in the sand

Foggy San Diego Harbor

2011-09-24T15:04:00.000-06:00

san diego

2011-03-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Botanical

2010-08-30T17:10:00.002-06:00

2010-08-02T21:25:00.001-06:00

Water With a Slice of Lemon

2010-08-01T16:01:00.009-06:00

Life has handed me lemons.

Unable am I to make of them something sweet.

But I have been refreshed.

Little Black Dress

2010-02-28T08:53:00.007-07:00

Red Doors

2010-02-15T07:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day

So Overwhelmingly Thankful

2010-02-11T17:43:00.010-07:00

2009-12-09T00:26:00.000-07:00

Thankful...

2009-11-24T06:57:00.002-07:00

that even though people can make you sad, they cannot steal your deep rooted joy.

For Nancy, JT and Michael

2009-11-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Windows

2009-11-12T07:32:00.004-07:00

synonomous : intricate

2009-11-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T17:27:00.013-07:00

Two Halves

2009-10-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

Fifteen straight days of Yoga has me feeling very much like this tree...half dead, yet half alive. Is that middle age...?

synonomous : contented

2009-10-27T06:31:00.001-07:00

What will she come up with?

Saturday Morning

2009-10-24T20:35:00.000-06:00

Falling

2009-10-20T20:34:00.001-06:00

Sense My World

2009-10-12T17:43:00.002-06:00

taste it

smell it

see it

hear it

feel it

Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Daisy

2009-10-08T18:50:00.003-06:00

synonomous: gild

2009-10-06T15:23:00.000-06:00

A Flamenco Flower For My Birthday

2009-10-01T07:45:00.001-06:00

Trainspotting

2009-09-27T10:27:00.022-06:00

While waiting for a train,

a late train

a very late train...

Glad I had my camera!

Disenchanted

2009-09-23T21:58:00.003-06:00

the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. -jfk

but if not, it's the deliberate, contrived lie.

Sleepy

2009-09-14T21:00:00.005-06:00

I Heart Faces..

2009-09-08T22:10:00.006-06:00

keep us out of the set ways of life
out of the set ways of life
keep us out
keep us
life

I would...

2009-09-05T17:06:00.002-06:00

that you wake up with me.

2009-08-31T18:50:00.011-06:00

Look what I've done since you've been gone, Pa pa...

They used to be this...

And I made this...

I know how because of you, and I do it because of you. Thanks for teaching me that if the next guy (gal) can do it, so can I (and for less money). Mom, you taught me that, too! Thanks.
Dad, I know you'd be proud. I can see that smile you would have, and hear that laugh of praise.

Love,
PG

2009-08-30T01:47:00.007-06:00

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

-Corinthians

Or as I like to put it, flowery words mean nothing without like character to back them up.

Lazy Bones

2009-08-26T20:34:00.007-06:00

€

Grief Within

2009-08-23T19:22:00.007-06:00

"My grief lies all within, and these external manners of lament are merely shadows to the unseen grief that swells with silence in the tortured soul."

William Shakespeare

2009-08-23T19:12:00.001-06:00

Synonymous : Unhurried

2009-07-20T18:05:00.012-06:00

I recently had an idea for a new collaborative project with my twin sister, Georgia. (Our Ethereal blog was our first collaboration.)

I named this new project Synophotography, and I've asked my sister to design its logo (above). We will alternate choosing a word and posting a synonymous photo that accompanies that word well in our eyes. In response, the other will post another word that is synonymous with the associated photo.

Georgia starts us out. Her chosen word: languid. Click here to see her languid photo.

My synonymous choice: unhurried.

2009-07-17T19:24:00.016-06:00

You'll never leave where you are until you
decide where you'd rather be..

Rococo Zephyr
She lay beside me like a branch from a tender willow tree
I was as still, as still as a river could be
When a rococo zephyr swept over her and me

She watched the water ripple ripple ripple ripple light
Light watched the water ripple ripple ripple ripple she
I did some kind of dance, jaunty as a bee
I tried to look my best, a finch in wild mint vest
A fiercer force had wrenched her from where she used to be
I caught and caressed the length of her, a tender willow branch floating on me

Well maybe this was all, was all meant to be
Maybe this is all, is all that meant to be
A rococo zephyr crept up and stepped over her and me

Well I used to be sort of blind
Now I can sort of see

("Let's Run Away Forever" photo via flickr's finest.
All other photo belong to and are by Angela Heldman)

The Carpenter's Supplies

2009-07-16T13:06:00.006-06:00

2009-07-13T19:37:00.004-06:00

"We've no more right to put our discordant state of mind into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness than we have to enter their house
and steal their silverware."

2009-07-12T15:51:00.007-06:00

...sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself...

"I can't go on. I'll go on."

2009-07-09T19:26:00.005-06:00

2009-07-09T19:15:00.007-06:00

"Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness."

Some days, most days, particularly today--what I think of this late fashioned Facebooked, Bloglanded, LinkedIn, Twittered World.

2009-07-09T19:14:00.003-06:00

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."

Really? Do you really hate me?

2009-03-30T19:35:00.017-07:00

The Curious Case of Vintage Buttons

2008-12-28T17:33:00.005-07:00

My twin, Jorjah-B, and I went to a lovely little resale shop in Chicago two weeks ago in the first of her two weekend visits. She found this sweater, yet decided not to buy it for its wool had shrunk. I thought it might be worth buying to try to stretch, for it was such a great sweater, mainly for its buttons. However, not for $10.

The next weekend, I returned to the same store, and the sweater was still there. Now marked $8, and all clothing was 1/2 off. $4 for vintage buttons. Worth it! I did try to wash and stretch, but to no avail. Incidentally, I did get the buttons out of it. What's even better is that night, I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. There's a scene where buttons are swept across a table by Benjamin, and gathered in a jar. A button identical to these is amidst that pile. That made my $4 buttons priceless!!! The movie is a must-see, by the way.

I may try to use these on another sweater or piece of clothing, or possibly make another jewelry piece. Whatever I do with them, I'll be sure to post about it!

Side by Side

2008-12-17T17:33:00.003-07:00

This was a challenge idea from Shutter Sisters that I saw on Simply Dipped. She has a few shots like this, and I thought it was an easy and fun assignment. Took this on my "Civic" camera, and not the Mercedes.

2008-12-14T23:06:00.007-07:00

It's just before noon on a Sunday, the Sunday I was supposed to find a way toward Rockford IL to see and hear a perfect stranger sing the Christmas song my Mom wrote many years ago. I didn't make it, and while feeling a sense of guilt, I tried to rationalize my absence with the busy week I just wrapped up, and the busy week ahead. Trying to relax and get well from a flu that's been hanging on for a week now, I started up my computer to work on Angel Cake, and my new blog , Ethereal (see more below).

Shortly into working on Ethereal, I stepped away, but the music continued to play. And a song, which plays now as you read (I Am by Nicole Nordman), randomly came on. It's a song that reminds me very much of you, Mom. One that Ginger played for the family on your birthday in your honor. She asked us all to find a song that depicts or pays tribute to you. This is the song she chose. And it is so appropriate for our Mother.

Feeling even more guilt, now, I grabbed my phone to text my Mom and tell her how sorry I was that I wasn't there. I have the iPhone, and if you have one, you know the texts back and forth are saved on the hard drive all the way back to the very first text, so I can read all past conversations with any one individual in one page. Additionally, when I create a new text, the latest text between the person I am texting and myself displays right above the window for the new text. In this case, when I chose Sharon (Mom), the last text that appeared was€€ a text from her to me with two simple words, "I AM." It was in response to my request for prayer about a bad week I was having at work. So by now, you've probably listened to the words of the song "I Am" that make this post so worthy of writing about. It's too coincidental.

Another thing you know about (or maybe you don't) if you have an iPhone, is that you can take a picture of any screenshot on your phone. I've attached the screenshot for the viewer to share.

She's MOM, which spelled up-side-down makes WOW!

I love her.

She is!
And here's more about the new blog. Ever since we were young, my sister and I have loved to create. From drawing to coloring, to imagining and playing house. From changing our room around once a week to see what arrangement could look better than the last, to changing our parents' living room around...

After high school, our creative paths took different routes. Jorjah-B went into graphic design, and Angel Cake found a creative outlet through photography. Since then, it seems our paths have merged again. With both having a love for interior design, photography, and all things creative, we've recently begun to brainstorm about how we can use our "wonder-twin-power" to create as a team. Recently we cooperatively came up with the idea of a team photography blog of dreamy shots--all images ethereal.

There you will see our work, and the works of guests we think are dreamy.

This all became a product of ideas in the making, and a weekend of fun and picture taking. For the banner, we searched and searched for the perfect photo. I was searching for a mysterious picture of a bike that I'd taken a couple of years back (took the picture, not the bike). I couldn't find it, which was a blessing because we found a better shot--one I'd taken just days before moving out of my Hyde Park top floor vintage apartment that I loved. It depicts my love for decor and for photography. And we think it's rather delicate.

The first two shots were taken this weekend...by us. The first was taken by me at a coffee shoppe called Lovely. A delicate cafe with delicious treats. The second was taken the night before by Jorjah-B, of me, after the opera, in my condo. Very vaporous. You'll just have to go and see. And keep checking back. We'll be there daily (hopefully).

A Perfect Day

2008-12-07T10:49:00.045-07:00

Jorjah-B, you asked us what our perfect day would be. It seems to me there are so many scenarios that could make up a perfect day. But I'll just describe the one I'm having today. It's almost perfect.

Waking to a warm-nosed pup-dog named Blanco.

Lounging over to the kitchen for a cup of warm Russian tea.

6 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
2 sticks cinnamon
8-10 cloves
1 quart pineapple juice
1 quart orange juice
1-3 ounce can frozen lemon concentrate-undiluted
1/2-1 cup sugar

Steep tea and spices in boiling water and remove. Add sugar. Mix juices and lemon concentrate in large pitcher. Add tea mixture. Dilute to taste.

{it's better if you make it the night before, then you can just warm, pour and drink}
{also, don't stick hard and fast to this recipe. do like i do and just throw everything in together to your taste.}

and a toasted whole grain English muffin with melted butter and raspberry jam for breakfast.

Checking blogland while I sip my tea, while also working on several pieces of jewelry as I become inspired.

and while listening to a song from my list of favorites on my $150 surround-sound Logitech PC speakers. Some of the best sound you'll ever get for the money-"I think you should get them."

Without any pressure to hurry along, I go to Angel Cake and work on my blog. Then I head over to: It's Just How I See Things and Jorjah-B.
{I always thought I was the photographer, but it looks like my sister's little camera has beat out my new Nikon. I've got some catching up to do.}

A little cat nap with Daisy and Q is nice. Daisy really knows how to take a nap.

So does Q...

It's almost lunch time. A cup of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect lunch for an almost perfect rainy day like today.

The only thing that would make it absolutely perfect is if my Papa was here to sup with me like the day he visited me in my Hyde Park kitchen--a cold day very much like today, not too long before he went to heaven, and if I were granted the knowledge that it would be one of my last moments alone with him.

We sat, ate tomato soup and laughed at this table after seeing the highly anticipated Frank Lloyd Wright home down the street.

The tomato soup mug above was a great find at one of my favorite resale/antique shops in Chicago. I snatched it up as it brought back that memory of my Dad.

Now for some play time with the chillins.

And some hugs and some kisses.

It's about 2:00PM, and time for another nap?

No, that would be irresponsible of me. And so cat-like.

So, I check out Donald Miller's blog. A good substitute for reading one of his prized books, but since they are still in boxes, I will visit his blog.

And all I have in the house to read are a few books (about ten) that I've started and not finished. Any one of these would add to my perfect day.

But I've chosen:

Here's an excerpt, a poem.

Friendship

Friendship needs no studied phrases,
Polished face, or winning wiles;
Friendship deals no lavish praises,
Friendship dons no surface smiles.

Friendship--pure, unselfish friendship,
All through life's allotted span,
Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens,
Man's relationship with man.

...or woman to woman. or man to woman. you've got it, don't you?

A perfect day is telling me it's time to think about a good old film, like My Fair Lady,

or Little Women (the Winona Ryder version)

while curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea poured through a gift from a lovely friend.

Some goat cheese and crackers for a snack, along with a good glass of cheap wine, and a great scented candle

a glance out my window at my fantastic view every now and then,

and I'm done for the evening!

The only way the day could have gotten any more perfect is if I'd spent a couple hours at a thrift store or two, and found a great pair of shoes,

and had sushi with my Mom,

and gotten a sweet and sentimental gift from a dear friend. Or better yet, was blessed to spend uninhibited time with that friend.

That's on another perfect day.

Ringing In The New Year

2008-12-05T21:53:00.006-07:00

Neck Lace and Ear Rings

2008-12-02T18:02:00.010-07:00

For G-Bug

2008-12-01T21:55:00.007-07:00

You've been inspiring, prompting, leading, urging, demanding, and waiting...here's the first official piece of my line. Hope you love it as much as I do.

2008-12-01T21:32:00.010-07:00

24 QWER IO ASDF J X VB

2008-11-29T10:18:00.008-07:00

2008-11-21T21:24:00.005-07:00

Sisters

2008-11-21T21:15:00.008-07:00

Georgi, Ginger, and Gigi (me) sitting at a Florida canal, where boats tip, barnacles cut, and sharks die...sweet days.

Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing
When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
She wore the dress and I stayed home

All kinds of weather we stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Two different faces but in tight places
We think and we act as one, ha-ha-ha-ha

Those who've seen us
Know that not a thing can come between us
Many men have tried to split us up but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister who comes between me and my man

2008-11-17T20:32:00.001-07:00

Shews

2008-11-17T20:22:00.006-07:00

Feathers on shoes! Almost bought these. Couldn't believe I was finding my size at a resale shoppe. But I tried them on, and although they fit, I couldn't take one step. Highest of heels with no support. I'd look great walking across the room in these shoes--until I stumbled and fell! But they were so great, I had to take a pic. Georgia, these are for you. And here's to the girl who embarrasses herself in them.

These, I bought. Had to. Good support. Again my size (again I couldn't believe it). And they're BCBG.

And these? One of the greatest shew finds I've ever found in a resale shoppe!

Long Awaited Train Arrives

2008-11-14T23:58:00.004-07:00

Daisy - The Least Innocent Cat You'll Ever Meet with the Most Innocent of Names

2008-11-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

Oxidation

2008-11-13T02:02:00.001-07:00

It will.

Sunday

2008-11-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

Doily

2008-11-09T23:59:00.001-07:00

Green Eyes

2008-11-06T19:04:00.001-07:00

Q, the Cat

Green Shoe Love!

2008-11-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Submission

2008-11-06T18:51:00.001-07:00

Blanco the Chihuahua is not sleeping here. He just does this when you approach him with a certain look. He's so submissive toward his master, he rolls over and closes his eyes in healthy fear. Almost every day he greets me with what sounds like pig snorts or duck quacks. They are a result of him being so excited to see me that he can't get enough air--and that's the result. Every person should have a best friend like that. After the days I've had lately, nothing else could make me smile like that.

Cat Smile

2008-11-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

city view

2008-11-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Second Hand Rose

2008-11-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

A "New" Sofa Every Year

2008-11-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

This last picture is of my latest sofa. Changing sofas is not like changing your winter coat each year! It's difficult to give them up when you find a replacement; and finding storage isn't like stuffing last year's timeless wool second-hand find in the back of a closet. The first and the last are my brand new finds and splurges from Crate and Barrel. The middle two are more resale deals of the century. No more than $100 for each. Two are stored in my aunt's basement (one not even pictured here). I love to find a great "new" sofa like I love a new lamp, a new chair, or a new ring. For my mansion some day.

Around The House

2008-11-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Dress Your Child Up Day

2008-11-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Blanco the pink spider, or piglet. 6 lets on this costume. I think a bug. Came to work with me on Halloween. He was a hit!!!!!!!

Third Post Third Pet

2008-10-28T20:28:00.002-07:00

Need I say more. You'd love these too, if you fed them day in and day out: Q, Daisy, and Blanco. Daisy is the white cat, Blanco the white dog. Q...

Blanco taunts Daisy. Biting Daisy's ears to get her going until she breaks down and tackles Blanco in a full body hug. To see the action, view the video on my facebook page.

They bring me joy. They are life. Q was given to me to take care of while a friend and tenant went to Europe. She never came back. I couldn't put Q out on the street.....!

Daisy was one of three cats left of six original kittens. Three siblings had already been eaten by coyotes. I was encouraged to take her home to sell--told I could get a lot of money for an all-white cat with blue eyes. Well, her blue eyes turned green. Besides, I fell in love with her. And I have green eyes too.

Blanco. You'd have taken him home, too, if you raised him from birth. He brings so much joy.

Second Hand

2008-10-27T23:45:00.001-07:00

Second Post. I'll write about Second Hand.

I love second hand things. Some people hate them. I love them. I had a compliment today from someone I admire about my coat. I wanted to tell him I'd bought the lovely Banana Republic coat from a second hand store, but kept it to myself, smiled and thanked him.

But you can know...it was a great resale shop find.

In the words of Barbara Streisand:

Father has a business strictly second hand
Everything from toothpicks to a baby grand
Stuff in our apartment came from father's store
Even things I'm wearing someone wore before
It's no wonder that I feel abused
I never get a thing that ain't been used
I’m wearing second hand hats
Second hand clothes
That’s why they call me
Second hand Rose
Even our piano in the parlor
Father bought for ten cents on the dollar (I have a second hand piano - love it too)
Second hand curls
I'm wearing second hand pearls
I never get a single thing that's new
Even Jake the Plummer, he's the man I adore (I thought it was Joe, the Plummer)
Had the nerve to tell me he's been married before!
Everyone knows that
I'm just Second hand Rose
From Second avenue
I'm wearing second hand shoes
Second hand hose
All the girls hand me their second hand beaus
Even my pajamas when I don ‘em
Got somebody else’s ‘nitials on ‘em
Second hand rings
I'm sick of second hand things
I never get what other girlies do
Once when strolling through the Ritz a girl got my goat
She nudged her friend
And said "Oh look there my old fur coat"
Everyone knows that I'm just
Second hand Rose From Second Avenue
From Second Avenue NU!

I can still hear my Mom singing that tune around the house as I watched on in admiration while she mocked Barbara Streisand without reservation. She used to love resale shops too. Still does. While growing up, she tried to persuade (force) us to like them. One year, as winter was approaching, and all my friends were coming to school with new jackets, I asked my mom for a new coat. I was told that new that year would have to be just "new" to me. I think I cried knowing I'd be showing up in an ugly used coat. But I got over it and changed my attitude, and gave it a try. We searched and searched...and searched. But found nothing. My reward for changing my attitude was to go to the mall and buy a brand new coat! I can still remember that thing. Ugly 80's coat!. A navy blue wool jacket with strange leather epaulettes that snapped into place. What was I thinking? Should have gone with the second hand. Probably still be wearing it today.

But it did spark my love for resale--although I don't think the fan was flamed until after high school when I was spending my own money. Thanks Mom, for such a gift! The gift and the art of resale finding. Finding a new store is a gift and an art. Any finding something in a new store, or old, is a gift and an art. One that my twin and I have perfected, almost.

1st Post

2008-10-22T19:54:00.000-06:00

In Georgia font I type my first post.