My Life... My Story

Mom's Birthday Party

Mom decided a few weeks ago that she wanted to have a birthday party. So the place was her home, the time 5:00 pm last night. The Menu.... Ara's Enchiladas, My husbands beans and salsa, the cooks potato salad, arroz and salad.
Since the weather was chilly my mother and father placed all the tables indoors. My mother and I went off to Micheal's to pick up stuff for the table settings. She wanted to use all of her candelabras that were around the house. So with that as our inspiration. We set out on our shopping journey (Friday!!! the night before). We get to Micheal's... and low and behold, there was no "fall" anything. It's all Christmas. Helllo.....it's still the first 10 days of November.
So I picked up 12x12 paper for base of the center pieces, some gold and white pearl sprigs and ribbon. As the thank you gift we purchased little magnet frames and placed the family names in them. We used them as decor and gifts and not as seating assignments.
Overall the music of the band, the food and the company were wonderful.

November 2

November 2, 6:30 - 9:00 pm

We took off to Riverside. They had a Dia de los Muertos event that I have always wanted to attend, but never had the time or could not because it was on a work night. Since the second fell on a Friday, we lucked out. It started with a posada down Mission Ave. and culminated in front of the Metropolitan Museum .

They had a variety of alters on display. People from the community sharing their loved ones with us. Each alter was specific to the person it was honoring.

They had a community alter set up. You could place words on stickers and post them on the alter. You could even place items as well. I placed a sugar skull and a family photo with white sage. Great Grandma will keep on eye us all.

Directly in front of the museum there was a "Chalk" artist with this lovely display. The chin and lips where so three dimensional, so soft, yet it was on a concrete sidewalk.

The museum had free admission to the public and we went in to see the latest exhibit entitled Nuestra Historia . It was a wonderful set up. The community was gathered, the warmth of the candles on the alters filled the air and children walked around the gallery looking at the paintings, walking with the sense of importance in their eyes.

It's done...

I put coffee in the cup, blessed it with white sage and added the last small pieces.

It saddens me that this holiday has gone so commercial. I've been doing this for years and yesterday I got the breath taken from me in a not so breath taking way. I was in Stator Bros' and there on a plant display was advertised "Dia De los Muertos" potted Ivy for $9.99.

Dia de los Muertos

We went to an art reception at a local community college. M is an alum from there and was invited to show his work and put it on display. It was a small venue, however the color, forms and displays were beautiful.

Skull decorating party

October 28th

Here are a few images from our skull decorating get together. Everyone let their creative jucies flow. My brother just got back from Seattle on Friday and was taking off on Monday to NY.