Feb 19 2010
Remembering Anaheim!
Indeed … my visit to CHA Anaheim last month was a trip that I will savor for many years to come. While I was hoping for a bit of a warm retrieve from Winter, it actually turned out to be cloudy, 40’s & 50’s, with plenty of rain. Oh well! This is the stuff that creates beautiful plant life! And truly, I was privileged to see the awesome Queen Palms, the towering taller palms, and even in January, I was tickled to see beautiful foliage in the landscapes. One of the most memorable sights around the hotel & along the streets to & from the convention center was the multitude of Bird of Paradise plants.
I know … not everyone focuses on the flora & fauna surrounding them. But for me, I cannot remember a time in my life when I haven’t consciously been aware of my love for plants, lush foliage, floral beauties of all types, flowers, perennials, annuals, blooming shrubs … … … Well, as you can see, I could go ‘on & on’. I owe this in part to my beloved Aunt & Uncle with whom I spent many wonderful summers, in the Lodi, California area. They owned 3 floral nurseries. It was my privilege/blessing to spend summers there … always savoring, loving, and adoring the scents, the visual beauties, and the aromatic wonders only found in such an environment. Being raised in the plains & wheatfields elsewhere, the California sunshine & nurseries truly seemed like heaven on earth to me. To this day, my daydreams take me back there on short notice. 
Oooops! Back to Anaheim! Southern California greeted us with rain, and rain, and cooler-than-packed-for temperatures. Oh well! The camera stayed in the darling bag gifted to me by my DD during all outdoor ventures due to rain, with the exception of the one sunny day we spent at Disneyland! Thus, I have no photos of the beautiful landscaping between the hotels, and surrounding the convention center area. It’s only a memory. Today’s card actually places one of my favorite memories on cardstock … thanks to the WT258 challenge at SCS this week, to use ‘orange’. If you’ve been around Savor the Journey very much, you’ve possibly noticed that ‘orange’ is not one of my typical “go-to” colors. That’s okay … we all have our comfort zones! LOL This challenge made me recall the ‘Bird of Paradise’ plants so lushly covering many landscapes along our daily boulevard trips in Anaheim, so that’s a good thing! As it turned out, the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, & golden from Mothermark’s Teapot Tuesday challenge are still partying on my stamp table with this entry! Even though I have no Anaheim landscape photos to recall, now I have this memory on cardstock, ready to share with you today.
Remember, I’m basically a wheatfield gal … but I do remember the first time I that I saw one of these plants IRL. It was in my Aunt’s nursery … full of blooms …. totally mesmerizing to this then-young girl. After all, I had only seen these on television shows and in encyclopedias! My Aunt couldn’t quite understand my excitement, but I honestly did run to ask her about this gorgeous plant in the greenhouse adjacent to the gift store. I remember being afraid to touch it … it just didn’t seem “real” at the time. Well, I’m still living in the plains, and still rush to touch & smell beautiful blooms when I’m away. Even the anticipation makes me smile. I hope that in some small way, this will bring back a treasured memory to you today. Maybe it isn’t floral, or olfactory, but if it makes you remember and smile, then that’s really all that matters. Find a treasure to recall, and smile from within!
I’m thankful for your sharing a moment of your day here. I hope you’ve found something to make your day more memorable! Thanks for visiting!
~
Card Recipe: STAMPS: Bird of Paradise (Rubbernecker Stamps)
INKS: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers B21, B24, B26, B29, G000, G03, G05, G07, Y00, Y15, Y23, Y32. Y38, YR07, YR68, 0
PAPERS: Neenah Solar Classic White, Prism Intense Cobalt, Intense Orange, & Intense Yellow
ACCESSORIES: Ranger Glossy Accents, Spica Glitter Pens, Martha Stewart punch, May Arts Ribbon, sewing machine, dimensional foam tape
9 responses so far
Wonderful, Bev! Like you…..I do love flora and fauna!
The first time I saw one of these (irl) was in Greece. They are amazing! BUT THIS CARD IS AMAZING!!
The colors, the coloring–I am a-ga!
Sweet Card Sweet Lady!
MWAH!
V
I love your bright, beautiful card, Bev. I miss Southern Cal weather, too.
This is so beautiful Bev – love the bright colors! Just coming to your blog reminds me of the fun I had at the Super Show and meeting and hanging out with you and Joan! I won’t forget that ever!
oooh, so pretty – love the rich colors & ribbon treatment
This is gorgeous, Bev…and I love the colors!! I also love what you’ve done with the ribbon! Unique and beautiful!!
WOW Bev, your card is awesome. Having grown up with Birds of Paradise I can tell you you’ve captured it quite beautifully. I too love the ribbon treatment. Just fabulous.
WOWZER, BEV….this is absolutely SPECTACULAR!!!!! What gorgeous, vivid colors and your coloring is sooo beautiful!!!! I love how you created the ribbon treatment, too, and the sewing just ties it all together….AWESOME!!!!!!!!