Photos I took on walk on wharf in California

I took a walk on our local wharf on January 12 and took some photos to share with you here.

Above are kayaks for rent and a favorite seafood restaurant.

Above is a photo of about 50 sea lions napping while floating in a sunny spot.

Puppets from Bali

We have a collection of art from Indonesia, and I have not shared any of it with you on my blog before.

These are four rod puppets we have. I took the first photo because light coming through stained glass created a glorious circle pattern on the wall around the puppets. The light circle doesn't show on the photo but the puppets turned out ok.
As you can see they are two couples and I am sure they are in love. On the left in the first photo and in the photo above is the first pair we bought from a local gal who travels to Indonesia and brings back art to sell in her store.
My husband surprised me with the lady puppet of the couple. I said I loved her and my husband said "they seemed to be a pair, maybe we should go to the store and unite them." We went to the store and there the missing loved one was, lying down on a shelf and looking woebegone. We made the purchase and hurried home to reunite the couple and they have been together ever since.

Hey, this sounds like a Valentines Post.
The third photo is a closer view of the second pair of puppets we bought. These are all rod puppets or Wayang Golek from Indonesia.

The Sparkly New Year Is Here

2014 was a good year for my husband and I and our adult sons, and I hope 2015 will bring joy to share for all of you blog friends and for my family, and healing and good health for all too.
Here is Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem
"Ring Out Wild Bells."

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring happy bells across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

... Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Merry Christmas to One and to All

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood

Do you love libraries and books and free, like I do? Well, the Little Free Libraries trend embraces all three of these delightful things.
There are three that I know of in my neighborhood. All you need to do to have one is to build a container with glass doors to protect the books and put up words on it that say "take one, give one".
The photo above is a very cute Little Free Library, don't you agree?

Here is the second one in my neighborhood, just a short walk from my home.

I wonder if every country has these little free libraries. My blog friends can tell me, do people in Indonesia, Germany, Kuwait, Australia and more have them? I hope so, they are fun and encourage folks to read.
This photo was taken on a dark wet morning as you can tell, and the books are safe from the rain in their snug library with glass doors that close securely.

To the left is a second Free Library for children. Isn't that thoughtful? They built it a lower height so children can reach it.
These libraries are all about giving and seem like a Christmas themed post to me.

Gigantic Hedge Near Our House and Book Winner

The winner from the 21 people who commented for a chance to win a hardcover copy of "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts" is Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti
I used random.org to choose the winner.
Cathy will announce the winner of the second copy on our other blog at Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

Here is a gigantic and monumental hedge growing on a street near our house. You can not see what is behind it, but once in a while they leave the gate tantalizingly open. I think the hedge is 3 stories tall, and across the street are 6 houses, so it is about 600 feet long. Maybe 20 feet thick.
It is so mysterious to imagine living there in privacy.

The owners must make a huge effort to keep it so nicely trimmed. I imagine it is very quiet and country like sheltered behind the handsome hedge.

Giveaway of My Christmas book "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts" giveaway

Cathy Messecar and I are giving away two copies of our co-authored Christmas book "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday". To enter to win just leave a comment here and for a chance to win a second copy leave a comment on
Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts blog
Here is what one kind reviewer wrote:

"This book took my breath away. Truly beautiful, unique, heartwarming. It's one of those books I'll treasure from year to year, reading and re-reading the stories within until I know them by heart. It has a hodgepodge of everything - recipes, inspirational stories, Christmas tips, poetry, projects. I'm not sure how they packed so much into 160 pages, but it's an overflowing chest full of treasures!"

We will select the two winners Dec. 6 using random.org and will mail it quickly so you will get it before Christmas. There are lots of easy, fun and cheap tips in our book to make celebrating Christmas a joy, and we put Jesus at the center of this holiday.

Here is what another reviewer wrote:

This book celebrates the birth of Christ, includes Scripture and plenty of ideas for family activities, craft projects, recipes including Baklava and A Dunkin’ Cookie, easy gifts to make, green Christmas tips, poems and lots more. Stories include a 1^st Christmas with adopted children, a reunion with a prodigal son at Waffle House, and camping in the Florida Everglades swamp for the holiday.

Leave your comment here and on our shared blog full of Christmas tips or visit 
Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts  to read reviews and see more about our book.