The new year is sneaking up on us

Baby it's cold outside by Lina Lou


Above: What I would wear tomorrow if I could :)
Below: Happy New Year!


Happy New Year by Lina Lou

Aaahhh... it's over

Merry Christmas... it's finally come and gone. Whew! It was very quiet this year, if I didn't know any better it would have been just another day.
Things I liked about our Christmas this year...
1. We got to sleep in and didn't have to drive anywhere (or really do anything for that matter)
2. I got to watch the birds have a Christmas buffet on our deck, very nice
3. I didn't have to cook
4. We went to a movie with our friends

There's quite a list of things I didn't like, but who wants to be a whiner (when all the whining has been already been done for me!! arrgg). I haven't been painting, I'm kind of in a funk about that too, and today we are going up to Corvallis to look at a car to replace my poor broken one. Hopefully if I get the car I will have some time out... I think maybe that's all I need.
Tomorrow is the party with the whole fam... it will be fun to watch the kids tear in to the presents. Maybe I need one of those light machines, I can hardly stand to be around myself... hahaha. Happy new year!

On the 1st day of christmas...

On the 1st day of Christmas my friends I give to thee...

A big orange persimmon in a tree.


Isn't it pretty? We had this poor stick of a tree sitting in our driveway in a black plastic pot (along with the rest of our copious plants) and didn't really give it too much attention, but late this year after every single leaf had dropped off the tree, there he was in all his glory the golden jewel of our little stick tree, Lord Paul the first of his majesty the Persimmon.

A very merry day to all on this first day of Christmas!

What a difference a desk makes!

So all of a sudden I'm painting more... and why? A little thing like a desk, set up in the corner, sort of in the way of the door and the closet has made all the difference. But we don't use either of those very much and I am loving having my own space where I can leave everything out and it doesn't feel like I'm messing up the whole house. Plus I have my wonderful office partner's inspiration :)
This one (which uploaded sideways for some reason) I sent as a thank you card... it was the stuff we talked about during lunch. The colors are not as reddish as in the picture and I think it turned out pretty good for what I wanted. On to the next one, or two or three :)

Snowflakes and snow

I'm very excited for it to snow this weekend. I know a lot of people think it's a total pain, but I just love the peacefulness of it. Watching the flakes come wafting down puts me in kind of a trance and I can watch until by feet fall asleep (I'm usually curled up tight with a blanket in a position that cuts off circulation to my lower extremities... I'm not saying it makes sense). Snow makes everything look and sound better, the first few days anyway.

I've also taken to making cutout snowflakes... here is a sample of the ones hanging in my front window.

It started with not really wanting to spend a lot of money on decorations and working with what I had on hand... lots of junk mail and paper to be recycled (the birthplace of creativity!!)... and it turned into a fun and addicting activity, something akin to doodling, only with scissors. It's super easy and they look great... right?

Composition #2

Here's my pick for the "shoe game"... GO!


#2 by Lina Lou

The pensive traveler

So I just got back from Salt Lake, which- I might add- was a balmy 50 degrees and sunny!!, and didn't see a smiggen of snow... none, zip, zero, nada. MDee just called to say it is dumping snow now and has been since I left... bleh!

So... I'm glad I went, it was a good thing to be there and visit... it was exhausting to meet new people and try to figure out what to say to them without sounding like I'm trying to think up something to say to them... and very good to be back. I didn't miss any flights, although going and coming were both delayed, and it went well, but I'm just not the traveler I hoped I would be. I love to be at home in my own environment and I tend to get very antsy and a little out of sorts when I have to tread around in a place other than my own without my stuff... hey, when did this happen?
So now I'm thinking about making cookies and maybe doing some decorating for Christmas... I made paper snow flakes all weekend and my variegated poinsettia is so pretty sitting on the wooden stork. I'm so much better with the whole season this year... thank you dear God for meds!!

So here are some fond Christmas Greetings to all... now back to painting. Hooray

Ode to the Christmas Movie

I'm not quite sure what has compelled us to watch every Christmas movie we own in the past 48 hours, but it has indeed been a Christmas movie marathon at our house. It started out with the fact that K had never seen "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Steward and Donna Reed... can you imagine?
Then we moved on to "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "Miracle on 34th Street" (the newer one), "White Christmas", "Love Actually" (which some might protest as a Christmas movie... but it's set at Christmas time, so at our house it counts), and "Frosty the Snowman". We still have to conquer "The Christmas Story" which is one of my favorites, and "Muppet Christmas" which is not, but we don't own these, so it will have to wait (whew!).
It's been nice to have the extra days off work, but I'm getting cabin fever because I haven't left the house very much. I did some yard work and hurt my back. I forgot how heavy stuff gets when saturated with water and didn't lift like should have, so sure enough, I pulled something in my lower back and am moving like a turtle.
So, in my wonderful time off... I've made exhibit B in the shoe/polyvore collection :)
Back to work tomorrow... then SLC on Wednesday.... hooray!


Black & Blue by Lina Lou

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Wow, time is going by so fast. Thanksgiving was already 2 days ago and was a great time! I'm not big on the holidays and not really big on food either, but had fun at B.'s house and I didn't have to cook! what's not to like? My favorite part was when I called her up before coming over to see if she needed anything, and she reported that the turkey had caught on fire in the rotisserie!! hahaha. It actually turned out really great, cuz it sealed the juice in and was kind of crispy and well, burnt (but only a little) on the outside. Scrumptious! It was also her and K's birthday which was fun. I made a cake, but it turned out terrible, so we had baked pears and pumpkin pie. After dinner we cleaned up a little, sat around and chatted, opened presents, then played Taboo... ahhh fun with our "friends family" I got some great pictures, but can't find the cord again to download...

Here is a pic of the pre-Thanksgiving wild turkeys that have been coming and eating the birdseed that the birds spill out of the feeder and on to the deck... they look pretty healthy to me... and ugly.

I am so grateful and have a lot to be thankful for especially this year, so here goes... not necessarily in any order.

1. I am so thankful for the house we rent... it is just perfect for us, and we have wonderful friends for neighbors (that's 2 for 1).

2. I am contantly amazed and deeply grateful for my job and the wonderful people that I work with. I have never had a job that people are so caring and nice to each other and that makes it so worth it!!

3. So very thankful that D is winning her fight with cancer. It's been a rough patch but we'll keep praying for a full recovery.

4. Only 1 more term! Thankful that school has gone by quickly, we've lived through it and soon John will graduate with a bacchelor's degree... omg!!

5. So thankful that the car has held up, still gets good gas mileage, and hasn't needed any major repairs (knock,knock). Also thankful that I don't live somewhere with terrible traffic!

6. Thankful for a mild fall and for all the fantastically beautiful leaves this year!

7. For all the little things that I take for granted every day. Clean water that comes out of the tap on demand, a refrigerator, electricity all day long - unrationed, heat at the flick of a switch, paved roads, RECYCLING! clean air, nature. I'm sure there is much more...

8. Healthy family.

9. I am so thankful to my wonderful friends for all their love and support, thankful to the people who are becoming wonderful friends and opening their lives to us... so generous.

10. I am thankful for Eggnog and that it's only available once a year!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
(go ducks)

Day and Night

Day and Night by Lina Lou

Here is the 1st in the game of the shoes :) Yes, it all starts there.

Ooooo... it's a shoe, a what?, a shoe

a what? a shoe... ooohhhh a shoe. Remember that silly little word game. I think someone started it on a car trip when we were kids. Then promptly grew to regret it. (Tangent alert!)
AnywaySSS, had a nice quick trip up to PDX to hang out with my sweet friends. Thanks Karin for being a great hostess! I now officially have a new favorite place for my favorite breakfast... the Petite Provance at 48th (ish) and Division. Eggs Benedict with ham on a croissant with the sauce AND they gave me sour cream on my potato pancakes... what's not to like? The service was nice, the bakery was lovely. I wish I reeeeely wish I had my camera with me this trip. If I had, I would have taken pictures of...


1. The glorious sunset on Friday evening


2. The picture perfect scene of the green fields dotted with sheep with the beautiful hills in the background and the thin layer of fog that hung just above the ground making everything look like a fairy tale or the Shire

3.The big fat orange harvest moon in all it's fullness

4. The long snaking line of traffic, red tail light sitting on the I-205 freeway at a dead stop, and the man who peed on the side of the road in front of God and everyone.

5. My sweet friends whom I love.


6. Kimberly in her percacet induced hilarity.


7. The 4 amigas at our table in PP (mentioned above)

8. The cream puff shaped like a swan!!

9. The funny coasters at that cool store across the street
AND

10. The super cool shoes that I came dangerously close to purchasing because they were SUPER cute and cheap, but ultimately put back because as much as I really wanted them, they weren't comfortable and didn't really fit right... rats! Did I mention they were super DUPER cool. Yes, I definitely would have taken a picture of them. So in tribute to fab shoes... here is another visit to polyvore and the magic land of shoe heaven. mmmmmmm...
Cheers

Marching on by Lina Lou

Leafy Fireworks

The fall colors this year have been more spectacular than I can remember in a long time. Last year it rained fast and hard and the leaves all came off quickly. But this year the season has been unusually warm for this time of the year and truly awe inspiring. A few weekends ago I drove around town (with the lower gas prices being what they are, funny what I now think of as "low")and took pictures of the gorgeous colors. Here's a peak although it just doesn't translate... it was far more beautiful in person. Glad I got a few shots though. Natures Fireworks!!

I'm obsessed... somebody stop me!

Bohemian Rhapsody by Lina Lou

This one's for you Janice

My best shot at dressing like an apostle thru polyvore... hahaha



Angels & Apostles by Lina Lou

This is a repost of my new favorite site... thanks for the comments. I'm trying to figure out how to post this like "diVinci"... once again techno challenged.


Shades of Fall by Lina Lou

The Secret Life of Bees

Well tonight ended up being a nice little treat. After coming home and grumbling about getting ready for a party, I quickly swept the floor, vacuumed, shoved all the papers that collect everywhere under the bed and zipped out the door as the first college boy arrived. I was going to go to the Cuban art exhibit, but found myself drawn to the cinema instead to see the film version of one of my favorite books "The Secret Life of Bees"... it did NOT disappoint. Queen Latifa IS the queen and I loved her in this movie (I love her in most all of her movies). Everyone did an outstanding job and it stayed right on track with the book. This story is so messy... it is terrible and beautiful, tragic and heroic, so full of imagery and realism. I felt the same way coming out of the theater as I did after finishing the book... not a feeling I really have words for but something like satified... inspired... moved.
I also recommend taking a kleenex... or 2.

The experiment

Am I allowed to post more than once in one day? Is there a blogger's rule about that? Well, here is a little collage experiment I have been working on... I was testing out a few techniques and also seeing how my stamps would turn out... I think I like it, which is kind of unusual for my perfectionist self. There's hope after all :)

Dia de los muertos & stuff

I know I'm a little late... but I wanted to go on record as saying Halloween this year was pretty cool. Wearing my feathered witchy hat at work and then dressing up and getting ready was actually more fun than the actual party we went to, but it was all very liberating and a way to let off steam in the tense political climate that was brewing (no witchy pun intended). I grew up in a very strict conservative household that held the view that anything having to do with halloween was evil, wicked, satanic, and not even to be acknowledged. But early on, when it was still okay to look like a ghost, I have such great memories of coming home with a bag full of candy and sitting in the dark with my grandma and watching out the window as kids dressed as all sorts of things came to the door, then watching my dad scare the pants off the bigger kids... it was so great!! Then we became "enlightened" (which might be code for uptight) and all of halloween was evil, but better yet, we didn't stop celebrating we just called it a "harvest party" instead of halloween, and dressed up like the apostles or angels... hahaha isn't that what religion has always done?
Which is why I was sooooo elated and liberated to have stumbled upon the experience of dia de los muertos (day of the dead). The real dia de los muertos celebrates and honors ancestors that have passed on in the circle of life to death, and the grinning skeletons are a way to demystify death and say "see it's not so scarey and bad, it happens to everyone and it's okay". It made my dressing up like scarey stuff okay again, and a way to let loose and have some good old fashioned fun.
Truth be told I did feel a little like I was treading on someones grave, or at any moment going to get a healthy tongue lashing about the dangers of the satanic world... sorry dad, I hope you're not reading my blog today.

Techno challenged

Yep, that's me... I'm figuring out that I'm not too good at this blog thing. Mostly because after work the last thing I want to do is turn on a computer and try to make it work for me. Hey, I've been doing that all day!
But I really want to start putting up art posts. I like K.'s post of the vangough poppies. I liked it so much I saved it as my background. And J. just told me about photofunia... hopefully it will be more funia than I can punia. So here's a rough start to my new paper collage... I think I'll go work on it now. See ya

October

Wow, the house is quiet (except for the buzzing of the computer) the tea is on, it's kind of foggy outside... it makes me want to go back to bed. Hey yea! I can do that.
Last night J. had a bee in his "bonnet". He went up to the empty lot at the end of the street and picked a huge tub of apples, fell off the ladder (without injury), came home and baked an apple pie. I envy his energy sometimes... I on the other hand collapsed on the couch in a dark living room trying to fight my migraine and hoping my head wouldn't explode. All turned out well... the pie and the victory over the migraine.
Last weekend me an my two good "sistah's" went to the beach and had an excellent time. I also stopped and saw S. at the hospital and was soooo happy to see her looking like her regular self.
It's too bad I am so technology challenged... I can't figure out how to get the pictures from the other camera I took with me, so I'll just have to imagine the blue sky the white foamy waves, the soft sand, wading in the water with my plastic boots! FUN. I want to apologize to my sistahs though for being a poop on the second day. I was really in a funk, quiet, a little snappy... I was feeling kinda queezy all day and I'm officially blaming it on the wine... which was really really good. I love Shiraz... too bad it goes down so easy hahaha.
So nothing too earth shattering to report... Big D is coming to visit this weekend so I better get going on cleaning up the house. Maybe after a good nap :) I think I do love fall after all.
Cheers!

Stuff...

I've been uptight and grouchy all week... so here's a try at blazing a new pathway

Stuff I think is funny:

1. My brothers' sense of humor

2. Stupid jokes

3. Roller derby

4. Missy

5. cats chasing a flashlight beam

Stuff I like:

1. Fresh flowers,

2. coffee with creamer

3. riding my bike (on a warm day),

4. warm days,

5. vintage pin up girls,

6. tango music

That's all for tonight, I'm tired and going to bed

Goodnight

Frustration & Orange Juice

I am posting this picture today for several reasons...

Reason #1: I love orange juice. It is one of my favorite beverages, but only if it has low-to-no pulp. It also happens to be the namesake of this blog.

Reason #2: and the real reason I am posting this picture is because I can't find the little cord that attaches the camera to the computer to download the pictures that I really wanted to post and so I'm putting in a picture that I already have downloaded to keep me from going seriously crazy.

I HATE not being able to find things... I don't mean just normal frustration... I mean crazy making, completely obsessed, ready to throw something across the room, really crazy!!
Why? why do I do this to myself? I am completely irrational when I can't find something and I turn into a raging chicken... (that's the nice way of saying it :) ) It throws my brain into chaos, which considering it's current state is more like a short toss than a throw. I am really ready to go out and spend money I don't have on this stupid cord that I know is lurking about somewhere... then I start blaming J. Good thing he's not here right now, poor guy, he would really get the full impact of my misplaced tantrum. Breathe... D. said something interesting... she said her mother used to get so insensed when she wouldn't put something back in it's place and she could never figure out what was the big deal. Ah, how oddly comforting that I'm not the only control freak spewing my rage. Hey this blog thing is cathartic too... okay so maybe it's not that big of a deal (grumble, grumble)

So anyway... I'm following J's example and saying 5 things I like about this rainy season upon us.
1. I don't have to water the garden & potted plants by hand
2. It gives me an excuse to curl up on the couch and read a book
3. uuuummmmm... I get to wear my cute rain boots
4. We can build a fire in the fireplace without getting too hot
5. I get to collect beautiful leaves

Phew... that's about all for today.

September was a good month!

So it looks like a few things happened in Sept which were entirely enjoyable.

John, Joe, Leah, and I went to the Diva Garden Party and had a great time. Shelly sang and did a wonderful job, and we had some good food, wine and saw some fun art.




Then on the other end of the spectrum... J. told me about the roller derby league in Eugene and that they were having a "bout". I can't tell you how psyched I was to see this in person, and the real show did not disappoint.




I had such a good time and B. was a sport and went with me... thank you

Also had a garden party of our own at the O's and met the girls in Portland for a relaxing get together which included painting Shan's belly, and meeting M's new baby.

Also had lunch and went wine tasting with the Eugene girls, had birthday drinks at the Vintage, went to the Eugene celebration parade, throw in book club, and a trip up to Corvallis for the fall festival and art show... and that makes for a full month. Hey September was a great month. Can't wait to see what October brings :) Hopefully more art projects!

As much Calcium & Vitamin D as Milk

Hey... look at me now! My friend J. said I should start a blog and so here I am (yes, feeling quite self indulgent BTW). Minute Maid Premium Calcium +D Original, low pulp... 100% pure squeezed orange juice from concentrate....eeeeerrrrr WHAT? contains pure filtered water, premium concentrated orange juice from the USA, Brazil and Costa Rica. No added sweeteners or preservatives. Keep refrigerated and shake well!