ABC Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Seven Days - Seven Answers, and an announcement!

ABC WEDNESDAY - I IS FOR INTRICATE
This is an extremely INTRICATE gingerbread replica of the Ca d'Zan, made by the chefs at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Sarasota, Florida.  It was on display at Christmas time.

Here's a shot of the real thing

The intricacy of the details is just amazing - remember, this is gingerbread.  To read about the Ca d'Zan, please go here.

WATERY WEDNESDAY
Here is a shot of our local dog beach.  There is a small fenced park before that, then you walk to the beach.  It is quite small, but they just had a meeting last week about extending it to the south.  It is a VERY popular place.  None of my dogs care for the moving water, so it's not very popular with us - we prefer the really big dog park, with no beach.  But it's fun to go and look

SEVEN DAYS - SEVEN ANSWERS
Just found out my Romeo and Juliet story was a winner last week on this mind bending meme.  That was probably my consolation prize for my DUH moment : )  Anyway, here's today's challenge
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

All Irish
Now What?: Write what comes next.
Today is St. Patrick's Day!
How do you celebrate, if you do? Or if you don't, how would you respond if someone tries to pinch you for not wearing green?
And here is my answer:
Oh the angst of growing up an Orangeman!  I tried to ignore it and just wear some green and let it go, but I had trouble not being true to myself.  Well half of myself.  I know that half of me is Irish and I love it and I'm proud of it and I wanted to celebrate it.  But I'm not Catholic.  So I am, traditionally and historically, known as an Orangeman.  I think those two groups are still fighting wars over that aren't they?  Through the years, as I matured, I went through the many different phases we all experience.  Sometimes I was very belligerent - that's when I wore orange.  Sometimes I just gave in - and wore green.  Sometimes I was a sissy about it and said "Ooops, I forgot". And still other times, I just decided perhaps the other half of me was Irish too and Catholic, and wore the green : )  Here are some of my Irish ancestors who came over on "the boat" (not the baby or the one on the left, she's my grandmother)

Here's how I celebrate it now:  (a) I eat Ricepatty's Irish Soda Bread and (b) I plant my peas.  I was always told while growing up that St. Patty's Day was the day to get the peas in the ground.  Exciting, huh???

AND NOW FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT - WHICH NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, I COULD HAVE CALLED IT AN INTRODUCTION AND USED IT FOR ABC WEDNESDAY

TAKE A BOW, JOY

This is our new Greyhound girl, Joy.  She came to us Monday night.  She's wonderful!  She's so beautiful and part of her beauty is that she's not perfect - she has a short little Roman nose, an underbite like a bulldog, a big ginker in her tail, very long legs, the funniest little ears that can do oh so many things, a wonderful soft pretty coat, she's the first non-brindle Greyhound we've had, she's as sweet as can be, we love her already.  And the eyes - oh the eyes are just delightful.

To join in on any of the fun memes above, please click on the appropriate button to the right - and enjoy!  Happy St. Patrick's Day, whether you wear green, or orange, or your birthday suit - doesn't matter, just celebrate life.  And don't forget to get those peas in the ground.  Peace.  B : )


I would be honored if you would visit my new on-line store and see some of the cards I have been making. Feel free to purchase some if you would like : )
http://www.shophandmade.com/store/justb

Camera Critters

A lovely critter captured at the Venetian Waterway Park, while walking with Ricepatty

If you would care to join in, please click on the button to the right. Peace.  B : )

I would be honored if you would visit my new on-line store and see some of the cards I have been making. Feel free to purchase some if you would like : )
http://www.shophandmade.com/store/justb

Color Carnival - remember Christmas?

Edited:  So far every person who has commented has called this blue.  I posted it for Ricepatty because I see purple.  After almost three years I finally got new glasses, but I still see purple.  Oh no - what's wrong with me????

From a tree found in the lobby of the Venice Little Theater, when the Queen Mum and I went for our annual viewing of A Christmas Carol.  This photo is actually for Ricepatty.

Join all the color lovers at Color Carnival by clicking on the button to your right.  Peace - and keep those warm Christmas thoughts in your heart.  B : )

Sunday Selection - this is new and fun

Martha from Menagerie at http://meandering-martha.blogspot.com/ must have been in the mood for something new today.  She'll pick the theme and we will post 3 to 6 of our favorite shots.  The theme today is monochrome. Here I go:

The Blind Armadillo

Ricepatty's Fletcher

Natural wood

Jenn

Old

Yes, Virginia, you DO marry the family

Thanks Martha - that was refreshing.  Happy evening.  Peace.  B : )

Thank YOU So Much!!

Funny how life throws you curves - funny and fun.  When I recently started this blog, it was to join in on all the wonderful blogs made by fellow cardmakers - and I haven't posted a single card yet.  I got caught up in all  the photo challenges instead.  How exciting life can be, huh?  I want to thank all the people who have left comments on this blog.  I couldn't begin to tell you how exciting that is.  I run in the other room and tell the DH OMG I got 11 comments and I don't even know 8 of the people!! 

Just to show you how much I appreciate the comments, I am offering prizes - totally worthless but might make you happy kind of prizes.  You have a choice of (a) a good long look at Jeff, the senior dog in our house, whose biggest job seems to be relaxing:

or (b) you can gaze upon The Cutest Dog in The Whole Wide World, Ricky:

or (c) The Princess, CiCi, will allow you to look at her, but just for a second:

Now, if you have commented more than once, you may have two of the above prizes.

AND, if you do me a big favor and go to http://blindarmadilloguitars.blogspot.com/ and take a look around, leave some comments, you can have all THREE of the prizes : )  That was meant to be my husband's blog to show off his talents and drum up some interest in his magnificent hand crafted electric guitars.  But I haven't done such a great job with that one yet and need some encouragement, so comments are not only accepted, but outright solicited!  We have gathered up some photo taking props and today I start a little photo taking class (with the lovely Ricepatty from http://martinip23.blogspot.com/ ), so maybe we can put up some pix that actually do the guitars some justice.

Thanks for looking, thanks for the comments, have a happy day, peace.  B : )