Julia Margaret Cameron

"The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention."  Julia Margaret Cameron



The Echo

Sometimes on a Lazy Day I pull out one of my favorite little books and flip through the pages.

I Love Stories of Late Bloomers.

Julia Margaret Cameron discovered photography at the age of 48.

When you consider that the year was 1863, this is all that much more impressive.

Annie

 This was her first successful photograph. Imagine...no photography schools or manuals. Lots of scary chemicals and techniques.

The Whisper of the Muse

Sadness

Summer Days

Many many years ago, when my kids were little, I was inspired to take this Julia Margaret Cameron style photo of my own children.

note: all photos other than my own via pinterest

The Carlsbad Flower Fields

In the 1920's, an horticulturist by the name of Luther Gage brought some Ranunculus Seeds from England to Southern California to see if they would grow in the sandy soil next to the Pacific Ocean.

Well, I would have to say that Mr. Gage was successful.

These are the Fabulous Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California.

They are in bloom every year from about mid-March through May.

This type of Ranunculus is called the Tecolote

 after the big-eyed Mexican owls in the area.

You can see the Flower Fields from the highway when you're driving between San Diego and Los Angeles. It is so pretty. It looks like it's Snowing Flowers.

You can stop and pose as a Flower with the Flowers.

 Or the Flowers can pose as Flowers with the Flowers.

This is an aerial view.

 (I was not in an airplane. I took this from the information board at the entrance.)

Ooooooooooh....

Ahhhhhh.....

Thank You Luther Gage!

Goleta

A Drizzly Day

A Sunday Morning Coffee Shop Breakfast
Goleta, California

Pancakes. Mmmmmm..

Birds vs. People

Spotted outside a local supermarket

Dear Birds,
    We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you by building this big annoying store and this enormous noisy parking lot. Please forgive us. We will try to do better.
Love,
People

HAPPY EARTH DAY

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

I am fairly obsessed with the Arts and Crafts Movement. I find the style to be so warm and logical. And I love the design philosophy of beautiful, practical, well-made things which communicate an understanding and appreciation of Nature. 

Situated on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is, in my opinion, one of the best modern interpretations of the California Craftsman style. Plus, the bar serves a mean gin & tonic.

A Classic Stickley Armchair

This golden glow is a result of ....

this Sunset right outside.

CHEERS!

Three Things

Life has its ups and downs. That is certain. Sigh... One can easily lose perspective.
 I have found a simple little method for keeping my spirits aloft. Every day I seek out Three Things that make me feel ESPECIALLY content ~ Three Things that give me a little kick in the pants to remind me that life is good ~ my little bits of "snow in the air" if you will.
These Three Things can be as simple as a curtain fluttering in the breeze...or a perfectly ripe banana...or an off-color joke that makes you laugh so hard that your ribs hurt. Anything.

So these are my latest Three Things:

Bill Cunningham via The Sartorialist

While reading the Sunday Style section of the New York Times, I was reminded of how much I ADORE Bill Cunningham. Did you see this film? It made me cry.

I spotted these on my way to the library. I think tangerine is the color of the year.

And I found this cool video of The Syndicate of Sound while attempting to load " Little Girl" onto my ipod. Suits by the sea in 1966. Awesome.

What are your THREE THINGS??????

Purple Flowers

Spring is definitely blooming around here. Maybe it's my imagination but it seems like the first flowers to poke their noses out are the Purple Ones.