A Summer Walk

Song - For the Summer by Ray LaMontagne

"If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence." - George Eliot

This morning my friend, Jill texted me to see if I wanted to go for a walk.

Since it wasn't 106 degrees and wasn't rainy or windy....I had no excuse.

It was rather dry for this time of year.

Actually it was just perfect weather for walking.

But this is JILL....jill-the-pill!  And that name comes with her for a good reason! BEWARE!

You know the kind.... she is the one that sees a "NO TRESPASSING" sign and to her that's just a tease. Come along and see if you can get caught.  Oh look, there is a "Don't Walk" sign....let's run!

So I texted her back and said "A STROLL and no hills!"

I have not been exercising for a long time and I didn't want her to be responsible for my heart attack in the middle of nowhere!

Morning mist on a Thistle blossom.

We drove to a nearby park-cow-pastureland - "Briones Park". (Remember Gwen?)

And for two hours we strolled and I photographed (that was my excuse for pausing) and we visited and we enjoyed the bliss of quiet solitude.

We came to a "watering hole" and found absolutely no wildlife!


Not a frog or Red-Winged Blackbird.

Just lime green water.

And cow footprints in the mud.

We did find a Blue Jay feather and a Hawk feather as well as spotting a blue bird, who flew away before I could photograph him.

Then as we rounded a corner we ran into these vicious beasts and I decided that it was time to return to the safety of the car.

You can just see how these two are talking about how to plan their attack on us????

Time to get out of Dodge!

On the path home we saw a lot of ground squirrels but there was one who thought he was a statue.

"If I stay very still maybe she won't notice me"

 

 "Well, I have to peek out of one eye."

 Oh my, she is taking my photograph!  Is this my good side?

Maybe I should try a front view?

No I think a side view is best....but which side?

Maybe I should go underground until the paparazzi has left the park.

Well, maybe one more for my fans.  Gosh it's a beautiful day for a stroll!

And if you haven't seen this British Video of Animals Talking  - please watch - it will make you laugh.....I promise Alan!

 

Faded Treasures

 Song - Chug-a-lug by Roger Miller

While looking through my portfolio of "blog ideas", I came across the realization (place a light bulb over my head)..... that my family history is one of coal miners, saloon keepers, bootleggers and actually that's just on my mom's side!   (Sorry mom - you are still a sweetheart!)

AND Mr. B's family came from the South and they were sheriff's and moonshine smashers.

A Saloon in Starkville, Colorado but not my great-grandfathers.

My background......above.

Mr B's grandfather was the sheriff - second from right

His background....above.


(That's were the light bulb went off.)

They also shot people like "Billy the Kid".....ever hear of Pat Garrett?  Well, that would be Mr. B's great-great uncle! (maybe one more great in there?) Yes sir.

Larkin Randolf Lay and Margaret Garrett (Pat Garret's sister)

Imagine bringing that story into Kindergarten for "show and tell"

OK.....so we both have an interesting supporting cast of characters in our closets.

How the heck did we ever get together?

Times were tough during our grandparents days and they did what they had to do to survive. Whether it was making moonshine or destroying it.

When Mr. B and I were first married (bc - "before children"), I had some time to do some genealogy work and to interview older family members.  I found it fascinating to hear the stories of how they came to be. 

I spent days interviewing my maternal grandparents, with the clock ticking in the background and their canary singing in the kitchen. 

Grandma would tell of having to ride on a horse drawn buggy going over the Raton Pass to get Moonshine from New Mexico to bring into Colorado. She spoke about having to clean out the saloon early in the morning as girls were not allowed inside. 


Grandpa would tell of life as a coal miner and rarely seeing the light of day and of nailing my grandmothers skirt (with her in it) to the top of the dog house "because she just talked too much!" as children living in Starkville, Colorado. He also spoke of the Mother Jones meetings that his father took him to.

Starkville, Colorado

Mr. B's grandmother came to visit from Louisiana when we were first married and told us stories about going on a date in a horse drawn buggy. She was so......Southern and sweet and was delighted to be offered a bourbon-on-the-rocks, with a splash of "branch water".

...a little "branch water" please.

I started going through my genealogy files today to collect some photo's and information.  I began doing research in the 80's......a-hem....before email and internet.  I have receipts for a $4 check sent to England for a birth certificate.  Now, it is probably incredible what you can find online.

Anyway, it got my juices flowing again to do some research in the near future.

My great grandparents Lucia & Pietro and my grandfather is on the far right.

"My address is like my shoes. It travels with me. I abide where there is a fight against wrong." -- Mother Jones

Independence Day

Song - This Land is Your Land by Bruce Springsteen Hope you have a safe and fun fourth!    I am putting in a new front walkway garden..... And Mr. B is making his family's famous Macaroni Salad - the old fashioned way! "Life without liberty is like a body without spirit" - Kahlil Gibran And if you have not seen this video of Red Skelton yet, it is a heartfelt piece of work.

A Dogs Life

Song - Ain't No Sunshine - Joe Cocker

 

 

 

Mr. B and I have two West Highland White Terriers or "Westies".  

 

 

I was starting to write this post about how sick they both are but then what hit me was how much happiness and joy they have brought to our family.  

 

 

Mika our 10 year old is a little "Tom Boy".  She is constantly rolling on or in something and so she is constantly in need of a bath.  She has pink-brown legs from allergies and stiff matted fur.  But oh is she a happy dog.  Never worries about a thing except what time breakfast is being served.  She is constantly under foot and curious as to what you are doing.  She likes to be included.  She gets one cup of food and is a little on the "round" side.

 

 

 

 

Max our 13 year old is sophisticated, will play when he feels like it and carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.  He surveys our backyard like it's his grand estate and he is responsible for every little leaf.  His fur is silky and white and rarely needs bathing.  Max gets two cups of food and is always slim and trim.  

 

Why does that always happen to females?

 

Lately they are not wagging their tails very much.

Mika  has Pneumonia and something else going on with her respiratory system that has yet to be diagnosed.

 

Max was just diagnosed with kidney failure.  

 

 

 

 

 Just a month ago they would both happily jump in bed with us for a little morning snuggle but as soon as they hear the word "breakfast", they would run around the corner, down the hall and skid into the kitchen, while leaving area rugs scattered behind them.  Then they would dance and chase each other until breakfast was served.

Not for the last week or so. 

They are both sleeping a lot and Max has stopped eating for the most part.

 

 

They are best friends.  And they are both my comfort and joy.....

 

 

 

 

 

“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.” - Max Eastman

Sumbeams

Song - Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

"Hold out your hands to feel the luxury of the sunbeams."    

-- Helen Keller

My Personal Kryptonite

Song - A Work Song of Boat Trackers in SiChuan Province

My personal Kryptonite is Plein Air Painting.

You know....painting mountains, trees, streams, lakes, etc.  OUTDOORS!

Suffice it to say that I like air conditioning or heat, no bugs, nor sand in my shoes.

Am I getting OLD?

I am currently in a three day workshop with Tim Horn.....oh my!

Tim painting the dock & boat house

The workshop is being held at China Camp in San Rafael.  It's beautiful.  It's historic. Tim is an incredible artist and teacher!

But I can NOT paint a tree.




I haven't given up. I keep taking classes and workshops because I love looking at other people's plein air paintings but.....I struggle so.  Too many leaves I think!

 

China Camp was a Chinese shrimp-fishing village which thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop. The village was used extensively in the filming of the 1955 movie "Blood Alley"starring John Wayne. Today the fishing village is maintained by the Park Service, with the help of Frank Quan, a descendent of one of the original residents, who lives there. (From Wikipedia)

We began day number one with big cardboard blocks.

Now some of you may think this is easy-peasy.  But depending on the weather, those blocks can change color in an instant, they are constantly changing their shadows and can be rather challenging.

Tim says if you can paint these blocks, you can paint anything. (yeah...right!)

Here he is changing the color of his white block - not so easy-peasy

Tim is especially known for his vintage car paintings, Marin farmland & (my personal favorite) Airstream trailers!!!!  (Hint Mr. B.....it's on my Bucket List)

Please check out his amazing style.....   http://horndesign.com/

Today we painted in the morning with a demo at lunch time and then painted until 4.

Tomorrow I get to do it all over again.

Two little cuties on the beach

The old SEA BREEZ shrimp boat

Some of the existing homes on the beach

The shrimp furnace

The Sea Breez

The dock at China Camp

I painted the "snack shack" this afternoon - I love the old 7-up sign on the right.

I painted this group of buildings in the morning.  We were supposed to be looking for a light/dark pattern.

Time to pack a lunch for one more day at China Camp tomorrow!

 "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." -John Quincy Adams