Nothin' crafty going on today…just another day at work. A Friday. And me, with a serious, big time, Olympics hangover. I have stayed up until midnight every night this week. This would be fine, except that I have to wake up at 5:15am and go to work and function like a grown up! (Did I mention I'm not a morning person? I think I did.) I am SO tired right now. Today was a sunny, rainy, windy, day all in one here in Northern California.

On my way home from work, while stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, I was treated with a beautiful rainbow the entire way. At one point it was even a double rainbow. And me, without my camera. Funny thing is, on the way out of the house this morning I almost grabbed my camera – because the sunrise yesterday morning was so gorgeous. But, then I thought, nah…it's gonna rain. That'll teach me to throw the camera in my purse!

However, I am always in close contact with my iphone. I took the following pictures while driving down the freeway. NOT recommended! But, hey, I was only going 20 mph. It was just too pretty to pass up!

Here's the other side. I did not find a pot o' gold. Or a leprechaun.

 
Earlier today I had received an email from my friend Amy in Pennsylvania. Her world looked like this today! Isn't it beautiful and peaceful? Such a difference from the photos above!

I absolutely adore this picture of her sweet kitty Ashley sitting in the window. Sets such a mood…

I often think how amazing technology is these days that you can take a picture 3000 miles away and instantly share it with someone. Or, how you can take a picture with your phone from your car and put it on your internet blog the same afternoon. No more waiting a week for the pictures to come back from the photo lab!

Talk amongst yourselves. Have a fantabulous weekend!

Yesterday I spent the day in my second home town…Berkeley. This is where I went to college and where I feel most at home, except for actual home! It's a crazy town full of life and learning and art and beautiful things. I want to share my little artsy day with you!

There are three must-go-to art stores all right near each other on 4th Street, just off University Avenue.

My first stop -Dick Blick Art – they have EVERY SINGLE color of Copic Marker….yeah baby…

Next stop – Paper Source – Heaven on earth for this paper lover…

Beautiful window displays with giant paper flowers:

OOOOOHHHHHHH….

AAAAAAHHHHHH….

You never know when you might need a Gnome soap-on-a rope…This is where you could get it! Handmade even! Hahaha.

Next stop is Scrapbook Territory. By far the best overall scrappin' and craftin' place in the entire bay area:

 

Owner, and fellow Cal alum, Diane, with store dog #1 Wilbur:

This place is HUGE…and always has the latest and greatest stuff. Good thing I live far away so my shopping is curtailed somewhat.

Awesome ribbon selection:  

  

Here are some gorgeous tree blossoms I found along my way:

And here is the part where I show you the most amazing, breathtaking, spectacular, gorgeous view of San Francisco that you have from the hill above the football stadium…

But not on this day! Just some good old fashioned FOG!

 

My day ended with dinner with my sweet friend Patty. A perfect day. It's Friday again, and my week off from work flew by in what seemed like a nano second. I did sleep in every day and generally was crafty and lazy. Tonight is stamping with friends and tomorrow is a Rubber Stamp Convention. Enjoy your weekend everyone!  

One of the places the DH and I went on our honeymoon was Lake Placid, New York. We stayed two nights in this beautiful hotel called the Mirror Lake Inn. It was amazing! The town of Lake Placid is tiny – with just one main street. The famous hockey arena is at the end of the street. I cannot imagine how this town fit all the Olympic athletes and spectators. The town of Lake Placid sits at the rim of Mirror Lake… Lake Placid is actually about 10 minutes away! Go figure?

We were able to have a tour of the Olympic areas and to watch some ski jumping action. Since we have been home watching the Winter Olympics, I decided to get out our honeymoon pictures and have a look. the pictures are not great and they were taken with this strange thing called film! Anyone remember that? The pics are from early October 2001. Hope you enjoy!

The entrance to the facilities:

One of the ski jumps:  

One of our Olympians practicing:

Practicing:

Perfect Landing! You can see there's no snow so they practice jumping into a swimming pool. The water is kept moving so they don't hurt themselves hitting a solid mass. Very cool indeed.

We were able to take the chairlift up to the top. The view was absolutely spectacular:

This last shot is for the ladies! This is the official medal podium used in the 1980 Olympics. Seems a lot less fancy than nowadays. This is the guy that we watched jumping. He came over and talked to us about his experiences.

 
 Wouldn't it be awesome to go to the Olympics one day in person?

This blog has nothing to do with photography, or cards, or yummy treats. Sigh. Today all I can think of is that I have next week off from work. I'm just trying to make it through the day until the whistle blows and I can slide right down that dinosaur's tail to get in the car and go home (old enough to remember the Flintstones??).

I have been sick for two weeks and generally disagreeable and not fun. The thought of a week off from trying to put on makeup at 5:30 in the morning and then get on the freeway and have people tailgate me at 80 mph before I'm even coherent is just about enough to make me faint from joy!

In the photo below…I am the one of the far left…and I'm really not exaggerating. Just ask my hubs. He'll tell ya the truth.

 
I am going to try to regroup, reorganize, restore, rejuvenate and relax for a week. Hopefully I will return to my normal cheery self. I hope to blog some cool things and get crafty. I hope to read at least part of the ginormous stack of books piled next to the bed. But what I really want…is to sleep in!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!