50 Shades of White

Carol Marine's workshop (www.carolmarine.com/) focused on white today. We painted a white bowl, cup or vase on a white cloth. White reflects so many amazing colors but they are subtle shifts.

Here is Carol's demo. Isn't it simply beautiful?




It was a long day of learning and standing and being exhausted since I hadn't slept well the night before.




The coyotes were howling and the church bells rang at midnight, 3 am & 6 am for the Carmelite sisters to go to prayer. They have all taken a vow of silence and some have been here for over 60 years! An amazing commitment......definitely something to ponder in today's world.



When I was unable to sleep last night - I was overly tired, I was cold, the bed was too hard, I missed Mr. B, I was anxious about painting with this group of experienced artists........


and

I thought about

the Sisters

and their sequestered life

and I opened a book

that I had brought from home.





"We are so achievement-oriented that we often surge right by the true value of relating to what's before us, because we think that accomplishing things will complete us, when it is experiencing life that will.
Yet, if we can outlast the urge to judge everything we encounter, a miracle starts to surround us in which painting, music, poetry, running water, flowers, wind through trees, open vistas--all touch and draw out their counterpart that lives quietly within us."

The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo

Location:Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Angels are Singing

This morning I woke to snow on the distant mountains in Colorado. After a quick breakfast I drove around Trinidad and took a few photos for my family tree.




The streets there are paved with bricks made in Trinidad. I tried to bring one home but all of the business that sell them were closed as it was Sunday. I drove around to some deserted lots but the only loose bricks I could find were attached to a lot of concrete. Heavy concrete. My luggage barely made it on to the plane as it was with all of my painting supplies!



Then I spent about 3 hours at the local cemetery trying to find long lost relatives and reading interesting headstones. Many of the headstones have photographs on them and I remembered that was a custom in Italy as well.






The mountains are beginning to change colors and it was a beautiful but long drive back to Santa Fe. Once again lightening strikes all around me but just a little rain.

My friend Nancy Hartley (http://nancyhartleysartadventures.blogspot.com/) has a second home in Santa Fe and invited all of the artists participating in Carol Marines workshop over for wine & appetizers. It was a beautiful evening!




Tonight however.....I am staying at a convent that used to be a TB Sanitarium and i am listening to the Carmelite Sisters sing downstairs while I write this blog. It is so tranquil and they sound like angels! Dang, I wish I could sing....harrumph.



I have a sparse little room with a dresser, writing table and (gulp) a hard twin bed and it's all mine for this whole week!

Wish me luck!

Location:Santa Fe, New Mexico

Where Have I Been?

Mr. B and I have been at our family cabin in Tahoe for almost 4 weeks. The cabin is very much out of cell range, which is both good & bad.



In some ways it is nice to drop out of the everyday email, texting, TV, newspaper world and relax, play cards, visit, read & hike. But on the other hand.....YOU ARE OUT OF TOUCH! The world maybe on fire and you're blissfully unaware!

We arrived home on Thursday night, unpacked and early Friday morning I began to get back into the rhythm of things. Six loads of laundry...check...pay bills...check...water plants, clean refrigerator, check emails....check and double check....and oh yeah repack!




You see I made arrangements to attend a Carole Marine workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico almost a year ago.

Check her out - http://www.carolmarine.com/


After deposits, car rentals, flight reservations, etc., I discovered the Tahoe cabin was available for the month of September! I really needed to do both. Right?

This morning Mr. B drove me to the airport and after a Gin & tonic for breakfast, I flew into Albuquerque ( by myself - which is huge for those of you who know me) and rented a car for the one hour drive to Santa Fe.



The breakfast of champions or those who are afraid to fly...


Well hold onto your pants!

I made a four hour drive up to Colorado to do some Family Tree investigation. However, much to my dismay I arrived here about 6 pm and drove though so many lightening storms it was amazing





and tomorrow is Sunday so most everything will be closed. I will also need to return to Santa Fe by 4 pm (leaving here by noon ) for a welcoming workshop get together.

My mother and both of my grandparents were born in Starkville & Trinidad, Colorado. My grandfather was a coal miner as we're his brother and father but his parents purchased a dairy farm to try to get away from coal mining.



I am so happy that they eventually moved to California! I tried to buy a bottle of wine today but apparently you need to go to a state operated liquor store. I thought that was in Canada?

At the restaurant tonight, I was talking to the bartender who had hard liquor and an amazing array of beer but just BOX wine. When I questioned him about that, he replied that most of their customers are truck drivers, coal miners, and hard working men that are not really interested in "wine"......well, I reminded him....well never mind. I am just glad I'm living in California!


I will be staying at a convent in Santa Fe and pray they have wifi so I can fill you in on the glorious details of New Mexico!

Laters - J

Kindergarten

 Song - Better Together by Jack Johnson

Do you remember your first day of Kindergarten?  

Cots & blankets, graham crackers & milk, the play ground, monkey bars, "duck, duck, goose", new crayons & trying to stay inside the lines, new friends, hand prints in plaster, learning to use scissors, using "inside voices", wooden blocks and a teacher that made you feel special?

Or the first day you dropped your child off for Kindergarten and cried all of the way home?

My son's girlfriend, Ashley will be starting her first day of Kindergarten in a few days - as a new teacher.  She is creative, tender, smart and dear so I know her "children" will be well taken care of.

I just wanted to send her my love and support on this very special day! Also, to those of you who may be sending your children back to school soon - it will all be fine.

First Day of Kindergarten

I gave you a little wink and smile
as you entered my room today.
For I know how hard it is to leave
and know your child must stay.

You’ve been with him for five years now
and have been a loving guide,
But now, alas, the time has come
to leave him at my side.

Just know that as you drive away
and tears down your cheeks may flow
I’ll love him as I would my own
and help him learn and grow.

So please put your mind at ease
and cry those tears no more
For I will love him and take him in
when you leave him at my door.

“It is hard to be brave, when you're only a Very Small Animal.” - Winnie the Pooh

Willie Mac

 Song - I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett





Mr. B was invited to meet Willie McCovey Monday evening and was allowed one guest.....hahummm......that would be ME!

We were at the AT&T Park that evening for a reception that Mr. McCovey would be attended and gave out gifts for people who had donated money to the Giants Community Fund which supports the Junior Giants and other worthy causes. 

Willie McCovey began playing for the Giants in 1959 when he was 21 years old.

Doesn't he have a wonderful smile?  So genuine. So calm.

After the reception, the "key people" (that would be Mr. B and not me) were escorted down to the field for the opening ceremony. 

I did a little shopping and moseyed down to our seats.

We had invited some friends who met me and together we watched Mr. B walk out on the field (in a BLUE shirt - whatwashethinking?) and get presented to the fans along with taking a group photo with Willie Mac.

Mr. B watching to make sure I can see him

So far the evening was going beautifully.

There were fun people in the crowd.


But then the sun started to go down and it got cold, really cold.

And the Washington Nationals got a bazillion runs by the 4th inning.

Now we are really not having fun. We never leave the games early as it's a tradition. You gotta have faith.

But my friend Diane and I decided that if the other guys got one more run then we would go home, have a glass of wine and light a fire.  The guys decided on one more out. That didn't take too long. 

On the way home my friend Jill sent me a text about "Did Willie remember you"......and suddenly I remembered that she and I went down on the field at Candlestick Park many years ago during our single days.

It was photo day but no one knew what that was, so we and a small group of people went out on the field and met the players, got autographs, sat in the dugout and acted like big shots for about an hour.  We had put a Gardenia in our hair and posed with Mr. McCovey.

Tomorrow I am going to dig up those old photos and remember when.

PS - Final score was  Nationals 14 - Giants 2 - ouch.

If it's a tie......
"I'd walk me."- Willie McCovey on how he'd pitch to himself.

Hot Summer Nights

 Heatwave by Martha & The Vandella's

My dad at the Boardwalk beach a few years ago!

Just returned from 3 days in Santa Cruz with Mr. B, Andy & Ashley and Max. 

Mika got to stay with Grandma & Grandpa and get spoiled for a few days. 

It has been so hot here in California that the hills are brittle and brown while the trees are begin to show signs of distress. Everyone and everything is "crisping up" - is that a word?

However, Santa Cruz was beautiful up in the Redwood forest.

Our first night there we dined out on the Wharf.  For the life of me I could not get a good photo of the Boardwalk with all of rides whizzing by in full color.  (I think I had better read my camera manual!)

Is it plumb Mr. B.?

The guys worked on the cabin deck.  This has been a real team effort as everyone goes down to work as they find the time. Notice how Mr. B supervises while Andy is "in the trenches"???

Ashley and I fed the guys and worked on individual projects inside as it was warm even there. However, late one afternoon she took me for a joyride in my parents golf cart.  I didn't know golf carts could go so fast!!!

Just kidding, she was an excellent driver and we enjoyed taking a tour of the park with Max sitting between us.

Max supervised the guys work from inside the cabin and he made sure that Ashley & I were safe from big dogs that would walk by.


On Saturday evening we played a wild game of shuffleboard.  We were not too sure of the correct rules but Andy & I are sure that we skunked Mr. B & Ashley!!!

Huveros Rancheros casserole with a poached egg on top

This morning the guys did some work and then the four of us went to Gayle's Bakery in Capitola for Brunch.  Yum-oooh.


If you have never been there, it's a great spot for some wonderful food, casual dining or getting something to go and heading to the beach for a picnic! 

Always a hit with my boys - Fresh Fruit Tartlettes

Cute "broken plate" tables at Gayles

One question for my brother Tim.....what's up with this addition? You used 45 screws for a temporary little step?  Mmmmm......I had better check the receipt book for the cost of that item!

Mr. B checking out the decks progress....

Looks plumb to me!

 Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  ~Melody Beattie

Doggie Update

Thanks so much for those of you who have been emailing & calling about my two doggies, Mika & Max.

They both went to the vets today and Mika still has noisy lungs but not pneumonia.

Max's numbers are not good but I can see a difference in his energy level.

Mika never acted sick but Max went from not eating and sleeping all day to jumping on me in the morning because he wants his breakfast NOW!  I even caught him running to play with Mika!!

So they are now resting in the laundry room right next to my computer after a long day at the Vet's.

Old King by Neil Young

Climbing Trees

Song - My Father's Eyes by Eric Clapton

I know I have been absent for awhile but I have found this new "obsession".

It is actually an old obsession that I just picked up again in the last few weeks.

When Mr. B and I were first married, I was fascinated to do some research on both of our family trees.  I interviewed all of the relatives and began combining notes and bits of papers with information written down. 

But back then everything was by "snail mail" and it would take forever to get birth certificates, census reports, etc.

Guess what?





You will be amazed........there is this new thing called "THE INTERNET"!!!









It is so incredible to find family members.....FAST!

The St. Paul - the ship my dad's family took from England to Canada

You can Google map homes your relatives lived in because their address is on the Census report or birth certificate.

My dad's parents lived here when he was born.

Or you can find photos of the church your grandparents were married in, or little country towns that they worked in the fields as farmers.

St. Jude's Church in Montreal, Canada where my dad's parents were married

Santa Maria in Cloz, Italy where my mothers family was from

It is just absolutely amazing.



I think I have a tiny problem because I can't seem to stop....even for meals....Mr. B has to cook and clean and do the laundry now!

Crowcombe, Somerset, England where the family were farmers

You travel through different countries and history.

England

Census Report

 
Sometimes a little detective work is needed to make sure everything links up.

And sometimes it's difficult to decipher old handwriting. 

BUT.......sometimes there is a surprise in your tree......

This little guy with a smirk on his face is my dad.

This woman was his grandmother, Sarah.........

So even though the Crawford Castle is in ruins.....(sorry dad), we still can say that we spent a little time in 1474 building this......

Take a bow!