Castles in the desert

As a girl raised on Disney movies, I assumed castles either existed in Europe or fairy tales.  Some of those in fairy tales are based on the ones in Europe.

For all time, it seems that I have gone past a castle of my own right here in the desert.  Tovrea Castle was built in the late 1920s and is now owned by the city.

Like most castles, it is deceptive.  It is actually only 5000 square feet, but is surrounded by cacti gardens (approximately 44 acres of those).

Originally intended to be a hotel turned family residence.

I guess I don't have to have my passport reissued after all!

The Sewing Machine Whisperer ... Who Knew?

Every once in a while you meet someone special who absolutely loves what he or she does (hobby or otherwise).


Once upon a time I could ID almost any cactus with just a glance (teddy bear cholla and saguaro). My mother can ID Indian jewelry at fifty paces.  I have friends who can identify yarns from blurry photos.  (We won't even get into the friends who can name every ingredient in any dish I have ever made.)

Most recently the man I think of as the sewing machine whisperer.

He loves all things sewing and sewing machine related.  He knows the history of the manufacturers, what the trends were in several decades (not with textiles or patterns, but the technology of the machines), and has saved many a machine from the dust heap.

For many years, my Monkey Wards machine from the 80s decorated the bottom of a closet and I was fine with that.  This year that changed.  

Sewing became - other than.

Other than clothing that isn't necessarily designed for either my skill set or figure.
Other than darts and tucks that I can never get quite even.

It has become a symphony of straight lines (sort of), lining up and matching checks, plaids, or stripes.  Practical items like pillowcases, backpacks, needle cases.

Then I broke the machine and promptly kicked myself in the posterior (if I hadn't used it, it wouldn't have broken)... actually 28 yards of vintage Ralph Lauren fabric procured from a thrift store broke it.  It was a fabulous buy at a thrift store, enough to redo all of my sofas, chairs, and even a couple of valances.  

Rather than go to a chain store, CraigsList saved the day.  The man who can tame any sewing machine that crosses his path without a droplet of perspiration to dampen his brow. In one week and five minutes, I found out what I had done wrong so many years ago with my bobbins and tension.  The week was to get the machine serviced, the five minutes for the tutoring.

I guess the lesson in all of this is to find your passion and move forward.

Too bad selecting dog toys isn't a real career - I could be the next woobie whisperer.

Not such a Know-It-All ... *sigh*

During my mother's childhood, her mother used to hide from her children by reading the dictionary in the bathroom.  If I remember the story correctly, she also read a full set of encyclopedias while there.  Either would have taken her years since nine (9) individuals shared one bathroom.  (My grandmother's people didn't believe in higher education for girls.Not uncommon practice at the time. The pity is, she was an actual genius and was always frustrated by not being able to continue improving her mind.)

When Santa was young, his mother bought a set of World Book encyclopedias for him.  Santa was already a really smart kid and read widely.  He read each volume as they purchased it.

My own father read both the World Book and the Encyclopedia Britannica over the course of several years - in the time he waited for us to finish breakfast and head to the school bus.


There is even someone who has read the Encyclopedia Britannica and written a book about it.  A.J. Jacobs did it in one year and did it to recover some of his under used brain capacity.  It is a sweet, self-depreciating book about his adventure.

His goal was to retain the knowledge he accumulated while going through all of the volumes.  And, from the sound of things, he has done just that. Okay, maybe not completely, but he has retained far more than I ever would have.  

Me? Based on my bookshelves, I should be rival to either my grandmother of Mr. Jacobs for smarts.  My father, well, him I never felt I could compete with.

I do own a large, dated, collection of World Books and the following year books.  A set of Popular Science books - projects, I think.  Several dictionaries are spread around the house, but not always for knowledge based reasons.

In my bedroom I use one a rather large dictionary, not to read, to get added lift when I climb into bed.  It is a little high for me and it makes life easier.  I even had a spare five-incher in my guest room in the event a vertically challenged person stays the night. The one in my office is used to prop up my laptop so it is a more comfortable height to work.

Will I ever aim that high?

Probably not.

I wouldn't want to be the know-it-all in my family and have basis to support the claim.

Ted Gup - A Secret Gift

This past year, I've encountered any number of books that made me re-examine not only my life but my attitude toward it.

Ted Gup's A Secret Gift is just such a book.  It is a memoir but so much more: history (1933 heart of the Depression), study in humanity and psychology, reflection on the spirit of generosity, and sometimes the need for privacy and sometimes secrecy (something which is sorely lacking in the world today).

There are times when I wish I were more eloquent, vivid, and expressive. Mostly I use too many words to say a thing.

December 1933, an anonymous individual wanted to assist individuals who were in need.  The donor was to be anonymous as were the recipients.  The amount was trivial in today's dollars ($5 per family) but a huge hand up for families that could not get $0.07 for a loaf of bread.

Mr. Gup tells any number of heart wrenching stories about decent, honest people.  

It has made me rethink about my life and just how much I take for granted, feel entitled to, and how little tolerance these individuals would have had for me in my pity parties.  I have always known the luxury of indoor plumbing, electricity, and winter heat.  At my most pressed, I always have clothing that fits, shoes which are soled, something to eat.

Most of us do not have a living connection to the Great Depression; if we did, most of us never asked many questions about it.  Yet it informed their lives, the lives of their children, and their children's children.  

The book is eloquent, stark, sad, and uplifting all at once.

Is there a happily ever after, because face it, I like a happily ever after.

For some but not for all.

Did this change lives?

It did and it continues to this day.  In fact, I think it is time to see what I might be able to do for someone else.

summer beauty hints ... 1961

This would not be the first time I wasn't with the current trends ... over 50 years late, but you never know - there might be something worthy in this.

As a kid, I always thought my freckles would grow together.

Still waiting ... *sigh*