Gardening

This Monday will be the last meeting for "A Garden Club" in Big Bear.  I am sad because I just joined this group a couple of months ago.  However, I have met the BEST people and have instantly made "best friends" with a bunch of women and men...

So I will came up with the perfect way to say sleep tight my dirt garden and I will tackle you next year. 

This was done with Picasa and Picnik!  Incredible I tell you!

Have a great weekend!

Whew! Usually I do a Thursday thought but instead of an thought, how about an idea?

I am sitting here at home on a Wednesday afternoon.  It was supposed to have a bad storm pass through and the temperature is cold for the first week in October.  I am pouting pretty bad because I was to have a long overdue lunch with my bestest high school girlfriend.  With the weather "up in the air" we decided to make it another time when the roads would not be so dangerous.  I can work around almost anything, but ice on the drive down the mountain is one I have to walk away from.

Sooooo with a lot of time on my hands, I decided to play on the computer, imagine that?  Anyway, I came across a great tutorial on how to make your own Halloween labels, and let me tell you, this girl's blog is something else!

Look at what I did, well kinda, sorta:

How cute is this??!!!!!!!  (Squeal!!!!)  All I can say is there went my afternoon!  But what I learned from here is just the tip of the iceberg!  What a wealth of info and the easy way she explains how it is done is elementary (I liked my second grade teacher, Miss Farmer).

You can find her site  at www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/09/ghoulish-grown-up-beverage-labels/.

When you take a look (yea right), well  when you adsorb her blog, you will see one that looks almost identical to this one.  I wanted to follow her and do everything she did and then start doing them on my own.  Now that I feel more comfortable and am exited about my one of many new project that I am working on.

Here is another sign that I found and just had to have.  Wouldn't this be so cute to put into a frame and hang it just  for the fall season?

You are more than welcome to click on to this or the one above and print it for yourself.  Great colors.

So the Thursday thought?

Never memorize what you can look up in books - Albert Einstein

or in my words....

Never memorize what you can look in on the computer - Jeanine Sturgeon

Let me know what you think and if when you make some really cool labels, share with me and my viewers!  

Is your mind racing all over the place because of this?  I hope so!  I know mine is.

Have an incredible day!

OBTW, it never did rain and storm here, ohhhhh I am so aggravated!

Foto Friday.... The Haunted Whaley House

 This past weekend we went to San Diego to visit my sister and to celebrate our birthdays.

I love San Diego, there is sooo much to do and to see.  The history is as rich and old as this country.

When we were talking about the trip I said I had wanted to go to Old Town and visit the "Whaley House".  My sister said "Cool"!  I asked her if she knew about the Whaley House and she said, "No".  I giggled and then explanied to her what it was.

So, here is my story, first in my own simple words then what they have written about it.

My words: 

The Whaley House is THE most haunted house in the nation!  It was deemed the #1 house by The Travel Channel and few other shows and magazines.

.

This is what is written about this home:

According to the Travel Channel's America's Most Haunted, the house is the number one most haunted house in the United States. The alleged hauntings of the Whaley House have been reported on numerous other television programs and been written up in countless publications and books since the house first opened as a museum in 1960. Although we cannot state positively that the Whaley House is really haunted, the voluminous documentation of paranormal occurances at the site makes a compelling case. But, if there are ghosts at the Whaley House, who are they and why are they here?

The earliest documented ghost at the Whaley House is "Yankee Jim." James (aka Santiago) Robinson was convicted of attempted grand larceny in San Diego in 1852, and hanged on a gallows off the back of a wagon on the site where the house now stands. The local newspaper reported that he "kept his feet in the wagon as long as possible, but was finally pulled off. He swung back and forth like a pendulum until he strangled to death." Although Thomas Whaley had been a spectator at the execution, he did not let it disuade him from buying the property a few years later and building a home for his family there. According to the San Diego Union, "soon after the couple and their children moved in, heavy footsteps were heard moving about the house. Whaley described them as sounding as though they were made by the boots of a large man. Finally he came to the conclusion that these unexplained footfalls were made by Yankee Jim Robinson." Another source states that Lillian Whaley, the Whaleys' youngest daughter who lived in the house until 1953, "had been convinced the ghost of "Yankee Jim" haunted the Old House." A visitor to the museum in 1962 mentioned that "the ghost had driven her family from their visit there more than 60 years [earlier], her mother was unnerved by the phantom walking noise and the strange way the windows unlatched and flew up."

Many visitors to the house have reported encountering Thomas Whaley himself. The late June Reading, former curator of the museum, said, "We had a little girl perhaps 5 or 6 years old who waved to a man she said was standing in the parlor. We couldn't see him. But often children's sensitivity is greater than an adult's." However, many adults have reported seeing the apparition of Mr. Whaley, usually on the upper landing. One said he was "clad in frock coat and pantaloons, the face turned away from her, so she could not make it out. Suddenly it faded away."

The specter of Anna Whaley has also been reported, usually in the downstairs rooms or in the garden. In 1964, Mrs. Whaley's floating, drifting spirit appeared to [television personality Regis] Philbin. "All of a sudden I noticed something on the wall," Philbin reported. "There was something filmy white, it looked like an apparition of some kind, I got so excited I couldn't restrain myself! I flipped on the [flash]light and nothing was there but a portrait of Anna Whaley, the long-dead mistress of the house."

Other visitors have described seeing or sensing the presence of a woman in the courtroom. "I see a small figure of a woman," one visitor said, "who has a swarthy complexion. She is wearing a long full skirt, reaching to the floor. The skirt appears to be a calico or gingham, small print. She has a kind of cap on her head, dark hair and eyes and she is wearing gold hoops in her pierced ears. She seems to stay in this room, lives here, I gather." None of the Whaleys fit this description, but the house was rented out to numerous tenants over the years. Perhaps the mysterious woman in the courtroom was one of these.

Another presence reported by visitors and docents is that of a young girl, who is usually found in the dining room. Psychic Sybil Leek encountered this spirit during a visit in the 1960s. "It was a long-haired girl," Sybil said. "She was very quick, you know, in a longish dress. She went to the table in this room and I went to the chair." Urban legend has it that this is the ghost of a playmate of the Whaley children who accidentally broke her neck on a low-hanging clothesline in the backyard, and whose name was either Annabel or Carrie Washburn. There are no historic records of any child dying this way at the Whaley House; nor is there record of any family named Washburn residing in San Diego at the time. It is believed that the legend was started by a one-time employee of the Whaley House, in an effort to add to the house's mystique.

Even animals aren't left out of the singular occurances. A parapsychologist reported he saw a spotted dog, like a fox terrier, that ran down the hall with his ears flapping and into the dining room. The dog, he said, was an apparition. When they lived in the house, the Whaley's owned a terrier named Dolly Varden.

The Whaley House stands silently watching over San Diego Avenue as it has done for a century and a half. Every day visitors come from around the world to tour the historic museum. It contains so much history within its walls, that even the non-believer will enjoy the tour. For believers and sceptics alike, the house draws them back time and again, in search of those elusive ghosts. As Regis Philbin once said, "You know a lot of people pooh-pooh it because they can't see it. But there was something going on in that house."


My Experience:

If I had my way I would of  LOVED to have taken the tour (which is self guided and you are alloweed to take picutres too!) in the evening, scarier the better!  But with other plans for the evening we went in the afternoon.

Did I see anything?  No.  I didn't however, when I went to the theater which is on the second floor (I thought that was odd due to the fact that people still lived in that house and the theater room was right next to the bedrooms)  I did get dizzy and a little nauseous over by the window.

UPDATE: October 3rd:  Watched the Travel Channel last night regarding the Whaley House (Most haunted homes) and this is the room that Ana Whaley died in and said she is one of the ghosts and haunts this room!
That was weird.  But other than that, I didn't see anything and if you really think about it, those ghosts would have to be pretty busy with all the people in and around that house.  He must have been sleepy!  I would have been!

But they do have ghost tours of the house at night and also of Old Town as well.  Now, that is what I am talking about.  I am up for it and look forward to going next time!

Do you have ghost stories?  I do, many of them, share yours, I and my followers would love to hear your story.

Happy October 1st!!!

Thursday Thoughts.....

On Coping:


"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a bottle of wine."

Thomas Aquinas

Philosopher (After my own heart)

New Silhouette Project

I have put on my blog the amazing stuff you can do with this machine.  One idea that I ABSOLUTELY love is called subway art.  If you have a moment check out www.tatertotsandjello.com web site.  Her subway art ROCKS!!!  Very impressive.  There is another link to www.howdoesshe.com.  They also do subway art, and this is the one idea I got from them....

I have a sister, (I have many, and I am the youngest, oldest and middle child, it's all in how you look at us)  she and I are celebrating our birthdays together.  I wanted to do something that described HER.  Let me tell you, it is weird to actually sit down and put into words to describe someone.  Actually, once you put the words down and look back, it also reflects about you too.  Strange but true.  Can't help but smile when you look at the words you wrote.

I came up with the obvious but when it came to details I looked at my family for help. I wanted them to be a part of this project and I took 18 words and used my Silhouette machine to cut out and then I went to work.

It was very random in the use of the words, it didn't help with my transfer tape not WORKING at all!  I was dropping letters left and right!  So a little project that would have taken me lets say an hour, took me almost four!  ARRRGGGG.  But I got it done and it was a labor of love.  I hope she likes it!

What do you think and what words could you come up with to describe someone you love, a husband? Child? Mom? Dad? Sister? Grandchild? Teacher, Best Friend?  The list goes on and on.

I just used a 12x12 tile from Home Depot and put it on a plate stand.  Simple but very personal.

It's just the beginning!!!!

I am like a mad scientist!  Whaahaaaahaahaaa!  That is supposed to be me rubbing my hands together making a sinister laugh, don't know how to spell that laugh, sorry!

Have a great day!

Foto Friday....

Andy was working on a house just up the road and I went with him to hang out.  Well, I went there to be nosey.  The property is only a couple of miles from our house and it is new construction.

Living out here you never know what you will find and after an hour or so helping out (ok, that sounds good) I went on a walk to the back of the house.

Look at what I saw!

Is this the coolest thing!

I don't know anything about it except it is old.

I wonder if the owner has to pay property taxes on this?

Can you imagine the old miner that lived here?

I wonder if it is insulated...Flat Screen capable?

I love the back door.  It is like a barn door.

I wonder if the Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) got her idea to do this to the lodge from this beauty?

Well it was the perfect home, move in ready until the side of the building starts to collapse.


This is a pretty cool building and I truly expected to run into a (or more) rattlesnake(s) when I was going around this beauty.

Now, my fellow bloggers may have their Southern Homes to tour but they ain't got nothin on us in Baldwin Lake!   (I say that out of pour jealousy, serious)

Amazing isn't it?  There is so much history in this town that it is a cowgirl's dream. 

Let me know what you think.  BBQ anyone?

Thursday Thoughts.....

People have the inner resources to become anything they want to be. Challenges just becomes the vehicle for tapping into those inner resources. —Eric Weihenmayer, blind mountain climber

Walmart. Outing.....

Well, as everyone knows I live very rural, I try not to sound like I am complaining about the distance I have to go to get anywhere.  This is where I chose to live and am happy to be here.

However.....

I am not a shopper, but when I get in the mood......

I went down the hill on Sunday, trying to get to as many places as I could with the time allotted for me.  Let's see, I need to go to Michaels, Walmart, Big 5, Burlington Coat Factory,  Dress Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond, Fashion Bug, Lowes, Grocery Store, get gas and only have 2 hours to do what needs to be done!  That is already a 4 hour day considering it takes two hours just in driving round trip!   Forget about getting something to eat, there is just not enough time!

In my mind I map out where I have to go furthest, I'll hit Michaels, but wait let's stop at Walmart first.  OK this is where it gets interesting.

I don't shop Walmart. Period. I know I need to for the saving but in the Big Box Stores I am a Target girl.  I don't think I have been in a Walmart in years upon years. 

Let me see if I can set the stage correctly.  I park FAR FAR away, not by choice.  The amount of people going into the store looked like there was a renunion concert of some 80's band.!  Serious!  WOW!  I actually had to stop because of the mass of people trying to get into the doors.  I thought "There IS a concert going on in here".

When I got into the store, there was a McDonalds to the right.  That took me back to the time when I was little and my mom used to take me to KMart and we would have lunch in the diner they had.  Boy was that special!  Now I look at the brightness and the plastic seats (fast food places do that so it won't be comfortable and you won't stay long) and the chaos.  Chaos is a good word to describe this event.

So I went to the fabric area.  I can't believe they sell fabric at Walmart!  As I am looking at all the $3.50 yard, my heart is leaping!!!  Wow fabric that cheap and it even gets cheaper at the discount area.. fan me, fan me!  Whew! 
I stop to get my barings together and I decided to watch the people walking by.  Um well, to say the least, I thought to myself, are these people for real?  Is this like a cult that all people going into Walmart dress like this?  Meaning, I remember going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show when I was in High School and everyone dressed up like the characters.  Scary when you haven't seen the movie yet.  

It stopped me in my tracks and made me giggle the whole time I was shopping, it just kept getting better.

When I got home from that afternoon, I thought there HAS to be a website for the "Walmart People" and there was!  I swear I saw these same people there on Sunday!

HIS shorts says it all! (That's a guy!)

Do you think he is a dad to someone?  (This is a GUY too!)  EWWWWW

This poor dog is saying "Just shoot me, what are my friends gonna say"!  A Mohawk is pretty bad in itself, but a blue one, come on!

There are hundreds of pictures on this website www.peopleofwalmart.com.  I laughed and laughed at these picture.  I truly believe now that it is a cult.  Now off to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show, now where did I put my black fishnets.....

PS.  I did get done everything I needed to, forgot to eat lunch made it up the hill and had a dinner party at 5:30 at my house.  I AM WOMAN!!! 

Stay tuned for the great finds I found at Walmart (not the people, the goodies, Mod Podge, candles, material, etc..)  It was all worth it....

Silhouette Art...

I have been having so much fun with this machine!  I see things in such a different light.  I look at almost anything and say, "I can do something really cool to that."  Now bear with me, I am still a real newbie to this, but am at least working on different projects, little as they may be.

Saturday night we were at our friends home for dinner and she showed me all the great stuff she has bought for her grandkids who are staying with them for a week.  I looked at the black pail and said "How about if I take it home and personalize it?"  So Sunday I went to the Dollar Tree (I LOVE THAT STORE) and bought another pail, came home and a couple of minutes later I had the cutest pails!

I did it in orange because of the season and also it really looked cool!

What do you think......

Off to do more projects!  This is definitely addictive!