FuN things come in 3’s

I’ve been very busy lately, what with Christmas being right around the corner, but if you were to ask me what I’ve been up to…well, I can’t rightly say. Isn’t that terrible?? I know…it is. But I can tell you that 3 fun things happened last weekend.

I turned 50 for one, so Yes! I am now a 1/2 century old.
To celebrate my 50th I thought it would be fun to visit a few sights that were much older then me and since I’ve always wanted to ride the Funicular in down town LA and visit the Biltmore Hotel that was where hubby and I went to celebrate.

This lovely little train/trolley is the shortest railway in the world and was built in 1901 where it was used to shuttle the Victorians from their homes on Bunker Hill to the business district below. I’ve always imagined it filled with ladies in Bustle gowns and men wearing bowler hats. It’s a short 298 ft. ride up the hill for the price of a quarter.

At the top of the Funicular we stopped at Starbuck’s for a refreshing frosty Peppermint Frappuccino…yum! 

This is a view of the fountain in Pershing square taken from the top floor of the Biltmore. I had to lean wwwwaaaayyyyy out over the railing to get this picture and felt ever so dizzy when I pulled myself back. Interesting, now that I look at the picture there’s not a person in the square. It was a quiet day in LA,

And this is a view of the roof lines directly across the street. There's so much beautiful stone work to see up there that it’s a shame you can’t see it well from below. I’m a wee bit crazy about architecture, in case you didn’t know “-).

 

Anywho, we hung out at the Biltmore for quite a while, walking up and down halls and exploring every corner. Here I am in the Ladies Room. I loved how the lights reflected in the mirror and formed an arc.

If you’ve never been to the Biltmore I highly recommend it…even if it is just to look around. There are amazing light fixtures every where. These are located in the atrium room, where many movies have been filmed. One of my favorites is a Bollywood version on Pride and Prejudice, titled, “Bride and Prejudice.”

Hubby and I plopped ourselves in two comfy chairs and watched as people moved about in the main lobby. As I sat there, I thought to myself, “I could easily get used to this.” Everything was so beautiful!
Somewhere in my memory I remember telling my mother that I was born into the wrong family. I had this crazy notion that the stork who flew me was instructed to set me down at the Vanderbilt’s, but accidently dropped me and I rolled into my mother’s yard instead. Of course, she was delighted to have such a sweet child to care for. Yep! Wrong family indeed, but then the Lord had other plans for me…you know I’m just kidding right?

Well, I must get out of here for now and begin my Christmas baking, but I’ll be back later with more on the Biltmore.
If I don’t see you before then I hope you all have a
VeRy MeRrY CHRISTmas!!!
xoxo Cori

Water Color Kittens

 

Hello! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I keep trying to find my blogging rhythm and every time I think I’ve found it, just like that, it slips away. I’m hoping 2012 will be better… when it comes to me and posting.

Can you believe that Christmas is just one week away? Me neither and I think it’s safe to say that I’m not exactly ready, but then I never am.
So where have I been lately, you ask? Well, I’ve been trudging through another semester of school. I say “trudging” because that’s the only way to describe what it’s been like. Even up to the last day with finals, my computer crashed 20 times. Oi Vey! Thankfully I’m done…until next semester.

For Thanksgiving hubby and I decided to drive up North and spend the Holiday with one of my Aunts and cousins. We had a wonderful time enjoying the cold weather, slow pace, and the beautiful stars shining in the night sky. Living in Southern Cal a girl can easily forget that there are so many constellations overhead. I can’t tell you the last time I saw the Milky Way, but there it was, shining ever so brightly, illuminating the sky.

Since my Aunt’s house was filled to overflowing, hubby and I, along with our pups, spent our nights beyond the orchard in the motorhome. Many times throughout the night I woke and lay there gazing up at the stars. I think the stars remind me of how small I am and How Big my Lord and Savior is. After all, He is the One who flung the stars out into the universe.

The following morning we went into town to explore the local antiques shops. This is where I ran across these adorable water color kittens. Tucked beneath a pile of books was this half tattered children’s book with 3/4 of its pages missing. But the illustrations where so delicate and the colors exquisite. My pictures can’t possibly do them justice.

As long as I can remember I have adored children’s books and this little one captivated my heart, so home with me it went. When we returned home I became curious about the markings and set off on a little fact finding mission.
What did I discover about my little tattered book…
It was published about 1893 by a well known author named Ernest Nister from Nuremburg, Germany.

He created many books having movable parts as well as pictures that dissolved into other pictures. And after my search I also discovered that many of the beautiful Victorian illustrations that I love so much were used in his publications.
Sweet little water color kittens

 

that's how it's done :-)

Hello! I'm showing my niece how to upload images so please ignore this post ;-)

Houston, the reindeer have landed!

Hello Hello Hello!!!! I’m just popping in for a wee minute to see if anyone is still out there. I’m still here and if you happen to stop by, thank you so much for doing so!!!

I have been super busy with life, school, and hubby being unemployed. It’s a tough market out there, but I’m sure you haven’t stopped by to hear about my woes, so, on with my story…

This morning I headed off to school to try and catch up on a pile of homework. My thought was, that today being Friday, possibly the lab would be quieter then on a normal school day. I was right. So I found my favorite computer chair empty, sat down, plugged in my flash drive, and began my work. I had planned on getting the majority of it done so I wouldn’t have to spend my entire Tuesday there. I opened the program, opened my file, made one change, and BAM! Just like that, the program froze. “OK, we’ll try again.”

So, I rebooted the program, opened my file, made one change, and BAM! Just like that the program froze again. I did this about 10 times before deciding to move to another computer.

So, I opened the program on the next computer, opened the file, made one change, and BAM! The program froze. Now I’ll bet your thinking that I accidently copied the line from up above…nope! This was how I spent an hour and a half of my morning. Sound like fun? Not really!!!

In my frustration I decided to leave school and head over to the Magical Kingdom for a brisk walk and some much needed fresh air.
It would appear that most of my posts lately have been about the Mouse House and I’m beginning to think that maybe Mickey should put me on the payroll for all the free advertising I do for him.

Wow! That was a lot of text with no pictures…sorry!!!
Rabbit Trail…SORRY AGAIN!!!

Anywho, back to my brisk walk.
I arrived just in time to see the Christmas Parade, which just happens to be my favorite and then headed to Big Thunder Ranch. And guess what I found there? Can you guess? OK, I’ll just tell you…

Santa’s Reindeer!!!

YES!! Santa’s Reindeer had arrived for the season!!!

Here’s a handsome fellow!!!

There was Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen (who names a reindeer Vixen)?  Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall…
the most famous reindeer of all? Well, that one wasn’t here. Apparently there was a huge power outage at the North Pole and Rudolf was needed to illuminate the elves workshop…gotta get those gifts finish by Christmas Eve and loaded into that sleigh.

Did you know that a reindeer sheds its antlers every year and the next year they grow back identical to the year before? Their antlers are to them what our finger prints are to us. I sure would like to hear Darwin's explanation of that one. And while I’m at it I’ll throw in another interesting tid bit. Did you know that if two Love Birds with different markings breed, their offspring will have characteristics of both, but not look identical to either? But that’s not the interesting part. The interesting part is that the offspring are born sterile. They can not reproduce. I guess they’ve never heard of evolution.
Oh there I go again, off on another rabbit trail.

Well, I better get out of here for now. Hubby and I are going to have a large bowl of popcorn and watch Les Miserables with Liam Neeson.

I hope you have a fun and peaceful evening…Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away? Me either!

Welcome one and all!

To our Beloved Fanciful Friendling, Vanessa Valencia’s, annual HaLLoWeeN PaRty!!

I thought, “what better place to celebrate Halloween than at The Most Magical place of all…
Disneyland, of course!!”

I don’t usually go to the park at night, but I thought since it was Halloween I might just dare to take a peek. Tis rumored the park is haunted so we shall see what we shall see.

The river boat is always a fun destination, however this evening it cast an other- worldly glow over the water, so…no thank you. I’ll keep walking.

I rounded the bend to find Mickey looking a wee bit frightened and when I turned to look behind me I understood why.

The old dead tree had sprouted gnarled leaves that grew into scary jack-o-lanters staring back at me.

Other then the wind in the old dead tree all was quiet in Frontier Land till I heard the faintest sound of mariachi bands drifting from the ground.

I tried to get this old woman’s attention, “Excuse me mam, could you tell me where I can get a bite to eat?” She glanced down then looked away and had absolutely nothing to say, as her boney body swayed to the sound of the guitars.

I was becoming very hungry when I spied this salty old gent strolling by. I tried to get his attention too, but he was busy pointing at an old torn map while mumbling something about buried treasure…hmm.

I passed by the old planation house with it’s candles all aglow. The place has been vacant until recently when the strangest of characters moved in with a bunch of his even stranger friends.

I continued on my way until I happened upon this little guy who looked like he could use a pastry or two or three or even four. Maybe he could point me to a door that would lead to treats galore.

Yes! He knew, but who would have known, that this little man with no skin only bones would know the way to pleasures unknown…
what else but a giant slice of chocolate cake with a steaming cup of coffee.

Well I had a fun time but saw no ghouls or ghosts…
however, there was this woman trapped in a tower as I scurried on my way.

OK, now it’s your turn to scurry off and visit all the wonderful fun posts at this years party and a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to the Beloved One for hosting such a fun annual event…

YAY VANESSA!!!!!!!

I don’t know what it is

About this time of year, but every Fall without fail my taste buds start craving
PUMPKIN SHAKES!!! Does that happen to you as well?
Each morning when I wake up it’s one of my first thoughts…
strange, I know, but true.

Maybe it’s due to all the happy pumpkins, grinning at me,
as I stroll down Main street USA.

Or the happy pumpkin man who beckons me to stop and watch the pumpkin carving contest.

Maybe it’s the brightly colored banners swaying beneath the most amazing blue skies…
I can’t recall a year when our skies were filled with such beautiful billowy clouds…
makes me wonder what’s going on in the heavens.

I think they may be wondering too!

Oh yes, I almost forgot…
Pumpkin Shakes!! what makes me crave them this time of year?
I guess it’s just a tradition of mine.

And in case you didn’t know,
Jack’s Pumpkin shakes
are BACK!!!

I’m an Autumn kind’a Girl

If I had to choose one season over the others, it would definitely be Autumn!
Autumn is my favorite time of year.
Spring is wonderful with its profusion of bright colorful flowers and who can resist the first sprigs of spring after a dull gray lifeless winter…

But I’m an Autumn kind’a girl.
Autumn holds memories of cool damp mornings that fade into warm golden afternoons. Only to be followed by midnight blue skies filled with bright shining diamonds twinkling above.
Even the moon appears brighter in the autumn night.

I do have to admit that I love the cotton candy shades of the color wheel, but I’m always drawn away by the warm subtle undertones of reds, yellows, and orange. After all, Autumn is my favorite time of year.

What is your favorite season…I’d love to know.