Rock Paper Scissors

Laundry Day

Dear Miss Jennie Love,

So Jennie dear you know all about what we did today.  First of all you watched me do laundry.  I'm happy to say that the pile has gotten smaller.  Vacation laundry is never fun.  You made the neighbors laugh again today as you rolled onto your back on our afternoon walk.  You stopped traffic as the cars rolled by someone shouted, "Why don't you carry your dog."  I was embarrassed for you.  I think you need to be who you are and if rolling on the grass gives you pleasure do it!  I had the time.  Today was not sunny here however the temps were once again in the low 70's.  Nice weather to watch the clouds roll by while on your back in the grass.  Sometimes I do believe Jennie that you know more than a college graduate or a rich snob driving his caddy around the block!  As the day began so much was rolling around in my head, should I go to Target for cleaning supplies, Michael's to order a frame at 60% off, Trader Joe's for food?  In the end, I decided to stay home and do the laundry and hang out with you at home.  You are just what I needed today!  Thank you Jennie Love.

Best Wishes,

Miss Mary

Jennie's Name

Dear Jennie Love,

Yes, you deserve a last name!  So as your human godmother, I have decided it should be "Love" because you love us all so much.

The holidays are over and I'm feeling horrible today.  The whole way back from Cambria I'd been fighting off a cold.  I lost the fight!  Today, I chose to give myself permission to be sick and hang out at home however I can't miss hanging out with Daniel and John this evening.  We need to bring Daniel back to school.  This evening the front door will not be opening and closing in the wee hours once again as Daniel's friends enter and exit our home.  The weather has turned warm again and it feels weird in January to open windows.  This happens every year however and will turn back to seasonal temps anytime soon.  Many southern CA natives think that this happens so as to persuade folks from colder climates to throw away their snow shovels and head west.
Here you are enjoying a little rest in our family room.  Since this photo was taken half of all our furniture now lives in Cambria and I've rearranged the furniture in this room.
So what do you think Jennie Love?

A Walk for Jennie

Hi Jennie,

We will be leaving Cambria today and heading home to southern Ca.  You and I will be hanging out in the back of the van enjoying the ocean views until we pass Ventura on Highway 1.  We've been hanging out with John (husband), John Michael (son), and grandpa R in Miss Mary's Storybook Cottage.  Yes!  This house now has a name.  Since at times, I can be quite contrary just like the Mary in the children's rhyme. "Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow"....  I love the name Rose Cottage however we don't have any roses in our garden.  If we did, the deer would eat them.  Our garden looks dismal at the moment.  I'm anxious for spring to see what will pop up here that the deer will leave alone.  The white Pottery Barn table in our nook not only looks great but is functional as well.  Thanks Kathleen for the suggestion!  It is the table advertised as a space saver and is worth every penny.  John's back from his run this morning and wants to take us out for our morning walk better say goodbye for now.

Love,

Miss Mary
 John (husband) and you (Jennie)

Miss Mary's Cottage

 So this is me in Cambria, CA.  Cambria is located in the central coast region of California.  
 These are the new steps to our front door.  Last month Cambria received 10 inches of rain in one day.  When we arrived the following weekend after a five hour drive, we found a house without a sidewalk. I'm liking our new sidewalk and had it not been for the unexpected expense, I'm sure this beauty would make me smile.  The garden needs work due to unexpected drainage problems.  Next phase will be dealing with this.  
 
  This is a photo of the original sidewalk.  If you are a home owner you know this story, fall in love with a house, buy it honeymoon time, the marriage time is about working on the relationship.  So it goes for us here in this little town loved by all that stop by for a visit.  New Years resolutions, this time around visit my blog friends more often.

What about you?  

Christmas 2009

  Happy Holidays!  Hugs....

An Aspen Fall

Dear Jennie,

Early this morning you watched as I worked on this painting.  It reminds me of the aspen trees that John and I saw in Yellowstone this past fall.

I took this photo from a moving bus.
This is Jennie's reaction to my morning efforts at the easel.  Once again bon soir mes amies.

Jennie After a Swim

Dear Jennie,

I'm still working on my promise to you.  Today's french lesson was about jobs.  I learned that being a housewife can sound much more important in french.  Je suis une menagere!  I just love the word.  I never did like being married to a house.  These lessons are breaking my brain.  I hope it gets easier. 
Why did you have to eat this towel?  It's getting closer to Christmas.  Are you having any fun?  From the looks of you, Jennie girl, I think yes!

Jennie's Friend Ike

Dear Jennie,

I'm trying.  I did spend some time with french lessons and painting today.  Much more of my day was spent with laundry and meal preparation.  What else did I do?  Walk you two times.  This afternoon was a beautiful afternoon.  I had a great time with you.  As always, you played dead half way home so everyone who passed by could smile at you.  This is what Jennie does every day on our walks.  All I can do is stand by and wait until she's ready to go home.  I can only imagine what people must think!

Dear Jennie,
Today I promise you something new for you to watch me do. Each will take one hour. I will play at painting, study French, and read. The rest of the day will be filled with all the rest of my busy life. Bonne Nuit!
.

Southern California Christmas

This past weekend I attended along with my husband a very sweet Christmas celebration.  We drank good wine and chatted with good friends.  It was as always a night here in southern CA where a light jacket was all that was needed.  One of the guest remarked how for him this weather didn't seem right for the Christmas season. This also had once been true for me a New Hampshire native. It took me many years to re-adjust my weather connection with the celebration of Christmas.  Our first experience in 1980 was 80 degrees on Christmas day!  Now after so many years and so many temp variations what the thermometer reads never matters.  What remains for me is that it will always be about the Christmas trees, decorations, and the lights.  I love how it all makes this time of year just so right and bright.