Fun Creatures at Fern Creek Road Area - Fort Bragg, CA

Drawing of a Young Woman by me

What We All Need To Do More Of - Drawing by me

The prompt today at "Inspire Me Thursday" was the word table. And this was what I drew this evening. The table looked a little lonely after I drew it so I added a candle, a chair and the sign. I had fun doing this one.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Who says vegetarians are deprived? Here was my Vegetarian Thanksgiving Meal:

Homemade Stuffing made of: seasoned bread cubes, mushrooms, onions, celery, veggie sausage, raisins, apples and some veggie broth and butter and some fresh orange squeezed over it all.

Then the stuffing was put into: Baked Acorn and Butternut Squashes as well as a baked casserole of stuffing.

And we also had:

Baked Yams, Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy, French Cut Green Beans with Mushroom Soup and French Fried Onions, Brussel Sprouts and Rolls and Butter. Dessert was: Pumpkin Pie and Cool Whip, although I passed on that as I am trying to stay away from sugar.

And I was happy to make this meal for my family and glad they enjoyed it. Well, I did make a cornish game hen for one family member, too, as they are not a vegetarian. Anyway, today went well and I am grateful for that. Grateful for my family and friends and the nice town I live in, too. Grateful I could spend time with family today. Take care all and hope your Thanksgiving went well, too, if you celebrated it. I realize all of us are not in America. So whatever you did today, hope it was fun.

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.