31,045.6 days

Happy Birthday DAD

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln

NOW

enjoy

a 

little

MUSIC CELEBRATION

by 

the

PIANO GUYS

Boo!

Boo and Happy Halloween!!!

Song - Monster Mash by Bobby (Boris) Picket and the Crypt-Kickers

I just discovered that I have been avoiding painting.....again.

I think it's because I am struggling with acrylic's vs. oils.

Acrylics = easy to use & clean up

Oils = Juicy, buttery and great blending

After my last workshop in Santa Fe, I found myself loving oils and now I find myself doing all kinds of antics instead of painting.  Even cleaning the house!

 
Family Tree work....must be done!

Todderdown, England

** I discovered a GG Uncle that was sent to Australia because he killed 6 people and was hanged. Yipes! Just in time for Halloween!

And I have relatives that lived in Todderdown, England - named because it was built on hills and valleys so you just had to "todderdown" the lanes.



Laundry and housework must be finished!

** I washed the dogs this morning and then sprayed the bathroom with bleach and then promptly forgot to wash it down.  Wow it really smells clean.

The studio needs to be reorganized!

** I have been placing paintings and boxes of equipment in the studio because there isn't any room for it elsewhere but yesterday I spent an hour cleaning it up so I could paint.

Posey

Oh yeah...and the Giant's won the World Series.  Last week at this time we were at the First Game of the World Series and I was in doubt that they would make it.  But they did and we had a blast watching them!

Tyler's pumpkin

Romo

Most importantly the PUMPKINS must be carved!!

Mr. B Carving his Witch pumpkin

My very scary pumpkin eater!!!

Mr. B's Witch Pumpkin

A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween.  ~Erma Bombeck

Game On

Shout by the Isley Brothers

"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come." -Field of Dreams









Mr. B, Andy, Tyler & myself at AT&T Park for Game 1 of the World Series!

Giants won!

Pablo hit 3 home runs!!! Yes - 3

I have no voice left from cheering.

I am a happy, tired wreck!

La Femme

Yesterday while cleaning the house for an unexpected photo shoot, I came across an etching that I had purchased at the Paris Flea Market in April 2011. I must have returned from my trip so anxious to not have it damaged, I stored it in a very "safe" spot and promptly got busy with my daily life and then forgot about it.

Until now!

So today I decided to do a little research on the woman with the basket.






"La Femme a la Corbeille" 1908


Edmond François Aman-Jean was born in Chevry-Cossigney (Seine et Marne). He was orphaned at the age of 10 but was taken in by an uncle in Paris. There he began his art studies in the atelier of the sculptor Justin Lequien.

In 1908 he began etching, which is when this was produced. After mastering lithograph & etching he abandoned them to embrace painting.

I liked the soft feminine feel along with the hand-on-the-hip-attitude going on. It reminds me of a Matisse.

On the front plate it says Eau de Original.

oh boy!

After doing some research I discovered that Eau de Originale means PRINT in English. Looks like a print out of a book. Eau...I mean......ewwwww!

Duh....who would of thought that that translated to Original but me?

Looks like Mr. B and I will have to go back to Paris (bummer) and return it (hint, hint)!

But then I dug a little deeper and found some French transcripts with the wording "Eau- forte Pont Seche " which is also on the front cover and translates to Drypoint Etching.

Etching....original.....drypoint.....mmmmm.....

But no matter what I have, I love my etching and it is getting framed next week.

Sorry Mr. B but you will still have to take me to France someday soon anyway or I may have to put my hands on my hips and have a little attitude as well! Oui?

Maybe my Francophile friends will have a different interpretation of which I will be very delighted to hear.....unless it says that the Flea Market cranks them out for every tourist that wanders down their alley!

If you travel to Paris it is well worth the adventure to go to the best Flea Market around, the most famous flea market in Paris is the one at Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, but known to everyone as Les Puces (The Fleas). It covers seven hectares and is the largest antique market in the world, receiving between 120,000 to 180,000 visitors each weekend.


Do any of you remember the I Love Lucy episode where she buys an "original" Parisian painting, only to return to her hotel room to discover Fred & Ethel bought the exact same one? Kinda reminds me if that....
I Love Lucy - Season 5, Episode 18
Paris at Last

It Feels Like Autumn

"This is my simple religion.

There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.

Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

--Dalai Lama

Cultivating Courage

Song - Save Me by K.D. Lang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1jm3tTDrfM&sns=tw via @youtube

Actually I am no longer in Santa Fe but I am many miles up in the air heading home!!! Yipes!

For me, just getting onto an airplane is "cultivating courage"! We just crossed over the Grand Canyon but of course all of the people on the right side of the plane got to see it....guess which side I'm on?

Not the right!





After an incredible week of painting in Santa Fe, I still had not spent much time in the little town. So this morning after packing my car and trying to balance the weight between my two suitcases, I took a drive into the town plaza. I parked next to the mission which is the oldest church structure in the US (1600's) and I walked by the oldest house in the West....below..




.....then onto the Loretto church, which was very impressive. Especially because the bells were going off at a nearby church and it was so exciting.





The staircase there is considered to be a miracle and if you look up the story, a carpenter arrived after hearing the nuns prayers.

http://www.lorettochapel.com/history.html









He arrived with only a saw & his donkey. After 6 months he disappeared without being paid and he left behind a beautiful spiral staircase without any support that carpenters today do not totally understand how he did it.....some believe it was Joseph.







I however happened to feel a pull to Mary, I lit a candle, said a heartfelt prayer and sat in wonderful spiritual silence...at least until the bus tour showed up!





Then I headed to the plaza and the galleries.




It was the balloon festival week beginning today in Albuquerque so I was advised to leave for the airport very early as cars tend to park on the freeways to watch thousands of hot air balloons ascend.

But...


It didn't happen because the winds were too high.

So I had a few hours at The Petroglyphs Park before returning my rental car.











"Santa Fe is the artiest, sculpturest, weaviest and potteryest town on earth?"
-- Journeys
Jan Morris

Location:Santa Fe, New Mexico

Reverence

Song - The Afterlife by Paul Simon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G-BP3qwZ-I&sns=em

(Sorry gang but I just don't know the technology to insert a song with my iPad like I usually do from my PC....which is now toast. You'll have to tap on the link above to hear Paul's song!)

Today in Carol Marine's workshop we worked (and worked) on painting glass & flowers. (OK Joanne & Marcy - quit chuckling)




Above is Carol's beginning stage which looks fairly dark. Below is the finished painting...pretty amazing huh? I just love her style.





I am enjoying my stay at The Immaculate Heart of Mary. It has given me a different view of simple day to day living and how to have reverence for so much in my own life.

I think because here I have time to reflect on life. At home it's time to do laundry, dishes, pay bills, take the dogs to the vets, take out the garbage, yadda, yadda, yadda....you know the drill!


While here I want/need simple order in my life. There is a place for the two pair of shoes I brought with me, I make my little (hard) bed every morning, I get up early to watch the sunrise, there is a communal breakfast & lunch served to us that is dairy-vegan-glutin-wheat free and is some of the best food I have ever eaten, the shower is lukewarm but it's OK, I have time to settle into my bones and enjoy the sound of silence.



I drove through the little town of Santa Fe after our workshop today and as I returned I noticed a fire on the mountains behind the mission. Hope all is well...






"Without an awareness of your emotions you are not able to experience reverence. Reverence is not an emotion. It is a way of being, but the path to reverence is through your heart, and only an awareness of your feelings can open your heart."

--The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

Location:Santa Fe, New Mexico

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.