Fair Maidens

Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for many things even though this has been a rough year for us all. The first one that comes to mind … I’m thankful I’m not the turkey.  I’m blessed to have a loving, odd Family…the best and most loyal Friends on Earth…a Husband with the patience on an angel and weather fine enough to wear sandals all 365 days. I hope for each of you…there is enough food on the table, an important person to share it with and an abundance of good old fashion laughter.

Dusty Cows

Desert Surprises

We set out for Borrego Springs early on Saturday to photograph some of the wonderful sculptures created by artist, Ricardo Breceda.

Breceda (originally from Durango, Mexico) was once a carpenter who took up sculpting 13 years ago after he fell from a second story and broke his back while working construction. He persevered and found a way to make a living from his passion for things that roamed millions of years ago by establishing Perris Jurassic Park. Then, years after his penned creations peeked over the fence along the 215 Interstate, a millionaire who happened to have purchased some dessert land surrounding Borrego Springs and Anzo Borrego National Park came along. His name is Dennis Avery, who like Breceda, shares a love for the prehistoric. Avery, upon a drive by and turn around, first saw a 30 foot Tyrannosaurus Rex leaning over the chain link fence. From that first sighting, he commissioned several works by Breceda and the transformation of Galleta Meadows began.

What I particularly like about what I saw is, not only the craftsmanship and how it weathers in the elements, but also the placement of each creature. You get the feeling you are watching them in their true setting or how they would have lived. I also love the fact that you can drive your car right up to them, making it easy for folks less able to get around, see and enjoy them easily…oh, and did I forget, it’s all free. These two men, along with their vision, have given the general public a wonderful gift that can be enjoyed by future generations.

The Halloween Portraits are in!!!

You simply must check out the Halloween portraits Jim McGill from www.Photo444.com took on Halloween night. Find your mug here to order your prints!

http://photo444.smugmug.com

These are some of my faves…Especially the little candy corn’s smile:)

364 Days to Halloween

We survived…and I just woke up from my coma. We received about 100 folks Thursday at our preview, 200 Friday and 1500 – 1800 guests by my counters estimates on the grand day. I myself was the recipient of many hugs from small children… large ones too. My costume allowed me to remain anonymous from folks that didn’t recognize me (he he he) although the feet had me walking like I had giant flippers on…
All leftovers were promptly delivered to the local Fire Station and CHOC Hospital for all the little trick-or-treaters that couldn’t go out and the dedicated folks who nurse them back to health. As always, I have many to thank. Jamie, with her sword, kept the “touchers” at bay. Loren, her husband of 105 years (and my dear friend) and their beautiful daughter Kari handled candy and toy patrol… and that folks… is only duty for the bravest of souls. Many heartfelt thanks to Jim (the photographer) for capturing all the kids, adults and dogs in costumes and to his 2 beautiful assistants Christie and Susan. You will be able to view those soon. I understand Jim took close to 1000 photos. Lastly, my utmost gigantic thanks to Micheal and Mitchell (the Brothers Grim)…whom without their knowledge (and yelling) this and every other Halloween would have never taken place… except in my head. I took a few very quick snaps in the blacklight before nodding off…

Daylight and it’s hidden secrets

I had a chance, before preview, to take a few shots so the folks who can’t come…can see what makes up this years Halloween theme. This is esecially for Yumiko, an Artist from Anuvue Studio & Gallery, who had brain surgery and is at home recovering. High five and big hug Yumi!
This was a very “Green Friendly” year in that most everything is being recycled in some form. What the kids and adults see at night is created with blacklight paint, extremely minute details that they may never noticed,and a bit of mystery. Here’s a sneak peek in the daylight.

The entrance was made from recycled plywood, donated by our friend Gary, used previously for cement work. It was painted from the “not the right color” section of our local hardware store. I thought it was strange, every time I showed up, they had another can of practically the same color…I swear I have Halloween angels at work

This is the view as you enter.

I simply could not resist these clear tubes… You are looking at command central, where the ship is controlled…and every kid in the neighborhood wants to fly. All the neato controls were gifted by my neighbor Greg who works for KOCE. The channel was clearing out allot of outdated gadgets…just in time for a spacecraft. The edging on the desk is actually the stuff they put along lawns… sprayed silver. I think it looks like metal and is very spacey.

Do not touch signs are an absolute must bring the “touching” down to only “minimal madness”.

What a ship without a lab of bubbling jars with strange things. These aliens are cloning humans…with aliens. I love the doll heads so much, they are going in my house when this is over. They fit perfectly into the washing machine overflow tray I found

Fred and Ethel diligently in their tubes…along with a new 2 headed offspring. All the dials are old hairspray, paint and misc. lids with dial stickers. Anything white glares in the blacklight so they look quite real. All the tubes are cardboard that’s been mitered and heck, there’s even some cookie trays and mac computer box inserts painted silver up there.

Tonight, after second preview night, I’ll take some shots so you can see the transformation at night. We had about 100 guests on Thursday night. One boy was so cute in his hotdog costume. I love bringing the kids in to see the candy and watch their frustration of how to pick just one. With all the do not touch signs, one little boy kept whining “Dad, I can’t touch anything…DADDDDDD, I can’t touch anything…finally I let him touch some of the keyboards on the center table with the baby heads. The next thing I know there are 5 little boys jumping up and down, all trying to all touch the keyboard, all shouting “I want to touch it” !
I asked my friend Jamie to be the “don’t touch” person in the room. She raised 2 kids and her costume has a sword…;)

The Seniors Visit

Today it was my utmost privilege to have a group of Seniors from Silverado Memory Care come to view the Halloween display, share some cookies, coffee and conversation. I think they enjoyed my pottery collection and unusual home as much as any aliens. Such a wonderful group of folks to share a day with.

The Goods

Now THIS is what makes me a very popular woman this time of year…yeah, team Halloween builds a set to wow the smallest child to the oldest senior…but we know it’s all about the candy and toys!
This years helpers were Cody, Bella and Marina…

It’s 9:38pm, I’ve been up working since 8am, and I can’t feel my own feet. BUT Proudly, we are ready to premier the Alien Halloween Scene. One child (who helped decorate the Halloween mobile today) asked what I would be doing the day after Halloween. I told her (with a serious face) I would be in a coma

You might be too…

It dawned on me this evening…while I was fitting eyes in my alien’s eye sockets…I might be kinda strange…