Travel sketches

My new favorite blogger is Vivian Swift.(vivianswiftblog.com ) She has written a wonderful book called "When Wanderers Cease to Roam." It's her travel journal and it's full of her beautiful little watercolors. I bought it because of the watercolors but as I read it I realized I liked the writing as well as the paintings.  She's so inspirational and full of information on writing,  journaling and painting...and she's funny.  I found myself identifying with her so much that I've emailed her several times and she actually wrote back.

She's inspired me to start writing about my own travels. I've been looking through my sketchbooks to find things I've sketched while traveling. I've done a lot of traveling but surprisingly little sketching. I buy sketchbooks all the time and take them with me but when I look back at them they'll have one or two half finished sketches in them and lots of blank pages.

Nancy, Megan, and I went to Paris and London in 2002.  These are the only sketches I could find although I do remember doing some others.

When we got to our teeny- tiny hotel room in Paris there were three beds jammed together. We thought we could save money by all 3 of us sharing a room. We would have had to walk on the beds to get to the bathroom. So we splurged and I got a separate room. This is Nancy resting before we hit the streets. Nice socks!

We had a friend who lived in London who we hadn't seen in more than 20 years. We called him while in Paris and he insisted we come to London.  So we took the train through the Chunnel. It was a little disappointing because while going through the chunnel you obviously couldn't see a thing. I liked the ferry better.

Our friend, Jim Singer, was an Oriental art dealer. He had specialized in Tibetan art but said it was too picked over now and he had gone on to other Oriental art. His large apartment was full of paintings, prints, textiles and statues.  The one of the Buddha was almost life sized. The smaller one sat on his fireplace.

This was the view from his living room window. (not a very good sketch, but it helps to remember it.)

Jim came to visit us in California a couple of times when he moved from London to Tiburon, Ca.

And then he disappeared. Every time I called I got no answer and no answering machine.

So I googled him and, to my shock, he was dead.

We had just seen him about two weeks before this and he had talked about being depressed. It hadn't seemed that serious, though. He had been recently divorced, both his parents had died and his only sister had died years before.  So he had no family left.  We've never really found out what happened but we assume he committed suicide. Just when we found him after so long we lost him again.

WHY I'M A DEMOCRAT

Here's the results of a poll showing the current beliefs of  Republicans:

Should Barack Obama be impeached, or not?
Yes 39
No 32
Not Sure 29

Do you think Barack Obama is a socialist?
Yes 63
No 21
Not Sure 16

Do you believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be President than Barack Obama?
Yes 53
No 14
Not Sure 33

Would you favor or oppose giving illegal immigrants now living in the United States the right to live here legally if they pay a fine and learn English?
Favor 26
Oppose 59
Not Sure 15

Do you support the death penalty?
Yes 91
No 4
Not Sure 5

Should openly gay men and women be allowed to serve in the military?
Yes 26
No 55
Not Sure 19

Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
Yes 7
No 77
Not Sure 16

Should sex education be taught in the public schools?
Yes 42
No 51
Not Sure 7

Should public school students be taught that the book of Genesis in the Bible explains how God created the world?
Yes 77
No 15
Not Sure 8

Do you consider abortion to be murder?
Yes 76
No 8
Not Sure 16

Do you believe that the only way for an individual to go to heaven is through Jesus Christ, or can one make it to heaven through another faith?
Christ 67
Other 15
Not Sure 18

If this poll is indicative of how Republicans really think, my rational Republican friends must be really embarrassed.

More from our Art-full L.A. trip

 

One of my favorite places in L.A. is the library. When you're there, always look up.

This is the ceiling in the main lobby.

Another ceiling.

One of the many exhibits at the library was of old movie posters. We loved the titles of these two.

 

  

The lobby of the beautiful Biltmore Hotel, just a block away from the library.

The inner courtyard of another of my favorite L.A. buildings- The Bradbury.

  

Nancy snuggles up to Charley Chapman in the Bradbury Building.

On our walk to the Grand Central Market - 

the window of a curandero shop.

All sorts of herbs and potions and religious statues were on sale here.

They promised to cure you of everything from liver to love problems.

Christ on a crutch (or two). 

The window of a shoe store in the art gallery area.

From the L.A. Art Show and Zentangles

Here's a couple of the artists that were represented at the L.A. Art Show.
These first two pieces are by Oh, Kyong-Mi. I didn't notice it at the time but my latte photos from my last post must have been taken with these in the back of my mind.

Hers are ART, though.

After our Zentangles class we saw Zentangles everywhere, in tile patterns, carpet patterns, nature, etc. 

I don't think this artist knew he (or she) was doing a Zentangle, but it looks like one.

This is by Poli Marichal. It's a lino-cut called Regerenaciones/Transcendence.

 

 Lino-cuts are a lot harder to do than Zentangles.

What are Zentangles?  Doodles turned into art.

They were developed by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. They can be used as a form of meditation and relaxation. (You know, that space you can get into while doodling). Rick Roberts noticed that Maria (a calligrapher) was hard to reach while she was working on a very involved illuminated letter.

He was an ex- Buddhist monk and thought she might be in a Zen-type space (don't quote me on this- it's just my interpretation). 

Suzanne McNeill has a book called "Zentangle Basics", (by her publishing company-Design Originals)- which is a great way to get started.

Here's my first attempt- a bookmark. It's fun and really is relaxing.

 

Here's one by Suzanne showing how complex and beautiful they can be.

An art-full trip to Los Angeles

Our friend, Suzanne McNeill, was here for a visit and we spent a few days in Los Angeles. It was all centered around art and started with a Zentangle class at my cousin's store TheART bar in Santa Ana and ended with The L.A. Art Show.

Zentangle by Penny Raile whose loft we visited in L.A.

 

One of Suzanne's Zentangles 

One of the murals in the L.A. library

Also in the wonderful L.A. library

Murals, while walking to the Grand Central Market for lunch.

 

A bridal shop on the way to Grand Central Market.

Suzanne at the Market.

 

Penny and some of her Zentangles in her loft.

One of Penny's paintings.

The model.

More art... on our lattes at breakfast.

 

At the Neon Museum.

More tomorrow about the Art Show.

San Diego Sketchcrawl- Buena Vista Nature Center, Oceanside

My first time with this very nice group. I was a little intimidated by the talent of everyone

and wasn't happy with my first little painting.  Next time I'll do better and bring better supplies.

Stuffed dead birds in the nature center.

On my way home I stopped at an antique store because there was an Eames chair out in front. I've always wanted one. It was a copy, but I still wouldn't mind having it. It was only $350- that's how I knew it was a copy. When I hesitated the owner offered it to me for $250.

I should have bought it but I'm feeling too poor these days, so instead I bought this photo for $1.00.

I think it was a wise decision.

Hiking the Santa Margarita Trail, Fallbrook, Ca.

Nancy and I took the dogs for a hike. I've lived in Fallbrook for almost 20 years and I had never been to the Santa Margarita Trail. It was absolutely beautiful. No need to drive up to the mountains to get away from it all. A wilderness is right here in Fallbrook- about 15 minutes away. Why has it taken me so long to see it?  I'm not much of an outdoors person and definitely not a hiker. But it was a real easy hike even for Artie (Megan's dog) who is old and blind. Nancy's dog, Tootie, loved it and sniffed every stone and blade of grass.

Artie jumps over a log.

Remnants of the big fire in 2007.

A tree grows right out of a rock.

On the way home there was a beautiful sunset. We were stopped at a stoplight by the marque of the Baptist church and Lo and Behold-- A miracle !!  The marque wasn't lit up.  Nancy said "what if it says something about the sunset". Just then the light came on and it said
" Forecast- The Son will shine forever."
I'm not the least bit religious and I certainly don't believe in miracles but for a minute there.....

A lovely new store comes and goes.

I try to shop in Fallbrook as much as possible so that the stores will stay around. So many wonderful gift shops have come and gone through the years. Now that I've just discovered a new one I find out they're moving to Temecula- the town next door.  Fallbrook people have never been very loyal to their downtown stores. Instead they drive to the nearest mall about 20-30 minutes away.

This store- Madison Manor, has only been here about 6 months and they've realized that Temecula attracts more tourists and therefore more foot traffic. I'm sure part of the problem has been the horrible economy. But they probably will do better in Temecula.

The store is packed with beautiful things and the prices are great.

Madison Manor, 130 North Main, Fallbrook (Until February)

Quick look at a previous book club. (November ?)

The Seal Wife by Kathryn Harrison

Nancy and I enjoying the conversation. Looks like we had a little too much wine!

Beth, Vickie, Helen

 

Laurie, Kathy, Roxanne

The Seal Wife tells the story of a young scientist and his consuming love for a woman known only as the Aleut, a woman who refuses to speak.

A novel of passions both dangerous and generative, The Seal Wife explores the nature of desire and its ability to propel an individual beyond himself and outside convention. Kathryn Harrison brilliantly re-creates the Alaskan frontier during the period of the First World War as she explores with deep understanding the interior landscape of the human psyche — a landscape eerily continuous with the splendor and terror of the frozen frontier and the storms that blow over the earth and its face.

Book Club Christmas Party 2009

I'll bet none of you had a gorilla at your Christmas party.

(Barb poses with him or her)

Nancy getting a little too friendly.

Helen smiles but wonders who it is and if he or she actually read the book.

Laurie tries to speak his language.

The back of the gorilla gives a clue.

You can tell by the blond hair (which she forgot to tuck in) that it's goofy Beth who always wanted to wear a gorilla suit and never quite had the proper occasion----and still doesn't!

The party was held at Roxanne's house and for the second year in a row she decorated beautifully. The food, as usual was great.

Kathy made place cards in her beautiful caligraphy.

The book was "The Art of Racing in the Rain" which got a mixed review.

It's written from Enzo, the dog's point of view.

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Here's what I thought was the best quote from the book: from Enzo (the dog) . He and Denny were watching a racing tape and talking. Enzo comments on what Denny had just taught him, a simple concept about destiny.

That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.

Christmas Breakfast and Dinner at Nancy's

 Nancy's beautiful breakfast spread.

Megan looking adoringly at her mother, Nancy.

Brother Bob, Nancy and Megan enjoying the wonderful dinner of turkey and all the fixin's that Nancy made.

Christmas Eve at Kurt and Antonio's

Nancy, Megan and I spent Christmas Eve with the Kinsey/Pujals family and some of their nice friends.

Antonio telling us about his camera.

  

Kurt holding James while he makes a face.

Here's what he really looks like.

Megan and Nancy enjoying the conversation.

Kurt made the best dinner. A filet mignon for each of us with a salad, asparagus with hollandaise sauce and Danish potatoes. I'm going to get the recipe for the potatoes. They were very unique and delicious.

A dogone good Christmas

We spent Christmas this year with a lot of our dog friends.

Megan brought Arthur all the way from New York. She, Nancy and Arthur drove all the way across the country, missed most of the bad weather and enjoyed the trip. I took care of Tootie, Nancy's dog, while they were gone. We worried about how Arthur and Tootie would get along, but so far so good.  Arthur is pretty old so he doesn't particularly like to play while Tootie really does but they seem to have worked out a plan.  Here they are opening their presents.

On Christmas day we all went for a walk in Fallbrook's beautiful Los Jilgueres Preserve.

Megan and Arthur, Nancy and Tootie

You wouldn't think Southern California would have so much Fall color.

Before Nancy left she and I spent a few days at our timeshare in Del Mar. We had a wonderful time, shopping and eating. While we were gone Jeri took care of my 6 cats. She took the morning shift and my friend, Robin covered the night feeding. So while Jeri was gone for Christmas I took care of her dog, Prince.  Prince wasn't too sure about me at first but when I shared my donut with him we became fast friends. It was so hard to say goodby to him each night.

Prince