Mazatlan at Sunrise ~

Mexican Riviera Ship Cruise in October of 2010

A friend of the family gifted us with a ship cruise on the Mexican Riviera...which would be my first ocean cruise ever, on a huge ship! Believe me...I was very nervous, and very leery!  The cruise actually turned out very nice. I took this photo as we pulled into Mazatlan early in the morning...it was breathtaking.  This photo was one of the first photos I took with my brand new Canon camera.

~ From my photo archives ~

Backyard Oranges ~

Our orange tree is giving us quite a few oranges this year.

Vacancies ~ Birds welcome ~

At one time I collected birdhouses for my backyard...the above is what I have left and they are looking a bit weathered! Still would make a nice home for a family of birds!

Love, Laugh and Live ~

~ Love Much, Laugh Often, and Live Well ~

My daughter gave me these cute little mini vases...I have yet to find the just right flower/plant I want in them.
They sit on a shelf in my kitchen...a daily reminder to do all.

This is not a black and white photo...the vases are white and my shelf is black! But I do like how it came out as if it were a black and white photo.

Garden Angel ~

I love this little Angel...she sits next to my wormwood plant, and protects my garden.

She has such a sweet and peaceful face. She was given to me by a dear family friend,

when I had supported and helped during some very rough times, she has been such a blessing.

Thank you Sarah ~

Wormwood Artemisia (plant) ~ used in "tearbottles" (represents sorrow). . . which I learned all about from Vickie,  you can read about them on her blog > here...thank you Vickie! Wormwood has many different uses that you can read about > here

Mr. Bear ~

This cute little bear that now sits on my bed, belonged to my mom. Mom loved this little guy, and it was very special to her because one of her twin brothers had given it to her several years before passing away. 

I recall mom telling me that both brothers had given it to her at the same time, during one of her yearly visits back home to Germany...I am not sure now. I have emailed my cousin in Germany to see if my Aunt Gitta recalls this wonderful little bear and his story, and hopefully his name too. Mr. Bear, as I have named him, is now very special to me. 

Close to me ~

My Aunt Ginnie gave me this "mother and daughter" holding each other sculpture, when my mom passed away in July, 2010. It has a very personal meaning for me, a little reminder...a reflection...a gesture that marks a memory of mom and I, so perfectly. 

The little card that comes with it that is sitting in front of this piece, is very hard to read (I really need to work on my lighting techniques!) but this is what it says...

Close to me
Apart or together, always close to me

Willow Tree, by Susan Lordi

This piece sits on my roll top desk, and all I have to do is look-up each day, and smile...

Disneyland's Castle at Night ~

San Diego Skyline ~

~ Our San Diego skyline with the luck of a rainbow ~

Miniature Rose Bouquet

I love these delicate and sweet miniature roses. I received this little bouquet of flowers when my mom passed from my daughters half-sisters. I dried them, then placed them in a vase that sits next to my favorite photo of my mom, both grace my dining room table, as in my post > here.

This photo was taken back in August 2010, when I had just purchased my new Canon camera. I still wanted to share it with you today. 

My Blooming African Violet ~

My African Violet sits on my kitchen windowsill. I have had this
plant for years (lost count)...it always has pretty little deep purple flowers in bloom. 

Warmth and Friendship ~

It's rare that we use our fireplace here in Southern California. We've actually had a few very chilly nights, so, my granddaughter and our dog Koda, decided to enjoy the warmth.  

Tea For One ~

The ritual for taking tea, even if for one, is very soothing ~
I am having serious computer issues...my computer has caused me great stress today!
I spent most of my day backing-up all of my  photos and documents, along with the data
in Family Tree Maker, 2011. I decided while some of the big files were transferring, I would treat my-self to "tea for one" (peppermint), and de-stress.

Each item on my tea tray has a very special meaning to me...I have collected "everything tea" since I was in my early twenties. I have recorded my tea collections in my "Tea Time Journal" including photos of the items, who gave them to me and when.  Catching up on my tea journal today, brought a bit of gentleness to my day and some wonderful memories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The beautiful tea cup is from my Uncle Helmut Haf (1940~1994), only a month before he passed away in 1994 ~ he also gave me a teapot to match, along with the rose handled tea spoons.  The colors on this set are so vivid and alive, I love this tea cup. On his birthday or date of passing, I will remove this tea cup from it's shelf and brew some peppermint tea and drink to his memory.

The silver tray is from my Oma, she had sent me a set from Germany in the 1970's, along with a tea set that is so dainty and delicate...I will save those for another photo post!

The white Battenburg lace table cloth, is also from my Oma, over the years Oma had sent me many beautiful tablecloths from Germany. The heart-shaped doily and white doily, are from a dear friend, the same friend who gifted me the wonderful Tea Time Journal and the Hydrangea plant I posted here. The Waterford Fountain pen...I bought that as a gift to my-self in the late 1980's.

The photo of mom and the little vase of now dried mini roses that were given to me at her passing, grace my table daily. 

Viola's, Johnny Jump-up's or Pansies ~

Viola's, Johnny Jump-up's, and Pansies...

I have heard them to be called by all three of these names, not sure which is accurate. I planted them for my daughter several years back...it's her very favorite flower. At one time, once all the plants had bloomed,  I had thought they were gone, but they keep coming back each year. I love how small and delicate they are and their beautiful color.  

My Hydrangea's ~

This Hydrangea beauty sits on my front porch, and has been since a very dear friend gave it to me in the
mid 1990's.  Hydrangea's are one of my favorite flowers.  The flower heads are usually pink in color, I stuck a nail in the soil (a nail will change the acidity of the soil) and a beautiful lavender/bluish color blossomed as a result of that nail.