He Dreams of the Open Road

Red Green likes to explore his environment...We came out to the garage to feed him the other night and there he was perched on the handlebars of Pat's bike. This doesn't look like a very comfortable place to hang out but what do I know.

I'm Not Gone

Or was that "I'm Still Here." Okay, forgive me for using a terrible Joaquin Phoenix publicity stunt to open a post. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't flown the coop. I've just been pre-occupied with numerous distractions. Mostly, I've been waiting on my sketchbook so I can participate in The Sketchbook Project . For some reason, the mailman can't seem to find me because I still don't have it...Bummed.

On a completely unrelated note, I have had a wicked sweet tooth lately. What is up with that?

Mooshoo, Personality to Spare

Remember this photo? I posted this several weeks back after I submitted it for one of The Pioneer Woman's photo assignments, the theme was "funny." Well, to my utter surprise, it was chosen for one the groups from which the winner and runners-up are later chosen. I have submitted photos for many of her assignments and never been chosen, so this was pretty cool. It wouldn't be that big a deal except that thousands of people belong to her Flickr group and submit to these assignments and some incredible talent competes. So, yeah, it's cool!

Anyway, I decided to enter this same photo in The First Annual Dandiest Dog & Cutest Cat Photo Contest being put on by The Noble Beast here in Phoenix and, again, to my utter surprise, it won for the "Cutest Cat." Yes, it kinda made my day! And the $75 gift certificate is pretty great too!

Now if you are a serious dog or cat owner, you really must check out this adorable shop. It is located in the heart of Central Phoenix and they carry many very cool one of a kind pet accessories. They also carry a nice selection of organic/natural pet foods, treats, supplements and grooming supplies. The owners Alison and Marsha seem knowledgeable about the products they sell and seem to genuinely love serving the pet community.

Noble Beast
1005 E. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85014
602.265.4223
info@noblebeastpets.com

The Sketchbook Project

On Monday I signed up to participate in The Sketchbook Project. I am super psyched to do this, mostly because over the last few years I have become fascinated with the whole Moleskine movement and have started trying to keep an ongoing sketch journal. I am excited to be challenging myself with a theme and a time frame. I am out of my comfort zone with this gang, but I am up for it. I am also looking forward to seeing as many of the other participants sketchbooks as I can. Check out the project at http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject and join in! You can view other peoples pages at http://www.arthousecoop.com/

I will (eventually) post all of my sketchbook entrys on my Sketchbook Project page in sequence so you can see them all together and follow the theme. My chosen theme is "Coffee and Cigarettes" I will also post my pages on my home page as I do them. I can't wait to get started, just waitin on my book to come...

Photo Friday - Reflections of Excess

Queen of the Window

She thinks she owns this place...

60-Second Review: The Coffee Shop

Recently I had some time on my hands so I made the journey out to Gilbert to visit The Coffee Shop at Agritopia. In a nut-shell, it was a treat. This cute little cafe style restaurant is cozy and warm. The high ceilings and large windows make this somewhat small space seem much bigger. It was a great place to just hang out and have some breakfast. The food was good and the service was very prompt and friendly. If you know me, you know how much I hate getting bad service in a restaurant (waitress in a former life). Eating breakfast, however, was just a rouse to achieve my real goal.

Oh the things we do for love...of CUPCAKES that is. What I really went there for were the cupcakes. I had heard that the owners of The Coffee Shop had recently won an episode of "Cupcake Wars" (Food Network) with their "Coffee & Cigarettes" cupcakes and I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Choosing three tasty looking treats to take home and savor, I paid my bill and headed for the car. It then dawned on me that these delicate cakes might not fair so well on the long trip home. You see, this is Arizona and it was early September & still obscenely hot. 108 degrees Farenheit hot. And, did I mention that the AC in my car had recently quit working and I lived 30 miles away? I would just take the freeway all the way home and it would be fine, right? Unfortunately, I made one fatal mistake. I needed to make one quick stop on my way home. I would just run in and grab what I needed and hope the cupcakes would be okay for a few minutes. No such luck, of course the line at the register was halfway around the store. The photo tells the whole story. These cupcakes suffered heat stroke! By the time I DID get home I was too hot to even enjoy the once fine specimens. I ended up only eating half of one cupcake! Maybe I will try them again when it cools off a bit...

The Coffee Shop
3000 E Ray Rd
Gilbert Arizona

(NW Corner of Higley & Ray)
480-279-3144

Thumbs Up:
Clean, bright and comfortable.
Friendly service, good food.
The pastry case! I wanted one
of everything!
The owners support worthy causes.

Thumbs Down:
A very long drive from Central Phoenix.
The day I was there, not one
variety of Chocolate cupcake in the case. Wait, what, no chocolate?!

30-Second Observation #1

At least 9 out of 10 times I sit outside to eat my lunch the wind starts blowing and I get hair in my mouth as I take a bite of food. Yup, you read it here first...

The Dream House Becomes a Reality

The spiral staircase under construction, don't mind the mess...

The Leo household is all "abuzz" because the project is almost completed. Those of you that have been hearing about "Jessica's Dream House" for YEARS now, will soon be able to see pictures. Just a few detail items to finish and the girl can move in! Then on to the interior design...I think she is planning an "eclectic" design mix, stay tuned for those details. I'm excited because after purchasing a few kitchen pieces, I AM DONE SPENDING MONEY!!! Look for photo updates to the Dream House Project page coming soon.

Midnight

This is what happened when I decided to shoot some "water" themed photos at midnight on a Sunday. I actually kind of like the outcome but that could be irrational, overly tired thinking taking over. Not sure. If this post is gone tomorrow you will know what the conclusion was.