My Busted Halo

Song - Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys

I have been out of the "Blogging Community" loop for awhile as Mr. B and I went to visit our son, Jon in Redondo Beach for 6 days and I have been painting my little heart out trying to prepare for 3 new shows!  I even brought my painting supplies to Southern California so I could fit in an hour or two whenever it was possible.  We had great light and a view of the marina and a partial ocean view.

The weather was perfect and living by the ocean fit me just fine!   We had a good visit with Jon and spent some time walking on the beach.....

Newsflash - Mr. B without his shoes on!

Attending a car show across the street...

Watching the surfers in Manhattan Beach......

Enjoying the tropical flowers that don't grow in Northern California.....

And the beautiful sunsets......

We went to Art Galleries in Torrance and Laguna Beach.  The guys were not too keen on visiting galleries so I was pushing it at two!

We also visited Mission San Juan Capistrano which is beautiful and serene during the week but on Sunday (when we went) there were 4 weddings going on and groups of soccer kids running amuck.

Jon had some great recommendations for yummy dining from around the world!  

But mostly we just hung out and enjoyed our time with Jon.  Thanks Jon-E-B for sharing your little corner of the world!


"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back to whence we came." - John F. Kennedy

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/ocean.html#O1J4mxhJrB6aqrFC.99

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/ocean.html#O1J4mxhJrB6aqrFC.99

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/ocean.html#O1J4mxhJrB6aqrFC.99

SLO

Just got back from a weekend in San Luis Obispo (SLO) celebrating Jon's 26th birthday.

It was a beautiful, warm weekend.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

The Mission was built in 1773-4

Angels Trumpets growing at the mission - An appropriate flower - I think!

Lot's of good food, meeting Jon's friends, shopping and walking on the Avila pier.

Isn't the water color beneath the Pier incredible?

Some sleepy sea lions

A few wineries near SLO......

And a fun road trip with Mr. B too!!!

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money."   ~Susan Heller

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/01/27/1461136/slo-may-be-beginning-to-feel-oprah.html#storylink=cpy

I'm Back in the Saddle Again

Song - "Back in The Saddle Again"

I am heading to San Luis Obispo to spend a few days with my son Jon to celebrate his upcoming birthday.  He will be 26 on the 28th of February - Yipes!  Just when did he grow up so quickly?

But before I leave, I wanted to ponder how funny people are.....well, I guess....me.  I want to ponder how funny I am (at times).

I am painting again after spending the last few weeks "crafting".



I found all sorts of important things to make and do.  Origami hearts for book marks, button wreaths that are heart shaped, cards made from stamps, a new greeting card insert, fake Lily of the Valley glued onto wire to hang from the door, a new playlist of songs for Mr. B's new car, etc.

From "A Life Reclaimed"

All of which were kind of fun to create but not very useful or fulfilling. 

After spending some time licking my wounds (a recent tough commission), I began to paint and grow and learn.  Now after being thrown by that horse, I have dusted off my jeans and am back in the saddle again!

I have signed up for a workshop with Peggi Kroll Roberts next month.  She does incredible, fun figurative work.

Peggi Kroll Roberts

Peggi's YouTube Video

Jeanette Le Grue

And I am still heading over to Tomales every Friday morning to paint still life and learn from the very talented Jeanette Le Grue.









But my main support is a little group of painters (Bay Area Studio Artists) that I paint with every Thursday and my mentor Marcy Wheeler who had guided me on a journey of finding my voice though my painting.

Marcy Wheeler Self Portrait

Marcy in Yosemite

I also have two fellow artists who get together at my home most Wednesdays.  We take turns setting up a weekly still life.  Someone brings a bottle of wine and there is always some great chocolate. We visit and paint and laugh.....isn't laughter just wonderful?  Thank you Wanda Kemper and Kistler Osborne for bringing sunshine into my life every week.

Wanda Kemper

Kistler Osborne

Please check out all of these wonderful, talented artists!

YeeHaw.....r o a d   t r i p !

 "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."  -- Thomas Merton

Lightness of Being

Junie-Maroonie - my niece

Last evening I got a text from my friend "J".  While we don't get together too often, when we do, it just feels like "home".  Neither of us are very "high tech" people but we can email and text and....oh yeah, sometimes blog!

Our text last night began over concerns about a mutual friend of ours who is in the hospital.  The evening ended in laughter and tears.  I'll tell you, there is nothing like a good ol' belly laugh to relax your body and remind you that you need to laugh.......and often!

Our waiter in Avignon (must of been my pronunciation of Diet Coke please!)

Here goes - typo's and all....


ME - Jill is doing great. I walked here up & down the hallway today!!

J - Great.  U walked the hallway or she did?

ME - Sorry.  I walked with her (Jill).  Up and down the hallway!
ME - Actually I probably needed the workout more than her!!!

J - Ok that makes more sense.  I thought u were proud of yourself for the walk!

ME - I am! ! !
ME - Thanks for the rose & dogwood info too!

J - Btw.  What's next on the schedule?  Nantucket, France ???

ME - I had to cancel my trip to France in June as Jon is graduating from Cal Poly on June 10th.
ME - When can the three of us get together?

J - January?  Maybe for a couple days-we can take over the apartment and plan our next trip.
J - Sh******, I need to buy and puck up my painting b4 Xmas.

Me - Okey dokey.  Let's book it!

J - Pick
J - Why r u so fast at this?  New phone?
J - U home for the holidays?
J - Forget what I just said "slow poke"!

ME - Yes.  We will be home.  And I will mail or

J - Or what?

ME - OK I was just trying to compose my message girlfriend!

J - Lol

Me - Is hubby helping you QuickDraw ?

J - What's that

Me - Or what is that I will bring it to PA.

J - Okely dokely
J - Let's check in next week

Me - Quick Draw mcGraw was a TV show.  And FYI I'm crying now because you crack me up!

J - R u drunk
J - Now that makes me laugh.
J - Are u skinny, medium, or fat?
J - I'm door #3 - fat.

Me - I just read our text to Jim and he is crying now too.  Good going!
Me - Me too...what will we do.  You are not Fat.  Just beautiful.
Me.  Next week.  Painting delivered.  Lunch?

J - What will we do?  Talk about our plan when I c u.

Me - I mean diet lunch?

J - Next week is BAD.  What about the following week

Me - Okey dokey.

J - Perfect.  Hi to Jimmy baby

Crystal clear.....right?

You know how when you are texting and the person responds faster than you can answer.  That's what was going on and we never really got in sync.

I think we will hook up eventually.

Maybe in Nantucket or possibly France......

Tyler at the Boadwalk - delighted to be "driving a car" with his big brother!

TJ & Jon - happy to be playful

Tyler laughing at himself for hamming it up for the camera

Paul & TJ - my nephews

Sweet, sweet Cal - my grand nephew

Jodi - my friend laughing at playing Canasta in Tahoe

Junie - Maroonie & Andy

My parents - Betty & Cal - happy to be at the World Series

Mark & Mr. B - (private joke) while boating in Tahoe

Me & Jackie in Paris

Even dogs have a lightness of being!! Especially if they live in Carmel!

“Laughter is carbonated holiness.”  ― Anne Lamott

Subtleties

1. The quality or state of being subtle.
2. A subtle distinction, feature, or argument.

Today in my "Picture Fall" class with Tracey Clark our assignment was "subtleties" (capturing an image in one color or value).  I had to dig into my digital photo albums to pull up a recent one as it was raining today and I had painting class this morning and critique this afternoon and besides, the dog ate my homework!

PS - Every once in a while I have to do this, pull something from my stash, as I just can't capture an appropriate image (for 4 classes) everyday!!! But being the "good girl" that I am, I feel very, very guilty about it.....OK?

So the photo I pulled up was one from last month when my son Jon and his wonderful girlfriend, Megan, went horseback riding at a little stable near our cabin in Lake Tahoe. 

It was early morning but the horses had already been out for their first ride.  I was attracted to the beauty in the knot that the horse was tied up to the rail.  It had many subtle colors as well as the horse's legs in the background was ready to go on the next trail ride.

"I wonder if anyone else has an ear so tuned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of earth, subtleties of major and minor chord that the wind strikes upon the tree branches. Have you ever heard the earth breathe? "  -- Kate Chopin

The Tortoise

That would be me...the tortoise.....very slow.  It took me 10 years to decide about how we would best remodel our house.  I clipped photos from magazines (thousands of magazines) and read book after book.  I checked the internet for updates on what appliances, windows, contractors, paint colors, flooring, cabinetry, design, to see what felt was right.  I checked to see if we were within our budget while still obtaining quality materials.    Maybe it's my metabolism but I feel like I have always been this way,  checking things out thoroughly before I put my toe in the water.        S....L....O....W..... (right mom?)

Tim & Jeanette at Tahoe cabin

My two brothers would try to get me to ski down "gun barrel" in our teens, at Heavenly Valley but NO, I was quite content to go down the bunny slopes and work on my turns.....for years!!!

I wasn't like that when I met Mr. B......I knew he was the one.  My friend invited me to a local baseball game....he was the catcher on an adult softball league.  Instantly I knew he was kind, had a good heart, was very interesting, sweet, handsome, funny, loving, and deep.  

I wasn't like that when I was ready for children....I think I knew that decision from the age of 4......but it kind of amazes me that I can feel in my soul that these huge decisions are right but I can take forever picking out the right vet for our dogs, or deciding on what plants need to go where in the garden, or what color to paint the kitchen.  

20+ warm yellow kitchen colors (there were 3 other walls with similar swatches!) - our patient contractor.......

Maybe some things are written in your DNA ...or in your soul.  Kind of like a bird knows when to make a nest, then sit on it and then (like our backyard Canadian Goose nest) she knows when to leave it because the eggs are not ever going to hatch. 

A Robin's nest

I hope all three boys grow up to be just like their dad! (Well maybe without the BIG glasses!)

 

Jon & Jim

 

TJ & Jon

Jim & Tyler

Tyler & Lily

Andy & Jim

Kayli & Andy

“Nature is slow, but sure; she works no
faster than need be; she is the tortoise that wins the
race by her perseverance.” -Henry David Thoreau,
naturalist and author (1817-1862)