My Grama's Soul

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL......HAS BEEN TURNED OFF!!! LOL~~ LOL   ~~LOL O O ^ \~~~/ We must keep our sense of humor in these trying times. Jo

Here is my Halloween contribution...... tee hee.... Join me in the Goblin dance The Goblin dance The Goblin dance Join me in the Goblin dance It's done on Halloween Skeletons shake too and fro Body parts......come on Let's go Frankenstein and next of kin Feel free to jig  and join right in Don't just sit there on your "duff" come on out and strut your stuff Join me in the Goblin dance The Goblin dance The Goblin dance Join me in the Goblin dance It's done on Halloween Happy Halloween everyone. This was so much fun..... Hugs, Jo P.s..........when I did this post....my wonderful husband asked me if the Goblin dance was like the Mashed Potato.....tee hee... skeleton photo's me Frankenstein photo and body part photos Traditions The rest.....I don't have a clue (O:

In keeping with the Halloween season I came across this sweet little tome........ It really IS a rather intriguing read I must say. "I assure you, the time hath been so odious to me that I long for nothing so much as death." Jane Grey "A queen who is not regent ought, under these circumstances, to remain passive and prepare to die." Marie Antoinette "Marie Antoinette, Anne Boleyn, and Mary Queen of Scots.  What did they have in common?  Long nights in dark prison towers and a march to the scaffold where they surrendered their heads to the executioner.  Throughout history, royal women have had a distressing way of meeting bad ends ~~ dying of starvation, being burned at the stake, or expiring in childbirth while trying desperately to produce an heir.  And all to often, even devious plotting, miraculous pregnancies and selling out their sisters were not enough to keep them from forcible consignment to religious orders.  From Cleopatra (suicide by asp) to Prin...

Here is how I spent mine....... I knew all my paints would come in handy someday....since I NEVER seem to paint with them!  (O:(O: Smiles, Jo Pumpkins painted by my wonderful grandson and his beautiful mom.

With fall and winter settling in part of the country.....today I wanted to show you some of the beautiful photos from Butchart    Gardens....in British Columbia on Vancouver Island.  We had a home up in the Pacific Northwest for 15 years and visited this beautiful spot whenever we were able.  It was always a must see when we had visitors to the island. The gardens were originally planted in the bottom of an old lime quarry....and over the years it has grown and grown in to the magnificent spot it is today. It is open year round ...... these are shots taken one summer several years back. You are able to visit the gardens over Christmas as well....when everything is awash in twinkly lights.  We have not done this....but hope to someday. Some of these shots were taken inside the wonderful restaurant they have on the premises. I've said this before and I will say it again....I think the garden's in Canada are some of the most beautiful in the world. If...

" Get happiness out of your work....or you may never know what happiness is" Elbert Hubbard This simple object made quick work of the task at hand......whether darning or mending..her concentration was always on the activity in front of her. No Net-flix or television show to occupy her mind....she was present. Single minded in completing one garment after another.....totally in the moment....mindful of her action. I think my grandma must have been a Buddha. ~~~~ In this jittery busy world of ours perhaps each of us would benefit from sewing on a button, mending a garment  or darning a sock. I know, I for one, plan on picking up my scissors and needle and thread in order to enrich my soul. Hugs gentle friends, Jo

Because of the gypsy lifestyle I lead....it seems as though we are always a little out of sync with the seasons....not to mention the fact that it is always WARM in Arizona.   I'm looking for summer flowers while the rest of the county is settling in for wonderful fall weather followed by the wonderland of winter. Sooooooo......since I live in perpetual sunshine half of the year I can incorporate vivid warm colors in my surroundings at anytime of the year.   I spent today adding some of my sweet finds of the summer into our little nest here in AZ. Picked up the lantern in Texas and the rug is from Anthropologie. Found this Flapper hat in a little shop in Oregon....thought it would be perfect for my Buddha.   Put an old crown on my Santo's statue.....I often change her hat....but this will do for now. Shadow puppet from Bali.....found it in a ethnic shop in Park City. Have been looking for an altar for quite some time.... so was lucky enough to find th...

MY LIFE'S MOTTO   ~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can't have a good day in bad underwear!!!! ~~~~~~~~ Let's keep smiling. Jo photo: Overstock.com

At last we are back home in Arizona...we always love our summers away.....but as they say......THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME. I've got some catching up to do around here.....so I'll be missing here for a while. Hopefully I'll see all of you in a few days when I return. Till then.....stay happy!! Hugs, Jo

We are still traveling south to home in Az.  Have met lots of wonderful people and seen lots of beautiful spots along the way.  The above pic was taken of a fellow blogger.....aka http://justcallmejake.blogspot.com We met up in Park City, Utah....one of my favorite spots in the country.  We got to know one another a little better which was a wonderful treat.  If you get a chance....stop by her blog....she is one FUNNY WOMAN!! See the lovely bird necklace around my neck..... Vicki....aka....Jake.....gave me this little gift on our meeting.....she is so very thoughtful. ~~~~~~~~~ Here are some more shots around the area and heading south to Colorado....Autumn is in full swing in this part of the country and it is such a thrill for Brad and I to see all the fall color. These shots were all taken between Utah and Colorado.  We crossed over Monarch Pass....and the continental divide. The visitor center above is completely covered in ...