Playing - A Treasured Past-Time

Ahhhh..... Autumn has left me mellow and drinking in all of the wonderful colors that I see.... It's been way too long since I took some photos with my oh-I-so-love-it Nikon. I had no intention of taking any today, either....too much to do before the big Thanksgiving feast here on Thursday. But an impulse prevailed over dusting and so I tippied out to the back yard for a few pics of my flowers. Upon loading the photos up, I discovered these... taken after the Ya-Ya trip up to the cabin a month ago. We had gone on a forest walk and collected treasures along the way. Once I got home, I arranged my goodies in an amazing wooden bowl that I had picked up recently.... I love the textures of the pine needles, pine cones and the sprinkle of peacock feathers among them.... so I played with my Nikon one afternoon....

I can't seem to get close enough to nature....


Our patient, Skittles, is doing fabulous! She is ornery, growing her back hair in and back to roaming back and forth across the street or lounging out on the 'sitting rock' - taking a lazy sun bath in the autumn afternoon....

A few weeks ago I visited the nursery and brought home a treat for da kitties... Skittles was all over the catnip and apparently its effect was grand!......

...for soon.... this was da baby Skittles.... schnoozing on the porch swing.....

Today I played in the garden with my Nikon.... not worrying too much about settings or lighting....

just simply playing....

a new rose bush - proceeds of which went to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund...

.... um, yup.... a picture of birdseed in my 'reclaimed' bird bath feeder....

...this little guy is in my old antique sink garden....

...as is this little one, too....

I ADORE pansies!!! And I think little 'johnny-jump-ups' are just the sweetest! These little fellows have a place at the base of my bird bath and jacaranda tree...and seem pretty darn happy about it all!

Simply beautiful.

As I was shooting this cutie, I notice a red dot moving around on the right yellow petal - a little eensy-weensy red spider!! Do you see him??

A little bit later I was hanging some laundry on the clothes line and this beauty caught my eye...just laying there...so I grabbed my camera again and began shooting....

...only to be interrupted by someone....

...who couldn't resist playing in the leaves, himself....

A busy week ahead with excitement - a real family Thanksgiving will be this Thursday and I can't wait. Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday of the year!! Pumpkin pie, my Mom's famous Waldorf Salad, a 20 lb. turkey and my awesome dressing and my world-famous gravy are on the menu. My sister is coming over Wednesday evening with collard greens, garlic mashed potatoes and her suitcase because she's staying for a few nights....we can't wait!!! Are you busy with plans for the days ahead, too? Do share what they are....

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!! : )

Welcome to Arizona, Pioneer Woman!!

Do you follow The Pioneer Woman's blog like I do?? Oh, don't you just LOOOOOOOOOVE her?? I never tire of visiting her on the ol' cattle ranch - herding errant cattle, baling hay, brandin' and the likes. I love her photography section and refer to it often to help me understand my Nikon. Her confessions, humor and take on life are akin to having a cup of coffee with your ol' girlfriend....

This lovely lady has published her amazing recipes and food photography into a grand beauty of a book and as luck would land, my local independent bookstore hosted The Pioneer Woman, aka Ree Drummond, this past Thursday evening. Several of my friends, my sister and I galloped over for a quick dinner at the cafe next door and an evening with our favorite cowgirl. We were not disappointed!!
Ree Drummond was adorable! And charming, humble, kind, funny, witty, gracious and patient! She talked a bit about life on the ranch as a blogger, and now, author and her style was ingratiating. Soon, she took questions and comments from the audience and we laughed and chuckled throughout the variety of them. The line for the book-signing was loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.... and at some point, we contemplated about leaving our books to have her sign them later on and then picking them up the next day. But I just HAD to meet the woman whom I won that fabulous red mixer from!! Plus, I had a couple of questions I needed answered.....

After much patience, and propping my foot up on a post (um...I seriously injured my leg in a fall - I am doing you a HUGE favor and sparing you the horrific pictures of my bruises - and as my camera went flying across the concrete as well, I'm thinking that is why these pictures are fuzzy..boo-hoo!!) we were in line for our turn with The Pioneer Woman! She was sweet as could be and seemed a bit curious about my name, Velvet Brick, as she wrote it in her signing on the title page. I assured her that it was my blog name and not my 'stripper' name! After gushing about how I had won one of her mixer contests and her commenting "Hmmm.... Velvet Brick...that sounds familiar.....' as she continued writing, I was able to ask her my burning question. I prefaced it with "I can take the truth, no matter what it is..." then I asked...."Did the cow with the prolapse... um... is she okay???"

Yes, that was my burning question. I've needed to know the answer since reading about it on her blog. This was my chance and I wasn't going to pass it up!

What a relief it was when Ree replied that said mama cow was just fine - she had come through that ordeal a-ok!!! Yeeeeee-hawwwwwwww!!

My sister, friends and I are all a-giddy over our beautiful cook books!! Signed by The Pioneer Woman, AND her sister-in-law AND even by her mother-in-law; who were traveling with her on this leg of her book tour journey. We're planning on having a Pioneer Woman cookout with each one of us bringing a recipe from a section of her gorgeous cookbook! Ree's asked that we take pictures and email them to her - with pleasure!!

Treat yourself and pick up a copy of this book or put it on your 'wish list' for Santa Claus - you won't be disappointed!

Retreat

I never tire of this view. Our cabin view out the front window of the enchanted forest. The ya-ya's and I headed up the highway to that corner of the Earth that smiles for me. A beautiful log cabin nestled deep within the woods is home for 4 days and 3 pitch-black nights. We unloaded the Tahoe - and one would have assumed that we were moving in for a month! We do have a tendancy to bring tons of gourmet treats and goodies in our celebration of life in the forest. But no matter. We soon were settled into our cabin with the best of comforts and a beautiful view before us.

Here's my girl soaking in the peace and tranquility. I gifted her with the knitted hat - complete with 'fall bling'!!! The peacock feather, however, was a gift to her from 'Handsome'! It looked beautiful on her and she wore it all the time - such a sweet spirit with a beauty that is timeless and enduring.

A lone sentry among the tumbled remains of majestic ponderosa..... the aftermath of human carelessness.

But God's hand touches this place and renewal is in full swing.

Sapplings abound....

....as do critters

and flowers among the pine needles....

and there is a wealth of autumnal beauty to be seen....

.... much autumnal beauty, indeed.






relax,

renew,

reflect,

recharge,

respite,

relief,

retreat...

That's why this corner of the Earth smiles for me.

Home

I'm home....

from being at 'home'.

Inside Out

I'm back! I know it's been a while since my last post, but, truly, things have been busy, busy around here. The Fall Fairy showed up a few weeks ago and decorated with an autumnal touch!! Little amber lights glow around my doorway and beckon fall to come inside.

The Fall Fairy is always welcomed here at this home....

In fact, we eagerly anticipate her visit a bit more than Santa's!

I love my fireplace and can not wait to celebrate the first fire of the season!! The logs are waiting and it's almost ceremonial when we strike the first match!

Even Lucy is decked out in her fall finery!!

My bedroom has been a kitty recovery room for the last two weeks. Skittles had surgery to remove the lump on her back. Unfortunately, the news was not good and it will more than likely come back. But she's doing great, was SUCH a wonderful 'patient'...(if you knew her, you'd appreciate that statement - she has a bit of an 'edge' in her personality!!) and is outside today for the first time. Lessons I've learned this year on loss have served me well in dealing with this latest event.

The weather has been glorious and I have found myself sitting out on my back patio almost every morning and every evening. I've even dined by candlelight several times to celebrate being able to be OUTSIDE again!!! There have been days when I haven't even turned on my computer...it's hard to be inside when it's so gorgeous outside!

The song of autumn is being sung by everyone!

Today was spent doing errands, finishing two knitting projects and getting the car ready for a trip up to my favorite place on earth! It's fall break and my ya-ya's and I are making our annual trek up to the cabin in the middle of the ponderosa forest and we are like kids packing for Disneyland!

I need some time to relax and rest. To stop. To breathe. To unwind. To be. What do you do to renew?