Tinkerbell

Baby Bean really likes to dress up Alice, but Alice doesn't like it very much!

Cactus from the "Desert Garden" at the Huntington: these Pictures are for Jocebean's Enjoyment

Monger B. 1988-February 23, 2009

Monger passed away yesterday after a brief illness. He is survived by his loving Beane family including Alice, Tiger, and Gold Kitty. Monger was intelligent, funny, and quite naughty. He was always such a presence. Monger was adopted in 1989 from a local animal shelter not far from Pea Ridge, and he had a long and happy life. We miss him desperately and will always remember him.

I love my Sur La Table baking mat!

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Sometimes small 4-legged-creatures with whippy-tails wake me up very early on Sunday mornings. When that happens, I have no choice but to get up & BAKE!!!

You would think that bothers me to be jarred out of a deep, lovely dream filled slumber. Nope - I am ok with the furry wake-up call.

Why, you ask?


Well, I have the Sur La Table baking mat and it is awesome! Nothing sticks to it ... And all the goodies I bake on it are perfectly yummy!

Before, below ... I love my Anthropologie Owl! BTW, I read that Michelle Obama is decorating their home, in the White House, with Anthropologie ... She probably has some owls too. Did you know that Michelle & I have the same birthday?



After, below ... I always add lots of honey to my fluffy biscuits!



Sipping a cup of hot tea makes these treats taste extra good ... Starbuck's London Fog Tea Latte is my current fave!

Now, I have some work to do for a meeting tomorrow ... What have you baked lately?

Huggs,
JoceBeane

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My Tweet Valentine's Day e-card

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Roses are red
Violets are blue
I made this e-card just for you

It's not the neatest
It wouldn't pass a test
But it's made with love--that makes it the best!




Huggs,
JoceBean & all the Kitties
=^..^=

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Monger and Gold Kitty

Sweet Gold Kitty takes good care of his hero, the Monger! GK hangs out with his buddy most of the day, and they snooze together. (GK is a world-renowned expert on snoozing and its relationship to the stress-free lifestyle). GK also gives Monger a good grooming now and then because Monger doesn't remember to groom himself anymore. Here they are reclining together in one of their favorite hangouts -- bed!

Dissertation Report for February

This is an image of Elizabeth Montagu from an engraving after Reynolds & it hangs at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
I've set the end of February as my deadline for chapter one, and I'm on schedule I think, but it is slow work. The first chapter is about Elizabeth and her husband Edward. I've written all the historiographical background on 18th century marriage & interpretations of the Montagu marriage. Now I'm working on my own interpretation of the letters between them and that is much more fun! The letters I'm using are from 1742-1763 and are part of the Montagu collection at the Huntington Library in CA. The name of the chapter is "Court vs. Country" and refers to their differing opinions about the monarchy after 1760.
I work everyday on at least something related to my dissertation...after this chapter is done I am going to take a day or two break before diving into chapter two which will be about the friendship between Elizabeth and Lord Lyttelton. LL and Jocebeane have the same birthday -- see post below for an excellent close-up of Lyttelton from a painting by Arthur Devis! There is hardly anything written about Elizabeth Montagu that a general audience might be interested in...I think it would be fun to do a book and EM & the Bluestockings. They are very interesting!

Baby Bean has pierced ears!

Here is Baby Bean moments after getting her ears pierced last Sunday...notice the birthstone earrings (emeralds for May). Her ears are still a little sore, but BB is very excited and can't wait until she can wear all kinds of groovy earrings! She's got 5 weeks to go until she can change out her earrings........

Friends from Pea Ridge

Here is our dog pal Scooby Doo! Scooby loves to run in the woods & wade in the pond, but when he's ready to come in he runs up the porch and peers into the dining room window. Scooby dooby doooooooo!

Study Buddies

Look who helps me everyday as I pound away on my dissertation. Monger is similarly interested in the 18th century, but Tiger just comes for moral support!

Never Silent - Friday!!!!

This is the BB at her finest ... Ready for Friday!!

Life is good ... Beanes Rule.

What are your plans for the weekend?  

Hugs,

JoceBean

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Shopping & Cupcakes = Fun!!

So, you have a big shopping day ahead of you. And you know you will need to keep your energy level up, right? Especially if you are shopping with the Baby Bean - This Bean can go & go & go ... Just like the Energizer Bunny!

First you must go buy 4 really fantastic cupcakes, like the ones in the box below. Ours had buttercream frosting with vanilla cake & one with lemon cake. BB also got one with chocolate frosting with pretty red hearts sprinkled on top - You can see she ate part of it below.

Now that you have your box of cupcakes, do you know how to eat them?  I mean, really eat them properly?  

Oh, did I hear you say "No?"  

Well, no worries ... Just look a the 3 pics below.  The BB will take you through the etiquette of cupcake eating.  (You will impress your friends, I promise, if you follow these 3 steps!)

Are you thirsty ... Yup, I bet you are.  Just go like we did, straight to your favorite local coffee shop & get some Milk for your Bean, then treat yourself to a Hot Tea Latte.  I personally like the new London Fog Tea Lattes at Starbucks!!!  

If you see an image, like the one below, after you have fueled up on cupcakes ... Then you are ready for more ....

SHOPPING!!!  

Hugs,

JoceBean

=^,,^=

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Ps.  BB, would you post a photo of your new puppy wallet?

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Saturdays with us Beans ... 4 cool pics!!

We Beans had a really fun day yesterday!  I thought I would pick 4 of my favorite photos of our day.

#1.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  After we ate lunch at a fun Pizza place, we walked outside & took time to enjoy the nice weather.  There were some funky orange chairs in this outdoor patio ... Doesn't the Baby Bean look cool!  Love that white purse ... Soon to have a new puppy wallet & Grandma key chain!

#2.  We just could not get enough of the festive orange lounge furniture ... Notice the bottle of Sunkist drink in BB's arms ... It matched the orange cushions perfectly.  That BB is happy because her tummy is about to be full of Cupcakes!

#3.  Our morning started with an art class.  We both learned how to make Valentine Cards with a very nice group of people - 2 Moms & their daughters.  Our teacher, pictured below with BB, was wonderful.  BB & I both learned a lot!!

#4.  This could be my most favorite pic of the day (below).  BB looks so nice here & she was really having fun.  In total we both made 4 Valentine Cards each.  The highlight of our class was buying the Cat Cutout Maker - I will ask BB to take a picture of it & post it for you!

Lastly ...   We ended our day with a fun dinner with my brother Pablo aka The Cat Nanny!  

Pablo & I told BB many stories about growing up together ... Like most siblings, we had silly fights over donuts & spent sunny days riding our bikes together in our neighborhood.    

I really had fun yesterday with BB.  I hope you enjoyed this post!

Did YOU have a good day yesterday?  

Hugs,

JoceBean

=^,,^=

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Hey ... What Pizza would you eat!?!

Yesterday, the Baby Bean & I had some Pizza ... It sure was yummy!  I wish I had some to eat today!?!  

If you were ordering some pizza right now, do you know what kind you would get?  Why don't you go to the very bottom of our blog & vote in our new poll !!!

Hmmmm, I think I would have the Ham & Pineapple on my pizza.  (My tummy is getting rumbly ... Like Winnie the Pooh's tummy when he can't find his honey pots.)

Hugs,

JoceBean

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ROSE QUESTIONS?????????????????????????

WHAT IS THE BEST ICE-CREAM YOU EVER HAD?????????????

KISSES,
TIGER AND BABYBEAN