On the Bonnie, Bonnie Banks

Song - Loch Lomond by Pere Hollens featuring David Archuleta

Luss is a tiny village on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland and this is were I saw this beautiful Clematis happily growing.

"The world is a book

and those who do not travel

only read one page."

--St. Augustine

Summertime

Song - Working for a Living by Huey Lewis & The News

"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

A Church and A Pub

Song - So Quiet in Here by Van Morrison

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

Proper Birds

Song - Bye Bye Blackbird by Joe Cocker

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

Orange You Glad You Asked

Song - Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash

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 ;-)

Happiness

Song - I Love My Dog by Cat Stevens

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

Can You See Me?

Song - Fish and Whistle by John Prine

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

Just Imaging

Song - Imagine by Playing for a Change - Song Around the World

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

Dad's Day 2020

Song - My Father's House by Bruce Springsteen

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers, grandfathers & Great grandfathers too!

Although my father passed several years ago, I hold such fond memories of him. 

Where ever he was he gave it his all - always!

My father on the far left, Mr. B and my two brothers David and Tim -- All Dads!

 

Jim with our three sons - Tyler, Andy & Jon on a fly fishing trip

And now our oldest son Andy is a Dad as well to his son Henry

And Jim is now a dad AND a grandpa!!!

What joy...

Enjoy your day !

Meules

 Meules, fin de l'été (Haystacks at the End of Summer) by 

Claude Monet - 1891 - detail - Musée d'Orsay

Just look at all of that yummy color.....

"Let's make hay while the sun shines."

-- Miguel de Cervantes

Mom's Garden

Song - Whatever Mama Says by Jason Mraz

My mom & dad & grandfather ingrained in me the love of gardening.  Here is a peek at my mothers garden....above is a Sally Holmes climbing rose

And this rose was a favorite of my grandparents - Double Delight

Mom has a side yard thriving with hollyhocks which remind me of an old fashioned garden.

She has a heard shaped stepping stone embedded in her walkway to the upper lawn.

Mom has an array of healthy hydrangeas in the shade all around her garden.

There is running water for the soothing sounds as well as for the birds that she feeds.

A house finch looking out over the creek in her backyard.

And one of my favorite flowers of hers is The Poor Man's Orchid - a member of the Impatiens family that she collected seeds from in Santa Cruz.  I have seen these growing in England, France & Italy and they originated in the Himalayas! Since they are starting to pop their seeds right now, I am going to see if I can save a few.

Fever-few flowers that return year after year as well. She has so much more to share with you and I hope to take some more photos in her garden soon!

“Mothers are like glue.

Even when you can’t see them,

they’re still holding the family together.”

—Susan Gale

Mama!

Song - Mother & Child Reunion by Paul Simon

The above photo was taken several years ago when a pair of Mourning Doves made a nest in our side yard.  Her baby ended up growing quite large so I nicknamed him "Baby Huey".

This year they have a nest nearby but not in their usual spot on the side of our house.

I know they are nearby as they come to dine several times a day under my feeders.


"Everyone needs time 
to develop their dreams.
An egg in the nest
does not become
a bird overnight."

Lois Ehlert

PS - Sorry if you are receiving this post twice as I have been having trouble with Google Blogger..... :-/

Sierra Birthday

Song - Sierra by Boz Scaggs

Tuesday was my birthday and Mr. B and I decided that we very much needed a break from staying at home so we drove up to Lake Tahoe for the day.  We packed a picnic lunch and headed to the mountains. 

My birthday surprises were:

1. Spending the entire day with my love - Mr. B

2. The smell of fresh mountain air - pine trees and crisp air

3. The parking lot at the beach was opened that day so we didn't have to haul all of our stuff from the highway.

4. I found a heart shaped rock within minutes of getting there

5. A bald eagle flew over us on the beach

6. We also had a fly over by the Blue Angels (not really them but military planes that sounded loud)

7. We had wine, chocolate and strawberries

8. It was a beautiful warm day with very cold Tahoe water!

9. We picked up dinner on the way home - Yum!

10. We both got burnt to a crisp!!! Peeling to come later....

PS - It had snowed at lake level two days earlier....

"The more you praise and celebrate your life,

the more there is to celebrate life."

--Oprah Winfrey

Carmel Face

Song - I've Just Seen A Face by The Beatles

Happy pup with a big stick (possibly a log) on the beach at Carmel.

Thanks for the song idea Gwen ;-)

"The world would be a nicer place

if everyone had the ability

to love as unconditionally as a dog."

--M.K. Clinton

Inspired

Song - Everybody Hurts by REM

The events of the last few weeks coupled with the events of the last few months have caused me to reconsider my blog. My blog felt insincere and it lacked gravity.What was I doing posting photos of flowers and birds when so many of us are hurting. Does anyone even care to see yet another photo of a cottage in England or a bee on a flower?

I do

My soul needs it

We all need beauty in our lives otherwise what are we fighting so hard for?

I need both the silliness of squirrels running up and down my tree AND I need to feel the gravity of this moment in time. 

I enjoy imparting interesting quotes and songs that bring us back to a moment in time.

So I will continue my blog until all of you shout STOP we can't take it anymore!

"Show someone a little kindness today because we all need that."

--Jeanette

Time Away

Taking a few days off of social media.......

Coming and Going

Song - Summer Breeze by Seals & Croft

Coming and Going by Norman Rockwell - 1947

Summer vacation season is about to begin!

I know for us, we will be spending time poolside and hopefully a few short day trips.

I used to have a copy of this painting which I purchased at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts hanging in our downstairs bathroom.  I just love how Norman Rockwell truthfully portrays a family heading off on a summer vacation in the upper photo - kids are excited, the dog can't wait, the little blonde girl has a big red bow in her hair and a big bubble to match.  Grandma is gassing up the back seat so I guess she is excited too!  The mom & dad are sitting next to each other and the boat and oars are on top of the car ready for some fun.

On the way back (bottom photo) Grandma has the same expression but the little boy is clearly tired holding on to his fishing pole, the little girl's bow & bubble are smaller and she doesn't look nearly as happy. Same for the dog and the older son.  Mom is asleep (because we all know mom's are still on the job during vacation) and there is a child between her and her husband who looks exhausted. The only thing that looks happy is the felt pennant from the lake they visited.

"We do not remember days;

we remember moments."

--Cesare Pavese

Yellow

Song - Yellow by Coldplay

Bright yellow mustard flowers blooming near Dijon, France

Photo taken from the TGV train which can travel 

up to 186 mph in commercial service 

and 320 mph under special test conditions.  

I so wish we had fast, clean, efficient trains like that in America!

Viva le Moutarde de Dijon

"Almost anything is edible 

with a dab of French mustard on it."

--Nigel Slater

Come on in.....

Song - Close the Door by Teddy Pendergrass

My favorite knocker of all time (at least so far) is this one above from a door in Paris.

So interesting and elaborate!

 A man & a woman's hand knocker

Both are from France - the one on the right was taken in Brantome.

You can put your letters through the slot on this knocker from Lacock, England

A simple but elegant knocker found on a beautiful wooden door in Tuscany



"The ache for home lives in all of us
the safe place 
we can go as we are

and not be questioned."

Maya Angelou