Saturday, January 4, 2014

Palm Springs to Pasadena...


I am happy to report Mr. C and I closed out 2013 with a long and winding road trip to visit family and friends.  We felt it important to connect with those that we may not have seen for some time.  We left our home in the care of a friend who kept it safe and sound.  Our weather was simply gorgeous.  This is a photo of Palm Springs and shows why I love it there so much (sadly Mr. C does not like the desert).  Blue sky, hills that reflect the light and shadows of the sun, palm trees and not so many crowds.  I am grateful for being able to enjoy such peace and calm as the hectic days of Christmas didn't seem to follow us there.   I won't share all of our trip as that would bore you and I want to only share the serenity with you.
Christmas was very special this year as we stayed with my daughter in South Orange County.  She spoiled us beyond.  Thank You and I Love You!


Our last stay was in Pasadena for the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade along Orange Grove Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard.  Mr. C had never been to it in person.  I was able to enjoy it many years ago as my daughter's high school band was honored to be one of six that marched in the parade.  To our delight we were able to stay with a dear friend who just happens to live 1/2 mile from the Tournament of Roses Headquarters on Orange Grove Boulevard and the floats stage right in front of her home.  What an experience to ring in the new year with thousands of people and the gorgeous floats up close.  Thank you Miss Elsbeth.  This is us at midnight enjoying strolling along and seeing the floats stage.


If you have only watched the parade on TV and never seen it in person you really cannot appreciate the work and details that go into each and every part of the floats.  Every single part is covered in flowers, petals, seeds and organic living bits.


The colors are spectacular.  Each flower is in its own water vial.  The thousands of volunteers and hours it takes is truly a labor of love.


The art and showmanship is amazing.  Nothing painted.  All organic materials.


It was fun to try to figure out what some of the materials used could be.  Some I have never heard of.  All of them absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!


Each float has a theme and this one was honoring Police K-9 dogs.  There were also live dogs riding on the float.  Such well behaved amazing animals.  Thank you to all who train and tend and utilize these dogs.


This was a spectacular float from Indonesia with lovely ladies in colorful costumes adorned with flowers.  Can you imagine marching 5 1/2 miles plus donning these headdresses?  Lots of bands and horses and beautiful people along with so many amazing floats makes this parade so unique and special.  What a wonderful way to begin this new year 2014.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are so very grateful to have been a small part of it.
I am humbled by my many blog friends who have sent me cards and gifts.  I have chosen not to share them on my blog but keep them to myself.  I do hope you understand.  I am thankful for each and every one of you and I will be contacting each of you to properly thank you.  My blogging journey has allowed me some very special moments and memories.  I treasure each and every one.
As I unpack and organize and catch up from being gone I am reminded that this year I intend to simplify my surroundings.  I know I border on hoarder and have way too much stuff.  I am extremely sentimental and never get rid of things.  Reality is telling me I don't need to keep or wear that outfit from the 1980's that I always felt ugly in. Since "giving" is my 2014 word I shall be donating lots to worthy causes.  I have made some promises to myself and to others and I fully intend to follow through.  I don't do resolutions but I do make some goals for myself and therefore I tend to keep true to my words.
Happy New Year and Creative Blessings to all.  Now let's create happiness...

26 comments:

  1. I'm not sure where You call home but I have lived My whole life in Southern CA.I am very familiar with the live Rose parade and Of course Palm Springs too.I too love going to P.S. even in the Summer when You spend all day at the movies and all evening swimming.

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  2. I was getting worried about your being an empty poster!!! Glad you had such a wonderful trip! Memories are the best to make and to look back on

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  3. what an amazing time you had, I watch the parade and love it but to see in person, wow! I think we all need to down size at some point, less stuff makes life a bit calmer,

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  4. oooh, glad you had such a great time. The flowers are amazing!

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  5. I am with you Sherry. Lots of creatively inky hands in store for 2014. thanks as always for sharing.

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  6. Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing this beauty of a trip. Those floats really do look amazing.

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  7. Hi Sherry:
    We watched the parade this year. I think one of my favorite floats was the dog catcher chasing his truck that had been stolen by the dogs. I don't remember who created the float, but it made me smile. I also loved fact that KC and the Sunshine Band sang and danced on their parade float. The aliens who drove off the front of their float, around it and than back onto it for the float to proceed was fun, too.

    I can only imagine how gorgeous it must have been to attend in person. Can you smell the flowers, too? mmmmm!

    Thanks for sharing your trip pictures. Wonderful!
    xoxo
    Donna

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  8. Thanks for sharing these great photos Sherry.What a spectacular sight they must have been (the floats). I love desert too.We have a lot of it here in Australia.I lived in the Outback as a governess when young, and it was on a cattle station.The colours and sunsets and storms in the desert are spectacular.
    I'm so glad you got lots of lovely cards and gifts from your blogging friends.I got yours(lovely thought- thanks), and one card!! That must be telling me something.
    thanks for posting Sherry
    Judy xxx

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  9. What a fun trip! And to be able to stay with a friend and not get caught in all of the traffic! I had no idea the work that went into the floats! so glad you had a great time Happy New Year

    Carol

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  10. what an amazing parade as you say wonderful to be able to see it in `real life` Re 80`s clothes, I am still wearing some of mine! and the only really comfortable pair of shoes I have were purchased then

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  11. Thanks for taking us along on your trip with Mr. C. I'm so happy you had that time and the parade is wonderful on TV but I can only imagine in person!

    Glad you connected with loved ones, too.

    xo

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  12. Hi Sherry, Happy New Year. I loved this post and seeing the wonderful floats. So much work and talent goes into the making of each theme and display. I am so glad you and Mr.C got to spend time enjoying the parade and staying with a dear friend.
    Our niece and nephew traveled from Michigan to see the game. They are grads of MSU.

    Wishing you the best of 2014 and many blessings.
    Hugs

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  13. Hi Sherry, Happy New Year. I loved this post and seeing the wonderful floats. So much work and talent goes into the making of each theme and display. I am so glad you and Mr.C got to spend time enjoying the parade and staying with a dear friend.
    Our niece and nephew traveled from Michigan to see the game. They are grads of MSU.

    Wishing you the best of 2014 and many blessings.
    Hugs

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  14. Thank you for such an interesting post....I have watched the parade and heard the announcer describe the floats, but seeing your photos brought it all to life for me. Wow! the work and number of flowers, seeds...etc. that is involved in making each float. What do they do with the floats after the parade?
    xo,
    Deb

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  15. What beautiful photos!! The parade looks amazing!! What an exciting thing to witness in person!! I'm glad you had a safe and happy trip!! Happy Sunday :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  16. Sounds like a marvelous time!! Welcome home, Sherry. Happy creating!

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  17. Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the floats. I have never seen the parade in person but think it would be wonderful. I was amazed to read where you said each flower is in its own water vial. Amazing.

    Glad you had such a great trip.

    Hugs
    FredaB

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  18. That looks like an amazing adventureand and a wonderful holiday!
    Good luck on this years goals!

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  19. Wow, sounds like a wonderful and very special Christmas for you and your family & friends.
    Welcome to sunny CA.
    Happy New Year.
    Hugs ans smiles...Cory/Dogwood

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  20. Hello Sherry, we watched the parade on the telly. It would have been amazing if we had recognized you in the crowed. I am so glad you had this opportunity. I am sure it is much better in person. Lucky girl!
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  21. Happy New Year Sherry! It certainly sounds like you rang in the new year in grand style. Mrs. Elsbeth is a lovely lady. I intend to clean up and clear out around here, too. In fact, I started doing just that in my office at school today. I have a tendency to keep so much stuff, intending to reuse, recycle, but sometimes it truly gets out of hand. Having too much stuff around is making me crazy so time to get a handle on it. Wishing you all the best for 2014. Tammy

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  22. Dear Sherry, what a special tour, both visiting your daughter, and spending time with a friend while being on that gorgeous parade. How beautiful it has been watching all the dressed up persons,and the flowers all over.
    A very wonderful christmas, indeed my friend.
    Hugs from Dorthe

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  23. Oh, how I miss parades! They're so much fun.

    *smile*

    Happy highways,
    Kelley~

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  24. Watching the Rose Parade live was a yearly occurrence as a child, but I haven't been in years.

    I am a hoarder also. Instead of one word, I am calling 2014 the "Year of the House". I am simplifying, purging and doing projects big and small to make our house the perfect home.

    Enjoy your "Year of Giving".

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  25. How beautiful that parade was! You were so lucky to be able to see it in person, Sherry! I'm so glad you got to spend time over the holidays with special friends, and stay (and be spoiled) at your daughter's house for Christmas! xo

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  26. I still remember going to the Rose parade when I was little, it was beautiful! Happy to hear you spent time with Loved ones!

    hugs Lynn

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