More Around Town Photos in Fort Bragg, California

Just some more photos from my camera walk the other day.

Dial A Break Up (Little Rant By Me)

The thought just came to mind about break ups. They really are difficult aren't they? I was thinking a business called "Dial A Break Up" might make the whole thing much easier. You just call their service, give them your debit/credit card number and say, "Okay, I have this person I want to break up with, but I don't want to deal with them. Will you place the call for me?" And the service calls the person and says, "This is Dial A Break Up. Listen your loved one doesn't want to go out with you anymore." The person is stunned and says, "Why?" and the service has their standard reply of, "Well, it could be that you are a loser in just about every imaginable way, so I suppose that is why. Good-bye." And then it is done and over with.

If only it was that easy. Thanks for listening to my mind today. :-)Oh and I did just find this site that lets you bypass someone answering their phone and connects you directly to their voice mail so you don't have to talk directly to them but can just talk to their voice mail only. Pretty interesting if you want to check it out:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07232008/news/nationalnews/dial_a_breakup_made_easy_121129.htm

More Fort Bragg, California Trees

Some trees seen on my walk along Main Street near downtown Fort Bragg. When I was younger I don't remember enjoying trees so much as I do in my middle age. But I do remember how much my kids enjoyed a huge tree near our house. It was so big and strong and they could climb easily on it. Luckily it was over a nice soft field in case of any mishaps. Well, kids kind of bounce back easily anyway, don't they? Not like in middle age when you fall and take weeks to recover. Anyway, lots of the kids that visited my kids loved to climb that tree. And many a cat was found to have a good time running up and down it, too. The day I walked by our old house to see the owners cut down that tree was very sad for me. Luckily I think there are some photos of the tree in some albums from when the kids were little. And at least I have good memories of that good old tree.

Beginning Drawing - Man Magazine Model

After flipping through lots of photos in a magazine this evening, I saw a photo in a magazine of a young man and thought I would try my hand at drawing it.

Nature Break

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein quote

Today I took photos of city stuff, but it is fun to actually be aware of nature all around me. Today I heard this Raven going on and on about something. I looked up and there he was perched so dignified. He really had as they say "a birds eye view". I love nature to help me just be in better spirits. Every time I see a bird, a butterfly, or if I am lucky the deer and the raccoons, it just helps to calm me. Today's prompt from Inspire Me Thursday was to take an Albert Einstein quote and get creative with it. So after my walk today with my camera, I felt this photo fit the above quote.

Stores Decking The Halls in Fort Bragg, California

Fort Bragg Store Photos. Getting Festive on Franklin Street: Cute Christmas Bears at Whistle Stop Antiques. Pretty presents at Racines. More holiday spirit on Main Street: Gabrielle - Toy Soldier/Nutcracker, Gabrielle - Christmas Tree, Manger at Spunky Skunk Toy Store. On Franklin near the parking lot of Advocate News a natural beauty: Pretty Red Flower

Cereal Thought

Struggling on the cereal aisle

I used to struggle on the cereal aisle when my kids were little. I knew if I bought one of the healthier versions, they wouldn't really even like it. So I tried to pick one that was a bit healthy, but also had kid appeal. In that case it meant - sugar. Kid appeal is sugar. Lots of sugar.

Now that my kids are older and picking out their own cereals I have seen other parents struggle at the cereal aisle. Like they will say no to some super charged sugar cereal, but yes to a lighter version of it. There only seem to be a few without sugar.

The ones without sugar that I choose to buy now are Shredded Wheat or Regular Oatmeal. I haven't found any other choices. So that is what I choose. It doesn't make for a totally exciting breakfast, but it is healthy. If you add some berries or raisins to either cereal it gets a little more exciting, too. And at least it ends my struggle on the cereal aisle.

Oh and when I hear some child screaming for a certain cereal all because of the "toy" inside, I am just happy my kids are grown. Not that they screamed when I didn't get their cereal, but they did make many requests for cereal all because of the toy. I used to say, "Well, at least be honest you want the cereal for the toy," when they would come to me with a box of some sugary stuff. And once in awhile I would shock them and let them have it. We kind of used sugary cereal as dessert and as a treat, because that is what it seemed like to me.

Now back to my original thought I came here to post. I was thinking the supermarkets ought to label their cereal aisle this way: Junk Food Cereals, Non-junk food cereals. It would take the guess work out. But of course the non-junk food cereal section would be very small, so maybe that is why they don't do it.

Remember To Take Time For You

Inspire Me Thursdays (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/11/13/coffee-break/) prompt was "Coffee Break". Since I quit coffee when I quit cigarettes, tea is my main soothing drink now. And with the holidays approaching and our fast paced schedule at this time of the year, I thought it fitting to post this photo for everyone to remember to take time for themselves, relax and breathe. (PS The china cup was from my grandmother. It is the last china cup I have of hers and my favorite. On the bottom of the cup it says "Noel" and is labeled Queen Anne fine bone china England. I am so grateful to have this china cup. I think of my loving grandma every time I have tea and it is very calming for me. Take care all.)

Photo from Local Licks Concert

And here is a photo from the concert. I was sitting in the back and just have a little digital camera, so you can't really see things so well, but here is a memory from the concert - John Chamberlain, Frannie Leopold and the rest of their group.

Local Licks Concert in Fort Bragg at Cotton Auditorium

Went to the Local Licks Concert tonight that was helping to raise money for music programs in the schools. This is a tiny sample of John Chamberlain, Frannie Leopold and others at concert. It was fun getting out tonight with a friend of mine. :-)

Beginning Drawing - Barack Obama

Tonight I tried my hand at drawing our President Elect from a photo off the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. I had the DVD "Friends With Money" on the TV while drawing this evening. It was a nice relaxing evening and I am happy about Obama winning the election. :-) Wonder if the words "friends with money" have something to do with what is our future with Obama? Maybe we will have more friends with money, than without money? I think it is a good sign. Take care all.

The MoonTonight

Wonder what the moon looks like from your way. And if anyone has pointers on taking moon photos with inexpensive digital cameras, I welcome your ideas.

My drawing posted at singers website

The drawing I did of a favorite singer was posted at her website. It made me feel good. Here is the link if you would like to see it:

http://www.jenniferhudsononline.com/photos/jennifer-drawing-a-beginning-artist

And now, after you click on the above link, the mystery is over about one of my favorite singers. :-)

Drawing made in celebration of someone turning 47

I had a friend request I draw a lively 47 year old. So with a "More" magazine in hand, I drew a model from there changing it a little as always. It was fun doing this tonight.

Today's Drawing - Based on a singer I like

This drawing is based on a singer I like. I listened to her album twice while drawing this. I am not mentioning the singer as this doesn't even look like her really, but it was fun drawing.

Why The Printer Doesn't Work - LOL

A friend sent this video and I had to post it on my blog.

One Of The Most Inspiring Videos Ever - Nick Vujicic

What an amazing person in every which way! And I appreciate the friend who sent this to me, too.

Playing With Photos Today

Today I was playing around with my photos. I took a lot of flower photos in spring. When it is dark and dreary out I love to get the photos out and make photo cards and I get cheered up in the process of looking at all the pretty colors of springtime, too.

Yes! Obama!

Today is a great day. :-)

I loved Obama's speech last night at Grant Park. What a great man! There is hope at last for this country! There is hope for peace! There is hope for people! There is hope for unity!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Quinoa: 101

Quinoa Vegetarian Recipe

Well, tonight I made up a recipe with Quinoa. I mixed some cooked Quinoa with a stir-fry in olive oil of diced onions, brocolli, soy beans, tomatoes, apples and veggie sausage. For the spices I sprinkled some Chili powder, Turmeric, Salt and some Cinnamon. It turned out very good tasting. I used part of a Quinoa recipe that I found, but I just improvised it a little as I didn't have all they mentioned. In that recipe it called for Quinoa, Peas, Turmeric, Chili powder, Cinnamon and Ginger. Anyway, I found out that Quinoa really does taste good as long as you follow directions for cooking it. I will post a video above this one about it. Plus you can find more info. about this really great super food on the net.

Dedicated to Halloween Parents and Kids

Last night was Halloween and it was windy and raining. But there were some dedicated and proud parents that brought their little kids trick or treating in the most adorable costumes last night. It showed how much us Fort Bragg, California folks don't let a little rain put a damper on things. The kids and adults were in good spirits it seemed and I was glad to see many happy and smiling faces. My experience of Halloween last night was a good one. (Well, someone decided to take a cheap plastic pumpkin from my Halloween decorations, but I will just chalk that up to one of those tiny Halloween pranks. No worries. :-) ) Thanks to all the kind kids and parents that greeted me nicely on Halloween night. I was proud of the courtesy of many of the Fort Bragg youth and parents with their thank you's and Happy Halloween wishes, too. See you all next year and maybe I ought to buy another plastic halloween pumpkin at the 75 percent off sales of Halloween stuff, today. That way if someone else feels they need to take it next year they can. Maybe it will be a tradition of seeing how many years the cheap plastic pumpkin goes missing? Anyway, take care all.

Halloween 2008 Store Window Decorations in Fort Bragg, CA

Had a nice walk looking at the Halloween Store Decorations today. Tomorrow is the big day. I stocked up on extra candy as we do get lots of trick or treaters where I live. :-)

Day of The Dead 2008 - Remembering Little Brother

Almost 30 years ago, my brother was killed in a gang fight at age 18. He wasn't even a gang member. Just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I read about the Day of the Dead at (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/10/29/dia-de-los-muertos/) that honors those who passed on, so I made this in my little brothers honor. I was only 3 years older than him and we got along very well. We had lots of happy times together and got through lots of difficult times together. My whole family and our friends really lost out when we lost our brother to murder. It has affected all of us so deeply. I pray that wherever my departed brother is he is doing better than ever. And I daily commit myself to a non-violent lifestyle more than ever as a way to honor him, too. I try to watch my thoughts, feelings and actions and think before I act. I ask myself whether what I am about to do is loving or not. If it isn't loving, then I just don't do it. I am not perfect, but I at least strive to keep doing the right things in my life.

Nature's Halloween Decoration

This bush was full of different spider webs. The spiders certainly are busy little creatures here. :-)

Cooler Weather Post

Now it feels a bit more like October. I did break down and turn on the heater today to warm it up in here. Now it is much better. Today was the kind of day you just want to go back to bed. I had to fight off that feeling all day today. Looks like it is time to engage in something like a puzzle, a good book or some other kind of interesting indoor activity. Will ponder what I can do to occupy myself with the rainy weather that will be with us here in no time. I do like following the "Inspire Me Thursday" prompts for creative ideas. Will have to check out other creative prompt sites, too. Well, that is it from here for today. I mean I have more to write like as far as politics and other news stories, but I am sure you follow them enough yourself.

Having A Bit Of Time On My Hands - Happy Halloween

The middle orange says to the other oranges, "Get out of here and roll while you still can!"


This weeks prompt at the Inspire Me Thursday site (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/10/23/carve/) was the word "Carve". I don't have experience in that sort of thing so after breakfast this creation happened after seeing all kinds of fancy fruit carvings yesterday on the internet. People really can get creative with fruit from what I saw. I saw fancy watermelons made to look like a bed of roses among many other neat designs. Amazing the things you run across on the internet.

Today's Drawing - Tiger

My son had a tiger calendar last year, so I cut out some of the photos and tacked them up. I thought how nice it would be to attempt to draw a tiger. Here is my first drawing of a tiger at age 51. :-)

Not Knowing What To Say Post

Here is my not knowing what to say post. I just realized I haven't posted in a while, so thought I would post this. Things are okay here, no major dramas, just calm, so all is well. And that is my not knowing what to say post for the day.

Mylene Farmer and Seal - Les mots

More beautiful voices here.

Happy Woman Drawing

Spent the evening drawing this happy woman. I used a photo of a movie star woman as the basis of this drawing and some other ideas from drawing books to draw this.

Halloween Drawing - "Nervous"

This I drew for the prompt of "nervous" that was given out at Inspire Me Thursdays website at: http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/10/16/nervous/

I had fun doing this one. :-)

Tiziano Ferro - Imbranato

I could listen to Tiziano sing for hours it seems.

Tiziano Ferro - Sere Nere

Now here is a great singer!

My Halloween Poem - A Black Cat Crossed My Path

A black cat crossed my path
On a night of a full moon
He was carrying a pack on his back
And dancing around like a loon.

I thought it was a funny sight
I couldn’t believe my eyes
Then I saw a ghostly cat
In a transparent disguise.

His eyes glowed like fire
In the darkened night
My hands grew cold
I was filled with fright.

Just then the ghostly cat
Found the black cat by a tree
They both did a jig
And started singing merrily.

I was no longer scared
As they danced ‘round and ‘round
It was an unusual scene
And an unusual sound.

They sang Halloween songs
About pumpkins and goblins and bats
And as they sang
Along came about fifty other cats.

They all joined in
The sound grew so loud
But it was a happy sound
From a jolly crowd.

All of the cats were dancing
And having a good time
Then the ghostly cat invited me
To have a bite of a lime.

I told him it would be sour
He said “Well, come dance instead”
So I joined the singing cats
And danced with a cat named Fred.

He moved around quite fast
Hopping left and right
We both danced and danced
Deep into the night.

At last I had enough
I couldn’t dance anymore
So I said good-bye to all the cats
And Fred walked me to my door.

He asked if he could come in
I said “my two cats would probably mind”
So he said “I’ll see you around”
I said “I had a nice time.”

One year went by
Halloween was here again
A black cat crossed my path
I knew the party was about to begin.

Happy Halloween.

Getting Colder

It is now October 16, 2008 and I am starting to feel a nip of chill in the air. And last night was no exception. It was very cold out last night and early this morning. Our cold weather has arrived. But the weather here can be tricky. It could be cold one day and nice and warm the next.

Last night I had a cold feet problem. I was nice and warm except for my feet. I am going to look into finding my wool socks. That will put a stop to the cold. I don't really like wool on my skin, but the socks don't seem to bother me at all. So I will be searching for where I left those wool socks at. Or it may be time to just buy a new pair or two.

It still is nice to go on walks. Today on my walk I saw a little snake and a very strange looking little bird. I saw some pretty trees with nice fall colors on their leaves. I will have to get out with the camera again to get some photos. Well, that is all from here for now.

Tonight's Moon

Just stopping by my blog to post that today was nice and sunny and warm. A very nice day in Fort Bragg. And tonight's moon looks great, too.

Another Apple Pie

We still had some leftover apples, so I made another apple pie. I used Pillsbury Pie Crusts this time. It is still cooling off. I like how it turned out and hopefully it will taste good. And this is the recipe I used called Grandma's Apple Pie: http://www.the-goodapple.com/classic_apple_pie_recipes.htm

Just checking back in to say the pie did taste real good with the above recipe. :-)

Rumi Prompt - Creation

Following the "Rumi" prompt from Inspire Me Thursday (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/10/09/a-poem-by-rumi/) here is what I created today.

Fort Bragg, California Glass Beach Area

I went to Glass Beach today. It was very windy, but so clear. I liked being out by the cliffs in the fresh ocean air. Very nice, especially if you can brave the wind. And when we have wind, we do have wind! LOL

A Cartoon Cat Drawing

Just trying to draw a cartoon cat using one of my own cat photos as a model. :-)

Mistakes Lately and Good Stuff

Being that I am 51 years old, I guess it is okay that I have made the following mistakes recently:
I put the pizza in the oven with the cardboard bottom on it. Thank goodness it didn't burn!
I brushed my teeth and was getting ready to put away the toothbrush when I put more toothpaste on the toothbrush.
Sometimes I am not sure if I just put on deodorant or not, so I put it on again.
With my vitamin taking, I forget whether I took them or not, so I just have to skip until the next day.
I make a nice cup of tea in my handy dandy stainless steel cup to take with me on an outing and out the door I go without it. But sometimes I remember to go back in and get it.
Sometimes there is a store item I need and I think for sure that I will remember it, but I don't unless I do write it down.

Now the good stuff:
I don't forget to buy food for the teenagers - ever!
I never forget to feed the cats either. Well, of course cats and teenagers will let you know about that stuff now wouldn't they?
I actually make my bed every morning. Years went by until I got the hang of that!
I do remember to water my indoor plants. The outdoor plants are luckily ones that do well in this climate so they don't need me to deal with them.
I do remember to get dressed and not go out in my bathrobe to check the mail, but I do admit one early morning I ran out there to check the mail in my bathrobe because I didn't check the mail the day before.
I try to eat healthy and exercise.
I try not to hang out with aggravating people for any longer than is necessary. And I try not to be an aggravating person myself.

So all is not lost here in my middle age.

Cereal Box Art - Made Two Little "Notes" Books

This one above is stitched together.

This one just has a rubberband and yarn ribbon in center to hold it together.



You need two index cards. Then cut out a piece of cereal box cardboard the same size as the index cards. Glue a blank index card on the front and back of the cereal box piece and fold in half. Now take some blank paper and cut it a little smaller than the index card cover. Fold in half and these will be your notes to write on. Decorate the front cover anyway you like. Then sew in the paper to the cover with a very sharp needle that will go through the cardboard. Start in the middle of the paper. Or for an easy way, just take a rubber band and put that around the middle. Then when you run out of paper, you can always refill it easy. This was a fun project to do and you could make plenty of these little notes books with just index cards, a cereal box, plain paper and whatever you want to decorate it with.

This project was inspired by: http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/10/02/cereal-box-art/

My Silly Monster Like Looking Homemade Apple Pie

Sometimes I just go about cooking up stuff and don't even give it much thought. I just pick some random internet recipe and then even just make up stuff as I go along. This is my downfall in cooking. I need to find more reliable recipes and then follow them exactly as they are.

Well, the main thing about an apple pie is to have a good pie crust. My pie crust didn't turn out so good, but the apples inside it tasted really good. So next time I am going to just buy the already made crusts. That will go better for me. This pie had a whole wheat crust. The bottom crust was fine, but the top was way too tough - like cardboard actually.

I made a few mistakes. I substituted light margarine for the butter. And then I think I poked too many holes in the top. I was to just make about 3 slits in the top like I have always done when I made pies. I used a fork and pin pricked it in many places and I have no idea why I did that. I think I did it because I poked holes in the bottom crust and then because it was such a late hour in making this pie, I was probably half asleep doing it. Something told me not to poke holes in the top, but I did anyhow. That was the downfall of the top crust being tough, from what I can tell.

Regardless, it still felt good to make an apple pie even if I was a bit tired when I made it. I will rely on already made pie crusts next time unless someone has a good pie crust recipe they would like to pass on? Or a suggestion for a good cook book with easy to follow recipes and directions. I used to have a great Better Homes and Gardens one and my mom had The Joy of Cooking. I will look into seeing if I can get those again.

Apples, Apples, Apples

You know I thought it would be nice to have some apples from our tree, but it just wasn't doing so well. Then a friend of mine had an overabundance of apples and has been giving me plenty of them. I have made applesauce and my next project is an apple pie. When I was around 12 years old I remember baking all kinds of things. There were seven of us in my family so it was fun to bake lots of things for everyone like cookies, pies, cakes, etc. We don't always have that many sweets around here. But I think a homemade apple pie would be well as American as --- Apple Pie. So I will search out a homemade pie crust recipe and if I am not up to that, perhaps I will resort to a store bought crust. Well, I know I could make a pie crust, just have to have the ambition to do so. I don't have a rolling pin around, but I am sure a large sturdy glass will do the trick.

Anyway, I posted a photo of an apple tree growing around the downtown Fort Bragg area that I saw the other day. Lots of apples on this one. Yes, it is October.