Silver Utensils

There was a lady at the Sonora Spring Festival whose boothe had scattered vintage sterling silver jewellery made out of antique silver utensils. I have seen cuffs or rings before and always had admired them, but had never seen talent like this. There were book markers, necklaces, ear rings, key rings and on and on I could go... Her pieces were beautiful!



I told the lady about my sister (whom shall remain nameless to protect her identity). My sister loves my mom's silver and has mentioned on several occasions that she would just love to make a ring or arm cuff out of my mom's silver. This last Christmas, I was helping my mom set her table for dinner before everyone showed up. I noticed quite a few pieces were missing and she didn't have a full set anymore. My mom expressed to me that with my step-dad helping a lot with washing the dishes, she has found some silverware in the garbage and thinks he doesn't see them while he scrapes the food off of the plate. We also then discussed how my sister always has had her eye on them. We had joked about how one day we might see rings or cuffs adorning her fingers and wrist made out of her silver.



When my sister arrived and pitched right in with helping and getting the food out on the table, she said, "I just love your silver mom!" I almost choked as my mom and I shot a look at each other with both of our eyebrows raised. As the lady listened to the end of my story, she started laughing hard and thanked me because she had not laughed like that in a long time and appreciated a good story!

Looking at my mom's silver... I have to admit, I could see a ring and cuff easily made out of the spoon and fork.

;)

A Country Visit ~

The sweet scent of Lilac could be smelt every where. They seemed to grow wild and were seen every time you turned around.


The trees were happy to see you too and maybe even encouraging a tree hug?


I loved this old truck! My dream is to have one... one day.


At the end of the year Charlie and I discuss with friends who also have a trailer, what trips we want to take and the dates we want to do them on . We write the dates down on the calendar and make sure we get that vacation time in on the calender at work as well. One of the trips we decided to take was to Columbia, California. It was a short trip; we left right after work on Friday and came home on Sunday. I really enjoy the "pick-me-up" I get from these short trips.

On this trip, after we got the trailers all set up, we decided not to break out the B-B-Q and instead just drive into Sonora and have dinner in town. We found a Mexican Restaurant and conversed over dinner. It was so nice and really relaxing. We strolled down the main street after dinner and admired the old buildings. We noticed there was a Spring Festival to be held the next morning and decided to go to it. There were vendors after vendors lining the main street and down a couple of side streets with road blocks. We parked our truck in a shady spot and debated on bringing the girls with us (our dogs bark at everyone) on our walk, deciding the cool air would a lot us time to traipse the area for a couple of hours and they would be okay. As we were finishing the up with browsing vendor booths, I noticed a booth that had toe rings and was so excited because they were the toe rings that I prefer which encircle your toes entirely. As I sat while the very nice lady was fitting my toe with three stack ables (two plain gold and one sterling silver cut embossed), she would have me walk around to see if I was comfortable with the fit. It just didn't feel right, so we did that three more times and ended up with the first set that I tried on. As this was going on, Charlie reminded me that the girls were in the truck and it started to get warm, we really should be getting back. I slipped on my sock and Ariat Fat Baby boot and we headed to the truck fast. Later that night after we said our good-nights to our friends, Charlie and I went over our day, and he realized that he didn't see what toe ring set I had picked. I took my boot off and then my sock and was shocked to see my toe was all swollen.
He gasped, "Babe, it isn't supposed to look like that. Is it?"
I replied, "No, it is just because she was trying to fit me with a size I was comfortable in."
He then said, "You better take them off, I don't think you should sleep with them on. Give your toe some time to get back to the regular size."
I went to the sink and put some liquid dish soap on my toe to slip them off easier. It took a little time with prying them off, but I did it.

The next morning we said our good-byes and off we were heading back home. After I got unpacked, I took my shower and decided to put my toe rings back on. I noticed that my toe was starting to swell again. I have never had this happen and got a little nervous. I tried to take them off again but couldn't. I decided to put my foot in the pool and soak it in the cold water. My toe just got bigger and then it started turning purple. I then put my foot into ice water; still the swelling didn't go down. I panicked and thought, 'I need to get these toe rings off!' I got some liquid hand soap and tried to get them off and indeed did get one off, with only making it worse for the two other rings. My poor toe was not only the color purple, it was now blue and throbbing. Charlie walked into our bathroom to find me on the floor, crying a little with the pain that I was feeling.

Concerned, he asked me, "What is the matter?" I explained to him what I did.
He looked at me like I was crazy and asked me, "What were you thinking?"
He took one look and said, "You are going to have to go the emergency to get them cut off!"
I said, "No way!"
Charlie: "Ang, do you want your toe to fall off?"
Angela: "No."
Charlie: "Well, you have to get them off now. Do you want me to do it?"
Angela: "Yes."
Charlie: "I have to cut them off."
Angela: Bummed, "Okay." Charlie left to go get the cutters out of his work trailer.
The next one to be taken off was the sterling silver Victorian flower ring. I had to try one more time... I loaded my toe up with soap and just stretched my toe out as far as it would go and pulled and pried with all of my might to take it off. I don't know how I did it, but it came off. My toe could take no more. At that time Charlie came in towards me with one hand behind him. He had a weird look in his eyes, like he was telling himself he could do this. I was more nervous about the look in his eyes than about him cutting my ring off.
He said, "Close your eyes."
Angela: "No."
Charlie: "CLOSE your eyes!"
Angela: "NO! Let me see what you have behind your back!"
Charlie: "NO! Ange, please close your eyes so that I can cut it off."
Angela: "Babe, I want to see the cutters. I need to see the cutters."
He slowly pulled his hand from behind him and the cutters... They were huge! I couldn't understand how he was going to get the blade under the toe ring that was wrapped around my swollen and bruised toe. I knew that I had no other choice, it was now or lose my toe!
I told my husband, "Just do it."
He explained to me that when he cut the ring, the ring itself was going to cut my toe and I was going to have to pull the ring apart as soon as he cut it.
Charlie: "Are you ready?"
I nodded yes.
He pushed the big blade down on my swollen toe, to get under the ring and cut.
I screamed and immediately felt the ring puncture my toe just like he said it would and pulled both sides of the ring so that I could get it off.

Believe it or not, it took all day to get three toe rings off. My poor toe. I was so concerned about the girls being in the truck, I wasn't paying attention to how the rings I ended up with actually felt and just went with it.

Spending all day with my toes, they started to look weird to me like ten little nubs. Then I started thinking about how putting rings on our toes is kinda weird too; rings on nubs. I got over it though, and still love and wear my toe rings.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Strawberry Fields Forever

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Always no sometimes think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.
I think, er No, I mean, er Yes but it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I get very excited when our local produce market has their opening day. While working the produce market last season, I got to know the strawberry vendor. He is an older man that comes from Watsonville with fresh strawberries that are picked earlier the day before and he leaves before the sun even thinks about waking up (if the sun should do such an act). Strawberries are a popular item so you have to go early because they go fast. When I purchase strawberries from him, he gives me a deal and I always appreciate it.

Sunset Beach is surrounded with rolling fields of strawberries. Whenever we drive by them, I watch the workers pick them and load them onto the trucks to be taken to the grocery stores and markets. I can't help but appreciate the berries even more when I witness this.

My daughter Diandra and I always bust out singing in harmony, Strawberry Fields Forever by the Beetles. The week spent there is always an impressionistic dreamworld experience.

;)

* Time to Lighten up *

Charlie and I ~ summer of 1997

"Soak Up The Sun"

My friend the communist
Holds meetings in his RV
I can't afford his gas
So I'm stuck here watching TV
I don't have digital
I don't have diddly squat
It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

[CHORUS:]
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Gonna tell everyone
To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that)
I've got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame
I'm looking up o I'm gonna soak up the sun
I'm gonna soak up the sun
I've got a crummy job
It don't pay near enough
To buy the things it takes
To win me some of your love
Every time I turn around
I'm looking up, you're looking down
Maybe something's wrong with you
That makes you act the way you do
Maybe i am crazy too

[CHORUS]

I'm gonna soak up the sun
While it's still free
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Before it goes out on me
Don't have no master suite
I'm still the king of me
You have a fancy ride, but baby
I'm the one who has the key
Every time I turn around
I'm looking up, you're looking down
Maybe something's wrong with you
That makes you act the way you do
Maybe I am crazy too

[CHORUS]

I'm gonna soak up the sun
Got my 45 on
So I can rock on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is officially summer for me! Today was our last day of school and I am thrilled! I'm going to enjoy my summer to its fullest. I have started a list of things that I love and want to do this summer. We always love a vacation on the beach packed with fresh fruit, sun, sand, waves and hopefully some beautiful sunsets! I enjoy getting up with the sun and taking walks on the beach, drinking my coffee slowly, napping, playing games, reading books, listening to music and loving on friends and family! In addition, we love going to the Sierra mountains as well. We enjoy taking it slow, breathing in fresh air, hiking, eating smores as we tell stories and reminisce around the campfire. Breakfast always taste wonderful too; is it the mountain air that makes everything taste better?

This is really a happy time for me as I look back at just a year ago, everything seemed so uncertain. Being a year since Charlie's last chemo, I find it interesting; thinking of the conversations I've had with people over time and comparing this year to last. It makes me realize how far we have come. Yet looking at the big picture, it has only been 365 days. I have to smile though, because I am so proud of how we didn't let cancer overpower us as a couple or as a family. I understand that we aren't "out of the wood's" yet, but life is uncertain... we don't know what the future holds for us. I don't want to live life with any regrets. I see a clearing "in these woods" where the sun is shining. I'm going to stand in it. Really, you just have to live life, day by day and know that you made the best of it. That is what I am trying to do. Live life fully and enjoy it heart and soul!

*Note ~ Every time I turn on the radio, this Cheryl Crow song "Soak Up the Sun" comes on and I can't get it out of my head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If

If you can value
all the simple joys
in each new day,
If you can see the gift
in everything
life brings your way,
If you can find
your strength
and all your answers
deep within,
If you can
trust yourself enough
to let your dreams
begin...

If you can learn and grow
from every challenge that you face,
If you can know each moment
is the perfect time and place,
If you can recognize yourself
in others' hopes and fears,
If you can feel compassion
for your own and others' tears,
If you can understand your thoughts
help shape the world you see,
If you can sense that you create
your own reality,
If you can comfort someone else and be a friend who cares,
If you believe real wealth comes from
the riches that one shares...

If you can live life fully
and enjoy it heart and soul,
If you can just accept
those twists and turns you can't control,
If you can show integrity
in every choice you make~
Then your journey will be filled
with joy, whichever paths you take.

My Dreams Have Wings

"I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind."

--Emily Bronte

What if you gave your dreams some wings?
Where would they take you?
What would you do?
There are no limitations!

Come on
Give your dreams some wings ~

Deo Juvante

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

Gail Devers



A couple of days ago, the principle of the adult school invited me and another young man (also a student) to lunch. During lunch, I had mentioned to her what beautiful details the building had and she couldn't have agreed with me more.



On one side of the building, there are some brass tiles placed up very high towards the tile roof. Each one of them are very different and unique. In noticing the beauty in the details of the building, I have wondered often if there were some meaning behind them.



In our conversation, I asked her if there was any significance to the details of the buildings architectonic artifact's (I don't know if I am saying that right) and she said it was just decorative and there was no meaning behind them. I have to admit, in hearing that, I felt a little disappointed.



It might be a romantic notion, but I am not convinced that who ever took part of the design in this old building, hadn't put any thought into what they were placing onto it.



This one tile actually had something written on it and I found myself saying it out loud every time I walked by it to class. I decided to google it and find out exactly what it meant.

The Latin phrase Deo Juvante translated into modern English means:

"With God's Help."

When I read this, I felt a warm tingle wash over me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes and started to cry... you have no idea how many times I had prayed for God's help throughout all of this. It has been a whirlwind for me ever since we learned of Charlie's cancer last year in January. This month of May, it has been one year since his last chemo treatment. In that year, I diligently attended school. Last summer, Charlie and I decided that I needed to go back to school and get my High School diploma. In the state of California, you have to pass the Cahsee to get your Diploma. If you don't pass it, you will only get a Certificate of Completion and that is not a Diploma. You can only imagine the discouragement I had felt.
Just to let you know, I did pass the Cahsee!

We barely got through the summer after his chemo and I felt like I had jumped into the race without any training or conditioning for that matter. School has changed a lot in twenty five years! It has felt like I have had blinders on to keep me all the more focused on what I needed to do. In trying to even compete in this race, I have also felt like I haven't been able to spend time with people that I love. It has been hard and with God's help, I got through it!

To know that I have been saying With God's Help in Latin, without even knowing what I was saying this entire time, is mind blowing to me. Then waiting for the teacher to unlock the door, I would pray before each class in English for God's help to get me through it.

Wow ~

A Learning Experience

Since last September, I have been enrolled in adult school. With the school year coming to an end, I can honestly say that I am going to miss it. I was hesitant to go back to school, but felt it was very important. Attending class each day, made me more aware of the obstacles and challenges we (class mates) each face in pursuing our personal goals. By receiving encouragement, I was able to foster self confidence to meet and overcome my personal endeavors. This process taught me more about myself, and allowed me to grow with new aspirations and future dreams. Though it was not an easy process, I am thankful for what I have gained from it. I believe education can be a path way to self-realization.



Before class, I would arrive at least twenty five to thirty minutes early. I liked to find a parking place close to the school so that I wouldn't have to walk far in the dark after class would be let out. I also liked the extra time before hand to unwind and be able to collect myself or go over assignments. I often found myself admiring the beautiful detail of this building and looked forward to being a part of it each week.

Below, you can see where I spent a lot of my time in the past year. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Not one minute of it!

Laughing out loud ~ I can say that now because it is over, but at the time that it was taking place, I sure did cry over some assignments and sweat through a lot of the tests!