Keeping Up Appearances

Oh My Gosh.

I have fallen off the map lately.

My apologies to my bloggy friends for my absence. I'm still here.
So let's see....where was I???

San Clemente longboard surfers circa 1940's

Not too long ago I decided to channel my inner Hyacinth Bucket and take my poor hapless Richard, I mean, JON on a day trip up the coast to a nearby Stately Home.

I got all dressed up in my favorite Anthropologie polka dots, assumed my bossiest persona, forced the dog and the husband into the car and set off up the coast to Casa Romantica in San Clemente, California.

the main hall

Well, it turns out that Casa Romantica is not so much a stately home as a lovely old, rather large stucco house that was built in the 1920's.

My camera battery died not long after we arrived but I still managed a few shots.

The tile work blew my mind.

So here I present to you: TILE.

The view of the Pacific from the main house was indeed Romantica.

This is a painting on tile of the Grumpy Old Matriarch of the Casa.

Or perhaps this is the Queen Grump?

In my defense, I was trying to look coy. But I've discovered that as I age, what used to be a sexy sultry look now translates as "Get Off My Lawn!"

cliché Instagram toe photo of street tile depicting Casa Romantica

So, Kids, where have your feet been lately??

All I Have Wished For Will Be

I am OBSESSED with Ruth St. Denis.

 

2014 was a Crazy Year for me. You may or may not know that I have really struggled with my health over the past two years. And this year. 2014. I discovered that I had been misdiagnosed and was being treated for the WRONG THING all this time! See what I mean? Crazy.

But the Good News for me is that I found an adorable doctor (those are two words that you don't often see together) who is finally helping me to get back to myself.

This is why I think she is adorable ~ she correctly diagnosed me and is helping me to get better AND she loves to shop at Thrift Stores!!! Whenever I have an appointment with her we compare notes about the local Thrift Shop Scene.
 Thrift Girl Power! Yeah! 

 

Did you know that just smelling Rosemary can alleviate anxiety? Well it's True!

I always told myself that if for some reason I ended up in prison I would pass the time by learning a new language. I have no idea what I would have done to put me into prison but...you just never know, right? Well, being ill all this time FELT like prison. I did not learn a new language but I definitely gave the swear words in my own language a workout.

So here are a few things I did to pass the time.

Here's where I spent too much of 2014. In my bed. The picture of the vintage shoes is to remind me that very soon I will be wearing actual CUTE SHOES once again. Yes. I. Will.

Cute shoes, n'est-ce pas? 

I read a lot. Mostly books about feisty women. 

I did some knitting.

 Look at that. I Macgyvered a bread bag clip to keep the yarn from slipping off of the end of the knitting needle.

 

I won this beautiful necklace of a swinging girl from Coulda Shoulda Woulda's Instagram giveaway that I was not even aware that I had entered. Thank you so much Naomi. It is PERFECT.  

I took lots of scenic car drives.
This is the gorgeous Self Realization Fellowship In Encinitas, California all lit up for the holidays.

 

And I did a bit of on-line shopping. This 70's hippie dress is from Thriftwares Vintage.

I just love it so much. I can't wait to wear it out in public while wearing SHOES.

 

Crimson Ball Sinks From View.

Click HERE for some Donovan wonderfulness.

So CHEERS to a HAPPY HEALTHY Running Around Doing What You Want New Year for EVERYONE!!!

 

So what do YOU do to help pass the time when you are housebound?

 

I'll be recycling Radiant Orchid at Spy Girl's 52 Pick-me-up: Pantone Party

And joining the fancy dress party at Patti's Visible Monday



Cool Clear Water

I recently moved to the town of Carlsbad, California which is just north of San Diego.

In 1882, long before I ever moved here, a farmer named John Frazier was drilling a well on his land when he struck a deep aquifer of alkaline mineral water.

It was very similar to the therapeutic mineral water from Karlsbad, Bohemia so they decided to name it Carlsbad Mineral Water. 

Until the 1930's many health conscious people from all around the world came to Carlsbad to "take the waters."  But during the Great Depression the whole thing to fell into disrepair. The depression had that effect on a lot of things.

Until the 1990's when a nice man named Ludvik Grigoras, who was born in Karlsbad now the Czech Republic, decided to declare Karlsbad and Carlsbad Sister Cities. He then worked to raise money to help restore the California spa. He even had his Czech sculptor friend create a bronze statue of John Frazier.

Yay for Ludvik Grigoras!!!!

If any of you have ever had a swig of tap water here in Southern California you would have to admit that it doesn't taste great. It comes all the way from Colorado and picks up some funky stuff along the journey so it tastes a bit "off" by the time it gets here.

Spring Water is the only way to go.

So you have to pay for it. Big deal. I think it's worth it.

If you are a Spring Water fiend like I am, I would like to introduce you to FindASpring.com 

This web site shows you where to find Cool Clear Springs all over the World.

There might even be one close to you! Check it out.

So what does a Barefoot Aquarian wear to collect Spring Water?

A rayon dress with pictures of Cranes Flying over Water of course!

Made from this pattern.

 I'm on a mission to make as many of my own clothes as possible.

Ha! We shall see.....

 

I leave you, hopefully well-hydrated, with some Vintage Cowboy Coolness*

 

Heading over to Patti's Visible Monday. See you there!

 

*I'm sorry if you can't see this on your ipad. I'm trying to figure that one out!

It's just a bunch of dapper old cowboys. You're not missing much.

  

Vaca With The Fam

Jean Paul Sartre said, "Hell is Other People." "L'enfer, c'est les autres."
I say, "Hell is Other People's Vacation Photos." "L'enfer, c'est les photos de vacans des autres."
Welcome to HELL.


source

Bubble Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo, California.
This is a long alleyway completely covered with chewed gum.
It smells and looks as disgusting as you would imagine it would.

The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.
Oooh. So beautiful and serene.

This really is a Mystery. I still can't figure it out!

Buttercup Cakes in Santa Cruz. I had the Blood Orange Cupcake with Earl Grey Tea Frosting.

YUMMY!

Doris Day owns this Hotel in Carmel, California.

Pets are Always Welcome.

I Love Doris Day.

A Sea Anemone at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

An Impressive Sand Castle at Venice Beach.

Home Again.

Pancake is VERY HAPPY that We Are Back.