A River

 Song - A River Runs Through It: Theme

 

 Little Truckee River

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.  The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time.  On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops.  Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters"

--Norman Maclean - A River Runs Through It

 

 

 

The Tanagers Are Back

Song - Western Tanager Call

Can you spot him?

On Friday my son Andy spotted one on the dead tree near our creek 

but then he flitted away before I could get my camera or binoculars.

Then on Sunday I spotted two outside my office window on the pergola eating the grapes.

I looked at my blog and found that the last time they were in my neighborhood 

was in May 2016.

But by the time I located my camera and put on the telephoto lens....they were gone.

So now I have my camera on my desk so that is how I captured these photos yesterday.

Unfortunately, he is not singing but panting as it was 103 degrees outside.

 

I had Mr. B move a bird bath nearby

 and a friend told me to place some ice cubes in there to keep it cool.

Now I have to figure out what to do with my other grape eaters - time for a new squirt gun!

"The highway of life is filled 

with flat squirrels that couldn't make a decision."

 -- John C. Maxwell

Girl Time

Song - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

'Bout Damn Time girls group headed to Pt. Reyes this weekend for our 11th annual trip. We had a beautiful home right on Tomales Bay.

 

The weekend would not be complete without an informal description and demonstration of how we can all get an "up lift" from Nurse Jamie's massaging beauty roller!!!

 

Fun times and lots of healthy laughter!!!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Song - Changes by David Bowie

In 2013 I painted a rather large canvas (30 x 40) for a show I was having with a group a artist friends that I paint with - Bay Area Studio Artists or BASA. The show was titled "Shades of California" and I painted a beach scene from my beloved Lake Tahoe.

  However, I made the umbrella RED! I thought at the time that it added a snap of color!

......And it was used for the Marketing of our show.



I never liked the painting and I couldn't put my finger on why - other than the colors of the water were too intense and maybe everything was too saturated? It was not calming like I feel when I am on this beach.

 I changed the water and made the stripes of the umbrella more defined.  Still no.....

So I have had it stored in a back room but often wondered what I could do to improve this painting.

Move forward to 2016 - last week.  I was getting ready for an upcoming show in Danville at Chow and I thought about a painting for their large wall.

 I began to work with the photo of the painting in PhotoShop.  I changed that awful purple-blue of the shadows from the chairs, removed the flip-flops (because it always made me wonder where that person went to?), and I lowered the horizon.  Better.....but.......

 Then I decided the umbrella was too stiff and needed a slight breeze.....so I changed the shape. Mmmm.....still not working.

 I changed it to blue, then taupe and finally solid white.  Better but not feeling light and breezy!

Then yesterday morning I noticed our white canvas umbrellas on the back deck and snapped a photo.  I could see the colors coming through the under part of it as well as the changes in the fabric as it moved from post to post.  I also received a catalog the day before with a selection of umbrellas so I combined my backyard photo and the catalog stripes and here it is...............

 I added the hint of a turquoise line at the horizon and poof! So soothing....

 I feel so much better.  It was a tough challenge but I stuck with it and am very happy with how it turned out.  Time to give it a title.....

"Remember…. The entrance to the sanctuary is in you." - Rumi

Have you had your lemon today?

Song - Lemon Tree by Peter, Paul & Mary

I have gone to several yoga classes in the last few weeks and the instructor encourages everyone to pour themselves some warm water and add some lemon juice.  She claims that it aids in digestion.

But since then, I have been reading more and more about warm lemon water in the morning and all of the benefits.

The health benefits of lemons have been known for centuries.

1. Aids digestion
2. Cleanses your system
3. Boosts your immune system
4. Balances your pH level
5. Clears your skin
6. Energizes you/enhances your mood
7. Promotes healing
8. Freshens breath
9. Hydrates your lymph system
10. Boosts weight loss

So pour yourself a glass of warm filtered water,  then juice 1/2 a lemon into it and enjoy!

(Some people claim that because lemon juice is so acidic that it harms your tooth enamel so just follow your glass of warm lemon water with a glass of fresh water or use a straw.)

Note - you might like to zest your lemon first and keep a container of lemon zest in your freezer to add to pasta or salad dressing!

 "I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...and try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party" --Ron White