Thankfulness

A look at our Thanksgiving brunch....

So thankful

We only get to see this beauty when the tide is out

Again so thankful....

Thanksgiving morning

REALLY.... these colors are amazing!!!

Again only when the tide is out do we get to experience this nature....

My Thanksgiving morning started with a brunch at home it was suppose to be just

a small thing but I never seem to be able to cook/bake small:) Then my sweet daughter Sarah her boyfriend Zach and I took a stroll on the sand. It was an amazing day looked like maybe rain but nothing ever happened.... The tide was way way out and we explored one of the jetties and this is what we found!!! I love the contrast between the sea grass and the starfish I think the colors are amazing!!! Well so I thought and then I found this purple and aqua contrast... SOOOO YUMMY!!!

WOW I am so thankful for nature!!!

The china I use is from my childhood. It was my grandmothers Juanita... I was very close to my grandmother, I still can smell her home how warm and inviting it always was:) I was in my mid 40's when she passed away I remember friends would say.. you still have a grandparent alive??? I had never really thought of it, it just seemed so natural to have her... She taught me so many things and showed me how to live with grace and dignity and still have fun... I am so thankful for all the time I had with her... I have some of her Halloween decorations and Christmas, they always bring a smile to my heart...  I know she is where I learned about charity and how helping others is so important, because of her I volunteer with hospice... I am thankful for that. I better move along before I get too teary eyed:)

It has been a year... Unlike any other ( the whole 50 thingy) still stinging a bit:) I am thankful though that I got to turn 50, my time with my doodlebug and with my dad.. The list can can go on and on.. Like all of us have we have many people experiences and things to be thankful and grateful for..

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks for stopping by...

XOXO

Juanita

Like a river...

Soo I was going through my pictures looking for the ones I took today of my space at American Home and Garden and came across this wonderful picture of my sweet little Maxie sound asleep.... All of a sudden what my space looked like or the fun vintage items just did not seem so important... ( sorry Kathee) I had taken pictures of your wonderful treasures... I promise to post soon:)

This picture reminded me just how fast time goes... This was taken 3 years ago!!! I once read "time is like a relentless river, it knows only to flow without thought of anyone or anything" At times it seems like life is one big rapid as it bounces you along, sometimes holding on for dear life... Other times its a slow lazy ride down a calm river blue skies above and time seems to just move slowly... (Those are my favorite times :)

With the holidays just weeks away and all the hustle and bustle that comes with them, I am looking back to what I said in April... I am going to take my time and enjoy the moments.... I hope you you enjoy the moments too...

XOXO

Juanita

Bragging Rights....

My handsome son:)

Singer Sewing base table....

OK so my first picture is my handsome son Aaron, I admit I am VERY bias:)

He would probably die if he knew that I posted this... but I am his mum and I am so very proud of him:) This was taken the day he went for his interview with the Ventura County Fire Hand crew... He got the job!!!! He has been working for 2 two long years to get to this place....:)

As I promised the picture of the Singer sewing base table.... I love this table though it has already sold... plus another one in white.. I am on the hunt for another base!! This picture was taken at my last show. My Halloween items flew out the door.. I had a lot of fun glittering though there is black glitter EVERYWHERE in my house and backyard!!!

 Seems impossible that Halloween is next week and before you know Thanksgiving then Christmas!!! I have been very busy making really sweet Christmas trees will post pictures soon:)

Thanks for stopping by

XOXO

Juanita

Happy Fall Southern California Style....

A peek at my vendor space at

American Home and Garden

Sweet Vintage Dresser

A very lovely vintage birdbath

It has been a while since my last posting... sorry but part of my "vision quest" is to take the time to enjoy my life without the craziness... Spent a good part of my summer with my sweet grandson Maxie. Shopped a lot for my online shop and my space at American Home and Garden. Took several mini trips with my dad Lenny, Yuma AZ, San Diego, Los Banos to fish and to the Sultan Sea because he remembered it from the 1950's... (which was very depressing) Look up the Sultan Sea....

As true Southern California style our fall is our summer... We finally have our warm sunny days. You can see the Channel Islands the ocean sparkles the sky is a beautiful blue oh and did I mention the sun.. Our summers can be a bit dreary at times..

I will post pictures of the projects I have been working on.. One of my favorites is an old Singer sewing machine base to make a table... plus my lavender soap making has taking on a life of its own:) a yummy one:)

Cheers for now

Juanita

Sweet Summer

Roses and Liliacs

from my garden

Seems impossible that August is just a day away!!! where does the time go???

I am just about settled into my new spot in American Home and Garden, my space is slowly getting to where I want it... Good news is as soon as I bring a piece of furniture in it sells:) Two times I do not even have the item off the dolly and it has been bought!! The other part to this "good news" is that I get go hunt for more wonderful treasures for my sweet clients! A win win for me:)

I am going to go to New Hampshire to see my little sissy and to treasure hunt..

My soap making is coming along, I wish I could share the smell of the lavender.. Sooo amazing... Very yummy. I am working on the packaging now I promise to share photos soon...

My dear sweet friend Rose recommended a book for me to read, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp on the cover it says

"A dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are" As you know I am on my Vision Quest and a big part of that has been learning to enjoy my life to live more fully to be more in the moment... to just be.. THIS is what this book is about!!! I am about half way through funny how things just turn up... It is also about grace how does one have grace when so many terrible things happen in the world, in ones own life?? She talks about by hurrying up and getting more things done that you are saving time but really you are losing time because you are not in the moment.. you are losing precious minutes.. Makes you think...

Have a wonderful Sunday

Juanita

WOW!!!!

Lucky us....

Lucky me....

I have to say that I truly live in a very beautiful town!!! Our sunset was beyond

words tonight!!! Maxie and I took a sunset trip to the beach and this is what we got!!! Max said "boy Gigi God can sure paint good" That doodleboy:) This is part of my "Vision Quest" spending more time looking for sandcrabs, exploring the jetties looking for starfish with Max...

In April I said I am on my "Vision Quest" for what does being 50 really mean.. Where do I go from here... I have gotten many emails from old friends and  new blogger friends expressing what 50 meant to them.. I would say 100% said that is when they started living their lives for themselves!!! Taking the time to enjoy things that make them happy... I really thought about what makes me happy and I mean really really happy... you know that feeling in your tummy happiness??? Well of coarse my Maxie is right up on that list... But that is such a no brainer... I am a little bias:) I started to write down what makes me happy and the list was over 100 things!!!!

Part of the my quest is knowing when something doesn't make me  happy and I have learned in the last month that it's ok to change it and that made me really happy:) Life has a funny way of just going on... either you are aware or you are just bumping along... and I realized at times I have been just bumping along... So this whole turning 50 thing is actually helping me figure some things out making some changes and seriously loving my life!!!!

Cheers for now...

Juanita

Sweet Lavender

I went lavender picking on Sunday.... The moment I opened the car door the aroma of the lavender was so thick in the air it was amazing!!!!

The fields were amazing....

The colors were amazing....

There were bees everywhere, busy working.. It was a very lovely day. On the way home we stopped at this little fruit stand that was on the honor system... gotta love small towns:) The organic apricots were amazing!!!

I am making my own lavender soap... will let you know how it turns out...

Cheers

Juanita