California Fires

So much has changed since I last posted. As the fires rage throughout California, I received this email yesterday from a person who lives in Southern California. It spoke to me, so I am including her insight:

"I've mentioned it in my blog but in case you missed it, my family lives in Southern California, Orange County to be exact. If you turn on the TV or radio right now, you will see wall-to-wall coverage of the fires raging out of control from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles to Orange and Riverside Counties. I've lived here the majority of my life and I don't remember ever experiencing a day quite like this. Last night my husband and I were sitting outside. We just looked at each other and we knew. There was something about the heat, the way the trees were blowing, just a feeling we had that something was going to happen. This is fire season and when you live here long enough, you just know when conditions are ripe for trouble. Fortunately we don't live in the hills or in an imminent fire danger area. But we can certainly see the smoke and brown sky. It's a searing 98 degrees with 5% humidity. In some areas there have been hurricane-force winds. So far hundreds of homes have been lost. It happens every year here. It's one of the hazards of living in certain sections of So Cal. It certainly doesn't feel like Thanksgiving or the Holidays are just around the corner. It's hot, uncomfortable, scary and eerie. One minute you're tempted to pack a couple of things and just get far away from all the craziness. Yet at the same time you're glad to be safe in your own home. So why share these thoughts? A couple of reasons. To those who live overseas or on the other side of the country, it may seem like all of Southern California is ablaze. It's not. There are plenty of areas untouched by the orange glow. But we all feel the pain of those who are losing their possessions, their pets, their property. It's a eerie unity that brings us together and gets us to think about how lucky we are...most of the time. I suppose this is a reminder to be thankful for what we have, to hug our loved ones a little tighter, to know when the time is right we'll all sneak away for a well deserved break. For now, keep the firefighters as well as those touched by these life-changing fires in your thoughts and prayers. Wish for cooler temperatures here in the southland and perhaps some rain. And hopefully soon we'll be back to regular TV and radio programs...a sign the worst will be over."

PattieWack!!!!!

Oh my gosh! What an awesome weekend I had visiting Pattie and Scott. They have just moved to California after living in Oklahoma and this was our first get together since the trade show in January.

It was so fun to just kick back, drink Orangetini's from oranges picked in the area, devour chocolate eclairs at midnight and have nowhere to go except enjoy the company of friends.

Saturday, Pattie and I ventured to the lovely town of Santa Barbara - we both had fond memories of the city and we didn't leave one rock or grain of sand unturned.

We met with one of our friends from Aleene's - she was the director of the TV show - it was great fun reminiscing and catching up as we sat near the ocean enjoying beautiful flowers, the smell of the ocean and each others company.

We trended and trended! (OK, so it really was shopping!) We stopped at a cosmetic counter and had our make-up done...then on to more shopping and looking and touching! Santa Barbara has incredible shopping!!!

We met with another friend from Aleene's old days for a very long, terribly enjoyable evening. Kat was one of the camera guys on the tv show and now is a radio personality in Santa Barbara. The evening was incredible fun and I hadn't laughed that much in ages!

I am always amazed when I see where Pattie lives and this time was NO exception! I'm including a couple of her projects and a hint or two...she's so practical, uses things unexpectedly and all this comes naturally to her.

The owl is made from shrink plastic and several hang from the market umbrella in their backyard along with wonderful ribbons - and, here comes the Pattie practical part - she attached the owls and ribbons to the umbrella with paper clips. She said she thought the movement of the ribbons and owls would keep the birds off of the umbrella as an added benefit.

OK, then there was the bathroom...I was amazed to find a little ceramic turtle sitting in the bottom of the shower. Then there was the hanging heart from the shower head...then...she used a magazine rack to hold towels! She's just amazing!!!


I was so happy to see the "man"equin made the move! The decoupage prints are so fun - I had to read EVERY square inch of it AND the black background is painted with chalk paint so as inspiration comes, writing sayings is highly encouraged.

What a wonderfully refreshing weekend...we'll do it again soon, I'm sure!

Joan