Christmas Time

Why do we only decorate at Christmas time ? Everything is brighter and more cheerful . Maybe we would be happier if we left our decorations up all year long.

Fall colors at home.

Finally after over 5 years our Japanese maple has finally turned red!
It's funny the seeds we plant that we lose track of then they yield beauty , life is so like that , the seeds that don't take root and the ones that do that surprise us from time to time. It's almost never the ones you see coming in life. The soul mates the jobs where we end up seems little left up to us some times but the destination seems right.

Fall on a McMinnville street corner.

Fall is here, colors are changing . My phone likes the leafs as they change color, the green grass is deeper in color. A change in color can change your mood , brighten your day. Take a moment to see the changes around you today.

Random Building Art

Dropping off some paperwork at the Lloyd Center building I took a couple of moments to check out the building art. I was taken with this piece. I always wonder how much time and soul an artist puts into something like this, what they thought when they made it.

Maggies Buns Forest Grove

Had the pleasure of having coffee at Maggie's This morning . The buns are huge! The coffee is great the decor speaks for its self! If your in Forest Grove stop on in.

Colors Of Mexico

   

Stopped in a Mexican restaurant today.
I have always loved the way they use tile.

The color the simplicity and design to add boldness , color and flair.

Tile can tell a story or just add that missing touch the last time we went to Mexico it was almost everywhere we went.

GENTLEMEN Signs From Another Era

Today a sign I saw struck me when I read it, I thought to myself you don't see that every day it made me think of another time, my childhood. From further back then I can remember even through her death when I had grown to be a man I could hear my mother telling me, a gentleman pulls out a lady's chair, a gentleman opens and holds the door for a lady, a gentleman lets a lady go first. a gentleman does not speak to a lady like that. To this day every time I open the car door of our car for my April I think of my mother and my childhood when the goal of a mother was to raise a little gentleman. When manners were important to learn It didn't matter if you were poor or rich , owned your own home or rented, wore a suit or a hardhat. Courtesy and manners were as much a part of life as the 3 R's. Manners can define us make us a better people help us treat the people we love the most better every day, the simplest gesture can say I care , I love you. I do hope manners, being a gentleman is a fad that will someday return heck the 80's seem to be back I think there is room...  

Contrast In Nature, Contrast in Life

Today April and I found ourselves on a long drive enjoying the day, as we chatted we happened upon Deer Creek Park so we decided to check it out. As we walked around the park totally alone I might add
I started to think about contrasts in life. 
Yin & Yang , 
light & dark, 
fire & ice.
I have to say the contrast in my life is my April. Contrast changes how you feel what you see, she affects how I see and live life do you notice the contrast in your your life how it affects the things you see, feel think?
Is it someone, something you do? Is it a hobby or passion you feel? 

Atmosphere, Desert & Art

What is it about atmosphere? Does it make your food taste better? Does it make a restaurant seem more upscale or down-home.

Art is another question to factor in. I know when we are enjoying a wonderful desert having your eyes filled with an artists creation does make you think , it does make you take notice of the other little things. I for one do say that all three, all three make for a better experience you of course be your own judge.

Desert and Art at Cafe' Uncorked.

Art and Food are alive in Yamhill County.

"Cafe' Uncorked is a hidden treasure"

Stoller Vineyards

You ever stop someplace you have driven by a 1000 times and all of a sudden you really see it for the first time? That happened to me today. Sometimes stopping, taking a breath, just looking around opens up your eyes..