"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge Z is for Zippity Do Dah! Grand Finale!



The A to Z 2015 Challenge has been fun!
 Add Zip to your day!
Thanks to the following commenters:
If somehow I left you off this I apologize- as I appreciate all the folks who take time to visit and comment on my blog!
Cheers!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge Y is for Yummy

 
Absolutely delicious cake!
Yummy in my tummy!
Chocolate with whipped cream and salted caramel with nuts! 
~~~
Only one day left for the
A to Z 2015 Challenge!
It's been fun! Cheers!

A to Z 2015 Challenge X is for........

"X" is for (E)xcavation.....
 
B Avenue in Lake Oswego Oregon
 
New water system installation
requires multiple excavations.
They just love to dig up the street!
 

Fat Head's Brewery in NW Portland Oregon
 
 (E)xcavations can lead to
(e)xcessive amounts of beer.
~~~~~

Monday, April 27, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge and Wowee it's Awww Monday!

W is for Wowee!
 
 
 
Two rather large dogs

 
Both St Bernards.....
one was quite friendly.... 

 
The other preferred to be alone!
~~~~
Be sure to visit Sandee's Comedy Plus
and have a purrfectly great day!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Magpie Tales #267 On the Road Again

Image provided by Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales
 
 Gone are the days
Of slowly traveling
Rocking back and forth

 
Today landscapes zip by
Reality reflections....
Only momentarily glimpsed
 
 
Too bad we lost the art of travel.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Six Words and Sunday Shadows! April 25-26, 2015

And so the growing season begins!
 
 
I have planted some cold weather seeds
and in June I will follow up with
tomatoes and other warm weather veggies!
 
 
And my darling lizards are
beginning to guard the garden against
any sort of bug that would eat the veggies!
 
 
These lizards are quite used to me
and just hang out watching as I plant.
Have a great weekend and do
drop by Six Words and Sunday Shadows !!
 

Friday, April 24, 2015

A to0 Z 2015 Challenge V is for Velazquez and Venus

 
 Rokeby Venus also known as Venus at Her Mirror
 painted by Diego Velazquez   c. 1647-1651
 
The Rokeby Venus is the only surviving female nude by Velázquez. Nudes were extremely rare in seventeenth-century Spanish art, which was policed actively by members of the Spanish Inquisition. Despite this, nudes by foreign artists were keenly collected by the court circle, and this painting was hung in the houses of Spanish courtiers until 1813, when it was brought to England to hang in Rokeby Park, Yorkshire. In 1906, the painting was purchased by National Art Collections Fund for the National Gallery, London. Although it was attacked and badly damaged in 1914 by the suffragette Mary Richardson, it soon was fully restored and returned to display.
~~~~~
To learn even more go to Chubby Chatterbox .
His blog contains all sorts of fascinating art facts written in a very entertaining and always educational way!

A to Z 2015 Challenge U is for Uña or Una, Feline Friday and more info about the Spanish alphabet.

The Spanish alphabet has two "N's"
First there is the regular "n" that we know
and then there is the "ñ" with the tilda.
That is because the n and the ñ have different sounds. The ñ sounds like "en-yay", for example baños is pronounced "bahn-yos". Rather like an n and a y put together. 
Una is the feminine pronoun or adjective of the number 1 and Uña is a claw!
And speaking of claws today is Feline Friday!
Brought to us by Steve of BFDude !!!
He wants to make sure we know he LOVES
cats even if they do have claws!!


Oh...nice kitty kitty!
 
 
Oh yes Kitty, I love you too!
Free images off the internet via this Link

And for you trivia gatherers there are 29
letters in the Spanish alphabet.
The three extra letters are:
Ch, Ll and ñ.
This is according to my 1968 Spanish dictionary. However according to some info on the internet the letters Ch and Ll were eliminated in 2010. Have I put you to sleep yet? Have a great day!
~~~~

Thursday, April 23, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge T is for Tapa and Tortilla

Tapa in Spain = snack or tidbit
Tortilla in Spain = Omelet
 
 
In 1972 I lived in Spain for a year
and almost immediately discovered
"Tapas". Little plates of tasty treats
and my favorite has always been the
simple Tortilla made with eggs,
potatoes and onions. Served at room
temperature it is delectable and
quite addictive.
Here's one recipe I found on the internet. 
Before living in Spain I only knew
tortillas that were from Mexico! 

 
A staple in Mexico, one cannot
pass up the delicious tortilla
filled with tasty avocado, tomatoes,
chilies, cilantro, onions and cheese! 


 
Bueno apetito !


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge S is for Sabroso

Sabroso = Tasty
 
Etna Tap Room, Yreka, California
 
¡Mi bocadillo es muy sabroso!
My sandwich is very tasty!
~~~~

Monday, April 20, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge R is for Rabano

R is for Rabano
R= Radish
 
In Oaxaca, Mexico there is a celebration
for the shy and unassuming radish...
 
 
It is called The Night of the Radishes...
La Noche de los Rábanos
 
Photo courtesy of  Night of the Radishes

A to Z 2015 Challenge Q is for Querida plus Awww Mondays!

 
Q is for Querida and Querido
Spanish for Darling
 
 
The two of us in the early 1990's...
with two of our little relatives...
 
 
Fast forward to 2015....
We celebrated our 25th earlier this month.
Russell will always be my querido!
~~~~
Thanks to Sandee  of Comedy Plus for
 Awww Mondays!
 


Sunday, April 19, 2015

Magpie Tales #266 Your Choice

 
 
Mirror Image provided by Tess Kincaid
 
An empty life
A lonely life
Reflects nothing
Take a chance
And embrace life
 
 
Three Hands, April 18, 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015

A-Z, Six Words and Sunday Shadows! April 18-19,2015

Love the A to Z Challenge!
This is my third year and I
find it very fun to do and to see
what other bloggers come up with! 
P is for Pendulo
Pendulo = Pendulum
 
 
 

 
Today I squeezed three memes into
one post....to look at Six Words
skip over Here and
for Sunday Shadows hop over Here .
And for heavens sake have a great day!

Friday, April 17, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge and Feline Friday! April 17, 2015

O is for Ojo
Ojo = Eye
( pronounced o-ho )
 
 
 
Ever vigilant....
Lucy is always keeping an eye on us.
She's getting ready to pounce on
the toy I have in my hand.
She's also waiting for more scritches
especially from Sandee at Comedy Plus  and
do thank Steve of  BFDude for Feline Friday!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge N is for Nieve

Nieve = Snow... 
 
 
A close up of chicken wire protecting
iris and a tiny Oregon Vine Maple tree
from our sweet little deer...
 

 
We only got a little bit the other night...
 
 
 
Nieve can also mean "sherbet" 
I would want more than a little bit...
~~~~~

A-Z 2015 Challenge M is for Milagros

Milagros=Miracles
Our new library is located in an old
bank. Our books for sale are
located in the vault!
 
 
Looking past the Children's section
into the glassed in Adult section.

 
The Adult section will be obviously
getting more books!
Note the huge donated blooming
Easter/Christmas cactus. 

 
Looking out from the Adult section.
 
 
Looking towards the entry door.

 
The Public Internet section.
All the art work was created by 
Library volunteers and local artists.
 
 
 
It's great having our library back!
~~~~~

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

A TO Z 2015 Challenge! L is for Libraries and Love!

On September 15, 2014 a wildfire blazed through our little town of 3,000. Approximately 90 homes were burnt to the ground and another 60 homes were damaged. Our library, Senior nutrition center, Grace Presbyterian church, the Holy Family Catholic and community center were completely burned to the ground. Parts of the Roseburg wood products mill were damaged. Miraculously no was killed and only 3 firemen were injured.


 
Yesterday thanks to generous donations and city assistance our Library re-opened in a
new location! Here are a few photos
of a few of many volunteers setting up
the new location!
 
 
 Assembly always required!!
 
 
 Amazing amounts of cardboard
needing to be recycled!
 
 
 And....here come all the new books!
Not to mention all the donated books!
Tomorrow I will post photos of our
libraries new home!!
A great big Thank You goes
out to everyone who helped!
We love our library!!
~~~
To read more about the fire go HERE .
 

Monday, April 13, 2015

A to Z 2015 Challenge and It's Awww Monday! April 13, 2015

K is for knocker...
 

New door knocker on our front door...
 



 
 
Old door knocker found in a
flea market when I was in Madrid
way back in the early 1970's.
 
 
And here's some AWWWsome chickens
with their protective rooster at a
friends home. I was there yesterday
picking up a few dozen eggs.
Home grown eggs are always delicious!
Don't forget to thank Sandee of Comedy Plus!
She started Awww Mondays !!!
 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Magpie Tales #265 Catch of a Lifetime

painting by Daria Petrilli
 
 
My belly swells
Hello my sweet little fish
I'm waiting to catch you!
~~~~
Thanks to Tess Kincaid
for Magpie Tales .
Our weekly treat!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

A-Z 2015 Challenge along with Six Words and Sunday Shadows!

J is for Jaunty Journey
There are few words in Spanish
that begin with the letter J....
Yesterday we took a Jaunty Journey
( otherwise known as a short 7 mile hike)
at Castle Crags State Park.
 We chose to hike the 7 mile round trip
 Flume trail and it was a glorious
day to be hiking!
Stomp over Here  to see more Six Words
Or scamper over Here  for Shadow Shots!
Happy Days to you what ever you do! 
 
 
Flume Trail April 10, 2015
 
Mother Nature plays pick up sticks....
 
Flume Trail April 10, 2015
 
Ferns with Dogwood trees blooming.
 
Close up of Dogwood blossoms.
 
 Rushing creek with Indian Rhubarb blooming.
 
Close up of Indian Rhubarb blooming. 

 Hikers reward seeing the Castle Crags!
 
These mountains never fail to amaze me.
 
 Our view while eating our lunch!
 
We were even on the PCT for awhile!
 
We crossed quite a few creeks
and since it was warm we did
 not mind getting our feet a bit wet!
 
Final photo...what a great day!