Life Lessons


"Figuring out our gifts in life is part of our journey to becoming enlightened human beings.” – Allison DuBois

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Summertime





"Summer Dozers & Posers"

Ten years ago I painted this painting of my son Andy (far left)
and his friends - Jeff, Brett & Jordan working in our backyard for some spending money.

They were actually digging out the hillside above
the pool so we could add a hot tub spa.

But this painting turned out quite large - 5 feet wide.

What was I thinking?  How would I transport it to shows and events?





 I found a way....


"We can't hire out our own inner work,
but we can do the manual labor with delight and decency."

--Sakyong Mipham







Friday, June 26, 2020

A Church and A Pub





In the spring of 2017 Mr. B and I were traveling and doing some research on my family tree.

On May 21st we were heading to the small village of Stogumber, Somerset, England
as I knew there was a church and a pub that I wanted to visit as well as the local countryside.



So you can get your bearings go west from London, then west from Bath and you will see the town of Dunster - there is a yellow star below that and that represents Stogumber.



Here we came upon the church of my paternal Great-grandparents - St. Mary's




The inside of the church was painted in very elaborate design



"St Mary's was transformed in the late Victorian period by Prebendary Edward Jones, a follower of William Morris who had the church altered in Arts and Crafts style with stencilled walls, floor tiles in the chancel, and a painted wagon roof. The Victorian alterations are vividly coloured and create a contrast to the earlier medieval stonework and plain furnishings. "

Quote taken from the "Britain Express"




This is the memorial of Sir George Sydenham (d 1597) who's daughter married Sir Francis Drake
He was buried here with his two wives - one on either side of him - very cozy......




And before we leave the church I just wanted to mention that in 1990 Van Morrison had a concert here for 300 locals.  Can you just imagine happening upon that?



And across the street.....





....a pub that one of my GG-Grandparents owned

The White Horse Inn

and guess who was quite content to trade a few stories with the bar keep Mick?




Mr. B !


"The English pub has always been much more than a tavern -
it is a clubhouse, a meeting place, a community center."

--Antony Dias Blue









Thursday, June 25, 2020

Proper Birds







Probably proper distancing for birds on a barns rooftop in Santa Cruz

(Notice their very long shadows)




"In order to see the birds it is necessary

to become a part of the silence."

-- Robert Lynd





Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Orange You Glad You Asked





Orange (and yellow) Ranunculus
in the flower market in Paris.....



.....The New Novel by Winslow Homer - 1877
in an orange dress.....





...an orange tabby kitty sleeping on an
ancient stone wall in Rocamadour, France....




...an orange car in Sonoma....






...and orange zest French toast that I made for Mr. B
several weeks ago - Yum!


Bet you weren't expecting that last one ;-)






Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Happiness




Pure joy and abandonment

Happy dogs on the beach in Carmel......



"My goal in life is to become as wonderful
as my dog thinks I am."

--Toby & Eileen Green



Monday, June 22, 2020

Can You See Me?






These are the brightly colored houses of Burano, Italy c2005

Legend has it that the wives of the fishermen painted these homes
so colorful so that their husbands could see their homes
when they were out fishing. 
Burano is also know for it's beautiful lace work
and a 17th Century leaning bell tower



"Many men go fishing all of their lives
without knowing that it's not fish that they are after."

--Henry David Thoreau




Sunday, June 21, 2020

Just Imaging






This shot was taken this last winter when we had been having
some great cloud formations and sunsets!




"Don't forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies."

-- Paulo Coelho
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