Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Family Craziness - Part III

Staying on the nephew theme....

We visited nephew Ben at his workplace, but honestly, I think it is a playplace. Does your office have a ping pong table and a bar?  Not to mention a Sasquatch?  

His studio is about to launch a new Disney animation, on April 30 - here are some of the languages it will be in. They don't all translate exactly to "Motorcity" - see the post-it that says, "Paradise Car"?

Check out the preview but don't have your volume turned up too high.  I'm getting too old for this.

Motorcity here we come.... 

I lied.

I did.  I lied.  I actually watched the Long Beach Grand Prix online Sunday.  Brian qualified at #9 which is extremely good in a field of 38 cars.  I think I saw his car as they lined up to await the flag.

I did not see him again and there is a reason for that. I am glad I did not see him again.

He completely lost his brakes, going 135 mph, heading into a curve.  As he put it, "this could have been bad".  Ya think? I'm glad I didn't see it happen, especially in real time.

No worries.  He and the car are unscathed.  My nerves, however, are not.  Glad he is having fun, however.

Family Craziness - Part II

With 8 siblings and numerous nieces and nephews, I suppose it was only a matter of time before more than one of them arrived to stay with me.  Sister Mary (#7 of 9) brought her three to visit California for a week.  It's been hectic, but fun - and they've seen more of L.A. than I have!

The first stop, naturally.

"Did" downtown on arrival day; Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier the next.  Easter Sunday found us at Paradise Cove.

Nags Head West.  Beach foolishness.

"I am krushing your head....".

Easter rabbit in the sun.

...and the beauty.

Given a choice and the right weather, I think they would have preferred to go to the beach every day.

 

Family Craziness

I feel as if I am in an alternative universe.  

I knew my nephew Brian was seriously racing, after years of having fun with it.  But I went to Long Beach yesterday and this is for real.

I guess it was the sight of the car that convinced me.

Yep, that's his name on the car; guess he is actually driving it.

Or maybe it was watching the hero worship.

I don't think it counts when it's your own aunt.  

However, the professional photographer there seemed to be quite taken with Aunt Mary. I wouldn't be surprised if she shows up in the local paper.

Good luck on Sunday, Bri.  Like your mother, I won't be watching.  I'm sure you understand.

The Journey is the Destination

Not to get all woo-woo on you, but really, getting "there" can be as important as wherever there is. In this case, "there" is Santa Barbara, where my friend Maggie's friend Jane was having a photography exhibit. They haven't seen each other in a while, so we thought we would surprise her. Maggie has been dealing with some major health issues and a road trip seemed to be just the thing.  

The weather as we drove was what I guess they call a "lowering" sky - gray, ever moving, dropping some rain - very cozy actually.  The hills were a surprising green (we haven't had much rain this year) and there was that wonderful yellowy haze of new leaves on the bare trees.  Up hill and down brought us breathtaking vistas around every curve until finally we were running beside the ocean.

You can talk about a lot of things in an hour and a half.  You can get hungry too, so we pulled off at Summerland, a little roadside community.  And ran smack into "Sacred Space", a magical garden of peace.  Be sure to stop if you ever have the chance. You will never want to leave.

We finally did get to Santa Barbara and Jane's fabulous exhibit.  I enjoyed their reunion almost as much as they did. 

Luckily, I am a better driver than I am a photographer.  We did arrive back safely and the smile on Maggie's face was worth the entire journey.  Or maybe, that smile WAS the destination?

               

What a difference a year makes

Artfest withdrawal. I am having it BIG time. Right NOW!

This is the last year for Artfest - and I am not there. Last year, I was there.  It has been a spring ritual for years.  

For those who are wondering what I'm talking about, Artfest has been an annual art retreat for many years.You live, eat and sleep art.  You talk art.  And oh yes, you make art.  You play, you laugh, you walk in the rain lugging 68 pounds of art supplies half a mile.  There are 500 people and you feel you know them all.  You take 3 classes with some of the most fabulous teachers around.  You live by the water in funky old military base housing, which you share with ghosts.

In other words, you are in HEAVEN.

It's a loooooong climb to get there........

Fly into Seattle, take the ferry to the island, drive over the Hood Canal, pass the paper mill (phew), drive through town and into the fort, maybe see some wildlife.

Check into Officers' Housing. Have a talk with the ghost.  Decide to ignore it but turn on all the lights anyway.

 

 See some friends.  Drink some sangria.

You soak up everything from every teacher and every student - every technique, every smile, every success, every failure. Then, you journal about it.

You write and paint and pay attention.

Your drink wine and eat yummies and get silly.

Then, too soon, it's over, but not really. Because when you leave, you never forget. Because now you have learned to fly.

Love and Food

I remember all the many many years of cooking dinner for my family.  We sat down together almost every night - Mama, Papa, three girls.  The food was pretty basic but healthy and it gave us a chance to talk and laugh and share.  I miss that full dinner table now that my daughters are grown up and on their own.

However - there are benefits to having adult children, especially ones who love to cook.  Especially one who lives with me.

Now, this is not just any pasta. You are looking at HOMEMADE pasta - made fresh just before cooking.  It was fun to watch her make it and even more fun to eat it.

Add to that the joy of these fabulous roasted root vegetables, courtesy of the Brooklyn daughter - who knew carrots came in so many different colors?

All three of my daughters are great cooks - and inventive ones.  They remind me of myself at 20 - always trying new things, getting fancy.  Now, I am so focused on other things in my life, preparing food is at the bottom of my list.

How about you?  Do you cook every day and love it?

 

 

Getting My Feet Wet

Well, yes, it has been raining here, but that's not what I mean.

I am going back to teaching art classes.  I had quite a run years ago, long before my bookbinding fetish started. This time around, I am teaching bookbinding in all its variations.

First class - Long Stitch Binding.

Sunday at Zinnia in South Pasadena. A small class but fun and talented ladies, assisted by the wonderful Joe and Ali the Cat.

Skillful hands.

Intense Concentration.

And, voila!  A book!

The folks at Zinnia are great and even let us stay late to finish up. Not to mention keeping Ali Cat off the table and out of the glue!  

 

Lessons learned:

#1  Next time, schedule more time.

#2  It's even more fun than I remembered!

Hope you can join us next time.

East Coast Visitor

Does it get any better than this?  Her presence fills up the house.  A visit of a few days is never enough.

 

I was lost and now am found

I know it's shallow of me.  

But the sight of this, after weeks of not being connected, makes my heart sing.  Oh joy, oh Facebook, oh email.