Ringling Bro. Barnum & Bailey Circus

Tonight we had our annual family outing to the Circus. I love it as much as the kids. We've gone nearly every year here in Anaheim since the kids were little. It is the greatest show on earth. It was wonderful. The acrobats are unbelievable. All of the colors and physical talents and animal trainers are beyond my imagination. We are always amazed at the talent and tricks. We had nearly ring side seats this year. Right down on the 3rd row. I think that is the closest we've sat in all the years we've gone. We usually sit around the middle area. But, I wanted to try getting as close as possible and it was fun to see up close.
**Gotta love that cotton candy, popcorn and all the goodies that go with the circus...lol

I love Madea

This is pretty good advice. Madea is our favorite Auntie or Grandma who knows how to advise us when we're going thru a trial or feeling like our backs against the wall and the worlds against us. She's not afraid to tell the truth. Wish we had that freedom. Now days everything you say has to be politically correct. haha

SoCal Earthquake

Today we had about a 5.7 Earthquake at about 11:42am. It was a pretty big shaker. The biggest one I can remember since the Northridge Earthquake. Sharayah was 4 and Joshua was a newborn. Tom was out of state. So, Sharayah remembers me getting her and joshua out of bed at about 4am. Josh in his car seat and dragging pillows and blankets under the dining room table. But, my youngest is 9 and doesn't remember being in an Earthquake. So, he jumped off the chair with wide eyes as the jolts started shaking the house...then ran out of the front door with his arms in the air...yelling..."EARTHQUAKE--EARTHQUAKE"... He acted like someone in shock. I was laughing and trying to sooth him at the same time. The kids sorta ran in circles wondering what to do. I thought about all of the safety drills that we go thru with schools and public places and when something actually happens...we resort to pandemonium. Forget lining up orderly...everyone starts running and acting disoriented. :-) I think I need to seriously work on my earthquake safety supplies....just in case.
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**This was on AOL news, showing the quake during the filming of Judge Judy's show...

Today is the anniversary of my sons Nathan's passing. He is gone but not forgotten. I'm thankful for the calls of my family and friends, who still share his memory with me today. He would have been 13 years old this week.


~~~~~~~~~~Cherubs statue...gift in memory of Nathan's Memorial Anniversary


**Flowers my hubby sent today in memory of Nathan's birthday.

It's all Greek to Me!

Σαρα is Sara in Greek. I'm proud of my Greek heritage....I love all things Greek. The food, the history, the land....I think the Greeks are handsome and family oriented and all the things I find appealing and romantic. I'm sure there's the other side. I just choose not to think about that. haha I love to look at the pictures of my Grandparents....they were a darling couple...
**Me in Greece pregnant with Nathan (95')....talking to a local shepherding her sheep on my Grandfathers land.....

Paris in a Cup...Tea Time

Here's a couple of pictures from our Tea day at Paris In A Cup, Orange, CA. My daughter and I had a lovely day out together.
(I nave a really nice camara yet  when I'm out and about--I rely on my phone for my photos. :-)

Disneyland Outing

In line for Indiana Jones....

I took the kids to Disneyland today. We are blessed to have annual passes for the whole family....Uncle Phil & Aunt Rita get them for us as Christmas gifts. We came home and went swimming to cool off from the hot day. Dad was taking a class at Fuller. We love the Indiana Jones ride and the Pirates of the Carribean...it was a very hot day! Looking forward to the Barnum & Bailey Circus here this week. We go every year at this time. It's our family tradition now. :-) The Circus is one of my favorite outings.

Lovely day at the SPA

Sis. Karyn our wonderful office administrator took me to a lovely Newport Beach Spa today. It was a gift from STWC for Mother's Day. We finally got it on the schedule! :-) She drove me and we went to Fashion Island for lunch before. You can see below some of the beautiful decor there. I always love relaxing at a SPA. Thank you STWC!

Memorial Service Today for My Aunt Amelia

I am unable to attend my aunts memorial service in Ohio today. My mom's sister Amelia passed away last week. She was 88 years old. I know my mom is feeling the loss of one of the closest ties we have on this earth....our siblings. You share the precious memories of growing up years, your parents, your hometown, your schools, & your own personal sense of humor. My mom had 8 siblings, 4 boys and 4 girls...born to an immigrant Greek named Alexander Angelopoulis who raised them in the beautiful city of Indianapolis. Their mother Ada was a gorgeous lady with french blood in her...her maiden name was Reno taken from Renault. The combination of Alex and Ada produced some of the most beautiful people I know. And, their general demeanor was a smile and a trait that we in the family call..."Smiling Eyes"...they were ready to tell a funny story and have a big laugh at any time of the day. :-) My aunts and uncles have been a bright spot in my life. A source of much joy. We mourn the passing of our aunt. May she rest in peace.
**I've always thought this picture of Uncle Bill & Aunt Amelia hunting together was so cute!

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I have this picture below on my kitchen window ledge where I wash dishes.... of my Aunts(Mary, Amelia & Helen) in the backyard of Aunt Amelia's 1700's historical home in Ohio..with her 3 matching spaniels...their heads thrown back laughing...a familiar sight to me growing up. It makes me smile. Sometimes I get a little nostalgia missing those years feeling the closeness of all the family.

Paris Tea Room

We have a beautiful tea room here. My daughter and I are going to a special event there on Saturday....our girls day out together. If you are in the area...try it out. I love the atmosphere there. I'm excited about this event.
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Tea and The Social Graces

Tea & Etiquette Event
You’re Invited to join Nan Taylor, author of
“The Graceful Art of Tea"
In “Paris” for Tea Saturday July 19, 2008


Price includes: An Autographed Copy of “The Graceful Art of Tea” Book,

Served Luncheon Tea, Paris Souvenir & Featured Speaker, Nan Taylor

To Discuss The Social Tea Graces and Etiquette
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**Both the Tea Room and the Book was featured in the July 2008 issue of Victorian Homes Magazine. They rated this tea room #1 in the U.S. We pass by there almost daily. It's a beautiful Tea Room...

Very Interesting

*A friend of mine sent this to me. I think it's pretty incredible. Especially since I try so hard to spell things correctly. :-)Ha
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Only great minds can read this~This is weird, but interesting!


fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabri gde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it ...

Summer Day In California

Today my daughter helped me refill items at my shop in an antique mall in our downtown. I made some new things since I've been home from vacation.



Then we went to the downtown farmers market for fresh veggies. I love the fresh vegtables in Summer...we bought some corn, tomatoes, squash, lemons and limes....Delicious Watermelon. I kept looking around wanting to buy a bit of everything. Whether I could use it or not. There was someone popping kettle corn in big bags. It smelled good. Fresh tortilla's and tamales were smelling good, as well as a man barbecuing and people were taking it home. I love this city!!!! So much to do and see. I'm still nursing my poison ivy from Michigan. :-) Went to the nutrition shop and bought Dr. Bronners magic soap & various creams for P.I. Ivarest is the best. ha I forgot how irritating this stuff is. :-)lol

Marshall, Michigan

This is the town I go into from the Cabin....there are many antique stores and a beautiful circle with a fountain...all familiar from my childhood...

Cousins had fun together at the camp

The main reason I spend so much time in Michigan in the summer is to keep our family connected. The family is spread far and wide. In the summer the cousins love to be together. They bond and have shared experiences. I value our family and want to remain close, even when our callings move us to all points of the U.S.

~~~visiting aunt Alexa's cabin~~~



~~Cousins~on Sunday at my home church in Albion
~~Pastor David Trammell & Pastor Copple..:-) brotha's


~~Beautiful home church where I was married....

~~~~~*My sister with her first grandbaby...Clark



~~the kids all love to drive Aunt Marcia's golf cart....she had her place set up for kids with game stations and good food. Jeriah would wake up in the morning and go straight to Aunt Marcia's.



*late night on the playground...


My sister Alexa giving the kids a ride on her golfcart...







The children's camp that was going had a Jungle theme with Elephant and Horse rides....

Sharayah now has her own car!

We got Sharayah her first car. She's shared mine up to this point. She's getting ready to go to Indianapolis for school in the fall and I'm going to be driving back with her so she can have her car there. She's very excited to have her own car. As her dad says....she's driving the wheels off of it with her friends. This picture is the day she got it and we came out as she drove up to greet her and cheer for her...lol.....my youngest is in the drivers seat admiring his big sisters car.

Going West...the beautiful desert

Strange but true sightings...haha

On a New Mexico highway we saw Eddie Murphy movie prop being transported to California.