Creative Chaos

I'm so excited......

 
We have a little visitor to our backyard.   A mama hummingbird decided to pick our little ficus tree in the backyard in which to build her nest.   I discovered it after I sprayed the tree with water this afternoon.  At first I thought it was a grasshopper flying away.  But I later saw the little nest.  And then upon further investigation two little eggs.   I was so upset thinking that I scared her away for good and that these little eggs would end up orphans.

 

Shortly after the discovery and during everyone elbowing in around the nest, she flew right back and sat where she belonged......with her little baby eggs.

 

I was surprised that she picked this spot so close to eye level and in the flow of backyard traffic.  Although, I'm sure after the spray of water, children clamoring to get a look, frenzied picture taking and general "bird nesting" excitement,  she immediately regretted her decision also.

Carlos and I looked up all the pertinent facts about hummingbird nests and how long it takes the eggs to hatch.   I'll keep you posted on the progress..........

 

On vacation......

 

Well. Sort of.   My aunt and uncle were here this past week so we just get to go along for the ride.  That's the great thing about living in San Diego.  Even when you're not on vacation you can pretend you're on vacation.

They stayed right on the beach at Pacific Terrace.  I only mention this because if you are looking for a place to stay in San Diego, this is the place.   Loved it!  

 

The boys' loved the poolside accommodations.....

While we adults enjoyed the drinks by the poolside accommodations......

 

And of course there's the sunset.......

 

Ok...back to reality!  

Sledding......Southern California Style.......

 with boogie boards......

 

We dropped any and all plans to organize this morning in order to throw snowballs ..........

hear our feet crunching in the snow......

 

and, then, slide down a big icy, snowy, muddy hill........

 

Some people were unsure of the whole icy, snowy, muddy situation.......

Others jumped right on the boogie board like a polar bear to an iceberg.  Much discussion was going on along the sidelines as to whether it would be prudent to hop on an instrument meant for the sea water.......

After determining that big brother was having waaaaaay too much fun, a decision was made to just do it.......

 

He never looked back.......

 

I even put down my camera for a second to join the fun.  Because of the extra weight added to Carlos' boogie board, he went down the hill faster than he did all morning.   I guess all those carmels and peppermint bark that I've been eating for the last month came in handy for something! 

 

Ok...back to organizing.......

My home for the holidays......

 

There are certain people in the family that have their own ideas on what constitutes holiday decor.  This person in particular decided that a detailed map of the Island of Sodor on the hallway wall using "Bendaroos" was exactly what our home needed.  He was quite excited to discover that the "Bendaroos," which were previously thought to only "bend" and "roo," were able to stick on the walls, thereby taking his design to a whole new level.   Luckily for him no damage was done to the wall so his landlord let him keep it up.

In other news, where I am currently at with my Christmas cards.......

 

This is as far as I've gotten.   So going with the old saying "turn that frown upside down"  I'm calling these cards the new design for Christmas 2011 and declaring myself officially ahead of the game for next year's holidays. Phew....

 

Snowy Town is in the house.......

Last minute clearance inspections were conducted just prior to construction...... 

Strict building codes were enforced by the 10 year old general contractor who insisted on a row house design......

 

Because I felt so strongly that the Snowy Townlacked a point of view, I fought for, and eventually won, the slightly tilted direction of three houses and the creation of two hills.  All other request of mine, such as a couple trees in the village, were struck down by the narrow minded president of the housing commision.....
 

All trees and forest related items were to be constructed just east of Snowy Town in what is referred to as the Snowy Woods......

 

However, as you can see, Snowy Woods was hit by a dry spell this year.  Despite a compelling argument by the general contractor,  it was told to him in no uncertain terms by his mother that snow would not be purchased until after the black weekend shopping frenzy......

   

Despite all the infighting on the east side of town, Snowy Town West was slowly reinventing itself as the "go to" place to be this season.   With the arrive of Bumble and friends, it put itself on the map as a holiday destination spot this year....... 

Although it was experiencing the same La Nina as Snowy Town East, the leader of this community wasn't as vocal about his desire for snow.   He was just happy that is little piece of the landhad a restraining order against the ten year old general contractor from the next town over.   So no matter how many protest were made regarding the design, all reindeer were allowed to remain in a line smelling each others' tails........

 

Everyone eventually got over their differences and came together at the cozy cottage for a hot chocolate peace offering.......  

 

Ok...back to the attic for more boxes.....Karin

I'm still attempting......

 
to work my way.......

 
out from under this plate of food.   I haven't stopped eating since Wednesday afternoon.   I'm not to worried about it though.  I know for a fact one of my New Year's resolutions has something to do with exercising or eating less or returning phone calls on a more timely basis or something like that.  In any event, I'm not thinking about it until after New Year's because I just spied Ghirardelli's Peppermint Bark at Target. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Talk to you soon!  Karin

Good bye Hollywood....it was fun....

Good bye James, my make up artist.   After sitting here since last Friday, I finally realized you were never coming back. I've been wearing my makeup since last week.  Just holding on to the artistically applied faced memories  At least we're friends on facebook....sniff...sniff.....

 

Good bye Chef Jamika.....You came into my kitchen and created authentic mexican food magic.   I'm still dreaming of those chicken enchiladas.  Cosme's dreaming of the day he can marry you.........In the meantime, I'm going to have to do.  But, you taught me well..... 

 

Good bye to catered lunches served everyday.........I really could go for a buffet on my lawn right now.....

 

Good bye fancy schmancy monitors that were housed in the garage.......

 

 

Good bye to my best friend Gail who came down for the day to do a segment........We decided that we love this picture of the both of us all made up so much that we are going to use it as both our families' Christmas card.....

Happy Holiday's from Karin and Gail and their families!

 

 

 

Good by Patrick my carpenter......who made my once impossible dream of hiding a wii Rock Band drum set a reality.......

 

Good bye Wanda my designer.....who not only picked out the perfect shade of paint for my family room, but also nudged me into putting my own art up on the walls....... 

 

Good by craft services table......you brought four days of joy to two young boys.   They will both remember your offerings for the rest of their lives.....

 
 

 
 

 

 
 
Although there were many good byes, we got to say a great big hello to a new room.  I love the color Wanda chose for the room.  The cabinet below the tv holds all the wii rockband stuff.....drum set, guitar, etc.   We also stained the table that is next to the chair.....

  

New curtains and curtain rods.....

 

A new ottoman with storage underneath.  The flaming fleece blanket, blue chair, Rescue Heroes dvd and green outdoor chair pad all made their way back in after the reveal......

 

Gail worked on this with Wanda.  It's a cork board for the boys to put their pictures on.......

 

It was so much fun.  Now, I need to start thinking Christmas crafting!  Talk to you soon!  Karin

 

I'm taking pictures of the new room as we speak.....

or type...or whatever.  Because I really can't take pictures as I type, I'm going to mosey down the hall the minute I publish this post and shoot the photos.   Hopefully, I will come back to post the follow up post.  I've been known to get sidelined in that room and not come out for hours.  So it's a toss up of when you will hear from me again.  

Let's refresh our memories......

Before:

Note the annoying broken leg in the room.  Thank goodness they were able to redesign that entire section of the room without any trace of fractured limbs.....

 

When repairing the crack in the plaster, I took down all the pictures on the wall.   A little known mexican/polish interior designer came in and put his own signature look on the wall.  Known as the youngest designer on record, he felt that a mini fire truck tote bag, pastel pillow and a Proteus traim drawing gave the room a point of view that was otherwise lacking......

Ok....I'm off to take the pictures.  If I'm not back in 3-4 hours, call Cosme to come to get me......

A Halloween Costume: A perspective through the years.....

 
From the beginning he was going to have none of it.....as evidenced by his first Halloween photo, shown here with my aunt.

He never even made it into any Halloween 2006 pictures. Not a single one.  Unlike his big brother, he had no use for Halloween and all the merriment that came with it.....

 

By 2007, he was willing to wear an gecko shirt and partake in pictures and eating of Halloween candy........but absolutely no trick or treating.

 

By the time 2008 rolled around a discovery was made.  Those who went trick or treating came back with sacks full of candy.  He was intrigued.  He ran to his bedroom and put a scrap of fabric on his head.   He was ready to venture out.......

Seeing how well his costume went over last year he decided to go with the same theme the next year in 2009. He just did a few updates to the "blankie on the head" look giving it an edgier feel with the safety glasses.

But 2009 ended with an ultimatum......You either wear a costume next year or no trick or treating.  The line was draw....the mandate was ordered.  What did he care.... he had a year to mull over his options.

As Halloween 2010 drew closer there was little excitement over picking a costume out.  Of course, there was huge excitement over trick or treating.  So therein lay the dilemma.  After much hemming and hawing, shooting down every viable costume option and even trying to put a new spin on the "blankie on the head" costume by carrying a bucket held by a stuffed snake, a decision was made.............

 

 

 

Ahoy Matey!

 

 

 

He did it.  He wore a costume.  He was the happiest little Buccaneer Pirate you ever saw.  He wondered aloud to himself why he waited so long.

I wanted to show you some really fun houses that were all decorated up.  One of Cosme's clients decorates his house up like the Bates Hotel.......

 

 

 

 

There was a dragon next door.....

 

And this was fun.   Frankenstein.......
 
 

The "Dr" enticed the kids to press the button so that the monster would come alive......

The platform moved into an upright postition....
 

And he would then walk around......
 
 

Until Next year.......

 

 

All of a sudden I heard......

 ...."anybody want any fruit! Anybody want any fruit! Anybody?"

And realized that there was a big "fruit sale" going on in front of my house.

 

I wondered where my bananas went.....

 

In case there was a need for a bathroom break.......
 

Consulting with the decorative holiday cat on possible cross promotional halloween media........

 

Holiday cat talked him into putting his name on the signage......

 

Discussing with a disinterested holiday cat how the recession has affected local neighborhood fruit sales.........
 

A customer?!?!  Darn, just Carlos on his scooter.....
 

I'm outta here.....