Outdoor Wednesday Yosemite Part I

Good day dear bloggers! I have great news, I found my camera! It's been missing for about 3 weeks and I had lost hope of ever finding it. But a few days ago, I told my 4 year old daughter that I would give her $5 if she found my camera. Since she's small, I figured she could crawl under tables, desks, nooks and crannies a lot better than I can. But no camera. Then just yesterday, she helped herself to $5 from my wallet and asked, " Can I have this Mommy? You said you'd give me $5 if I found your camera." Before I could say a word, she romped over to my laundry room, dug into a crate of shoes, and pulled out my camera! She never fessed up to hiding it, but rather claimed to have a "hunch" that it was there. She took my $5.

Speaking of daughters, today's Outdoor Wednesday is courtesy of my 16 year old daughter's photos of her camping trip to Yosemite last week. Please be sure to visit Susan @ A Southern Darydreamer for more outdoor fun.

This is my Sweet 16 DD on the right and her BFF who invited her on her family trip to Yosemite.


They camped outside of Yosemite at East Fork Campground set along Rock Creek.


I heard they cought 11 trout!

She captured some great shots, didn't she?






This is one of my favorites.

They took a day trip into Yosemite National Park. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth.

The landscape ranges from meadows and ponds...
to crystal clear mountain lakes....
to majestic mountain ranges.

Doesn't the view just take your breath away?




Any rock climbers out there?



Isn't this gorgeous?

Thank you, Sweetie, for the tour.


I have so much more to share, that I thought I'd save some for next time. So make sure to visit Part II of Yosemite next week on Outdoor Wednesday!

Till next time,

Metamorphosis Monday Windows

Hello dear bloggers! I'm sorry I've been MIA for a while, but you see, I lost my beloved camera and what's a blogger to do without a camera! Thankfully, my memory card was in my computer when my camera disappeared, so I at least had some photos to work with. I did, however, find an old camera that will just have to do for now. At least I made it back just in time for Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch. Make sure to visit her for more amazing Before and Afters.

Do you remember these windows I purchased at an antiques store in Old Town Orange a couple of weeks ago? I bought 6 vintage windows at a steal for $20! I didn't quite know what to do with them when I bought them, but I knew I'd figure it out. I had initially decided to make one into a coffee table and the other just to hang on a wall, but as my husband and I were perusing our home for possibilities, he came up with an unusual idea. At first, I actually had cold feet at the idea, but since I don't follow any strict rules as far as decorating ( I usually break the rules), I thought we'd give it a try.

Here we are in my dining room. Can you see the opening between the columns on either side?



Here's a view from the far end of my dining table facing the music room and foyer.

Now, here's what we've done! Do you like it?

It created more of a division of our dining room and the hall separating it from the music room without visually closing it off.

I loved these windows just leaning against my wall, but now that we've hung them, I love them even more!

We hung them using eye screws and a short chain. I was leary about screwing a hole into our trim, but my DH assured me he could just spackle it up if it didn't work.

We kept all the hardware on them. I think it adds character.





The windows give an illusion that the panes were custom made for the space. They also cozied up the dining room a lot.


I hope you enjoyed my Met Monday! Did you like what we've done with the windows? Let me know what you think!


Till next time,

Old Town Orange

Hello dear Bloggers! It's time for Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer. Make sure to stop by to see more outdoor fun. Have I got a great tour for you today, so sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy the ride.

If you're an antique shop junkie like me, you'll love Old Town Orange, AKA Orange Circle. It's the motherload of antique malls in Southern California. Blocks and blocks of antique shops, eateries, boutiques, and an assortment of small businesses all with old time charm.




Here's a quaint tea room with a Parisien flair called Paris in a Cup. I've got to come back some day and try it.
Ooh la la, isn't it charming?


A park in the middle of the intersection, creates a rotunda or circle, thus the name Orange Circle.



Here stands the first bank of Orange. It's now a Wells Fargo. The interior is stunning with intricate woodwork on the ceiling. Sorry, I have no pictures. I've gotten in trouble a few times taking pictures in stores and didn't want to risk alarming security by taking pictures inside a bank. No one ever told me blogging would be such risky business!


Now, I just had to show you this store. At first glance, you'd think it was an upscale clothing boutique, but upon closer inspection, it's a store filled with designer aprons!



I don't know about you, but I'm not typically dressed in a frou-frou apron when slaving over a hot stove. If my DH saw me in this, I'm sure he'd think I've lost my marbles. Then again, maybe he'd think I'm adding a little spice to more than just my cooking. Heehee.



I'm attracted to a sale like bees are to honey!


Isn't this storefront just delish! C'mon, let's go inside...

My friend, Candy, was drawn to vintage purses. I've got to keep an eye out for those at estate sales.


And me? The tea accoutrements of course! Look at these decorated sugar cubes. I've got to make that for my next tea party.


This town really loves aprons! This is not the apron store, but a fancy cupcake shop. Again, no pictures allowed inside.

For lunch, Candy suggested a tea house called the Victorian Manor.

This Victorian gem flaunts lots of gingerbread and lilac paint.


Stepping inside, you can see the proprietors went over the top with their embellishments.

But that's what makes a tea house fun.

Here I am with my buddies, Candy and Sharon. If you're reading this Michelle, I promised you I'd keep you posted as to the adventures your mom and I have. ;)

Poor, dear Sharon, all this pink and purple gaudiness was just too much sensory overload!





Let's tour the upstairs of the tea house. Only in a Victorian Lady can you get away with all these colors!






This is the second group of Red Hatters I saw today. Aren't they cute?
Okay, time to walk off all those carbs and head back into the antique shops.

Can you tell how much fun we were having?


Mirror, mirror on the wall...Candy you ARE the fairest of them all!
Hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of the Orange Circle. Thanks for visiting the Lace and Ivy Cottage, and as always, your comments make my day!


Till next time,