From Farm to Jar: A Cross Continental Odyssey

This is a story of how berries from Dempsey Farms of St. Helena's Island, SC 

journeyed to western Los Angeles to become awesome Strawberry Jam.

The U-Pick strawberry field.

Severo gets his bag and bucket for picking.

Into the field with Mom and Severo.

Severo and his first berry.

Severo in the field.

I refused to pick berries. I sketched Severo in action instead.

Another action sketch.

"I'm done."

Hulling the berries for that night's Strawberry Shortcake and for freezing.

For freezing, berries are spread on a tray. After they are frozen, they are packed in a zip-lock bag.

During our trans-continental flight, the berries thawed, so I made Strawberry Freezer Jam.
THREE batches! So yummy!

Linking with Catherine's #SaturdayShareLinkup

The Syd Sydrome

More Scribbles in the Dark, featuring various configurations involving Syd Straw. 

First was Cindy Lee Barryhill's record launch at McCabe's. (More about that in another post). 

Got autographs!

Next gig involved a mad dash after my Saturday class to the Casbah in San Diego.

Robert Lloyd, Syd, Severo

Syd with an adoring fan. He came from San Francisco for the gig.

Next, Syd at McCabe's:

Lyn Bertels, Karyn Kuhl, Syd, John Moremen, Robert Lloyd, Severo

In closing, here is the song that has crawled into my head and won't leave.

Are you ready to join the Lobster Girl cult?

Stan Ridgway and Friends In Whittier

Has it been two weeks ago already?
Dez, Severo, and I saw Stan at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts in Whittier on February 4th.

Here we are with Stan, helping push the merch. 

The Shannon is a lovely small theater, with nicely raked seating so the sight lines are good.

They also have NO extra service charges on their tickets. Yay!

One drawback is a strict ban on photography and recording devices.
I already knew that, so I took along my sketchbook:

[clean copies of the sketches are over here on my sketch blog]

Tonight, I meet up with Dez again, to see Dave and Phil Alvin. Woohoo!

Clutter Confidential: 30/31 Neatnik Nails the Nook

As I was taking my "clean coffee table" photos yesterday, I noticed (and cropped out) an area that I had overlooked in my tidying:

That cranny under the table.

Along with the museum of retired remotes, I found a clock.

I have no recollection of this clock, but I put it to use in the kitchen.

Jury still out on it's ability to keep time.

Nook is neater!

A wide view from the other side.

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 29/31 Table That

I was backsliding on the table:

Now the piles of papers building up are more evident.
I've now cleared room for this phase of the declutter.
Deep diving required!

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 28/31 Next

It's getting harder to find small "5 minute" messes in the living room.

The sketching is getting tiresome as well.

Done and done.

Next.

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 27/31 Mystery Grab Bag

A bag of random stuff.
I thought it had come from the van. (which died in 2007 or so).

I did a "What's In My Bag?" type layout as I unpacked it:

Oh! It's mostly stuff from the fridge gallery!
I integrated the appropriate items back into the collection.

I started a "real size" sketch of the fridge years ago. Too daunting.
This smaller one from 2010 is sweet:

Anne M Bray, Fridge, Ink/paper, 6 x 4" ©2010

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 25/31 Sketchy Situation

This corner was mocking me:

I organized it into submission.

Crate #1, under the tees and smiley pillow, held my pile of sketchbooks.

"THAT's where they went!"

Both fashion sketches from the past few years [see those over on SpyGirl],

and sketches done during my pop tart phase in the early 00's:

I don't know "Baby's" real name. Isn't she a doll?

I'll post more of the pop scene sketches after the 31 Days thing is done.

Don't want to interrupt the current flow.

Ha! Touché messy area!

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 24/31 Recipe for Success

This box filled with newspapers and whatnot has been parked under the table forever.

I spy another randomly placed photo album in there.

The photo album was empty. 

It got placed in the "photo corner". 

I thought the box might contain a pile of recipes. 

Yes, a few. 

Mostly, I found lots of 2013 unread newspapers (placed there during a mad cleanup, no doubt). 

Direct transport outside to the blue recycle bin.

Under that was a collection of magazines from 2009!

More trips to the blue bin.

I'll confess, not everything got sorted out of the box.
I put some items back in and moved it to the side of the living room.
I KNOW that's a bad idea.
I also know if I keep chipping away at the piles, bit by bit they'll erode.
I'm optimistic!

I know, I know -- it'd be better if that space under the table was empty.
That's my "tech" suitcase. It holds all the cables, chargers, and components that I could possibly need. No obsolete stuff.
If I move it now to where it belongs, I'll be tripping over it.
Onward.

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 23/31 Skirting the Issue

This was starting to annoy me:

A halfway completed pile of items to list to sell on Poshmark. They had been heaped there for a week.

I've sketched and journaled my way to the end of the Moleskine book that I was using.

I'm now using a spiral-bound sketchbook for the sketches, and the backsides of a realtor freebie notepad for my journaling.

I figured an easy way to tackle the "5 minutes" declutter is to list a new item on Poshmark.

(I know, I keep going on and on about Poshmark. There's something about it I really enjoy, more so than Etsy.  Maybe it's the easy prepaid postage part. I haven't tried Ebay, so I don't know how it compares.)

I got the skirt listed. Yay me!

Chip away at it little by little, and the mountain will eventually be gone.

Another room, another pile.

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.

Clutter Confidential: 22/31 Junked Mail

As you can see, the living room table has gone rogue with clutter. Again. Must remain vigilant! 

I dealt with the pile of mail that had been breeding on the sewing table. A lot of it went to recycling.

Find links to all the posts (as they get written) here.