Ms MJ...

Ms MJ..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i love this photo of her.

she's doing her thing...
and not playing to the camera.

blooming...

blooming..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

last week...
i started noticing the trees in bloom.
as i passed them...
i'd tell myself that i wanted to get a photo.

this morning...
i went out into my backyard...
and saw the blooms on my neighbor's tree...
so went back inside to get my camera.

i'm not sure when these trees usually bloom...
but it's not usually this early.

if you haven't heard...
we're in the midst of a drought in california.
we've only had rain two or three times since october...
and they weren't very substantial.

we visited a wildlife preserve a few weeks ago...
and i could see the effects of the lack of rain.
the fields were drier...
and the wildlife was scarce.

we're having relatively pleasant weather now...
with temps in the 60s.
i hope that when the rains do finally arrive...
the ground will be able to absorb it...
and there won't be flooding.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration...

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

Rise Up, Restore The Dream!

***

this morning...
we went to the parade & celebration program in Vallejo.

imagination...

imagination..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this is from last weekend.
we had the little one from thurs-sun.

we had just taken down the tree...
and were putting all of the decorations away.
when ms mj saw the party horn...
she started sweeping the rug with it.

on her right arm...
a santa purse that i got at aaron bros a few years ago.
i use it to hold candy canes.

she is all smiles as she 'pretend cleans'.
i want to see what she does when it's an assigned 'chore'.

357/365

357/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

red...

a color that everyone tells me looks good on me...
but i usually only wear it during the holidays.

maybe because most of my red is in sweater form...
or my red earrings are all 'holiday-ish'.

356/365

356/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

fusilli col buco...

one of my favorite shapes of pasta...
because it's fun.
but...
i haven't been able to find it lately.

355/365

355/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

354/365

354/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

hello kitty lunch box...

i saw this as i was leaving the mall.
i mean...
i was almost out the door...
and...
i looked to my right...
and this was in the window.

i went into the store...
knowing that i shouldn't.
and when i came out...
mj was now the proud owner of her very own hello kitty lunch box.

353/354

353/354, a photo by credd on Flickr.

twistout...

done with the curl la la seen a couple of days ago.

it's an 'ok' product...
but i won't be searching for it...
as it was a bit drying to my hair.

351/365

351/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

december curlbox...

each month...
i receive a curlbox in the mail.

i usually find one new product to love each month...
then...
i use it religiously...
until it's almost gone...
then i go scouting hair supply stores in search of a refill.

350/365

350/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

abandoned...

this was on the ground in the walmart parking lot when i stopped by there on my way back from the gym.
7:30 is the most opportune time to go grocery shopping...
while the produce is still fresh...
and the store is still empty.

since you have to self-check at this particular store...
i only get a few items.

back to the orca...
i guess he was taking up more room in the car that was allotted.
this thing is about 4-5 feet long!

349/365

349/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

speaking of santa...

this is one of my santa ornaments.

my mother has a santa collection...
and i missed seeing it on display this year...
since some little people don't know how to look only with their eyes...
and not their hands.

348/365

348/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

waiting to see santa...

my mother and i took ms mj to see santa.
she doesn't know who he is...
and was rather excited about the prospect...
until it was her turn.

so...
santa let her sit in his chair for a bit...
and she she sat on his lap for a few photos.

of course...
now when she sees their photo...
she sounds like an expert...
as she points and exclaims...
santa!

347/365

347/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

very superstitious!

346/365

346/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

lemon cheesecake cupcake...

yep...
it was as delicious as it sounds.

i don't know if the restaurant i got these from has them year-round...
and i don't want to know!

well..
i do...
but that would cancel out these 6:00 am workouts i'm doing.

345/365

345/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

jingle bell...
up close.

344/365

344/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

jingle bells...

i bought these at pier one.

i've always had the tiny ones...
but was delighted to see these in the store.

my niece liked jingling...
and my daughter sang 'jingle bells' for her when she did.
she tried singling along too.

sometimes i think she will sing before she will talk.

342/365

342/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

expensive...

my daughter recognized this wine...
from an 'oprah' list.
there are three different varieties...
and i hadn't heard of any of them.

it wasn't bad...
but..
not memorable either.

341/365

341/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

decorated...

this is a house near my parents.

there is a cluster of houses...
that have gone all out with the decorations.

a couple of house have a peanuts theme...
and have these HUGE balloon figures on the premises.

340/365

340/365, a photo by credd on Flickr.

meyers...

i decided to pick these before they froze.

this is the ENTIRE harvest.
hopefully there will be more next time.