10/30/10 Stormy Vines

Rain threatened again today, but never really arrived.  The colors in the vineyards are getting really gorgeous.

10/29/10 Rainy Day

Another rainy day - I do love the breaking clouds, though.

10/28/10 Chocolate Skulls

We decorated these Chocolate Skulls at a Day of the Dead party - mine is the pink and purple one!

10/27/10 Fall Vineyard

The last mad rush of harvest is happening right now, as the growers try to beat the rain which started again today.

10/26/10 Little Black Vase

I met the young artist who carved this glass vase, who is a petite young lady doing a very hard and physically demanding job.

10/26/10

Looked up from cooking and saw this beautiful sky. Grabbed my little camera....(again!) and just caught this color. Oh well, I guess I can't wear my camera around my neck constantly. Even though I WANT too!

10/25/10

RATS! The one day, I didn't take my good camera, we are driving along and I see a fricken EAGLE sitting by the side of the road. I yell at Gary to turn around and go back. By the time we got back there, the Eagle had flown into the tree. Would have been a GREAT shot with my good camera. But had to take it with my little one. I have NEVER seen a real Eagle close up. It was amazing!!! Lesson learned. NEVER go without my good camera............

10/24/10

Fall

10/25/10 Red Flowers

There are plenty of red flowers and berries of some kind in this bunch.

10/24/10 Oakland Skyline

Back home to the rainy dreary north after a weekend in the warm desert . . .

10/23/10 Santa Rosa Mountains

The light on the Santa Rosa Mountains is ever changing - here, shown in the background of some Pampas grass at the La Quinta Dunes golf course.

10/22/10 Hawaiian Sax

This sax player was fantastic at a jazz concert I went to with Lynda in La Quinta -  I loved how the stage lights washed the musicians in color.

10/22/10 SF Skyline

As I headed to the airport the sun broke through the rain clouds for only a moment. 

10/20/10 St. Francis Sunset

The St. Francis Winery is a great place to watch the sunset or moonrise.

10/19/10 Oops!

I heard a crash outside my office window.  This car had been hit by another car which pushed it into the Mexican restaurant across the street.

10/18/10 Point Vincente Lighthouse

I only had my Coolpix with me on this trip,  but I would love to go back to this spot with the big camera. 

10/17/10 Terranea Resort

This resort where I attended a conference in LA had this pretty view, which made me think of Linda and her weddings. But  the day after I took this shot the clouds broke and I realized that this actually has a fabulous view of Catalina Island, which you could not see one tiny bit on this day.

10/16/10 Lantana

One of my favorite perrenials, Lantana just flowers and flowers.

10/15/10 Barn

The colors and patterns on this barn, where I stopped to buy some strawberries,  intrigued me.

10/23/10

Far niente in the Fall........

The Christmas Commission Project

Painting from photo below...
Photo of the South End on Lopez Island


Welcome to this year's 2010 Christmas Commission Project. This is simply how it works: For $200, you will receive an oil painting of the image of your choice. It will be an oil painting on canvas, 8" x 10". Subjects could be anything, a favorite place, a person, an animal, something funny, or grand, your favorite dancing shoes. Whatever it is that you choose, I will paint it for you in time for Christmas! Send or bring in a real photo or a digital file and a check for $200 and I will create your painting. It will be mailed or delivered by December 17th.
Contact me at anniehowelladams at gmail.com or of course, Funk & Junk Antiques when I return to San Juan Island. Stay tuned to see the Christmas Commission Projects Gallery.

Some examples of past Christmas Commission projects of animals, Mr. Smith and Kiddo. Oil on canvas.

10/22/10

The Harbor in Fall.

10/21/10

Off my porch...........

10/20/10

The cottage in the Fall.............

10/19/10

Sunset over Liniken Bay............

10/18/10

these chairs are really light green. It looks like my color is off, but it isn't! :-)

10/17/10

The colors of Fall...........

L-O-V-E

I like beautiful things as much as anybody else, if not more. However- it's still- only STUFF. Lets not be slaves to our possessions. You cant buy happiness and you cant borrow peace of mind. They are priceless. We must remind ourselves that the best things in life aren't things.

All You Need is Love... (and a Few Extra Nick-Nacks)

When it comes to college, or school in general, I'm pretty sure I'm bipolar. Whenever I have been at school for a few weeks I get used to the atmosphere and the student life. Sometimes I feel pretty great about the weeks and weekends filled with good friends, good food, and good drinks. I get caught up in the moments and I enjoy living the sort of city life as a student. I'm in routine and content... But when I go home for the weekend that is when it all seems to shake up all my feelings when come back to the college scene. Being at home with my siblings, parents, grandparents, and a few cousins gets me out of the college mode and in the family lovin' mode. When I'm surrounded by that family love and good times for those few days it makes me want to somewhat speed up the college process. Also, I think as the weather gets colder these feelings kick in a little stronger too. I'm not trying to wish my life away by any means but sometimes I just feel over the whole routine of classes, homework, being with people my own age all day doing the same thing as me, and going out with friends to drink Thursday through Sunday... Let me remind you this feeling does not last for a long time, but I do put some deep thought into it when it does... I feel like this isn't a bad thing because I think about what I want my life to be. Where I want to be in a few years... It's almost a good motivator for getting through school and hopefully starting a career that I'm going to love; almost like a goal setting session.

These feelings of sort of looking into the future consist of the following things...

(and I have found some pictures for a visual aid)

SO. Here it is, my dream future in a nut shell!

A warm cozy living room with a few comfy couches and chairs. Like so.

Also, a nice tv and fireplace to snuggle up to. Like so.

A little Husky pup to add to the comfort. Like so.

A big beautiful bathtub to soak in after a chilly Autumn Day. Like so.

Delightful home cooked meals. Like so.

And not to mention dinner parties with friends, family, and the neighbs!

Now for the future career...

The goal is to get a business degree and open up shop with Jenny Freeh and Comany!

A little shop called "Rosie's" and the motto will be "All You Need is Love... (and a few extra nick-nacks)"... The ideal setting would be in a downtown area of a town similar to Madison, Indiana... or maybe even Madison itself. Something like so...

What will we sell?

Perhaps some flower arrangements.

Along with some old-fashion candy!

Not to mention some vintage jewelry!

Maybe even some refurbished... or not refurbished antiques. Like so.

And last but not least, some seasonal framed photography... Hopefully done by me! Like so.

Hopefully good friends and family will help out with the shop! Also I'm thinking we will play amazing background music there and maybe even ask local musicians to play outside on nice days. We will also have themed days on Fridays. The employees will pick a theme each Friday to go with. For example "Hippie Theme"... For this theme employees will dress up as hippies and we will give out free daisies this day and half off colorful jewelry.

Anyways, enough day-dreaming for the evening. Hope you all enjoyed the inner workings of my brain and my hopeful future plans.

Hope you support the biz someday!