Random California pics Dec 2014

Thelma and Louise move over!

make room for Kazz and DMarie!  See what you can find when you are going through old emails!  This was a trip in August 2008.


a.k.a the "we think we are 20" road trip. We've got a full tank of gas, our sunglasses on and a bottle of...........ibuprofen!!!!  Karen and I left Portland and drove down to Grants Pass (almost to California border). We crossed over the mountains at Bear Pass to get to the coast. This road is not open in the winter....remember the couple that got stranded and the husband tried to walk for help and died last winter???? Yeah, that Pass!!!! Imagine sharp hairpins the entire time on a single lane road that allows for two way traffic!!!! Most of the traffic are the trucks with the dinghies coming back up the mountain so people can ride down the Rogue River and they don't give a shit that anyone else is on the road.  Let me tell you, Karen (aka Kazz) is the best driver ever!!! 

At the summit, the eagles were flying at eye level. I'm surprised the knocking of my knees was not scaring them away!!! I seriously could barely get out of the car from passenger exhaustion!!!  We arrived at the coast and splurged on a hotel on the beach so we could fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. The next day we headed down 101 (not Highway 1 right on the coast but still so beautiful) to San Anselmo just north of San Fran. We left Oregon at 58 degrees and got to Santa Rosa at 99!!! The redwoods in Northern Cali are magnificent. If you ever have time you need to put this on a "must visit" list.  I wish we had more time to stop but we were on a mission. We had a blast visiting Jennifer and Ken for two days and then we drove home in one day....11 hours from door to door and 1400 miles in total!!! O yeah, and we drove thru 111 degrees in northern Cali...I put my hand out the window of the car and the wind  felt like it was burning my skin!!!

This next part makes me sound a little crazy! So, after the five day "we think we are 20" road trip, I stayed in Portland for four more days and then I flew back to Oakland, California, the closest airport to San Anselmo, to stay with Jennifer.  I could have let Kazz drive home by herself but once I saw I could get a flight for $80, why not finish the trip? Where in Canada can you fly the equivalent of a 10 hour drive for $80 I ask you? I have been to aquatic fitness  twice...today in an outdoor pool. It's gorgeous working out in the sun in a pool. In San Anselmo area, it is usually around 80 with a cool breeze this time of year. The day we went in to San Fran, it was 60 in the city and I nearly froze!!! Always remember to layer here!  Yesterday we drove up to Calistoga Hot Springs  and we spent the day at the mineral pools...4 pools, various temperatures, one is a whirlpool. For $5 for the whole day you get the use of the mineral pools,  lounge chairs, they provide towels, you bring your own food and BOOZE...champagne all day by the pool...plus cabanas so you never really get too hot. Very civilized!!! The day closed with a gorgeous early evening drive home thru Sonoma and Napa Valley.

For  my last few days here, we will be visiting a Buddhist monastery, Spirit Rock, for one of the Monday night "talks and meditations" which I am really looking forward to.  We also are going back into San Fran for the Frida Kahlo exhibit and then, on the Long Weekend, we are headed to the coast!

NOTE rereading this, I have no idea what the two past habit

Bowie Is....still on my mind

Two events are still posted on my phone, can't erase either of them from the technology or my brain. The first event is from Nov 2013, near the end of the run of Bowie is. Hindsight??  Should have gone earlier so I could go twice, it was that good.  As it was, I went the second last week and could not fit it in again sadly.   I spent 3 hours and barely had enough time for the last room where I could have sat for a very long time. How did he know his fabulousness and realize from the start to keep everything! All items in the exhibition were from his own collection that he maintains himself!  The drawings of sets, costumes and even the haircuts for his first bands and the video of a mime performance stand out for me.  For more details, here's one link, kind of academic    http://www.ago.net/david-bowie-is-coming-to-the-ago-this-fall or this one for a killer blog about her experience by the forestcityfashionista aka Shelley. http://www.forestcityfashionista.com/2013_11_01_archive.html Will tell you about the other event I can't erase in another blog soon.  Notice I am not commenting on how long it has been since my last blog!

Image Informationhttp://www.ago.net/david-bowie-is-coming-to-the-ago-this-fall

never too late to share 2012 fun!

 Waaaaay back in July of 2012, I went to the Design Exchange with my friend Christina who was here from St. John's Nfld. for the Adella Campallo workshop.  We literally ran out between classes to fit this in and it was worth it, even the 10 min sprint in a heatwave to get back to class on time:)


The event, known as The Tutu Project was held in celebration  of the 60th anniversary of the National Ballet of Canada.    Sixty originals and 12 of the companies most famous tutus were on display including Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Gisele, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and, of course, Swan Lake.

stunning non tutu:)

originals were stunning and clever, even one from a Hudson's Bay blanket

some more originals created by artists, school children fashion & jewellery designers

stitching, beading and finishing details were exquisite

Comfort Maple

You probably think this is going to be about ice cream but it's really about a tree.  As I have been purging and organizing my life this past month, I have come across blogworthy stuff from 2013.

I said goodbye to 2013 with a wiping of the brow and a great big exhale, phew!  As some of you know it was a year overshadowed by the loss of two long-time friends.  I thought I had thicker skin after dealing with the loss of my parents but I found out that indeed, I did not.  With a 3 week stay in London for Christmas and spending quality time with friends and a lot of time sleeping, I started to finally feel myself again.  Truthfully, I wasn't sure it would happen so yay 2014...feeling more myself every day:)

This tree makes me smile so I thought I would share.  It stands in a super tiny little "park" near Vineland, ON.  Tree huggers unite! The care and devotion for the Comfort maple is extraordinary.  Not sure how it made it through this years ice and snow but will check with some friends to find out.

January 2013

it would take four people joining hands to encircle the tree (four people with my size arms)

wires for support 

a love story about a tree

I love Hot Docs!

I love docs...docs at TIFF, docs at Bloor Cinema, and most recently, docs at Hot Docs.  The weather could not have been more brilliant for standing in line and chatting with fellow docophiles (hmm, did I just make up a word?)  My programme was well circled and high-lighted but, due to time constraints,  I had to curtail myself (a lot) while still managing to miraculously fit in three of my top choices.  Articles and trailers follow for Tiny, The Man Who Made Angels Fly, Everybody Street and Flo.



http://thetfs.ca/2013/04/27/hot-docs-review-tiny-a-story-about-living-small/

 For those of you that have heard me say I want to go off the grid and live in a trailer, this is what I'm talking about!!  BUT, I am more of a tiny-near-the-city as opposed to tiny-in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind o' gal.


http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/man_who_made_angels_fly

Unbelievable art form.  His ability to recreate minute movement with stringed marionettes took your breath away.  Sadly could not stay for the q&a after, would have loved to have heard more.

http://everybodystreet.com/

I attached a long review but so many great clips and info about the photographers. Some of it's pretty raw.

FLO documentary trailer on Vimeo

This was my fav!  It was a short that played before Everybody Street.  Meet Flo, she's sheer inspiration:) I only looked briefly but if you can find the full length version (15 min??), it's so brilliant.

Enjoy:)

it's been a long, long time...

I know!  Since January already!  I really shut down and the couch was the champion in the battle to pass the darkness of winter.  Mad Men, Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones (5 books + video), Arrow, Person of Interest, Smash, Republic of Doyle, Big Bang, a few others I surfed from time to time, and of course, the Y&R all consumed and consoled me. On occasion, I managed to attend a blog worthy event.

Felt tree with sap detail

These photos were part of a textile exhibition.  Taken with my ipod touch, so they aren't fantastic for detail and that is what was so incredible about these pieces.

like a colourful paper rag rug

Side detail of frame with eye hooks on inside and string in a diamond grid pattern.  Magazine paper was accordion pleated, folded like a fan and inserted into grid.  I had to walk right up to it to realize it was paper.  Sadly, the large photo does not do it justice as it was much more colourful than it appears.

recycling at its best

Now I can feel spring in the air AND my roommate is cancelling the cable (which I applauded with a resounding yes, please!) so perhaps I can get caught up on keeping in touch.  Here's to sunshine and sandals:)