Hola Dude! Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas from San Diego!

We arrived safe and sound in San Diego Wednesday night and immediately went out for Mexican food. It's been a long time since we had the real stuff and I savored my horchata like it was nobody's business. After too much food and a mariachi band serenade we were whisked off into the night, ridin' dirty in the Caddy on the 5. Hecks yeah bruh. *wink*

Chrsitmas was a bundle of loving chaos betwixt many a family and the kiddlies all got more presents than they deserved (myself included). I even got a new Snuggie! Thank you Miss Kika Jones! xoxo y'all, I hope you're having a wonderful last week of 2009!

Among the Many

Isaiah 60:14, 15

The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

When the moon witnesses the sun

Whenever the moon, wispy and white, peeks out like a jilted polka dot spy from the blue, bluest -water color sky, I feel fooled, fumbled into farce. The next step I take lands on it surface, nose to the ground I examine it closely, aching for detail. Not as an entymologyst spears it's prey, but voyeur instead to keyhole-framed plays. No harsh terrain, counfounding expectation it is as though a cloud turned inside on itself and formed fluffy orb, cycling to my step, 'round and 'round I'd go. 'Til dizzied, I lose my hounddog grip and faint against the sky, I slip - Into my destined earthly plod, homeward bound and physics flawed.

Winter Beckons

Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forrest fire
With the power of heaven in your flame



But you came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below



You could've swept in like a tidal wave
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could've come through like a roaring flood
To wipe away the things we've scarred



But you came like a winter snow, yes you did
You were quiet, you were soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below



Ooh no, your voice wasn't in a bush, burning
No, your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
It was still, it was small, it was hidden

Awards like Flowers

Just received this award from Kat whose blog Beautiful Elegant Designs is a constant inspiration to me. Thank you so much Kat!

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Copy the Award.
3. Post it in your blog.
4. Tell Us 7 things that your readers don't know.
5. Link 7 new blogger as recipients.
6. Notify winners of award with comment on their blog.
7. Keep being Awesome.

~~~

1. Though I love dressing up my favorite item of clothing is probably a hooded sweatshirt.
2. I used to sneak sips of my dad's beer as a toddler when he wasn't looking.
3. My favorite movies are usually ones that involve families with all of their idiosyncracies.
4. When I was 10 I decided my favorite color was white because a visiting teacher who put on a light show told us that white light was made up of all of the colors of the rainbow and I didn't want to favor one color over another. Gah, seriously.
5. Along those same lines, I often saught out ugly toys and stuffed animals at toy stores because I felt sorry for them.
6. In highschool when I fantasized about my dream car it was always a 1941 Ford...I am still smitten with the look of them.
7. I'm fascinated by God's love of the Jewish people, His chosen.

~~~

I nominate:

True Femininity because she is a wonderful example of a woman growing stronger in her faith day by day...and I love looking at her fabulous, ladylike outfits!

Maggie at Behind the Teen Scene because she is super positive and uplifting and her blog is a ton of fun.

Monica of The Homespun Heart, whose photography has a way of beautifying the simplest of life's little moments.

The Sweet Nest - You must check out her blog...isn't her life just gorgeous! Her blog will touch your heart.

Farrah - Her blog An Old Fashioned Homekeeper beats true to my heart. In a way she reminds me of myself if that makes sense.

Standing in the Sunlight, Caroline's blog is a great one...and she's a fabulous seamstress with an eye for prints, fabrics, and aesthetics in general.

Last but certainly not least, Anna's blog Domestic Felicity is a great read and is as thought provoking as picking up a very well written magazine. It is sure to get you thinking about your faith and what it means to be a woman of God.

The Last Leaves

Almost all the leaves have been stripped from the trees, but there are still a few hanging on and keeping their view of the world before them.



Exerting effort to avoid being trampled underfoot. But those leaves still on the tree are so dried out, sunwashed, and brittle that when they finally rest upon the ground, instead of carpeting a path, they will be crumbled into dust.



Matthew 9: 12 & 13
"But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the riteous, but sinners to repentance."

What is so interesting about this yellow stuff anyway?

So, yesterday I was out on a walk with Darling Dog and as we rounded our first corner I was taken aback by the downpour of yellow leaves that had fallen from the trees overnight. I knelt down, crouching to get the right angle for the shot *snap* when all of a sudden....



...

Darling Dog didn't seem to be as interested in the bushes as what the heck I was doing on the bed of leaves in the middle of the street.

...




"Mom, what do you think this is?"

To which I replied, "This ain't no disco...this ain't no country club either...this is L.....A....."
And did a little dance.

I am definitely out of place here in Washington, but I am certainly still honeymooning with the seasons. *sniffs leaves*

Friday's Sundown Smatterings

I hope everyone had a very, merry Thanksgiving and is gearing up for a Christmas season full of cheer, gratitude, and sharing of the spirit of this blessed holly-day. I was talking with a dear friend of mine last week about the dream of having all the money in the world to over-gift for friends and loved ones. I so often stumble across things for sale, here there and everywhere suitable for my mom, or a co-worker, etc. and have to keep my wallet in check. How nice would it be to be able to SPLURGE this Christmas and buy EVERYONE in your life exactly what you would if there were no limit to your bank account?

I would buy my dad this watch because he already has the best sunglasses around.
My mom would be forced to accept this so she could make her own flax seed crackers and these so she would look dazzling while doing so.
Numbers Man would get this BMW. He's been wanting a new car/SUV.

And I? I would be so blissfully reeling with excitement over their gifts, I don't think I could think of giving anything to myself. Although, *cough*, this might find a place in one of my shopping bags. Haha...

Those wise men were wise indeed to bring presents to little, baby Jesus. I love shopping for Christmas presents...it's like a charitable sporting activity. Who else get's excited about Toys for Tots toy drives? I have no children of my own (yet) so I jump at the opportunity to pick out a doll for a very special someone.

xoxo C

A different shade of blue

Sometimes I feel self-concious about taking pictures of man-made things such as buildings or street signs or chairs because the photos can be easily construed as cloyingly artsy. But I just can't get enough of these apartments next to ours which are alternating colors of blue/grey & yellow. Against a blue sky, they are a striking skyline.

Red Buttons

Like cardinal buttons

The colorful snaps

Peek out between

Crossed sticks, palest green.

Gemmed reflectors

Searching for cloudlight:

Twinkling through

The drops of new-

Dew or faerie mists of

Mid-November haze.

Forgiveness of Quality

Please forgive the image quality; I took it with my iphone from a moving car. Even when I don't bring my camera with me out in to the world, I end up taking photos with my phone for posterity's sake. The argument made by Numbers Man is that I could easily find photos of what I am taking pictures of online with someone who has used a real camera and was likely doing the picture taking in a professional capacity. My rebuttal, "But I wasn't there when it was taken!"

I know a lot of people tend to take pictures with freinds and family populating theri photographs, but for me it is just as nostalgic and memborable without (not that I don't love all my peeps).




*Entrance to a field in the University District in Downtown Seattle

All Eyes on Me

This cat lives in the apartment building next to mine and she peers out the window at the world close to 24 hours a day. Which isn't all that un-cat-like save for the fact that she has two other kitty siblings that live with her. It is rarest of rare that I ever see them in any of the windows, but when I do, they are sandwiched on either side of her in the bedroom window. Yes, neighbors...I pay way too much attention, but I swear I'm no peeping Tom(asina).

I think kitty's mum leaves the chair you see behind her close enough to the window for her to jump on the sill. What a sweet lady!

Hush Little Baby, Don't Say a Word...

I said "Pardon me" me to this statue as my darling dog ran around it. Sort of like when one bumps into a chair and exclaims, "I'm sorry" or knocks the table with a mug and says "Ouch." No sense at all.

Scrumptious Day

Today is turning out to be a beautiful one; there is not a cloud in the sky and the colors of the world seem bright as can be. Darling dog is running back and forth between the window and the sliding glass door here in the living room, whining about passers by and falling leaves.



"The rocks wore vines of crimson, and goldenrod was full of bees and yellow butterflies. Gnarled roots bore little creeping tufts of squawberry with bright, red berries dotting thick between. But Courtland passed on and saw it not."

~ The Witness by Grace Livingston Hill

Puddy Tat

Tattoo was the mother of Pinkle Purr,
A little black nothing of feet and fur;
And by and by when his eyes came through,
He saw his mother, the big Tattoo.
And all that he learned, he learned from her,
"I'll ask my mother," says Pinkle Purr.

~From Pinkle Purr by A.A. Milne

Two Hearts

Exodus 35: 34-35
And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Under the White Light

When the world around me is occupied by shades of muted greyish blue, matte jade, and wrinkled ochre I long for brevity of stark white, crisp in its spartan fashion, enslaved to reflection and illumination of those demure and daily lies we tell to put on a good face.

"I felt he'd found my letters and read each one out loud,
I prayed that he would finish, but he just kept right on..."

I am sick...

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

I cought this horrible flu bug and it has stolen away three days of my life so far. I am laid up and useless, my body is so tired, but my mind longs to get up and seek out activity and interaction. I cried this morning out of sheer frustration because my it took so much concentration to make a phone call, to move myself into the office and pick up the phone, but things still need to be done. There are dishes to wash, laundry to fold, and of course I need to take care of myself. All I want to do is run out into the street and scream because I feel shackled by these aching muscles. "When the desire cometh, it is the tree of life..."

Rooted & Built Up

"She fluttered the leaves for something--she could not just tell
what--and her eye caught some of the verses that her father had marked
for her before she left home for college, in the days when he was
troubled for her going forth into the world of unbelief.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in
him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as
ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not
after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily.... "

~

A Voice in the Wilderness by Grace Livingston Hill

Shooting and Praying

"The color came into the man's face. Somehow this girl put him in a verybad light. He couldn't shoot; and, if he couldn't pray, what would she think of him?"
~
The Girl from Montana by Grace Livingston Hill

Fall Pictures?

Well, I have a bunch of new fall pix to post, but Blogger isn't allowing me. Bummer! Hopefully I can get some up tomorrow.
I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!
xoxo Caroline

Playing with camera settings...

A self portrait and two conversions...pink flower and yellow rounds into sepia madness.

Listening to Glee to my heart's content and working on spreadsheets does not poem or prose make. But I garuntee at least 15 minutes of solid dancing around the office.

Blessings Manifold

There is nothing quite like a pink flower, no matter what time of year. He makes these for weary eyes and souls...

Our Father, by whose servants

Our house was built of old,

Whose hand hath crowned her children

With blessings manifold,

For Thine unfailing mercies

Far-strewn along our way,

With all who passed before us,

We praise Thy name to-day.

~Old School Hymn

This Crippled Bloom

I stumbled accross this lone, ruddy orange flower and it held my attention for many snaps. It just looks so sad and tattered poor child.

Psalm 38:7-9

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

Guinea Pigs: Someone's Got to Go First

Someone at work mentioned this book to me the other day and it got me thinking...

The tree above is the first in the neighborhood to turn its leaves and it is smashing the cerulean sky into jagged puzzle pieces while the rest, still green as can be, cool-ly look on to see how things go. Of course it grabs our attention and our thoughts favor the exuberance of each luscious leaf, but it will drop them all first - I'm sure of it. Those leaves will dry out and fall leaving its branches bare while the hesitant neighbors put on airs and live it up together in a wash of complimentary hues. A riotous party and the guinea pig came to the party stark naked. Poor guinea pig.

Pinkiness

~Happiness~

by AA Milne

-

John had

Great Big

Waterproof

Boots on;

John had a

Great Big

Waterproof

hat;

John had a

Great Big

Waterproof

Mackintosh -

And that

(Said John)

Is

That.

King Arthur Started Crowing

"Sometimes the moon is so brightit is nearly like day and casts shadows among the rocks. One time I fell asleep on my rock and slept there all night long until King Arthur started crowing in the dawn. THEN I had to skedaddle. Liddy and Old Bess both saw me from teh kitchen door but they did not tell, they gave me a corn pone and sent me on my way."

~ Agate Hill by Lee Smith

Welcome to Fall!

Can you believe it's already fall? Time to religiously watch old Gilmore Girls episodes, laze around in flannel robe, and of course...live on Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Oh happy day!

Rory: We're fondue purists, Grandma.

Lorelai: Yea we dip old school.

Emily: The government says you should have nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Lorelai: Imperialist propaganda.

Rory: Noam Chomsky would agree.

Lorelai: I bet Noam doesn't dip fruit.

With Faith, Hope is Everywhere

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.

~Rabindranath Tagore

Figs, Cheese, and a Survey

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes and no, I've heard conflicting stories so I am content to think I was named after Princess Caroline because, well...Hello???

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? This morning at work when I found out that a coworker's child's friend died from a medicinal allergy.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes - in all of its many incarnations.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Good, cured Spanish ham. Or roast turkey breast straight off the bird.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet, only fur babies.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? How demented would you have to be to not want to be friends with yourself.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not intentionally.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS ? Yes. They are serving me well...why oust them?

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No...I have a back condition that would make it an unreasonable thing to do.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Good old fashion oats cooked up with milk and butter.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I only have one pair of shoes with laces...and it depends up on how tight I tie them.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Ha! No...not physically.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Best ice cream I have ever had was in Paris so I have only had it once...dark chocolate with candied orange peel in it. But usually I'll opt for a traditional vanilla with some chocolate chips.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? A combination of things, but usually how confident they are...what they communicate without words.

15. RED OR PINK? p.i.n.k........."think pink!"

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My impulses which are contrary to my heart's desires.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mamasita

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Seein' as I'm posting it...anyone is welcome!

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? footloose and fancy free!

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? My favorite quesadilla...it has bacon in it...c'mon!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Sugarland (Stay is on at this moment)

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I've always answered "Periwinkle" for as long as I can remember, but I honestly don't remember why.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? This could be a long, long list and so to avoid boring any readers I will simply say: babies & well crafted perfumes.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My Numbers Man - to coordinate meeting for Happy Hour.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I sent it to myself...so, sure!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? UFC & Gymnastics

27. Hair Color? Light Brown

28. EYE COLOR? Blue Grey

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes, and glasses in rotation.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? There simply is no appropriate answer to this. Anything with love poured into it, whether by the person making it or me...eating it. Ha!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Can't stand scary movies...they give me nightmares.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Step Up 2 (oh yeah...)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing three shirts seein' as I'm a girl who loves to layer. Two are white and one is navy blue.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. Not a fan of summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? It depends who is handing them out.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Fresh fruit with really yummy, fresh homemade whipped cream.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hmm...

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hmm...

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Adam Bede by George Eliot

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouspad - it's a laptop.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? HGTV shows

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Children laughing.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN= FROM HOME??? Paris

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Sure, I can make a mean chocolate milk. And my mashed potatoes...delish!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Iowa

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Everyone's! Leave a comment if you post this on your blog!