Back by popular demand…okay, maybe it's just one of MY favorites…I share every year. Have a lovely, safe and healthy new year everyone!! Big dreams coming true, friends family, music and LOVE!! xo juner
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
WAIT!! IT'S BEEN HOW LONG?
I just this minute saw that I haven't written since the end of OCTOBER for crying out loud!! I've never let this amount of time go by and I can't apologize enough…I've even lost a couple followers because of it…so sorry.
Well, Xmas is in a couple of days and guess what….I still don't have time to talk to you right now….I've been ill and my energy is so low that going through the time it takes me to share with you is too daunting at the moment…but maybe I'll just tease you with a couple of photos from my big 60th Birthday/Xmas party almost two weeks ago. My actual birthday is Xmas day, but who can party then?
So I do promise to take better care in the coming year…you have my word on it! I have loads to share and exciting new ideas and plans coming up for the new year…so please, don't lose hope in me…I'm heading back to my jolly, artistic self and can't wait to keep up with everyone.
HAVE THE BEST OF HOLIDAYS AND AN IMAGINATIVE AND EXCITING NEW YEAR!!
and ps. yes, we have THREE Xmas trees in the living room…(I'll share the den one next week when I really catch up). And yes we had a Christmas Choir, and yes I wore my wedding dress (squished in and bursting out the top, it's been a "hefty" couple of months, ha ha) and yes, I wore a Star studded glittery crown!!
Well, Xmas is in a couple of days and guess what….I still don't have time to talk to you right now….I've been ill and my energy is so low that going through the time it takes me to share with you is too daunting at the moment…but maybe I'll just tease you with a couple of photos from my big 60th Birthday/Xmas party almost two weeks ago. My actual birthday is Xmas day, but who can party then?
So I do promise to take better care in the coming year…you have my word on it! I have loads to share and exciting new ideas and plans coming up for the new year…so please, don't lose hope in me…I'm heading back to my jolly, artistic self and can't wait to keep up with everyone.
HAVE THE BEST OF HOLIDAYS AND AN IMAGINATIVE AND EXCITING NEW YEAR!!
and ps. yes, we have THREE Xmas trees in the living room…(I'll share the den one next week when I really catch up). And yes we had a Christmas Choir, and yes I wore my wedding dress (squished in and bursting out the top, it's been a "hefty" couple of months, ha ha) and yes, I wore a Star studded glittery crown!!
Monday, October 26, 2015
TOO MUCH GOING ON!
Wow! Way to let two months go by!
What can I say, September turned out to be one of the worst months of my entire life….don't need to share everything…wouldn't want to share everything ..ha ha….anyway, the culmination of this is that my husband had a procedure/surgery heart thingie on October 13th. He was under for four hours and came out looking like things would turn out well. We won't know for certain for three months. However, in the middle of the night of his stay in the hospital, we had complications….again, too many long details…suffice it to say we pulled through and it will be two weeks this coming Wednesday that we came home and he's out digging ditches in the orchard today…so there you have it! Full steam ahead!
In the meantime I am attempting to get my feet balanced under me again. The stress and anxiety that carried with me the month before is finally sliding off my shoulders and I'm back to my daily workouts….actually, I began running again, after a year away from the track…and am enjoying that feeling immensely. There's nothing like the power of running. And since I gained a pile of weight during my just over a month absence from sanity…damn the vodka! Yeah, that one kinda crept up on me…haven't partaken of the libation as such in many many years…but, it seemed like the thing to do to get some chill in my life…like I said, there were some other serious contributing factors to my demise, all, most of which I am happy to report, are on the upswing…mostly anyway.
So now it's all about being fit, creating some really cool new vegan/veggie recipes, preparing for an art exhibit, finish the damn third book already!! and of course Xmas is next week for gods sake! And with that holiday comes my big six oh! That's right, June is turning 60!
One thing we did do while having fun at cocktail hour one night was one of the best things I'll ever take in my memory for the rest of my life….we had music blasting while we were working out in the garden and hanging outside all afternoon. Then we sat down in the orchard and watched the sun go down and lights from the house looked so awesome…we felt, and feel, so blessed to call this our home…it's just so magical here. So when we came in the tunes were just amazing, the next one better than the last one, and rockin perfect…so we danced. And I mean we DANCED…for THREE solid hours!! We sang and danced and kissed in-between sips…ha ha…until the wee hours. Our neighbor thought we had guests because the music was blasting so long and late...yes, sometimes it's really okay to let your hair down.
I'm so disciplined with my lifestyle, I rarely let anything take me out of the way I eat and my workouts, yoga, devotion, etc…(just ask my kids and my friends when they have a dinner party..they always supply something organic and veggie for me), however, the stress mounted to a level that even downward dog couldn't help…I can be so freaking hard on myself sometimes…so I just went with the flow of what was happening around me and decided to jump into the party for a moment. It had it's good, very good, moments and it had it's very worst as well (not sharing)….so I think for me, I just work better with the routine of discipline and devotion…and that's all I gotta say about that.
However, I will always have the memory of dancing in our living room, just the two of us, laughing so hard, singing so loud, kissing so passionately and finishing off the whole night with fireworks! (yes, I decided to share that!) and yes, we took photos too…what?
What can I say, September turned out to be one of the worst months of my entire life….don't need to share everything…wouldn't want to share everything ..ha ha….anyway, the culmination of this is that my husband had a procedure/surgery heart thingie on October 13th. He was under for four hours and came out looking like things would turn out well. We won't know for certain for three months. However, in the middle of the night of his stay in the hospital, we had complications….again, too many long details…suffice it to say we pulled through and it will be two weeks this coming Wednesday that we came home and he's out digging ditches in the orchard today…so there you have it! Full steam ahead!
In the meantime I am attempting to get my feet balanced under me again. The stress and anxiety that carried with me the month before is finally sliding off my shoulders and I'm back to my daily workouts….actually, I began running again, after a year away from the track…and am enjoying that feeling immensely. There's nothing like the power of running. And since I gained a pile of weight during my just over a month absence from sanity…damn the vodka! Yeah, that one kinda crept up on me…haven't partaken of the libation as such in many many years…but, it seemed like the thing to do to get some chill in my life…like I said, there were some other serious contributing factors to my demise, all, most of which I am happy to report, are on the upswing…mostly anyway.
So now it's all about being fit, creating some really cool new vegan/veggie recipes, preparing for an art exhibit, finish the damn third book already!! and of course Xmas is next week for gods sake! And with that holiday comes my big six oh! That's right, June is turning 60!
One thing we did do while having fun at cocktail hour one night was one of the best things I'll ever take in my memory for the rest of my life….we had music blasting while we were working out in the garden and hanging outside all afternoon. Then we sat down in the orchard and watched the sun go down and lights from the house looked so awesome…we felt, and feel, so blessed to call this our home…it's just so magical here. So when we came in the tunes were just amazing, the next one better than the last one, and rockin perfect…so we danced. And I mean we DANCED…for THREE solid hours!! We sang and danced and kissed in-between sips…ha ha…until the wee hours. Our neighbor thought we had guests because the music was blasting so long and late...yes, sometimes it's really okay to let your hair down.
I'm so disciplined with my lifestyle, I rarely let anything take me out of the way I eat and my workouts, yoga, devotion, etc…(just ask my kids and my friends when they have a dinner party..they always supply something organic and veggie for me), however, the stress mounted to a level that even downward dog couldn't help…I can be so freaking hard on myself sometimes…so I just went with the flow of what was happening around me and decided to jump into the party for a moment. It had it's good, very good, moments and it had it's very worst as well (not sharing)….so I think for me, I just work better with the routine of discipline and devotion…and that's all I gotta say about that.
However, I will always have the memory of dancing in our living room, just the two of us, laughing so hard, singing so loud, kissing so passionately and finishing off the whole night with fireworks! (yes, I decided to share that!) and yes, we took photos too…what?
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| theres a weird black smug on my camera lens..but Ray is enjoying this song to say the least! |
So, no matter what…we ALL have those scary dark times and it feels like you'll never be yourself again…it feels like things couldn't get any worse, and then they do…however, the sun comes up every single day and you have to decide what it is exactly you are willing to do about it…are you going to melt away into nothing, or are you going to rise above it all and make something happen? It's your choice, and yours alone….and sometimes, you just gotta dance…oxo juner
Saturday, September 5, 2015
SOMETHING NEW FROM JUNE
I'm usually all about the art and family stuff…but I realized, this is probably the perfect place to share this new hobby.
I had been looking, for literally two years, to find the perfect purse.
Now this might now sound like a huge endeavor, however, it was for me. I wanted that old slouchy leather, fringy, hippie purse I had back in the day. Everything was either so generic, old lady, too she-she…or simply just not me.
I went onto Esty and finally found just what I was looking for…only thing, it was 300.00. And that's fine for this kind of bag..however, that didn't include the shipping (from Poland of all places), and the main issue I had was when I looked closer at all her bags, this one in particular, I realized, these are VERY hand made. Seriously, I could see the unevenness of things, the belt she used as the strap..etc. I thought, well really…if she can do it, so can I. So I set out to make my own leather purse.
And I have to tell you…I'm very happy with the results.
Don't get me wrong, there are definitely mistakes, but I researched a bit and figured out how to do a double stitched seam on leather (I didn't take a close up of this technique to share…it's pretty remarkable and really lends a very authentic look to the quality.) I got a super duper sewing machine to take on the thick stuff.
I wasted some good pieces of leather to say the least…it's a learning experience. But I'm figuring things out.
I learned how to use leather tools and rivets to secure the side loops for the handle... and patched around a bit and finally came up with something I could be proud of. I even lined it in orange silk damask! Zippered compartment and everything! It's all leather and fringy and big. I put my own special logo of a leather OM symbol on the back. (it looks a bit more orangey in these photos, but it's really the perfect brown).
People actually stop me on the street and ask where I got it! I've been asked to create some for a local boutique as well, however my life just doesn't have the time to add another career into the mix…so my closest girlies (and you know who you are), and friends are going to have to settle for my new found enjoyment of creating awesome vintage hippie bags….and there you have it!
I had been looking, for literally two years, to find the perfect purse.
Now this might now sound like a huge endeavor, however, it was for me. I wanted that old slouchy leather, fringy, hippie purse I had back in the day. Everything was either so generic, old lady, too she-she…or simply just not me.
I went onto Esty and finally found just what I was looking for…only thing, it was 300.00. And that's fine for this kind of bag..however, that didn't include the shipping (from Poland of all places), and the main issue I had was when I looked closer at all her bags, this one in particular, I realized, these are VERY hand made. Seriously, I could see the unevenness of things, the belt she used as the strap..etc. I thought, well really…if she can do it, so can I. So I set out to make my own leather purse.
And I have to tell you…I'm very happy with the results.
Don't get me wrong, there are definitely mistakes, but I researched a bit and figured out how to do a double stitched seam on leather (I didn't take a close up of this technique to share…it's pretty remarkable and really lends a very authentic look to the quality.) I got a super duper sewing machine to take on the thick stuff.
I wasted some good pieces of leather to say the least…it's a learning experience. But I'm figuring things out.
I learned how to use leather tools and rivets to secure the side loops for the handle... and patched around a bit and finally came up with something I could be proud of. I even lined it in orange silk damask! Zippered compartment and everything! It's all leather and fringy and big. I put my own special logo of a leather OM symbol on the back. (it looks a bit more orangey in these photos, but it's really the perfect brown).
People actually stop me on the street and ask where I got it! I've been asked to create some for a local boutique as well, however my life just doesn't have the time to add another career into the mix…so my closest girlies (and you know who you are), and friends are going to have to settle for my new found enjoyment of creating awesome vintage hippie bags….and there you have it!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
A GOOD DAY IN THE GARDEN
This year was not so wonderful for my veggie garden and orchard…really weird results, not as fruitful as last year…too bad. And of course my front lawn is non existent..between the gophers and the dogs going after the gophers and the water shortage…it's a pretty dusty and brown…so sad.
However, even in the lesser than usual bounty of my garden and orchard, there is still some small harvest. There is nothing like growing your own food…it's something that brings me tremendous joy! I'm very alive whilst in my garden. And for the first year I was able to pick apples off my Rhode Island Green heirloom tree…even the Fuji is bearing fruit…yay!
So not so bad I think….actually it turned out to be a good day in the garden for me!
Enjoy the rest of your summer and the bounty it may bring!…xox juner
However, even in the lesser than usual bounty of my garden and orchard, there is still some small harvest. There is nothing like growing your own food…it's something that brings me tremendous joy! I'm very alive whilst in my garden. And for the first year I was able to pick apples off my Rhode Island Green heirloom tree…even the Fuji is bearing fruit…yay!
So not so bad I think….actually it turned out to be a good day in the garden for me!
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| Chicken & Duck Eggs, Anaheim & Jalapeno Pepper, Tomatoes (black cherry, black krim, and Juliet, Tomatillo, Lemon Cukes and a Potato I forgot I planted! |
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| Rhode Island Green Heirloom….made applesauce |
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| My First Fuji! |
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| Peach jam (okay, not from my orchard this year..but bought at the local farmers market..still makes amazing jam! |
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| Tomatillo, Jalapeño, plum jam… a favorite around here and my own recipe! |
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| The back corner of the orchard and the back gate into the duck/chicken pen. Champagne grapes growing along upper trellis with morning glory taking over…and a side peek on the left of my massive fig tree. |
Enjoy the rest of your summer and the bounty it may bring!…xox juner
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
TOO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON…SO JUST WATCH THIS!
The Benjamin McTish Fantasy/Adventure Books Series Trailer….this takes you through a quick glimpse of the first four books…enjoy! And remember to click on the thumbs up on youtube!! Thx for the support…and let's keep the magic alive!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
NEW McTISH BOOK BLOG
Benjamin McTish has his own blog now…strictly Benjamin, nothing else! It's a blog for the books only….a small blurb, three reviews and goodreads links, as well as links to purchase. Simple and to the point.
So when you want to find out when the next book comes out, or share the book series with a friend…hopefully a future fan…then this is the place.
Thx again for all your support…oh! and keep an eye out for the upcoming book trailer on YouTube…at the end of this week. And FYI…the first book is having it's first deal special on Amazon Kindle beginning Friday as well, carried through the week….99 cents! Can't beat that! Enjoy! And remember, Keep the Magic Alive!
So when you want to find out when the next book comes out, or share the book series with a friend…hopefully a future fan…then this is the place.
Thx again for all your support…oh! and keep an eye out for the upcoming book trailer on YouTube…at the end of this week. And FYI…the first book is having it's first deal special on Amazon Kindle beginning Friday as well, carried through the week….99 cents! Can't beat that! Enjoy! And remember, Keep the Magic Alive!
Friday, April 24, 2015
BEWARE THE LITTLE WHITE RABBIT-EVENT
Thornton Berry Shire Press, Home of the Benjamin McTish Series: BEWARE THE LITTLE WHITE RABBIT-EVENT: A YA anthology that's Alice-in-Wonderland inspired featuring stories by 13 different authors hailing from 3 different countries…(click first sentence above and link to all the details of this awesome book and event…it's totally worth it!)
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
THE ORCHIDS ARE IN BLOOM
Had to share a couple pics of my amazing Orchids…just this one lovely little bunch that seems to be perfectly happy. I had transplanted the larger pot just last year, so was concerned it would take…looks like it did. ps. this plant comes up to my shoulders..it's humongous!
Have a super spring day….xoxo juners
Saturday, March 21, 2015
ANY "BUS" FANS OUT THERE?
So I just posted this to Facebook as well…I just came across an old painting buried in my stuff…it's at least 14-15 years old….it was my first painting in this style…it's not my best work, I've gotten MUCH better in technique, and it's not even finished, but it's still kind a cool.
So if you know anyone who is interested in owning let me know…at this point I'd be willing to probably just give it to someone who truly wanted it. Like I said, it's old and scuffed up a bit, and it's medium/large..30x40. A great "man cave" kind of piece for the right man. Just thought I'd put it out there…I'm tired of it being stacked up in a closet…thx!
So if you know anyone who is interested in owning let me know…at this point I'd be willing to probably just give it to someone who truly wanted it. Like I said, it's old and scuffed up a bit, and it's medium/large..30x40. A great "man cave" kind of piece for the right man. Just thought I'd put it out there…I'm tired of it being stacked up in a closet…thx!
Thursday, March 12, 2015
A DELAY IN SHARING….
We are all saddened at this tremendous loss in our lives…in particular, my husband and I, who shared our home and daily care around the clock for him for the past few months of his life, find ourselves in a separate kind of mourning. The silence is deafening around here now….it's taken a week to realize, "what do we do with our time now?". And now we've moved into the "how quickly is this time moving on?" phase…it's been two weeks exactly today and yet if feels like yesterday and a year ago all at once. Sometimes I find myself jumping up to make sure he's okay and realize…oh wait, he's not here.
We still need to move forward and clear out the rest of his room…unfortunately his stinker of a cat remains, but the candle is lit every night for him still….I'm utterly and completely lost without his presence in my life…he was a tremendous part of our lives and he will be forever missed. He was my father in law, but treated me like his own daughter and loved me just as well.
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| My first visit to his home |
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| Our Favorite pastime! |
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| His last birthday here this past July…95! |
Thursday, January 29, 2015
THREE NEW THINGS AROUND HERE...
So if you've been wondering why I haven't returned any of your phone calls or emails lately…this is the reason.
My 95 and a half year old father in law has moved in with us! It was completely unexpected and sudden, however, we're very happy to have him here with us.
It's taking a ton of work to rearrange the house and empty out closets, etc…but we pulled down the twin canopies over the antique French twin beds and the guest room has been turned into Dad's apartment…he really feels at home. His cat is another story…I'm going to kick his butt pretty soon if he doesn't stop messing everywhere…including the sofa!
So to all my besties out there, hope you're having a couple new, interesting, or exciting things happening around your home…I love you all, and you know who I'm talking too! xox juners
My 95 and a half year old father in law has moved in with us! It was completely unexpected and sudden, however, we're very happy to have him here with us.
It's taking a ton of work to rearrange the house and empty out closets, etc…but we pulled down the twin canopies over the antique French twin beds and the guest room has been turned into Dad's apartment…he really feels at home. His cat is another story…I'm going to kick his butt pretty soon if he doesn't stop messing everywhere…including the sofa!
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| A tender moment I caught between Ray and his Dad. He simply leaned his forehead onto his Dad's and they just stayed there for a moment… pure love! The next thing is my very first oranges being plucked from my navel orange tree in my backyard…holy crap! They're big ones..and juicy! I can't believe I grow oranges now, it's so cool! |
And thirdly…my birthday present from my old best buddy Denny…it's spectacular in person! I have the perfect spot for it in my den/library…yay!! Thx Denster!
So to all my besties out there, hope you're having a couple new, interesting, or exciting things happening around your home…I love you all, and you know who I'm talking too! xox juners
Monday, January 12, 2015
HERE'S WHAT WENT DOWN...
So before it becomes the fourth of July, which incidentally is right around the corner, I thought I better regale you with a quick run down with a Holiday Photo Frenzy, so we can be all caught up and move on with 2015.
Very low key holidays for the Schneiders…literally four of us for dinner..what!? I know, not the usual fifteen or twenty…although we did get up to fifteen for the ending celebration that came the weekend after NYEve…the annual Schneider family gathering…sadly however, the main focus of this party is to see dad, who unfortunately spent that weekend in the hospital…but he's here with us this week and doing better. The party wasn't the same without him.
And neither was my birthday…I mean, it wasn't the same, no kids, except our youngest, no friends, no chair dancing!! It was a bit weird…but what can you say, things happen. And that's the price you pay for being born on Xmas! Thank god we kept to our tradition of visiting my best friend Sue on Xmas Eve…her home is warm, welcoming and super Xmasy…so that felt good.
So that's pretty much all I'm going to say about all of that….I'll let the photos do the rest…because as usual, and I don't mean to toot my own horn…but toot toot….the trees were lovely!
Happy 2015 to all my besties…hope you are all healthy, safe, dry, and peaceful…and surrounded by the ones you love the most…mucho love, xox juners
Very low key holidays for the Schneiders…literally four of us for dinner..what!? I know, not the usual fifteen or twenty…although we did get up to fifteen for the ending celebration that came the weekend after NYEve…the annual Schneider family gathering…sadly however, the main focus of this party is to see dad, who unfortunately spent that weekend in the hospital…but he's here with us this week and doing better. The party wasn't the same without him.
And neither was my birthday…I mean, it wasn't the same, no kids, except our youngest, no friends, no chair dancing!! It was a bit weird…but what can you say, things happen. And that's the price you pay for being born on Xmas! Thank god we kept to our tradition of visiting my best friend Sue on Xmas Eve…her home is warm, welcoming and super Xmasy…so that felt good.
So that's pretty much all I'm going to say about all of that….I'll let the photos do the rest…because as usual, and I don't mean to toot my own horn…but toot toot….the trees were lovely!
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| Sue and Jim, Xmas Eve |
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| Sue has the best collection of bottle brush trees… my latest obsession, this is the smallest of showings |
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| Literally one of the nicest trees I've ever seen… all blush and soft…old fashion in perfect Xmas splendor..you need to see it in person…it's breathtaking |
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| A new addition to my snowman obsession... |
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| Little snowmen and santas hanging on banister |
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| Little lit up tree on table on stair landing… it's so sweet, and this just reminded me, I haven't taken the pine branches out of the chandelier…geez! |
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| the pink/orange/gold vintage tree, looked particularly stunning this year… hard to capture on film |
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| this years topper was the best…drippy pinks, some golds and the bright limeish green..just beautiful! |
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| the blue, turquoise, purple/claret /bronze tree NEVER can get a good photo of the depth of tones going on in this one. the addition of Teal ornaments and teal lights took this to another level for me...added to the dark blue, (which I really want to change out) and then the wine and purple which play perfectly off the bronze …just need more aqua/turquoise and claret to bring in to the place I'm looking for…but getting there. |
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| this topper is turquoise, purple and glitter beyond belief |
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| Xmas day... |
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| Me, standing, alone, on my chair with the iPhone playing the Beatles Birthday Song.. how sad am I? |
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| Taylor showed up and jumped in at the last minute and insisted we stand up together…yay for Talyor! |
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| Some randoms from the Schneider party… this was Girls night celebration! Thx to Bonnie who brought all the girls little splits of champagne with straws and beautiful cards written to each one of us..yay Bonnie! |
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Janis late 60's
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