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Monthly Archives: May 2010
Happy Day, Mom
It’s one of those days — like Father’s Day, birthdays, and Thanksgiving. A day to slow down, reflect, and appreciate. And I love living in a nation where we are encouraged with space in our calendars, and even space in our schedules to do just that — pause and be thankful. Yesterday, our family did just that. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Crafting, family, holidays, K & Company, Michaels, Paper-Source, peekaboo window, personal journey, Recollections
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A Wrapper’s Delight
In my messiest (and of course, most creative) days the dining table, coffee table, and even sometimes the tarp on the floor are covered in crafty supplies. If you’re picturing inks, decorative papers, punches, and rubber and clear stamps you’re right. But there’s more. Even before delighting in making handmade sentiments I have been a beader. So in addition to said supplies, one might also find eye pins, head pins, various pliers, crystal beads, glass beads, precious metal findings, and more. If I was to define myself as a crafter, I would probably first identity myself by my beading, then my cardmaking, and then my crocheting (although it’s been about a year since I’ve crocheted anything). Ironically, though, my Etsy shop displays some of my jewelry, while thus far in the blog, I’ve only shared my cards. In the spirit of sharing some of my latest work and to even things out a bit, I give you “Wrapper’s Delight”. Continue reading
Posted in Beading Jewelry, Crafting, Personal Journey
Tagged beading, Crafting, Michaels, well-being, wire-wrapping
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Left My Heart in Chinatown
I think it may have started with Mrs. Wong’s kitchen, but ever since a young girl I’ve long had a soft spot for Chinese culture. Whether Mandarin or Cantonese, the languages of China are my absolute favorite to listen to — some enjoy French, others Italian, I love hearing Chinese — perhaps because I understand nearly none of it. Many of my childhood and teenage friends were from Chinese homes, growing up in the U.S., but preserving their language and culture through Saturday schools, practicing traditions at home, and maintaining a tight-knit and friendly community. The writings of Amy Tan, Aimee Liu, more recently Lisa See, and others helped to paint greater landscapes of China in my mind. And the food — don’t even get me started on the food! Continue reading
Posted in Personal Journey, Travel
Tagged cable car, Chinatown, family, personal journey, San Francisco, Travel, U.S.
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Seaside View: Reservations for One
The ultimate in multitasking — doing the things I normally do and love — reading, writing, listening to audio books, watching movies, even napping, and while doing all these things traveling three hundred miles. Have I transformed into Superwoman? No. I just took an eight-hour trip along the Golden State on the Amtrak. Riding the rails, one of my favorite ways to travel. Continue reading
A Little Scattered
You may have noticed I haven’t posted in a little over a week. Yikes! In and of itself, not a big deal. The reasons: they’re good. Grand Canyon Trip with Mom & Uncle. Amtrak trip along the Golden State for Uncle’s 60th Surprise Birthday (more on that in another post). Settling back into the routine at home. Honestly, I feel like I have blog back-up; I have at least 4 posts “in the works” on my to-d0 list. So many things experienced, so many things to write about, and always — not enough time!
Here I am on Monday afternoon, in desperate need of a shower after an awesome gym workout (yup visiting the gym now), nearing the lunchtime hunger hour, and although seeing that I have now crossed five items off my to-do list, there is still much to be done, and if I’m realistic I won’t get to all of it, and if I’m honest, it’s not all “what she loves”. Isn’t that life, though?
Three of the items thus far completed were Continue reading
A Grand Road Trip
Driving into a land of 75 mile per hour speed limits, motorcyclists with a “no helmet” option, and signs posted outside of restaurants and shops informing patrons of just when they can or can not bear their firearm…subtle changes like this remind me of the beauty and the strangeness that it can be to enter another culture, even if that means merely crossing the stateline that is 276 miles away from home. Two words that can fill my mind and soul with such sun-warmed memories of contentment like no other words can…road trip.
My mother, a very spontaneous traveler and day-tripper, was yearning for a little getaway to celebrate the infamous and highly academic spring break. Through an everyday conversation with my uncle, my mother discovered that he’d never seen the Grand Canyon. She also remembered that although I’ve climbed Mt. Fuji, have glided over the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef, and have island-hopped around Tahiti, I’ve never seen one of the greatest natural beauties in my own backyard. Bam! It hit her – this could be the spring break trip she was longing for – perfect road trip material: 8-hour car trip, a wonder to behold, and reasonably priced accommodations. Continue reading
