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Friday, August 24, 2012

Stillness

My sweet garden angel

My quiet time in the morning

My new must haves!!!
 
Mornings are one of my favorite times, its quiet and a lovely stillness surrounds me..
 I always go out to my garden pull a weed or two maybe plant a new pretty
 or just sit drink my tea, listen to the quiet and just be....
 Sometimes when my days are in full swing and
 its crazy and fast I remind myself to go back to that morning in
 my garden and remember to just be:)
 
Seems impossible that over a month has pasted since my last posting...
 
Its been a busy summer beach days with my Maxie:)
 Time with my Lenny he turned 80 in July!!
and lots of wonderful picking trips...
 
Picking trips brings me to my newest MUST haves!!! I love love pitchers, coffee pots (with or without lids) or creamers of any size. Even if they are a little chippy that's ok they can still hold a bouquet of flowers or be used on your desk or in your powder room... I use them to take a bouquet of flowers to a friend for a birthday or just for a I love you friend...
 They are one of my must haves for fall!!! 
 
I have been working hard on my new studio its just about finished.. Pathway from the front yard to the backyard with the new entrance is just about completed, waiting for the new gate I can not wait to have visitors!!! So if you are ever in my neck of the woods you have to stop by:)
 
Have a wonderful Friday and weekend..
as always thank you for taking the time and stopping by...
 
xoxo
Juanita
 
 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Alfalfa field Central Valley Ca
A beautiful American flag on the side of a barn
BEST chocolate shake EVER!!!!

I recently went on a little picking trip to the Central Valley here in Calif.... When I was a little girl we lived in a small town Los Banos, my dad was working on the dam there... It is small farming town that on one side is surrounded by the coastal mountain range just over the hill.... well a little more than just but there is the beautiful city of Monterey (one of my most favorite areas ever).. Then to the east are the ever so amazing Sierra's mountains....

The fields are filled with tomato's, melons, cotton and alfalfa among many other crops.. it really is a beautiful sight... The main street is like going back a decade or 3 in a good way:) The corner Rexall Drug store still has a lunch counter that has THE BEST CHOCOLATE SHAKES EVER!!!! I have so many wonderful memories here... My grandparents lived about 30 minutes away in little bit larger town Turlock... here in Turlock we would spend afternoons in the garage taking turns turning the ice cream maker handle... for hours it seemed.. My grandmother would slice up fresh picked peaches or strawberries and we would put them in the ice cream uuuumm sooo good...

It was such a simple time.... fishing with my dad on the canal banks, rock hunting in the foothills or a trip over the hill to Monterey... My brother and I would ride our bikes for hours out in the country we would pack a lunch and be gone the entire day... We would collect soda bottles and cash them in and buy ridicules amounts of candy:) We played kickball in the front yard and caught craw daddy's..

Sorry I got strolling down memory lane... the reason I went was to look for treasures and let me just say treasures I did find!!! I will post the pictures of my sweet finds very soon...

The Little french Flea Market is this Saturday in Tarzana... can't wait!!!

xoxo

Juanita

Friday, June 22, 2012

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons!!!!

folding chairs from the 70's


Lovely vintage iron couch, chair and table

So if you remember a few postings ago I had written about my beautiful Rachel Ashwell duvet, pillow shams (2 sets of them) and the dust ruffle burnt because Lenny turned a heater on in my studio that we never use.... Well I am re purposing the fabric... So far I have made the sweet chair covers for the folding chairs... I think they are so cute!!! Then I made pillows for the vintage iron set... I will be making many pillows... Which is exciting for me since I am newer to sewing:)

So as to keep to my business statement I am re purposing as much as possible... Though I miss my beautiful duvet and pillow shams I am happy to turn these lemons into lemonade!!!

Summer is in full swing and I have a few shows coming up!!! I will be having a show at my home with 3 other very talented vendors... Very excited to host this show!!! The Little French Flea Market is on July 21st such a cute venue in a park with a Koi pond lots of shady trees... Can't wait!!!

Hope your weekend is wonderful

XOXO
Juanita


Sunday, May 27, 2012

Remembering those who gave their lives...


This is a very important day that ALL Americans regardless of your politically views should honor.. Many men and women serve our country and sadly many many have given there life and still on a daily bases give their lives.... Memorial Day is a very special day.... a day to remember and honor all the men and women who gave their lives

 Our freedom is not without a price.

A little know fact.... I was in the Army, I joined when I was 19, my brother had already enlisted and told me how great it was... Though we have a very different view on "great" it was one of the best things I ever did!!! It was not easy.. Basic Training was very hard but I made it through and along the way I have made some life long friends.. I was in the first platoon of women to ever train with men at Fort Dix New Jersey.. I marched and marched I dug foxholes and then slept in the foxholes... I threw live grenades (not one of my strong points)  I was an expert marksman with the M-16.. I learned a lot in my 2 years in the Army and I can tell you that I am proud that I served our great country!!!

Please take time to thank a member of the military they ARE sacrificing their lives for our freedom...

XOXO
Nita

I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.
Edith Cavell

Monday, May 14, 2012

REALLY!!!!!

a moment of silence please....

Have you ever had "One of those days" I mean really really one of those days??? Well I experienced
 one of "those" days today.... Above is a picture of my beloved Rachel Ashwell duvet... that has met its end as a duvet:( My son had gotten it out of the loft for me yesterday as I was going to change out my bedroom duvet.... I love love this pattern... Plus there is a story behind it...

Several years ago I was very ill and had to be in bed for awhile... One day my sweet hubby asked what would make you feel better and in a magazine I had on the bed I pointed to this beautiful bedroom and I said this... So a few days later we drove to Rachel Ashwells store in Malibu and I got whatever I wanted.. My hubby jokingly said a trip to Hawaii would of been cheaper:) ok on to today..

Lenny apparently was cold (70+ degrees outside) turned on the heater in my studio the bag with duvet was next to the heater and the rest is history... A we never use that heater B REALLY!!!! It was burned through and through ... Lenny felt very bad... So this after it took me 1 hour to clean the stove top because Lenny made his famous stuffed cabbage... 1HOUR!!! So as if that's not a enough as I drove around today I thought wow the car smells really good, my son gets in the car and said wow mom something smells really good in here... I get home went to get something out of the back and guess what??? A whole container of Tide detergent had opened and yes it was everywhere...

Looking forward to going to bed:) Tomorrow will be fantastic.....

xoxo
Juanita

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Happy Mothers Day!!!!

Our Doodleboy!!!!
This has to be one of my favorite photos of my favorite guy:) My Maxie his sweet toothless grin!!!
Happy Mother's Day to his mommy my daughter in law Amy, what a joy you and Cory brought to our family!!! Max is truly a blessing!!!!

Cory Aaron and Sarah

Where does the time go??? Just when I start pumping the brakes of life.... everything seems to speed up!!! Being a mommy has been such a joy to me... My children have brought me much joy happiness and lots of giggles to my life.... Time has a way of just marching on!!! :(

I have many many wonderful memories of my childhood with my grandma!!! She was the best and though 12 years have pasted I miss her just as much as ever.... Remember to enjoy each day even though some days are harder than others they are still blesings...

I went on a road trip this past week and met some wonderful people and found some really fantastic items!!! Will post later this week....

XOXO

Juanita


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

"May Gray"


As much as I love my little sleepy beach town... not so fond of the "May Gray" as it is called.... After "May Gray" we get "June Gloom" so basically for the next 60 day its overcast but if we are lucky we will get a tiny weenie bit of sunshine in the late afternoon... but with the little sun comes the wind... which makes painting a bit challenging!!!

The good news is that I have several shows coming up that are inland and that means sunny warm weather!!! The Little French Flea Market is coming fast May 19th... If you live in the area its a must stop by!!! So many sweet vendors and lovely lovely items!!!

I have been very busy getting ready for this show, I have lots of great furniture, pictures will be posted soon!!! I have found some fabulous linens vintage jewelry and creamy white pitchers (one of my new favorite items).... Stop by soon

hope you have a fantastic day!!!

XOXO
Juanita