Carlton's Log, curio shop

Every once in a while you come across a store that has an amazing variety (read: thousands of items) of 'stuff'. This happened to be one of those stores. Lured into the store by a sample root beer barrel candy we went inside a place we would have normally walked by. They had old, well everything, magazines, odd items, and it seems whatever they had was in multitudes on display. I was draw past the tin, wood, and paper items and into the glass.

The store itself seemed to be teetering on pilings and old floor boards. 60% of the items needed a good and thorough dusting. Every space was utilized, which explains the items above displayed in the window sills.

But when the light made its' way through the old milky windows and onto the glass, they sparkled. A barrel of marbles, and army of "Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima"s, and probably the best platter for serving ham in the world; this store was a feast for the eyes.

Oh, and you should have seen their old fashioned candy isle...wow.

Love pines...

One more shot...June Lake Loop.

Love is in the air....

Just one more that I thought was cool....

Love is all around...

As we traveled today I took the opportunity to search all around me and find some love. I hope you enjoy these shots as much as I do. I am planning on keeping a journal of "hearts" that are random, ones that I can see either in nature or as happenstance in the scenery around me. Take a look around your surroundings and see how much love is really out there. You'll be surprised. In just one day I found 42 hearts.

Happy Labor Day!

Today's post is very late. I have been on the road all day with my favorite guy. We are on our way to another meeting, this time up north and a looong drive, so we hit the road early. We just got in and I finally got hooked up to a wi-fi! I'll check the mail in a minute...

Good ol labor day. Most folks are unaware that this is a holiday that was designed to celebrate the Labor Unions and what they have accomplished for the "average Joe". Now I know there are some who have no clue about unions, and still others who may have plenty.

For this post I am going to say thanks to the folks who fought to get labor unions up and running. It's true that there are some unions where things haven't worked out as well as the founders had hoped. It's true that there are unsettling facts within the history of -again- some unions. I am not defending those acts, however, most institutions have faults and points in history that should be rewound and erased. Today I am weighing the good and the bad and I think the good they provide far outweighs the ills they have caused.

Unions were formed initially because wealthy industrialists were taking advantage of workers. If the worker complained, they were fired. Long story short, the union was exactly that. Unified individual workers stood together and made demands that provide many benefits for all of us, in a union or not.

Without those unions, whether we like them or not, we would be missing out on a lot.

Without the unions all of us -in a union or not- would not have a standardized 40 hour work week. Child labor would more than likely still be in tact in some industies (see some of our foreign neighbors for this continued nightmare). Sweatshops and unsafe factories are now a thing of the past in the U.S. if laws are followed. Because of unions if you are not paid equal to a man for the same job you now have rights and laws that you can use to get what is due you. Before unions there was no overtime, no holiday pay, no hazard pay, no contracts that decide what working odd hours will pay. Because of the unions you have a right to fair advancement without discrimination, evaluations and documentation before someone can fired you. The unions were pivotal in gaining rights for all workers when it comes to being hired without discrimination in all areas. We have workman's compensation to help us pay for injuries that occur on a job. Pensions and health benefits are now available to the worker, not just the employer. Sexual harassment laws were a direct result of labor union advocacy. Living wages are a constant battle of the unions. Contracts that benefit the employer and the worker. I am sure there are many other benefits that I am missing; but I am really zonked.

My point is, the labor unions of this country have provided many things for us that in truth would not be here without them. In a perfect world employers would give all workers these benefits without contracts and laws to back them up. The fact is that usually is not the case. When a "union" law is put on the books, remember that it will benefit every worker.

So as you are (were) out and about today, I am hoping that you took a minute to thank those workers who bravely put their jobs, and some their lives, on the line to make our working conditions better.

I'm quirky.

Mustang Sally asked me to answer the Seven Quirks/Habits etc. meme.
Here are seven quirks or habits about me. I think these are new info??? If you have heard it before, tell me and I will come up with something new.

1. I am not a huge fan of strawberries. I feel guilty eating them because most people are like, "Oh my heck! Look at the strawberries!" and then get all excited at the thought of gorging themselves on the cute little fruit. If I don't care one way or the other about strawberries and someone else does like them that much, they should have them.

2. I carry a full hygiene kit in my car. If you have a personal need I more than likely have a solution for you sitting, nicely organized, in my jockey box. Need a razor? There's one in there. Want tweezers? In there. Floss, pick, or mouthwash? In there. I have potty seat covers and t.p., sanitizing gel and wipes. Girly stuff if you need it. Clippers, both toe and finger. And a file. I have Tylenol, Excedrin, Tums, Zantac and Q-Tips. I have heat wraps and Blistex. Are you bleeding? I have band aides! Lotion, comb, and a sewing kit. There's more, but I digress.

Oh, and I get really crazy if you leave trash in my car. Seriously. It bugs me a lot to have trash all over the car. We're talking even the paper from the straw. If you unwrap your straw in my car take the paper with you when you leave. Thank you. Don't get me started with drinks or bottles that are left in there.

3. I almost always have a toothbrush handy. I find comfort in brushing my teeth. I brush my teeth while driving. I was a creative tooth faery back in the day. Thank you notes, with full descriptions of just how the tooth would be turned into this or that shaped diamond, would be hand written in the tiniest hand, on glittery paper, an left near the tooth pillow. Tiny high heeled foot prints would be (hand painted and glittered) entering and exiting the window nearest the child's bed, and glitter would be everywhere the faery would have flown. The footprints and glitter would fade over a few days...

4. I get kind of creeped out when I see someone with the kind of fake nails you get from a manicurist. The acrylic or porcelain, whatever they are called. I think it because they are so much thicker than a regular nail. When I was in junior high school one of the gals in the group of friends had a habit of fixing her nails with toilet paper and nail polish. If she got a snag or a break she would just break off the tiniest piece of tissue, paint her nail with polish and while still wet add the tissue (over and under the break) and paint over it to repair the break. After a while her nails were seriously thick and fuuuuunky. And they looked just like the "good nails" women get now. Nice on the top, but thick underneath. (seriously, I just got the chills thinking about it.)

5. I fall asleep (usually) very quickly and deep just to wake up twenty minutes (to the minute)later and struggle to fall back asleep and as deep. I dream vividly almost every night and can remember amazing details in my dreams the next day. I have about a dozen or so dreams that have repeated over the years since childhood. I can (at times) manipulate my dreams and make them go the way I want them to.

6. I have a strong dislike for cars without hubcaps. I would rather see a car with primer paint than a car without hubcaps.

7. My purse is about an inch and a half wide and somewhere between the size of an index card and a postcard. It carries everything I need on a daily basis, and then some.

So there you go Sal! I would tag ya'all, but everyone I know who reads this blog probably has already done this. Oh well, I had fun! If you want to have fun to, let me know and we'll spread the word to have everyone over to your place.

Just when you think your life is going well....

O.k. you know how you see yourself sometimes? Yeah. Well, if someone were to ask me to describe myself it would go something like this:

I'm 5'4", over weight, naturally coloured hair with a little bit of grey, great sense of humour, witty, fairly intelligent, creative and spontaneous. Very relaxed style with a perma ponytail and usually no shoes. No make up, no nylons, a Buddhist hippy at heart.

Well, the other night I was at a gathering and one of my favorite couples came into the room with their three (very well behaved and immaculately groomed) little ones. This guy is my vote for next Bishop, although I would never tell him that because it would make his very humble head explode. This is the man who just shows up with a big freakin' grin on his face and does your yard work. He's is the Elder's Quorum President, a calling he was born to fill. This is a guy who lives to help people move in.

His wife? Well, she's extremely intelligent without coming off as a smarty pants. She loves Seinfeld and can finish quotes from the series if you ask her to. She has a great sense of humour and is a terrific mom. She would be amazing in any calling. She is confident and willing to help out. Plus she always sports a killer smile.

I love love love this family. They are, frankly, the bomb.

So as they approached me at the party to chat I was more than willing to sit and share some time with them. I talked with the wife for about 20 minutes before her hubby walked over and began with the compliments.

"I LOVE you and Brother Thor! Seriously, you guys are the best!" I began to demurely blush "Oh. go. on!" I giggled humbly. "No really. You know how in every ward there is that really awesome couple everyone loves? That's you guys! That older couple that still gets it! Yeah, like you guys are so cool. Most couples your ages just aren't fun anymore. For old people you guys are so FUN!"

Now I must point out that up until this point, I thought we were about ten years older than these two. It is just occurring to me that -um- evidently not!

The conversation went on and on and on and eventually ended somewhere around "I just hope that when we're your age we can still be as cool as you guys!" Yeah, if only they live that long.

Then last night I decide that I will actually walk into the room with the large shiny boxes and throw some food on top of them and make dinner. If you have any idea of just how hot it is here (in the freaking Mojave Desert) then you will understand just how magnanimous this gesture was. I was sacrificing for the benefit of my loved ones.

Upon serving the meal I did the unthinkable. I asked opinions. Now in all fairness I am not one for vanities, I want to know if it is worth making again or tossing, so I beg for honest opinions. The query went something like this:

"Sooo, how is it?"

(in an upbeat tone) "It's edible." (1st blow)

"It's kind of like that store bought Alfredo sauce that tasted like crap. uhm, I mean it tastes like the jar stuff. O.k. I guess." (there were so many hits in that remark that I am not sure how many counts to give it.)

"We're still eatin' it." (merely a flesh wound)

"There is sauce left, should I make more noodles for left overs?"

In remarkable unison... "NO!" and then laughter.

o.k.

That recipe goes into the trash.

I am feeling really good about my self today. Send chocolate!

"Mormons Aren't Victims"

Rarely do I link to, or suggest anyone go to, another blog to read a post; especially when I have only read one other post on that blog and do not know the author at all. However I came across a post that I would like ya'all to read.

http://www.stallioncornell.com/2007/08/mormons-arent-victims.html

I must say that the name of the blog disturbs me, however the content of this particular post is similar to what I would say if given the opportunity. Please go, read to the end, and feel free to let me know your thoughts.

There are facts and information that much of the world is unaware of; and I feel he states them well.

That is all. Carry on.

It' that's time again!

Alrighty Crafters! It's that time of year again when Costco puts their new line of French Wired Ribbons on the shelf.

This year it looks as if there is a trend towards the browns, golds and warm autumn colours! A few snowmen have made the cut along with a few blues and of course the ever present shades of red. I also found a beautiful tone on tone black stripe. On the third shelf in this photo, in the center is a tone on tone cream 2 1/2 in ch wide gorgeous stripe. I can imagine the elegant bow it would make.

Many of these ribbons have a gold or silver metallic woven edge that is really pretty. Are you the gal on the block who puts bows all over the Christmas tree? These ribbons are perfect for that. Plus, when it is time to take down the tree, you can carefully fold your bows and pack them away. Next year all you'll have to do is pull out the folded bow, finger fluff them back into shape and there you go, all done and pretty again.

This photo didn't capture all of the choices so you'll just have to grab someone's card and see all the goodies for yourself!

At $6.99 for 50 yards, this 1 inch -2 1/2 inch wide, wire edge ribbon is a steal. I have to admit I have a small addiction to this ribbon and fill my shelves with as much as I think I will use in the coming year for crafting projects and wrapping presents. I love that there are so many ribbons that could be used for masculine projects or packages. Just last week I attended a wedding party whose theme included, BROWN... hmm, seems I found this ribbon just in time.

While the chocolate is still wet, add the flat side of the kiss to the cherry and make a mouse "head".
Slip two slivered almonds into the wet chocolate between the kiss and the cherry making mouse "ears". You can also use a peanut half. If you choose to use peanuts, place the peanut with the flat side towards the front of the mouse, rounded part to the back.
Using a toothpick add two tiny drops of wet chocolate to the kiss where you want "eyes".
Add the white nonpareils to the wet chocolate drops and there you go! Isn't he cute? Allow them to set on the counter (during the late fall this is actually possible!) or slide them carefully into the fridge to set. Carefully peel them from the parchment paper and give them to the sweet people in your life!

*"Stake" In our church there are 9-12 or so congregations in a regional area, we call this region a "Stake" as in the "stake" that secured the temple tent to the ground in the Old Testament. Each congregation has approximately 600-900 people.

Home EC. 101

Welcome Students! Today we will learn all kinds of fun things! In the top photo we see S'mee's pantry. A somewhat organized closet of food stuffs.

See the all the clear containers? Yes, S'mee has an irrational fear of vermin! Vermin of any kind disturb her sleep and so she must make rules. First rule: If it comes home in a bottle, jar, or can it can be placed upon the shelf as is. However, if it comes home in a box, bag, or envelope it must be removed from it's packaging and placed in a clear air tight snap sealed container. Second rule: If packaging or food has been compromised it will go immediately to the trash bin! S'mee refuses to share her food with any non human.

Buying in bulk will result in a reduced price when it comes to most commodities. S'mee put this to the test the other day when a local market decided to place a popular brand cake mix on a terrific sale, almost 3 for 1. Snatching up a load full she headed home. S'mee loves cake!

If you look closely in S'mee's pantry you will see all those clear containers. Noodles, flour, sugar, even Kool-Aid and Jello are repackaged! Oh, but we need to remember that S'mee is also efficient at times, especially when it is mandatory. S'mee has a sister who could write the Home EC Manual, and she has learned a few things along the way. So before S'mee repackages her food into her containers, she weight measures them. This way when it comes time to make the product she knows exactly just how much of this or that goes into the bowl.

"Can't she just use a measuring cup?" you ask. Well, yes, but then S'mee would be taking a chance on how the dish would turn out. You see, the 'matter' of the food can vary from day to day depending on a bunch of different factors, like humidity, for instance. That and sometimes the way one places the product in a cup or spoon will pack the product differently and vary the result. So weighing your product is much more efficient and consistent.

Back to the repacking. Today, as S'mee was getting ready to repack the cake mixes, she recalled something Chronicler had told her a few years back, "The cake mix companies have repackaged their product, reducing the amount of product in each box slightly. Most people won't notice the difference,but their cakes will be a little more flat." S'mee has noticed. (remember, S'mee loves her cake!) So she decided to see if the cakes are still being decreased in weight.

As you can see the from the photos above S'mee got a surprise today. First she opened each of ten boxes of mix, all the same brand, all the same flavour, and labeled the bags. One by one they were placed on a digital scale and the weight recorded. (Only 5 photos are allowed to download per post, so you'll have to imagine the others.) As you can see from the photos, the least amount of cake mix was 4.25 ounces of mix, the heaviest - a full 6 ounces. So, not only are the cake mixes still being reduced in volume, they are inconsistent as far as volume weight.

So class, what have we learned today?

A. Someone down at the cake factory is asleep in quality control.

B. Someone down at the cake factory is asleep in weights and measures.

C. It's not our fault that our cakes are full and moist one week and flat and dry the next.

D. All of the above.

Class dismissed.

Bonus Question for extra credit: WHY? Why is it that Blogger is inconsistent when it comes to S'mee's posts? Why is the spacing correct just now and then? UGH!

See the morning glories!

Images from Bodie

We went out to Bodie, which is now a state park/Ghost Town. These are some of the photos from that day trip.

Mt. Whitney in fabric

Last week Thor and I spent 3 days in Mammoth with our eldest son and his lovely wife. The two girls and two of their friends also joined us. We had a wonderful time hiking, fishing (no one caught a thing, but we still had fun trying!), and generally seeing all the beauty that is in the Eastern Sierras.

On our way home we stopped off at our favorite "rest stop" (read: nice bathrooms!), which also happens to be the museum for the highest point in the "lower 48" or continuous United States, Mount Whitney; and the turn off to Death Valley from the 395...yikes.

We enjoy walking though the museum each time we are in the area. It's fairly new, and each time we stop there is something new to learn, look at and explore. This time, in addition to the new info on the surrounding area there was a quilt display. Oh my heck! These quilts were fabulous and my photography of them does them little justice.

Charlotte Freeman did a fantastic job creating this piece of true artwork! Titled, "Mount Whitney - Guardian of the Range of Light" she has actually caught the details of the mountain range with her choices of fabric and colours. Check out the sky! Did you noticed the bark on the trees? There is dimension in her quilt as well. Those California poppies in the bottom actually pop out of the quilt. Their petals are only attached at the center of the flower. Gorgeous!

For those unclear of exactly how to determine which peak is Mt. Whitney this is an easy way to see it. From Charlotte's quilt on the top left you can see a small mound and moving right there is a slightly flat "M" shaped peak. That flat "M" is Thor Peak. (why do I know that?) Next to Thor Peak on the right is a sharp peak that has been cleft significantly, after that on the right is the slightly taller Mt. Whitney. I am still, even now looking at the quilt, amazed at Charlotte's choice of colours and how well she has captured the range and it's beauty.

Again, one of those really cool surprises that seem to just pop out at the least expected places. I love California!

the "Beginning" of something good...

O.k. folks, hold onto your desk, this is an actual post! Who knew?

Ya'all know one of my favorite places to view everyday is Miss Karen over at chookooloonks. A few days ago Karen had a fantastic idea: a "Post Card Swap!" Earlier this year she had a brilliant plan to create "The Kind Journal" project, which I excitedly joined in on; so when the postcard swap came along I hopped on board again.

So I signed up at the very last minute, whew!, and received my list of 11 other bloggers to send my cards to. I set to work thinking about what I would do. Remember last Christmas when I did the ornament swap? I thought, "hey, why not try something similar?"

With that ornament swap I began painting canvas again (after years of not painting at all), however because of circumstances I have not painted again. So what a great opportunity! Here's what I came up with. I would take a favorite photo and paint it on twelve canvases.

I took 5x7 inch board canvases, turned them over and used blue painter's tape to bind them together. I needed to support the canvas boards with a piece of foam core board so that they would not sag or flop on the easel. After that it was just a matter of painting.

I used acrylics and tried to paint in a more impressionist style than realist of one of my favorite spots on the North Shore of Oahu.

I'll divide the painting among the twelve in our group and woohoo! we will each have a small individual painting that was once one large one.

I hope for a good reaction from the receivers of the postcards. I also hope for new friendships. I am excited to have 11 new people share creativity with. I also hope that this swap is a new beginning, again, for a talent that has laid dormant for too many years.

I'm a little happy inside just thinking about it!

You wanna be happy too? Why not make a post card of your own and send it out to someone. Make their day! Everyone loves mail. Everyone enjoys art. It's a win win situation! Mail and art...by you!

To view the photos from both the 2006 Ornament Swap and also the 2007 Post Card Swap. click away! Both Flickr! pages also have a good view of some of my favorite photos and other art work.

I just got taken for a ride...

Again, details make all the difference. Here are some of my favorite views.



The controversial golden orbed spire that stands at the entrance to Tomorrow Land. There are camps on both sides that feel strongly about this structure.



For me, it's there. I see the points both camps make, but admittedly, I like the teal blue, azure blue, burnt orange, and that gold all put together.



I wish there was more animation, that the orbs spun more, that there was more to invite the guest further into the depth of the land rather than pretty much blocking the view. But as my Brother in law sat there, watching the lines wind there way around their way to the front, he began to notice the zodiac signs, the planet symbols, the gyroscopic design and enjoyed the wait.



It works. Not as well as Walt or Roy would have had it, but it works.




This hippo just makes me want to yawn.
A whole new world! I love the scenery around the Aladdin Oasis. Once, a very long time ago, a very special friend of mine treated 5 of her best girl friends to a day at Disneyland and also paid for us to see the dinner show here. It was a great show, the food was terrific, and the dessert back then was fabulous. A real sized Genie's lamp, made of chocolate, filled with mousse and whipped cream. It was so rich it came with it's own special box to take the lamp home in. They know you can't eat it all in one sitting!



It was very expensive, but in the long run, for the memory it it gave me - us, and for the show itself and the food...it was worth it; and I hope someday I can treat five of my friends as well.
Grab a soda, a box of popcorn, and just sit back and listen to some New Orleans Jazz while you watch this fountain bubble. Really pretty, just sitting there in the patio area of the New Orleans train station.



Like I said, one of my favorite rides, the Jungle Cruise! This is the last view you'll get before they ask you to GET OFF THE BOAT!