors exhibited. All you get is the sweet flavor without any calories.

Unlike some of our competitors, Stevia Extract In The Raw does not use additional sweeteners such as erythritol (Truvia™) and isomaltulose and erythritol (PureVia™) to mask the natural sweetness of Reb-A Stevia Extract. The high purity level of our product eliminates any of the licorice-like aftertaste associated with less pure Stevia products currently in the market.

Stevia Extract in The Raw is a perfect natural zero calorie sweetener for your coffee, tea, cereal, yogurt, and much more!

A Warm Glow

I finally found the lights for my backyard. I purchased them over a year ago, and lost them in my messy garage. So, I found them an put them on the fence last night. I gives such a warm glow to the yard.

It's been hot here and it's nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the cool nights.

Pretty Up An Ugly Eraser

So, sorry these turned out burry.

So I put the chalkboard up on the wall, and moved a few things around. Then I got to looking at the eraser and though it didn't fit in with the frame. So, I painted the frame of the eraser with gold and brown acrylic paint mixed and painted the framework. The insert needed to be covered so I took some of the craft paper I had and cut out a piece of paper to fit and glued it in. I think it looks better this way.

See my angels ? it one of those holy water fountains. I found it at a Goodwill. I know just were I put it too.

Per Your Request

So, here it is the chalkboard. I purchased this frame at the Alameda, Antiques by the Bay a few months back. It was hard finding a board that I could use for the chalkboard, but found one at Michael's, it came in a poster frame. Sprayed it with the chalkboard paint and there you have it.

So here it is, finished. I have been so busy lately I haven't had time to put it on the wall. Next project.

There is always something to do, I like being busy, but need a break somedays.

Summer is here, and it's getting warmer.

Fathers Day

It's another Fathers Day. I lost my father in 2006. So, it's a little bittersweet.

I remember the things he did. Like making us stilts to walk around the neighborhood on. Fixing our bikes, making go carts and skateboards from old roller skates we no longer used. Always inventing things from something no one would ever think of. Taking us fishing on camping trips in the motorboat. Getting a large tire inner tube from the trucks at work blowing it up and letting us use it for playing on the lawn with, jumping on it. Making a tether ball pole out of a, pole and old tire and cement. We played with it for hours, I use to climb it all the time.

Thank you and mom for all the wonderful memories we have.

Love you both, and miss you daily.

Sporadic Posts

I have to admit, it don't like to post everyday. It's just to time consuming. So, those of you that visit my blog daily, I so appreciate your visits.

I have been busy though, doing projects around the house. I put a new floor and baseboards in the downstairs bathroom, which turned out nice. It had been needing a big change.

Also, decided to get going on a new chalkboard with one of the gold frames I had. It came together well. Just need to hang it now, (Sorry forgot to take a final result picture).

I have been looking high and low for a water feature for my backyard, found one at Jo~Ann fabrics. They were having a huge sale and this was the one I decided on. I enjoy the sound of water and this fit the bill. It is so easy, did not have to hook up water to it, just poured it in, and plugged it in, voila !

And since I am a bird lover, I wanted to share with you a picture of one of the Doves that visits daily for food and water, love the sounds they make.

Day In Santa Cruz

This is a long picture post.

Santa Cruz, what a place of memories. I went there as a child, and again as a young adult with a boyfriend. So, I wanted to go again when I could appreciate the beauty of it. I much prefer the ocean than the Boardwalk, so the majority of the pictures are of that. I drove along the coast Hwy 1, were picture ops are abundant. Stopping of at several turnouts and getting the pictures I did. Can't believe I didn't take my regular camera. I took these with my phone camera. I think they turned out great.

I love the Ocean side areas. The scariest part of the drive was going through Devils Slide, an area that falls off the side of the hill during heavy rainstorms. The highway literally falls off. Their repairing it constantly.

I loved the day, it was nice weather.

Ladies Orange Benevolent Association

These badges are from an organization of Ladies in Canada. They were in my favorite Thrift Store. And if you know my blog, I love things different. I thought these were beautiful in color and the enameling in the pins and the badge. They have details that mean something but not quite sure what. Perhaps someone from Canada knows. If so, let me know. 

I also found a Singer Featherweight there as well, in working order, only this time it's a light green in color. You just never know when you walk in what you'll find. But I told myself before going, your going to find something great today, and I think I did.