Petal Pushers

Song - For the Roses by Joni Mitchell

Woke to a beautiful sunrise this morning and decided to take a walk around the garden.  The birds were incredible, singing to each other and to me!

And just as I am writing this post two Red House Finches flew through the open door and into our dining room.  I think they thought it might be a nice place to build a nest! I shooed them back out before they got too comfortable on the chandelier!


Spring must be in the air and romance is all around me. Both yesterday and today two Canadian Geese landed on our roof and did their little happy dance then flew down into our swimming pool. Ugg!  I sent Mika out to take care of that situation and she did it beautifully!  So proud of herself afterwards that she could scare a critter twice as big as she is!

Luckily it wasn't this beautiful Great Blue Heron who was fishing in our backyard creek several days ago! 



On with our garden stroll....

White Wisteria - the scent is incredible!

The Dogwood trees are getting ready to pop!

Little Santa Barbara Daisies are smiling everywhere!

Morning dew on my roses......

Seed pods on the October Glory tree are a beautiful color against the bright blue sky

Purple Wisteria on the arbor in our side yard

Callery Pears are filling the front yard with their billowy blossoms

And it is snowing white petals!

Freesia's are popping up everywhere and scenting the garden

Climbing Climatis are just budding now

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change" --Buddha

My Hunter Gatherer

Song - La Vie en Rose by Louis Armstrong from the movie French Kiss

So Mr. B is at a conference for the next few days and although he will be missed, Mika and I are all set for some girl time!

It includes painting and music!

Current painting that's on my easel

Reading........

Current book on my nightstand

 .....and watching all of those "chick flicks" that Mr. B just can't bear to watch again.

I have a case of Diet Coke.......

Several bottles of fine wine.......

And leftover Chinese food......mmmm....

As well as my partner in crime.....

Now the question remains....can we fit it all in????



"Happiness is a warm puppy." --Charles M. Schulz

Nineteen-Oh-Two

Song - Bill Bailey Won't You Come Home by Chris Barbers Jazz Band


In 1902 Bill Bailey was the #2 song at the time.  I didn't recognize number 1....."Arkansas Traveler" but it kinda sounds like "Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee"!

Today Mr. B and I drove into San Francisco to get a painting that was gifted to me, appraised.  We had a few hours to play before our appointment so we drove through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. An incredibly beautiful day!

Banister on the stairs at the Beach Chalet

We had a wonderful brunch at the Beach Chalet on the Great Highway near the Cliff House.  We sat at a window seat and could watch the surfers as well as the freighters going in and out of the bay.

Afterward we walked around the corner so I could snap some photos of the North (Dutch) Windmill which was built in 1902.......Ahhhh.....you say "Now it all makes sense - a 1902 theme!"

 On the back of the windmill is a fantail which keeps the blades facing into the wind. At one time the windmills would pump water for the park but now they are just reminder of San Francisco's beautiful history.

The North Windmill is situated in the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden and luckily the tulips were in full bloom!

Planted with Oriental Poppies and Primrose's.

Can you see the beautiful copper top?

Then we headed to our appointment, but not before Mr. B drove us by the last remaining Doggie Diner dog head! He also filled my head with so much Doggie Diner trivia that I decided that he needs to get out more with higher cultured people!!!

On August 11, 2006, the Doggie Diner dog head became a San Francisco landmark No. 254.



"Love is to life, what wind is to a windmill" - Kazi Shams

Soul Full

Without infringing on anyone's privacy, I need to share.  

I have an amazing friend. 

I smile just saying those words.

She is very ill.

I have been sending good energy her way and saying many prayers.

As are many others.

 

Today I meditated facing east, as the sun was setting behind me.

I got so much comfort from this.

I was reminded that her soul needs to do what it needs.  Not what mine wants, not what her loving family and dear friends want.  

Her soul may need encouragement by prayer and energy of so many who love her but probably not.  

Her soul probably already knows.....somewhere deep inside, how loved she is. 

But it can't hurt.

“Bodhichitta is our heart—our wounded, softened heart. Right down there in the thick of things, we discover the love that will not die. This love is bodhichitta. It is gentle and warm; it is clear and sharp; it is open and spacious. The awakened heart of bodhichitta is the basic goodness of all beings.”--Pema Chodron

A Wee Bit of Scotland Came To Walnut Creek

Song - Danny Boy played by piper Jeff Campbell

On Sunday our family celebrated four February birthdays (Katie, Mr. B, Mom & our Jon-E-B's) as well as our parents 65th Wedding Anniversary!

We enjoyed a beautiful day in my brother and sister-in-laws backyard, just around the corner from our home.

My mom decided to surprise my dad with a bagpipe player because his father used to play the bagpipes and drums in WWI.  As you can see, my dad was delighted and touched to hear the piper play!

My grandfather - John Crawford

The piper was Jeff Campbell who my brilliant mother found on the internet.  I was impressed with her internet skills when she informed us that she found a lot of young men on the internet!!! Ha.....

I got to talking with Jeff and he went to the same high school as my brother and myself. When my brother Tim and he began going over their friend lists, it seems they had some in common - what a small world!

Now Tim, has a nice little putting green in his backyard and I made a little sign to go with it......

If any of you have ever been to the Inn at Spanish Bay, they have a piper come out every evening just before sunset to play on the hills nearby.  There are big open fire pits to enjoy drinks around and the music comes softly through the early evening air.

My nieces son, Harley, seemed to enjoy the music but he wasn't quite sure about getting too close!

Just look at that cute little pout!  Jeff was a sweetheart!

Delicious food was catered by Sideboard of Danville. We enjoyed various sliders, an incredible Mac n'Cheese, salads and cupcakes! I was so busy enjoying the food that I forgot to take a picture of the beautiful table setting!
 

Lily (with her birthday face paint on) and June enjoyed my brother's "sand trap"!!!

Dad, Jeff-the-piper & Tim

Happy 65th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

"This old barbaric music has magic in it. It transforms the Gael. It reawakens in the depths of their being, even in this...century, impressions, moods, feelings inherited from a wild untamed ancestry for thousands of years, and thus gives them, more than strong wine, that strength of arm and that endurance of soul which makes them invincible.”  --Michael MacDonagh ~ 1916

Choo-Choo-Choosing What to Do Today

Song - Train Whistle

Sunday morning Mr. B bolted out of bed and said "Let's take a train trip today!"

 

So we went to the nearest train station and jumped on a train heading for Old Town Sacramento.

We passed birds enjoying an early morning in the wetlands of Suisun Bay.

And cows huddled under a tree.

And unfortunately, many, many homeless encampments, some more elaborate than others.  We saw one that looked well maintained with a picnic table and umbrella!

 They are renovating the old Sacramento station (note the white plastic on the far left).

 Inside was beautiful - or soon will be.  Marble floors and these lovely old benches.

 Old Town Sacramento has been fairly well preserved but the shops and restaurants are all a little tacky with your typical touristy junk - T-shirts, candy, mugs, etc.

 

The back alleys had some fun sights.

 

We did find a good bar that served a great Chinese Chicken Salad!

We walked along the river boardwalk to the Crocker Museum to see the Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne exhibit.

The Crocker also houses the work of California premier artists like yummy Wayne Thiebaud's work!

"Boston Cremes" - 1962

We headed home on the 3:35 train. Jim purchased us a glass of wine from the dining car and we sat back and watched the day winding down.

Crossing the Sacramento River

Our happy ticket taker

Beautiful flowering orchards that went whizzing by!

Birds of all kinds

We knew we were almost home when we saw Mt. Diablo in the distance.

And crossing the old railroad bridge over the Carquinez Strait

My favorite part of the day?  Asking Zoltar what to do tomorrow!

“It's my experience that most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello.”  -- David Baldacci