In one reality, I am a 911 dispatcher and mother of two. In my alternate reality I am an artist and mystic. Original Bliss is the space between, where I work my alchemy to bring these worlds together.
I LOVE going to places I have never been. Being born and raised in Cali, and nurturing my road trip fetish throughout, I am always afraid I will run out of places to run to.
But I found a new getaway!
How I have never been here, I do not know.
"Apple Hill" is an agricultural area comprising of 50 apple and Christmas tree farms situated in the foothills of Placerville, Camino and Pollock Pines.
It was a glorious drive! We started by indulging in a freshly, fried apple donut at Abel's Apple Acres. Holy crap it was freakin' delicious!
Then we hit Denver Dan's where they let us taste EVERYTHING; fresh apples they were peeling for the pies, every variety of dipping sauce and homemade cidar vinagar, their special recipe of garlic dill pickle, and a serving of apple crisp a la mode and a la special apple caramel sauce! Heaven with a side of belly ache!!!!
We followed that up with some wine tasting.... then some beer tasting.
Then we headed into Placerville for some antiquing.
I am always looking for vintage ephemera to add to my toy chest. But the find of the day was a 1957 Maganavox Stereo in perfect working condition. We had to bring her home in the back seat of my Bug with the top down.... but it was worth the wind blown locks.
If you are ever in the Sacramento area in the Fall, hop in the hooptie and take Highway 50 towards Lake Tahoe for about an hour.
And look me up... I may move there and start making pie!
Namaste,
C H E Z
Photos are enhanced using Color and Monochrome Photoshop actions created by Kim Miller. For more details about what I did to each photo, visit my Flickr Photostream.
I have been learning so many new ways to enhance and play with my photographs the last few months, I thought it would be fun to go through old photographs and enhance them in new ways.
Photoshop is an amazing tool!
I do not have to carry a poloroid, my LOMO, and my Rebel anymore. With photoshop, some textures, a few custom brushes, and cool actions, you can create the photo you wish you had taken.
Here is a list of my must haves if you want to play with Photoshop:
First - take a simple online photomanipulation course. My favorite: Susan Tuttle's Visual Poetry classes. She provides simple step by step instructions and has such a soft sweet spirit.
Second - Invest in a few Photoshop Creative magazines. Each issue has different assignments PLUS they come with a CD with fonts and brushesand video tutorials, well worth $16! I always find my copies at Borders.
And last, for actions and presets that enhance your photos with ONE click of a button, head on over to Cinnamon Rose, where you can purchase sets for as little as $20.
Some knowledge is valuable... but you must dig deep to find the treasure."
It was a whirlwind of days off for me this week. Preparing for a workshop, a trip to San Francisco then workshop day!
Finally today! I slept in. Took a walk. Broke in my new, extra EXTRA LARGE moleskine with my new Rapidographs. Edited some photos from San Francisco. Read up on my new diet plan. Put this quick blog together.
Yeah, not much of a day of rest after all.
But it was sooooo fulfilling!
Here are some of the photos from our day in the City by the Bay. It is so easy to find that elusive "creative time" when you have a camera in your hand. (Click to enlarge).
Mattea
Awesome Graffiti Art
Mattea Again
Mattea & My Chocolate Malt
Eagle on Wells Fargo Building
In Bloom - Union Square
Opera in the Alley- Singing the most beautiful rendition of Ava Maria I have ever heard. I cried.
Hard to believe we've been married for 3 years already.
Jeff and I have gone through all the worse, poorer, and sickness parts of our vows - serious life-shifting events - and we still have so much "newlywed" energy in us.
With all that we have gone through, it has been really important to remember to focus on the quality and soul of a person regardless of the morass you find yourself in.
We don't always present our prettiest face in the world... and boy do I really know how to turn on the ugly!
Jeff is really good at seeing beyond that...
beyond the being
I become after 14 hours of commuting and answering 911...
or the
personality I take on when dealing with people perpetuating injustice...
or the crazy cleaning lady...
or....
or...
or...
He sees who I really am and I am so very grateful for that.
Today we are taking a small, overnight road trip to Sacramento, having dinner, staying at a historic inn, and getting a massage - Jeff's first massage EVER!!!!
But the best part.. will be the drive out of Dodge...
holding hands and singing along to some good tunes.
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"... yes yes...
Maybe it is because I have always been told that I look like Julie Andrews that I have such an affinity for that song. Tied with Silver Bells... (following SNL's "D*@k in a Box") in my list of holiday favorites.
I heard this song on the radio the other day and it reminded me of all the favorite things that I discovered this year. So I created my own list, a la Oprah:
1.Moleskine XL - Before this year, my journal of choice was a wire-bound watercolor book. Then, in a tiny bookstore in Point Reyes Station I met Moleskine XL and have filled the whole thing with soul journal pages. I love the smooth, cream pages... they love my finger painting and put up nicely with layers and embellishments. We went back to that little store last month, specifically so I could purchase my 2010 journal. It should be full by June.
2. Frownies- So I have had this "Think Wrinkle" - or my "Wisdom Line" as Jeff lovingly refers to it - since my early 20's. Probably since I was 7 and I just started noticing it in my 20's. Well, I am so self-conscious about it that I have toyed with the idea of BOTOX! (Which ultimately, I refuse to do.) I saw this little box for sale in a magazine and scoffed. Then, I saw them on a shelf in my local drugstore and couldn't help myself. And WONDER OF WONDERS, these crazy things WORK. When I wear them while I sleep, the chasm between my brows is visibly reduced. I was amazed... and thrilled!
3. No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum - Okay, so I am getting old. I know... 41 is not really old, but it must be the age when you start feeling like you look it. Or when you look in the mirror and stop recognizing yourself. "Who is that middle aged woman????" Well, I discovered this little bottle of glory a few months ago. It makes my face feel like porcelain and my make up glides over the top of it. $20 - Target.
4. Lady GaGa - When I need a song to dance to in my car or around the kitchen, Lady Gaga has been my go-to musical artista. How can you NOT get your groove on when Gaga bounces through your speakers. To demonstrate some Gaga love I am going to refer y'all to my favorite YouTube discovery....
5. Sam Tsui - My favorite YouTube sensation (besides my daughter, Mattea). This guy needs a contract NOW. Better yet, they need to cast him on Glee. He can be the love interest for Kurt! By far the best video, with almost 3.5 million views is his Michael Jackson (RIP) medley (Where he sings ALL parts, acappella! Amazing!)
6. Macro Lens - A total splurge... I am loving my MACRO! 'Nuff said.
7. Souffle Pens by Sakura - I am always looking for the perfect pen that will write over anything! Although I am partial to my good ol' Vision Elite or Precise V7 black pens, a workshop attendee (huge shout out to Rosemary!!!!) sent me a link to an article about these pens. They are expensive (I think) but SOOOOOOO worth it! They do indeed write over everything, with smooth, easy grace! I bought mine through Jet Pens, who delivered extremely fast.
8. Wings - I subscribe to a lot of the most inspiring blogs ever. Most of my subscriptions are to artists and art journaler blogs, but I have one subscription that is a spiritual one. Karen Bishop's weekly postings about ascension and "the shift" are my very favorite in the blogosphere. I seriously WAIT for them to hit my in box.
9. Osteria Stellina - Jeff and I ventured to Point Reyes THREE times this year for each of our J & Shay Getaways. And each time we eat at this freakin' awesome restaurant!!! It is worth the drive JUST to eat here. My mouth waters with the thought! Oh Jeffrey..... wanna go for a drive????
10. Flickr - When I need an inspiration fix it is only a couple clicks away. My favorite group: Collage Images. My favorite contacts: Sparkleface and Patrick Smith Photography. Inspiration guaranteed!
11. GLEE! - Best show on tv! I laugh. I cry. Every week. We had a group of Mattea's friends over for the mid-season finale and were cheering like it was the Superbowl by the end. Sooooo good. This is my favorite number from my favorite episode so far:
12. Spring Awakening - My new very favorite, favorite, faaaavvvvooooorite musical. Seeing this is a religious experience. Take plenty of hanky... and sit close... better yet... sit on stage!
For more Favorites of 2009, stop on over to Gwen Bells Blog, and troll through the worlds BEST09 selections!
Strangely, I was really really nervous the nights before my flights... but once at the airport and on the plane, I enjoyed it immensely. Angels calmed the skies for our flight. They were each the smoothest, clearest flights I have ever taken.
Seeing the Grand Canyon, the Great Salt Lake, and Lake Tahoe from 30,000 feet was awe inspiring.
We got our mock up and had a beautiful snow flurry that crystallized the world and made the simple act of driving an adventure!
We had a girls day with my sister, crushing on gay men in Cobras, and young ones singing love songs on the stage. Laughing at how 1 little ol' martini effected my sister.
We had nieces sit on our laps and Rhodesians nose our cold noses.
Mattea and I cuddled under the covers and giggled until our toes got warm.
I kept waiting for the regret to sneak up on me... the shame that I was so impulsive and took off on a whim.
Never happened. Never will.
Nothing but dance and celebration in my soul!
But it is so nice to be back in my lovers warm embrace, with a bath and a glass of wine to warm my frozen bones!
I'm the type of person who is always looking for a new adventure, a fresh place to get lost.
But this year, we discovered Tomales Bay and Inverness... the north side of Point Reyes National Seashore and I fell madly in love. This was our THIRD visit this year!
It has everything anyone would wish for: spectacular beaches, a lighthouse, vast and glorious spaces, wild life galore, water, verdant, rolling hills, quaint sea villages and shops, mouthwatering food, oysters, wine, and best of all PEACE!
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