Christmas Trees at Tom's Farm

Having a lovely vacation week and decided to take a jaunt to Tom's Farms in Corona, CA.

We usually go on the weekend, when the place is hoppin' with families, artisans and entertainment, so going during the week was peaceful but unusually quiet. But nice just the same. We had our fave menu item, Irish Nacho's~french fries covered in cheese, bacon bits and green onion~surrounded by what seemed to be a convention of CHIPS motorcycle officers! We felt very safe...

Today's post centers around the Christmas trees recently set up in Tom's Home store. They were all gorgeous and some are upside down. Throughout the years I've lived in California, I've known a few people who set up their trees upside down. Googling today, I found that a monk a long time ago in Europe started the tradition, using the Holy Trinity as inspiration... I also found out that it's becoming a trend in retailing because more bulbs and trim can be shown at eye level plus there's more retail space underneath with this configuration. Trust Big Business to turn Christmas upside down!

Here are some of my favorites:

I had to have my picture taken with the purple pink one!

This one caught my eye as we walked past the store because it's all autumn colors.

Christmas Candy Canes

Fabulous feathery pink!

Knock Your Eye Out Red! Even the merchandising surrounding it looks wicked cool.

The Husband gets into the act. Too bad I couldn't get him to stand on his head...

And the Ultimate Tree for those of us who love bling!! This is absolutely gorgeous!

Here's a close up. *Le sigh*

Next post: Signs at Tom's Farms. They're kinda fun!

Do What You Love!

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Finding Beauty on the Walk Home

Currently, The Husband and I have car issues. Namely, his car has been in the shop for two months! *sigh*

We live within walking distance of my workplace so he’s been dropping me at work and taking the car we’re sharing at this point the 10 miles to his job. Once in a while, when he has to work into the evening, I get to walk home (might as well make it sound enjoyable…). And in actual fact, the walk is good for me and if I go through the park, it IS pretty enjoyable.

Here’s a gander (sorry, there are geese in the park…) at my walk home:

The promise of things to come

Heron? Crane? Delicate and beautiful

Gorgeousness!

Contrast

The shady part

Duck Duck Goose

Reflections

This little guy lives down the street from the park, near a very nice housing complex.

Do What You Love!

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Raw Materials or Bear Chick’s Excellent Adventure

Yesterday I set out to do some errands and visit a friend’s studio sale. I had coupons for one hobby store in my hot little hands and was delighted to find a 20% off Moving Sale at a bead shop I decided to check out. I buy most of my beads and findings wholesale but I LOVE looking in bead shops and I’ll pick up unique things I can’t get from my wholesalers. I can wander around a bead shop for hours, imagining what I’d create with this or that and if I use this for that, I’ll need these, too… It can be SOOOO dangerous! Here’s what I found:

This is just a small portion of what I bought. I also got a lot of toggles and other charms and things I couldn’t do without…

I just HAD to have these Christmas trees! And the beads will be part of a Charm N Bead Dragon necklace.

Had to have these hearts! And aren't those aqua beads cool? They look knotted.

I'd never seen these beach chairs or movie camera's before, so I had to have them. I loved the color of these rectangular beads and the netted round beads are awesome. I always end up wishing I'd bought more!

After visiting a farmers market to check out the craft area and walking around at South Coast Plaza with a stop for lunch at In and Out, I finally made it to my friend, Maria’s, studio sale. She does beautiful etchings and jewelry. But what I really envy is her studio and house with 2 bedroom studios. Her garage has a small addition that she had dry walled and windows installed last year. That’s her “dirty” studio, where she can paint and be messy. The two studios in her house are “clean”, for jewelry and non-painted art. *Sigh* Someday I will have dedicated work space!

Look for these raw materials in my work soon, especially those darling Christmas trees! I wish I’d bought more…

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