Sommer Designs

Beautiful Sunday

I was filling the dogs water bowl early this morning, when I glanced down at this hydrangea pot. I thought it had died, but as usual, I've been too lazy to throw it out. I was sort of waiting for someone else to do it. But then, I looked closer...

and I noticed how when the flower petals had faded and died months ago...

their delicate skeletons remained.

How beautiful is this? There's a whole other world in these petals, under all that gorgeous, lush beauty. And I would have missed this if I hadn't just stopped for a moment to notice this small thing.

And under it all? New life.

Enjoy your Sunday...notice some of the little things around you!

Beautiful Sunday...A Winter Beach.

An early morning walk with a good friend down the bike path. 3 miles round trip & enough time to catch up on a month of life that flew by.

Dots of surfers out braving the icy cold water waiting for the perfect wave...

...which they missed.

Boys of summer taking advantage of a brief seasonal break in January when the sun shined, the air was clear, the sky was blue and the sound of the waves crashing was breathtaking.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday as well!

Beautiful Sunday...scenes from a Farmer's Market

It was a beautiful day, an amazing day! 86 degrees and just a bit breezy...just enough to make you glad to be outdoors!

Mosaic above includes: the new Mod Noir Trio; happy, returning customers; my lady, all glammed up and posing; my new earrings; flowers; my new friend, Boston; more flowers; more happy, returning customers; and my booth in the early morning...

Definitely a Beautiful Sunday!

Not to gloat or anything...

Well, maybe just a little! I dragged Scott to Border's yesterday and we both nearly ran to the magazine rack! Searching for Los Angeles Magazine, he found it first ('hey, where'd you get that?'); flipping through once, then twice, couldn't find it. Threw it down (yes, right there in Border's), found Los Angeles Weddings (just in case I had it wrong..."But Julia said..."), flipped through that; once, twice. Threw it down. Picked Los Angeles Magazine back up; slowly flipped through it...and sure enough, in the back (page 233, to be exact) I found it. Behold.

In my mind, that makes today quite a Beautiful Sunday. *grinning*

Beautiful Sunday...and a confession.

I never got around to cutting back the roses. How can I when they keep doing this?

In case you were wondering...

I skipped (am skipping) the Farmer’s Market this morning. It's hard for me to forfeit, but, as you see, quite wet outside. They (the infamous they, as in news, weathermen/women, papers, Yahoo forecast, alignment of the stars, etc.) have been forecasting rain for days now, and we really had quite a beautiful week – shirtsleeve weather & flipflops  – that it was difficult to imagine that a ‘huge’ storm was on the way. So difficult to wrap my mind around, that, in a fit of sheer determination and skepticism, I packed the car yesterday afternoon. I should have realized, however, when Scott drove into the driveway and burst into laughter that it was a moot point, and I was doomed!

Oh well – it’s a rainy day, and we need it desperately!  I plan to cuddle up on the couch with my [slow going] afghan project, watch some worthless t.v., read the new issue of Romantic Homes Magazine (otherwise known as the Alicia Paulson issue – it is quite a beautiful issue!) and my newest splurge, The French-Inspired Home that I ordered for my birthday and arrived yesterday. Talk about inspiration!

I think it will be a Beautiful Sunday after all.

Beautiful Sunday...and general chatter

I do believe it's time to cut back the roses. Past time. I'm always late with this. It's one of the things I put off, because of our mild climate, they just keep blooming. And who am I to stop that lovely process.

It cold, and dreary, and finally (finally) rainy yesterday. Perfect for snuggling on the couch with a movie….and an errant craft project. Scott took Colin & Dylan to the desert to visit his father, and Drew didn’t want to go (yes, I was this close to having the house to myself for two whole nights!), so it was just us, and the dogs.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I have even looked at this thing! It’s so time consuming, and now I’m not really liking the colors as much as when I picked them out. I’m loving, and coveting, Alicia’s new ripple stitch afghan, inspired (as I was too) by Jane’s. I even went out and bought the book, but of course, it’s completely Greek to me. I may have to break down and actually seek help, but I do love the random stripes. I also bought this book - which, also, is in a foreign language to me. Signing up for a [real] crochet class was on my list for January, but January has (happily) turned out to be an incredibly busy month for me.

And, here it is, Beautiful Sunday, with loaded clouds all around. I hope it rains some more. The dogs have the right idea...cuddle up and sleep. Can you believe Gracie actually does sleep like this?

Candy prefers the ball position. Can't blame her.

Have a Beautiful Sunday!

Beautiful Sunday/Flickr Favorites

I think this has to be one of my favorite compliation of favorites! I has everything that is near and dear to me: doggies, flowers, doggies, pretty packages, tea, doggies, vintage notions, wonderful art, doggies...

Did I say doggies?

Beautiful Sunday

Gracie & I, on the Rim Trail (aka McBride Trail, I had no idea it had an actual name - I thought it was just my own personal slice of heaven...) this morning. It is so beautiful and clear outside, it's hard to believe it's the end of December and people are stranded at airports around the country. We had a little cold snap last week (you know, it got down to 62...), and we were all bundled up! It doesn't take much around here, and the cold snaps are always welcome so we can pull out our scarves and complain about how cold we are!

I took Gracie on her first ever walk yesterday, just around the neighborhood, and was pleasantly surprised at how well she responded on the leash. Candy just pulls and pulls, she's so excited to be out and about. But Gracie is much more subdued, and actually walks with me, watching my lead constantly. It's pure pleasure.

This is my favorite spur of the moment hike since I can do it straight out my front door without driving anywhere. The sun was shining on the water, but unfortunately Catalina was blocked with some haze. Still beautiful, and still inspiring. Gracie loved all the new smells and sights and I'm so glad to have a new hiking partner!

That tongue. Could you die?

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas tonight and tomorrow!

Beautiful Sunday...

The many faces of Candy...waiting for a handout...or a kiss.

The prettiest girl in the world. I love her so.