Falling for Fall

Mmmm ...

Just back from a trip to Washington.

No, no, no ....

not THAT Washington!

That trip is NEXT week, silly!

But THIS Washington ...

AND GUESS WHAT?!?

While I was away,

fall happened ...

on both coasts.

It reminded me

how much I like fall 

and it's bits and pieces.

Here are a few

just for you.

Leaves from Sandy and Joe at

Rhubarb Reign.

They are not in the Northwest ....

but a great blog to visit.

These luscious lovelies are from

Auntie Joy.

She had a great time at Art Camp while I was gone.

This one is from Florence's blog

Essences of the Past.

(And it sounds like I missed a 

GREAT primitive sale while I was gone!!)

And don't you love this one from Noteworthy Musings?

And this one too?

Carole had some great getaways.

It's nice to take a few minutes

to catch up with

what people have been doing ...

I LOVE

our time together.

So many more to drop by and see ...

and comments to reply to.

WHEW!

But first a quick look

at MY own bit of fall 

in my dining room

Preserved leaves from Safeway

artificial blooms (on sale) at Michael's

salvaged curly willow in

an old ironstone pitcher ...

And look closer ...

my own

PUMPKIN MAGIC WAND!!

from sweet Martha at

Vintage Trifles!

Time to get back to work! ....

Hugs and hopes for a fabulous fall!

Sammy Girl

ps .... found the PERFECT shoes to go with the pumpkin magic wand but they didn't fit .....

Get R Done Friday - LONDON #7

More

Get R Done Friday

HERE!

Cheerio!

Today's Get R Done (from London) has been a long time coming.

Backstory:

In January 2008 the Pink Princess

was accepted into a year-long program of study in India.

That's India as in the subcontinent ....

not a typo of Indiana!

As we finalized her air travel

in August of 2008

we decided to add

a couple of days in

LONDON

to her itinerary.

Just for fun.

Thought that sounded a

bit more her style than

3 days in Quatar

another transfer option.

So I was on the phone making

hotel reservations

and mapping out fun things

AND

Mr. Sammy Girl said

"why don't you go with her?"

me - What? .... Can't

him - You sure?

You'd enjoy it.

Why don't you go?

me - No. ... too much money.

him - come on ...

you know you've always wanted to.

Why don't you go?

me - finally coming to my senses

and realizing he might not

ask a third time ...

OKAY!

End result was a 5 day trip to

LONDON

with 2 weeks notice.

I decided

NOT TO VISIT

the places he would like the most

and that

he and I would

visit when we were in

LONDON TOGETHER.

Current day:

We are now in London.

The two things he has always wanted to do?

Visit the Prime Meridian in Greenwich

and see the Rosetta Stone.

DONE DEAL - BABY!

Even more importantly, we are talking about the things we have always wanted to do but felt there were barriers in our way. Are those the things we still feel are important? And are the barriers real or imaginary? We are going to find out!

As our parents age we realize NOW is the time to determine what we want to do with the rest of our lives .... set priorities and take steps to make the dreams reality.

Hugs and may your dreams - whether large or small - become reality!

Sammy Girl

Get R Done Friday!

To visit other 

Get R Done Friday Posts

GO HERE

Note to self ...

Gather up ALL the postcards and notes about upcoming shows you want to attend.

Think I did ... but could be more hiding

Somewhere in the Who Villa ..

Put them on your calendar.

YEP!

And will share them all with YOU!

See the long post

just below this one  ....

Happy Get R Done Friday!

note:  Can you believe this is post #46/47?  Have a surprise planned to celebrate #50!

Get R Done Friday!

Gettin' R Done!

Only a short post

BUT

Congrats to a friend and I

We are having a garage sale!

TODAY!

Maybe even now as you are reading this.

We decided this three days ago.

We have talked about it for 

OVER A YEAR!

Does that sound familiar?

Priced almost everything.

Ad in local paper and craigslist.

Now we need shoppers.

Maybe we'll see you!

Don't you think this gal needs one of Martha's lined shopping carts?

BTW, Martha is having problems getting photos to load, so any notes to her about troubleshooting ... ?

We are hoping to clear out our garages a little.

I am also wanting to have some spending money for a FAB vacation coming up soon.  

Yes the grandkids and beach trip are just a week away.

But I'm talkin' about a super special just-the-two-of-us vacation.  

TWO WEEKS.

Need our passports kinda trip.

But for now it's finish making the signs. 

HOT PINK

And off to bed.

HUGS!

ps .. click on the "Gettin R Done" quote at the top of the page to visit others!  (hope I connected right!!)  If not, try this link or go to Barb's blog ...  thanks!

ANOTHER PS --

Christa and Julie -- Whimsical Wishes Show on Saturday.  GOTTA BE THERE!  (and sorry, I think I ALWAYS spell Christa's name "Krista" .... Think the K from Kindred Roses gets stuck, kinda like a typewriter key.... remember typewriters???

Live the Life You Want

Yes, it's Friday.

And, yes -- this SHOULD be a "Get R Done" Post.

It isn't.

Sometimes it's best to wipe the to-do list clean.

Forget the clothes needing to be ironed .... or just folded.

Unloading the dishwasher will wait ...

Don't fret.

Yes -- 

THAT'S the hardest thing.

Figure out what matters and

live the life you want to be living.

We live in Portland --

a city blessed with natural beauty.

Well, sorta.  

Technically Who Villa is actually in a burb ...

but close enough.

Anyway -- this is a beautiful place to live.

Nearby mountains to climb.

Or just admire on your way to the grocery store.

Mt. Hood is there.

I remind myself to lift my eyes and see the beauty

that seems too big to miss

but I often overlook.

Nearby we have

beaches to explore.

YEP!

LOVE the beach.  

Grew up on southern Oregon Coast.

We are taking a 5 day holiday in a couple of weeks with the 

Pink Princess and 

the Montana crew.

Playing in the surf.

Watching the sunset.

Sharing these things I love with

kids and grandkids.

I am trying to live the life I want --

Every Day

Tuesday

visit and dinner with mom and dad

talk about house remodel

he was a Marine in Korea

who is an above the knee amputee 

who will soon need to use a scooter

all the time.

Real reason for visit?

Tell them we love them.

Face to face.

Thursday

took Mr. Sammy Girl to sandwich dinner at

Paradise.

Paradise Cafe at Bridgeport, that is!

Coupon for free sandwich.

So it REALLY WAS Paradise.

(Don't they have free food in Paradise?)

He bought book at Borders.

We wandered into Anthropologie

and into a couple of shops

sat outside and listened to the live music

spent a couple of hours

just hanging out.

Real reason?

Spending time together enjoying the evening.

Mostly for free.

If we don't enjoy the "better", 

how can we survive the "worse"?

Today 

Helping Cindy (Tarte) set up at the Barn.

Real reason?

Time with wonderful and creative people.

I think Joy and Joe with be there.

So much FUN!

Fun is vital to our well being.

I give myself permission to play.

Tomorrow

Class with the incredible Lisa Kaus.

Real reason?

Inspiration

Nurture creativity.

In me

WOW!

I can hardly wait!

This minute?

I'm making waffles.

with strawberries

and ICE CREAM!

Wish you were here to have some, too!

Here's to a life filled with love, companionship, friends, creativity, inspiration, ... and FUN!

Hugs!

Christmas Explosion

This is my first time to join Barb on 

Get R Done Friday. 

Yes, I know.

It's technically still Friday morning 

(for a few more minutes) ... 

and you are SUPPOSED 

to prepare the blog the night before.

My project is NOT COMPLETELY DONE ... yet!

BUT

A gal's got to start somewhere sometime .... so here we are.

The Great CHRISTMAS EXPLOSION of '09

Or .... 

How Plans for Organizing

Can Run Amuck

It started in April ... when I took all the tubs and boxes and miscellaneous storage for Christmas decorations out. 

Rubbermaid tubs ... one after another.

Feather trees.

Groves of artificial trees. (Some older than the Pink Princess!)

All of it.

Well, ALMOST all of it. 

My most special vintage glass garlands and ornaments are not considered "Christmas decorations" for this purpose. They are beloved just as they are and live in special spots or out in jars all the time.

Then May came and there they sat.

And I SWEAR they multiplied!

Honestly, who KNEW I had that many sleighs?

My post on May here:

Where June went I have no idea.

So July is here and I have now transformed the sorting room into a guest room.

Sorting innumerable "things" by color/type or 

whatever category made sense.

At midnight some of those groupings can be pretty sketchy!  

But everything is on labels or index cards to make 

locating items a breeze.

(Update on how that works in December!!)

And then 

hauling the whole kit and caboodle down two flights of stairs.  

(where DOES that phrase come from)

Box by box.  Bin by Bin.

Snowmen, Dept. 56 and fake forest.

Gold, Red, Lime Green

Every phase of my Christmas decor.

At some point I considered buying the Christmas store for sale in Oregon City just to have a place to put it all.  

But it was worth it.

I now have the guest room I wanted.

  

Even though the decor is not complete, and I really hope to add a second twin bed so both grandkiddos can sleep sweetly .... 

it's done enough to celebrate.

The King of Whoville seems to agree that this was a good project.

Hugs and hope your explosions are all good ones!