Orinda Books Show and Reception

I paint with a small group of talented women "Bay Area Studio Artists" and we will be having a show for the month of August at Orinda Books.  The reception will be this Sunday, Aug. 2 from 1-3.  

Hope you can join us!

If the link above does not work for BASA, click below.

bayareastudioartists.com

Let's Discuss Nose & Chin Hair

Song - Grandpa's Whiskers

HA!  Made you look!

Have a happy Thursday!

"A cat's whiskers are so sensitive; 

they can find their way through

 the narrowest crack 

in a broken heart."

 - Unknown

Suzie Q

Song - Suzie Q by Creedence Clearwater Revival

My sweet cousin Susan passed away Thursday morning and I began reminiscing about the fun times that we had together.

Susan is in the center of her family with her arm around her dad - 1958

In the 60's my Aunt and Uncle would rent a cabin near Donner Lake. My family used to go and stay with them sometimes.
 

I am on the left & Susan on the right -  in some very short dresses!  Oh my!!!

All of the cousins took water skiing lessons from a little old lady who worked at Donner Lake (now that I think of it she was probably all of 52). I remember her having us stand on the beach with our skis on and hold onto the tow rope.  She would pull us right into the water off the beach and you never had to work at standing up! Nor did you get wet!!

Probably not safe anymore......and probably wasn't safe then either.  Kind of like how fun it was to sit on the tailgate of dad's station wagon with our feet dangling near the road all the way home from the swimming pool.

 At the cabin one night, my older brother David and cousin Bill were supposed to be babysitting us and our two younger brothers while our parents went out for dinner.

Susie is the one with the party hat on and that's me next to her with the braids

Well, this particular night we were all in our bedrooms getting ready for bed.  Susan and I were sharing a room on the second floor and Bill & David had the room right next door.

We are in the forest, it's very dark and we hear a scratching on our bedroom window.  Someone was trying to get inside.  How can this be - we are on the second floor?  A bear perhaps?

David with his arm lovingly draped around Susan leg

We scream, head for the door and the door handle comes off in Susan's hand. We fall to the floor, wet our pants and when the boys open the door for us, they were laughing hysterically and holding a very long stick..............they had to do the dishes for a week!

Susie is on the top row, second from the left.  I am next to her and our two older "stinker" brothers are next to me.  David is holding our cousin Patty and Bill is next to him with the dark hair.

Susan and I used to pick Pampas Grass flowers in the empty lot across the street from her house in El Cerrito.  We would stick two fronds each into the back of our shirt and pretend that we were angels. Now you are a real angel Susie.

 You will be missed.......

“Scars remind us that the past was real”  -- Shakespeare

Wild Women

Song - That's Right You're Not From Texas by Lyle Lovett & His Large Band

On Tuesday evening Mr. B took me to a lovely restaurant.  The food was exceptional as were the drinks.

Light and refreshing on a warm summer evening.  Guess what this was called?


.......the Lyle Spritzer.

Now you might think that this is a funny name for a drink unless you look closely at the menu and take note of the first cocktail offered - a  Lovett Old Fashioned.  And if you put the two together, you might think we were going to see Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Wente Vineyards. 


And you would be right!

But first dessert.....mmm......an Apricot and Berry Tart with Lemon Verbena Whipped Cream. It just melted in my mouth.  We actually had an incredible 4 course dinner but we were enjoying it so much that I forgot to take photos. You can just trust me on that one!

For my birthday in June, Mr. B gave me two tickets to see Lyle Lovett & His LARGE Band and it was the perfect evening under the stars.

I have seen Lyle a number of times and what is always so striking to me is what a "gentleman" he is. Not sure if it's a Texan thing or if he was just brought up right! He has this incredible dry sense of humor.  He has 13 other people on stage with him and shares stories about each one.  Funny little tidbits that had the audience rolling in the isles.

One of my favorite members of his band is Ms. Francine Reed who grew up singing in her local church. Click HERE to get a sample of her style with Wild Women!

 This woman sings with great passion and you can just tell that she enjoys it with her whole heart and soul!

Lyle did as well and as he encouraged each musician to share in a solo portion, he just grinned on like a proud papa!

 Thank you Mr. B for the great tickets and for being my wine Sherpa for the evening!

"Women always go through the door first. Even ardent feminists would admit it's nice. It's not an acknowledgment of women as the weaker sex; it's perhaps an acknowledgment of women as the stronger sex." --Lyle Lovett

Clarity

Song - I'll Follow the Sun by Paul McCartney

"I firmly believe that nature 

brings solace in all troubles."

 --Anne Frank

All Aboard

Song - Tilden Park Merry Go Round


This week I had the opportunity to spend some time with my niece's children, June & Cal.  It was a fun experience to get to know them better now that they are 7 & 8.

Monday we spent the day at Tilden Park in the Berkeley Hills, where the kids got to feed some animals.  Aunt Jeanette was assuming there would be "pellets" to purchase but everyone else visiting was very generous in sharing their celery & lettuce!

Just look at that tongue......then look at that happy face on June!

I think Cal got slimmed on this one!

Can you tell that I asked them to pose for this shot?

Cal is giving the goat a "double treat"! It's all about choices.....

They got to see cows, chickens, ducks, bunny rabbits, geese, goats & sheep.

Then we headed over to the 100 year old Merry Go Round nearby.

The woman who sold the tickets told the kids that the chickens went the highest so for all of their rides, they always choose the only 2 chickens on the ride. 

 

The roof over the carousal ride.

The sea creature

The reindeer

Mr. Lion

I think it's a troll

Mr. Toad

A thoughtful giraffe

A wild zebra and sweet doggie

Then we had lunch and of course being an "Auntie" I had to buy them Cotton Candy!

After cleaning up -----(cough - Sticky......cough - blue mouths) we headed to the steam trains to ride ol' number 4.

It was fun to see all of the parents & grandparents & one Auntie looking like little kids for just a moment in time as the train wound it way through Redwood trees, over bridges and through tunnels.

At the end of the ride, the kids were able to talk to the conductor and ask questions like weather he steers it or not.

And what makes it go.....

Cal had spotted a turkey while on the train but no one else saw him for awhile until we caught him trying to cross the street!

Heading back home we decided it was time to relax and cool off in the pool.

Drip.......drip.......ahhhh.....

June is such a free spirit.  So while Cal pushed her around the pool, she was able to relax with her upside down goggles!!!

Mika was on guard the entire time they were swimming

The kids were very sweet with her and encouraged her to go swimming or ride on the raft but did not force the matter.

When they ended up in the hot tub she really had her work cut out for her!

They left to head back home today.  I miss them already but Mika is sound asleep and snoring by my side.

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around--and why his parents will always wave back." 

- William D. Tammeus