Monday, November 30, 2009

Didn't know how badly I wanted an axe until now.
Or seven axes.

You can't just have one of these, right? I'm a sucker for the olive green hot pink combo, but really I think I would need one of each.... Just like this, hanging on the wall.


Best Made Company
... I love you.
via Made in England, though don't be fooled, the axe is made in NYC

{My mother asked me today what I wanted for my upcoming birthday... should I tell her I want an axe? Will there be silence on the other end of the phone? I'm not sure it's something a mother wants to hear from her daughter. I could be wrong.}

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday is not quite in my blood, but I happily participate and am very skilled at eating all sorts of pie and side dishes that accompany the famous turkey. I admit that a good cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things and I have been known to eat it plain, by the spoonful. I offer no apologies.

This year, we decided to go camping. Not only did that sound like a fantastic idea to get away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping frenzy that is about to ensue, but also the challenge of trying to make a Thanksgiving meal on a camping stove and fire was something I could not resist. If you know me, you know I am not kidding.

The one big surprise of the trip, and something I can say I am very thankful for is the Mojave National Preserve. We're avid Joshua Tree National Park campers, and being only 2 hours from Los Angeles, we headed straight there thinking, erroneously, who would want to camp on Thanksgiving and have to cook a big turkey out in the wilderness? Everyone and their entire families apparently. And us.

I love Joshua Tree... but it gets busy. It is so beautiful that you can't really blame the hords of people that flock to it, but I secretly wish no one knew about it but me.... I know it's good to share, but the wilderness and truly quiet space is so precious, it gets hard. I tend to get selfish with my wilderness, be warned.

Anyway, as luck would have it, the Mojave National Preserve is only a hour or so away from Joshua Tree. We've driven through it many times, but never camped. And so, driving away from the overpopulated JT with our tails between our legs, feeling all sad with the assumption that we were 'settling' for the preserve, imagine the surprise, the happiness and sense of wonder when we realized that a whole new world was before us. I'm surprised that the Mojave National Preserve is not a National Park... it's stunning. Maybe that's a good thing, less people, less bureaucracy, etc., ... but seriously, this is one place we're coming back to.... again and again.

Sunday, November 22, 2009


Dear Blog,
I'm heading out to sea for a few days.
And then we're off to the desert to dry out.
It might even be December when I will see you again.
Keep out of trouble while I'm gone.
Love, Debi

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Introducing Marion, my first jellyfish.

Trying to stock up the little shop for the holidays... slowly but surely.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009


I love Royal Buffet's garlands.

Very quiet and still....

Monday, November 16, 2009

I promised myself that I would not talk too much about diving on this blog. In fact I contemplated starting another one just so that I could chronicle my new obsession and leave this one alone... happy in its curated world of architecture, ceramics, graphics and yarn, or for lack of a better word, land stuff.

But today, dear friends, beware... there is cross-over.

I just couldn't help myself with my growing sea urchin menagerie. Yesterday I was lucky enough to go diving and was able to add a few to the collection. And when I laid them out this morning, I just couldn't resist taking photos.

The natural world is astounding. Speaking of, have you seen this incredible footage of a pair of sea dragons?

Friday, November 13, 2009

You know it's going to be a nice day when you open up the cupboard and you see something you see everyday but it's as if it's for the first time.

I love our dishes. I love that they are mismatched but complimentary. I love that R chooses colors I might not choose and it just works. I love having opened up the cupboard this morning and being surprised at how lovely it all looked. I suppose I usually just reach for a coffee cup, half blind from sleep and I do not notice?

So anyway.... yes, I think it will be a nice day. I am, however, getting sick. I can feel it in my ears and my throat. But I still contend it will be a nice day: R is coming back from Montreal this afternoon and I get to eat my soup out of some lovely bowls, drink ginger tea, and probably watch a lot of movies... a sure cure for the common cold.

A good weekend to you all.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Stunning colors... cutting flowers by Janne Peters.
Oddly, they make me think of winter.

. . . . . ..... . . .. . .... . . . . . .... .

On another note, I want to say a big thank you to all the people who have been leaving such lovely comments lately... it's hard to keep up, so please forgive the mass thank you.

And also, new readers, thanks for introducing yourselves to me... nice to meet you :)

These flowers are for all of you...

Monday, November 9, 2009

We arrived in Flagstaff on Friday afternoon. Since then it's been all about good food, lots of work, some wine, and some more work.

There is still a lot of work to do, so this morning's breakfast was simple and a quick collection of leaves & co. seemed appropriate before our departure tomorrow early morning.

I didn't get to spend as much time outdoors as I would have liked... but after all it was a work-weekend. I can't complain much though, Flagstaff is beautiful; a perfect respite from downtown Los Angeles. The air is so clean and crisp, it's just nice to breath.

CG is building a house here and being on a construction site again is reinvigorating. I'm hoping there will be more trips up here as the house progresses.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

As a freelancer, there's a constant effort to not let work take over life. Work is sneaky; it creeps into your evenings and weekends, and while it's something you may love, it's still work. Work is too often an excuse I use for not being able to do things...like impromptu weekends away.

Having said that, and even though it makes no real sense given the coming week and all the deadlines, my studio mate CG and I are getting in the car and driving to Flagstaff tomorrow.

The irony is that it'll be a work weekend... but we're shaking it up, and giving Work a run for it's money. It's going to have to keep up with us this time.

{image via here... found on English Muse}

Monday, November 2, 2009


I feel like going on a voyage.

A long slow trip to somewhere cold.

To a little solitary house where I can make hot drinks and walk around in thick socks all day.

{image by lynann}