Sent From Heaven?

There has been extensive debate in our household over getting a very big guard dog ever since our home was robbed.  There is a long list of "pros" for a dog, not the least of which is the police detective strongly suggested we get one. 

Then there's the list of "cons".  Dog hair, nail scratches on our hardwood floors and the ever necessary "poop bag" when walking the dog multiple times throughout the day.  Truth be told, the poop bag is really the biggest reason I've nixed the dog idea since I'd be the one carrying around the poop.

But out of the blue today, the dog debate took a major turn!  Not only did we get a really big dog-- We got a fearless guard dog to stand watch over our house-- Literally! 

Fido arrived, much to our surprise, front and center on our roof (!) for all the world to see. 

It's as if this lovely pooch was dropped from the heavens to protect us.

Unfortunately, the dog belongs to our next door neighbor...

...And we have absolutely no idea how she got on our roof.

No.  Idea.  Whatsoever!  It's a total mystery.

I kinda wished Fido could stay up there but the neighbors asked for her back.

Have you ever had an unexpected/unexplained visitor?

For more Sundays In My City, Stop by and see Unknown Mami.

 Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Fully Accessorized

Living in Los Angeles and being close to the entertainment industry, I've seen more than my share of rich fashionistas strutting their stuff.  They seem to be everywhere-- And not just on Rodeo Drive or at The Beverly Hills Hotel.  They're at the grocery store, the pharmacy, even the gas station-- all dressed to the hilt and fully accessorized as if they walked off the pages of a trendy fashion magazine.

Impeccable high-end designer clothing, gorgeous shoes, expensive handbags and perfectly coiffed hair and make-up, not to mention to-die-for jewelry-- are the norm for these gals-- Along with youth and beauty, of course.

Me? Most days I'm in Levi jeans, a white blouse, preferably without my lunch splattered on it, and comfortable shoes.  I carry the same blue backpack style purse regardless of what I'm wearing, and unless it's cold out, I don't even wear a scarf let alone "accessories".  No designer labels in sight and for the most part, I'm perfectly okay with that.  But I admit these totally put together ladies can be intimidating on occasion.

As if I'm not "fashion challenged" enough, I've discovered it's increasingly popular to have your house decked out in designer accessories too!
 
Case in point.  This little Fiat 500 Gucci car that is always sparkling clean and parked fashionably in front of my neighbor's house.

Seriously-- See those green and red strips-- That's signature Gucci.  On.  A.  Car!

Since I don't have a Gucci handbag it's doubtful I'll ever have a Gucci Fiat parked in my driveway but the bar in da 'hood has been raised. 

Maybe I'll plant some geraniums and call us even.  Ha!

 For more Sundays In My City stop by and see 

Unknown Mami

How's your weekend?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Ho Ho Huh?

It's not the season for Santa yet, although I have already seen TV Christmas commercials from K-Mart.  (Grrrrr!)  But apparently it is time for Jolly Old St. Nick to audition at 20th Century Fox Studios near our home.  Who knows what for, (a movie perhaps?) but these guys were leaving the Studio on Thursday and walking up the main boulevard this past week.  Like any (crazy) dedicated blogger, I pulled over and asked to take their picture.  By the way, it was 87 degrees that day!

I hope no kids saw them because it would really burst their bubble to learn Santa drives a blue Honda SUV.

For more Sundays In My City by Unknown Mami, click HERE.

How's your Sunday going?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Maybe Later

 
The other day (two long months ago), I received a package from my favorite UPS delivery person.  He handed it to me with a smile and said "good-luck".

I'd decided it was time to get ready for summer with a workout that several friends have been doing.  They swear it's "only 30 minutes a day".  Stressing "only" numerous times so as not to mention "brutal" as well.  I say "brutal" because my friends moan and groan a lot when they walk, lift their arms or try to stand up.

But, I figured "If they can do it, I can do it."

And I did... I ordered the DVDs and workout package.

That's all I've done so far.

Today I actually opened the box and instantly felt intimidated by the bad-ass looking Jillian Michaels on the cover.  I know she's in great shape but I am praying to the heavens above that there is a significant amount of airbrushing going on in her photo.  (A girl can dream.)

There is no doubt that I'm feeling the need to get into better shape and at the rate I'm going, I'm pretty sure I might, maybe, possibly, could be ready for "big sweater weather this winter".

How's your Sunday going?

Check out Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Reminder?

It's hard to admit, but the older I get the more I realize my memory isn't what it used to be.  As a result, I've become a "list person".  I have them everywhere.

Colorful Post-its are on the bathroom mirror each morning so I'm reminded of what my day ahead holds (and so I don't go back to bed with the snooze button off).  There's a long yellow legal pad crammed full of "to-do" things to remember.  My iPhone sends me "Reminder" messages literally day and night, and I can't live without the phone's timer and alarm to help me remember the most important things and, when and where I need to make them happen.

In short, the need for all these reminders makes me think I "got stupid" somewhere along the way.

But I felt significantly better, when, on my 55th (gulp) birthday of all days, I discovered this important "reminder" that apparently the general public needs.

This sign was posted on every single pump at a gas station I stopped at when visiting my family last week in Ohio. 

Seeing it made me feel So.  Much.  Better!  It's a note I have never written to myself.  Phew.  Maybe I'm smarter than I thought.

Hope you're having a great Sunday.  Stop by Unknown Mami's for more Sundays In My City.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Signs of the Times

Between shopping, schlepping, wrapping and way too much eating, a few holiday reminders crossed my path and made me smile this week.

Happy Hanukkah!

These guys were painted by various artists and positioned around our local mall....

And whatever you do...

For more Sundays in My City stop by Unknown Mami.  CLICK HERE.

Happy Holidays!
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Leave a comment below to enter my Christmas Giveaway for one of these gorgeous ornaments.  And for more chances to enter (like blogging about it too!) CLICK HERE.   Giveaway courtesy of Highland Roses Design Collaborative Craft Studio

Sundays In My City - Endeavour

The Space Shuttle Endeavour landed in Los Angeles after giving our city a glorious arial view of it's magnificence.  My neighbors and house painters and I gathered on our back patio that overlooks the Hollywood sign and got a fantastic view with four separate sightings.  There wasn't a single dry eye!

My camera doesn't begin to do justice but I have picture to prove I saw this historic event-- And it was totally awesome.

Look realllly closely.  You'll see the Endeavor piggybacked on top of a NASA 747 with the two military planes above.  The Hollywood sign is on the right...

For more Sundays In My City CLICK HERE.http://www.unknownmami.com/2012/09/labyrinth-sundays-in-my-city.html
For more info on NASA's Space Shuttle CLICK HERE

How's your Sunday going?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Sundays In My City

Stop by Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City

I've passed this house for the past few weeks and always smiled at the door.  It's an older house that's been torn down to the frame and is being rebuilt and expanded.  Why they left an upstairs door in place I don't know but I'm sure there is a funny caption to fit the photo.

What's yours?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Counting Heads

Six tiny 3 day old baby swans out for a stroll with Mom and Dad.

Avoiding the car was the easy part.  The curb was a different story.

Mom realized there was a problem and returned to gave the babes a pep talk.

After 7 minutes of "climbing" the babes were reminded THIS is why you eat your Wheaties!

Mom left one last babe to work things out for himself... which he finally did 4 more minutes of climbing later.

The babes were rewarded for their efforts with a swim.

All SIX of them. Mom looked back and counted just to be sure.

These pics were taken on my iPhone at the small lake near my Mom's new home in Ohio.  We watched then for at least a half house but were careful not to get to close.  Mom and Dad Swan were VERY sure we kept our distance.

Stop by and check out Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City.

How's Your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

Sundays In My City #60 - Canned

Travel the world with

Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City

I have never been a "morning person", not as a child full of energy and certainly not as an adult living with cranky joints and sleepless nights. It takes a lot to get me to set the alarm for 6:45am on a Saturday morning but I'm so glad I did this week.

My godson's mom is an excellent cook-- I mean seriously good and outrageously generous with her wide variety of culinary skills. Our table is regularly graced with everything from her jams and marmalade to pies, tarts and cakes. On Wednesday night we had her homemade butternut squash-filled tortellini. It's the third time in a month she's shared her pasta making skills with us! (Yum.)

So when she invited me to attend a pickling/canning class at Hollywood's The Farmer's Kitchen I thought keeping her company was the least I could do even though, thanks to a hefty case of arthritis, canning, a skill I used to be proficient in and enjoyed quite a bit, is now history. My hands haven't been able to handle all the necessary chopping, slicing and dicing for years.

But this kitchen was different. Twelve women were in the class and everyone shared in the peeling and cutting so the work was spread out and fairly manageable.

What did we make????

Spicy Dilled Carrots, Red Onions in Balsamic

and Vietnamese-Style Parsnip and Daikon Pickles.

Yeah! I actually helped make these delicious, locally grown treats and I'm feeling really good about the sense of accomplishment.

But I didn't stop there. Oh no, no, no.! I went a little crazy....

Tomato Marinara Sauce, Corn Relish, Apple Sauce

and three kinds of grape jam.

Okay, true confession, I didn't actually make those myself but the chef of the class did and they are so wonderful I had to take a stash home. Since Chef only cans what's in season, I bought enough to last a while. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

Trust me on this, they are pure heaven.

As for this Sunday... I'm sleeping in-- FOR SURE!

*******

My sweet friend and blogger extraordinaire, Holly of What Your Mother Knows But Won't Tell You had foot surgery this past week. She'll be missing in action for a little while through her recovery. Please stop by and show her some love.

*******

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

For More Sundays In My City CLICK HERE.

Sundays In My City #52 - Before and After

I'm a proud participant in Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City.

It's a big weekend at our house. Saturday was Godson's birthday party. Can you guess what we did?

Before...

After...

The kids had a blast and I was relieved that they all left with the same amount of fingers and thumbs they arrived with.

******

Packages in the mail are such a treat and I received a very special one from Nyne at Brilliance Found. I as lucky enough to win this beautiful crystal necklace in her recent giveaway.

Photo Credit: Brilliance Found

Nyne is a very talented jewelry designer who lives in Vancouver, Canada and I thank her for this generous gift. Please visit her site HERE. (And shop til you drop!)

******

The clever and always entertaining Eddie Bluelight at Clouds and Silvery Linings pass the Versatile Blogger Award on to me so long ago I'm embarrassed to say. But better late than never, so I thank sweet Eddie for thinking of me. I'm supposed to share 8 riveting pieces of information about me which the world has been waiting for with baited breath...

1) Nearly everything in my clothes closet is either black, gray or white.

2) Being a cheerleader in high school was not nearly as fun as I thought it would be, but I liked the uniform.

3) I can parallel park (a car) really well. Too bad it's no longer a test requirement.

4) Pumpkin Ice Cream is a favorite this time of year.

5) Growing up I put mayonnaise on everything I ate-- literally, everything.

6) I still need to get a flu shot but I'm not over my cold yet.

7) I'll be heading to Ohio on Wednesday to visit my family one more time before the snow flies.

8) I would really like a crockpot. (Who said I was high maintenance :-)

As usual, Awards come with naming names and passing them on, but you know I usually break that rule, so if you want to play along grab the Award and run with it.

And be sure to check out Eddie's popular Sunday Roast interviewing bloggers from around the world. And if you're up for a good Roasting let me know and I'll introduce you to Eddie or you can email him directly. Seriously-- I did it, you should too.

******

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Sundays In My City #35 - Shhhhh!

WIN SOME $$$ -- Enter to win a $60 CSN Stores Gift Certificate and a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card by leaving a comment on THIS POST and on ALL MY NEW POSTS between now and next Sunday, May 30th. Blog about the Giveaway and receive an extra entry! COMPETE GIVEAWAY DETAILS HERE.

For years, I've been collecting fabrics. No matter where I am, fabric store call my name for a fast or leisurely look around depending on how much time is available. Often fabrics, with no idea of what I'll do with them, came home with me.

If I had to guess, I'd say over the past 30 years, fabrics have come from about 15 states in the U.S. and at least three other countries. To say I have a lot of fabric is an understatement.

This is a drop in the bucket....

For the past few months, every weekend, I've been working on a top-secret project for a loved one using some of this....

And this.....

And this....

And this....

Godson and his Mom are very important players in this labor of love too. We can't reveal what we're up to yet, but we'll show you when we can. In the meantime, remember it's a surprise so lips zipped, okay.

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Unknown Mami hosts a great Sunday theme inviting YOU to get out and take pictures of your city and/or Sunday to share with the rest of blogland. Click HERE to see Unknown Mami's Sunday in her City today. And wish her a Happy Birthday too!