Just G's Boutique lights up the town........by Joyce Oroz

 

 

Are you ready for an immersion into glitzy-edgy apparel from planet Morgan Hill? You know, the little burg south of San Jose that used to be a one-horse, one-dog, too-chicken to be a real town, place. Anyway, it turned into a beautiful bustling city a few years ago when I wasn’t looking, and is the perfect spot for Gina Andrade’s new Boutique.

ginaorozandrade@yahoo.com

“Just G’s Boutique” is open Tuesday through Saturday.
You’ll find it in the center of town at 17367 Monterey Street,
      Morgan Hill.

 Keep your sunglasses handy until you have had time to acclimate into the glitz.

Yes, shopping can be fun. Bring your friends, try on some bling and ask Gina to sing—I mean, show you around. Start with a new hat, jacket, jeans, boots or a purse. Maybe some jewelry for you or for someone on your Christmas list?        

Don't forget Ladies Night Out,   December 6, 5pm to 9pm,

                                                  Morgan Hill

Dragonfly Artist for December......by Joyce Oroz

 

 

It is only natural that Barbara Scoles is our “Dragonfly Gallery Artist of the Month” for December, even though we love and admire her Santas all year round. Barb and I grew up together in the woodsy San Lorenzo Valley. Who knew that she would one day turn trees into Santas and green men? I asked her how she creates such beautiful Santas. Here is her answer.

 

I have been carving for over 15 years and showing my work at woodcarving shows and galleries for the past six years. I have always loved Santa and my goal is to combine a loving face and wonderful beard with a rich gown or costume. The animals that gather by Santa and his gifts reflect his loving and whimsical nature.
Each piece takes about 40 to 60 hours. The primary wood I use is Basswood from the Linden tree and the paint is acrylic. Once the drawing is done, the real work starts. This is great fun to have chips flying and the Santa personality taking shape in solid form. The wood is band sawed to the proper size and then the large chisel's and mallet come into play. This is time-consuming and hard work. I am usually able to complete the entire piece out of a single piece of wood, and hide things in the carving for people to find later...  

My husband has become involved with Sea Otters in the Monterey Bay. He has become an expert as he studies, photographs, and talks about the otters. It seemed natural that I would start adding them to my Santas. I love the result.

My favorite comment is when people say they never put their Santas away after the holidays. They become a part of the family and their home. My pieces are in private collections throughout the U.S. and Canada.

I love the 'Green man'. He is the original gift giver as he brought spring. He is one of the most frequently recurring and beautiful motifs of medieval art. Also known as God of the Woodlands, some think he represents the spirit of the trees and the green and growing things of the earth. Common among the oldest churches and cathedrals in Europe he is also referred to as the foliated mask.

Thank you Barbara.

Barbara is a true master of her craft. She researches, designs, carves and paints beautiful Santas—each one uniquely dressed, bearing gifts such as kittens, puppies, otters, birds, bears and toys.

Scoles invites you to visit the Dragonfly Gallery, 389 Blohm in Aromas, where you can see her creations on display, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00. The gallery will be open Fridays from 1:00 to 6:00 until December 21^st for your shopping convenience.

Hand Carved Wooden Santas

831-726-2457

www.BarbaraScoles.com

www.reasonstobelieve.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flinging Flaming Nuts........by Joyce Oroz

 

Thought I would share a letter I wrote this morning.

 

Hi AR,

I hope your Thanksgiving went well. You would have acquired a few grey hairs at ours—I’m sure I did. Thank goodness Cindy and Mindy were here. Wendy decided to toast her pecans in the toaster oven for a casserole she was working on. The kitchen was stuffed with people making mashed potatoes, gravy and salads.

Wendy checked on her pecans and discovered they were on fire. She opened the little glass door, grabbed the hot metal tray and threw it on the floor. Flaming nuts went in all directions.

Mindy began stomping them out with her shoes. I grabbed my good (for company only) hand towel and whapped the rest of the flames out while twenty-something people laughed and talked on the back deck—oblivious. The wood floor is OK and Wendy insists her three fingers are not too badly burned. She put honey on them—great cure!

Wendy said that the first thing she thought of when she saw fire was that the cabinets would catch and then everything would go.

Flinging flaming nuts on the floor is probably one of those instinctive impulses that are exacerbated by too much holiday fun in a crowded kitchen.

Art’s new toaster-toy will probably make it’s shameful way to the dump—unless we learn how to use it safely. I wonder what we did with the directions?

It’s another beautiful day, hope you enjoy it.

We woke up this morning to a sink full of ants. We were too exhausted last night to finish the dishes and clean up. We had a lot of help but still left a mess in the sink.

Hugs from a harried grandmother,

Joyce  

 

 

Thanks for the ride...........by Joyce Oroz

                              

 

 

When I was a young mother of three I told myself that life would be easier, later. When the children were teenagers I told myself life would be quieter, later.

When the children had children of their own I told myself life would be simpler, later.

Now that I am older and wiser, life is easier, quieter and simpler—except on the holidays and I’m thankful for that. This Thanksgiving every inch of my house will be covered in babies, kids and teenagers—not to mention their parents and friends. The walls will quiver but the foundation will hold.      

Another poem by Joyce Riley

 

September
There’s a touch of autumn in the air,
Not much but it is there,
Soothing a sun parched land.
There’s a ripple in the trees.
Tired leaves are touched
And tinted by a gold tipped hand.
October
The painter’s hand is crimson, now.
Transforming leaves and boughs
From a dusty green to gold and umber.
Frost turns the landscape into flame
And game obeys an urge
Awakened from its slumber.
November
There’s a touch of winter in the air,
Not much, but the trees are bare
And geese have flown from sight
Now, where the picnic table stood
Fire wood is stacked and ready
To give us warmth and fire light.
December
Autumn’s story, now completed,
Will, in time, be repeated.

                              

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Art Festival.....by Joyce Oroz

 

Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 -10am to 4pm

with special preview priviledges for
AHA members only at 9:30 both days.

A wonderful sampling of original art,
created by Aromas Hills Artisans,
will be displayed under one roof at the
Aromas Grange, corner of Rose and Blohm.
It is the perfect opportunity to

fill your gift list with artistic treasures.

The AHA Guild will be offering a wide variety
of mediums; paintings, prints, photography,
ceramics, jewelry, quilts,
wooden products and much more, all there
to help you choose that special holiday gift!

No matter what the weather, you can stroll through this
wonderful selection of local artists’ work and then take time
out to sit by the fire and talk to the artists themselves, have
a cup of hot cider and learn how the art was created.
Homemade cookies and other goodies will also be for sale.
What a wonderful, enjoyable way to support your AHA friends
and neighbors and fill your Christmas list at the same time.

The Aromas Hills Artisans numbers are growing. The group
meets at the Aromas Grange the first Wednesday night of each month 7pm to 9pm. Folks who
appreciate art are encouraged to join the group. Membership is only $25.00 per year.

 

See you at this year’s Holiday Art Festival       
for more information, call – Linda- 7261786

 

 

 

Abby, the Abert's Squirrel..............by Joyce Riley

 

When Abby, the Abert’s Squirrel,
Knocked at the kitchen door,
Grandma gave her a peanut.
Soon, Abby was begging for more.
“One peanut, two peanuts, three peanuts, four.
“You’ve had enough,”
But Abby still begged for more.
Grandma sighed and said, “Oh, well,”
And, soon, the porch was covered with shells.
One morning, while Grandma was sleeping,
Abby knocked on her window to say,
“Get up, get up, you sleepy head
“It’s time to feed me today.”
So, Grandma went out on her two bare feet,
To give little Abby her morning treat.
But, out on the porch,
Right before her eyes,
There were three baby squirrels,
What a big surprise.
One peanut, two peanuts, three peanuts, four.
“I’ll have to go out and buy some more.

 

Abert’s squirrels live in the mountains of Arizona.
Peanuts are not their natural diet
But, as Grandma found out, they do love them.
Their main diet comes from ponderosa pine trees.
Abert’s squirrels eat seeds from the cones, bark from tender branches
And pollen from dried cones.
They also sleep and their nests in the ponderosa pines.

What Our Pets Know............by Joyce Oroz

 

Animals have it made. Their people make the rules, but if a rule is broken—such as a puddle on the floor, claw marks on the drapes or a chewed-up slipper—all is soon forgiven. After all, how much does a little dog or cat understand about the great big world?

As up-right, up-tight thumb-toting creatures, people are the only ones capable of figuring out how to survive in a complex world, and we have gobs of electronic apps to prove it. We motorize, harmonize, polarize, synchronize and subsidize. We fuss, stress and overreact on a regular basis while our pets keep a cool head.

Ironically, it’s our pets who make us smile, bring our blood pressure down and teach us the real laws of nature—respect, thankfulness, joy and peace. They have it, we want it. Just by being around our pets, we learn how to be better people.

If you don’t have a pet to love, just contact your local SPCA. They have a variety of dogs and cats who are willing and able to give you their respect, thankfulness and unconditional love.

 

 

Shelter Art Foundation photos from 11/3/2012 of some of the adoptable animals at Monterey County Animal Services.  Save a life – adopt!

 

Interested in an animal? Please contact MCAS directly at 769.8850.  Need more info about the animal? Go to MCAS animal search page   http://mtyhd.org/manager/animalSearch/

These great photos and others like them may be viewed, commented on, liked and shared at the www.facebook.com/shelterartfoundation page.

 Interested in helping? We would love to have you! Photographers, editors, animal wranglers, public relations and marketing.

 Thank you to our WONDERFUL volunteers!!!

 Photographer/ Editor/Wrangler: Peggy Harris Cardona (MC Environmental Health)

Photographer: David Graham (MC Probation)

A Poem by Joyce Riley

 

 

AUTUMN MUSINGS
By Joyce Riley
I am sorry to see October go,
To look ahead at rain and snow,
To see another red leaf falling
And hear the last, late bluebird calling.
I’m sorry for our garden bed,
For frost on roses and pumpkin heads,
For shorter days and longer nights,
Our stove’s voracious appetite.
Still, there is much to be grateful for:
A cord of wood outside our door,
A fire in the fire place,
A cozy bed, a warm embrace,
Soon, the silence of snowflakes falling,
The telephone, a neighbor calling.
When November slips from sight
I will settle down to read and write,
Remembering that winter brings,
The promise of another spring.