4:00 a.m.

i don't know what woke me... i think i could have gone back to sleep except the lure of the computer drew me to my studio. just a few minutes to meander and read email while everyone is asleep seemed so guilt-free and irresistible.

here's a little "10 things" meme i saw batted around out in blogland;

1. i always find the shady side of the street. as a redhead, the sun has always been something i avoid.

2. i miss terribly the open ocean and the redwoods surrounding santa cruz california. not to mention the dear friends and neighbors that i miss daily.

3. people are often surprised when they see my hair down. i really only take it down to sleep and bathe.

4. i'm typing this in at 4:00a.m. it's perfectly still and quiet in my house and on my street. (i just heard jasper creeping around upstairs.)

5. i smile easily and often, although it takes a lot to make me laugh out loud.

6. i typically under-commit and over-deliver. i think it is because i don't like chaos and i enjoy thoroughness, economy and taking my sweet time.

7. just like my grandmother, i am mesmerized by babies, young children, and baby animals. i love the way they look, sound, smell and i am charmed by what they do. i'm confused at how different observing young life can be from the reality of parenting (and animal ownership) in my own life.

8. i enjoy a tidy and organized home. sometimes i get a feeling of utter contentment and pleasure putting things back where they belong.

9. when i was younger, i thought i was really tall. (I stand 5'4")

10. i can hear a train whistling in the distance. it's getting really faint.

now that i'm chilled, falling back asleep next to a sleeping annie is going to feel so warm and cozy...

The Short Report

Outside my window...early morning gray skies.

I am thinking ...about plans for August and September.

I am thankful that...Bill and I enjoy each other so much.

From the kitchen...not much! Getting by on peaches, quesadilla's and cereal until Bill comes home and prepares real food for us.

I am wearing...tangerine house coat and this.

I am creating...hmmmm. I am in (slow) process with a few things.

I am going...nowhere today. We'll have a restful at-home day today.

I am reading... Anne Proulx The Shipping News. Not loving it yet.

I'm surprised by...my trampoline "routine." I love how I feel with exercise without the intense contact with the ground.

I am hearing...our hens screaming out their "I just laid an egg and I want everyone to know it" sounds.

Around the house..I'm pretty caught up with housework. I would like to do a "once over" before dinner tonight. I'll give myself until about 4:30 before I snap to it though.

One of my favorite things...the aviary full of canaries.

A few plans for the rest of the week...gardening, a spot or two of laundry, a play date for Annie, continuing our NoTVorSugar week, Sara's wedding, seeing the whole family, wearing our new dresses.

A picture to share...

68.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says: Consciousness is seeing; it is the awareness of whatever truly is.

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first? My datebook.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? A documentry about adopted girls from China that live in Sweden.

4. Without looking, what time is it? 6:30

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? 6:52

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? Penelope (a canary) hopping around her cage behind me.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? We bundled up against the rain and wind and went to the Oakland hills for an appointment.

8. What are you wearing right now? Robe, cozy, grey boiled wool slippers.

9. What did you dream about last night? Unless I recall them early in the day, they are lost to me.

10. When did you last laugh? Just now taking photos of myself!

11. What's on the walls of the room you're in? A large 3.5' x 5' framed print of Boticelli's Venus et les Graces. (Thank you Sara! I treasure it)

12. What's the most memorable experience you've ever had? It's a toss up. Being with my mother the last days of her life and watching as Patricia delivered Annie right into my arms!

13. What's the last film you saw? The Widow of St. Pierre. Fantastic costumes, story and setting.

14. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first? Find a wonderful house by the sea in a semi-remote area and move in. Oh yes, and body work-massage, facials, etc.

15. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change? Restore the health of the planet.

16. Do you like to dance? Yes. Privately.

17. Imagine your first child is a girl. What would you name her? She was, and she is Annie.

18. Boy? We liked Leo & Thomas.

19. Would you ever consider living abroad ? Yes, but not permanently.

20. What time did you get up this morning? 7:00 a.m with a crick in my neck.

21. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls.

22. What's your favorite TV show? I don't have "a show." I do like Antiques Roadshow.

23. What did you have for breakfast this morning? Steel cut oats.

24. What's your favorite cuisine? Fresh and thoughtful anything.

25. What foods do you dislike? Fried.

26. What is your favorite chip flavor? Not a big chip fan.

27. What's your favorite song at the moment? Singing "Fix You" in my brain.

28. What kind of car do you drive right now? Saab Turbo Wagon

29. What was your first car? I bought a Chevy Nova Wagon with my first student loan for $500. Blanch was her name and she was great for years.

30. Favorite sandwich? A sandwich Billy makes. Chicken breast, roasted bell pepper, and pesto.

31. What characteristics do you despise? Despise? Hmmmm.

32. What is your favorite article of clothing? A boiled wool chocolate brown coat by Eileen Fisher. Toasty and cute. Thanks Jane!

33. What color is your bathroom? A variety of whites and creams.

34. What is your favorite brand of clothing? Mmmmm.

35. Where would you/did you retire to? See question #15.

36. Favorite time of the day? No favorite.

37. What was your most memorable birthday? My 30th stands out for me.

38. Where were you born? Berkeley.

39. What fabric detergent do you use? I'm using Trader Joe's powdered.

40.Were you named after anyone? LaLa.

41. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes.

42. When did you last cry? Yesterday.

43. Do you like your handwriting? Yes, if I focus on it.

44. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? If I would have me.

45. Are you a daredevil? In many aspects of my life.

46. Do looks matter? I enjoy beauty in all forms. Beauty matters to me.

47. How do you release anger? I shut down sometimes, try and identify needs met and unmet, talk to friends, yell.

48. What were your favorite toys as a child? A two-sided doll made just for me.

49. What class in high school was totally useless? High school.

50 Favorite movies? Akkkk! Too many to name.

51. What are your nicknames? Trees, and in the past Punky or Punkin.

52. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? I hardly wear laced shoes.

53. Do you think that you are strong? In many ways, yes.

54. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Coffee.

55. What are your favorite colors? Too many to name.

56. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? Over thinking.

57. Who do you miss the most? My mom.

58. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Burnt sassy orange.

59. Last person you talked to on the phone? LaLa

60. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? The good stuff.

61. Favorite drink? I dunno.

62. Do you wear contacts? No.

63. Favorite day of the year? I do love holidays... but I don't know about one favorite.

64. Do you prefer your endings happy or sad? Give me happy!

65. Winter or summer? Give me Spring and Autumn.

66. What is your favorite dessert? Too many to choose from!

67. What book(s) are you reading? I'm reading about EMDR and I'm reading poems to Annie.

68. What's the furthest you've been from home? Indonesia.

Christmas Stolen MeMe

I stole this MeMe from someone who stole it from someone else.

The blogger was Aussie, hence the ice tea and watermelon questions.

What color or design is on your shower curtain?
Subtle cream on white graphic pattern.

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?
No. But I did last week. For Annie.

What would you change about your living room?
Maybe make the room wider. Oh and deeper seat size on the couch and chair.
OK. Throw in down filler to all the cushion. And new double paned sash windows. And....

Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
Haven't had a dishwasher since I was a kid living at home.

What is in your fridge?
Standard stuff, my food compost (ants get it if I leave it out) plus leftovers from Friday's dinner party.

White or wheat bread?
Santa Cruz sourdough, and wheat.

What is on top of your refrigerator?
The fridge is out on the covered back porch off the kitchen, and we keep the toaster oven on it since it's so ugly looking.

How many plants are in your home?
4 or 5.

Is your bed made right now?
No. I just took a holiday nap!

Is your closet organized?
Pretty much.

What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now?
Honeysuckle glycerin.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
Glass.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
No. I don't like ice tea.

If you have a garage, is it cluttered?
No garage, just a basement.

Curtains or blinds?
Curtains.

How many pillows do you sleep with?
Three. Two to sleep on, one under my knees.

Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
No. Need total darkness.

How often do you vacuum?
At least once a week. It needs it more with Jasper the Wonderdog.

Standard toothbrush or electric?
Manual in the a.m. and electric at night.

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
Yes, but it doesn't say anything.

What is in your oven right now?
Maybe a cookie sheet with used parchment on it, just waiting to heat something up.

Is there anything under your bed?
Yes, it's giant space great for storage. I can't remember what's under there though.

Chore you hate doing the most?
Tub. Or cleaning the oven.

What retro items are in your home?
hmmm…lots of stuff. Plus the house itself.

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
Yes. I share it with Annie. It's a mess right now since we're so close to Christmas.

How many mirrors are in your home?
Four or five.

What color are your walls?
Mustard in the LR, and bright burnt orange in the DR.

Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?
No!! Unless you count Jasper the Wonderdog.

What does your home smell like right now?
Christmas.

Favorite candle scent?
Beeswax.

Ever been on your roof?
No.

How many TVs do you have?
One. But it's big. Oh, two. There's one in the basement and isn't hooked up though.

How many house phones?
Three.

Do you have a housekeeper?
Wish.

What style do you decorate in?
Retro-Cozy, easy cleanable.

Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
Mostly solid colors with a few accent pieces in print.

Is there a smoke detector in your home?
Yes. But they go off so often in this old house, that two of them have batteries sitting near them, but not in them.

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip?
I think we'd just get all living beings out.

Four More Things About Me

Four Jobs I've Had

1. Teenage salad and dessert girl, Boulder House Restaurant

2. Entertainment industry graphic designer

3. Small business owner, Houseworks

4. Residential mural painter


Four Movies I'd Watch Again and Again

1. The Quiet Man starring Maureen O'Hara

2. Any Merchant Ivory production

3. My Life as a Dog - Lasse Hallstrom

4. Babette's Feast


Four Places I've Lived

1.Born in Berkeley, California

2. Raised in Santa Cruz Mountains, California

3. Colleged in Pasadena, California

4. Worked in Santa Monica, California



Four TV Shows I'll Watch

1. 60 minutes

2. The Dog Wisperer

3. Designed to Sell

4. Flip This House



Four Blogs I Like to Visit

1. Big + Little

2. No Appropriate Behavior

3. Little Birds

4. Green Kitchen



Four Foods I Like

1. Spinach & Onions

2. Freshly laid eggs

3. Anything Billy cooks

4. Chocolate & Nuts



Four Places I'd Like to go to Again

1. The west coast of Ireland

2. Ubud, Indonesia

3. Swimming in a cenote in the Yucatan

4. Joshua Tree in the Spring

Six Weird Things?

O.K. I'll play tag. Except I'll call the game
A Few Things I'm Not Sure Everyone Does or Thinks.




- For the past sixteen years I can't sleep without a hat on.



- I have never plucked a hair on my body. The idea seems upsetting and violent to me. I simply snip hairs that I don't want.



- I find myself daydreaming a lot about sculpting large works using cold mashed potatoes. O.K. I do think this one is weird.
And I've had these thought since I was a child.



- I refuse to turn upside down in water. No summersaults, no racing turns to push off the side of the pool. And I swam competitvely for two years in school.



- When I was about six or seven years old I actually saw the Easter Bunny walking on the sidewalk in front of our house. I can still picture him walking upright like a human, at least four feet high, with white fur and brown spots.