Author Archives: Beth

About Beth

Hi! I'm Beth. I live in California, outside of Sacramento, on an acre in what used to be a small town. I enjoy reading blogs about home decor, thrifty finds, diy projects, and thoughts on making life interesting. I'm married to a wonderful handy-man, have 4 adult children and 2 dogs. My dream home would overlook the ocean. In the meantime, occasional visits will have to do.

Day 8 – Fall is Definately Here

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I know- I missed day 7.  I was here again.

It was a fun day!  On the drive from  where we live, the sun was shining the whole 100 miles.  When we arrived in Sausalito, we could see that there would be some fog.  This is what the bridge looked like at around 1pm.

Not a good thing when the Blue Angels are supposed to fly at 3 pm.

They waited until 4, and the show was great.  I highly recommend watching the show from the bridge.  The next picture is good, in that it shows how long this bridge is.

There are also great  bike trails, and you can ride bikes on the bridge.

As for Emily Dickinson, this is the first couple lines from a poem.

“No ladder needs the bird but skies

To situate its wings,

Nor any leader’s grim baton

Arraigns it as it sings.”               Emily Dickinson

I zoomed in on this bird in my backyard.

We are having beautiful fall weather!

Beth

Day 6 – Regarding Emily and “Hope”

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I’m not getting into this 31 day thing like I should be, yet it’s good to be aware of what it takes to blog “daily”.

One thing I am getting into, is walking.  More on that later.

The following is a poem from Emily Dickinson.  It’s pretty “deep”.

“Hope is a strange invention-

A Patent of the Heart-

In unremitting action-

Yet never wearing out-

 

Of this electric Adjunct

Not anything is known

But its unique momentum

Embellish all we own-                     Emily Dickinson

This image is  from the movie “Sense and Sensibility”.  The 2008 version.

This is Elinor and Edward.  If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend it!  I love this story and these two characters.

I also love the clothing!

I would say that Elinor embodies the meaning of “hope”.

(image from Google)

I’m enjoying this lovely fall weather!!

Beth

 

Day 5 – Looking For the Blue Angels

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I didn’t do an “Emily” post yesterday, because I was here.

One of my favorite places.  The Golden Gate Bridge.  It’s Fleet Week in San Francisco. We saw the Blue Angels arrive at 1pm.  They flew around for awhile, sometimes right over the bridge, which was  great!!  They were supposed to practice at 4pm, but because of the fog out over the ocean, they limited it to one big fly by and a couple of close passes over the bridge.  Me, my husband, 2 of our adult children and 2 nephews walked across the bridge, from one parking lot to the other.  It’s a 4 mile round trip.  And very worth it.  The views!  Plus, you get a real sense of how large this bridge really is.  One thing of interest is the container ships that come in from the ocean.

I like this shot- give’s a good perspective of how big the bridge is.  And no, I’m not standing out in the traffic lanes.

The sign at the bridge entrance says “NO ANIMALS”.  This little guy was half way across.  Looks proud of himself.

We plan to return  this weekend.  Hopefully I’ll get some shots of the bridge and the city in the sun.  The weather is usually perfect for this event, but it turned cool and cloudy.

We live 100 miles away, yet don’t get over to visit like we should.

More “Emily” tomorrow.

Beth

Day 3 Deja vu

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Emily wrote  the following poem in 1863.  My impression is that she is describing deja vu.  Deja vu is french  for “already seen”.    You see something or hear something, and have the sensation of having already experienced it.  It’s a very strange feeling.  It’s not the same thing as just remembering something from your past.

“A Thought went up my mind today-

That I have had before-

But did not finish-some way back-

I could not fix the Year-

 

Nor where it went -nor why it came

The second time to me-

Nor definitely, what it was-

Have I the Art to say-

 

But somewhere- in my Soul- I know-

I’ve met the Thing before-

It just reminded me- ’twas all-

And came my way no more-

Hope you are enjoying the 31 Dayers series.

Beth

Day 2 – More About Emily

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Emily was born in Amherst, Mass. in 1830.  She passed away at the age of 56.   The family home was very nice, but it overlooked the town’s cemetery,  which was described as treeless.     Emily later became very reclusive, sometimes standing behind the door while talking with a visitor.   She would rarely leave her room.  She also had a penchant for wearing white.

Many of her friendships consisted of correspondence.

Less than twelve or her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime. Her sister Lovinia came across them after Emily’s death.  Because of the style of her writing, many of her poems were edited.  They were later published in their original form.

photo: Wikimedia/Midnightdreary

The following is one of her poems. They didn’t have titles, and the way some words are capitalized is the way I found it.   I hope you enjoy it.

“The morns are meeker than they were-

The nuts are getting brown-

The berry’s cheek is plumper-

The Rose is out of town.

The Maple wears a gayer scarf-

The field a scarlet gown-

Lest I should be old fashioned

I’ll put a trinket on.”

Emily Dickinson- 1858

You can see all of my 31 days of Emily here.

You can visit the other 31 Dayers here.

 

 

 

 

31 Days of Emily Dickinson

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I came across the book “The Complete  Poems of  Emily Dickinson”, and once I started reading some of them, I became fascinated.  She is able to put such interesting thoughts into words.

I’m envious.

Emily Dickinson was born Dec.10, 1830,  and died May 15, 1886.  She lived a very secluded life, yet managed to write some amazing poetry.   She had no husband.  No children.  No recorded music to listen to.  No internet.  No blogs.

“That Love is all there is,

Is all we know of Love;”

She wrote that.  The first sentence’s of her poems are interesting enough in themselves.

As I blog about her for the rest of October,  I will be including some of her poetry and more details about her life.

This is a section of one of her poems.

“The name-of it-is “Autumn”-

The hue-of it-is Blood-

An Artery-upon the Hill-

A Vein-along the Road-”   E.D.

Be sure and check out other 31 Dayers here.

Beth.

You can see my entire listing of “31 days”  here.

 

 

 

 

 

31 Days

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Because I am kind of new to blogging,  I’m thinking I need this challenge.

The Nesting Place (otherwise known as “the Nester”, is the method behind this madness.

31 consecutive days of blogging- beginning October 1st.  Last year there were over 700 bloggers who joined in.  I’m new to it this year.

My topic?  Emily Dickinson, the poet.  Every day I plan to take the first line of some of her poetry and either add a photo, or write what I think about it.  She wrote some amazing poetry.  (more on that later, along with details about her life)

I invite you to join me on this 31 day adventure!
To see others who have joined the 31 day project, click here.

Beth

Day 1  31 Days of Emily Dickinson

Day 2  More About Emily

 

Mes Amis Show in Roseville

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I know- it’s been 2 months since I last posted on my blog.  How’s that for motivation?  Or lack of…

I went to the Mes Amis show in Roseville yesterday.  Saw some nice things!  One of the vendors My Salvaged Treasures was there, and I have to say, she is amazing.  I’m not much of a jewelry wearer, or I would have come home with some of her “treasures”.  Be sure and check out her blog.  She salvages more than just jewelry.

This sunflower was in a vendor’s booth.  Remember when sunflowers were the RAGE??  I still appreciate the real ones.

My sister found this pedestal/plant stand at Goodwill.  I love it!  I thought this wonderful globe would look great on sitting on top.   What it really needs is a Boston Fern.   She seems to have a knack for being in Goodwill at the right minute, as in when a cart of items is brought out.  I could do several blogs on the things she has found.

Beth

 

Reno Getaway

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Last Wednesday my husband and I drove up to Reno.  We hadn’t been there as a couple for YEARS.  (even though it’s less than 120 miles away)  Our mission?  For him to visit with his cousin who lives there, along with his aunt,  who was visiting from Kansas.  He scanned some old family photos while there.  My mission?  A getaway.  2 1/2 days of shopping.  Thrift shops, antique shops, the mall, and stores like Marshalls and TJMaxx.  I was by myself, but that was okay.  Needless to say, my feet got tired!  Which reminded me (along with seeing myself in some mirrors) that I need to lose some weight.

In the backyard of the cousin’s home, there were some hollyhocks.  I adore hollyhocks.  I think they come in 2nd after hydrangeas.  Aren’t they cute?

I bought 2 antique photos.   Saw quite a few interesting ones.

I like this one because of the hairstyles.  And the photographer’s composition.  I’m also familiar with Fairfield, Iowa.

I chose this one because it’s not the typical photo card.  Almost has a 3D look to it.

This one I’m going to frame.  I really like it.

More about the trip in the next post.

Beth

Antique Photos & Champagne Cake

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I bought these 2 antique photos at the Antique Trove in Roseville on Wednesday.  I’m gradually adding to my collection as I find the ones that interest me.

I find this one interesting because the girl looks so young, and I’m fascinated by her clothing.  The layers!  My daughter said this type of dress is really old.  Late 1800′s.  I’m assuming they are a married couple.  There are no names.  No details.

My mom and I were saying how strange it is, how  these people never dreamed of the changes that would happen in the next 100 years, or that we would be looking at their photo and wondering who they are.

It wasn’t until I was at home, that I realized there are a set of twins in this photo. (see if you can spot them)   There are 3 “Bell” girls in the photo, but it doesn’t specify clearly who is who.  Edith, Lillie & Edna.  So obviously, the twins are “Bells”.  On the back it says this is a Sunday school class.  No date.  Taken in Colorado.  The other names are Ada Brunick, Minnie Yeller, Bertha Rawling, May Simpson,Bertha Benning, Miss Worchester (or Thompson) Marcia Worchester, Helen Flynn,  and Roxie Powleson.

Same photo in black & white. I think you can enlarge photos on my blog if you click on them.

Changing the subject drastically….

This is a Champagne cake from Nugget Market in Roseville, Calif.  (this isn’t the greatest lighting)   The icing is the palest pink. White chocolate shavings.  Delicious cake!!  Very good for a store bought cake.   We had it with ice cream and fresh strawberries from a local field.  YUMMY!!!

Blogging on,

Beth