Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small beach city on the Monterey Peninsula of California.  I fell in love with all its’ little fairytale shops and galleries.  There are also numerous nice cozy bistros or upscale restaurants to satiate your appetite.  Artistic elements were everywhere the eye could see.  An interesting fact about this cities’ mayors is that several of them were poets or actors, including Herbert Heron, founder of the Forest Theater, bohemian writer and actor Perry Newberry, and actor-director Clint Eastwood.  

My family and I arrived just in time for lunch.  We stopped by 5th Avenue Deli & Catering Co and got some delicious sandwiches.  I had the Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich and it was mouthwatering.  After that we made our way through some of the city streets and visited art galleries and shops along the way.  We walked down to the beach after enjoying the city and it’s hustle and bustle to sit in the soft sand of the beach.  Dogs were playing chase and kids were making sandcastles.  Everyone was relaxing to the tune of the waves of the ocean.  It was the perfect afternoon and one of those days you wished would never end.   

The Afghan Dress 

I had imagined taking these photographs for a long time and was waiting for the right wintery mix.   

It has been unusually snowy and cold here in St. Louis and you may have heard of the polar vortex affecting our region this winter.  So as school was cancelled and we were all cooped up inside, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to step into the backyard and take some self portraits.  I set up my camera on a tripod and enlisted my daughter to operate the shutter.  She loves creative projects as much as I do.  She also wanted to make sure that I give her credit for this in my post.  Thank you, my dear daughter!  You are amazing.  

So, let’s talk about this beautiful dress.  It is a traditional afghan dress adorned with beads, coins, and colorful accents.  Worn on special occasions such as weddings, it is a prized possession on any afghan girl.  My mom, for example, made her dress by hand with the help of all her girlfriends right before her marriage to my dad.  She was given precious coins to sew into the dress as her gift from her father’s home.  These coins travel through generations of women this way.  Other parts of the dress, such as the end of the sleeves or the chest area, are meticulously hand embroidered using colorful thread or yarn.  Green is a color that is usually worn by brides as it represents youth, fertility, and new life.  Young girls spend hours and days making these pieces and eventually assemble them into a beautiful dress.  Each one is different and each one is precious.  

Share your thoughts with me and let me know what you think of these images.    

Let it snow!

For the most part, I have always lived in places with all four seasons.  I especially look forward to fall and winter.  I love the changing colors of the fall foliage and the first snow in the winter is just magical.    

We had our first snow fall here in St. Louis just last week and the kids had their first snow day of the season.  They woke up really early to open their eyes to a winter wonderland.  Right after they had breakfast, it was go time.  Hats, gloves, jackets, snow pants, and boots couldn’t be put on fast enough.  Once outside, it was a sight to admire.  The snow was untouched and looking like a fluffy white blanket had fallen over the neighborhood.  You could hear your boots sinking into it and leaving behind a footprint.  We found the steepest hill in our neighbors backyard and sledded down while we screamed with joy.  

Unfortunately, the snow didn’t last more than a day but hopefully it will come back again soon.