tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86115480907719371302024-03-14T09:13:37.680-07:00among the saguarosBarbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-69393548138626125242015-11-11T07:15:00.000-07:002015-11-12T21:26:11.991-07:00gathering...We were so lucky to have my sister and brother-in-law visit this weekend. It called for a celebration. The weather called for having it outside. It was the perfect evening. Dinner around this table always makes me happy. <br />
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We had our annual soup party. Because we were a small group this year, we only had three kinds of soup, tortilla, albondigas, and chili (which I know is not officially a soup but it fit). <br />
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Unmatched vintage silverplate, a weathered crate, lanterns, plaid and pumpkins - these are a few of my favorite things. Don't you love that one in the center? All those bumps! <br />
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Leaves are from our oak trees that won't change color until January. Other things just gathered from the grocery and ground. <br />
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Dessert (apple pie, brownies and roasted marshmallows) around the firepit with the stars in the sky. Oh, how I love this time of year! I hope you are enjoying your autumn too.<br />
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There are some beautiful fall tablescapes at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/fall-table-setting-with-limelight-hydrangea-centerpiece/#">Between Naps on the Porch.</a> Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-44566817239565263962015-10-29T09:29:00.000-07:002015-10-29T09:33:45.440-07:00'something wicked this way comes"...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our host would like to welcome you to a Halloween celebration. You can see by that grin that he is happy to see you.<br />
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The table is set outside for this spooky night. The almost full moon illuminates our dinner. Only the best china and silver will do.<br />
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Will there be eight brave enough to accept his kind invitation?<br />
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At twilight, the wind began to blow as the first guest arrived. The light began to fade which meant the photographer needed to leave and let the party begin.<br />
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A good time was had by all. Happy Halloween!<br />
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Joining Susan at<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/romantic-dining-in-italy-surrounded-by-antiques-and-vintage-china/"> Between Naps on the Porch</a>, Christine at <a href="http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/10/table-it-link-party-67.html">Rustic and Refined</a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-48288326104855987212015-10-06T11:33:00.000-07:002015-10-06T12:51:14.742-07:00nevermore...<div class="tab-content active" id="poem-top" style="text-align: center;">
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The Raven</h1>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> b<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="author">y </span> <span class="fullname_search">Edgar Allan Poe</span></span></span> </h1>
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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, </div>
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Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— </div>
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While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, </div>
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As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. </div>
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“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door— </div>
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Only this and nothing more.” </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(yes, I know he isn't a raven, perhaps a thrasher?)</td></tr>
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When I was in middle school, we were required to memorize and recite a stanza from a favorite poem. I really don't remember this as a favorite poem. Maybe it was October? Of course, if you read this whole poem, you will know that it took place in December. We do love Edgar Allan Poe in October. </div>
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I haven't decorated for Halloween yet. I have been enjoying fall too much but there is always a nod to Edgar in my decorating and I will share it soon. Meanwhile, the reason for all of this, is a visitor who doesn't want to leave. He is continually "rapping, rapping, tapping" on my window. He isn't a raven but I am guessing they would be very good friends. I also think he is some sort of thrasher who loves himself very much. I do love all the nature that surrounds our home but this guy seems to know just when to start to make sure that he startles me.</div>
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Then he started to seem to get really mad when there was no response to his pecking. It got louder, stronger and I worried about my windows surviving. I would shoo him away. I had to get right to the window and tap on it myself before he would move. He had no problem with me taking these pictures through the windows. </div>
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I closed the blinds, I opened the blinds, I raised the blinds, nothing seemed to work. I guess I channeled my inner Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) and decided that maybe putting a framed photograph of my son (no offense, M, it was handy because I am moving things around) facing out through the window might startle him. Just like Sheldon and his blue jay, it didn't work. When I heard him tapping, he couldn't see me so I just rocked the picture back and forth, hoping it would be more intimidating. </div>
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So far, no tapping. </div>
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Hope you are enjoying October! It has been beautiful here today. <br />
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Added 2 hours later: He's back. Maybe I should frame a picture of Poe instead? Any ideas how to discourage him?</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-57777645110700624882015-09-30T13:35:00.000-07:002015-09-30T14:26:19.264-07:00getting cozy ...Fall comes slowly to the desert. So slowly. We look for signs everywhere. Instead of people talking about the heat (today is going to be a record), we start talking about the early mornings (“Wasn’t it just the perfect morning to get out in the garden?”) and evenings (“We sat outside and watched the eclipse under the perfect sky and a hint of fall in the air.”) This time of year, we try not to talk about the hours in between.<br />
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If you look hard, enough there are other signs that it is coming. The hackberry, that usually is a nondescript desert scrub of a bush, gets little orange berries that the birds, butterflies and even humans enjoy, if put in a green vase.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYmHXSd_OTNE1hzHM6unXrDMzN_PPWU3H6NJIBcNADWtUqivB7Im5ofckoRsvclXhAXKlPDhP1FiwHj8eE4z_CzQt-LhRPuZFDhJtqMeOB2Rz8UCJIgAN_4tgHeq2nqUxXcb4IMZnXFk/s1600/IMG_7114rbbbsq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYmHXSd_OTNE1hzHM6unXrDMzN_PPWU3H6NJIBcNADWtUqivB7Im5ofckoRsvclXhAXKlPDhP1FiwHj8eE4z_CzQt-LhRPuZFDhJtqMeOB2Rz8UCJIgAN_4tgHeq2nqUxXcb4IMZnXFk/s400/IMG_7114rbbbsq.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The roses start to bloom again. My tortoises are eating as much as they can to get ready for hibernation. Our lemons are starting to get closer to yellow than green. <br />
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With so little of fall outside, we bring it in, where the air conditioning is still running. It's is time for making the house cozy.<br />
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We buy pumpkins. I had already gotten some but WB found some with wonderful stems last night and brought them home to me. Better than a bouquet of flowers. Orange ones, baby boos, white ones, green ones, blue ones - I love them all. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05V-jR3kDn-5M5ZmVisFUBcH7No9E1cuuOnEg9v7nk-kcCG2Krp0EKUrmrFAz6n-Y81IX2u2zvdh9JeK3BjDUJ2bgKmHTW8pAVJmVWUXIudbJCG8L4-IlNGTLnd3ivm-W_1LignD4Ax8/s1600/IMG_7188rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05V-jR3kDn-5M5ZmVisFUBcH7No9E1cuuOnEg9v7nk-kcCG2Krp0EKUrmrFAz6n-Y81IX2u2zvdh9JeK3BjDUJ2bgKmHTW8pAVJmVWUXIudbJCG8L4-IlNGTLnd3ivm-W_1LignD4Ax8/s400/IMG_7188rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I change the quilts on the bed. <br />
This old one is my favorite that sits atop my grandparents’ bed.<br />
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I bring out the throws. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHUECrrxiLqN6XPhwSji_ILv7D2WJTZS5k7lc0Bwwz7SHEwjO3MqEjswuifYHs6cZPmPi-AOthPhPVDO4D4eorE3R-6xI9_oss9EyCS4lFBekn3yuAEHGi8UB6sLfEyhzRYvsTDvUfhs/s1600/IMG_7210rbbbc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHUECrrxiLqN6XPhwSji_ILv7D2WJTZS5k7lc0Bwwz7SHEwjO3MqEjswuifYHs6cZPmPi-AOthPhPVDO4D4eorE3R-6xI9_oss9EyCS4lFBekn3yuAEHGi8UB6sLfEyhzRYvsTDvUfhs/s400/IMG_7210rbbbc.jpg" /></a></div>I have a favorite made by a dear friend, some vintage Pendleton blankets and I can't stop looking at this <a href="http://www.parachutehome.com/products/striped-cashmere-throw?variant=970654801">one</a> from Parachute, a<a href="http://www.parachutehome.com/collections/bedding"> luxury bedding company</a>. It would be perfect with my newly painted gray walls.<br />
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I cut eucalyptus branches. I bring out the candles that smell of the woods or a fire in the fireplace. I listen to James Taylor’s October Road. I have gourds in bowls. I start drinking hot tea again. I dream of nights in front of the fire with a bowl of soup, the family gathered around our table and our traditional October picnic in the mountains.<br />
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It’s coming. It will be here soon. I just know it. <br />
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-75574316624940351922015-09-27T10:43:00.002-07:002015-09-27T11:21:40.529-07:00what I've been shooting this week #2 ...It is cool enough to get outside a bit more and I am enjoying it - butterflies, hummingbirds and everything blooming. Our September soakers have brought everything back to life again. My poor lemon tree that never seems to know what season it is, is blooming right now. No more words, just some images from this past week. So happy to welcome autumn!<br />
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As always, if you have any photography questions, I will be glad to help. I can't seem to figure out how to put a sidebar link for my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8999293@N03/">flickr</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/barbaracarrollaz/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/barbara_carroll/">pinterest</a> accounts. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. My lack of computer skills frustrates me but then I remember, I would rather be taking pictures. <br />
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Hope you have a happy week!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-84377289987090035892015-09-17T15:50:00.000-07:002015-09-18T09:09:05.064-07:00inspiration ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADZyHFU982mEiCZxo8nOW_6b8BQT0mHWYKhsMqhPpqpPjJC6ShTmyvRt4rACsrVLJGiGBeRqnBUSlIeEjYbVVP2ec4Ynf8n-iWbCXNhSLTEmlgrrFhKY6Ksx29YqR1g2CSlGXuvcZ93g/s1600/IMG_6733rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADZyHFU982mEiCZxo8nOW_6b8BQT0mHWYKhsMqhPpqpPjJC6ShTmyvRt4rACsrVLJGiGBeRqnBUSlIeEjYbVVP2ec4Ynf8n-iWbCXNhSLTEmlgrrFhKY6Ksx29YqR1g2CSlGXuvcZ93g/s400/IMG_6733rbb.jpg" /></a></div>I am so glad that there are glimpses of fall. It is a little cooler in the mornings, the light is changing. I wanted to bring a little fall to the house this week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfx4WSXpzaAeNPNLDD4kFG1Y_eDl3bHi4JkMVkHJQyL4lMr8T4hx7Ow4ABTOqWwxmXdcH00muZtoWMK7aXXEnPd_0MLLyGP61aIZU1Tge0osAEAy8Bztl4lDaL3Ed43V11_-LDFggEG4/s1600/IMG_6730rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfx4WSXpzaAeNPNLDD4kFG1Y_eDl3bHi4JkMVkHJQyL4lMr8T4hx7Ow4ABTOqWwxmXdcH00muZtoWMK7aXXEnPd_0MLLyGP61aIZU1Tge0osAEAy8Bztl4lDaL3Ed43V11_-LDFggEG4/s400/IMG_6730rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>I know I have told you the story of my <a href="http://amongthesaguaros.blogspot.com/2010/10/have-little-faith.html">lavadera</a>. We bought it at an antique store 11 years ago. It is a little different than a dough bowl so I still call it a lavadera which is how it was labeled. I have filled this with so many different things over the years. It spends most of the year on my dining room table filled with something seasonal. It wasn't until I saw this post from <a href="http://www.andersonandgrant.com/2015/09/simple-fall-centerpiece-blog-hop.html">Anderson and Gran</a>t until I remembered I have <a href="http://amongthesaguaros.blogspot.com/2010/12/he-gave-me-autumn.html">oak leaves</a>! I always think of them when they turn color but rarely this time of year. Autumn comes later to the desert. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnNGZMwRNxGd1ga6rgK9xTo3QbbEO0bZBKE8Q1rHxUXtHvaF3I0_AUqRSYs1lU6AOPB6r5ZdP23Jbtq2lC0_UBf2Jhy-hUIdvwUzkhyGX8x9ysAvLNViKLC2iviKM3b1GDcmPPh3DHN4/s1600/IMG_6770rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnNGZMwRNxGd1ga6rgK9xTo3QbbEO0bZBKE8Q1rHxUXtHvaF3I0_AUqRSYs1lU6AOPB6r5ZdP23Jbtq2lC0_UBf2Jhy-hUIdvwUzkhyGX8x9ysAvLNViKLC2iviKM3b1GDcmPPh3DHN4/s400/IMG_6770rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>I had the acorns, the gourds and today, while driving past Trader Joes, I saw the happy sight of pumpkins sitting out front. I had to buy 3 and a few squashes too. If I have pumpkins in the house it is officially autumn, no matter how hot it is outside. Now I am just waiting for the white and Cinderella pumpkins. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJg0WHurucwtXjGK7CiUtDbpGlvQmvaobXyP8_O286vks1XD0uIkYcR5xVOaQ53Osm0LIsjrDxdtVEjycfFYhxkXby_GEqD6EUgOVPic0Ip8OgtFL4c5eXJCSH7WzQUYnV_McceQOBtE/s1600/IMG_6766rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJg0WHurucwtXjGK7CiUtDbpGlvQmvaobXyP8_O286vks1XD0uIkYcR5xVOaQ53Osm0LIsjrDxdtVEjycfFYhxkXby_GEqD6EUgOVPic0Ip8OgtFL4c5eXJCSH7WzQUYnV_McceQOBtE/s400/IMG_6766rbb.jpg" /></a></div>The blanket is dreaming on my part. We are at least a month away from needing it. <br />
You know I like a simple table, not too much fuss so my lavadera and some candles is good enough for me. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-iub0fKrs1Ri5M6RdUrF4K6e6jfe6ZUcbQMsRzblRvYViOT4Js3KGv7i9U4ileUSc62YC_4ZPzf58Xf8LiPiA1R-b8DKBebOAcFOmepIK4szjFkcFCItBLEjTr-pY5EJs1HN74xRLHY/s1600/IMG_6784rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-iub0fKrs1Ri5M6RdUrF4K6e6jfe6ZUcbQMsRzblRvYViOT4Js3KGv7i9U4ileUSc62YC_4ZPzf58Xf8LiPiA1R-b8DKBebOAcFOmepIK4szjFkcFCItBLEjTr-pY5EJs1HN74xRLHY/s400/IMG_6784rbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3qA_ezm4TVcQ3AHAM2LtHnsXh7dETbTv9ZjJwKi97HYlFIyq5cXzqF-CVVDf-bRBsY-en6_pXkDRdqd1cRnsSCJL4JfXsrXYhgrd6oWWpdOH8PH9auU2r4p23Zej_gMBx86v2oVHzyA/s1600/IMG_6751rb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3qA_ezm4TVcQ3AHAM2LtHnsXh7dETbTv9ZjJwKi97HYlFIyq5cXzqF-CVVDf-bRBsY-en6_pXkDRdqd1cRnsSCJL4JfXsrXYhgrd6oWWpdOH8PH9auU2r4p23Zej_gMBx86v2oVHzyA/s400/IMG_6751rb2.jpg" /></a></div>White dinnerware always works for me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcXYE-cXU0Wz9yG2cIT2xodXW3MO4JqHJRxL71IsyK3CcfEPN6RgL9EO_l9mrpRpPdoVqDxH1pTzN6PK1YJYc2iWeOTkVR58u8ObQdMOkOsenkp5x6-k80F-hTE1ZE7mGtBZkEDDmgf8/s1600/IMG_6753rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcXYE-cXU0Wz9yG2cIT2xodXW3MO4JqHJRxL71IsyK3CcfEPN6RgL9EO_l9mrpRpPdoVqDxH1pTzN6PK1YJYc2iWeOTkVR58u8ObQdMOkOsenkp5x6-k80F-hTE1ZE7mGtBZkEDDmgf8/s400/IMG_6753rbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ7l7vJRSv2TSizpqQGt2qBGXdoFa87dfrFH4EDWcDK52qHHjV45wnAypfWuguOAjzKumvHkiuXH8CONB37TmYEdC3OXsYeOXMECjwQExlQKO7wHNZHxOWSNTBhpMPElYczMDLjffJCc/s1600/IMG_6767rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ7l7vJRSv2TSizpqQGt2qBGXdoFa87dfrFH4EDWcDK52qHHjV45wnAypfWuguOAjzKumvHkiuXH8CONB37TmYEdC3OXsYeOXMECjwQExlQKO7wHNZHxOWSNTBhpMPElYczMDLjffJCc/s400/IMG_6767rbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h_BGVEAld2VWqW93natCVwOMN-m7beHdhZ4pJl82lL0fh4PEm0hDdapoUSM3RUSXciGZC1Gd2k4PUjyDqO2tqcN3airc1egG7RFsbnHKG6s_tSTzXAFondEtqKwvH4G3vGEQCHLGzWQ/s1600/IMG_6768rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h_BGVEAld2VWqW93natCVwOMN-m7beHdhZ4pJl82lL0fh4PEm0hDdapoUSM3RUSXciGZC1Gd2k4PUjyDqO2tqcN3airc1egG7RFsbnHKG6s_tSTzXAFondEtqKwvH4G3vGEQCHLGzWQ/s400/IMG_6768rbb.jpg" /></a></div>I am so glad I saw Jamie's post or I would have gone with my standby, eucalyptus leaves. I am sure you will see them later in the year. I hope fall is finding you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AGC-g253O-HGIZP5XnNi61teTuT39gTCJ8rW6zTwCpsLqdrNNJvNQS4aNa_qlT31cIQ2rIukh5q-3Af74A_26mzG6k_wgIJ1OWDz_h3uEqtzWhJNXKkNqWdoYTo7HllFLzlLL77aosM/s1600/IMG_6788rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AGC-g253O-HGIZP5XnNi61teTuT39gTCJ8rW6zTwCpsLqdrNNJvNQS4aNa_qlT31cIQ2rIukh5q-3Af74A_26mzG6k_wgIJ1OWDz_h3uEqtzWhJNXKkNqWdoYTo7HllFLzlLL77aosM/s400/IMG_6788rbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Thank you so much, Jamie, for the inspiration!<br />
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Joining Susan at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/in-air-table-settings-compliments-of-air-france-and-kenya-air/">Between Naps on the Porch</a>, the <a href="http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/09/table-it-link-party-61.html">Table It Link Party</a>, <a href="http://www.thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/">Home Sweet Home</a> and Jamie at <a href="http://www.andersonandgrant.com/2015/09/your-turn-to-shine-link-party-49.html">Your Turn to Shine</a>.Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-38856005542059461482015-09-07T09:28:00.001-07:002015-09-07T10:09:05.434-07:00what I've been shooting this week ...<br />
First up, unidentified pods. I live in the desert and love fall. It isn't always easy to find around here. Sure, I can go to Trader Joe's and buy lots of pumpkins like I do every year. We make trips to the mountains to gather fallen leaves and pine cones. Actually finding bits of fall that occur naturally here really makes me happy. These were found in the Target parking lot. They had fallen from the trees that seem to be planted in every shopping parking lot around here. Somehow, I have never noticed them before. I am a plant lover but have no idea what they are. Thoughts of dryer sheets, shampoo, soap and hair spray disappeared from my head when I spotted these. An unusual cool, rainy day gave the blue, autumn feel to these. I photographed them in my vintage industrial dough bucket. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-KP6CM-ZTP1NGE-Ge-NA_pVV-6Wj5R2ZXJU2kC6yNwXpLgTfe_fB4sfKFZAsnT4KOQ2OVpLAdvbUYyz51PGrbSBqFDGGwVJxp6Xi3ToizoDM9vf6lpUpyaNnRmMY39QYkCpePZ4IP_g/s1600/IMG_6545rbbbflick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-KP6CM-ZTP1NGE-Ge-NA_pVV-6Wj5R2ZXJU2kC6yNwXpLgTfe_fB4sfKFZAsnT4KOQ2OVpLAdvbUYyz51PGrbSBqFDGGwVJxp6Xi3ToizoDM9vf6lpUpyaNnRmMY39QYkCpePZ4IP_g/s400/IMG_6545rbbbflick.jpg" /></a></div>Next, Hatch chile peppers. If you aren't lucky enough to live somewhere where these are available, I am sorry. They are harvested in August and the smell of the roasters fills the air in the grocery store parking lots around here. Hmmmmm, I just realized I seem to have a parking lot theme going on here. I am a spice wimp. Luckily, our grocery store has a mild bin and a spicy bin. We buy both. WB blisters them on our grill and the smell is divine. We freeze them and then after removing the seeds, use as we want through the year for chile rellenos, soups and stews. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4lapJw3OENIESmi5ej63zGLy4OXFBhftfuDvc14j6_EDmBDcm9nS299yFkgU4CHf7tot0vQ8nnR_JYmxj6ttGPI1UV72ybLXWbUze9CXXWIJz2vDsnGyNGeQfKfSTH1aMqE2wYQl6UM/s1600/IMG_6572rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4lapJw3OENIESmi5ej63zGLy4OXFBhftfuDvc14j6_EDmBDcm9nS299yFkgU4CHf7tot0vQ8nnR_JYmxj6ttGPI1UV72ybLXWbUze9CXXWIJz2vDsnGyNGeQfKfSTH1aMqE2wYQl6UM/s400/IMG_6572rbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiH_dFWf1wjsTAOzcQlDQUizBpXzeNOP7Rmo_gfDPp46mZNdVk6vLcRSpdsqN7on2QtS0gtJ3E4GS2joejju4KaHzYuXZ1R-iwjlj8l696JGml21_iq4P6nji_LLjtvcnM3tEPFtq63xk/s1600/IMG_6584rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiH_dFWf1wjsTAOzcQlDQUizBpXzeNOP7Rmo_gfDPp46mZNdVk6vLcRSpdsqN7on2QtS0gtJ3E4GS2joejju4KaHzYuXZ1R-iwjlj8l696JGml21_iq4P6nji_LLjtvcnM3tEPFtq63xk/s400/IMG_6584rbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Next, just some shots around the house as I am pulling in bits of fall because despite what the thermometer says, I am ready. I spray painted some gourds copper to see if I like them. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTAxKpx7H5frEFoApEq_SaK-Mld-vIS3DSDDSaQqMcP6wPuVnaKh_a_C3igxr7RVfG7mZ6lbWo7AMvFfsiNTvb_8eXa2Mk1D9qTZUWIQYclcTh13aUicrGm2ninmiTDZtvTNiZ0qdW58/s1600/IMG_6488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTAxKpx7H5frEFoApEq_SaK-Mld-vIS3DSDDSaQqMcP6wPuVnaKh_a_C3igxr7RVfG7mZ6lbWo7AMvFfsiNTvb_8eXa2Mk1D9qTZUWIQYclcTh13aUicrGm2ninmiTDZtvTNiZ0qdW58/s400/IMG_6488.jpg" /></a></div>Not sure if I like them or not. I generally prefer things natural but I do like copper. <br />
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Some old books with my favorite new candle, Volcano. <br />
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Finally, just a little addition to the dining room. I could not resist this owl. He makes me smile every time I see him. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBm68KprG3zw4aErIpovpUyPqA2dVS78CKNURWCpd2xLm0JIuRpWoMeHdbyDHXaMznANXqbgcVimcSE9nD09J2tDOpKPYig4t0D-HIPGti_X_iFdQn2SgMbNXQ2DhkfYAK3SvgYJ4aWkk/s1600/IMG_6659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBm68KprG3zw4aErIpovpUyPqA2dVS78CKNURWCpd2xLm0JIuRpWoMeHdbyDHXaMznANXqbgcVimcSE9nD09J2tDOpKPYig4t0D-HIPGti_X_iFdQn2SgMbNXQ2DhkfYAK3SvgYJ4aWkk/s400/IMG_6659.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Hope you have a happy week!<br />
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Joining the <a href="http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/09/table-it-link-party-60.html">Table It Link Party</a> and <a href="http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/09/amaze-me-monday-127.html">Amaze Me Monday</a>. <br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-13607282039567084332015-08-27T05:30:00.000-07:002015-08-27T06:45:09.768-07:00on a search ...West Elm came out with the cutest plates for the holiday season in 2013. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sTXdulFpiVqf_-o-JOZ8wO3yWGOxkwFNmYY-Wj9BZ1iUcm0f5DJyG5XjN8QGD7FxG6Myg6pqQ7NrbHJQi-k8jFs01cx4ZPNwiX9gNemcj6EF9R6MhGJYbGqkxtSjQKcxuHgM4X4xjBA/s1600/img68o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sTXdulFpiVqf_-o-JOZ8wO3yWGOxkwFNmYY-Wj9BZ1iUcm0f5DJyG5XjN8QGD7FxG6Myg6pqQ7NrbHJQi-k8jFs01cx4ZPNwiX9gNemcj6EF9R6MhGJYbGqkxtSjQKcxuHgM4X4xjBA/s400/img68o.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I was recovering from surgery and wasn't allowed to do much of anything. We don't have a <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/dapper-animal-salad-plates-e1096/?pkey=call-dining%7C%7C">West Elm</a> here but once I was able to sit at my computer again, I started having fun just window shopping. (Is there a comparable expression for when you are doing it on your computer? Windows shopping?) Well, by the time I realized I could not resist the Dapper Animal plates, Mr. Bear was no longer available. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7lHQfUj57POXqT_tAFQskcRFqO7X49Vt47XFs8zKFWwnHQHZbdnoOzoKIbzMZyAN4kAzNIkG5IjXONIWVh6Z-HfmRDdNyfhwr6qex1Tt11EGYjcbprUjsI4dNcMPMCIyzi8OzCjm_qQ/s1600/images2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7lHQfUj57POXqT_tAFQskcRFqO7X49Vt47XFs8zKFWwnHQHZbdnoOzoKIbzMZyAN4kAzNIkG5IjXONIWVh6Z-HfmRDdNyfhwr6qex1Tt11EGYjcbprUjsI4dNcMPMCIyzi8OzCjm_qQ/s400/images2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I had a very friendly, helpful West Elm employee on the phone trying to track them down for me. A couple of times, I thought I had it but realized the clerk I was talking with had confused the badger with the bear. I became ridiculously obsessed. I needed Mr. Bear. My original thought was to get some for my son's girlfriend because they had several bear encounters while camping. I couldn't find even one so sending her a set wasn't going to happen. I sent requests to West Elm to carry them again. My husband had business trips in cities that were lucky enough to have a West Elm and he checked. No luck. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPqsv9Lj7EcmZQWnOvwq39FUcJ5jWfpRDHaRNQzJpLQFMz1jCHdNRWQcrnvJQIueba9MC3mAJnp5TvDdSksm17kmQGu3AaLs43UEzpAsouGtlw5iSjUqhYH6gTG0s3k6RSASuJJhhn2U/s1600/IMG_0360rb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPqsv9Lj7EcmZQWnOvwq39FUcJ5jWfpRDHaRNQzJpLQFMz1jCHdNRWQcrnvJQIueba9MC3mAJnp5TvDdSksm17kmQGu3AaLs43UEzpAsouGtlw5iSjUqhYH6gTG0s3k6RSASuJJhhn2U/s400/IMG_0360rb2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
All the other animals would be in stock for a while and then disappear, only to show up again so of course, I keep looking. Mr. Bear is the only one who has not done this. In my desperation, I even tracked down talented artist, designer, Rachel Kozlowski's email, asking her if she knew if any were available ANYWHERE. She was very gracious to me despite the fact that as I am typing this, I realize that I was behaving like a stalker. No luck. <br />
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They even came out with Mr. Bear tea towels but I wanted the plates. No luck. <br />
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Last year, they had a Dapper Animal set all dressed up for the holidays in black, white and gold. No luck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXZkmvEZVoT5lmZP3puhkKE_USmE6cHyNq46G3KGZq87Cg7sM09x6l3wieWLzUx788kr8CuSA4nm5a15VJfp9FtgkevrGQ5cr_cymW38ELEa3QVRGBLMtrutwLw1BPvo8XkpvtD9SWic/s1600/we-gilded-dapper-animal-dinnerware-set-e844-hero_z-e1417019216830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXZkmvEZVoT5lmZP3puhkKE_USmE6cHyNq46G3KGZq87Cg7sM09x6l3wieWLzUx788kr8CuSA4nm5a15VJfp9FtgkevrGQ5cr_cymW38ELEa3QVRGBLMtrutwLw1BPvo8XkpvtD9SWic/s400/we-gilded-dapper-animal-dinnerware-set-e844-hero_z-e1417019216830.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Still no Mr. Bear with his adorable hat that always makes me think of my brother. It's even my favorite, a buffalo plaid. I wish this story had a happy ending but it doesn't. I check eBay and Etsy regularly. I check West Elm obsessively. <br />
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A few weeks ago, West Elm came out with a new set of Dapper Animal plates. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gSN44NgjbePFtizIpOBiKqqyDrTzOP69GPWfsRpYOIrLioUbE5bOdZ8t6xIqWLZgkR7mK1pRsBt2RU4M6yt6xN8Oj4UwYQmaRDKS5gZ6peBIx3Op0-fM-H91ibYVZV4wIPc-VW6UIHo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gSN44NgjbePFtizIpOBiKqqyDrTzOP69GPWfsRpYOIrLioUbE5bOdZ8t6xIqWLZgkR7mK1pRsBt2RU4M6yt6xN8Oj4UwYQmaRDKS5gZ6peBIx3Op0-fM-H91ibYVZV4wIPc-VW6UIHo/s400/images.jpg" /></a></div>There is a bear but it is not Mr. Bear. He just isn't the same. I am sure a few of these will find their way to my table. We are University of Arizona Wildcat fans so the wildcat dressed up in his reindeer sweater may be hard to resist. And look at the moose!<br />
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I am a West Elm fan. I have many of their dessert/salad plates. They always seem to have ones that have a little something extra. I have always had excellent customer service from West Elm too. I have had orders that have gotten mixed up and they have always made it good and quickly. I so appreciate their helpful employees especially ones who are patient with a bear-plate-hunting crazy woman. <br />
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I have to say these are probably my West Elm favorites, by Shanna Murray, for Thanksgiving or any time we want to celebrate around our table. I have two of these, for each of my children. I hope they will be home to see them this year. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc3z_PKm26vgRdYgxNBjX8MqkUIpeVeGX4-kxpFkcTJ4h845AiAs3PfQG8S9JsaH4Klz8duWDIgwls8cxEp8Ui6ii7tcfguSbJj1y98h2yUYxvUwehzvSFf1Nrtfe_fY928j_5xKJTUc/s1600/IMG_6372rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc3z_PKm26vgRdYgxNBjX8MqkUIpeVeGX4-kxpFkcTJ4h845AiAs3PfQG8S9JsaH4Klz8duWDIgwls8cxEp8Ui6ii7tcfguSbJj1y98h2yUYxvUwehzvSFf1Nrtfe_fY928j_5xKJTUc/s400/IMG_6372rb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I have enough of these to have one for everyone else, at least for now. It is so hard to decide how many plates to buy when the family keeps growing and growing.<br />
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I have some extras of the original Dapper Animals if anyone wants to make a trade. I promise I will give Mr. Bear a very good home. <br />
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Mr. Owl looks ready for fall!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQjQ5JfmuAEwGBbAaM5mhiC_QCHFYx4bebDOOORhK1yttgsdyA1N_QWIyb59dDGifwz0HrC0LhpUepONQedMPOp2rv_50mfLi2SZvr96Ms4usEUeDayu_FvQ-hxTv1oAn2AzPEdbl65w/s1600/IMG_6367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQjQ5JfmuAEwGBbAaM5mhiC_QCHFYx4bebDOOORhK1yttgsdyA1N_QWIyb59dDGifwz0HrC0LhpUepONQedMPOp2rv_50mfLi2SZvr96Ms4usEUeDayu_FvQ-hxTv1oAn2AzPEdbl65w/s400/IMG_6367.jpg" /></a></div><br />
(Disclaimer: Pictures 1,2,4 and 5 came from the West Elm website. The rest are mine.) I am joining Susan and others at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/">Between Naps on the Porch</a>.Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-17560575676474832742015-08-20T08:46:00.001-07:002015-08-26T17:00:38.271-07:00finally, a tablescape ...In my absence, I've still been having fun with my tables. Somehow they just haven't gotten photographed other than a quick shot or two with my phone. My dear friends joined me this week for our every two weeks gathering. This week was my turn. After I washed the linens, the flatware and the dishes, I stacked them on the dining room table to put them away. When I saw them this morning, I remembered that today is Tablescape Thursday. So, everything went back in it's place even though the actual gathering was on Tuesday. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU22QIcZ77TGdRkiF_uib_ehUxdoSP_cq5jw7EFBw9hX86SwdvuLRs23ftVH-ouVIuyC2Z3VeDCGXIMuW2ORQqO3DWyQYzIl81euUoO1gipuMMJW9X70YG2AEnUKA_f2bGENfmBG7laT0/s1600/6299%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU22QIcZ77TGdRkiF_uib_ehUxdoSP_cq5jw7EFBw9hX86SwdvuLRs23ftVH-ouVIuyC2Z3VeDCGXIMuW2ORQqO3DWyQYzIl81euUoO1gipuMMJW9X70YG2AEnUKA_f2bGENfmBG7laT0/s400/6299%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>We are so lucky. We have been friends for years and try to meet every other Tuesday. Sometimes life gets in the way, but it has been easier since our children are grown. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wWaI-uhwIdg8xbF87umQmVkCNlRwBPTSxuxbyr3mVVKLzhj4ZVZcBoQhEOMNjjIrtmTOsP4DzABcUKzH42eFh4qYAr3dpsRxvbzZiu4ze5JVrMjQFBSZU_D2X3Hw7AO10EZ8-6rilnY/s1600/6314%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wWaI-uhwIdg8xbF87umQmVkCNlRwBPTSxuxbyr3mVVKLzhj4ZVZcBoQhEOMNjjIrtmTOsP4DzABcUKzH42eFh4qYAr3dpsRxvbzZiu4ze5JVrMjQFBSZU_D2X3Hw7AO10EZ8-6rilnY/s400/6314%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>We are in the hottest part of the year. Although many of our meals here are eaten outside, this wasn't the day for it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2GHc6zVx5lhyphenhyphen_vfAhSH2PXVUuuLsor9pgf4w0xBa2wAEiPzIKW8Z1zXxiCBvPR4rDIdW9dRR8-9zVqWkdzbDc6p05SevxGINOJnxt6ij9MXK3UjrjjF8xGaCcPN-qm_ws4SHujPfIOs/s1600/6304%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2GHc6zVx5lhyphenhyphen_vfAhSH2PXVUuuLsor9pgf4w0xBa2wAEiPzIKW8Z1zXxiCBvPR4rDIdW9dRR8-9zVqWkdzbDc6p05SevxGINOJnxt6ij9MXK3UjrjjF8xGaCcPN-qm_ws4SHujPfIOs/s400/6304%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>Blue and white always feels cool and calm to me but I did add the orange napkins.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB24BWhjx59WmWUAn731Pz_tjoP9b13r7-qHxW8adcds9OKRlagkMmvPHnrdzgAzmIfyThnsQv4iNS4-WbKJ9GLBvK43inPuPR8EJHhQ-b9Qp2jHwITNkGAREL04Ayct7EDChkGMkPw0/s1600/6325%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB24BWhjx59WmWUAn731Pz_tjoP9b13r7-qHxW8adcds9OKRlagkMmvPHnrdzgAzmIfyThnsQv4iNS4-WbKJ9GLBvK43inPuPR8EJHhQ-b9Qp2jHwITNkGAREL04Ayct7EDChkGMkPw0/s400/6325%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>There are lots of colors to pull from these dishes. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C0nKr6sSSBEG3tmCXvaRYEBnQGufLH3bPTFRcGA4_wXx6-8k8ACVoAO5exw3NGZw9xEnfGisLXcGeb3lO6bSaFMhdNOGyYYqjb5hJGGqhOUSQj2jsPUhBfSy89ZqL_zjG07D0BeAn9A/s1600/6333%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C0nKr6sSSBEG3tmCXvaRYEBnQGufLH3bPTFRcGA4_wXx6-8k8ACVoAO5exw3NGZw9xEnfGisLXcGeb3lO6bSaFMhdNOGyYYqjb5hJGGqhOUSQj2jsPUhBfSy89ZqL_zjG07D0BeAn9A/s400/6333%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>This group of women is so important to me. We have been through a lot together. There have been heartbreaking times and times of complete joy. Through it all, we keep meeting every other Tuesday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ycNtzxFOsvjeTtTktksdb_Mcqxm6hGNBnPStf6AWdfgRFOTyWqZ0XSg843bDDS-xqBPW2AGBJCRtrchbENSxC4c0DJIRdOYXqU7BoPYyM_RwMDEjkTcNkzlbVx-5kE6qlak3fMHqKDI/s1600/6314%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ycNtzxFOsvjeTtTktksdb_Mcqxm6hGNBnPStf6AWdfgRFOTyWqZ0XSg843bDDS-xqBPW2AGBJCRtrchbENSxC4c0DJIRdOYXqU7BoPYyM_RwMDEjkTcNkzlbVx-5kE6qlak3fMHqKDI/s400/6314%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>They have wisdom and insight. They know when all another needs may be a nod of understanding or a hug. Other times, we talk and talk and talk it out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhywxiArIpj6jhZaaJKZn16j9ZBTVA6VMIBHB44jOKlkIZPB5c1U7Oj-11eP7lMeigoF2ryij1TSpV-f27N-QzoIEMQuBGrY7P1vgY_OHahdmJSgRd-awSHjnt7eTNAnPbmUv7QDHzfw/s1600/6308%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhywxiArIpj6jhZaaJKZn16j9ZBTVA6VMIBHB44jOKlkIZPB5c1U7Oj-11eP7lMeigoF2ryij1TSpV-f27N-QzoIEMQuBGrY7P1vgY_OHahdmJSgRd-awSHjnt7eTNAnPbmUv7QDHzfw/s400/6308%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>Every Tuesday there is a lot of laughter. A lot of laughter. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nyAcj6WPBMpOAR3MKgAELS7bs23j6v_j28laAEXDne-h9fAZ4kf0SVANfzUII4kwapt4_PYG86W0eViq2udPNVP0cqgmjGHomYHCXFp2HpugSVrupkpTkwyjuQJ5m3-X5BK_g4AVqBw/s1600/6317%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nyAcj6WPBMpOAR3MKgAELS7bs23j6v_j28laAEXDne-h9fAZ4kf0SVANfzUII4kwapt4_PYG86W0eViq2udPNVP0cqgmjGHomYHCXFp2HpugSVrupkpTkwyjuQJ5m3-X5BK_g4AVqBw/s400/6317%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>There are Tuesdays that have been filled with tears but even on those days, we still laugh. It is so very healing. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTidoDHsbb2qC5tAH56fnx32CbAAXW5SqIuJxqls4_AJeWiORFiKPWY1iov9fMBgVHfJxgIoZMwUu4TxPPrnIG-5XTWqOMcFRaq53_xEiOvaGWtLFY3r7yyh03xsVpksrJa3ljWOk-pPE/s1600/6320%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTidoDHsbb2qC5tAH56fnx32CbAAXW5SqIuJxqls4_AJeWiORFiKPWY1iov9fMBgVHfJxgIoZMwUu4TxPPrnIG-5XTWqOMcFRaq53_xEiOvaGWtLFY3r7yyh03xsVpksrJa3ljWOk-pPE/s400/6320%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>Our opinions can be diverse but it doesn't matter. We solve the problems of the world. We debate the issues, all with respect and love. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy5VaqLl1H9T-W3IjEk4DP8CQ51yXXcQ1T4BIZlE3fhpNl94zBbw78n1U3LdVdBf1vQQ6cVsGVzxdRi9kPOA1PlWOlLmKVnWb2Kqux7-K4TRkoirO1-ccSUrjALVv1ol8151EG-lRA6s/s1600/6312%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy5VaqLl1H9T-W3IjEk4DP8CQ51yXXcQ1T4BIZlE3fhpNl94zBbw78n1U3LdVdBf1vQQ6cVsGVzxdRi9kPOA1PlWOlLmKVnWb2Kqux7-K4TRkoirO1-ccSUrjALVv1ol8151EG-lRA6s/s400/6312%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>I am so blessed to have these women in my life. So very blessed. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uKbcE9exu1pglMOze8OpsPdVI41WUhl3C1_m2gzVKkYhgojcKrmOPmvv52RYizB_C5gGqZZRirqaQJomG-HhwPEmOt0J1rakDllNTCeHbzlZARs9T7_O1l1t_e7xentPEnTqdhGvpPA/s1600/6313%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uKbcE9exu1pglMOze8OpsPdVI41WUhl3C1_m2gzVKkYhgojcKrmOPmvv52RYizB_C5gGqZZRirqaQJomG-HhwPEmOt0J1rakDllNTCeHbzlZARs9T7_O1l1t_e7xentPEnTqdhGvpPA/s400/6313%25C2%25A9barbaracarroll.jpg" /></a></div>As you can tell, I set a simple table. Sometimes I like to fuss and make it more elaborate but for the most part, I am most comfortable with simple. <br />
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Joining Susan and everyone else (finally!) at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/princess-themed-baby-shower-table-with-royal-albert-old-country-roses/">Tablescape Thursday</a>, with Sherry at <a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/">Home Sweet Home</a>, <a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/08/wow-us-wednesdays.html#more">Southern Savvy Style</a>, <a href="http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/08/table-it-link-party-58.html?m=1">Rustic and Refined</a>, <a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/the-scoop-185/">The Scoop</a> and <a href="http://www.andersonandgrant.com/2015/08/your-turn-to-shine-link-party-45.html">Your Turn to Shine</a>.Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-15192746375855172572015-06-06T17:45:00.001-07:002015-06-06T17:45:09.077-07:00oh, my, it's been a long time...My blog has been "broken" for quite a while. User error, I am sure. Every time I would find a moment to work on it, my frustration won. Yesterday, WB sat down with me, working on two computers, we were able to get things figured out. I only lost one post that I am aware of and hopefully, all will be well from now on.<br />
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There is no way to update what has happened since I was here last. Let's just say there were incredible joys and deep sorrows. As always, I try to be grateful for the joy and learn from the sorrow.<br />
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I hope to post more regularly from now on. I know a lot of you have enjoyed the photos of the bobcats who like to hang around here. I will start there. Mama and her two babies came to visit. Like many siblings, one was a dare devil while the other was cautious. Mama found a dove for dinner while one baby climbed a tree and the other looked nervous about it. Baby managed to get down and they all enjoyed dinner. Luckily, my kitchen window was clean enough so I was able to shoot through it. I am constantly distracted from the work at hand when I look out that window.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWoyREc-fGJ2J5jl6bscY0S-lTq1JYo9ilLQ4aYcEv1tXs3StBeolxjxw9wTWskwc-4yKRjZkE41gvzFN7dda51SkTMZUJ1VABwTEKEWXt4aJhP9aNdCpEK0A5R_k61QSAAqJvv6czjc/s1600/8C0Y9703rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWoyREc-fGJ2J5jl6bscY0S-lTq1JYo9ilLQ4aYcEv1tXs3StBeolxjxw9wTWskwc-4yKRjZkE41gvzFN7dda51SkTMZUJ1VABwTEKEWXt4aJhP9aNdCpEK0A5R_k61QSAAqJvv6czjc/s400/8C0Y9703rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoRK5BwguDssUe0TjVc8gxNVfqwYgyO97UGIKlnYnuc3IAotJ5WnoK7s5m5zChbOSL43njBg3CSDAQRNwAVVR5zsjMwAnItCRr0IY5TWAsVHHuTlHOh18IeSurRqQc_C-4wCcsgWQF0M/s1600/8C0Y9814rbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoRK5BwguDssUe0TjVc8gxNVfqwYgyO97UGIKlnYnuc3IAotJ5WnoK7s5m5zChbOSL43njBg3CSDAQRNwAVVR5zsjMwAnItCRr0IY5TWAsVHHuTlHOh18IeSurRqQc_C-4wCcsgWQF0M/s400/8C0Y9814rbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrTZqk4D-iAkNtkh1o46gCuzP_t1L6YIXbYclYA1mzjGBtdb4ZI8ThZ2-3S-yej5Oe5J92biRuj6OPQdBTE24gyAu1hA4Wp6_NwIIgSIQwZ8PTaKzKU_kCWE3Jx0YHFbNrey-Wl2qTh4/s1600/8C0Y9824rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrTZqk4D-iAkNtkh1o46gCuzP_t1L6YIXbYclYA1mzjGBtdb4ZI8ThZ2-3S-yej5Oe5J92biRuj6OPQdBTE24gyAu1hA4Wp6_NwIIgSIQwZ8PTaKzKU_kCWE3Jx0YHFbNrey-Wl2qTh4/s400/8C0Y9824rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tCshgfVFF4khnjHl_q9e39R8yrkWTxNhEuii3c_zPhLUtAFHwjglwxSRamaPF-mctDb6XfWqqRY_D7mlbYRTo_AQ-b-obQ8ZrakBlLeYtzJ-QEhxjsT8iTuF5SRhl_ka8mMyF4Fd7uA/s1600/8C0Y9837rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tCshgfVFF4khnjHl_q9e39R8yrkWTxNhEuii3c_zPhLUtAFHwjglwxSRamaPF-mctDb6XfWqqRY_D7mlbYRTo_AQ-b-obQ8ZrakBlLeYtzJ-QEhxjsT8iTuF5SRhl_ka8mMyF4Fd7uA/s400/8C0Y9837rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaDpR7D6JaINWD48Orviy01dGUXJnpyW6W3Do-xL_4iZSPWSDI548E_UOkAwKGXq94KogMJqvevAnIEN7ZjRgBCLSDV8jlO51dlQy5XM_oRfGPNbgWaoB9k704T6kniEV7gnmn29vPck/s1600/8C0Y9859rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaDpR7D6JaINWD48Orviy01dGUXJnpyW6W3Do-xL_4iZSPWSDI548E_UOkAwKGXq94KogMJqvevAnIEN7ZjRgBCLSDV8jlO51dlQy5XM_oRfGPNbgWaoB9k704T6kniEV7gnmn29vPck/s400/8C0Y9859rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuNA98wWq9YqUuo2THZ1ipkzreEFodPHKvMV8Hvg3FMGfYOAfGgcusoR0QkeG8J0-bQAYMQaYfmEHKwpbVqwX0mVvYdf8NXkXACcQ9YICdQS_5B7fdOR8SX1xtwdJPkxM-Te-Ug8ceDc/s1600/8C0Y9895rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuNA98wWq9YqUuo2THZ1ipkzreEFodPHKvMV8Hvg3FMGfYOAfGgcusoR0QkeG8J0-bQAYMQaYfmEHKwpbVqwX0mVvYdf8NXkXACcQ9YICdQS_5B7fdOR8SX1xtwdJPkxM-Te-Ug8ceDc/s400/8C0Y9895rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Thank you to all who are still even checking Among the Saguaros. I look forward to catching up with you all. <br />
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-73846958780504163482013-12-17T07:13:00.000-07:002013-12-17T07:13:06.766-07:00a glimpse of the season...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISD06ydsY25Dm6Uid1NjBmiM-aQMo2QWAxVsu8jJLErwePOdT6AO4tXk_Bp-5MnbTU7XLE5umQYmQpmqlpV9RVsnJsNnjyStYxnE04QZfosV_QnfhtjgoHwJrVs-f_KpdPb1Qi5kLvlw/s1600/IMG_0670rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISD06ydsY25Dm6Uid1NjBmiM-aQMo2QWAxVsu8jJLErwePOdT6AO4tXk_Bp-5MnbTU7XLE5umQYmQpmqlpV9RVsnJsNnjyStYxnE04QZfosV_QnfhtjgoHwJrVs-f_KpdPb1Qi5kLvlw/s400/IMG_0670rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9Uymb0pknr7lih-Ac6W3f3u4-FJYN3-4tHdjFNj3AJkK3Xfgswpc85xTCSGj4yJ4U6A1aySwaRhkoY25QRBSLqYWTQHaSWX2jyyxvruOrTBgupCQDGBFVDimRzAeD-Gngl-qgj0XQXo/s1600/IMG_0693rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9Uymb0pknr7lih-Ac6W3f3u4-FJYN3-4tHdjFNj3AJkK3Xfgswpc85xTCSGj4yJ4U6A1aySwaRhkoY25QRBSLqYWTQHaSWX2jyyxvruOrTBgupCQDGBFVDimRzAeD-Gngl-qgj0XQXo/s400/IMG_0693rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx8NRXsUTzgG3vsExgclEP_N_oGtEqLWgIuAJyoQPstVsW8XQSTPtR3rIK2_Fd1cSgadFY5zHwh6ungMjFG3MHD03pQgZeA_wrrBQS2j3q6gDCos6RB1c27NkCqT9FfWhv-dZ0_VIg8M/s1600/IMG_0853rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx8NRXsUTzgG3vsExgclEP_N_oGtEqLWgIuAJyoQPstVsW8XQSTPtR3rIK2_Fd1cSgadFY5zHwh6ungMjFG3MHD03pQgZeA_wrrBQS2j3q6gDCos6RB1c27NkCqT9FfWhv-dZ0_VIg8M/s400/IMG_0853rbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd4aenywvIDhUfYwu0FjMm5y4zKwzj55TAvC6jdswR39dIvoy0RJP9paJVEvgvmLZ5S03sLUH-OJD4d4mpg6kp_ijOEXqGMaDgLB4BwAMJEfxDddpqKnbKRcmzWwKSt6k7SP7dYfjg_4/s1600/IMG_0880rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd4aenywvIDhUfYwu0FjMm5y4zKwzj55TAvC6jdswR39dIvoy0RJP9paJVEvgvmLZ5S03sLUH-OJD4d4mpg6kp_ijOEXqGMaDgLB4BwAMJEfxDddpqKnbKRcmzWwKSt6k7SP7dYfjg_4/s400/IMG_0880rbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg2TbDuZ_4wsflGO9rBQLZvfYrVR46XalNCTHZw_miOJkr38VwCEoGCb3vfe6i9gYa9Cj_k4TmKEVLQLJ4XBlU2AWXeB9IGB4GsjcVZoKIMQ9e8JmqHDCnBbs5mBs2g8R2r3S-oZthQU/s1600/IMG_0952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg2TbDuZ_4wsflGO9rBQLZvfYrVR46XalNCTHZw_miOJkr38VwCEoGCb3vfe6i9gYa9Cj_k4TmKEVLQLJ4XBlU2AWXeB9IGB4GsjcVZoKIMQ9e8JmqHDCnBbs5mBs2g8R2r3S-oZthQU/s400/IMG_0952.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S0OhVISsiURq_TtikOnavVQLcEeioCHJg0u59Zo-zyzkarsDTX5p9eJsjLZEplq5nS1506N0QHCxeD9BPK85p0lwXu4kXZVRalp0dvWaXHCSKl3nCDwlkGwhMGbPf43NliS1_PQnzBw/s1600/IMG_1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S0OhVISsiURq_TtikOnavVQLcEeioCHJg0u59Zo-zyzkarsDTX5p9eJsjLZEplq5nS1506N0QHCxeD9BPK85p0lwXu4kXZVRalp0dvWaXHCSKl3nCDwlkGwhMGbPf43NliS1_PQnzBw/s400/IMG_1235.jpg" /></a></div>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-77116407928532324192013-12-01T10:07:00.001-07:002013-12-01T10:07:15.053-07:00decorating today...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUglt1Jo3nbVPvwGZ4dn5n1Z2AzTb_B3mEf1EBCOBvKClII5FjLXoJSXD4fsyWZ7CDYi-ewSbmNT77jIYW-RIjzUueu2l7tgn_6ayvn82IgWNebOVXZvg7wD4-whbtYH0ktQebBpc2XyA/s1600/IMG_2945rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUglt1Jo3nbVPvwGZ4dn5n1Z2AzTb_B3mEf1EBCOBvKClII5FjLXoJSXD4fsyWZ7CDYi-ewSbmNT77jIYW-RIjzUueu2l7tgn_6ayvn82IgWNebOVXZvg7wD4-whbtYH0ktQebBpc2XyA/s400/IMG_2945rbbb.jpg" /></a></div> <br />
A very kind man at the tree lot gave us greens so the house already smells divine, a week or so before the tree is brought home. We're celebrating my mother's birthday with dinner and a play, "A Christmas Carol". What a wonderful way to start the season! Here's hoping a bit of holiday is finding its way to you too!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-75136221291522204982013-11-27T14:36:00.000-07:002013-11-29T11:09:35.909-07:00we gather together...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdOPMqxPMaKjQht8Rtpm2U1tpvTGxHOpfdJQ3o8C6qwWcOnBIjOlkLobYMmVBI55qgbmxs99V5F-tOA27IQP-TFkguhH6NMNPQvdiQIyvh49PVqs3BTJTLr0LXIdYn-09_VC00raLvoo/s1600/IMG_0578rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdOPMqxPMaKjQht8Rtpm2U1tpvTGxHOpfdJQ3o8C6qwWcOnBIjOlkLobYMmVBI55qgbmxs99V5F-tOA27IQP-TFkguhH6NMNPQvdiQIyvh49PVqs3BTJTLr0LXIdYn-09_VC00raLvoo/s400/IMG_0578rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>When I was a little girl, my favorite church hymn was "We Gather Together". There is some distant memory of standing with my family, next to my father, singing that song. Gathering the people I love around our table is one of the happiest things that I can do. This year has been difficult in many ways but oh, we have so much for which to be thankful. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1r_bijUqoAeYXEpLH84Kgx1FRd3INC24s__XsdP1_Wnh1bmIRANuSADvEuwE62siJVVGvcQc4l8v_XFICpxvIN0wWjQaMRur1qmA5fhmQkSijAGwYfClAeYBPAE3EQirM7Wb6F7YcHM/s1600/IMG_0623rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1r_bijUqoAeYXEpLH84Kgx1FRd3INC24s__XsdP1_Wnh1bmIRANuSADvEuwE62siJVVGvcQc4l8v_XFICpxvIN0wWjQaMRur1qmA5fhmQkSijAGwYfClAeYBPAE3EQirM7Wb6F7YcHM/s400/IMG_0623rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div>Our celebration for Thanksgiving will be a little small this year but we have some big birthdays to celebrate a week later.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nBqNyRSl0tHOGwRdGLOnclIfOv0CFgnNLGmwUVI1WEgiQxLq12j5GUZCPKHK-sBHxtOa2hJkMJzqev-XpBuFs-DRqwDzZOkHNxRHLxWS-_7Lg5bf1C21WNhap6X29UV7wx-DCk_qMb0/s1600/IMG_0340rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nBqNyRSl0tHOGwRdGLOnclIfOv0CFgnNLGmwUVI1WEgiQxLq12j5GUZCPKHK-sBHxtOa2hJkMJzqev-XpBuFs-DRqwDzZOkHNxRHLxWS-_7Lg5bf1C21WNhap6X29UV7wx-DCk_qMb0/s400/IMG_0340rbb.jpg" /></a></div>For those interested in the table, I was surprised to find myself putting my brown plates on a turquoise tablecloth. We had a big soup party last week. I used my turquoise cloths with pumpkins and bittersweet. I just couldn't get beyond how much I liked the turquoise and orange together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCtV-BIKZYQ-oiLlKBwvLiWZndALHq_9DXNtpItF5WTVPJ_FKvAoAEq4nOca9ojLc3uC9fOTuBoL4fZU1lLJ-6k34Yg59xat3Lc9v3NOtadYhwXdSVdfE9LrqPYpskAsBXxKqfwFHQts/s1600/IMG_0351rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCtV-BIKZYQ-oiLlKBwvLiWZndALHq_9DXNtpItF5WTVPJ_FKvAoAEq4nOca9ojLc3uC9fOTuBoL4fZU1lLJ-6k34Yg59xat3Lc9v3NOtadYhwXdSVdfE9LrqPYpskAsBXxKqfwFHQts/s400/IMG_0351rbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div>This is just the kind of table I like, mixing styles and elements. I always like having some nature on my table. This time, pumpkins and bittersweet. We don't have bittersweet in the desert but etsy does. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY0Ak5MelGgzShh1SmPguuWL_o1naBZUCpSE-z4w_oKCSksUncDSRpQgCtYCBNZ9kO8AAmRcT4nGIkrAfK8MU2BOteDnrL8LjjGPV7OWugJAfWv6xydq1Yl5Rd3HsyZMEcdKIHOBXGag/s1600/IMG_0367rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY0Ak5MelGgzShh1SmPguuWL_o1naBZUCpSE-z4w_oKCSksUncDSRpQgCtYCBNZ9kO8AAmRcT4nGIkrAfK8MU2BOteDnrL8LjjGPV7OWugJAfWv6xydq1Yl5Rd3HsyZMEcdKIHOBXGag/s400/IMG_0367rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQYjNeETZd4rdpqqM2LfFUokirIMJkZnKrOArL3XYPZmaZLLUOuB6hHdLRkpja1CVHFjnF-4oL8RgvYt9w5Djqwk5KM1upLEU_xhrSm27hJbK3xuFYOyGFVr_tVi4QkMLadO023ys_wU/s1600/IMG_0419rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQYjNeETZd4rdpqqM2LfFUokirIMJkZnKrOArL3XYPZmaZLLUOuB6hHdLRkpja1CVHFjnF-4oL8RgvYt9w5Djqwk5KM1upLEU_xhrSm27hJbK3xuFYOyGFVr_tVi4QkMLadO023ys_wU/s400/IMG_0419rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>I like having the linen tablecloth rumpled but mixing it with the Delamere china. I have used a haphazard collection of vintage silverplate flatware.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwV3Jp6cwlBRgQe1vujwgAJt4PUA4LnbLvLW-mnS4yce6lmOI8XJd14zjUGkrK1FCWJzfVVTZgf_mZfMyBf2hFokqY21m3T5aPBL_IPfOd52r3bs8Q-cawHRGB4Wu-d6LnHVb8ZW7LhY/s1600/IMG_0434rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwV3Jp6cwlBRgQe1vujwgAJt4PUA4LnbLvLW-mnS4yce6lmOI8XJd14zjUGkrK1FCWJzfVVTZgf_mZfMyBf2hFokqY21m3T5aPBL_IPfOd52r3bs8Q-cawHRGB4Wu-d6LnHVb8ZW7LhY/s400/IMG_0434rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>When I saw these "Gather Together" plates at West Elm, I could not resist. They brought back such wonderful memories. Shanna Murray, I am a fan.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N1usaPnzEG2KgMHwIf9G210ybNiDJoSo6knOExDgbxwv8jytka72BkbBj7kdSU7Ld-a3fZvf3DafdFmiZS0IZ4j6ITZdYk_IV5sVFto2S_6N2LFfE58GGf4luysjfLlD7xdyA9gQWEM/s1600/IMG_0484rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N1usaPnzEG2KgMHwIf9G210ybNiDJoSo6knOExDgbxwv8jytka72BkbBj7kdSU7Ld-a3fZvf3DafdFmiZS0IZ4j6ITZdYk_IV5sVFto2S_6N2LFfE58GGf4luysjfLlD7xdyA9gQWEM/s400/IMG_0484rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>The weather tomorrow is supposed to be perfect. There is nothing I like more than enjoying our Thanksgiving dinner outside.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cj6g513XGLfjyddPzYEc8B7IJp69Z6eqTpvmgN2kPBSnh5EwdODYj0NvS1J421rBHsb3jNfXiHbapOUJzvM7umlcjkQLhIpztNvYg58cbrX6XXvfYnywypheO91WUZBbjX03NNa8oHA/s1600/IMG_0519rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cj6g513XGLfjyddPzYEc8B7IJp69Z6eqTpvmgN2kPBSnh5EwdODYj0NvS1J421rBHsb3jNfXiHbapOUJzvM7umlcjkQLhIpztNvYg58cbrX6XXvfYnywypheO91WUZBbjX03NNa8oHA/s400/IMG_0519rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0VXl6PoqagMNyQi09NihU5fSQO5Cpt3-LKI1R1quP1c0sPiUmS-f58T7onaZkBOkmYu6YYrLVV2rOJniYURK08Uboi2TAOjarmhQZ156B991Z2X-7Whi1y4K3a-j1ocjGnQi6wh_aYA/s1600/IMG_0538rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0VXl6PoqagMNyQi09NihU5fSQO5Cpt3-LKI1R1quP1c0sPiUmS-f58T7onaZkBOkmYu6YYrLVV2rOJniYURK08Uboi2TAOjarmhQZ156B991Z2X-7Whi1y4K3a-j1ocjGnQi6wh_aYA/s400/IMG_0538rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>I can't wait for a taste of the stuffing. We may have to get a fire started in the fire pit by dessert time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk5Lu3mWwV2ZU6v1qYIoChaAPBI7JTcZqCzcwAofQOINRnmyP9TzP8dn3evldkc-jLrXMn22RjUkb6y5sN7yPxIUZ8oCn8_rKjxckLljl-6IL_3Zic0EpB-tJCzy3Hl4As_6FAghSDSY/s1600/IMG_0571rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk5Lu3mWwV2ZU6v1qYIoChaAPBI7JTcZqCzcwAofQOINRnmyP9TzP8dn3evldkc-jLrXMn22RjUkb6y5sN7yPxIUZ8oCn8_rKjxckLljl-6IL_3Zic0EpB-tJCzy3Hl4As_6FAghSDSY/s400/IMG_0571rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYiHAGw4CduCnHA4LPy8M9pB6pHGW2QcVKOMzEtdj1hTPcPM_w_Sj18Osj8FmZubZ8JsxwxNZtibvPgYZnrA2ed-CfRsIPOOqI6PZwy3yQI5pRJzJiWkJePE4hpeh6sdZQzTwcoNiaUE/s1600/IMG_0573rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYiHAGw4CduCnHA4LPy8M9pB6pHGW2QcVKOMzEtdj1hTPcPM_w_Sj18Osj8FmZubZ8JsxwxNZtibvPgYZnrA2ed-CfRsIPOOqI6PZwy3yQI5pRJzJiWkJePE4hpeh6sdZQzTwcoNiaUE/s400/IMG_0573rbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZGolbTiu2prZwwLc22HeLfM5XGHA_Pl3GpZbrRF636uDtnh-UC-6foQ0EgQ3GmqGgaBGBM424fniu2ihq6ZJreVEpqVovqeCT7mj5_tU8rwjcHd6-qCsYZuU0PI7F7l6YX1Jo1-RBJA/s1600/IMG_0594rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZGolbTiu2prZwwLc22HeLfM5XGHA_Pl3GpZbrRF636uDtnh-UC-6foQ0EgQ3GmqGgaBGBM424fniu2ihq6ZJreVEpqVovqeCT7mj5_tU8rwjcHd6-qCsYZuU0PI7F7l6YX1Jo1-RBJA/s400/IMG_0594rbbb.jpg" /></a></div>Happy Thanksgiving to all. I will be counting my many blessings and be grateful. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmLqk2-uemMr13kWbyM5NIAgi5v8dFB9zKvpo0T1RURul-x_EKZz7po6dIy16T-dukGsDg1j6ZvzmQHCkkOKJNM-6M9NB-ksb5pFdpPcmfSuru7r263dHeXQJxzucbyllKzdjyfggxUo/s1600/IMG_0631rbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmLqk2-uemMr13kWbyM5NIAgi5v8dFB9zKvpo0T1RURul-x_EKZz7po6dIy16T-dukGsDg1j6ZvzmQHCkkOKJNM-6M9NB-ksb5pFdpPcmfSuru7r263dHeXQJxzucbyllKzdjyfggxUo/s400/IMG_0631rbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Joining Kathleen at <a href="http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/">"let's dish"</a> and Susan at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/">"between naps on the porch"</a> for more holiday table inspiration.Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-77041002485668343372013-08-10T10:40:00.000-07:002015-08-20T10:56:56.085-07:00wrap it up...When I was a little girl, I thought it would be so much fun to be the person in the fancy department store who did the gift wrapping. Do stores even do that anymore? I was nosy enough to want to see all the gifts. I would imagine the recipients surprise and of course, awe at the amazing wrapping job I would provide. I haven't changed much. I still love to wrap presents. <br />
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These days, I know I wouldn't make it a day as a department store gift wrapper because I am not too excited by sparkly ribbons and flashy paper. I tend toward the simple. For years, I have wrapped most packages in brown kraft paper. When my kids were small, we would decorate the paper with their drawings. One year, after a way too ambitious apple picking day, we used the very small ones (gathered by very small hands), cut in half as stamps to decorate the paper. With a sharpie, I added a few green leaves and black seeds to their stamps and we called it good. <br />
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Today, I am wrapping a gift for my daughter. She lives too far away. I miss her. She misses us and the desert. This <a href="http://www.wildhorizons.com/wp/media/desertdreams/trailer/">video</a> came out this year and it is wonderful. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSmRysNcBI1yHuf-mHFKYDJnBJHBHR945OrWWGo-TX8vFjKIp5ZY3VgssuskQt3LgGRSzfRGL61mIwuJHjkkn6e35BWKsqOVroBSTLXHys72h8Ch1tZ6G9i02yq51A0WhW5LtwcjhNok/s1600/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSmRysNcBI1yHuf-mHFKYDJnBJHBHR945OrWWGo-TX8vFjKIp5ZY3VgssuskQt3LgGRSzfRGL61mIwuJHjkkn6e35BWKsqOVroBSTLXHys72h8Ch1tZ6G9i02yq51A0WhW5LtwcjhNok/s320/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+8.jpg" /></a><br />
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the desert or is curious about the desert. I have already bought 3 copies and I imagine I will buy more. Take a moment to watch the <a href="https://vimeo.com/55016996">trailer</a>. <br />
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I decided to wrap her present in kraft paper stamped with images of a tortoise. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k3-nHsXCECa5ftYcj_OCJpRNlBiJkeQdL2AFPne2EC8XJPomyRklqkBHL3PuHpHSF4EZ9otBm4ZlGcr5MVcPlySwTJy2YBgB0RouGV8rTLU9jGATNF4lDnTKJajnQLYvYLCK8eH65Ns/s1600/tortoise+wrapping+paper+%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k3-nHsXCECa5ftYcj_OCJpRNlBiJkeQdL2AFPne2EC8XJPomyRklqkBHL3PuHpHSF4EZ9otBm4ZlGcr5MVcPlySwTJy2YBgB0RouGV8rTLU9jGATNF4lDnTKJajnQLYvYLCK8eH65Ns/s320/tortoise+wrapping+paper+%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+1.jpg" /></a><br />
We have desert tortoises that hang out around here and I know she will like this. I stamped with more intent than I usually do.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gcp5z2GBAwSKJ9sJYaKYoSPJ_7S-DXNb6PeuXN1jRsRGJl8lwHed70neSLEY1oc-CGJvlLc-vMr-Z6qLZ6MGDfpOxfGHhSd6BjQNmI-BSRvqpyzInVjwq1o3cOohbdxX6bc6xDoN7Po/s1600/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gcp5z2GBAwSKJ9sJYaKYoSPJ_7S-DXNb6PeuXN1jRsRGJl8lwHed70neSLEY1oc-CGJvlLc-vMr-Z6qLZ6MGDfpOxfGHhSd6BjQNmI-BSRvqpyzInVjwq1o3cOohbdxX6bc6xDoN7Po/s320/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+6.jpg" /></a><br />
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I liked the idea of lining up the images rather than the randomness I usually use. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxhodk4rGMO8LCryeeaJwLzq3X_IpHmZuMWNG_XSF39f_gBuq8Z0cxGsZtKJHuloEM4ZpCaYWXzQenq7AxmGcZV1cA6095l4RKrVLUwUnwgauwOxJMI2Pa8_DKZ47U-70NaO2yW5mMvI/s1600/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxhodk4rGMO8LCryeeaJwLzq3X_IpHmZuMWNG_XSF39f_gBuq8Z0cxGsZtKJHuloEM4ZpCaYWXzQenq7AxmGcZV1cA6095l4RKrVLUwUnwgauwOxJMI2Pa8_DKZ47U-70NaO2yW5mMvI/s320/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+4.jpg" /></a> <br />
I should have placed the present a little differently on the paper but then it left me with the perfect place for the ribbon. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKNenhe4YgS1y6k7b1hatyOTXA_1c6Oj_2qeMDnBh0z4a63swTz2m6tqOuVB8JQhFxRekYHm4pDviZ_U5xTFoMwP9OVRF-pjwisll0ztsjzdA-sNITyVdOaex9VLR4CuPIraCJGIPrU/s1600/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKNenhe4YgS1y6k7b1hatyOTXA_1c6Oj_2qeMDnBh0z4a63swTz2m6tqOuVB8JQhFxRekYHm4pDviZ_U5xTFoMwP9OVRF-pjwisll0ztsjzdA-sNITyVdOaex9VLR4CuPIraCJGIPrU/s320/%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013+5.jpg" /></a><br />
Then I switched to twine. You can't beat "brown paper packages tied up with string". <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OEVfaMQPE45EZfZZa2fti7-8UL3nuvVUeHyO9PHZAW7cU2LUmCCt-NxdC2zZqXpFVhspZLVufQjsVXGD5j3f2-Qs_V9GuTfnUgej8vEbkP2dA0xute36cs70DmEi2HYfucUyF20GBZ0/s1600/tortoise+wrapping+paper+%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OEVfaMQPE45EZfZZa2fti7-8UL3nuvVUeHyO9PHZAW7cU2LUmCCt-NxdC2zZqXpFVhspZLVufQjsVXGD5j3f2-Qs_V9GuTfnUgej8vEbkP2dA0xute36cs70DmEi2HYfucUyF20GBZ0/s320/tortoise+wrapping+paper+%C2%A9barbaracarrollphotography073013.jpg" /></a><br />
I just have to give you a peek at my roll of paper. After years of picking it up here and there, I finally committed to a huge roll. It makes me happy to have it at my disposal for everything. I can't get over how often I use it. I bought my roll and the dispenser at papermart.com. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNBW4bq76VPd4UHwg0IFzfiLBWqPsDwWaaHiw5WBnUblr-Hnv3Uh761tPguHMWeZJLV-ZVUdQTJ4_d-tvJtYYUz9oUODix1izssZFK0PvFBB84HC7_X74EPeszcSsLztKhGmTOgfD-0/s1600/IMG_8092.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNBW4bq76VPd4UHwg0IFzfiLBWqPsDwWaaHiw5WBnUblr-Hnv3Uh761tPguHMWeZJLV-ZVUdQTJ4_d-tvJtYYUz9oUODix1izssZFK0PvFBB84HC7_X74EPeszcSsLztKhGmTOgfD-0/s320/IMG_8092.jpg" /></a> <br />
Love their ribbon too. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RDLA8x3hKvABMfwOoX19jT4HyAIRkErkWzaMZH6Cl4evoEKDWXTzzEr6NXuAi1xRiqSEo4Rb4F6S6paO-N2PN6Tp9obziYubX8Dr6UwgY3lyeOebdXRLlOW2t4I0ggn2sc0r_ePMrFg/s1600/IMG_8078.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RDLA8x3hKvABMfwOoX19jT4HyAIRkErkWzaMZH6Cl4evoEKDWXTzzEr6NXuAi1xRiqSEo4Rb4F6S6paO-N2PN6Tp9obziYubX8Dr6UwgY3lyeOebdXRLlOW2t4I0ggn2sc0r_ePMrFg/s400/IMG_8078.jpg" /></a> Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-3474878996366442162013-05-19T10:33:00.001-07:002013-05-19T10:33:57.057-07:00easiest bread EVER ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrUkDSOFjBIpCFb5cFTZN6NuaujcBcdDTqY3ZiRf_1qQlRD8RTlUMWNvff8XsuoY1KvHwdX-VKU7Q6TUGI63wzWYd4WTV51mACsngWCqGxIHDimWtrQn9ucqGg9rn2stsV0tUYPDgpHw/s1600/IMG_4630rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrUkDSOFjBIpCFb5cFTZN6NuaujcBcdDTqY3ZiRf_1qQlRD8RTlUMWNvff8XsuoY1KvHwdX-VKU7Q6TUGI63wzWYd4WTV51mACsngWCqGxIHDimWtrQn9ucqGg9rn2stsV0tUYPDgpHw/s320/IMG_4630rb.jpg" /></a><br />
I used to bake bread many years ago but it had been a while. I started up again in February. I wanted to bake sourdough. I had a starter years ago but when I finally threw it away after too much neglect. I took the easy way and ordered a <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/classic-fresh-sourdough-starter-1-oz#1522#">starter</a> from King Arthur Flour. I do want to put in a plug for King Arthur. The information and recipes on their website are amazing. They have a great community of bread bakers who are so helpful in their community forum. You can even call them if you are having a problem and there is a person to help. I think their flours are wonderful. {I will tell you about my pie experience one of these days.} I won't spend time now telling you about all the breads I have made in the last few months because I want to tell you about THE EASIEST BREAD EVER. Really. The crust is divine, the taste amazing. It is a rustic bread that would stand up with any bakery bread out there. <br />
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In 2006, there was an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?_r=0">article</a> published in the NY Times about Jim Lahey's bread making method. There have been so many versions. I don't think it matters which version you use. I just want to tell you about it because it is so easy and so delicious! I missed it in 2006 but found <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/rosemary-lemon-no-knead-bread.html?cm_src=SEARCH_FEATURELIST||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-&cm_re=OnsiteSearch-_-SCHBillboard-_-SEARCH_FEATURELIST">this recipe</a> at Williams Sonoma. I had to give it a try. If you have no experience making bread, using yeast freaks you out, and you don't want to knead, you will still be able to make this bread. All you need is time, a bowl, measuring utensils, a few simple ingredients and a heavy, oven proof pot. This process is long but your time with the actual making is probably about 10-15 minutes. <br />
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Recipe:<br />
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3 cups flour (it can be bread flour - I use King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour)<br />
1 1/4 teaspoons salt (Wms.S recipe calls for 1 3/4 so do according to taste)<br />
1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast (yes, that is correct, only 1/4 teaspoon)<br />
cornmeal, as needed<br />
1 1/3 cup water (Wms.S recipe calls for 1 5/8 which I think is too much)<br />
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Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. You will probably want to try the recipe as is for the first time but if not, feel free to add any extras you would like. I have made this with lemon zest and rosemary. Our favorite add-in is black sesame seeds. I don't really measure - about a tablespoon maybe? I just kind of do it by look.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2kjWFfp8-wQV2rsIFTCM75CVFv81RtEHRspnAgqGUaqhZi12j-s7YAiEFi4ap7jx4RVQLUdk5oOKBatSh9Wg0Vuwzebd4891MGgvGGwzUIYCgjb_hrCedBehV1D_r_hUh74Hddd4s44/s1600/IMG_4642rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2kjWFfp8-wQV2rsIFTCM75CVFv81RtEHRspnAgqGUaqhZi12j-s7YAiEFi4ap7jx4RVQLUdk5oOKBatSh9Wg0Vuwzebd4891MGgvGGwzUIYCgjb_hrCedBehV1D_r_hUh74Hddd4s44/s320/IMG_4642rb.jpg" /></a><br />
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Add the water. A note about the water. I live in a really dry climate. I have found that adding a bit more water than this works well for my climate. The dough should be shaggy (you may not really know what this means, I didn't. You will know what it means after you have mixed this together.) and very sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it alone for 12-18 hours. Depending on when you want your bread ready and when you have time to attend to it, will depend on when you start it. For me, I have found that Saturdays are great bread days so I mix up the dough Friday night, after dinner. The 12-18 hours is very flexible. I have almost always gone for the 18 hours. Your dough will look something like this:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXpTbViNfT34kMk_fYfH4ra0e8jb2QXfBTdvmQ9-fuv6OMLhG2QNnkfw0-hsdMEgY1wzcxmrflqK_pDgeJLCu3aXkonykGCfYDCloATisihNc-jL7K3gJpLEtiofk-H1uXkNMBrGOBdE/s1600/IMG_4667.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXpTbViNfT34kMk_fYfH4ra0e8jb2QXfBTdvmQ9-fuv6OMLhG2QNnkfw0-hsdMEgY1wzcxmrflqK_pDgeJLCu3aXkonykGCfYDCloATisihNc-jL7K3gJpLEtiofk-H1uXkNMBrGOBdE/s320/IMG_4667.jpg" /></a> <br />
This is dough with black sesame seeds. If you look closely, you can see that it is dotted with small bubbles (click on the photo to make it larger). Yours may have bigger bubbles, fewer bubbles, just as long as it is bubbling a bit. My kitchen is probably about 75° right now. If your kitchen is very cold, you may need to let the bread sit for longer than 18 hours.<br />
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Lightly flour a work surface and your hands. Gently remove the dough from the bowl onto your work surface. Don't worry if the dough feels really sticky. Fold over the dough once or twice and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rest for 15 minutes. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MO-bs4BHGh9XmVTzP6C-SJyzms0LbYhavmAnBO7nIobJQ7x3CSclGOdNeQSM4fFq3VbDm1sMOw0l5s7WC0ia4aK0q9nQMCmJoWVEd95GE2at4fK2Paxi6cP94YI3PHfFRMBq3Jz_ZlE/s1600/IMG_4672r.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MO-bs4BHGh9XmVTzP6C-SJyzms0LbYhavmAnBO7nIobJQ7x3CSclGOdNeQSM4fFq3VbDm1sMOw0l5s7WC0ia4aK0q9nQMCmJoWVEd95GE2at4fK2Paxi6cP94YI3PHfFRMBq3Jz_ZlE/s320/IMG_4672r.jpg" /></a><br />
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The next step involves flour sack towels if you are using the other recipes but I have found a piece of parchment paper works really well. I just sprinkle cornmeal on a piece of parchment paper. Again, coat your hands with flour and if the dough is so sticky, you can't work it, add just a little bit. Gently shape into a ball. Don't worry if it isn't perfect. Put the dough, seam side down on the piece of parchment paper. Dust with more cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel (don't use terry cloth). If you don't have a flour sack towel or a non-terry dishtowel, a large cloth napkin will work. Let the dough rise until it is more than double in size. I have to admit, this part always stumps me a bit. How do I know if it is double in size? Do I measure it? Do I take a photo? I have let my perfectionism go on this and just know that after 2 hours, it is ready to go. Some say to poke it and if it doesn't spring back, it is ready. <br />
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At least 30 minutes before the dough is ready, put a cast-iron pot in the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F. This is another discrepancy in the recipes. I use 450°. I have still not seen if this includes the lid. I don't know why but I don't preheat the lid. I am guessing you probably should. I have heard about people having problems with the handles. I have not. You can use a variety of sizes. Jim Lehay recommends a 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 quart pot. Williams Sonoma recommends a 2 3/4 quart pot. Both use the same amount of ingredients. I double my recipe and use my 5 1/2 quart Le Creuset dutch oven. You can see by the photo that the doubled recipe still leaves some room. My friend uses a cast iron pot. Another dug through her camping equipment and found a old cast iron pot. It needs to have a lid and be able to be in hot temperatures in the oven. I read that someone bakes this bread in cans left over from pineapple or tomato juice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxyPmlIYW8g1mvCgOqO0kpSiitbAZDH5U8Il9vzBNMuG2ZQP_Vc0sgcWHOOixl4T1K2HybOtPJMBK4D2YySdUtS_t7SnCZ6_5NYriXZPmii76lke8JOjgeVJAHcLnIv8fTzRTsTnbu6E/s1600/IMG_4493.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxyPmlIYW8g1mvCgOqO0kpSiitbAZDH5U8Il9vzBNMuG2ZQP_Vc0sgcWHOOixl4T1K2HybOtPJMBK4D2YySdUtS_t7SnCZ6_5NYriXZPmii76lke8JOjgeVJAHcLnIv8fTzRTsTnbu6E/s320/IMG_4493.jpg" /></a><br />
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Remove the pot from the oven. Again, choose your method. Some say to slide your hand under parchment paper and turn the dough over into the pot. It will look like a mess. Just shake the pot once or twice so the dough settles in. Others just lift the dough up on the parchment paper and place the whole thing in the pot. I have done it both ways and it turns out great either way. I have settled into removing the parchment paper before it cooks but you don't need to. As the dough hits the pot, you will even get a faint whiff of how wonderful your kitchen will be smelling soon. Cover the pot and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the loaf is brown. The recipes say to cook for 15-30 minutes. I tend to do 10 minutes. It's up to you and how cranky your oven may be. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5AVoic8Mz-HR2bICDVJWl0CB1qk_5dMrNJLVvvLPghCGVKia2Gt2uhBgHSoqk4ufblnxHHYU87fZoAEjMVV29et-12h52zDw2Hs-eaA8j0sDPZtI4scdJwr615W1SZ0cpYqqLmsSXic/s1600/IMG_4478rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5AVoic8Mz-HR2bICDVJWl0CB1qk_5dMrNJLVvvLPghCGVKia2Gt2uhBgHSoqk4ufblnxHHYU87fZoAEjMVV29et-12h52zDw2Hs-eaA8j0sDPZtI4scdJwr615W1SZ0cpYqqLmsSXic/s320/IMG_4478rb.jpg" /></a><br />
Put the pot on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Carefully (the pot will still be hot), remove the bread from the pot. This is the hardest part of the recipe. Let the bread cool. Yes, cool it before you slice it. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs5polyeWjuX8_8rVEahGJMXaJEEL3Z14fpGP5FeDsRmtxVnsSz3qnWf5yZKNIjnjRsjtNBXZ2Lawvb6NB0n-5E8fkQlEnYGIFJvckAoaT1E5h5P2YV-bPGt2ZcDVRWobfl31Bab1rTE/s1600/IMG_4519rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs5polyeWjuX8_8rVEahGJMXaJEEL3Z14fpGP5FeDsRmtxVnsSz3qnWf5yZKNIjnjRsjtNBXZ2Lawvb6NB0n-5E8fkQlEnYGIFJvckAoaT1E5h5P2YV-bPGt2ZcDVRWobfl31Bab1rTE/s320/IMG_4519rb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F_Em30pc1xmhUdnR0fr08PdQZIkxwfKGxY2VCZsmIzs5LmlG3gzN2YLXDuTphnxX8r15E2Jss3svTEqYKAs3BNbNVGdIJxPDQ1g7-K7iShO-_8Y3fmaz1lQTJ3t_7xpwrnI6lUO5dAE/s1600/IMG_4543rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F_Em30pc1xmhUdnR0fr08PdQZIkxwfKGxY2VCZsmIzs5LmlG3gzN2YLXDuTphnxX8r15E2Jss3svTEqYKAs3BNbNVGdIJxPDQ1g7-K7iShO-_8Y3fmaz1lQTJ3t_7xpwrnI6lUO5dAE/s320/IMG_4543rb.jpg" /></a><br />
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I have been baking this while I worked on this post. Don't let my rambling scare you away. Trust me this is really good bread and it is easy to make. It smells amazing in here. Now, the hard part, waiting for it to cool. Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-38862821221351378172013-05-12T06:35:00.000-07:002013-05-12T06:35:07.367-07:00for you...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhara95YfNBxkzJRVivrQzwHuXfTCYC2kJEj3crm3g2c5650ltMDIRFtnrH1rEsndOtRt8DZ2Shg3s9zkGK7dyUW4Kn5v0IGW0bKwzxlDROiW2Eo9rHWVafq1TnujAHdY-yEnawddBhQ8s/s1600/IMG_3967rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhara95YfNBxkzJRVivrQzwHuXfTCYC2kJEj3crm3g2c5650ltMDIRFtnrH1rEsndOtRt8DZ2Shg3s9zkGK7dyUW4Kn5v0IGW0bKwzxlDROiW2Eo9rHWVafq1TnujAHdY-yEnawddBhQ8s/s320/IMG_3967rb.jpg" /></a><br />
Have a wonderful day!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-67441247221371741542013-04-21T08:09:00.000-07:002013-04-21T08:12:18.885-07:00flying saucer...The desert is in bloom. I intended on sharing those photos today but no time to write much this morning. This is the queen of them all so for today, the post will be dedicated to our flying saucer cactus. <br />
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A couple of weeks ago, it looked like this.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwqgWl_fIkNeoNBMj_A0O79X8rLzFjpE3e-MJoFOCCGvcIOU2IfgtYJy26ccHhaixSuf1BXqWOqOvW47CdfhrpWURdSlmm0w67_cpZpGdtbgo6-bUXgQcGWu-1U8CXCG7mPrB6AdbNYk/s1600/IMG_0017rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwqgWl_fIkNeoNBMj_A0O79X8rLzFjpE3e-MJoFOCCGvcIOU2IfgtYJy26ccHhaixSuf1BXqWOqOvW47CdfhrpWURdSlmm0w67_cpZpGdtbgo6-bUXgQcGWu-1U8CXCG7mPrB6AdbNYk/s320/IMG_0017rbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
I was sure I took a photo yesterday of the buds again but I guess not. This time of year, I spend more time with the roses and the iris. But this morning, I walked out front and found this.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5Pv9yJelOA_MkXwEEv9WRvA3oHu7rCXl2ysssJW_FIhbsaPp7RALAcz8CW2wXfNAK_Z64Q4T4-Po9HdA1BXZ6IsK_Q6pa3oMBDjWwUnkJBQTu_Ilangu5k8AZWSQ9UlzWarnCd1k0nQ/s1600/IMG_0733rbbc.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5Pv9yJelOA_MkXwEEv9WRvA3oHu7rCXl2ysssJW_FIhbsaPp7RALAcz8CW2wXfNAK_Z64Q4T4-Po9HdA1BXZ6IsK_Q6pa3oMBDjWwUnkJBQTu_Ilangu5k8AZWSQ9UlzWarnCd1k0nQ/s320/IMG_0733rbbc.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMfQ2lpB3vEgzkiwN2j8eTLcOMl__j2o3a-mEQ4Kw058IMqZw_EBpj1XucDVm8cBcELfJgZuypz7tYF1Oi5a3FUPURxNbp5RcRquGx1U1IAteeQfSuRlgMKclps4OB2_H8_EJPoAdmMQ/s1600/IMG_0716rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMfQ2lpB3vEgzkiwN2j8eTLcOMl__j2o3a-mEQ4Kw058IMqZw_EBpj1XucDVm8cBcELfJgZuypz7tYF1Oi5a3FUPURxNbp5RcRquGx1U1IAteeQfSuRlgMKclps4OB2_H8_EJPoAdmMQ/s320/IMG_0716rbbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
The blooms are eight inches in diameter. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuPjwiTw4pXI7z22Q6OHwv-vAhNMZq68GDoEv5pqJJke2Wmoi4kL5IWJaMUIGvOnkeURfS7cIWLzLfadZ2UkT-TUe7PryUmCxd0MAworNCqWBZmpjvH-oIJ3A_sLYkSlThg4KXmLVcIg/s1600/IMG_0727rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuPjwiTw4pXI7z22Q6OHwv-vAhNMZq68GDoEv5pqJJke2Wmoi4kL5IWJaMUIGvOnkeURfS7cIWLzLfadZ2UkT-TUe7PryUmCxd0MAworNCqWBZmpjvH-oIJ3A_sLYkSlThg4KXmLVcIg/s320/IMG_0727rbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUWJ3yUur8r8cLC2QUufVHsWRSD_XtJW_PzxjTNkjAJ3yqNjMTLAAPqKtMtqA2kdfbIg56Qz7wx_4qVw2ni4kKVEeOkkNa2bBQZudqoxfFCo5bPs4uJdl3Z4-bB9B2_qV8PG9MXsRXFk/s1600/IMG_0736rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUWJ3yUur8r8cLC2QUufVHsWRSD_XtJW_PzxjTNkjAJ3yqNjMTLAAPqKtMtqA2kdfbIg56Qz7wx_4qVw2ni4kKVEeOkkNa2bBQZudqoxfFCo5bPs4uJdl3Z4-bB9B2_qV8PG9MXsRXFk/s320/IMG_0736rbb.jpg" /></a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-6741038745641737482013-04-18T10:01:00.000-07:002013-04-18T10:01:23.628-07:00sacred datura...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kF8KrT1y5U_NeYTRezBCd5reswelHQY-EHK698XWduHmgeoSxxDayFGT7AwYOPO1Ov7hwCjx1AqAuxoxvl6VXgIwhX7C7G0GwfjWYvEEFmCRVJrMaYp9h_R-rOSQMhQ5gvB0knDH4UU/s1600/2+IMG_0011rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kF8KrT1y5U_NeYTRezBCd5reswelHQY-EHK698XWduHmgeoSxxDayFGT7AwYOPO1Ov7hwCjx1AqAuxoxvl6VXgIwhX7C7G0GwfjWYvEEFmCRVJrMaYp9h_R-rOSQMhQ5gvB0knDH4UU/s320/2+IMG_0011rbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
The first sacred datura opened yesterday. Sacred datura is a desert perennial. It often opens at night and will be gone within the first few hours of sunlight. Yesterday, it lasted a bit longer. Sacred datura are poisonous so the many critters who love to eat anything around here will leave these alone. The blossoms are about eight inches tall and six inches across.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTZVywiRf_g30RhH9uErV-2A3JFv4ze-cDbo1bWfHmRwLQfi7P6R6eBtHoXY7CJK6OlTsRT-dfk4nejv8gt5dALaA7hxzK9H20GZXHTRwoApQaSPK9HDmXG8P5fQLoE8aD43ZrCtHqfo/s1600/3+IMG_9965rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTZVywiRf_g30RhH9uErV-2A3JFv4ze-cDbo1bWfHmRwLQfi7P6R6eBtHoXY7CJK6OlTsRT-dfk4nejv8gt5dALaA7hxzK9H20GZXHTRwoApQaSPK9HDmXG8P5fQLoE8aD43ZrCtHqfo/s320/3+IMG_9965rbbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
This is an unopened bud. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57VZmjlXX_osn94RHu96YJBvm4q_VnIp3btLcGMfNyHzPVLWZ_GmNGsiRt-uUjCzXr8DsRv3A7dz4zxW8zN0iFPBvHmGveTew06aglziIL7N4XpJTcP_-mSlK7f0c1DuvF6YcKq-o2io/s1600/1+IMG_9984rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57VZmjlXX_osn94RHu96YJBvm4q_VnIp3btLcGMfNyHzPVLWZ_GmNGsiRt-uUjCzXr8DsRv3A7dz4zxW8zN0iFPBvHmGveTew06aglziIL7N4XpJTcP_-mSlK7f0c1DuvF6YcKq-o2io/s320/1+IMG_9984rbbbbb.jpg" /></a> <br />
Their shape makes me pull out my camera every time.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGPd47cadCPH_8djzdMTehmSv22xvoEgJsaKpitot4hHl8I-baDCwSe8lLtuJ0oX6REFNKGOYjN8d-ZQKLpYyb6LH1g6bUyc-Qx7ktSMFVkybXQ-4pRZ1JeoMQmv2_BaxZhjxnyTGpcg/s1600/4+IMG_9994rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGPd47cadCPH_8djzdMTehmSv22xvoEgJsaKpitot4hHl8I-baDCwSe8lLtuJ0oX6REFNKGOYjN8d-ZQKLpYyb6LH1g6bUyc-Qx7ktSMFVkybXQ-4pRZ1JeoMQmv2_BaxZhjxnyTGpcg/s320/4+IMG_9994rbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
There is so much beauty to be found in the Sonoran desert.<br />
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-35858239702792135272013-04-17T13:50:00.001-07:002013-04-18T10:02:20.677-07:00the ocotillos are blooming...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HS6-ntYZ9j89qTCyPSFDB6S7oQV_7Kn9Hu82D7ENIYAIR9NGy2jj9of_Ty7xsZ-howxnLYi6mNdYdGMBQ_msc5BKsrJQp6BfnNK8yQ1eFPAIPWYZXTW5MY2yMP-zzS5YtOy_zBWuqKU/s1600/IMG_0206rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HS6-ntYZ9j89qTCyPSFDB6S7oQV_7Kn9Hu82D7ENIYAIR9NGy2jj9of_Ty7xsZ-howxnLYi6mNdYdGMBQ_msc5BKsrJQp6BfnNK8yQ1eFPAIPWYZXTW5MY2yMP-zzS5YtOy_zBWuqKU/s320/IMG_0206rbbb.jpg" /></a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-29926713823331426172013-04-16T13:26:00.000-07:002013-04-16T13:26:49.265-07:00impossible to understand...Our prompt for TT this week is celebrate. Of course, this was decided long before the events of yesterday. I tried to think of what I could possibly celebrate today. Then I heard these words.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnIQ-o1L-vPX2vd1jeTCQ6f-ojZUAg2FeaKiuNlSzPurOx0PlCeBzfVJztRim8LOQAh3avVQyfovUu312DXpSFWeq4hoHIMgFrSxBdWFdkqGUfQUgtA9zO_9R_KODOxIYBAuR9oQLTCw/s1600/IMG_9465rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnIQ-o1L-vPX2vd1jeTCQ6f-ojZUAg2FeaKiuNlSzPurOx0PlCeBzfVJztRim8LOQAh3avVQyfovUu312DXpSFWeq4hoHIMgFrSxBdWFdkqGUfQUgtA9zO_9R_KODOxIYBAuR9oQLTCw/s320/IMG_9465rbbbbb.jpg" /></a> <br />
Our hearts are heavy.<br />
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Full paragraph excerpt from President Obama's message to the American people April 16, 2013:<br />
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<i>We also know this: The American people refuse to be terrorized, because what the world saw yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions were stories of heroism and kindness and generosity and love, exhausted runners who kept running to the nearest hospital to give blood and those who stayed to tend to the wounded, some tearing off their own clothes to make tourniquets, the first responders who ran into the chaos to save lives, the men and women who are still treating the wounded at some of the best hospitals in the world, and the medical students who hurried to help, saying, ‘When we heard, we all came in,’ the priests who opened their churches and ministered to the hurt and the fearful, and the good people of Boston who opened their homes to the victims of this attack and those shaken by it. So if you want to know who we are, what America is, how we respond to evil, that’s it: selflessly, compassionately, unafraid.</i>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-56190519303012094362013-04-14T17:14:00.001-07:002013-04-14T17:14:25.701-07:00"the mom stays in the picture"...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj438RP3FuV70atmM-SfcD1Z44iz4AisW-xmU73P84zvaYYlK9akMUkzkRna3-62dkBz7jR-QIRsroAKP91CZUWOZmySNRXDcTfPfBdK_Sm9qgSEgWpYXJ9ku4ZrMnjZ71FgMsWpRzmaIg/s1600/IMG_7391rbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj438RP3FuV70atmM-SfcD1Z44iz4AisW-xmU73P84zvaYYlK9akMUkzkRna3-62dkBz7jR-QIRsroAKP91CZUWOZmySNRXDcTfPfBdK_Sm9qgSEgWpYXJ9ku4ZrMnjZ71FgMsWpRzmaIg/s320/IMG_7391rbb.jpg" /></a><br />
If you haven't read this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html">article</a>, please do. It is SO important. I have spoken about the importance of this in my photography classes but not with the eloquence that Allison Tate does. <br />
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Please note this applies to all nanas, grammys, aunties, etc. The mama in this picture knows how important this is. I hope you do too. Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-80542155789555793242013-04-13T16:28:00.000-07:002013-04-13T16:28:36.999-07:00rescue rose...Many years ago, there was a large chain store that had a garden department. The chain store still exists, the garden department does not. The garden area was manned, as chain store garden departments often are, by people who knew nothing about gardening. If you were there within the first week of a delivery, you were in luck. After that, forget it. Needless to say, it was not my favorite place to shop. The garden department was never my sole destination but if I was there for some other reason, I would take a quick peek. One day, I happened to start talking to one of the employees. She was gathering the spent plants to throw away. I asked if I could take the pathetic looking miniature rose. I wish I had a before photo. She was happy to give it "to a good home". While it is not a rose that I would have chosen to buy, I have been happy to give it a good home. <br />
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It has thrived. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZL7-nj0fSfvXRvbrJ5JDPOi23wJ-dUOHJE5S5EktRptnB-t7LJP4hJs4GfdxBiqUxil_pNMtSAFuNQ7tD9sc3WnqgPzK1hwPSW49LjXx4MjU5EdNDwe-fYVZ0JroMqIrTpXwPWgsWxQ/s1600/IMG_9807rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZL7-nj0fSfvXRvbrJ5JDPOi23wJ-dUOHJE5S5EktRptnB-t7LJP4hJs4GfdxBiqUxil_pNMtSAFuNQ7tD9sc3WnqgPzK1hwPSW49LjXx4MjU5EdNDwe-fYVZ0JroMqIrTpXwPWgsWxQ/s320/IMG_9807rbbb.jpg" /></a> <br />
Later, she found out that this was not a store policy. She could no longer give me plants that were going to be thrown away. <br />
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I would have given them a good home. Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-19889021270169973032013-04-12T08:12:00.000-07:002013-04-12T08:18:08.492-07:00a rose is a rose is a rose...I am a flower lover but roses are not my favorites <i>until</i> they start blooming in my garden. Then I can't imagine loving another flower more. Whenever they are not blooming, I wonder why I don't use the space for something else. The April comes and I remember...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuj7psCtnYeiLOVa1NAcvM9PoL_mFS58onJtQ6T789LgKiMFmYKcubPCgmmWZIrkVSYONcFpIPA9CI6_iuTBMNSYj9Q5AtGGiLPN4a1NcRvjnSv3tKk2OVuIE8PFzk_7SGmTrlfYIRbw/s1600/IMG_9106rbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuj7psCtnYeiLOVa1NAcvM9PoL_mFS58onJtQ6T789LgKiMFmYKcubPCgmmWZIrkVSYONcFpIPA9CI6_iuTBMNSYj9Q5AtGGiLPN4a1NcRvjnSv3tKk2OVuIE8PFzk_7SGmTrlfYIRbw/s320/IMG_9106rbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vq1-Kfr5-AErDKUTaQiy-PB27Urlv6yotGHUZOwoYq5AbESubgPbk7Pt5uJWNZLtI6WobAiufQm675b8S_uwIqQS-wFsQLjOsdKedPKMnKOTzaeurrzeQoHdUnzavTX2PCwXaWT9fWw/s1600/IMG_9136rbbbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vq1-Kfr5-AErDKUTaQiy-PB27Urlv6yotGHUZOwoYq5AbESubgPbk7Pt5uJWNZLtI6WobAiufQm675b8S_uwIqQS-wFsQLjOsdKedPKMnKOTzaeurrzeQoHdUnzavTX2PCwXaWT9fWw/s320/IMG_9136rbbbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEjnbs2TZpgdYSE4xmnDggwXMpypaenlDtBbkZ1u661IxIz9zM9ndexTL-nGFXNXxz6RL-ASWBzzHuRRPG8VEZKCX-NdNkf3f0PXRnBo0BtJmTyXEj2SiJYbrF-4sVyAjNHRqvTPWupw/s1600/IMG_9176rbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEjnbs2TZpgdYSE4xmnDggwXMpypaenlDtBbkZ1u661IxIz9zM9ndexTL-nGFXNXxz6RL-ASWBzzHuRRPG8VEZKCX-NdNkf3f0PXRnBo0BtJmTyXEj2SiJYbrF-4sVyAjNHRqvTPWupw/s320/IMG_9176rbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsePjMvBYqeUe5DxJbMeJp5UpElQUnVO_aWQIQNKwTZhdnKPYoe1e7bHo8NVCJYhU2O5d4xT9WkVCgEOJsoNHwjXN5naSXgS0Zw4CAzixUsEbypqxHHRW60BjGCqmcR2c5LNm_dj_rrls/s1600/IMG_9465.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsePjMvBYqeUe5DxJbMeJp5UpElQUnVO_aWQIQNKwTZhdnKPYoe1e7bHo8NVCJYhU2O5d4xT9WkVCgEOJsoNHwjXN5naSXgS0Zw4CAzixUsEbypqxHHRW60BjGCqmcR2c5LNm_dj_rrls/s320/IMG_9465.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGnuj6zdpjsTkmue5NsciWCSl05q3E0PjrTOKyH5KDPdFqJbL5vGqU2klCx9oLXGUqr9MNuAEzBoc1Z1f0rQ-5mz8xsIH9MaHO7G7lXL9KwtL-Mqt1HUKUgjaRRef6ZRMG_fQmHuyXMQ/s1600/IMG_9554rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGnuj6zdpjsTkmue5NsciWCSl05q3E0PjrTOKyH5KDPdFqJbL5vGqU2klCx9oLXGUqr9MNuAEzBoc1Z1f0rQ-5mz8xsIH9MaHO7G7lXL9KwtL-Mqt1HUKUgjaRRef6ZRMG_fQmHuyXMQ/s320/IMG_9554rbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_0stlc2_kGeRmHLMprM3CDQkGWukLqJnHd4mtg8dPzavHTJjlHL9aOB5gRSjvJmv4RZ_KpsHaXPj9jjn3lzkmmBU40qeGX3EoTGkReO_ZvwL-vEyoLozMhmX4C1ATKwLYwJD68LTW7Y/s1600/IMG_9608rb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_0stlc2_kGeRmHLMprM3CDQkGWukLqJnHd4mtg8dPzavHTJjlHL9aOB5gRSjvJmv4RZ_KpsHaXPj9jjn3lzkmmBU40qeGX3EoTGkReO_ZvwL-vEyoLozMhmX4C1ATKwLYwJD68LTW7Y/s320/IMG_9608rb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBhzzzx4VBqn7wXDOj2ycaLQsfWB7BSseZ2tPWvZRbl44NYL2RGF6icH7ns_JVaMms7C7g_Qx2xNotTqA9H8SDyKF4pzRxCP3NIzVaMejc-7cunpx9PFUO-u87ONTCPnSoAdEbe5u_sY/s1600/IMG_9613rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBhzzzx4VBqn7wXDOj2ycaLQsfWB7BSseZ2tPWvZRbl44NYL2RGF6icH7ns_JVaMms7C7g_Qx2xNotTqA9H8SDyKF4pzRxCP3NIzVaMejc-7cunpx9PFUO-u87ONTCPnSoAdEbe5u_sY/s320/IMG_9613rbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqvVJkd9REpv418-2uBeexVZPFDrH77FPBY5l8I-tjX88zfIwrqK0KPNglogDZirvXtVbfc1DzbtywL01fz1yiSlnGODjWuWYKA6u5WWMfAd-7ojwQ7PbPROjYbB-RRI-XxU4bAjMpWk/s1600/IMG_9625rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqvVJkd9REpv418-2uBeexVZPFDrH77FPBY5l8I-tjX88zfIwrqK0KPNglogDZirvXtVbfc1DzbtywL01fz1yiSlnGODjWuWYKA6u5WWMfAd-7ojwQ7PbPROjYbB-RRI-XxU4bAjMpWk/s320/IMG_9625rbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX0SqCbPkPihn0KUr-8ryzcdVaaLJ-Dw-b5b2dmU706J3UiZG3KqQSLHyn2k8z7PubNG8_67StWeft5Na4veOj1vKyAUYuq2Wfem-xwnqRTLVHx342Huo20gEjeH5Ql4WQ96DQ3nr9TU/s1600/IMG_9628rbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX0SqCbPkPihn0KUr-8ryzcdVaaLJ-Dw-b5b2dmU706J3UiZG3KqQSLHyn2k8z7PubNG8_67StWeft5Na4veOj1vKyAUYuq2Wfem-xwnqRTLVHx342Huo20gEjeH5Ql4WQ96DQ3nr9TU/s320/IMG_9628rbbb.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLVBMOt1yZcY5ZIHybp1IGeOnLSA0xE8mHroRRRmcG4MyfyeWIlabpIjg-p0MLuDmNhAhfulJcgAq3XQsMl40LEdCGuQUmh0ZlwpiJM6SJ0LVUBYFyEmfeLFEWOo_u2FBoMlVF-ANqiY/s1600/IMG_9155rbbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLVBMOt1yZcY5ZIHybp1IGeOnLSA0xE8mHroRRRmcG4MyfyeWIlabpIjg-p0MLuDmNhAhfulJcgAq3XQsMl40LEdCGuQUmh0ZlwpiJM6SJ0LVUBYFyEmfeLFEWOo_u2FBoMlVF-ANqiY/s320/IMG_9155rbbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><br />
And the names! The names are so much fun. Yes, we enjoy dinner on the patio surrounded by Sexy Rexy, Barbra Streisand, McCartney (if they came out with a Lennon, Starr and Harrison, I would not be able to resist), Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe. <br />
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In case you would like a cup of tea with Marilyn, here you go:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVQwj9_J3hoE5n-ldG9JPR2GiJwDjhW417FT_eXdHuSIvxbetyJKo7262sCptmxfyd3jhIEhZWBpjn0ZpQ7eCs_uLfRSPb80uH7D03-JBmSrvPGOYYUeYlxig369ZrrR52WM5QUmOlKQ/s1600/IMG_9639.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVQwj9_J3hoE5n-ldG9JPR2GiJwDjhW417FT_eXdHuSIvxbetyJKo7262sCptmxfyd3jhIEhZWBpjn0ZpQ7eCs_uLfRSPb80uH7D03-JBmSrvPGOYYUeYlxig369ZrrR52WM5QUmOlKQ/s320/IMG_9639.jpg" /></a> <br />
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Hope spring is finding you too!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-18703639468241614552013-03-28T15:44:00.000-07:002013-03-28T15:44:16.959-07:00and just one more...Well, at least for now...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRm6iUHZaZ2yTEn_r85OFMLgeV3WKFt7rSWIPEPd3dUE4byYtIinafkzt3UYLYRFMGMFZfW-yboTNHBiPGX1CngV7FQ_noM9Rv6mbTVXwXPKKMAZEBoEmn3b0fbSyuFbze0XvsFB6AoqU/s1600/IMG_6808.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRm6iUHZaZ2yTEn_r85OFMLgeV3WKFt7rSWIPEPd3dUE4byYtIinafkzt3UYLYRFMGMFZfW-yboTNHBiPGX1CngV7FQ_noM9Rv6mbTVXwXPKKMAZEBoEmn3b0fbSyuFbze0XvsFB6AoqU/s320/IMG_6808.jpg" /></a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611548090771937130.post-82480063557152027522013-03-27T09:04:00.000-07:002013-03-27T09:04:59.157-07:00shooting ladybugs...Endlessly fascinating as they scurry about their work - so quick, so photogenic. <br />
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on the tip of a tulip petal <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrRhwSrUnlSoKfeimdhXFM6Mme651BLV8c_YfKBZhVVywILoDnb22FXmMqpxxHuNA2zcRUEaPz4t09oSsqSgxTQfaAFIorFjMhDjyNLDn1xd6ONIwgQBTF_kX5gjPVg_R52OIUOE_x3o/s1600/IMG_5333rbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrRhwSrUnlSoKfeimdhXFM6Mme651BLV8c_YfKBZhVVywILoDnb22FXmMqpxxHuNA2zcRUEaPz4t09oSsqSgxTQfaAFIorFjMhDjyNLDn1xd6ONIwgQBTF_kX5gjPVg_R52OIUOE_x3o/s320/IMG_5333rbbbbbb.jpg" /></a> <br />
on the tip of a daffodil bud <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe1Fc6ba1lzRVCwpWfl-GTdr3N4Zk5cWl_WoAv4m9YP5kVICYqOC6nIyT2i9ovIp_VpRhmNwOBusecG7iG3jJlTe9dHkhe12_wXon7_AlxOyW7MZ89gd2cnKmwGJYCKjonQpsH56_KRI/s1600/IMG_4888rbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe1Fc6ba1lzRVCwpWfl-GTdr3N4Zk5cWl_WoAv4m9YP5kVICYqOC6nIyT2i9ovIp_VpRhmNwOBusecG7iG3jJlTe9dHkhe12_wXon7_AlxOyW7MZ89gd2cnKmwGJYCKjonQpsH56_KRI/s320/IMG_4888rbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa-wU1jfl_k7H5B18iF3zaiXVu6lYoRLQbYNp6L2usrU5bHdc62iy8a__bchs8L37-YB5keao9eRlnW_XdY6mKqxa7NE1gZgiW0xlMScKP-AINTeT6RMzc5uleQRYbQbpQjVWzpABkLg/s1600/IMG_5774rbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa-wU1jfl_k7H5B18iF3zaiXVu6lYoRLQbYNp6L2usrU5bHdc62iy8a__bchs8L37-YB5keao9eRlnW_XdY6mKqxa7NE1gZgiW0xlMScKP-AINTeT6RMzc5uleQRYbQbpQjVWzpABkLg/s320/IMG_5774rbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4Fqv97Ip2mxMaHjjhCZbHor-k8lg-5vPbOjs-j_cXKgr-AcHvaAbhpy0CCa-TgKdqkIDJcUtrYawjRoSFcPXuLv-sPgWdW4Rd8ng4tRmjt_4aF8XB-bMZJjAXzCSWdSyCP9n6LEJq-w/s1600/IMG_6447.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4Fqv97Ip2mxMaHjjhCZbHor-k8lg-5vPbOjs-j_cXKgr-AcHvaAbhpy0CCa-TgKdqkIDJcUtrYawjRoSFcPXuLv-sPgWdW4Rd8ng4tRmjt_4aF8XB-bMZJjAXzCSWdSyCP9n6LEJq-w/s320/IMG_6447.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WbBq0imhrdxxYVek9-m9j_L1JgONyeZMS0QmT5_ZrIKgd3nf5EStJXpLBRG0pwDVX_s7TdD87iPOfsPVH2iLDFI0trD7PL7RLZ4zVrYB9v8KdsWnFV8FbI4iwmthg6NcfOOzrONNiKo/s1600/IMG_5991rbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WbBq0imhrdxxYVek9-m9j_L1JgONyeZMS0QmT5_ZrIKgd3nf5EStJXpLBRG0pwDVX_s7TdD87iPOfsPVH2iLDFI0trD7PL7RLZ4zVrYB9v8KdsWnFV8FbI4iwmthg6NcfOOzrONNiKo/s320/IMG_5991rbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLavjmBNdjZoel5_9kRFtl40WAukPlN8M2dJjK-29LGiJEpoOEw069koVKoxutc4bDZ5C-mzmZxAqJgccyzw_C6Zd31dR2jx8sFICnKuvl5yEqBm6lw598YTAeLwY9Hq4dYOPgTr09TfQ/s1600/IMG_6464rbbbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLavjmBNdjZoel5_9kRFtl40WAukPlN8M2dJjK-29LGiJEpoOEw069koVKoxutc4bDZ5C-mzmZxAqJgccyzw_C6Zd31dR2jx8sFICnKuvl5yEqBm6lw598YTAeLwY9Hq4dYOPgTr09TfQ/s320/IMG_6464rbbbbbb.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-8b-JWmOeIyOn0wbuuxosB-19B8TSF-rcF5tiZIli49gqF5-Kk6KB7bB53alsxZ2Y7vhRgBpa0fiJKhODy6rqZZP73qBuC1AMUAaDVFn4M-pN8plJt-0iU2_cGDOE9wq_iTkDtsm7iw/s1600/IMG_6544rbbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-8b-JWmOeIyOn0wbuuxosB-19B8TSF-rcF5tiZIli49gqF5-Kk6KB7bB53alsxZ2Y7vhRgBpa0fiJKhODy6rqZZP73qBuC1AMUAaDVFn4M-pN8plJt-0iU2_cGDOE9wq_iTkDtsm7iw/s320/IMG_6544rbbbb.jpg" /></a> <br />
This one is my favorite, two ladybugs underneath the petals of a white cosmos.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxl-z6YC3L_8fI3nS_O7JoY3ua4LDFZ_9zrarySLOPeCGXuplGhE-ZwUU3jSHHPzUR1kpxRDI-Nq3UC3P84cZzsgXZOfEe9Gi9WW6F0lXWg8GtN6ED8Xw_doBsepQ7XnjI2HX_HBmIC4/s1600/IMG_6434rbbc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxl-z6YC3L_8fI3nS_O7JoY3ua4LDFZ_9zrarySLOPeCGXuplGhE-ZwUU3jSHHPzUR1kpxRDI-Nq3UC3P84cZzsgXZOfEe9Gi9WW6F0lXWg8GtN6ED8Xw_doBsepQ7XnjI2HX_HBmIC4/s320/IMG_6434rbbc2.jpg" /></a><br />
Hoping spring has found you too!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10187922581398102573noreply@blogger.com11