ILLUMINATING InVENTions of Metal ... I am a FAN

Artistic sculpture in front of the Georgina Cole Library in North Carlsbad.

Have you seen these in person? They are lovely, interactive art installments...check them out!

I gave them my own captions... :)


lollies



mouse trap



ET fingers



"Purty, purty flower"

Over the entrance to the planted section at Bamby's, hangs a lovely wood burned "welcome" sign. The sign actually beckons you in! The surrounding plants are so lush and green and their varieties are infinite! It feels like a warm inviting friend, to be in with the plants here at Bamby's!

You can purchase many things at Bamby's.There are statues, potted plants, seedlings in plastic planting trays, succulents, ferns, green, leafy, bushy, floral, cut flowers by the stem or the bouquet and I could go on for days!

Stop by Bamby's and say hello to the friendly proprietors! You can get help with making a floral arrangement for all occasions. There is someone to help you in English or Spanish. Bamby's sits on beautiful and funky State Street, in the heart of downtown Carlsbad, just next to the Carlsbad Animal Hospital!

Open every single day, 7 am to 8 pm..

Hardworking people affordable prices and TOP NOTCH quality flora! Don't miss this!

Bamby's Flowers
2763 State Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
English-760-828-3554
Spanish-760-434-0231
email: bambysflowers@yahoo.com

Come In Come In

An invitation to enter where?  Can you spot this sign in Carlsbad?

Hint: It hangs above the entrance to a place where nature is harnessed and the largest set of "doe eyes" look out over you!

Cheers Ears!

The friendly counter mistress, Stephanie, tells me the Thomson's have been in the San Diego environs, doing business for 35 years.

Irene and Bryan made Bit O' Britain a fixture on State Street ten years ago.

Carlsbad is fortunate to have such a store nearby! Where else can one pick up a current copy of Union Jack, America's only National British Newspaper that announces all things William and Kate among its news, a pack of biscuits, tea, British foods, goods and gifts of all kinds?



Bit O' Britain has it all. They even have my favourite honeycomb chocolate bar. They are open 7 days a week, 11am to 5pm! This is a perfect place to grab a snack and a jaunty conversation, while you are walking about town.

If you like salty, grab a bag of crisps. If you like sweets, grab any number of the wide variety of chocolate and candies. Looking for a gift, you can find it here: tea cups and saucers for the serious collector, tea, cozies, flags, t-shirts, decor, paper goods...if it is British it has come here to Bit O' Britain!

Do stop by and take a peek in this little Bit O' Britain right here in our own town. It is truly a shop the Queen Mum herself would love!

Bit O' Britain
2860 Stare Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-434-9130

aound town Saturday...

Here are a few cool residences I passed by on Saturday, here in beautiful Carlsbad. The sun was shining and it was a gorgeous winters day! These are places I pass all of the time and they stand out among the others...they are unique...LIKE YOU!


Brave protector of the gate!



cool cars anyone? This drive is loaded with sweet rides...wonder if they run?



this is my favorite house in Carlsbad! It is a complete mystery to me, as to who lives here. I often drive by and wonder about the history of this lovely Victorian!



There's No Place Like Home...



North Shelter



My heart is always conflicted at seeing animals behind bars.



Dora the other explorer! 2year old female seeks family for long walks on beach and night times spent snuggling on the sofa. N287

In the North Shelter of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, I feel a little bit better about it. I know they are in the safest place they could be until they find their "forever home". I know they are coddled and snuggled by countless, dedicated and loving volunteers. I know they have a real shot at finding a great new home.

male terrier needs family to love him...stat! 3 years old N794

I am a frequent visitor to the shelter, which is right up the street from my home, however, I usually park the car, run a donation of towels or pet beds up to the super friendly and helpful front desk staff, and then leave before I catch a glimpse of someone I would feel bad about leaving behind. 

Isaac will melt your heart. Male neutered, 1.5 yr old pit bull N822

Today I wanted to spotlight some of the adorable fur-kids they have available for adoption! I am going to pick an animal each week and give him or her their 15 minutes of fame! You never know who is looking and all of my pets, past and current have been adopted after someone else saw them and told me about their extreme cuteness and how they would be the perfect companion for me! 

Meet Brenda! gorgeous brindle markings! Female, 3 years old. Pit Bull Boxer mix

The shelter is one of three, in the county of San Diego. I am going to stick with the North Shelter, as it is located in Carlsbad. There are shelters, though, all over the world that house animals who need a human to love them. If you are looking for an addition to your family, PLEASE check your local area shelter first! If you do not meet them on that visit, do not give up on them...they need you to come back and find them! 

He's so FLUFFY! N862 male/neutered Golden 1 year

The shelters are often at capacity but they have a great adoption rate. Just because a space in the kennels opens up, does not mean it needs to be filled right away. As responsible pet owners, we can do our part in keeping shelters empty. First, spay and neuter your pets. If you adopt an animal from a shelter, chances are your new buddy already has had this procedure. There are enough animals in this world, which leads me to the second item. Do not support puppy mills.

Animals are bred irresponsibly in puppy mills. Breeding in this style leads to animals with poor health, which could lead to animals being given up by their families and ending up in a shelter. Next, keep your pets Id tags current and microchip them if you can. If your pet gets out, it will be easier to tell where they belong and will help to keep them out of shelters. Another way to protect your pet is to make sure you have adequate fencing. If an animal escapes the yard, it can get picked up and taken to a local area shelter or worse, be involved in an accident.

male jack russ mix 1 year ...look at those eyes! N361

 Please keep in mind that these are merely suggestions as a way to keep shelters open for the animals that are in need, like the two sweet hearts below.  Older animals with tons of personality and charm are just waiting to come home with you.


Aggie and her pal Mac, below, just lost both parents in an unfortunate turn of events. They are in need of a loving home. Their Shelter ID numbers are N893 and N384 respectively.



We love our pets like our children. We know they can heal our hearts. We know they make us better people just by being in their presence! Please know that the friend you have been looking for, the unconditional love giver, the pal you can talk to and spend time with, the oh-my-gosh-could-he-be-any-cuter little partner is possibly waiting for you RIGHT NOW at a local area animal shelter!

Each shelter has a variety of animals available. Not all types of animals can be found at every shelter.There are dogs, cats, birds, rats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, reptiles and livestock all asking for a second chance! Won't you be that chance!

Open your heart and your home...you will be forever grateful and so will they!



Panda is a socialite! You can ask to see her by her ID of N883. She is a 11 month old boxer/pit mix...what a doll!



park it!

Rotary Park Carlsbad sits approximately at 2990 Washington Street.

It is between the Carlsbad Village Shopping Plaza and the railroad tracks that run parallel to the coastline.
It is a small park with a couple of benches and a lot of open green space.

Bring your lunch! You can even buy lunch from one of the many nearby restaurants. It is a popular spot for watching the trains come and go from Carlsbad Village Station.

Come spend some time outdoors in the fresh ocean breeze!

Sunday Funnies

Has anyone waymarked this little guy? I cannot give away his location, in case, but I can say that he sits on an affluent corner in a pretty cool little beach community. He is black and white and red all over and is a firefighters best buddy!

To Be or Not To Be...

You guessed right! You were looking at a snippet of the marquee belonging to the Carlsbad Village Theatre! What a place! The theatre was built in 1927. It is equipped (and available) for all kinds of performances!

The next time you are in downtown Carlsbad and find yourself with some free time, check out what might be upcoming at the theatre!


There are comedy shows, stage plays, movie screenings, space for meetings and many other activities in this 300 seat auditorium.

It is awesome to have to have such a cool landmark in our midst!

Carlsbad Village Theatre
2822 State Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 720-2460
www.carlsbadvillagetheatre.com

Hear Ye Hear Ye...Calling all Thespians!

can you recognize this bit of a popular marquee in downtown Carlsbad???

Off to Market...

Fair prices and good for you too!

sweet flowers and rosy tomatoes!

Carlsbad Ranch Market is the next stop on our discovery voyage! This place rocks! At lunchtime, you can grab a cold salad with all the trimmings and it is sold by the weight! You can get a hot lunch plate, also weighed for pricing. There are an assortment of delicious treats to tempt your taste buds!

I do not shop anywhere else for produce!

They have everything and it is always guaranteed fresh and more important...it is locally grown! There are even hard to find items like Belgian Endive, which cook up so tasty!

Conveniently located steps from Tip Top Meats, it is virtually a one stop shopping and dining experience!

Pop by to pick up a Julian Pie...Oh yes, they have them!!!! Check out the large variety of local honey and interesting breads! You can buy yogurt covered pretzels, greeting cards, fruit and veggies, bread, milk , honey, pasta, sauces, pies, noodles, beans, tortillas, flowers, salsa...and if you can't find it they probably have it in the back!

For a totally fun grocery experience do not miss the Carlsbad Ranch Market!

Carlsbad Ranch Market
6118 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Phone: (760) 438-3202

Tis not the meat but tis the appetite makes eating a delight!

Oh how I love Tip Top Meats!

It is the place that has it all! The take-away menu boasts "Old Fashioned Service & Top Quality" and it is the truth. You will often find Herr John Haedrich, the owner, around the store, helping out, cutting meat or just greeting customers! He has been a fixture in Carlsbad since 1967. 

Besides being a butcher, a deli, a bakery and a sundries supply, Tip Top has a killer restaurant in its belly! There, they make a pastrami sandwich that rivals no others! They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and they are dishing up a variety of pure comfort foods...two hander sandwiches, soups, burgers, desserts and $3.00 draft beers!


Tip Top's has a plethora of fine wines, European soaps and toiletries, every kind of sauce you can imagine and even fresh made dog food! So stop by for your dinner fixins', grab a hot or cold sandwich, or just look around...you will not be disappointed!You can even call in your orders at lunchtime, which is highly recommended!

Hours of Operation: Daily 6 am to 8 pm

Tip Top Meats
6118 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92011
(760) 438-2620

Ohana means family



A lovely lotus created by Dale Chihuly and team, on display at Cheekwood

 You will find the floral beauties (Jurassic flora) on the west facing exterior wall of Ohana Creations, in downtown Carlsbad. They are located at 550 Grand Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 434-1611.

Call Ohana Creations for all of your local delivery needs. A multitude of floral variations and always fresh and arranged. When you think of your loved ones, a new graduate, a teacher or a neighbor...remember Ohana .

The thing I love about Carlsbad being a smallish beach community is that it is super easy to support local vendors and awesome to meet new friends and neighbors in the process!  Aloha.

Jurrasic Proportioned Flora

While uncovering all of the hidden gems, in Carlsbad, I came across this beautiful work of art. Do you know where it is located?  Take a walk on Grand, near State Street and you will see this eye candy for yourself!

HO HO HO Happy Honda Days...HOehn HOnda

Our next stop in Carlsbad is HOehn HOnda.

Located in Car Country Carlsbad HOehn HOnda,has been a fixture here since 1975.  This family owned business treats its customers with respect. The sales and service staff are courteous and helpful.

HOehn HOnda sells new, pre-owned and certified pre-owned HOndas. HOehn HOnda was proudly awarded the first Green Shop award, by the state of California.

Here the sales personnel are helpful and not pushy. Both my husband and my sister have purchased pre-owned vehicles from  HOehn HOnda and are extremely satisfied! If you are looking to add a car to your collection or if you are in the market for a new car, HOehn HOnda  just might have what you are looking for. There is the Civic, Pilot, CR-V, Accord, Element and many more to choose from. Stop by to say hello.

Need an oil change, a part repaired or installed on your car? HOehn HOnda has a full service and parts department to handle whatever your needs might be! 

I chose today to write about cars, in honor of the San Diego  International Auto Show, at the San Diego Convention Center, through today! Stop by to see some old classics, new models for 2011 and concept cars that may show what the future of automobiles has in store for us!

HOehn HOnda
5454 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 438-1818  Open 7 day a week