Berkeley Winning Streak

Song - The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel

My friend Kathy and I arrived in Berkeley on Friday late afternoon to the lovely temperature of 78 degrees (it was 100+ in Walnut Creek)!  We were there to see and hear Paul Simon's concert at the Greek Theater. 

We passed the band's buses on the way in from our parking spaces and waved to Paul as we passed by.

No, we didn't sit in the throne's but directly behind them with plenty of leg room - those are Kathy's knees on the far right.  All of the throne's have amazing quotes carved into the backs of them dating from the late 1800 - early 1900.

We got out back stage passes to the after concert party.....Not sure if you remember but we were able to go back stage several years ago and meet Paul Simon and I was ill prepared to met a celebrity and ended up shaking his hand and saying something like "Great concert...."

This time I was prepared.

I had done some reading on Paul's home life and career.  Although I didn't have a prepared speech, I was ready........

WE were ready!  Beautiful evening, great seats and the music was simply outstanding!  And after about three songs, this happened......

See how everyone is looking up in the stands, away from the stage and even toasting someone.  And that someone is the guy in the light blue shirt walking up the stairs.  Not sure who he was, I just snapped some photos.

Now the guy and his "entourage" were heading back down the stairs to much applause and Paul Simon pausing the concert.

By this time word had gotten around that this guy was Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors coach. Now truthfully, I am not a basketball fan but apparently a lot of people are and this was a big deal.

After conferring with some of the Greek Theater staff, they turned toward us to find their seats.....three rows behind ours!  I did get to "high-five" him as he walked past!

Seriously, it has got to be a tough life never having any privacy!  As they took their seats, Paul Simon said (in jest) that the next time Stephan Curry is attempting a three pointer, the singer was going to walk through HIS stadium!  

And the concert went on......

During the concert Paul was singing "The Boxer" and told us that Mohammad Ali had just passed.


After the concert we were escorted back stage and guess who else had back stage passes? 

Steve Kerr et all.....!

The back-back-stage where the band's equipment is stored and there is ping-pong etc. to enjoy.

Paul decided not to party that evening but invite Steve to join him privately.

So even though we didn't get to use our "unprepared" speeches on that evening we still got to enjoy wonderful food under the stars with Paul's amazing band in a beautiful little area of Berkeley.


And to top off our late evening we had to stop for a male jogger crossing the street at 11 pm au natural!  Now it just wouldn't be Bezerkeley without that to ice the cake!  Lucky for you, I didn't have my camera ready!!!  HA!

Simply Brilliant

Song - Graduation Day by The Beach Boys

Our family enjoyed a MBA graduation over the weekend.....

it was our daughter-in-law-to-be....Ashley!!!!

She is the one in the black mortarboard and red & blue sash........see her?.....she's right there!!!

There she is waiting patiently to go up the ramp to receive her diploma........

She is looking very serious and a little nervous.........

....perhaps they made a mistake?

There she is......smiling now that she spotted Andy who was standing right next to me!  Isn't she a doll?  (I promise that I'm not partial in anyway!)

She's got it!!!  

Time to celebrate and party!

Here Ashley is with her dad and mom in front of  St. Mary's College.

Ashley with friends and family-to-be!

With Mr. B and myself........

And walking toward the future with our son Andy.......couldn't be more proud of both of them!

Congratulations Ashley - well earned!

"It's not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

 --William Shakespeare

May Girls Trip

Song - "These Are The Days" by Van Morrison

For the last ten years five women and myself go on a weekend trip together.  Since this was our 10th Anniversary, we decided to spend 4 days in Lake Tahoe.

Our cabin was far enough away from towns and roads that we only heard the sound of Tahoe lapping gently against the shore and an occasional breeze through the trees.


We had a pier and a white sand beach!



We were very close to heaven!

You can see the "cabin" peeking out from the pines.

Zen rocks were all around.

Snow was on the mountains around us but it was sunny and warm on the beach - I came home looking somewhat like a lobster!

We read, relaxed, painted, took photo's, did needlework, laughed, ate some great food, walked, shared stories, slept in cozy beds, played games, meditated, breathed in the mountain air and enjoyed each others company as well as some solitary time.

At times there may have been some dancing and singing going on......but my lips are sealed!

Barn Swallow with beautiful colors

We did some bird watching.....

Do I spot a white head?

Yep.....a Bald Eagle flew over the lake looking for dinner!

Nothing like enjoying a hot tub with this view!

Every morning I enjoyed the sunrise from my bed.....

Will we go back to this little spot of paradise?  I don't think we can wait until next year! Love all of these wild women!

"Each person's perspective contains a pearl of wisdom, but this only becomes apparent when you string them all together."
--Thanks for being part of the necklace of my life. – Joanne Taeuffer

Mom's Glue

Song - Your Mother and Mine from Peter Pan

Mom circa 1957

See that cake pan on top of the refrigerator? Mom always had a freshly baked cake in there!  And the drawer behind her had Red Vine licorice and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for the family and our friends. And she usually had a pot of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove top. 

Mom could be found in the kitchen or in the garden....both favorites of hers.....they still are.

Mom is still cooking in the same kitchen (minus the plaid wallpaper) in 2016

My mom has some extra strength glue - one that can hold a whole family together.  This will be our year of "firsts"....first time in 66 years that dad wasn't with us to celebrate Mother's Day. But we held it together with mom's love.

As for my Mother's Day, it was an extra special day.  My middle son, Jon surprised me with a visit from LA - way too short Jon but a delight!  The three of us had breakfast with my mom, then while she was off playing golf with my brother & his family, I got to paint.  My three (4 with Mr. B) boys and my soon to be daughter (insert ear to ear grin here) celebrated with a lovely meal outside by the fireplace.

"Home is where your mom is."

Radiant Heart

Song - "These Are the Days" by Van Morrison

Last Saturday my future daughter-in-law's family threw an engagement party at a local park for Andy and Ashley.

Toasts were made....

Some kissing may have occurred.......

Prime spots were reserved for Bocce Ball.....

Games were enjoyed.....

Families spent time together.....

Some delicious margarita's were enjoyed.....

MOG and MOB got to hug the happy groom-to-be.....

Babies were held.......

Welcome to the world Nicholas! Four weeks old!......

Ashley, my mom & "Reverend" Jodi got to visit....

MOB, FOG and the "Reverend" enjoy the sunny day....

My mom made mini apple pie's for dessert.....yumm.....

Love and Laughter were ever present.....

Now I am off to cry some happy tears for these two dear ones!

Congratulations Andy and Ashley.

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