Scavenger Hunt Hodgepodge

I always look forward to joining in with Greenthumb for her Scavenger Hunt. This month I was going to do a theme but my eclectic nature took over and here's what I found...

My little grandson gives me so much Joy.  He made this collage on the dinette window.  I think I  may just keep it there until next Christmas season!

He also amazes me with his art work.  He's six years old and we both have a love of creating.

We're a small family so we treasure being together often.  This was our Thanksgiving photo.  My son wasn't able to join us this year.  My daughter is the official hostess of Thanksgiving and she does an excellent job.

Here's a photo of our tree in the living room.  This is our fake tree as we have a fresh tree in the family room.  Although, after all these years of use, this "fake" tree is starting to shed its needles!

I bought this tree top ornament the first Christmas we spent here in California.  I love this tree topper although my children think it's hideous.

My son is always sharing photos with me of the places he visits.  I love the light illuminating this church in Kiev, Ukraine.

Here's another of my son's photos showing the Christmas market in Kiev.  How I wish I was there to peruse the shops. 

I was trying to do an artsy photo of my tree and I actually like the way the lights sparkle in this photo.

By giving my grandson my phone, here's what happens; he was sitting in his car seat and took this photo of me driving.  I've since "dyed/colored/stained" my hair.  It's probably the third time in 20 years!  I actually don't mind my mousy, gray hair.  I thought it might be fun to sport a new hair color for the New Year :)

My daughter made this delicious food  for my son-in-law for a special holiday meal.  It turned out beautiful.   She also made this no fuss bernaise sauce.

I think I'm on a roll with speaking of my daughter! Here's her red Christmas wrapping theme for this year's gifts.

I enjoyed making pebernodder in my kitchen this holiday season. 

Whatever I want is peace, harmony and caring this coming year for those who are hurting and in need.  And, please remember our four legged friends, too.  Lilly my cat is a rescue kitty.  She's 10 years old and has been with us eight wonderful years.  I adopted her through Petfinder. Maybe there's room in your home for a new furry friend?

  

I have really enjoyed writing my blog this past year and meeting new friends.  And, I've learned so much from my readers too.  I wish each of you a very Happy New Year.  And, I look forward to hearing from you when you have the time.

Happy New Year Dear Friends,

Pat

Lilly sends her New Year's greetings, too :)

November's Scavenger Hunt

Hello dear friends.  It's been awhile since I took part in Greenthumb's Scavenger Hunt.  I hope you like this month's selection.  It has a "Turkish" theme since I just returned from Turkey. 

 A stranger we met along the roadway on our drive up the mountain.  Goats are very popular in Turkey and they have some of the most wonderful goat cheeses I have ever tasted.

Looking down onto Alanya harbour from the castle hill.

Pop Culture is worldwide.  This is the best I could come up with.

The weather was amazing and the best part was enjoying the sunsets each night.

Big bags of tea were spied at the grocery store.  They were marked 5,000 grams - over 11 pounds of tea in each bag!

Sign down the road from our home which actually an outdoor restaurant. It's a great place to experience homemade, authentic, Turkish cuisine.

Bottle(s) of water are popular since many people don't like the taste of the tap water.  It tasted fine for me but I obliged and bought bottled water.

Out and about each day was fun discovering different places.  This is the courtyard of a restaurant downtown Alanya.

My husband wearing his favorite hat and enjoying the view.

This may look like a hole in the wall but it's actually a built in bar-b-que on a balcony.

One more beautiful sunset that I just had to share with you.

Whatever you want....maybe to live in this lovely Turkish villa!

I hope you enjoyed these photos.  I'd love to hear from you when you have a chance.  Have a wonderful week!

take care,

Pat

September Scavenger Hunt via Lilly My Cat

I can't believe that September is saying goodbye and it's going to be October!  It's always a joy to join in with Greenthumb at Made with Love for her monthly scavenger hunts.  And, as always, I enjoy meeting new friends.  This month I took all my photos from my garden.   It was a very warm September morning when I took these pictures (with the exception of one of them).   I hope you will enjoy.

Woven design in this little table reminded me of my current needlepoint project...

Repeating blue tiles on the barbeque area...my succulents love this sunny area...

Greedy black crows ate all our figs from our fig tree...here's one lonely fig left...

Flower of bird of paradise.  I have lots of these and they do very well in the hot, dry weather...

Curly center of my sago palm tree that has grown huge...the new fronds are so amazing when they appear...

Adventures today when we moved the garbage can and found this gecko who had  lost his tail...

Line of the backyard fence...luckily it's narrowly spaced so Lilly can't fit through the fence...

Mesmerizing ripples from the pool this morning while the pump was running...

Triangle shapes from my home's chimneys...

Dreamy evening sky with lights reflecting on the pool ...

Day(time) at it's brightest with blue skies and palms fronds showing all their splendor...

Whatever you want - I just wanted Lilly to smile for the photo this morning but she is so stubborn...

I hope you have enjoyed these photos.  I look forward to seeing what you have shared.

My best to each of you,

Pat

Scavenger Hunt @ Made With Love

It's been awhile since I took part in this fun scavenger hunt.  It's hosted by Greenthumb over at Made With Love.  If you have a chance, please stop over to Made With Love and meet some new friends.  I enjoyed putting this collage of photos together.

Walk...here's a photo of a fruit seller walking his horse and cart down a street in Istanbul.  I was surprised to see this out of my bedroom window as I hadn't seen this horse drawn cart except during my travels in Egypt.

Horizontal...here's the big fish my little grandson caught at our local lake.  He was so excited that day and in fact he caught two large fish.

Square...a photo of my easy tomato tart using puff pastry. I took a square of puff pastry, added some sliced tomatos, sprinkled with salt and pepper and crumbled goat cheese on top. I baked it in a 400 F degree oven until pastry was puffed and golden.  It's a simple dinner or lunch entree.

Diversity...a large selection of spices at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.  This was my first time visiting the Grand Bazaar as last year in Istanbul I visted the Spice Bazaar.  The Grand Bazaar is grand in all ways.  It was a most enjoyable afternoon.

Rough...the imposing rock wall at our property (do you spy the little cat?)  It's a huge rock retaining wall that has beautiful bouganvilla plants growing on it. 

Bow...My new little granddaughter's outfit with all the bows.  She came home in this outfit and was so tiny compared to this dress.

Joy...my little grandson as Spiderman..grandma's joy! We visited with him one afternoon and he quietly disappeared upstairs. He came down wearing this costume.  It was 90+ degree outside that day.  He loves Spiderman and Transformers.

Forgotten...a doorway from long ago in Turkey.

Crowd...a lovely evening at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA.  We attended this performance for the first time this year and I must say it's probably the most favorite thing I've done in a long time.  This is the common area where the music and art show takes place. But, the actual pagent takes place in an outdoor theatre with the audience sitting under the moon and the stars.  It was an amazing evening.

Colorless...little feet of my grandchildren at the beach.  Last week it was 20+ degrees cooler at the beach.  They didn't stay long but just long enough to enjoy the water and cool off.

Friendly...I can't forget Lilly my sweet cat!  She is my constant companion.  I feel bad for her as she's had to be in the house this week due to the hot temps outside.  I guess as long as she's is fed, she is a happy cat.

Whatever...needlepoint is my new obsession.  Here's a picture of my current needlepoint project.  I hope to make it into a handbag after it's completed.  I completed the pastoral scene and need to block it and find a frame.  I really enjoy this new hobby but I find I need to work on it during the natural daylight hours since the colors fad into one during the evening.

I'd love to hear from you wherever you are.  I hope you have enjoyed this little glimpse into my eclectic life.  Lilly sends you all her best wishes for a wonderful week.

take care,

Pat

Scavenger Hunt at Made With Love

Can you believe that June will soon be here?  Time goes by so fast.  Today I'm joining in with Made With Love's  Scavenger Hunt.   So, let's get started with this month's selection:

BLUE Hawaii.  A picture is worth a thousand words.....

 

CRYSTAL Cove state park which is located on Pacific Coast Highway north of Laguna Beach...

VINTAGE as in sipping a vintage glass of wine overlooking the sunset....

 

FLUFF need I say  more?  My beautiful fluffy Lilly my cat....

 

 GLOBAL...I love the globe shape of these lion head bowls...

MASK...I love the little mask around the eyes of this Egyptian goose which visited with us...

 

 BUS..here's the bus we rode on for our tour of the nut farm in Hawaii...

 

 FRAME...here's a close up of the beautiful workmanship on the door frame of the  Iolani Palace in Hawaii...

COLLECTION....I love this collection of hanging lanterns which I found at an Istanbul restaurant...

POSTER.....An iconic poster from my visit to Catalina Island....
 

RIBBON...Here are my ribbons from the Norwegian sailing ship the S.S. Stavangerfjord .....

WHATEVER YOU WANT.....I want to finish crocheting this vintage pattern  doily I started ages ago......

It's been so much fun taking part in this month's scavenger hunt.  I'd love for you to leave a comment and share your news.  I do read each and every comment (and try to reply if time permits).

My best to everyone,

Pat