Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Click Chicks - Sunsets


Titled: The O.C.

Taken a few years ago in Laguna Beach


I definitely miss sunsets like this... 

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Stop by and visit the other Click Chicks!

Meg from Megs7827
Jessica from Heart on Homestead
Lindsay from Eat Wine and be Merry
Ivy from Little Woman Little Home

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Next week's topic:  Window

march 28th-window
april 4th- bokeh (blurry background)
april 11th- silhouettes
april 18th- happiness
april 25th- black & white

We would love for you to grab a button and link up!
Because it's fun.
Little Woman, Little Home


Exploring the local history - A gold mine, literally.

We have been trying to be purposeful about exploring our surroundings, not leaving any stone unturned.  When you move somewhere new you just never know what you're going to find.  There is no way to know which restaurant will be your favorite, which park will be the most fun, which local museum will bring you the most local knowledge.  So we are making a conscious effort to continue getting out of our ever growing comfort zone and explore.

So off we went on a "dventure" we'd passed the sign for this park/museum dozens of times but had never taken the time to stop in.  The museum ended up being closed for the winter, but the park was open.


Many of the museums we have encountered around here are free for children, I really love that.


My boys.






Something about a gorgeous stream makes me want to take my shoes off (in summer, when it's warm) and get right in and walk around.  And maybe pan for some gold? :)



Roots grow deep around here, some families have been here since the town was settled during the gold rush. 





Looking forward to bringing a picnic lunch and enjoying this peaceful spot during a meal.



Stairs from the park area to the industrial area: 


The techonology and capability was just incredible, though just reading this has me feeling bad for the mules




Learning the difference between a mine cart and a choo choo train.
Locally people actually use a lot of old mining equipment to decorate their yards/homes. It's very interesting, we'd never seen that before.

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Until next time... don't forget to link up tomorrow for #ClickChicks #Sunset !  See you then.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

My favorite poem - Daffodils

Today I was lucky enough to stumble upon something beautiful that reminded me of my favorite poem.
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Daffodils



I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. 

William Wordsworth





Saturday, March 16, 2013

A little back patio playtime

Spring is here, I think it is safe to say.  There are flowers popping up on every bush.  Roses, daffodils, pretty blooming trees.  These pictures aren't of any of those things (check back Monday) but they are pictures that show how nice it was this week.  Taken at about 4:30 after nap.  If we can go outside after nap in a t-shirt, it's Spring!

We don't really know what a typical winter here looks like.  Everywhere we go people remind us that this has been a pleasant winter with hardly any snow (and not enough rain).  We expected snow through March and were pleasantly surprised with a week in the 60's-70's.  We are grateful, having just moved from San Diego a frigid Winter would have been a terrible shock (even though we come from colder climates).  
So far we really like it here, and the early arrival of Spring is just adding to that pleasure. 


Some photos of D enjoying a nice afternoon on the back patio (that desperately needs some attention.)


Wondering why his mother is inside taking pictures instead of outside pwaying.  Actually what he was saying was "More ahh-ter please"  Taken through our very grimy sliding door.  I kind of love it.  


He just loves doing this.


Training for his future responsibilities :)

"Mommy wash car?"


His intense amusement while spraying me with a little water gun.

It's so fun to spray mommy.

Still, so sweet.  It is so nice to be able to go outside at 4PM. Enjoying the first signs of Spring.

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Friday was picture day at D's school.  My little guy had his first picture day, I can hardly believe it.  While he didn't smile for his photo, I know I'll treasure it forever.

This was taken in a huge hurry in terrible light on our way to school on Friday.  Still cute.



Hope you are all having a happy weekend!  Cheers!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Click Chicks - Green

Well well, hello there Click Chicks!  I hope you are all having a lovely week.

I will say I struggled with this topic more than any of the others.  If I have learned one thing about myself through these challenges, it's that I gravitate toward nature.  Every step of the way.  I hear green?  I think bushes.  I think flower stems.  I think trees.  I think leaves.  

However, I had already decided I wanted to go in a different direction.  This is supposed to be a challenge, I can't keep using pictures from my trip to SF every week.  So.. I found something green in my house and I took it outside.  To a bush ;)

There is a good chance my neighbor who saw me snapping these pics thinks I've snapped.  Honestly.  A grown woman taking pictures of a toy tractor in a bush outside our townhouse?  Yeah. Not exactly something you expect to see in the morning on your way to work. Oh well :) 





Next week's topic:  Sunsets

march 21st- sunsets
march 28th-window
april 4th- bokeh (blurry background)
april 11th- silhouettes
april 18th- happiness
april 25th- black & white

Stop by and visit the other Click Chicks!

Meg from Megs7827
Jessica from Heart on Homestead
Lindsay from Eat Wine and be Merry
Ivy from Little Woman Little Home

Friday, March 8, 2013

Old School Blog Link-up

Since I am a brand new blogger and I don't see much of this anymore, I thought it would be really fun to join in on this old school blogging style.  I'm joining up with http://www.misselaineouslife.com/  and http://www.thetamom.com/ to get a taste of what blogging used to be like :)





What were you doing ten years ago?
     March 2003, I was 20 years old.
I was living in a apartment on campus at Messiah College with two other girls.  I was still coming to terms with what felt like a tough diagnosis at the time (Fibromyalgia). I was heartbroken over my first real losses that had happened the year before and questioning everything I knew about faith and life and love.  So not the best time necessarily, though I do miss that free as a bird feeling.

 What 5 things are on your to-do list?
Oh yuck.
-Getting all of our health care/ and past doctors papers ordered/ in order
-Making some appointments with Oral surgeon, dentist, skin doctor, etc...
-I need to buy a new mop and do a serious clean job on our floor
-Get some more tax stuff in order (moving is such a pain.)
-Get my craft closet in order, it's too chaotic

Name 5 snacks you enjoy:
- Cheese fries is basically my favorite thing ever, I try to limit myself.
-Avocado, right out of the shell? skin?  Whatever it is in, it's delicious.
-Fancy cheese, I'm not big into bleu but I'll try almost anything.  Cheese tasting is my fav.
-Roasted carrot or zucchini chips.
-Fresh fruit - pears are my current favorite.

 Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire:
-I would buy a nice big house in town with a great big yard.  Then I would hire my brother to create and build a fantastic organic garden.  I'd also put up a play structure, because well...  they are fun.
-I would open up my own shop in town, not sure what I would sell :)
-My husband and I would finally take a honeymoon.  Where would we go?  I'm thinking the south of France  maybe Tuscany.  Wherever we want :)

 Name some places you have lived: 
-Denver, Co (born there)
-Central NJ, went to high school in Princeton
-Grantham, PA
-Burbank, CA
-North County San Diego, CA
-Sierra Nevada Foothills, CA

Name some bad habits you have:
-Saying "I'll do it later" because later comes and it's still not done, whatever it is.
-I bite my nails when I'm stressed.
-I am terrible at putting laundry away.  Truly terrible.

Name some jobs you have had:
-I have worked at Kohl's (a million years ago)
-I've been a hostess and a waitress at multiple restaurants (my fav... i'd do this again just to get out!)
-I am currently a Research Assistant for an Actuarial Firm

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Click Chicks - Shadows

Click Chicks week 5 photo challenge submission:

A warmish winter day at the castle playground



Next week's topic:  The Color Green

march 14th- green
march 21st- sunsets
march 28th-window
april 4th- bokeh (blurry background)
april 11th- silhouettes
april 18th- happiness
april 25th- black & white

Stop by and visit the other Click Chicks!

Meg from Megs7827
Jessica from Heart on Homestead
Lindsay from Eat Wine and be Merry
Ivy from Little Woman Little Home



Little Woman, Little Home