Favored Scents

I love fragrances. I like to stick my nose in each of the roses in our garden. I think a rose without fragrance is a waste of time. Our peach and yellow roses are the most fragrant.

I like to keep a candle burning in my kitchen. Favorites are Votivo's Sumatra Lemongrass and most everything by Cire Trudon. I also like some of the woodsy scents by DL&Co.

But I think my favorite scent of all is that of my Shetland Pony, "Pony". Each morning I hug him to me and breathe in the grassy/horsey smell of his mane. It is the exact smell of the donkey I used to look at longingly, and occasionally ride bareback, on Capitola Road in Capitola, CA. There was an old farm where this donkey lived in a big field. This was many decades ago, when I was around 10 years old, and there was nothing around but open fields bordered by eucalyptus windbreaks. Oh, and there were begonia gardens. Imagine an entire nursery devoted to hanging baskets of luscious begonias. There were two of these nurserys. The foggy coastal climate was perfect for these tender blooms. It's all gone now, covered in concrete, full of cars and people. But that scent will be with me forever and bring back time spent in a grassy field riding a little donkey.

ps since I am using a borrowed PC and can't download my photos, all pics were found via Google

Random...Just to Keep In Touch

It is beastly hot here today. I know, you've heard me complain for months about the grey skies and now I'm complaining about the heat. I heard yestrday that the average temp. in Hawaii is 72 in the winter and 78 in the summer. How perfect is that. Still, here I am and happy to be so. My friend Laura and I have a shared admiration for artists who capture the light in stunning ways. Few can compare with Maxfield Parrish. These glowing lanterns are one example.

This brings to mind Laura's and Violet's day hike, following a "crik"; that's Texas talk for a creek or stream , ya'all. Both of these lovely Parrish images are for sale at www.datadesignssb.com

Now it gets interesting. I sorta feel as parched as these two gentlemen (ladies?). I read about an exhibit of James Ensor's work at the MoMa in New York. He lived to be 89 years old and painted throughout the mid to late 1800's. I didn't find many of his images online, but he seemed fascinated with the macabre. And here I thought that was a Gen X thing. I remember in the late 60's learning about astrological signs and thinking that was new, too. Goes to show everything old is new again.

Busy Morning

After all of 6 hours of sleep, I was up at 7:30 this morning. That's early for me. After a quick shot of espresso, I got busy as a buzzing bee. Horse chores and laundry were first. Then a walk up to the road to get the newspaper. It is such a nice day I decided to go for a quick ride before breakfast.

Oh, yeah. Wearing bermuda shorts, a jog bra and gardening boots, I gave Buffy a quick groom and off we went. We stayed on the shady trails, many of which have become quite overgrown. Still, lovely to be out with my boy at 10 a.m.

Upon my return, I cooked the usual Sunday morning breakfast and continued to tend to my watering. Must keep my hydrangeas and nasturtiums looking fresh in this heat. By heat I mean the low 80's we have been enjoying for past few days. Really nice to feel the warm sun. And good news; Bob decided to "take the day off" which means I don't have to help stack wood or clean-up numerous half-completed yard projects. Back at it tomorrow. Now, where's my book? ps all images from Flickr.

Thank you, my friends

I received very special birthday cards and phone calls from you, my friends. I was quite moved by these expressions of friendship and affection. Back at ya! Truly, to know that you think of me so fondly...well, it means a lot to me. I am frustrated that I can't respond...because I STILL do not have my PC or your email addresses. I learned today that my PC is finito. Did it have to take the repair shop 3 business days to figure this out? Whatever! Just now I placed an order with Dell for a new PC, which I won't have for probably 7 work days or so. In the meantime I will borrow a little time on Bob's PC. Boy, I hope my mood improves because it hasn't been pretty around here. Interesting what a little PC can do. Hugs.

I'm Broken

OK, not ME, but my computer is broken and that's a big part of me. I'm sure this is further fallout from our lightening strike a week ago. So, no email and no web surfing for me until it gets fixed. I can use Bob's PC but he is usually on it himself. So adieu, my friends. Couple of opinions: LOVED the new Harry Potter movie. LIKED the original Grey Gardens documentary and LOVED the HBO edition. Jessica Lange is stunning as Big Edie and Drew Barrymore is excellent. They were perfectly cast. ps this photo is not my PC

Nighty Night

Here we are just before bed at Chez Smothers. Garrett is checking-out the latest Club Penguin happenings. Gandi and Indiana Jones are ready for lights out. Me, too.

Cake Off

OK, I've launched my cake bake-off. So far I've baked two cakes...leading up to my birthday. The first cake is from scratch: Peanut Butter Cake with peanut butter and orange marmalade filling and vanilla butter cream frosting. Secret ingredient is Jamaican Allspice in cake and frosting. Cake was a bit dry and hardly tasted of peanut butter. Could have used more of the filling. Overall, a 3 on 1-5 scale. I decided to use a Betty Crocker Devil's Food mix for this cake, even though I had intended to use a "dump cake" recipe. The cake is very moist and tastes good. I added vanilla and a bit of Starbucks instant coffee to the mix. The filling is mocha butter cream. Glaze is chocolate ganache. Cake is more moist than my scratch cake. All of the chocolate may be overkill. I would give this 4 stars. IF I decide to make one last cake, I think it will be a lite Hummingbird Cake. That recipe calls for crushed pineapple and bananas. Mind you, I'm not eating much of these cakes. I just enjoy baking them and having a sliver now and again. HA!

Lightening Strike

Sunday morning we were struck by lightening. Yep, that formerly large tree you see above was hit by a direct strike. In the house it sounded like the end of the world; immediately the power went out. Bob, I and all the animals were really shook up. This gives you an idea of how close to the house the strike was. Don't ask me to explain it, the damage was not just in the house, but to the garage and barn, too. And they stand a couple hundred feet away. Our local utility company had someone out to restore power to the house within 2 hours. Unfortunately for us, our water well did not work, nor did phones or satellite. So this morning there was an electrician, phone company and well drilling repairmen here swarming over the property. Many electrical outlets and a couple of circuit breakers were fried. Ditto the phone control box (that's it in the pic), the electric fence controllers for both Invisible Fence and the horse fence, the DirectTv control box, several of the phone outlets inside the house and the well control box. Our garage door opener and cordless phones were ruined, and possibly some computer equipment in Bob's office. So, what's next? We've already been through a 7.0 earthquake.

Cake and 'Coon

I am obsessed with cake. Must be because of my upcoming birthday, and the fact that I am limiting my intake of all things with flour and sugar. Still, I daydream about the cake I will have on my birthday. Or, rather, cakes, during my birthday week. Will I choose something colorful and fruity?

Or something more ambitious, that looks as scrumptious as it tastes? And will I bake a scratch cake, or go with a mix? I must say that in my experience the mix cakes can be just as good, maybe more moist and tender, than the scratch cakes. Is this due to lack of skill on my part? My friend, Laura, made a delicious looking example of what a home made cake should look like. And can't you just taste it? Laura's Apricot Cake

Onto another subject. We have a mamma coon that visits us daily: Several times daily now that she is feeding 3 young 'uns. I know, I know. But she doesn't make a nuisance of herself. And, well, we want to help her through the weaning process. Anyhoo. here she is ever so gently enjoying salmon from one of my McKensie-Child's pet food bowls. They had a super sale a few years ago and I got these for around $10 each. Quite a good buy. And now look how it is coming in handy!?

Still So Sad

I am still feeling so sad that Michael Jackson is gone. In my heart I fear that his death was caused by an accidental drug overdose. While it doesn't matter how he died, really. The loss is strongly felt: Always so sad to lose these young ones who seem tragic even in life. The list is long. But, my friends, there is still much of Michael here on earth. My great-nephew showed me this video, where I saw the lean for the first time. Michael created a way to do this during live performances and patented the technique. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07v6tB_OLR8 I find Michael's dancing truly thrilling. Of course the moonwalk captured our attention in the early '80's, along with poppin'. OK, MJ didn't invent these moves, but he gave them to the world stage for millions of young people to emulate. I think this dance video, to "Billie Jean" shows his skills off nicely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rMpkA6hvuY Too bad about the abrupt end of song...still, great dancing. As for his peccadilloes, well, it is just sad. So much talent in a small package; song writing, dancing, singing, visionary and performing sensation. There is just no easy way to say good-by.

Plan B

One of my beliefs is that I (and everyone!) should have a Plan B. A fall back position in case life throws you a curve. Well, not "in case", but rather, when. I sent this card to my friend Josef, proprietor of Dragon Slayers, his program for physically challenged people. He leads a very risky life due to health problems, but he is indomitable and does not compromise his standards. I am privileged to know him. Still, we joke that he doesn't have a Plan B. As for me... I don't have a Plan B, either. I cannot imagine life beyond my beautiful SeaHorse Ranch. On warm sunny days like this my favorite thing to do is sit here and watch the birds, bees and boats. My next favorite thing to do is ride Buffy. Hmmm, maybe that's first. Gotta go.