October the Holiday Window

Growing up on the coast with fields of bright
orange pumpkins and waves of fog is
still one of the greatest treasures.
Nothing tangible, only felt by the heart.
Pumpkin Cottage is the embodiment  of the
old and new memories.

Oak Glen 2014

My mother's birthday was in October and
always afforded a visit home. She would
always say, in our departure, she loved
to see us come but hated to see us go.
We had to make sure we didn't leave
anything behind because it would only
make her miss us more.

Los Rios apple farm bakery.

She would stand watching us drive away
until she could no longer see us.
Oh, dear, my soul misses her so much.

The Beginning of My Love Affair with Trash

From my earliest youth, I have always found pleasure
in giving life to old objects who have lost their usefulness,
in delivering them from obscurity and transforming them
into objects of art.
                                                    Jose de Creeft

This quote brought a rush of memories and emotions
with it.  Does that happen to you?

Wall of Amateur Art

 
Now, I wouldn't call any of my crafty
work "objects of art" but I can recall digging through
our elderly neighbor's, Aunt Minnie, trash.  A tin can, a half
gallon carton of milk, or some other trashy treasure.
To be lovingly rinsed, dried with care, and made
useful again.

 Happily engaged for hours. Hours of solitude
flooded with contentment.   Joy so authentic and
pure.

My love affair with trash, old houses, dirt and cottage gardens
began at 424 Purisima and continues.

Glitterfest 2014

Choose your treasures at GlitterFest 2014

The next event is February 28, 2015
put it on your calendar now. 
So much talent
packed into a single one day show.

Not to be missed.

October Owl

Witches: Double, double toil and trouble
                Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

              MACBETH Act 4, Scene 1, 10-11

 Making at French General with
 Mary Stanley.

 Had to choose between making an owl or
 a pumpkin.  Finished making the owl and
 brought home the wool for a pumpkin.  

Lost it on the Neighbors

It takes a lot for me to blow.
A lot lot.
I'm the type that doesn't think of anything
witty to say
until weeks later.

This evening, I couldn't drive into my happy
garage, so happy to be home garage, because
for the umpteenth time the neighbor
had parked behind our garage to
"unload." 

I waited to see if he was really unloading.
Nothing, nada, nada.
Another car enters the queue.
We live in the middle of a dead end
alley.   

Something inside of me SNAPS.
I start honking like a mad woman.
Insanity possesses me.

He comes out and moves past me. 
I back up and pull into the garage.
But this time I am not going to
to let it go.

My gippy tired body flies
out of the van.
Cussing like a sailor on leave. 
So angry, so tired, so so tired
of people who park in
the clearly marked fire lane.

Mary Stanley pumpkins

In front of everyone I clearly
lose all decorum. 
Neighbors pour out of their homes. 
Watching the little, obviously deranged,
pumpkin woman lose it.

Yeah, I don't know how
we are going to find
world peace either.  

Thrifted Treasures

This jewel didn't come home with us,
but what an adorable project for the
winter break in December.

Maybe have each kid decorate an outfit.

Kitchen Redo

The Pumpkin Cottage gets a sprucing.

 Before.

 

                       

 

Measure twice cut once.

New liner and reorganized. 

Better storage.