Day 246: The pleasure of decanting

I have always had a habit of decanting. That is moving stuff to jars or containers that just seem to be the right size. It seems harmonious to have some foodstuff or liquid in just the right sized containers. My pantry has lots of glass jars holding nuts and raisins etc.





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Day 245: Orchids in my life

Ron is the gardener in the family. In addition to handling our garden and koi pond Ron delights in keeping orchids in the house.  A few years ago someone gave us these bamboo planters which held orchids.  After they passed away to that orchid graveyard Ron got the idea to replenish the basket from time to time with a variety of orchids.  They make a colorful and verdant centerpiece.  This basket, which he designed, holds some spider plants from our garden in addition to the variety of orchids.  Isn't this beautiful?  The everyday things in my world astonish me sometimes.  

Day 244: The wonder of women's sport

I've become a devoted fan of the Stanford women's basketball team.  This is something, considering that I have never had much of an interest in any sport.  I loved the arts, but have been disinterested in sport, up until now.  Starting three years ago I accompanied my husband who is a wild sports enthusiast and loves ALL manner of sport, including his newest addition, HURLING (only in Ireland).

The Stanford women's basketball team, currently #3 in the national standings behind Baylor and UConn, are simply a thrill to watch.  What most impresses me is their teamwork and their sportsmanship.  When a ref makes an outrageously bad call against them you never see so much as a smirk.  They accept all manner of "unfairness" or strangeness with an equanimity that puts Zen masters to shame.  I love watching how they play the game, capitalize on odd events and make each other look good on the court.  Today we are going to see them play Texas, ranked 13.  This should be a challenging game.

Day 243: The quiet after the family leaves

Our house by the sea has been filled with family and friends for over a week.  In the dark of early morning we drove my sister, Kathleen, to SFO and hugged her goodbye, making sure her handbag was stuffed with turkey sandwiches for the long flight to the east coast.  Ron and I have a ritual of stripping the bed and remaking it in the guest room, collecting the towels and linen used by guests and throwing them in the laundry.  Next we rearrange furniture back to its "home" location, folding throws and rearranging pillows, etc.  The counter in the bathroom is now strangely empty of the signs of guests toothbrushes and hand cream, etc.  There is a peacefulness in returning the house to its default setting, ridding the counters and side tables of items that had rested along with our familiar stuff.  This well loved chair from Ikea gets moved around the house when company is here. It is added to the "tv room" when folks watch a football game or holiday movie.  Other times it sits looking out at the ocean.  Today we've had early morning rain.

As I write this the house is so quiet. The only sound is our Good Hope Farm clock ticking in a simple rhythm.  Quiet means a lot to me. It is a balm and blessing.  The joys of family, feasts, laughter and celebration are what makes Thanksgiving a time of happiness.  The silence after the family leaves feels restorative.  And soon to fold the last of the laundry and place it in the closet.

Day 242: Family and the table

In the USA Thanksgiving has come to represent a time when family and friends gather to share a meal and celebrate what they have.  This year my sister Kathleen and her daughter, Sarah Louis and fiance Lejon were here to share dinner with Ron and his sister Joan.  The table overflowed with food.  Everyone indulged and stuffed down pecan pie and raspberry granola bars with ice cream for dessert.
I find it hard to express what I know and feel about the bounty of my life.  Especially at a time when so many are seeking work and struggling to eke out a living.

Perhaps the best way to show appreciation is to care for things and to help others as best you can.

Day 241: Blessings

These are a few of my favorite things:  my beloved husband, Ron (back from a run), the turkey roasting in the oven and the gift from Gary and Cheryl . . . a basket of goodies for the holidays.  Everywhere I look I see gifts and blessings.  I don't need Thanksgiving to see them, but it is a good thing to use this day to count those blessings.  My family, my friends, the bountiful food we have to eat, the beautiful home that Ron built and our health: these are high on the list.  And, lest we forget the "commons" that we all share.  Take a moment to look at this wonderful web site to consider society's shared wealth.

OntheCommons.org.  Let us also celebrate our lakes, our water supply, our national forests, public universities, and the Internet. 

Happy thanksgiving to all.

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Location:Isabella Rd,Half Moon Bay,United States

Day 230: The Marsh nearby

 Wednesdays are Plein Air painting days.  Today our gang assembled at the parking lot below the Mavericks surf beach.  Facing one direction you look back onto Pillar Point Harbor and the lines of tiny boats at a distance.  Today I enjoyed this scene and experimented with glazing in order to capture the depth of color I saw today.  My visiting family were walking the trail and taking photographs.  That's me with the blue hat shading the clear sunlight.  The photo at the bottom shows the view I was painting.

Day 229: Pray for Peace by Ellen Bass

I am grateful to Connie Moffit who posted this moving poem on Facebook.  

Pray for Peace (a poem by Ellen Bass)

 Pray to whomever you kneel down to 

Jesus nailed to his wooden or plastic cross,

his suffering face bent to kiss you,

Buddha still under the bo tree in scorching heat,

Adonai, Allah. Raise your arms to Mary

that she may lay her palm on our brows,

to Shekhina, Queen of Heaven and Earth,

to Inanna in her stripped descent.

Then pray to the bus driver who takes you to work.

On the bus, pray for everyone riding that bus,

for everyone riding buses all over the world.

Drop some silver and pray.

Waiting in line for the movies, for the ATM,

for your latte and croissant, offer your plea.

Make your eating and drinking a supplication.

Make your slicing of carrots a holy act,

each translucent layer of the onion, a deeper prayer.

To Hawk or Wolf, or the Great Whale, pray.

Bow down to terriers and shepherds and Siamese cats.

Fields of artichokes and elegant strawberries.

Make the brushing of your hair

a prayer, every strand its own voice,

singing in the choir on your head.

As you wash your face, the water slipping

through your fingers, a prayer: Water,

softest thing on earth, gentleness

that wears away rock.

Making love, of course, is already prayer.

Skin, and open mouths worshipping that skin,

the fragile cases we are poured into.

If you're hungry, pray. If you're tired.

Pray to Gandhi and Dorothy Day.

Shakespeare. Sappho. Sojourner Truth.

When you walk to your car, to the mailbox,

to the video store, let each step

be a prayer that we all keep our legs,

that we do not blow off anyone else's legs.

Or crush their skulls.

And if you are riding on a bicycle

or a skateboard, in a wheelchair, each revolution

of the wheels a prayer as the earth revolves:  

less harm, less harm, less harm.

And as you work, typing with a new manicure,

a tiny palm tree painted on one pearlescent nail

or delivering soda or drawing good blood

into rubber-capped vials, writing on a blackboard

with yellow chalk, twirling pizzas--

With each breath in, take in the faith of those

who have believed when belief seemed foolish,

who persevered. With each breath out, cherish.

Pull weeds for peace, turn over in your sleep for peace,

feed the birds, each shiny seed

that spills onto the earth, another second of peace.

Wash your dishes, call your mother, drink wine.

Shovel leaves or snow or trash from your sidewalk.

Make a path. Fold a photo of a dead child

around your VISA card. Scoop your holy water

from the gutter. Gnaw your crust.

Mumble along like a crazy person, stumbling

your prayer through the streets.

Pray for Peace is from the book The Human Line, by Ellen Bass

http://www.ellenbass.com/pray_for_peace.php

Day 228: Turn down the sound . . .

The first part of the Harry Potter seventh book film is just out.  I'm a long time Harry Potter fan, having read all the books and seen all of the films to date.  So it is with some anticipation that I joined the lines to see the film on the opening weekend.  Check out the YouTube trailer.  It is a dark, dark film in every way.  It seems as if all of the color has been drained from the film in the way that the Death-eaters try to drain the life from Harry and the good guys.  It's a hard film to watch and an even harder film to listen to.  Hard in that the sound levels in movie theaters these days is deafening.  One is assaulted during the previews of coming attractions with clip after clip of wild action: things blowing up, glass breaking, worlds exploding, cars turning over, violence, violence, violence . . . all at ear splitting decibels.  This is an extension of what happens in all of commercials.  To get our attention the sound bite has to be loud, the colors must be bright and the action explosive.  Their money depends upon this. Getting attention gets harder and harder.  But usually after the loud, loud previews one can settle in to the film itself with some safety.  Not Harry Potter this time, I'm sorry to say.  When the bad guys begin attacking and chasing our heros (and this happens over and over in this part of the book) all hell breaks loose and the sound track is turned up to 10 or whatever the top number is.  I have to put my fingers in my ears to stay in the movie house.  Others in the theater seem not to mind.  Have we all lost our hearing?   What ever happened to a straightforward story?  There seems no way to reverse this trend.  I fear for the auditory health of future generations.  Is anybody listening?

Day 227: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

We live within minutes of one of nature's most beautiful marine reserves, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.    When there is a low tide (and this afternoons was nearly a minus one) you can walk out and see amazing marine life.  The top picture shows several sea anemone near colorful rocks.  My sister Kathleen enjoyed photographing the scene.  Ron had his Canon out, too.  A lovely day looking at the wonders of the sea.  

Day 226: Crab Season in Half Moon Bay

All hail the Dungeness crab!  The season has begun on the California coast and living near Pillar Point Harbor is a boon.  We walked onto the pier and bought these fresh crabs from the bearded fellow on the boat.  Took them home.  Boiled their little bodies and will feast on crab tonight.  Hooray for fishing season.

Day 225: Books to inspire the artist

I was bemoaning the fact that posting a blog everyday can be a challenge. And then I reminded myself that "offers are everywhere. . . right in front of you if you have eyes to see." And lo and behold I looked at the side table and there sat five books that have given me much inspiration. The Judi Whitton book, LOOSEN UP YOUR WATERCOLOR has completely changed how I look at watercolor and what I value. The books by Jeanne Carbonetti all delight me with their bold color. All hail the artist who writes to help others.

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Day 224: The Happy House Quilt

My cousin, Mary Frances Wood lives in Forest, Virginia.  She is a prize winning quilter as well as a professional genealogist.  So when we go to visit, my husband, Ron, can talk for hours about family history. I just love admiring her handwork.  This quilt which she kindly gave to me on our last visit was an entry in a contest about "Home" or perhaps it was "House" themed quilts.  I just love the design and the bright and happy colors.  This is the kind of house I would call a home.  
As Thanksgiving draws near I have so much to be grateful for.  I am reminded that one of the purposes of art/craft is to tie us together.  This lovely hand made piece is a testament to this.  Thank you, Mary Frances. 

Day 223: Around the world with Improv Wisdom

Books can have a life of their own.   Since the publication of Improv Wisdom in 2005 I have marveled at how this little book gets around. She lives in 256 libraries all the way to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.  Chapters from the book have been translated into French and Italian, courtesy of the generous blogger, Giorgio Paparelle. These are available online.  Just click the links.

Last year the book was sold to publishers in Germany and Korea and came out in September of 2009.  The covers of those two editions are shown below.

This spring Random House sold the rights to publish the book to a Japanese publisher, Toyo Keizai.  I've been working with the editor and translator of this edition for the past six months to create a new introduction.  This edition is expected to be in bookstores in Japan in February, thanks to the hard work of the translator, Ms. Tomoko Nozu and her editor, Mr. Mizuno.

And, yesterday word came that the rights had been successfully negotiated to a publisher in Taipei, Uni-Books. This came about thanks to the personal efforts of Hsiao-Hsien Wu, a young Taiwanese woman who wants to bring improv to Taiwan.  All of this was possible because of the skillful work of Karin Schulze, Assistant Director Foreign Rights, Crown Publishing Group who negotiated the sale with their rep in Taipei.  Karin is my shero at Random House.  Thank you Karin.

I saw a bumper sticker recently that read:  "If you can read this book, thank an editor."

I am grateful to all of those in the publishing world who have worked to make this book a reality worldwide,  as well as all of those bloggers and friends who have written about Improv Wisdom, keeping this text alive.

Day 222: A Manufactured Landscape

The CBS evening news last night did a feature on modern China.  It was an upbeat report on China's optimism and high energy.  All I could think of was a film I saw a few years ago that has made a lasting impression.  Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky's film MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES must be seen.  I cannot praise it highly enough.  It's easy to find on Netflix or at a video store.  

Commentary by --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Manufactured Landscapes works triple-time as a documentary portrait, a tone poem, and a work of protest. The title comes from Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky's 2003 book of the same name. His large-scale images depict the ways industrialization has transformed the environment. Locations include quarries, slag heaps, and dumping grounds. Director Jennifer Baichwal (The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams' Appalachia) introduces photographs focusing on China and Bangladesh, and then presents Burtynsky in the process of creating them. He adds a few words here and there, but Baichwal mostly lets the people behind his prints--and the devastation that surrounds them--do the talking. Of the sites they visit, China's monumental Three Gorges Dam is the most impressive... and depressing. At the same time the construction has created much-needed jobs, the world's largest engineering project has also displaced 13 cities of over 1.3 million people. To paraphrase Burtynsky, Baichwal's film "searches for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion." With its ominous soundtrack and stately pace--cinematographer Peter Mettler's opening pan through a vast manufacturing plant lasts eight minutes--Manufactured Landscapes is about as far from conventional as a non-fiction film can get. Like Koyanisqaatsi, Rivers and Tides, and Darwin's Nightmare, Baichwal leaves the charts and graphs behind to make one irrefutable point: We're in trouble. Extra features, like deleted scenes (with commentary by Baichwal) and an extensive slide gallery (with commentary by Burtynsky) add welcome context. 

Day 221: Did I Miss Anything?

Likely the most dreaded question a teacher can receive is in the title of a favorite poem by Tom Wayman

Did I Miss Anything? 

 Nothing.  When we realized you weren‚t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours

                Everything.  I gave an exam worth 
                40 per cent of the grade for this term
                and assigned some reading due today
                on which I am about to hand out a quiz
                worth 50 per cent
 
Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose
 
                Everything.  A few minutes after we began last time
                a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
                or other heavenly being appeared
                and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
                to attain divine wisdom in his life and
                the hereafter
                This is the last time the class will meet
                before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
                    on earth
 
Nothing.  When you are not present 
how could something significant occur?
 
                Everything.  Contained in this classroom
                is a microcosm of human experience
                assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
                This is not the only place such an opportunity has been 
                    gathered
                but it was one place
                And you weren't here

by Tom Wayman    


  

Day 220: Unexpected Gifts

Today was the official opening game of the Stanford Women's Basketball season.  We faced off against a tough team: Rutgers.  We have season tickets and have already enjoyed the exhibition games against Vanguard and UC San Diego.  Today was the real thing.  The game was a partial nail biter, but the Crimson was victorious with a final score of 63-50.

One of the best parts of today was that we got to meet up with good friends Carole and Malcolm McFall who live in Atascadero.  They are serious women's basketball fans and we met them at the Pac10 tournament in Los Angeles last year.  We've become friends and share our love of the Stanford team.  Today we shared a delicious meal at P F Chang's China Bistro after the game.  Carole arrived carrying a mysterious and hand decorated white box.  Already this gift distinguished itself as ART!  Oh, boy.  Inside this attractive container were two handmade apple turnovers, fresh from the oven.  Our kind benefactors were Carole's grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Luke McFall.  These talented young folks had baked these turnovers, packaged them in the attractive "art carton" and sent them to us.  What a treat!  I can't remember when a gift so delighted me.  Thank you Kaitlyn and Luke.  You guys rock!!!!

Oh, and here is the final scoreboard for the game.

Day 219: Stanford Saturday Universitiy

Stanford Continuing Studies is offering a cool day of mind expansion.

It was a dazzling day of being a student. Here are two of the four classes I attended.  Check out my Facebook post of the Jazz Musician, Mark Applebaum.  

Day 218: Fixing things

On Thursday I jumped in the car inside the garage, pressed the garage door opener button and buckled my seat belt, ready to pull the car into the driveway and off to Half Moon Bay to see my Chiropractor.  As the garage door began to rise I heard the sound of something crashing apart: a combination of plastic/metal and wood splitting and wrenching itself into a mechanical mash of parts.  The garage door froze four feet off the ground, and I looked up to see the door in pieces dangling in front of me.  Oh, no . . .    I won't be able to get the car out of the garage, it became clear.  Oh dear.

RON NNNNNN!  Oh ROOOOOONNNNNNNNN! I yelled.  From his study I heard his soothing reply:  "Coming, dear . . . "  HHmmmmm, he replied looking at the mess.  And immediately he began assessing the damage and prying things apart.  Within fifteen minutes he had the door released such that I could slide the Subaru out onto the driveway and wave myself off to the town, leaving him to carry on.
When I arrived home after about two hours Ron's silhouette was seen inside the garage with the door down, but in pieces.  Ron was repairing the plastic sheathing that comprises the panels.  "I've used some epoxy to glue these puppies back together.  We just need to let them dry overnight and then I'll proceed to the next part of the fix," he said.  "Do you know how to fix it?" quoth I.  "I have no idea," he smiled, "but then, that never stops me."

"Well, maybe we just need to buy a new garage door," I suggested.  "No way are we going to spend all that money, if I can fix this," he said firmly.  "Lets just see how it goes tomorrow when the epoxy dries completely."

So, today after his coffee and IPad morning email Ron was down in the garage with all the tools he owns spread out.  When I came down to see how things were going he was up on a ladder with his head above the metal tracks which hold the lifting mechanism.  Three hours later I heard the encouraging sound of the garage door rising.  Amazing!

I never cease to be astonished at Ron's creativity, innovation and skill at doing difficult stuff.  He just attacks the problem, jerryrigging whatever is needed to make the pieces fit or to hand make some new piece.  He jumps right into the difficult.  The impossible just takes a little longer.

All hail the fixer of things.  This seems to be a dying breed of man (and woman).  When something breaks in our modern world the normal response is to send it to the landfill.  Get a new one.  Blessings on those who fix things, for they shall be the conservators of our world.  Thank you Ron.  I love ya, guy.

Day 217: The Power of Books

So many books.  So little time.  Books have a life of their own.  I consider my book, Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up to be "my daughter" in the world.  She was born on May 5, 2005.  She worked hard to learn other languages and she speaks German and Korean.  In February she will complete her course in Japanese and start her life in the that country.  And, she may be invited to China, too.
I think of her moving around the country and the world having conversations and inspiring people.  Today I learned that she had visited a clinical psychologist in Chicago.  In his blog on Developing Your Creativity he wrote about an idea from the book that could help psychotherapist in their sessions with patients.  It pleases me that the ideas in my book are being applied to help professionals solve problems.  Never underestimate the power of a book.

Day 216: Time

"I wasted time, and now doth time waste me . . ."
from Shakespeare's Richard II

These two quotations about the value of using time well are important to me.  Perhaps we all need to be reminded that time is the one resource which is not renewable.  It moves forward.  We use it well or we lose it.

I want us all be become more conscious. If I had a magic pill to change one thing about our world it would be to evoke our capacity to notice what we are doing moment by moment.  It is the zoning out, the mindless use of time that offends me. We all do this: go unconscious from time to time.  (Some I have observed appear to be in this unconscious state perpetually, I'm sorry to say.)  How much better to learn the habit of being awake to our own lives.  If I am conscious of what I am doing at any moment I can choose my life. Even if what I choose is something recreational.  At least I am involved in the experience of this choice.  But we "hang out" in our reality, barely conscious.  The clock ticks.  Moves on.  Today's motto for everyday life is:  pay attention to time, and pay attention to how you are using it.  Do your life well.  Use Franklin's sage advice:  "Let us then be up and doing, and doing to a purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity."

Day 215: Sleeping loves

Today was a busy, long day.  I attended an inspiring event to honor teaching at Stanford hosted by the Center for Teaching and Learning.  Professor Harry Elam gave the 100th lecture on the topic "Is the Lecture Dead?"
Following this festive event Ron and I cheered on the Stanford Women's Basketball team to their second preseason victory, this one to UCSD.  It was a great game with our women shooting making 75% of their shots.  Great accuracy.
At the end of the day we took a moment to sit.  Our Himalayan cat, Bodhi loves to curl up on Ron's lap.  Here the two men in my life are resting.  Isn't this a wonderful photo?  Nothing like having those you love resting peacefully, and getting to watch.

Day: 214 Meyer Lemon Curd

 Our Meyer Lemon tree is heavy laden with lemons now.  It's finally time for Lemon Curd making.  There is something about Meyer lemons for making curd that is special, I think.  It's actually an easy process, once you've juiced and zested the lemons and separated the eggs.  Home made lemon curd (or lime) needs to be eaten in a timely way.  It will mold after being opened in the refrigerator a few weeks.  I've learned to make small jars.  I use 8 oz Mason jars and fill them to about 7 oz before putting on the lids.  This recipe makes four little jars exactly.  I doubled the recipe today since I'm going to freeze some of this batch and then give it away for holiday treats.  

Lemon curd is sensational drizzled over cake or ice cream.  Heaven with fresh scones or biscuits or even special with plain old toast.  The tart and sweet and creamy texture is a lovely combination.  It's rich since it gets its weight from eggs and butter.

Next week I'll make Meyer Lemon Marmalade.  It is even easier and lasts long like most jams.

        

 Lemon Curd

Yields 4   8oz cups

1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)

¾ cup granulated sugar

½ cup fresh lemon juice

3 Tablespoons lemon zest

pinch salt

6 large egg yolks

Melt butter in heavy saucepan over

Medium heat. Remove pan from heat, whisk

In sugar, lemon juice, salt and zest. Mix.

Whisk in beaten egg yolks until smooth.

Return to low heat and cook, whisking

constantly until mixture thickens.  (5-6 min)

Check curd by dipping a wooden spoon into

mixture.  If you draw your finger across the

back of the spoon and it leaves a path it is

done.  Don’t overcook. Don’t let mix boil.

Pour mix into four 8 oz. jelly jars. (If you

want a smooth curd, you can strain the mix

with a fine sieve first.  (I don’t bother).

Let cool.  Put lids on and refrigerate. 

Fine to freeze if not using right away.

Day 213: RedVelvet Cupcakes

On a rainy day nothing seems nicer than the smell of something baking.  I have made a recent discovery.  If you buy a box of cake mix it is possible to divide it in half and with each of the halves you can make a single dozen cupcakes.  When the recipe calls for three eggs for the whole cake, use two for the dozen cupcakes.  Reduce the water by a tablespoon or so and the whole thing is perfect.  I can almost never use 24 cupcakes.  They get moldy after a bit. But one dozen is just perfect. I recently found a cake mix for RED VELVET cake.  I goose it up a bit by adding cocoa and a teaspoon of instant coffee to bring out the chocolate taste.    My next discovery is that dunking the vanilla icing into a plateful of long haired coconut is a real winner.  These puppies fly off the plate.  So when you have a rainy day pull out the muffin tins.  Grab some little cupcake liners and have a ball.  Come on over and join me for a cupcake and a cup of tea.

Day 212: The Creativity Crisis

Newsweek had a cover story in July 2010 titled:  The Creativity Crisis.  The well researched and written piece was by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.  They conclude that the creativity index is falling in America even while the IQ or intelligence quotient has made steady gains.  In the 1950's an educator, Professor E. Paul Torrance developed a test that could be administer by psychologist to measure one's creative ability.  I encourage you to read the article and consider this bad news.

I'm worried about our kids.  This finding along with the view of our educational system put forward in Waiting for Superman should give us all something not only to ponder, but to do something about.  

Day 211: Stanford Women's Basketball Opening Game

I have been waiting with great anticipation for the start of the women's basketball season. Our championship team is a dream to watch and root for. We've won the Pac10 Conference championship for the last ten years.  Today we played an exhibition game with Vanguard. Final score 116-65.  Our newest powerhouse is the sister of Nicky Ogwumike, Chiney. In her first game she scored 24 points.  These sisters will be a force to be reckoned with.  Stanford women are ranked third in the nation after #2 Baylor and #1 University of Connecticut.  We'll see if we can't change this!

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Day 210: Back at my desk

Happiness is being home at my own desk.  The pine tree that sprawls in front of the picture window is getting really large.  We planted this tree from a five gallon can when we moved here in 1997.  Now her branches reach ten feet above our roof line.  
Now to work. 

Day 209: Tiny flowers

One of the ordinary things that brings me pleasure is the display of fresh cut flowers in miniature vases. All of these come from my garden. Sweet.





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Day 208: The Giants Party

Today San Francisco gave itself the biggest street party you can imagine.  Civic Plaza was packed with trillions of fans in orange and black celebrating the marvel of our beloved San Francisco Giants win of the 2010 World Series of Baseball.  After being crushed by various crowds on the street corners we took refuge in the Asian Art Museum on the plaza.  We are members and never was this sanctuary more welcome.  We watched cooly from a third story stairwell.  This cable car is carrying the famous winning pitcher Tim Linscecum.  Hooray for the Giants. We did it!