The Wild Wild West

Steve and I took off last weekend and crossed the CA/AZ desert yet one more time....if you have never done that, you can expect to see about 300 miles that look exactly like this:

....boring, yes, but beautiful and peaceful and nice to look at something besides concrete....we load up on corn nuts and diet coke (classy travelers that we are) and head out....on this trip we stayed with some of our Besties, the Villalovos, in their beautiful home in Trilogy way out north off Happy Valley Road....home to coyotes, mountain lions and even fox! A beautiful reminder of the Wild Wild West....


One day we took a drive to Prescott - so many good memories there when we were little and we had close friends that lived there and we would go to the Round Up Rodeo's

Love the flags around the old courthouse, the old Navajo sign and the wooden Indian. We shopped all around the antique stores....a beautiful day and we had a great lunch together.

You can't help but feel old when you see stuff you used to have in Antique stores....The prints with the little boys were the Northern Tissue Prints that my mom got for my brothers room and my sister and I had the girl prints......every little girl in AZ back in the 50's/60's had a squaw dress....mine was turquoise with silver rick rack....just like this one!

The next day the guys went in hot pursuit for Quail! Armed and dangerous they headed out to Bloody Basin....over the rocks and thru the brush and even 4 wheeling in our truck that has never seen a dirt road.....the bounty from 3 seasoned hunters on an all day hunt: 2 quail, 1 flat tire and one large rattlesnake

So while the cowboys were out in search of bounty; us cowgirls hit the wonderful and enchanting Glendale Antique stores - can't get enough of those places!

We ate at Ms. CeeCee's which was a repurpopsed cottage house where they served lunch in the living room and all the bedrooms and even the bathroom had items to purchase.....I just had to take a picture of the bathroom with the commode and all the stuff for sale in the bathtub....they make it easy! Also went to several other shops, Hobby Lobby and Michael's....my girlfriend is the undisputed 'Queen of Halloween' and I just follow her around and get amazed at her ability to create.....not only that but she is a fab cook....a little Martha Stewart in the Wild West!

We've got the Fever - Gold Fever!

It's official.....we've got the fever - Gold Fever that is!!!

Steve, Rocky, myself and Steve's two brothers went to a dry creek bed near Temecula known for having gold claims and dug in the dirt and had so much fun collecting specimen samples....it was hot - look at Rocky!!!!

Later, after we had our 'samples' we took them back to his brothers house near Palm Springs and put them thru the processing......

We were just oh so sure that we hit a mini mother lode of gold flour, there was gold everywhere I tell ya! All over our hands and arms, in the pan, sparkling and oh so beautiful!!!!

We filled up the sample vile that said gold sunk to the bottom and our little chunks did! The other gold flour we tried to separate from our 'black sand' and put in baggies to take into the purveyors office, just like they say in the book.....then we toasted with some special wine I bought for the occasion 'Prospect 49 a Boom Town Red" pretty fitting heh?

The next day we drove by the purveyors with our gold flour....which turns out to be ***fools gold'....pretty fitting heh?

Jury still out on our little nuggets.....here's hoping!!!!

Gentle Signs of Fall.....

The annual Woody's Car show at Moonlight Beach....

always a fall classic favorite to look at these beauties....

Getting out the fall table setting.....love love love these colors....

Just adds warmth and comfort to the table.....

Last but not least, breaking out my Classic Coach Brown Bag.....it's official - even tho the temperature remains in the 70's and 80's Fall is on the way!!!

The beat goes on....and it is funk (not funky)

The beat goes on, no matter how I try to change it.....maybe this is just the funk I need to be in right now and embrace it and try to learn why I feel this way and the lesson that it is trying to teach me.....

A brief respite on Wednesday - a surprise call and invite to go Thrifting - fun things found for projects and play....(another chandelier for (hopefully) weekend project; new keyboard badly needed in my office, nerf arsenal for my boys, play house for Brody, wooden cigar box - really into those lately, round picture frame for future project, Fitz and Floyd Ho Ho Ho Christmas tray for only $2.00!...toal spend $30.00....now only need motivation.....

Off the Grid; On the Grid and big plans

Well, we survived the biggest blackout in SD history.....yes, one man alone brought down power from Yuma to Rosarito, Mexico to Palm Springs all thru San Diego and into Orange County and towards LA....never underestimate a man!

Having lived in Earthquake territory since 1980 and being evacuated twice for wildfires you would think we would be better prepared...we are usually all over preparedness but giving ourselves a C on this one. Had candles, water and flashlights, but no batteries and no smart phone with data access....I should know better!!! 'Sad News' as Dylan's kindergarten teacher would say...

Every source of communication was out, cell phone towers overwhelmed with calls, both Steve and I have emergency responsibilities at our work and it was one of the hottest days ever....I have to admit, being the week of 911 that crossed my mind as well....and once I heard from Steve and the kids and how proud I was of my kids being responsible I counted my blessings....also, I am grateful for the people that checked in on me and kept me updated to what was happening in the outside world....those people are my rocks....you all know who you are. Thank you Thank you

On the upside, saw stars from the backyard, first time in years as all the city lights were off and it was almost a full moon! None of the sirens I heard all night were for us or our family members...all the txt made me feel reassured and when the lights came on at 3:21 a.m. Steve and I collapsed in bed - a few txt later and up for the 5 a.m. office status call....

So a day of recovery and have to boil our water and throw a few things out of the fridge....communication is delayed but at least there....starting to let my mind drift off to some big plans for these thrift shop treasurers....

...hard to see but a shell of a chandelier.....

A wooden ladies cane....

wait and watch peeps!

Mini Staycation

In the past 26 years Steve and I have always been away on Labor Day....due to his accident and recovery and the dogs recovery we find ourselves at home and a rare Friday off together so we decided we would do a San Diego weekend staycation....we started the day taking the boys to school, taking the Pony in for some work and driving to my favorite area - 'OB' Ocean Beach to spend a bit of time before the crowds rolled in for the 3 day weekend....


This is the view out of one of my favorite restaurants in OB called Shades.....it is right at the base of the pier on Newport Avenue


The beach was pretty empty and the sun was shining and the waves were big....



I ordered my favorite Calamari Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries


Steve opted for the Ham and Egg breakfast with home fries.....


Then we walked it off a bit by walking on the beach and up and down the shops on Newport Avenue

I have three must stops.....one is 'The Closet'....it is one of those beachwear cheapie places where you can find all kinds of stuff....I got a really cute pink rag sleeved overblouse thing (I am horrible at describing fashion!) for 6 bucks...picked up a few other things....next stop is Newport Antique Mall

I love the way the booths are displayed....each and everyone tells a story about beach life and bygone days...found some great unique gifts in here and got some great project ideas....

There is always this one with all the 1950's and 1960's kitchen stuff....love to look at this, and yes, have owned some of it too!

Wouldn't it be fun to have a Pink or Turquoise kitchen????

Another fave I have written about before - Vignettes - like being in a Paris Thrift Store

I loved all the jewelry and the bride and groom cake toppers....tres chic

Fascinated by the oval, round and carved frames displayed in an old fountain base....

Steve looks a little lost in this room....but I always drool over every chandelier!

After our fresh air and fun we came home, I watched old movies and Steve took a nap.....I could get used to this!!!