Good Morning, Ladies!

I love creating these little shells.  They're so sweet! 

Each one is handcrafted...no two are alike.

Ready to be bisque fired and then glazed.
Made from high-fire stoneware clay, cone 10.
~~~

(Original Photo May 3, 2014)

NEW YEAR Clay DESIGNS

A New Year brings new ideas and new projects.

I love the ocean, the beach and the shells!

My inspiration, a large Scalloped Shell.

Shaping the clay.

Trimming, contouring.  Taking Shape.

Deep Shell Bowl, trimming.

Almost complete, leather hard.

Waiting for Clay to dry.

Finished with Shell.

Dry, Ready to be Bisque Fired in Kiln.

~~~

(Orig Photo May 2014)
SOLD
 

My Parents Special Day

October 1, 1938, the wedding day of my parents, John Laurier Decoteau and Cecelia Marie Morneau in Ferndale, Michigan. Dad wore a blue suit and mom wore a blue velvet dress.



I'm sharing a photo of them taken while they were dating in 1938. Good looking couple if I do say so myself and you have to love that car, a 1930 Model A Ford! My father purchased the car for $90, making $10 payments per month. It even had a heater and a radio! They were styling! 
In October they will be celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary! A feat not achieved by very many couples in todays society. This photo was taken a couple of months ago. My parents, born in 1919, are both 89 years old.

"Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad"

~~~

(Original Post October 2008)

YOUR MOTHER

~

For My Mother

~

 You are My Heart.  

I Love You.

I Miss You.

~

DORITOS GOLF

The "Doritos Crash the Superbowl VIII Contest"

Daughter, Deborah Glazier, entered with her "DORITOS GOLF" video! It's so clever and funny! Check it out!

DORITOS GOLF




Nice CHIP shot!

PLAYING IN THE MUD

As a kid, playing in the mud was the best!  

And it followed through to my adult life!

One of my Alma Maters, 

OCC Pottery Studio, Royal Oak, Michigan Campus.  

Good years, good friends and the best professor, Dr. Charlie Blosser.  Through the late 70's and into the 80's my passion for clay was born and nurtured thanks to one of the best instructors/mentors I have ever had the privilege to work under.

Me, posing for pictures for my brochure circa 1980.

While reminiscing last week, I went on line to see if I could find

Dr. Blosser, wondering if he was still teaching at OCC.

I had not been back to Michigan since the early 90's when

I moved to California.

It was a walk down memory lane visiting the Pottery Studio and Lab.

 Pottery Studio where you can throw pots 

till your hearts content!

  Hand building area.

 Kilns and drying racks.

 Pug Mill and stacks of ready clay blocks.

We made our own clay!

Slab Rollers and glaze mixing room.  

I learned to create several of my own glazes.

 This photo is from one of my last days at the studio.

I remember Charlie this way...

And last year at his retirement party, 

this is a photo of Dr. Charlie Blosser

(photo: Shirley's Ware)

Still lookin' good, Charlie!

Thanks so much for my craft and memories!

~~~

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Mom and Dad, 1937

Their wedding day.

They were such a handsome couple.

They had 6 children.

I am the oldest and the only girl!

They were great, loving parents.

After mom's passing 7/20/11 (almost 92yrs old, 

we moved Dad into a nursing home... 

(at 92yrs old) he has Dementia.  

He is 94 this Father's Day.  

I called him at 7:30am in CA 

to wish him a Happy Father's Day!

Luckily he could hear me and recognized my voice!  

We had a nice chat...he said he was getting old 

but still hanging in there!

It was so great to hear his voice...

it made my day and his as well!

I love you, dad.

xoxo

HAPPY HAWAIIAN BIRTHDAY TO ME!

A L O H A

from 

OAHU, HAWAII

Deb, Girlie, Nana

at Holona Blowhole

Grandchildren, Nick and Girlie, at Waimae Falls in the Rain Forest.

Such a beautiful place...we photographed hundreds of flowers and

tropical plants that you don't see everywhere.  We walked 45 minutes

up the mountain to the falls, snapping pics all the while!

I had the best birthday EVER!  

(Next to my 60th birthday trip to Paris, France!)  

We celebrated at Roy's downtown Honolulu, 

Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine

The meal was absolutely Fabulous!

MOTHER'S DAY

I loved making this card for
 MOM a few years ago.

I carry your heart with me,

(I carry it in my heart).
               ~e. e. cummings               

                 

"I miss you, MOM!"

All that I am or hope to be

I owe to my mother.

                 ~abraham lincoln

                 

"Thank you, mom."

I struggle with my mothers death.  It has been very hard at times to cope with

her loss.  I miss her terribly.  This Mother's Day I wish I could give her a card.  She

is in my heart, she gave me her heart.  I think about calling her until I stop when

reality says she's gone.  We shared so much together, mostly daily events.  I loved

chatting with her and she was always eager to listen, enjoying whatever I shared

with her.  She loved me.  I made this card for her the year before she passed.

Mom and Me and our Model A Ford!

I was 1 year old.

Mom at 18 years old. 

She was as beautiful inside as outside.

 My First Grade picture.

I cherish my memories.  They are precious.  Her heart was huge and loving.  She was

patient and kind.  She loved life.  I will always remember how she delighted in her

children and family and being with them as often as possible.  Such the social butterfly.

I composed a poem to her one Mother's Day and every year I made a very special

card for her, a labor of love.  She saved every card I ever gave her.  They were in her

personal effects when she passed.  Now each card is a prized possession of mine.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM.  I LOVE YOU.

xoxo

~

It's been a long year!  After my move to Florida, I had to undergo surgery on my back.  I injured it in the move, a fractured vertebrae and a herniated disc.  It took 3 months to arrange the surgery, then another 3 months to move without pain, almost a year on pain killers and I finally stopped taking the pills.  Then came unpacking!!!  For the past 3 months I have unpacked and tried to reorganize...a lot of work but still exciting to finally get my life in order.

One really nice thing that happened this year was being named "HOME OF THE MONTH"!  I landscaped and painted my house, did a lot of minor repairs and I WON!!!  Thanks to everyone that voted for me!  I love my new home.

Other events of the new year...daughter, Deb, and family moved to Hawaii!  OMG...I'm so excited for them.  I moved 3000 miles closer to the east coast where they lived (son, John, and family also live on the east coast) and they moved 6000 miles in the other direction!  We knew it was probably going to happen when Steve took the new position.  Such an awesome move!  I've already booked my flight to visit them next month and we have 'Face Time' on our iPhones so I get to see the kiddies any day I'd like! The 6 hour time difference is a bit of a problem, trying to connect without it being the middle of the night!

The guest room is empty...ready for visitors!  Come on down...the weather and the water are fine!

I'VE MOVED!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I bought a home in Vero Beach, Florida! A lot has happened in the past 4 weeks! I arrived in Florida on Christmas Eve....MERRY CHRISTMAS, BET!

Pictures coming soon! And details of my move and NEW HOME. I LOVE IT!

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

I just read the NEWS on my computer,

  today Steve Jobs died at the age of 56.

I love this comment, spoken by President Obama, "There may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."

Apple posted this statement on their website:  "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.  Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.  Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." 

(click on photo to enlarge)

The nation mourns the loss of one of the geniuses of our time.  I can't imagine how different our lives would be without all of our iTOYS!  I am so thankful I was able in my lifetime to enjoy the fruits of his labor;  my Mac Book computer, my iPod, my iPhone, my iPad.

Across the globe other countries also mourned his passing...we felt like we knew him personally.  He was my HERO.  SO SAD.

This cartoon from  the internet is so apropos.  Steve would have loved the humor.   Words we use daily thanks to him!

God Bless You.

R I P

~~~

MY GIRLIE

"A bad hair day?"   

" Hmmmppph!"

I love the curls, unruly or perfectly quaffed.  

And

her freckles make me smile!

My Punkin' Noodle.

There is none cuter, sweeter, smarter, funnier than my Girlie.

This picture cracks me up!!!

A ray of sunshine, she brightens everyones day!

She is precious and can do no wrong in her Nana's eyes!

We ride Dumbo every year at Disneyland or Disneyworld, 

depending on which coast we're on when we celebrate birthdays.

Great Grandma Decoteau and Girlie 9mo.

Who knew she would grow to become
such a "cutie patootie" at 4yrs!

~~~

Our Tribute to Mom

~

In Loving Memory

Cecelia Marie Decoteau Tribute | 1919-2011

~

Breakfast on the Patio

A little slice of Heaven!

~~~

Campus Art ...SOON!

A day spent on the UCSD campus was so rewarding! Incredible art! Photos coming...off to editing!  Ooooooops!  Just realized I forgot to post the pics!!!!  Tomorrow.....

My photography

Yes, it is definitely my passion.

My favorite pastime and every-waking-moment-fun-thing to do!  When my children were little I used my Brownie Hawkeye camera to capture funny moments like my son sleeping at the table while eating his peas!

Those good-old-days snapshots in black and white were all we had way back then!  But I'm thrilled to have preserved so many memories because I was such a camera nut!   My family made fun of me, always ready to take a picture of something, even food!!!  But everyone loves to look back at all of those old photos, enjoying every captured moment.

Over the years our cameras with black and white film gave way to Kodak color film.  Still taking great  pictures for our photo albums we forged on.  Unfortunately, we never knew what kind of pictures we would eventually end up with as we couldn't review the shot ahead of time and retake a bad shot.  We had to wait for the film to be developed and pray the pictures would all turn out.  Even my 35 mm camera couldn't always predict a good outcome.

Then came digital cameras and my first point and click was awesome.  No more film to deal with, and the screen let us review what we had taken.  Imagine that!  Then came my Minolta camera, my Pentax, and many more great little toys including my iPhone 4!  It takes great pictures and I use it often.  You never know when you'll need a camera !

In December of last year I purchased my latest camera, a Canon Rebel T1i /EOS 500D and I love it!  Especially my 250mm telephoto lens.  I'm hoping to get a 300mm telephoto and a Macro lens soon.

I enjoy capturing the beauty of nature as well as just plain everyday life.  I look forward to a day of photography and get lost in hours of enjoyment.

My Camera Bag!

~~~

~~~

SUNSHINE!

Today is beautiful, sunny and warm!  FINALLY!  CA has had a long, wet, cold winter and it's so wonderful to see and FEEL the sun!  It's 78 degrees in Kearny Mesa and we're enjoying a "sit" on the patio!

I think I'll read a book!  Now where did I put it?

~

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

New Year's Eve was especially nice this year.  We were invited by the Edwards of Mt. Pleasant, SC to join them at their home for their annual party. The guests included Nana Corsaut of San Diego, CA,  the Glaziers of Folly Beach, SC, the Edwards of Winston, NC (Jonathan's parents), several neighbors, and interns and their wives from MUSC hospital who work with Dr. Steve and Dr. Jonathan.  What a lovely group of people.

The wine, drinks and food were awesome.   Foie Gras, Lamb Chops, and scrumptious appetizers were served with the best bubbly to bring in the New Year! 

We toasted to the New Year of health and happiness, Twenty-Eleven!

Appetizers included;

Proscuitto and Chevre Cheese wrapped Figs with Fresh Mint 

Salmon with Dill, Capers and Lemon Wedges

"Melt in your Mouth"  Foie Gras' 

Chevre & Chive and Cream Cheese & Mint Stuffed Dates

"Romeo & Juliet" - Guava Paste topped Buffalo Mozarella

A Brazilian appetizer from Joel & Heather

Fruit Pound Cake with Black Cherry Compote

The next generation helped us bring in the New Year!

Nicholas Edwards, Nicholas Glazier, Girlie Glazier and Alex Edwards.

HAPPY NEW YEAR  2011

~