Before and After

My big day at the salon started off with a delay. The ferry from Bremerton to Seattle had to wait for the "Seawolf" to sail into its home port. It was exciting to see. These ships are not large. Makes you think about how very hard it would be to work on one of these, submerged no less! But this day was about me blitzing around downtown Seattle on my own, and starting the journey of letting my grey hair come into its own.

Above is my before hair. It looks really nice and shiny, freshly cut, I'll admit. But the color was a monotone and had begun to look like what it was; old-lady-covering-grey dyed hair.

Here is the after result. I had a "1/2 foil", so the hair on the back of my head wasn't colored. The change is subtle, and that is what I wanted.

Here is a close-up to show the slight variations in the 3 different colors used. We shall see how it works as the grey roots grow longer and longer. Couple of tips for you: The stylist recommends L'Oreal's EverPure Sulfate-Free shampoo. It is formulated for colored hair, but will work for everyone. Also, if your hair is thinning a bit here and there, try using Bumble & Bumble Thickening Serum. Just a squirt morning and evening for 2 weeks, then once every 2 weeks. Stylist swears by results. The day in Seattle was exhilirating. I spent time in a favorite shop, Watson & Kennedy, full of charming home decor stuff. Lunch could have been soup or sandwich, but for me, an almond croissant and cappucino at Le Panier is the only choice. Perused an antique shop near Pike Place crammed full of fascinating stuff, but the prices were out of all reason. Quick stop at Sephora for must have items and a spritz of cologne before heading back to ferry. It happened to be Aloha Friday so fresh flower leis were handed out to everyone while a 4 piece band with singer serenaded the terminal. What a great day.

Peanut Butter

What would life be like without peanut butter? Do you think this too bold a statement? Well, I eat peanut butter everyday and would miss it. It goes on my morning toast, which is breakfast because I can eat this while I have my 1st cup of espresso. This is after the horses, dogs, cat, bird and coons are fed...so I am READY for it. Last week I had a delicious Senegalese Peanut Soup for lunch. So good. Last night, I made my own version. Well, it was Mark Bittman's version with my usual switcha-roos. Hearty, healthy and husband liked it.

Earlier in the day, apparently feeling my breakfast serving wasn't sufficient, I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Brownies. The seeds of this desire were sown a week ago in The Amish Cook's food column. This is published on Weds. in my local paper. I usually read it for a view into a life very different from mine. Last week the author's 15 year-old daughter posted this recipe. Peanut butter is a very good thing.

A Little Sumpin

I feel like I need to check-in, our you'll forget all about me! I have had a busy and loaded-with-fun few days. Friday I went for the first time to the local Senior Center (oh, yeah) for an exercise class. Then jetted to town for a sortie to Michael's and Hancock Fabrics with Sis. On the way home I picked-up about 8 wallpaper books; FREE! It is a grab-bag, but there are some great patterns. Saturday I invited my family to lunch and for a game of Scrabble. Then today, betwixt 3 loads of laundry, breakfast, dinner and animal duty I spent hours in the studio. Above are works in progress. Tomorrow I hope to get more studio time. Don't come between me and my crafts!

Show of Hands

Let's have a show of hands for all who travel 3 hours round-trip for a haircut. What? I don't see any hands raised! Well, let me admit that I DO make that trip several times a year. I travel to Bainbridge Island, to the "Whack and Yak", the at-home "salon" of my stylist. She is building a proper salon on her property, but for now, we are in her home. She greets us, always, dressed in a fun ensemble, with a sassy hairdo and a big smile. You see she is a senior stylist at a chi-chi salon in downtown Seattle, but works out of her home 1 day a week. Now, I could take the ferry to Seattle; travel time would be a bit longer, but more scenic. Yet my friend Cathleen and I make a day out of the experience, both getting a much needed hair cut and a some good together time.

Part of the appeal is our stop at the Blackbird Bakery in the little village on the island. The bakery is staffed by a much-pierced-and-tattooed coterie of young people. There are plenty of gluten free and vegan selections. More to the point, LOTS of sweet treats, breads and good espresso and tea drinks. Yesterday we stopped on the way IN to the salon for a quick sweet treat and beverage to-go, then stopped on the way OUT for soup and bread. Ahhh, what a way to spend the day.

Love Letter to Victoria

Do you agree that Victoria is a bit eccentric, but in a good way? Do you think she cares that she has a smattering of wrinkles? Or that she may attract stares? (How does she color that hair?)

The story of how they created and then lost their spectacular business, MacKenzie-Childs, is a cautionary tale. They were not defeated.

They are back with fabulous new products, lifted by their irrepressible zest for life. Their new company is called Victoria & Richard Emprise. I think these new designs are more delicious than the ones made famous at MacKenzie-Childs, non?

Here is a "brooch" from their latest line. As all things from Victoria and Richard, it is brimming over with color and life, and, it must be said, expensive. Ohhhh, I'm gonna have fun making my own version. I was struck by something Victoria said in "Where Women Create" Vol 1, Issue 2. You would think that with their background and international success that she would have a serious studio. The sort of studio most of us dream of. The fact: "I don't have a specific facility. Wherever I go, wherever I am, that is my studio. Really to be quite specific, my lap is my studio." I have loved their work for 2 decades and counting. Long live Victoria.

Easy-Breezy, then H A R D

More of the banner blitz. I signed up for Paper Romance EZine and just loved the first project, a heart garland using vintage sheet music. But, alas, where is my sheet music? I know I have a Christmas carol book around my studio, someplace. I must have tossed it! So whilst I await arrival of an eBay parcel, I went with Plan B: A picnic-y check scrapbook paper and pages from a really old newsprint journal. The elements just worked, and it all came together easy-breezy.

All-righty, then. Let's roll onto the next! But this one just did not want to "work". I tried this, that, and the other thing. And while I like the look of scruffy, random projects from others, I just can't NOT be neat and symmetrical. For me there must be continuity of elements to unify a project. So, after hours of tweaking, thinking, and re-tweaking, finally there was something I can live with. Dang, this was HARD.

Short, Skinny and Pleated

When it comes to women's trousers, the new Short, Skinny and Pleated style strikes terror into the heart of us traditionally built ladies.

However, ladies, we must step out of denial and grapple with the reality that this trend is here, or, should I say back. Our poor deluded Martha is even wearing this unflattering silhouette.

Combine the style of these new-wave pants, and the color white and...oh, my. Don't go there.

Banner Central

The studio is my friend. I can go many days, even weeks, without inspiration. A project in the Somerset "Holidays & Celebrations" made me race upstairs, though. And my friend SueAnn's New Year's "word" got me off and running. I don't think she'll mind if I share this with you. It is now pasted over her mantle in her cozy corner of the planet. Reminding her everyday of her vow. Is that a good thing? :)

So then I wanted to "do" my word: Laugh. I shuffled through my recently purchased vintage photos for appropriate pics. And because I think of him everyday, I used a pic of my dad for the center panel. It is a real photo, and used only because there are duplicates of it in my "Dad's Things Treasure Box". While I use real scrap, real Dresden's, real photos, and vintage at that, and not photocopies in my little crafts, I cannot bring myself to use my family photos. I would rather purchase pics of anonymous strangers. Stay tuned: the banner madness continues.

What Lies Beneath

Did you know that Donna had a blog sale? Well, you didn't hear it from me because I wanted to buy everything myself! My luck held so that I was able to make a couple of her treasures mine, all mine. Friday the FedEx man delivered a BIG box.

Inside was a King's Ransom in cardboard, pale pink tissue paper and yards of vintage pink seam binding. All of which will find a purpose in my household and studio.

I dug and unwrapped frantically, albeit carefully, to not cause harm to the pretties within. Ah, there, a peek of the magic.

The quiver and arrows. Along with a dainty box, a lagniappe, from the sweet and generous Queen Donna.

At last. Here it is. The large Napoleon Hat, with a badge! Even more fabulous than the one I didn't buy at the September Tinsel and Treasure show. I called La Donna immediately, to hear her breathlessly ask "Is it OK?". You see, she is very modest, and she worries that the package would be damaged (HA! She could just as well have transported it in a Humvee...nothing was going to get through that packaging) and that her work would be less than perfection. Assurances given...it is absolute perfection.

Conveniences

Yesterday as the washing machine and the dishwasher were running, with the oven self-cleaning, and me heading up to my studio to have some fun, I thought, "How lucky am I!". As a young girl, my mom used a wringer washing machine, and hung out the wash to dry on a clothesline.

Dishes were washed by hand, and soon enough my Sis and I were assigned duty. I recall looking out the window above our sink, at our first little home in Capitola. Gals, the reason you have that window above your sink is because in the olden days, when women spent many hours in front of their kitchen sink, that view was a way to day-dream during the drudgery.

Sewing was done on a machine like this; Mom had one similar, with a foot pedal used to power it. Mom made clothing for us and for our dolls, plus mending. All the women of her generation and previous ones sewed. I learned to hem a skirt by hand from my Gramma, a skill I rarely use but will never forget. Now, I'm thinking about purchasing a bare-bones model to use for crafting projects, inspired by Mary Ann Moss "Remains of the Day Journal". I could have the power of many stitches at my finger tips, for a modest sum. Today, after hand-stitching vintage crepe paper for 3 long ruffles and 3 rosettes, it is appealing to contemplate an electric helper.

As for self-cleaning ovens...ladies, don't we take these for granted? Remember a decade ago the noxious chemical cleaners that were labor saving, but oh-so-dangerous to breath? So, for all of the daily conveniences that we enjoy...let's take a moment to say "THANK YOU". ps all photos from flickr

Word for the ... Year

My dear friend, SueAnn has set the tone of her year by picking an inspiring word. As I was reading her blog, and thinking about her idea, the word LAUGH popped into my head. I have realized how important laughing, and seeing all the FUN in life, is to me. So, LAUGH is my word for the year.

Mind, I find lots to make me smile. But I want to find reason to go beyond a smile...to belly laugh!

Yeah, that's the ticket. To LAUGH when those niggling irritations fly at you; and couldn't I name a hundred of those? Still, I don't intend to hee-haw at inopportune times; let's bring it down a notch.

This is what I'm talking about. Seizing the moment to find humor, to be filled with it, and to laugh out loud. So very good for the soul. ps all photos by me except the laughing horse, found on flickr. Those 2 beautiful gals? Mom and Sis.

Sigh

My Christmas display is put away, clean shelves awaiting Valentines Day.

Everything wrapped and tucked away in the proper storage tote. Waiting for next year.

But, what's this! Must I always leave something behind? Back to the 3rd floor; open up that Santa storage tote. Sigh.