An authentic Chanel scarf purchased at an estate sale. I love a good mystery. A whodunit where the tension builds up as the clues keep us guessing...until we discover, gasp! that the spurned lover did it, or the creepy Butler did it, or the shy, nerdy neighborhood psychopath did it. But aside from those kind… Continue reading The Mysterious Life of Objects
Category: Uncategorized
The Yin and Yang of Joie De Vivre
Balance, pen and ink drawing by Betsy Thatt, 2023 @betsys_art Bonjour to you all! Are you wondering what the heck the Yin and Yang of Joie de Vivre means? Me, too. I made it up, but I think it means that no matter what is going on in your life, you should be able to… Continue reading The Yin and Yang of Joie De Vivre
Camping Ho! Adventures on the High Plains…oh, I mean Malibu
Archival photo of an actual wagon train. Wagons Ho! or Forward Ho! was the official call the wagon master would shout to mark the start of their arduous trek across country in hopes of a better life. When I was a young girl I was fascinated with pioneer life and wagon trains. I had a… Continue reading Camping Ho! Adventures on the High Plains…oh, I mean Malibu
Happy ‘Labor’ of Love Day
Labor Day in the USA means barbeques, a three day weekend, the unofficial end of summer, the "don't wear white" anymore fashion mandate, big department store sales, etc. The holiday, however, stems from our Industrial Revolution roots in the late nineteenth century. Labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to honor our fellow hard working… Continue reading Happy ‘Labor’ of Love Day
Renewal, Tradition and Stuff
"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything." William Shakespeare Shakespeare's Garden in New York City's Central Park. Happy April! After a particularly wet and cold winter here in California, signs of spring are slowly showing up. Wildflowers are covering the rare emerald green hillsides, the bees are buzzing, and right here on the… Continue reading Renewal, Tradition and Stuff
Retirement is Re-vision…
and requires a lot of coffee... In December 2022 I made the big leap to retire after 24 years in education. I held many different jobs in the field, including English Teacher, Substitute Teacher, SAT Prep Instructor, Instructional Assistant (my last position), etc. I primarily developed my career around my family's needs: having winters and… Continue reading Retirement is Re-vision…
When Life Gives You Lemons…Make Pie! Recipe included.
These lemons are so yellow they don't even look real! Have any of you been watching 'Julia' on HBO Max? Streaming now, it is the story of how legendary chef Julia Child (played brilliantly by Sarah Lancashire) first got started on television. It is quite the story of how Child's love of French cooking and… Continue reading When Life Gives You Lemons…Make Pie! Recipe included.
Yellow is the New Black
This bumblebee is harnessing the power of yellow. I know this is kind of unusual, but I have been contemplating the meaning of Yellow lately. It's not a color I normally gravitate to, either, so I have no explanation for this, other than I am noticing it a lot (welcome Spring flowers, perhaps?). As it… Continue reading Yellow is the New Black
The Imperfect Art of the Ritual
“The human soul can always use a new tradition. Sometimes we require them.”― Pat Conroy, The Lords of Discipline As the above quote states, sometimes it is good for us to develop a new tradition, a new ritual, a new way of doing or seeing things. Elevating the mundane in our lives can be very spiritual. Maybe… Continue reading The Imperfect Art of the Ritual
Perfume and Your Future
“A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future.”― Coco Chanel Thank goodness I have a future, because I love perfume! If I don't have some sort of scent on my skin as I run out the door to begin the day, I feel undresssed. What do you think of the quote above from the illustrious… Continue reading Perfume and Your Future
Cheryl Thatt-Burbank 