Help End Puppy Mills - VOTE TODAY!

Today is the day readers! I don't go into a lot of politics/policies/government bruhaha because that's not the kind of blog this is. However. A very big part of who I am, is an animal lover. I am very active regarding Animal Rights. 

I strongly believe that we as human beings have been given stewardship over the creatures of the earth. That means caring for them, not abusing them. Every animal has the right to enjoy the life they have been given, just as every human has that right. Most unfortunately, we know there is much suffering in the world - both human and animal. But animals have no voice. We must be their voice and stand up for them, as they cannot. Many are subjected to an entire life of horrible abuse - it is the only thing they know. They are innocent victims of a horrible fate. Such are puppy mills. It breaks my heart. It must be stopped. 

Change.org is a good place to start. And we are fortunate to have an animal rights advocate in our recently elected President, Barack Obama - as well as many of the cabinet members he is now appointing. By voting to stop puppy mills, our leaders will know the issues of importance to the American people. Positive changes will be set in motion. Countless dogs will be given the life they deserve. I've made it easy to vote by taking the Change.org button out of my side bar and putting it right in this post. If for some reason the button does not work for you, click here. All votes must be in by midnight December 31 Pacific Standard Time!

If you don't know what a puppy mill is, or would like more information, you can also visit the ASPCA, the Humane Society, and even Oprah's website, as she dedicated an entire episode to reveal the horrors of puppy mills, and what people can do to help. All these sites have excellent information and are invaluable websites.

Thank you all! And have a very happy new year knowing you did a really good thing :)

Secret Insanity

Ah, here we are at the peaceful Walker home during the Christmas holidays. Carols playing in the background, the house smelling of pine and treats, hot cocoa at the ready... a study of everything the season should be...
Ah, here we find the Red Power Ranger, home from college, relaxing with his dad in front of a crackling fire. The picture of holiday bliss...
Ah, a few more lovely details of a Walker Christmas. Stockings lovingly handmade over the years, precious to each one of us, like seeing a beloved old friend each Christmas.
Yes, yes, the happy couple in front of the tree Christmas morning (still tired. no make-up). Happy for the season, happy to not be old geezers yet (just go with it), happy to enjoy the rare occasion of having all three boys under the same roof.
And speaking of those three wonderful boys, just look at how adorable they are :) The Red Power Ranger age 22, the Mouse age 13, and the Complex One age almost 18. Have you ever seen such handsome boys?
REALITY CHECK. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER. IT'S LIKE THE THREE STOOGES ESCAPED FROM THE ASYLUM.
This is what happens nearly the whole time they're awake, all day long. They stink, and they make unspeakable noises, and they break things, and they sneak into my shower, and they make incredible messes, and they brawl. Brawl, brawl, brawl. Today I caught them smacking each other on the head in church. And yes, that is the Complex One being ground into the carpet by the Red Power Ranger. 
And the NOISE! They are SO LOUD! SO. LOUD. Here they are playing an innocent Nintendo 64 game. No blood & guts. No death & destruction. But you can hear them playing even the simplest game all the way down the freaking street. All the way down. The freaking. Street. 

Okay, I admit I am loud at times. My husband has had it with me. He won't even sit next to me when we play games anymore. And I do have a really loud laugh. Really loud. Really loud. But come on! I mean seriously!  
Not to mention our coffee table which has now been transformed into an internet cafe. Admittedly, one laptop is mine. And the cup of diet Coke. Okay, and the catalog. With my cell phone on top. Hmmm, what else do we see..... dog brush, assorted glasses, a school book, a lint roller, scriptures, the TV controller. Kind of like playing "Where's Waldo", eh? And endless cords. Cords and cords and cords. My favorite thing.

And Christmas is now GONE people! GONE! All packed up and put away. Look at my little dining room. It looks like a bare wasteland. Not a trace of the most amazing Christmas we just had. It's all been wiped clean. Ready for the new year. Sniff :( 

But you know I'm just spouting off. Because you know I absolutely *adore* my boys. My stinky boys. My loud, loud, LOUD boys. Their messes. Their endless cravings for Wendy's. Their hysterical impersonations. Their incessant movie quotes. Their brawls. I love it all because it means they are here together. And when they start growing up and moving away, that's too rare. So I cherish every moment I can with them. 

As I type this ending, the Red Power Ranger is resting on the couch with his head on my dog Angel :) And the Mouse is watching the Complex One play a computer game. Watching with his head on the Complex One's shoulder :) Too few and far between, these moments. 

I'd better get to bed before they start fighting and I want to throttle one of them ;)

Christmas Day, 2008

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night 

Mexican Nativity

I can't believe it's Christmas Eve Day! I hope all of you are experiencing the most wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Especially those of you in such extreme f-f-f-freezing temperatures! I hope all my readers are safe, happy, healthy, with loved-ones, and enjoying every special moment, whatever that may be.

I mentioned once before that I collect nativities. I have, gosh, the ever-colorful Jim Shore nativity and the lovely Willow Tree nativity. A plastic toy Playmobile one the boys enjoyed playing with when they were younger. My cherished olive wood nativity that I actually bought in Bethlehem when I was a college student there 26 years ago. I even have a precious origami nativity, lovingly made by a family we go to church with. I love all of my nativities because each one is special to me for different reasons. A favorite nativity however, is perhaps the most humble, but something about it's raw beauty touches me. I just love my little clay nativity from Mexico. Rough, hollow, quickly painted, highly breakable... yet colorful, simple, and sweet. And the holy family's halos make me smile every time I look at them. The baby Jesus began his life in humble beginnings as well. Perhaps that's what's so poignant.

I wish you all a colorful, simple, and sweet Christmas :) 

Kelly Corrigan

Such a busy time right now - the week before Christmas. An exciting, magical - sometimes exhausting! - time of year. But I'm going to interrupt for just a moment, so we can all be reminded about life and it's twists and turns - some great, some awful, some awful that turn great. 

Kelly Corrigan is a breast cancer survivor, and author of a book called the Middle Place. No doubt some of you have heard of her, or heard her on You Tube, or even read her book. Please take just a moment out of all the season's busyness to listen to this wonderful reading - to remind ourselves of our power, our connection, our worth, our strength.

lamps and ribbon and coasters - oh my!

A few days ago was Creativity Day. I ripped myself away from watching Tim Gunn's Guide to Style --------> that's not true - I mean from reading my scriptures........ and I decided to tackle a few projects I had been wanting to do. First the lamps.

The lamp above is a perfectly nice lamp. Nice color, nice style, nice shape........ zzzzzzzzzzzzz. In other words, a great lamp but I can't leave well enough alone. I must embellish. I live to embellish. If you've ever seen my jeans I wouldn't have to explain myself.

I had previously measured the lamp shades and found some suitable trim that was almost what I had envisioned. Not quite... not quite... but close enough for now. Nothing ever gets too comfortable in my house. I like to change things around a lot. Anyway, I got all my supplies together and heated up my glue gun.....................
I started with the striped grossgrain ribbon. I left just a slight band of the white lamp shade showing at the top.
Then on went the fringe - I left a small band of the white shade at the bottom too.

Ta-daaaaaaa!

I was really happy with how it turned out. And it only took my observant all-male family several hours of being in the very same room to notice. Okay that was a slight exaggeration.

Pretty cool. And it kept me out of trouble for a whole afternoon :)

Okay, here is my next little project because obviously I've got way too much time on my hands. 

I had noticed that my favorite coasters were still allowing some moisture to sneak through onto the wood surface below. Not good. So I decided to put a layer of cork on the bottom.
This was a no-brainer project. I just traced a circle, cut the circle, and hot glued the coasters to the cork. Done! They turned out GREAT and have worked really, really well. 
So of course I had to celebrate with some DC and get back to Tim Gunn's Guide to Style ;)

fall comes to southern California - it's about time!

Finally! December 18th and the thermometer actually dipped into the 30's at night and the 50's during the day. I know it's just a pretend fall but I'm sucked in every year anyway. So it gets at least an "A" for effort. The pics above and below are what "fall" looks like in southern Calfornia. Hurry and look and burn it's image into your brain, because it will only be here for maybe a week. Maybe. I had to search the neighborhood for this tree, and when I finally found it I actually got out of my car - in my pajamas and slippers - and took a few shots so I could fondly remember how in 2008 we had a whole 48 hours worth of fall. At least long enough for me to cut my roses back and wear a sweatshirt for a day. Sheesh.

Imagine - spotlight on photographer Maria Nissen

When my friend Maria Nissen returned home to Mesa Arizona after visiting New York, and I saw her photo of the famous tribute to the late John Lennon, something powerful stirred inside me and I knew that it was time to spotlight Maria. 

Maria. We have been friends for a long time - many years actually. We met when our boys who are now nearly grown, went to preschool together. Those were fun, busy, exhausting, sweet years. And even though I'll never get over her moving to Mesa six years ago, I am truly grateful we have remained friends. I have learned so much from Maria - much more than she knows.  
Ah, above is another of my favorites. Love, love, love this one. It tells it's own amazing story. As do most of Maria's photos. Such a gifted photographer. But first, a gifted person.

It's hard to describe someone like Maria. She's one of those people who sounds too good to be real. But you know, some people really have been given extraordinary gifts, and Maria is blessed to be one of those people. Aside from all her talents, she is first and foremost a genuine, friendly, lovely person. And she radiates it. She truly loves people and people of all walks of life are instantly drawn to her. I have never - and I mean never - seen Maria without a smile on her face. Case in point, catch her smiling on her blog with her beautiful family.

Ever since I have known Maria, she has been involved in many things. Not only is she a wife and a mother to five - yes, FIVE - wonderful children, she is constantly learning, growing, living. I have never known her not be taking at least one class. I have seen her build things, remodel things, embellish things, upholster furniture, sew quilts, garden, stain, paint, run - well. She serves her family, her community, her church, her neighbors. Everyone that knows Maria has been blessed by her in one way or another. 
And a constant thread running through all of this living Maria thrives on, is photography. At a young age she was deeply touched by a series of photos in a museum, and she knew that photography had to be part of her life. She called it "a connector - it has the potential to move people". So the uncanny gift she has for bringing out the very best in everyone and everything, is now documented through her talented lens. And now that her children are a bit older and a bit more independent, Maria is finally living her dream as a professional photographer. It has been a joy to see her take this journey. 
True to her nature, she still continues taking classes. For a recent final project she even had her own photography book published - a portfolio of sorts. To quote from her book, "I love to photograph people. If someone tells me they're not photogenic I don't believe them. Everyone has a good side". Ever the optimist :) Maria's goal is to put people at ease and make them feel special. It is evident in every photograph she takes. 
Oh just look at this sweet little piece of pumpkin pie! What a love!
Along with families and individuals, Maria is an amazing wedding photographer. From the most formal photo to catching the bride and groom running and jumping barefooted, Maria instantly picks up on the vibe of the couple and always hits the mark. She is especially talented with candid photos. Above is one of my favorites. 
And how she can get multiple young children at their best is incredible!

Oh Maria, I'm so happy we are friends :) 

Christmas Porch

Porch time! It was actually almost cold today - almost - so I could finally take some pictures of my Christmas porch without the sun blazing and baking everything :) 

So here's my Christmas porch :) It's a little on the cutesy side, which I usually try to stay away from. But the little plush guys have been with us since the Red Power Ranger was a baby 22 years ago... and I know it's nice to see the same familiar things each year :) 
All the other things I have collected little by little over the years, or loved ones have made for me. And of course you'll recognize some of my favorite year-round things too. Being a lover of All Things Red comes in very handy this time of year :) 
Did you notice my great-grandfather's sleigh bells? Look closely :)
This is my favorite shot because you can see just a little bit of everything :) 
When the Red Power Ranger was in Argentina for two years and I missed him so terribly, I turned down a store aisle and found this little tree in it's red pail that reads "Danny's Candy Cane". I think I broke down right there in the store when I saw it. 
Rudolph's nose lights up when you push his tummy :)
My all time favorite box to open is the one that holds these happy Santa's made from logs. My sister-in-law (sister-in-crime) made them and I just love how cheerful they are. 

Rochelle's Double Dipped Rice Krispy Treats

Finally! And by reader demand :) Here is the super easy recipe for these awesome treats:

• DOUBLE the recipe on the side of the Kellog's Rice Krispies box, EXCEPT...
• use 2 entire bags of regular size marshmallows, and...
• use only 10 cups of Rice Krispies (instead of the 12 a double recipe would call for)
• put the entire double recipe into a 9x13 pan, and condense them till even 
• melt approx. 1 lb. of bulk carmel (I used the microwave, stirring frequently)
• pour carmel on top of Rice Krispies and wait until everything is completely cool

When the pan is entirely cool, cut the Rice Krispie treats into squares. *taking the entire slab out of the pan and using a large, non-serrated knife makes them much easier to cut. I cut these pretty small - you want them kind of bite size, maybe a bit bigger. I think I ended up with approximately 42 squares. That's approximate, because my family descended upon them like a freaking pack of wolves before I could count them.
More fun a-comin! Melt your chocolate chips (again, I used my microwave, stirring frequently). I used about 1 and 1/2 bags of chips. And just on a whim, I used Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips. OH. MY. GOSH. It was amazing. Seriously, I had no idea. A-MAZ-ING.
This part is the most fun :) Just dip the bottom 1/3 of your squares in that lucius chocolate, and place the squares on wax paper. Pretty soon you'll have an astonishing army of double dipped Rice Krispy treats. Oh my.
I just need to warn you that these are seriously delicious. Seriously delicious. There's a lot of flavor packed into those little marshmallowy, carmely, chocolaty squares! YUM. Yum infinity.
And you'd better watch out, because they will receive all kinds of attention :)

M.I.A.

Hi all :) Sorry I've been Missing In Action lately. My random photos will give you some clues as to why I've been away and what I've been up to. First of all though, many thanks to all of you who made comments here, or through e-mail, or in person, or on Facebook... about the RED BED! It was awesome to have so much enthusiasm :) Thank you!

As you can see from the stack above, I had 125 Christmas cards to address. I really don't mind because I enjoy sending something handwritten in this day and age. But it is time consuming. Our assembly line to get the cards ready worked out great though - I folded the newsletter, my 17-year-old put the newsletter and greeting card into the envelopes, my husband sealed the envelopes, and the Mouse put the return stickers and stamps on. Now that's what I'm talkin bout! And the usual brawl didn't start until later when we were playing Uno...
Now, between the hot cocoa and oatmeal on a tray, and the cute little toes poking out from underneath a blanky, I bet you can guess what else has been going on... the Mouse has been sick with a sore throat and swollen glands - fun stuff. He missed 3 days of school, but I am happy to report he's feeling better, and is caught up on his homework. And went back to school today. After I shoved him out the door. 
If you look at the photo below, here's another fun update (and subliminal message): my iPhoto program went *kablooey* and nearly gave me a freaking heart attack. I had over 6,000 photos on it - most of them backed-up fortunately (Europe and everything!) - and I spent an entire evening at the Apple Store. After navigating 3 freeways to get there. And spending 4 hours walking in circles. At a crowded mall during the holidays. While they reloaded all 6,000 photos one by one. By one. That was a really fun evening. 
But here is a favorite reason I've been missing... I've finally started decorating for Christmas! My husband put up the outdoor lights while I decorated our front porch. In 90 degree weather. Sheesh. A few days later all of us trimmed our tree while we listened to Christmas music. Our "less is more" theme turned out lovely. I still need to get my nativity scenes out, and our stockings, but things are looking good. I have had this precious little angel (below) since I was very young. It's one of the only Christmas decorations I have of my parents' things. She's teeny tiny, and so sweet. I really, really cherish her :)
I've been busy doing the usual things too, but I refrained from taking photos of our dirty laundry, dirty dishes, and the Poo Garden, for obvious reasons.

And guess what! I finally finished making *Rochelle's double-dipped rice crispy treats* and have the pics to prove it! Oh my gosh - soooooo good! We are flipping out over here! And I'm also excited to introduce you to another wonderful, talented friend of mine. Maria. She's so awesome. So stay tuned - fun things are on their way!