| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kreativeblonde |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 11:31:30 AM
Hi! I am thrilled to be a part of the maryjane's connection. My name is Amanda and I live just outside of Santa Barbara in a cute little beach community called Summerland. My first connection with maryjane was the latest magazine- The Apron issue. Boy, did thst bring back memories! I have such fond memories of my nana and granny wearing aprons while doing just about everthing; baking days, where the entire counter was covered with tins of baked goods; raising chickens in the backyard; my first garden; visiting my aunt and uncles dairy farm and "helping" guide the cows up the street for the evening milking; learning to knit and crochet from the elders; hanging the wash out to dry on the big clothing lines; family car trips and so much more.
Now days I spend my free time working on my garden. This is my second year having a plot at one of the local community gardens. I have learned so much from the other gardeners,some of which have been gardening for many many years. I haven't had a garden since I was little so it was quite an experince to say the least. After going through severe frosts, rain, wind and a still in a cast broken arm I am getting ready to start this years garden soon after getting my cast off-just 2 more weeks!
I also participate in our local Summer Solstice parade every June, which is the largest single-day event in our area. It celebrates the start of summer and the longest day of the year. This is my 13th year being in the parade, and my 3rd year having my own group. this parade takes the farmgirl approach to everyday objects one step further. My very first costume (a female tin woodsman) had a skirt that was made from a hollowed out metal washtub, which was packed VERY tightly with a lot of heavy foam and duct tape. I then added siler suspenders. I've also had a group called, "tossed salad", which consisted of a large "bowl" (open in the middle" with human "lettuce" and giant cherry tomatoes, beets, cucumber and carrot slices all made from papier mache, foam, or some other substance. This year my group is "flamingo fandango" a flamingo drill team. I'm not sure what happened this year, but we got an extremely early start on things. Usually we start in late May, but this year we started in late December!. I currently have about 25 people commited to the project; the costumes have been designed (we'll make the ourselves in the next 2 months); the float has been designed and I've met with the man whose going to help me build it-usually I do a lot of the work and get additional construction from the people that work at the workshop and are much better at the measuring and actual structural aspect than I. It has been a busy few months, but once my cast is off I will be excited to plant my garden-right now it just has strawberries (which is not a bad thing at all); work on the parade and get back to dressing myself 
Does anybody have any great ideas for things to plant this year?
Amanda |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kreativeblonde |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 4:45:47 PM
I can't wait to meet up with the "local" MJ farm girls!
Picked my first strawberries of the season yesterday-about 20+, not sure of the # since My friends and I may have eaten a few :-). Took a picture of what we didn't eat, which i'll post momentarily
Amanda
quote:
Originally posted by mima
Welcome from another Central Coast gal!!! You should try to meet up with us on our field trip to Ventura! Would love to meet you!
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| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 4:41:51 PM
Welcome Amanda! I love Summerland! It's so beautiful there! Done some fun shopping in the Yellow House area! I have family in Santa Barbara, Solvang and Santa Maria! Looking forward to knowing you!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
A House Is A Home Where Love Dwells |
| blueroses |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 11:31:28 AM
Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the group. Love your ideas - I really love the flamingo fandango idea. What fun. Your town sound pretty nice.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Bee Haven Maven |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 4:06:45 PM
Welcome Amanda....be sure and post some pictures from your Summer Solstice. Would love to see the end result of all your hard costume work. Sounds like a great little town. Welcome to the farm!
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/ |
| mima |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 09:56:14 AM
Welcome from another Central Coast gal!!! You should try to meet up with us on our field trip to Ventura! Would love to meet you! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 09:09:45 AM
Hi Amanda..welcome to the group!! I grew up north of you in Arroyo Grande..and am actually here on vavacation right now. You will love this group of gals!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 8:06:18 PM
Amanda,
Welcome!! So neat to hear all about your activities there! Can't wait to hear more about your garden plans and other hobbies as well! We are glad you found us and I can't wait to get to know you better as I see you 'round!
Hugz!
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| kreativeblonde |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 6:03:35 PM
Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but....we've moved up to the 80's. A lot of it's still the same as you remember, but noe there are houses built back far into the hillside and strangest of all there are million dollar homes at the edge of summerland, just behind where I live, which is all pretty funny when you consider that my apartment was built in the 70's...and looks like it!. The Nugget is still here, but the Big Yellow House has closed and some guy has planned an "upscale" resturant for the space, which anyone from around here knows is soooooooooo not what this town is about. we're way more laidback than that. Oh, and....we have a fabulous new bike path! It wraps around the oceanside of the hill (by the freeway) so there's no more schelping your bike over the hill and trying to avoid getting run over on the way down. Can't wait to try it out! Just got a bike, so once I'm healed from my broken arm, i'll be riding my bike to the friday morning farmer's market come summertime 
quote:
Originally posted by Ronna
Summerland is such a neat little town, like it's been lost in the 50's or 60's...if it's not changed and sounds like it's the same. I used to live in 1000 Oaks and went to Santa Barbara once a week for my job. Hit all the wondeful thrift shops in Santa Barbara too. Glad to have you here.
Ronna
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| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 5:39:00 PM
Summerland is such a neat little town, like it's been lost in the 50's or 60's...if it's not changed and sounds like it's the same. I used to live in 1000 Oaks and went to Santa Barbara once a week for my job. Hit all the wondeful thrift shops in Santa Barbara too. Glad to have you here.
Ronna |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 5:34:49 PM
Welcome Amanda - yes it sounds like you are a very energetic and busy lady. Glad you found this site. Its nice to get to know you. |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 1:31:58 PM
Welcome, Amanda! Love your farmgirl ingenuity for your costumes!! You will love it here!
Karin
Wherever you go, there you are. |
| sewgirlie |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 12:22:25 PM
Welcome Amanda! Sounds like you have a happy, full life. You will love it here!
Sheryl-lyn |
| lamamama |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 12:14:16 PM
Welcome, Amanda!
I'm certain that you will enjoy yourself here...... it's a fount of creative & inspirational ideas! Given your obviously HUGE imagination, you'll fit right in.
I loved reading about the parade, & your various themes!! If I lived around there, I'm positive I'd be marching with you. :) What a hoot!
And I often do wish I lived in Santa Barbara; it is one of my favorite places.
Looking forward to hearing more of your artistic adventures.
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| kreativeblonde |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 10:52:59 AM
thanks for letting me know about the Garden's gate.There are so many great resources and people so willing to share.
quote:
Originally posted by Alee
Hi Amanda-
Wow those are some great memories! Join us down at Garden's Gate! We have some great conversations going on about planting and crops for this year.
Welcome!
Alee
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| kreativeblonde |
Posted - Apr 08 2007 : 10:25:42 AM
Thanks for the welcome everybody!
My cast comes off in 2 weeks from tomorrow...and I can hardly wait. I'm really looking forward to sooooooo many things (after hand therapy, of course), but honestly I am going to be thrilled with being able to do my hair-properly. I use a "gloss" to make my hair shiny, but since the cast I just have patches of glossy hair...it's a great look I'm sure :-) Anyhow, I've surprised myself with the things I have been able to do with my left hand. |
| katmom |
Posted - Apr 07 2007 : 10:38:01 AM
Hey Amanda,
Welcome aboard!
I live in Moorpark, (Ventura CO.) about a 45min south of you. I love hitting the antique stores there in Summerland.
Have fun making new friends at MJF's
tata-4-now
grace
>^..^< |
| windypines |
Posted - Apr 07 2007 : 04:08:11 AM
Hi Amanda-whew sounds like you do alot. Have fun Michele |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 8:03:15 PM
welcome to the group Amanda.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| owwlady |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 7:29:05 PM
Hi Amanda, Welcome. Wish I could go to your parade, sounds like fun. |
| Mikki |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 4:36:20 PM
So glad your here Amanda! You'll just love it and you'll meet some very nice people. Welcome, welcome, welcome!!!
~~Blessings, Mikki Jo
http://burningmeadowsprings.blogspot.com/
http://strawberriesnapronstrings.blogspot.com/ |
| Luzy |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 3:26:46 PM
Welcome to the farm Amanda! You are gonna love it here! Good luck with your cast, when does it come off? Lu
--
May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 3:10:03 PM
Hi Amanda-
Wow those are some great memories! Join us down at Garden's Gate! We have some great conversations going on about planting and crops for this year.
Welcome!
Alee |
| shelle |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 2:31:28 PM
Welcome aboard Amanda!!
Shelle
http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| knewslady |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 11:58:53 AM
You are definitely going to fit right in here Amanda. Welcome aboard and join in on the fun.
Kathy
Will always be a farmgirl at heart
Visit my online shop at http://thebackfence.etsy.com |
