Fall Fun

I am not 100 percent convinced, however, I think our fall weather might be here to stay.....of course, fall in San Diego is not the same as fall in the northeast....it just means we may be past fire season where we have dry Santa Ana winds and dry weather that makes you feel like your skin is three sizes too small and you could pop like a kernel of corn!

 

This was a week of lots of professional appointments, decisions to be made, forms to be completed and action to be taken.....I tried hard to balance it out with some fall fun....

 

I found these cute towels to wrap up for hostess gifts to take on a few things we have been invited too.....I just love the colors and the prints.....

 

 Kristen's sweet neighbor and friend went with us to The Barn for a shopping escape....when we picked her up she showed me this quilt her MIL made her and I just went crazy for it....the dogs ears are flaps....thought this was so darn cute.....

 We all found treasurers at The Barn.....Kristen found old blue Ball Jars with lids, her friend found a birdhouse shaped like their family church and some great egg baskets.....

 And I found this crusty old cuckoo clock.....I was looking for a crusty when I found my nice one and did not have the heart to do the project I have in mind on a good working clock....this crusty is just the ticket for my next project....

 We have friends in LA that own a trucking company and friends in Mexico that run a winery....since Steve is a bit better we invited them all for dinner....needless to say we had the best wine ever! 

 I made some Caprese Garlic Bread....

 Steve made a yummy tri tip marinated in teriyaki garlic combo for 48 hours....

 We grilled Romaine, topped with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and grated parmesan reggiano....

 And each course our wine sommelier picked the perfect wine to compliment.....

 Also forgot we had some appetizers so we could talk while Steve BBQ'd the meat....

 I set the table in fall colors with my suede leaf placemats and some glass scatters and my hand blown pumpkin centerpiece...

 Oh, and we had a yummy chocolate cake with fall sprinkles! 

 Rocky finally got groomed this week....we had to wait awhile after his surgery healed....they really trimmed him too short....they did the lion cut but instead of leaving some fur on his legs they shaved them down!

 His friend Bella has been with us a few days....our neighbors went to Vegas and asked us to dog sit....she is a puppy and very sweet.....just not quite potty trained - yikes!

 They get along really well, considering Rocky does not think he is a domesticated animal after all....

 Our other neighbors had a huge Halloween Party....we went as Eve and Wall E

 They really did it up right....full bar with bartender, DJ, loads of decorations....just too dark for my photo's to turn out well....here is my Pina Colada in front of the ghouls table...

 They had a life size figure that was in an electric chair and would light up all over....

 Hard to see but life size zombies and monsters that would jump out and howl....

 Steve and one of the zombies.....I missed getting pictures of all the other decorations, food, details....they did an excellent job!

 And a perfect fall morning to drive down to the lake and walk off the Pina Coladas!

A Little Batty.....A Visit from The Addie!

My Bestie gave us some tickets to the San Diego Safari Park....I had not been there in 34 years and Steve had not been there in 35 years....ya, we don't get out much locally!  In October kids in San Diego get in LEGOLAND, San Diego Safari Park and the Zoo for free so we scooped up our boys and headed out.....they are such troopers they walked and walked and never complained once.  Nature Boy Dylan and my Brown Sugar Turbo boy were in there element and we enjoyed being with them and exploring the Park.....it got a little batty for a bit.....

 Brody kept us on track with his map reading skills!

 The park has changed so much (duh, in 30 years ya think?) and they have made it so kid friendly....lots of climb on interactive areas that the boys really enjoyed....

 And exhibits that were up close and personal.....loved these little Meerkat brothers....reminded me of the two we took!

 We ran errands one day and found ourselves in OB so got a chance to stop in Vignette's to see there latest displays and as usual they did not disappoint!  They are known as a French Flea Market shop and import containers and containers from France and then they mix it with antiques and bric a brac and they are brilliant with their displays....they pipe in French music and it just makes you want to linger and linger....

 They find the nicest pieces....I want everything in this store!

 I have bought several birdcages and small tables there and they always have the most unusual shapes....

 I collect prisms and crystals from old chandeliers.....they had several made into necklaces....

 This amber one I could not leave behind and it came home with me.....love....

 Visual overload to be sure.....look at the bling and how they display it....

 Wish list....this, this, this and this....how can you not love a vintage Tiffany display?

 Loved the 'Press for Champagne' .....might have to get that for a certain someone who loves the bubbly!

 I am so tempted/inspired by the clock on the right all covered in pearls....I could so get into a project like that.  I made my mom a rhinestone cane with thousands of hand glued rhinestones on it.....a girl can't have enough bling!

 The bedroom shuffle project came to a successful end this week........I ordered and returned so many linens and bought and returned so many linens that I may be banned from life from linen stores anyway.....

 Downstairs guest room where day bed was....now has a queen bed and pretty matching linens.....

 The marble vintage dresser is all empty and ready for visitors.....mom, you coming?

 Our new mattress came....it is like sleeping on a slab of granite but it helps Steve....it is also very high and on top of our sleigh bed it is about chest length on me so it is part Cirque de Soelil areobics to get into it!  However, Rocky and Steve approve so it is here to stay.....I decided on a pattern print and it was the hardest to find....I needed sage green, moss green, brown and cream....not an easy combo but I love  this choice and am happy that the search is over!

 Highlight of the week was having 'The Addie' fly in and catch up with us.....the boys soaked him up, playing and quizzing him on all things Star Wars.....

 They could not get close enough.....everything was all about Uncle Adam.....as it should be!

 He scored on some awesome tickets to see Jack Johnson in the Balboa Theatre that only seats 2,000 people.  It was amazing and I was honored to be his guest....what a fun night....

 He puts on such a great show, very mellow and fun and upbeat....it was so fun to be with Adam and share this experience with him....he loves music and so do I....

 I am so happy for Adam because he loves to live in Arizona, but part of my heart is missing and things just are not the same without him here, our Sunday family dinners, talking politics with me, sports with Steve, Apple products with Kristen......Banana Pancakes at Richard Walkers :)

He is so good about flying over and popping in to give us a fix.....we treasure our time with him it just goes too fast!

Have a great week all things Batty and Addie and all the rest of you too!

One Random Week....

This was such a random week.....I have to admit I am in some kind of Funk....I feel like there are so many things up in the air right now and I just want resolve on some of them!  I work hard on patience and faith and being positive, however, being of a fix it nature and these things are out of my control so this time has been a challenge.....learning lessons!

 

One of my dearest friends works at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park....she always includes me in the Opening Night of their new exhibits - she's sweet that way....The new exhibition is on Chairs.....I LOVE chairs and am drawn to them at Antique Stores and Flea Markets, Thrift Stores, etc....I did not earn the name 'Crazy Furniture Lady' for nuthin!

 

Chairs are like blank canvas and you can create a masterpiece.....loved this hand painted Flamingo Themed Chair, it was used in a movie....just fun to look at.

 I am a huge fan of the Rocking Chair....this one was made for dolls and was so cute....I have 5 regular size Rocking Chairs in my house...clearly too many but impossible to get rid of any!  I also have 2 small rocking chairs that belonged to Kristen and Adam.....Rocking is soothing to me.....

  I could just imagine a row of Amish sitting on this bench.....

 More unique creations....

Loved the mid century modern section.....Plexiglas chairs were the rage back in the day....

 Loved the head rest on this one.....

 A little touch of Italy.....

They also have a huge collection of Chihuly glass....love love love

 This chandelier used to be in North County and they painstakingly moved it piece by piece....The Chihuly team came in for the move....it was quite the process.....

 Loved this as well.....they are tables hanging on a wall and when you need one you just take down part of your art and use it!  Hello Small Spaces!

 Steve decided we needed a new mattress....which meant a major shift of all beds in the house....not easy when your husband is recovering from back surgery....luckily we had lots of help! The downstairs guest room had one of those Ikea Day Beds that I swore I would never move, but, ate those words.  It comes apart in a hundred pieces and had to lug those all up stairs and reassemble....

 We bought a bed frame off Craig's List and when our new mattress comes we will move our old mattress downstairs to guest room....

So In Adam's old room is now the Ikea Day Bed for the boys, set up as a King Size bed - those boys are growing and need the room to stretch and sleep!

 I did another huge toy sort and rearranged their stuff while they were in Hawaii....

The best feature of this bed is that it has these storage drawers, however, I had to take out all the storage I used downstairs and find a new place for all that.  Then I was able to store some of their toys in the drawers!  I hope to finish up the other two rooms this week....I have shopped and shopped for linens and things that I think I finally have the right combination of mattress pads, sheets, bed spreads and shams!

I wanted to make some fall 'Thank You' gifts for our Doctors.....I got these reusable cups and some beautiful orange silk geraniums and found a lot of treats in shades of Orange....

 I will deliver them this Friday when we go for Steve's check up....they are such a wonderful staff and I love to do extra little things for them.

 I decided to put most of my Halloween decorations together in one huge display on my table this year....I loved the way it looked in some of the boutiques I have been in lately....

 This is in the Entry way....just a little spooky greeting for visitors.....

 And just a little grouping on the bar in the kitchen for some holiday fun.....

 I ordered these on line for the boys and for my cousins daughter who I like to send a little something to.....I am anxious to play with the boys.  They love games.

When the boys got home from a wonderful week in Hawaii they got to come and spend the night with us....we missed them!  We decided to make 'Boo' Bags and sneak over to the neighbors with our flashlights......

 They do lots of projects with Mommy and know the drill....they decorated the bags and stuffed them with candy and treats!

Dylan had a great idea of putting happy faces on the ghost tootsie rolls and taffy.....love how his tongue is always out when he concentrates....just like his mommy....

 They looked so cute!

 I love to observe the boys when they work on something....Brody is turbo speed, makes a decision and then goes about his task....Dylan takes his time and enjoys the process and always adds a little something extra creative......

 Off go the Boo Busters with their flashlights to spread joy in the neighborhood!

 My own personal Jack o Lantern.....he lost a tooth and was all smiles about it!

Earlier in the day we watched the original Home Alone....Brody set up traps all over the house like the movie....he is very into re-enactments!

 Three choices in festivals this week...Little Italy, La Jolla Food and Wine and OB Oktoberfest....we chose OB because it was a beautiful day and we like to be by the water.....

 Something about a Chicken Dance overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.....

That's about as random as it gets!