Yeah Halloween!

It's just around the corner! I made some cards last night to send out to the little people in my life.

Candyland

Mockingbird knows I love Black Licorice, vintage stuff and anything pink and surprised me today with 2 pounds of Black Taffy which is all three of those things wrapped into a candy! Love the flavor and super love the packaging.

Kettle or Cup?

I filled the kettle for a cup of tea. Then I said to myself, "Self, it would be faster to heat your water in the microwave." While this is true, there is something comforting about the whistle of a tea kettle - brings to mind a warm hearth.

Wish I had a warm scone!

Fall Issues

No, I don't have issues with Fall, I am talking about the September Fall fashion issues of all of the major fashion magazines! It is my favorite time of year! My second favorite is March, when the spring fashion issues come out. I am not a fashionable gal at all, I mainly go for comfort, price and what fits (um, hello, 3 year old cardigan and tank tops), but I love to look at the clothing. It is tres magnifique!

Strange...

This is odd... I took this photo last week while driving (hence the lack of clarity). Even though I was driving, I couldn't resist because the sunset and sky have been really wonderful due to the not so wonderful fires. The interesting thing is the black spot that appeared in the middle of the sun.

Sleepy Sunday

Oops!

I pass this each day while driving to work and it kills me!

-Magpie

Etiquette of a Gentleman

There are very few men in society who embody the politeness, etiquette and manners of gentlemen in days gone by. I know that alternatively, one could say the same for women today. However, I am focusing on men here and this is what I see:

A general lack of attention to appearance (grooming and dress).

Saying please and thank you.

Lack of Respect for the Elderly and Women.

Taking one's hat off while indoors, but especially when eating.

A lack of consideration and self control of bodily functions. This includes, passing gas, belching, nail biting, adjusting ones privates, chewing gum with the mouth open, not being discreet and quite when blowing the nose, spitting and not covering the mouth when coughing and/or sneezing.

Table Manners. Chewing with the mouth open, taking bites too large for one's mouth, talking with the mouth full of food, reaching across the table and a general lack of knowledge with regard to what utensils to use and how to use them.

"Chivalrous Favors." This is a fabulous term that Magpie introduced to me (and... being Mockingbird, I had to repeat). This includes, offering to help with bags, offering your seat on the bus to the elderly, getting up when a lady arrives and departs the table, opening/holding doors and allowing ladies to exit elevators first.

Yelling,Loosing One's Temper, Swearing, Interrupting, Staring - Ogling and a Lack of Introductions.

A lack of boundaries with respect to cell phones and PDA devices.

Bathroom Manners. Leaving the toilet seat up and urinating on the toilet seat and/or floor.

I know that some men feel that the women's movement flushed the idea of etiquette right down the toilet. After all, manners seem to change with societal changes. However, I do think the that women's liberation can co-exist with manners. After all in Peter Post's, The Essential Etiquette for Men, (yes the grandson of the queen of etiquette) says that, "The art of etiquette really comes down to being thoughtful of other people you encounter in your everyday life. We all tend to associate 'proper behavior' with formal social events - but true etiquette involves behaving with respect and consideration for others in everything that you do, from attending a high-society soiree to simply hanging out around the house." Which is to say, mutual respect and consideration has nothing to do with gender. If a gentleman pulls out my seat at the dinner table, I do not feel any less empowered. You may say I am old-fashioned and do not fully grasp the idea of "women's lib," but open a door for me and I say - "I love being a woman and appreicate a gentleman!"

SHRUTE there it is!

Little Olive Soaps

Magpie LOVES Olives! These are so cute but WAY too expensive.

Magpie and the Giant Peach

Some peach Farmer must have asked God to "Super Size" it this year.

Magpie's Co-pilot

I noticed yesterday morning I had a little green inch worm on my windshield wiper on my way to work. I thought he was dead until I moved the wipers and sprayed the cleaner and he hung on for dear life. Well, after that, I noticed him checking out my wiper blades during my drive to work. I parked as usual and when I came out at the end of the day (8 hours later), he was still there waiting for a lift home. He inched around the wiper on the way home never letting go. When I got home and parked he was no where to be found so I decided he just wanted to come to the East Bay for the day and that was it. Well, low and behold when I got in the car again this morning, sure as the sun rises, there he was inching his way around the wiper. I drove to work with him again but this time when I arrived I lifted him off and let him inch around a tree above where I parked my car. I figure if he needs a ride home, he will just appear again - I am parked right under him.

Magpie's New Mat

SCORE! I have been looking at this mat at Williams-Sonoma for so long, but it was too expensive. Well, Mockingbird told me it was on sale and I got myself two of them for less than the original price of one! If there is one thing I love more than pink, it is finding something pink on sale. My feet are going to thank me later when they are standing in front of the sink on this cushy pink mat.

Cutest Cupcake

As most of you know, I LOVE cupcakes.

Today, when Martha emailed me, she sent me a link to her site and let me peak at the cutest cupcakes photo album.

Enjoy!

-Magpie

From the mouth of a baby bird...

Dear Uncle (Name removed to protect pricvacey ;) ),
I think every thingin my life is pefect.I mean I have family and I have
friends and I have cat's and a
puppy.Do you know what relly,relly,relly makes me mad ?People who where fur
coats.
I mean people eat tofu so they won't kill pet's and make fur coats.I just
love pet's so much
you know what I mean if some body killed dassie and zous just to make a fur
coat wouidn't
you be mad?I mean animals are just so beautiful like dogs ,cats and horses
they are all
beautiful

Love (Name removed to protect this Baby Bird's privacy)

Mockingbird is Swimming in Figs!

Magpie's Fluffy Visitor

Magpie's Energizer

WOW! Nothing usually keeps me up, but I was up until 2:30 AM this morning shaking my leg because I had a lethal dose of iced Vietnamese Coffee last night. It has NEVER done this to me before. Maybe I need to start drinking it in the morning, what a concept!

I break for Lemonade stands...

I know the scene, you are planning your escape route to circumvent the kids outside your local grocery store. They are selling raffle tickets, car wash credits and candy bars, but you don't want to be bothered; stop and think. Your dollars may not be saving a life in Darfur, but that raffle ticket might make it possible for a child to have a team jersey for their first soccer match, for a school to keep their music program, or for a young girl to march in a St. Patrick's Day Parade... in Ireland. In scene two you are driving by a lemonade stand thinking, "self, I how cute is that stand?" as the waving kids swish by you at 40 mph.

What to do? Make a difference in a kid's day. Paste an "I break for lemonade stands" bumper sticker over your "I break for garage sales" bumper sticker and make it a point to "break" at all lemonade stands. Take a minute to pull out your wallet and buy that $1 raffle ticket for the local swim team. Beyond the few dollars you spend for lip puckering lemonade or a raffle where the odds are against you, the kindness and interest you show a child gives them a little extra faith in humankind, in what must look like a very crazy adult world.

Martha's Craft Room

Just got an email from Martha (click her name to check it out) - she was introducing her Dream Craft Room.

That would be a dream come true for me, for sure!

-Magpie

Giggle

Emily took this photo while she was here and it makes me giggle.
-Magpie

Dreaming of Organization

Magpie's Dream Desk Drawer (honestly, I am going to try and copy this)
Magpie's Real Desk Drawer (so embarrassing, but maybe that will make me organize it better - I am a Magpie, collector of "things", it is hard for me...I am serious. I will give it a shot, but if it doesn't feel good, I am back to my old ways. I will keep you all updated on my progress. Keep in mind, this is INSIDE the desk where no one can really see except me. Most importantly, I know where everything is.)

Which Mrs. Astor?

First, let me apologize for this lengthy post. I really like to post my observations and let the mind wander. However, this post requires the following narrative.

Mrs. Astor died on Monday at the age of 105. While this may have passed most people by, Mockingbird had to pause and reflect. Not only because of Brooke Astor's philanthropic heart, but because she reminds me of Rosebud. Rosebud was my grandmother who was indescribable! Beyond her untouchable creative spirit, she was know for saying outrageous things and used many funny maxims (some of which were hilarious malaprops). One of the things she used to say when she found someone snooty was, "Who does she thing she is, Mrs. Astor?" Which, brings me to the death of Brooke Astor and the reason for my post. There were actually two socialites named Mrs. Astor. Caroline reigned in the mid-1900's and Brooke reigned, well... until last Monday. Now I am wondering, to which Mrs. Astor was Rosebud referring? I am inclined to think it was Caroline because she was known as "The Mrs. Astor" and part of the Waldorf-Astoria dynasty, but I guess I will never know.

God's Peace Mrs. Brook Astor, Mrs. Caroline Astor and my beloved Rosebud.

Magpie an Addict?

68%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Mingle² - Dating Site

Big Dog

Just found this photo while cleaning off an old CD, it used to be my wallpaper on my computer at my last job.

-Magpie

No More Sniffles!

Magpie's familiar (BayLee) has been healed!

Love this Color!

I took this photo last week at a store in Half Moon Bay, I love the color!
It reminds me of the sea.
-Magpie

Funny!

This photo makes me laugh!

-Magpie

Magpie Gets Tropical

From Beneath the Weeds

After 2 summers of total neglect in my backyard these beauty's have popped through the weeds. Good thing I got a photo before my landlord ripped them out!
-Magpie