Show and Tell - Threading

I just love being a woman and all the grooming requirements that go along with it. No, really I am very low maintenance in my whole beauty routine except for a few things which include Threading to keep my eyebrows in check.

A dear blogger, Lori requested information about this method of depilation. (Gee isn't that a Fun Word!!) Thank you, Lori for the topic request. (I love requests and I will post my ghost story soon.)

I am blessed with a healthy set of eyebrows, dark hair, and fair skin. The eyebrows of some women stop growing or Never Grow Back after removal. (This isn't always a good thing, witness the little old lady with the black painted eyebrows and blue tinted hair, whew, I digress.) My eyebrows are not in this category (thankfully I guess) as they grow akin to a corn crop. I have subjected my brows to plucking (owie, owie!), waxing, and now, my forever method of caring for my Brows, Ta-da....Threading!

The threader takes a piece of white, cotton, surgical grade thread, holds it and rubs it across your brow to remove the unsightly hairs one row or even one hair at a time. It is less painful and traumatic than waxing. It originated in India and Persia and has gained quite a following, at least with this beauty consumer. More and more salons are offering this service and it can also be used for other parts of your body if desired. (Yeah, right like anybody desires a "bikini wax".)

This news video provides an excellent overview of threading. For more fun and games, please visit Mel and the other bloggers at Show and Tell. Thank you so much and sending my best for painless beauty to you.

Hiking with the Bison at the Silent Movie Star Ranch

I am happy to report that there are no disasters either natural nor manmade to expound upon today. So at the request of my delightful cousin and workout buddy, I would like to share a wonderful hiking and sightseeing spot in Northern Los Angeles.


Here is Hart Park, one of my favorite nature areas near our home. Hart Park is the former estate of silent movie star, William S.Hart who donated his home to the County of Los Angeles for a park.

William Hart's estate was called "La Loma de Vientos" or "Place of the Winds". (So True!)

This is the front of Mr.Hart's home which is open to the public as a museum featuring Mr.Hart's wonderful collection of Western Art including Remington sculptures and Indian crafts.

This is the rear of the home which was built during the 1920s.



A small herd of bison call Hart Park their home. They are the descendents of the bison brought to the Park by The Walt Disney Company to film a movie.


Thank goodness for sturdy fences. Actually, the bison (Not Buffaloes), are very used to the presence of humans, don't bat an eye when you visit them.)



This is one of my favorite hiking spots and I appreciate you sharing it with me today. It's great to be a tourist in your own backyard.

Firestorm abated/Political storm brewing

"May you live in interesting times." Chinese Proverb

Thank goodness the fires are contained and the recovery phase has begun. The destruction and scope are hard to comprehend. Almost one thousand homes gone, some houses burned within minutes, the fire was that intense. I can't help thinking "that could be our home", (gee, nothing like that pyschological mindgame, transference). Seeing folks lose all their worldly possessions including their pets (incredibly heartbreaking) certainly makes you realize how fragile attachments are to "stuff". Fall in Southern California is wonderful, the cooling of temperatures, changing of leaves, and wearing of sweaters. The skys are gloriously clear due to the powerful Santa Ana winds which move out the smog and clouds. These deadly winds fuel and spread the sparks. I am now beginning to associate my favorite season with flames and vigilance. I am hoping for rain which we desperately need and will help reduce fire risk. However, rain will also stimulate brush growth, providing more fuel for the next fire season. Doesn't Mother Nature have an ironic sense of humor??

As the fires subside, another storm is brewing, the political one pertaining to Proposition 8 in California restricting marriage to a man and woman. The election is over and the passage of Proposition 8 has created a huge cultural firestorm here. Even in my quiet little city, there have been large, vocal, and vehement protests on both sides of this issue. There are continued protests and boycotts and now, of course it is headed to the California Supreme Court. My neighbors who displayed political signs had their houses egged, toilet papered, and air let out of their car tires. (Vandalism is horrible especially when it comes to free speech.) Neither side is backing down and this issue will be slogged out on the streets and courtrooms for a really long time. I admire Spain and Canada for addressing same sex marriage in a much more civilized and unified manner. In spite of the passage of Proposition 8, it is amazing that 48% of voters voted Against it and that this dialogue has been started nationally.

Thank you so much for reading today, best to you and yours for calm weather and politics!

Time Lapse Video of Sylmar Fire

Here is a time lapse video of the fire that has been burning in the mountains south and east of us in Santa Clarita. The air quality is poor today and you can smell the smoke in the air. At least we aren't getting rained with ash. We are totally fine, miles away from the fire. I drove past the burn area and it's sad and disconcerting to see houses and trees blackened or just gone. I love it here, I wonder why humans live here, and I think it's because we walk around in a protective cocoon of denial. It must be the only way any of us can function. Thank you all so much for your well wishes, I really appreciate it.

Fire Nearby

There is a wildfire 5 miles south of our home in Santa Clarita, California. The helicopters and Super Scooper Water dropping airplanes are flying overhead. (Gee, doesn't this sound familiar, like a month ago? Sigh...) Luckily the wind is blowing the smoke away from us, but you can see it on the ridgeline. I am mentally packing our evacuation even though it very, very unlikely as I do not live in a "burn area" and the fire is far away (by fire standards, that is.) It's a reflex to start preparing, kind of like a sneeze or going under a desk when there is an earthquake tremor. (Another bonus of living in California!!)
It feels surreal because as this mental gathering is occurring, so is the normal Saturday. The kids are still asleep, my husband is referreeing a soccer game, and I am doing chores. It's beautiful outside, 65 degrees, sunny, crystalline blue sky with no clouds.
Mother Nature in California provides gorgeous mountains, The Pacific Ocean, wonderful weather, incredible flora and fauna, and the immutable fact that She is One Who Must Be Obeyed.
I will hold good thoughts for the families that have lost their homes, our Firefighters, and of course, our wildlife. I will also pray for rain, we haven't had substantial rainfall in 8 months.

"Men plan, God/dess laughs." Unknown

Blog Love/Meme

Today, I have "Blog Housekeeping" to attend to including responding to an award, (aw, gee, shucks, totally nice) and answering a Meme all in one fell Post! I love to multitask, don't you?? But first a disclaimer: If I tag you, it's optional. Also, if I did not tag you, consider yourself tagged if you want to play along. Most importantly, I love All the Blogs I read, or well, I wouldn't read or comment, now would I? Of course Not! So without further Ado---

I am flattered and suprised by the "I Love Your Blog" Award from MommaVal.
Thank you so much to the Academy, you like me, you really like me! Uh-Oh, wrong speech. This is the first time I have ever dealt with this type of honor and here are the guidelines:

Part of accepting this award is:
Displaying the award. (See above)
Linking back to the person who gave it to you. (Here's a shout out to MommaVal!)
Paying it forward & nominating 7 blogs. (See below)
Leaving comments on their blogs telling them they’ve received one. (Will do)
Enjoying the award. (Consider it done.)

Okie, dokie, so here goes.....Drum Roll please, And the Nominees for the "I Love Your Blog" Award are in no particular order-

The Life and Times of KimboSue
Beth at Taking Chances
Lori at Weebles Wobblog
Mrs.Spock
Heather at The Joys in My Life
Cara at The Bear and The Comedian
Mrs.Spit Spouts Off - Lifetime Achievement Award as I believe she has received this award previously.

I was also tagged for a Meme by Mrs.Spock. (I know, busy, busy. This is great when you are suffering from Blogger Topic Deficit Disorder, to get tagged and stuff.)

Now here are the rules for this Random Meme: (Gosh, so many rules.)

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (That would be Mrs.Spock, Done!)
2. Post the rules on your blog.(here you go)
3. Write six random things about yourself. (Don't laugh, okay?)

- I have lived in fourteen homes throughout my life including eight different ones while in college and single.
- I am an incredible packer and mover of household contents. (see above random fact)
- I get my eyebrows threaded to prevent Unibrow. (Once you have your eyebrows threaded, you will never go back to waxing or plucking.)
- I have a salt lamp which generates negative ions in my office.
- I cry everytime I hear my son play "Over The Rainbow" on the piano.
- I saw a ghost thirty years ago when I was a camp counselor in high school.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post. (I am just going to invite the same folks listed above for the I Love Your Blog Award if they would like to play along. I cannot link anymore websites, I have to get back to work!!)
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.
7. Thank you sincerely for any randomness or blog love that you have to share.

Veteran's Day at Disneyland

Our family went to Disneyland on Veteran's Day this week. It was alot of fun and the fellas enjoyed it tremendously.


Cinderella's Castle in the process of being decorated for the Holidays.


Here is the Haunted Mansion. This ride used to be one of my favorites but they completely updated it into "The Nightmare Before Christmas". It seems like one big marketing tie in now.


The Small World ride was closed which is a Tragedy of Epic Proportion for me. Is the "Small World" song stuck in your head yet? "It's a world of laughter, a world of fun, la, la, la, la,la,la, It's a Small World After All...". (Um, sorry, I couldn't help myself.)


"Buzz Lightyear here, I command you to have a Great Day! Over and Out, Star Command!"