A Whimsical Bohemian

The Start of New Art Journal

Here we go again.....days go by in the blink of an eye don't they?

I started a new art journal.....and for me that means another book of just letting go - it's whatever I feel like or whatever comes to me. It's a way of working without structure or a particular definitive end result in mind.   By working this way I find characters emerge or a particular image comes to life that I can then upload and work with it digitally as well.  But I don't force anything. It becomes a more organic process and I don't lock myself in to a certain type of medium or even genre.........it just is. 

The journal started out like this (purchased from an art supply store in Santa Cruz for THE best price around)

It's Acid-free and archival, Made from 100 percent recycled material - 96 deckle edged pages. I usually end up gessoing the pages because it helps watercolors and other mediums to flow better on the page.

Of course I couldn't just leave it like that so I messed about with the cover for awhile and you can't believe how many I did and either tore it off or papered over or had to scrape off..... it was crazy.  Finally I thought "what are you doing?" so I used some handmade paper I had, some bits of batik fabric, a couple wee frames, some images I drew and started just laying it all down. Added the butterfly and the metal hand just for a little extra dimension.  Frankly when I was done with the cover I thought it looked like a child did it....but hey, it must have been my inner child. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

UPDATED: The cover pictured below was dismantled after I posted this.....seeing it enlarged on screen I just knew I didn't like it AT ALL and it wasn't ME. I ripped everything off down to the paper cover and gessoed over it. I will worry about the cover later on.

The image below shows the cover on the left (as it was) and one of the pages I did inside.. (click images to enlarge)

These are 2 more pages I did....which now have me thinking about a story I want to write. See how that works? Just let go and something shows up.

That's all I'm going to show from the journal for now. Below is a recent drawing I started one night while watching TV. I ended up **uploading it and digitally painting it. This was done on white cardstock. I marked it as a work in progress because...well, there's more I want to do with it. It has no name or backstory.....YET!

I think I'm in a more whimsical mood lately.....I like the characters to have stories to tell or make you (and myself too) smile to look at them.

Ever evolving.....ever changing my mind.....ever wondering what's next for me.

**When I say upload....at this point my printer/scanner is a goner and I haven't been able to replace it yet so I've had to take a photo and do it that way. It doesn't make for the best image but for now that's what I have to do. I am searching for a good printer because I have MANY cards to do that I want in my shop as soon as possible. (I think I know which one I want)

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So that's it - aren't you quivering with excitement over all this? She says tongue firmly planted in cheek. But hey, it's something for now so the same post isn't up for days on end. You know how that is.  I know there are bloggers out there who post often and with great content and great photos and interesting tid bits to share. I hope to be one at some point.....but doggonit life just gets in the way sometimes. I firmly believe there are those who can completely relate to that!

So for now, I hope you are having a great start to your week.

P.S. I thought I'd leave you with a photo of Sadey all dressed up - she wears her bandana 24/7 now without bothering....as it gets dirty I change it out for a new one. I think it goes well with her coloring.

 

Peaceful Warrior {lots of photos at the end}

This is Ken Paul Lozada. He resides in Half Moon Bay. He is an artist - he is many things. He is 80 years wise!

Photo from the back of the book

Last Fall one of my brothers sent me a book called Peaceful Warrior The Life of Ken Paul Lozada....by Joanne Ehrich. He (brother) has met this man, talked with him and he told my brother his story. In the accompanying letter my brother sent with the book he said from the day he met Ken and heard his story he told him I would be one person who would get a great deal from his story and works. Eventually my brother was able get 2 hard cover editions of the book from Ken and had one signed for me.  My brother and I aren't all that close so I was touched by his thinking of me and sending me the book knowing I'd definitely get something from it. and I did.

Ken's story is A M A Z I N G....  You can actually get the soft cover version here on Amazon or perhaps in your local library. You will feel something stir when you read it.....it will really make you think and feel something deep inside. His story is one of triumph, wisdom, artistry! Please note these are all my own thoughts and feelings - I have no affiliation with the writer of the book or Ken himself. 

From the back of the book:

A near-death experience after a car accident left Ken, who spent many years in an orphanage, with a new understanding about the gift of life which he has since sought to share with others. He has surrendered to complete honesty and openness, while becoming a conveyor of truth, who transforms chaos into harmony.

this is a photo from the book (sorry I took a photo of the photo)

A remarkable man. It is my goal to meet him in person sooner rather than later......to sit and talk with him and hear more, learn more and be guided by his wisdom....look in to his eyes, here him play his drum.

These are what he calls The Seven Treasures of Life:

1. The sense of awe and joy in conversation with another person's spirit and soul.

2. The thrill of risk-taking ventures in stepping out into the unknown, but still certain of myself.

3. A sense of well-being in tune with the universe no matter what the situation may be.

4. The Freedom to share and give my thoughts to another without expecting something in return.

5. The thrill of accomplishment after many failures.

6. The sensation of quiet reflection over a book that engrosses me.

7. The comfort of knowing I am a child of God through no effort of my own, but a simple accepting of faith.

Last weekend I made it a priority to finally see and touch and feel the sculptures that are at the entrance to Main Street in Half Moon Bay. There are more in other places but I started there on that day.  Why I haven't done it until now I cannot explain, perhaps it was just the right time. We got coffee and walked right across the street and I was so drawn in, so amazed at the movement and fluidity and soul in his scultpures. I ran my hand down them and over them and through them..........peered over them and through them. I walked among them over and over and then took some photos.

These are not in a fancy gallery but out in the open....sitting on the earth or another piece of wood. Among trees and a very sweet roaming cat that followed me as I walked around rubbing against my leg. Perhaps he (the cat) sensed I was truly moved.  (click images to enlarge)

If you find yourself in Half Moon Bay stop...if you haven't already.....and take in the experience of these sculptures in person.

I know this is a long post but I truly hope you enjoyed the photos of the sculptures and a tiny wee bit about the man behind them.....but again, you really have to read the book to get the full story, to truly learn through his life and his wisdom how the human spirit can triumph.

Thank you for stopping by this blog........I know you have other things to do, places to go, people to see so the mere fact you took a moment here is lovely indeed - I appreciate your visit and always welcome comments.

A Sunday Drive - Lots of Photos and Local History

Yesterday we took a Sunday ride - a much needed "just get away from the house" - ride. We headed coastside towards Half Moon Bay by way of Woodside, our favorite way to go. There is something so serene and peaceful about the Woodside area with all the trees and horse ranches and just the atmosphere on the whole. I hope you'll read the whole post here as it's all pretty interesting stuff.

(taken through the windshield)

There a some gorgeous homes too...giant homes.... tucked in amongst the trees, some you can barely see as they are tucked down below. We had to turn around at one point as we wanted to go back to see something and when we turned in it was a private road called "Why Worry Lane" (first of all if you lived there that's probably the feeling they all have).... on our left was this home.....seriously? Could I live there (assuming of course I had the millions these homes cost)? Uh, let me think about it? That would be a Y E S!!

Yes the homes on Why Worry Lane go for many millions of dollars....I looked it up!

Driving on...... and to another century......we headed for the Woodside Store, a local historical landmark. There are lots of photos and history here....some of the info I acquired from the 2 docents and a lot more from researching what I could on line.  I am fascinated by historic sites and their "story".  If you are too AND if you live in California this should interest you. (if even if you don't live in California and you like historic sites)

Look in the window on the right........could it be Dr. Tripp himself?? hmmm. I didn't even see him until I uploaded the photo.

The store was built entirely of local redwood with a vertical board and batten on the outside (seen closer in the above photo) over a wooden frame (seen in photo below). Additions were eventually made since the original was built in 1854. There is a slant to the main room and I read that it was built with no foundation other than redwood sills and was built over a creek. (there is a dry creek bed behind the store). I also read that it's state of preservation comments well on the virtues of redwood construction. The floors crack and creek when you walk around, I like the sound and the feel......you get transported back to another time....if you close your eyes you can almost hear the murmurs of the people coming in for goods, a library book or just to gather and chat.

The founders were a dentist named Robert Orville Tripp (age 33) and Mathias Parkhurst (age 20) came to the Woodside area each with other partners in 1849.   Parkhurt's partner was a man named Ellis who it was said drank too much. Tripp accompanied partner James H. "Grizzly" Ryder, a Mexican War veteran to California. All came out from Massachusetts.  In October  Parkhurst purchased 127 acres of Rancho Canada de Raymundo and began shingle making and lumbering.  Parkhurst and Ellis started a shingle camp and Tripp and Ryder joined them.  I also read that the timberland Parkhurst bought he ended up calling "Woodside".....and the name was kept. That's the thing about reading all this you find various versions and explainations and some conflict. Suffice to say he owned a lot of land and purchased it at a very young age - did he coin the name Woodside? I don't actually know that for certain since I only read that in one place.

All 4 men were splitting shingles (which sold for a penny a piece) - when one of the partners (Ellis) decided to try his luck in the goldfields while the other 3 joined together in a lucrative business making piles for new docks in San Francisco.   As an aside for you Bay Area folks who may not know this: The logs were dragged by teams of oxen to the nearest tidewater slough on the bay, lashed together in to rafts, and floated north to San Francisco on tide action. The slough became known as Redwood Creek and the community that developed next to it became Redwood City.

The third partner (Ryder) eventually went back east (I read after a grizzly bear mauling, which probably accounts why he was called Grizzly in his name).  The store idea came from Parkhurst who thought it would be a good idea to sell general merchandise out of a tiny one-room shack where he and Tripp lived in 1851. (I can only assume Parkhurst hadn't yet built a dwelling on his 127 acres for them to be living in a shack) The store was a huge success and within 3 years they built a new, larger store across the road.  Tripp had studied denistry in Philadelphia and was called on for emergencies....which meant teeth pulling (his speciality) in a small "office" in the back. I read in the early days he was a one of the first dentists to practice in San Francisco with a shingle hung on an old ramshackle house at the corner of Vallejo and Stockton Streets.

(Dr. Tripp's original desk)

Not seen is the foot powered dental drill to the right of the chair).....just thinking about it makes me queasy.

I read Parkhurst sold whiskey from a barrel on the counter (w/o a license) kept supposedly to ease the pain of Tripp's patients. (wink wink)  The first round was free and after that they required a "contribution". I think it may have served as a kind of saloon along with all the other functions it had but not in any overt way.

The store carried everything you'd find in a general store. What you couldn't find they could get from frequent visits to San Francisco for supplies. The store was located at the foot of King's Mountain Road and I read many teamsters would stop in to steady their nerves after descending the steep grade.....and also to pick up mail and supplies for the men in the mills on their way back.

Besides being a general store, community gathering place and dentist office they were also the post office and a privately funded circulating library.  Supposedly a bank as well featuring an armored safe.
Tripp was the Woodside postmaster for 40 consecutive years. He also served as librarian as well as community leader. 

Parkhurst died early at the young age of 34 and when his estate was settled Tripp inherited his land and the entire Woodside Store.  Dr. Tripp also owned his own vineyard and his own label as well. (I read one was a Muscat wine and the vineyard was behind their home).  I wish I had looked closer at the bottle labels (they printed from an original and were on some of the bottles you see on the store shelves). Evidently it was called San Mateo County Pioneer with a grizzly bear on the label.  Next time I'll look closer.

At some point Tripp advertised for a housemaid and hired Emeline Skelton (pictured below on the left), the 2 eventually married and had one daughter named Addie (although I read they had another child that died early). I cannot find anything about the 2 women or the age Tripp and she were when married but from what I can tell his wife died before him, probably long before him. The daughter never married or had any children and died in 1926.

Photo of an older Tripp came from the Internet

Tripp died in 1909 at the age of 92. He had considered retiring in 1907 (imagine considering retirement at the age of 90?) but the store remained open until his death 2 years later. Addie, his only child, sold the stock inside and locked the doors. (I read where she carried on the family tradition of  providing the services of a community center at the store, I assume during it's run) When she died in 1926 it was left to the Woodside Community Church. In 1940 it became the first historic building to be purchased by San Mateo County. Thank goodness it was.

To think it all began with a trek to California, redwood trees, the logging industry and two men with a vision who evidently had a strong work ethic and determination (and it would seem money).  It's sad to think Parkhurst didn't live to see it grow as it did, and since it was his idea in the first place I can only imagine what else he may have done/started/owned/operated....although I think Dr. Tripp did pretty well on his own. Don't you?

I hope you enjoyed this bit of local history and even if you don't live in California and you read this whole post, I hope it interested you anyway. If you are local to the area or plan to visit you may want to stop in and see the Woodside Store yourself. We plan to go back again. Please note I researched a lot of this info on the internet from various sources and sites beside what we were told by the docents. There are no images of Parkhurst.

See what happens when you take a Sunday ride!

Next post will be about an artist/shaman-like man in Half Moon Bay!

Stay tuned and I hope you are off to the start of a good week!

P.S. We were told only 12 miles away from Woodside (in La Honda) Neil Young has a ranch......now THAT would be someone amazing to run in to! (not likely to happen of course)

A Walk Around

It was a lovely walk around our local lake but it's 2 miles around and when you aren't a regular it's a bit much the first time out. I went with a friend I reconnected with through the reunion and we chatted the whole way and it was great BUT my shins and ankles felt it afterwards.....now I need to start slower and with a shorter distance to work my way up. But at least it has ducks and trees and things to look at along the way and walking is good. Sometimes you take things in your "own backyard" for granted.....I need to go more often if only at times (besides walking) just to sit and write, take more photos or just read or draw. I actually need to go do all that on a beach somewhere too...listening to the sounds of the waves. Clear my head.

I hope you are having the most amazing start to your week and if you are lucky enough to be near the ocean well that's a good start!

A blurb about my house and something from out and about.........

Buckle up, it's a fairly long post...... :)

I will begin with a few things about the house........

This is the living room BEFORE we painted and changed some furniture etc. You can see the various swatches I had in trying to find the right color. 

Here it is right now. The color is BM Gray Wisp and is a lovely blue, just what I was looking for. BohoHandyman mounted the TV to the wall so it can swivel or pull out or tilted. The cabinet below was previously red but I painted it to look distressed. the black chest was previously white but I also painted it and added a bit of gold to the drawers.  The sphere above is one we purchased and is made from straps from wine barrels, inside we hung a glass blown "witches ball" that catches bad energy.  The armless chair is one of two from my parents that I had recovered and painted the exposed wood and I made the pillow that's on it. Right now we have NOTHING on the walls, the birdcage hanging there is temporary....I want to find the absolute right art and photos.
AND I am not happy with the lamp or what's on the chest.....see....things will keep changing until like in Goldilocks..."it's just right".  I did recently make 7 throw pillows...to be shown later.

And you wonder why I haven't done art in a while......

Things change around a lot in my house as I live with things for a while and something tells me it's not right or this should go there and that over there. SOON I hope to finally settle in and leave things alone. Another example:

This Amish made dresser we bought years ago and it's been in our room but it's proven to take up too much room (and we will be changing things in there later anyway). We put in on this wall in the living room and I use it now for tablecloths, platters, extra bowls etc. BUT eventually this wall will have 2 bookshelves made to look built in like I saw done here. We will then cut the bottom "legs" from the dresser and it will go against the pony wall so that it fits and will still be used to store the contents. I haven't made up my mind if I will paint it (thinking not) or just changing out the hardware. (I'll show you when it's done so you see what I mean) For now I was able to add a few more Autumn accents.

I sent for plans from this place to make our own ottomans for the living room but I haven't found the perfect fabric yet. We also need a coffee table and plan to make one or repurpose something so you can see how the TO DO list is ever present. Time and money always being a factor.

These are some changes to the kitchen, with more to come.  What will happen is the 2 black chairs are going away and the table will have the finish sanded and made more old pine looking. We have an old 7' bench we bought at a salvage place that BohoHandyman is going to cut in to two benches that will go on either side of the long sides of the table. It looks crammed but it's really not.  The hutch was one my parents had since I was a child, back in the day they painted it some icky color brown. It has a shelved top  I painted a deep red/claret and we hung on the living room wall (will show another time). I had painted this black and white at one time (ick) but recently painted it and distressed it a bit in the duck egg blue, added different hardware to the drawers and set in bead board in the doors. I didn't paint the top because eventually we are going to have a distressed galvanized top made to fit over it.  Just recently BohoHandyman added the shelves on the wall and right now they aren't "merchandised" AT ALL how I want them but it's fine for now so it's not some bare shelves. I need to find some vintage items.  It looks so blank below but that's because I am also working on "merchandising" that area as well. Eventually I also want to replace the mirror with one slightly larger and more unique.  It really helps to bring more light in to the room.

Tried to bring a bit of Autumn in to the kitchen in various places.

I even cooked............

an all veggie soup that is low in calories but super delicious!! The only thing I may leave out next time is the cauliflower...just don't like it. With the weather changing FINALLY I like to cook which I don't normally.....something about a cold day and something hearty seems satisfying to make for me.  Do you find you're like that too?

OK NOW TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:

Back on September 3rd BohoHandyman went to Half Moon Bay for the day and for dinner that night. It was our anniversary. We went to some fave places and then on detour route we came across this store.

Well you know I had to stop. The place is packed with all sorts of antique furniture and things, and when I say packed I mean you can hardly walk around. The proprietor is a rather eccentric fellow who anytime you pointed something out would say "oh that's from Europe" or "that's from France" thus making the price outrageous. I have to say perhaps that was the case for some of the items but not all. It seems that's the buzz at shops like this or even higher end flea markets......the prices are HIGH because they say "oh this, this is from France." Hmm. Anyway, I came across something in the middle of a crowded table and asked him about it. Turns out he collects old costume jewelry, beads and bits and bobs and covers things with it. He pointed out a few more he had done so of course I asked if I could photograph them. These are those pieces:

This piece is in the shape of a cactus and is covered in bracelets, none, he said were worth anything

The base of the piece had some Native American references but in all honesty I can't remember what he explained about it. Needless to say it's a lot of work.

This was a piece he had way up high, he covered an animal skull with what one can only assume were thousands of beads and bits.

This was a statue of I am not sure what underneath but again, you can see how many items he used to cover it

This bust he covered in masses of beads and I believe he shallaced over all of it. Amazing isn't it?

This was a set of antlers covered similarly to the skull above

I was pretty blown away by the amount of time each piece must have taken AND how much he has collected over time to be able to cover all these. I don't remember if he said he sold these things but something tells me he doesn't. I, personally, think they should be in a gallery. What do you think?

Oh, I ended buying a drafting table from him, the top has an adjustable tilt and a small set of drawers for supplies. I got a good deal.....it wasn't from France.

So this concludes my ginormous post.....this is what happens when you haven't blogged for a while.

I cannot believe it's November already! Today begins a major cool down here with wind and expected rain.....it finally feels like the proper season after all the summer weather we've had up to now.

I hope all is well in your worlds!! See you again soon!

They went to Neverland....well sort of!

Yesterday two blogging friends went on a little adventure together.

 
They traveled across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco with NO traffic to stall them at the toll plaza. Bliss.

(photo above from the Internet)

 

They arrived in SF with a bit of a drizzle but luckily not out and out rain. They reached the Embarcadero across from the famous Ferry Bldg. where there stood a great white tent erected by the people who brought it over from England. The ThreeSixty Theater , there was no missing it.  Parking was a breeze (a very unusual thing for SF) and only a block or so away from the venue. They chatted and chatted from the moment they were in the car together.

Next to the performance tent was an open-sided tent where they serve food and drink.....things for the kids and

 

 
  

and things for the adults..........

The twp had an English picnic lunch preordered that was brought to their table.  A scrumptious nosh ......

Cheese and water crackers. Radish and chive butter sandwiches, curried egg mayo sandwiches and ham and mustard sandwiches. Potate crips. Scones with jam and clotted cream. Confit flaked salmon with new potatoes,dill, taragon, shallots,capers and champagne vinaigrette. English cucumber salad.  A small glass of merlot and ended with chocolate dipped strawberries.

The two chatted through lunch and really got to know one another, learning life stories and sharing anecdotes. Both agreeing how easy and relaxed they were together having only met on one other occasion in person. You just know when things click.

After the two finished what they could of the food they meandered, of course, to the merchandise area.

 

It was here, looking at the tee shirts they came across Dorothy. A wee girl who was decked out for her trip to Neverland. A charming little fairy-like girl who it seems had not worn her wings but definitely was a 

I asked her mother for permission to take a photo of her and she was quick to oblige. I tweaked the photo so the backgound suited her (rather than a rack of merchandise and other people)

 

Isn't she precious? Shouldn't she have wings to follow Tinker Bell? 
 
 

The theater tent is round with all the construction for holding it in place on the outside. Inside the theater (where they couldn't take photos) the setting is in the round with the stage a round wooden platform.  The set contained 3 small beds and a toy chest to begin. Nothing else.

The theater full of people, from very young to very old, sat in anticipation.

The play:

J,M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

The website and the TV ads said:

Conceived by an award-winning creative team and featuring twenty-two actors, stunning puppets, epic music, and dazzling flying sequences surrounded by breathtaking video, Peter Pan was a smash hit when it launched in London in 2009. The world's first 360-degree video projection for live theater flies both cast and audience over Edwardian London.

The two friends were amped by all they had heard about it.

Unfortunately AND sadly...............for them...it did not live up to the hype. Yes the flying sequence with the CGI 360 degree projection all around you as though they were flying over London was well done, especially with the music and being able to look behind. Would we use the word "breathtaking", probably for that part .. They also refer to "stunning puppets".....here again that's not what we would say. You would think Nanna the dog would have been a shaggy covered human actor on all fours but instead was a dog puppet that looked covered in mops with the puppeteer actually OUTSIDE the dog making it move AND barking for it. WHAT? The fact this man was always in view not only distracted from the dog but took all the illusion away.  The actors playing John and Michael seemed too old for the parts. The acting underwhelming with more jumping around a mostly blank stage like a high school play in various parts.

I loathe having to say all this but it was true.....at least for us. The crocodile was an innovative puppet mastered by 2 young guys on a flat with wheels that they pedaled around. I liked it despite seeing it's controllers being visible inside. Great sound for it as well.

Tiger Lily was a fabulous dancer, doing a solo for Peter she was amazing.

If you go do not expect this to be a musical, it is not.

Then there is Tinker Bell. Of course JM Barrie probably never envisioned the Disney version of her....all sweet and Barbie-like. The real Tink was mischevious and envious of Wendy with a bad attitude. I get that. Her costume in this play was a white tank top, multi-layered pink tutu (all made to look dirty), scrunchy socks and work boots and a light on her head. There were no tights, no wand and certainly NO fairy dust.  I do admit she was funny and her antics and her acting better than the others many times.

There is one fight scene between Hook and Peter where they did it in sort of slow motion, it was quite good the way the 2 actors held their footing and with bent knees.

Although the CGI screen was at times an underwater scene or the pirate ship scene which were great...... the stage itself lacked anything to coincide with it....leaving it mostly bare and leaving the actors to have a tremendous amount of dialog without anything to interact with. It's hard to explain.

Let me say this....it wasn't as completely awful as it may sound...there were a fcouple things very well done but the bottom line, for us at least, was

It lacked MAGIC....true magic - we wanted to feel transported to the world of the Lost Boys or even life in the nursery with Nanna or on the pirate ship....but it just wasn't there.

The thing is we were glad we went......we were glad we didn't have to wonder what the play was like and we were glad to have had a most lovely day out, two friends that met through blogging, enjoying sneaking off to SF on a Wednesday afternoon for fun.

Now THAT'S magic!

THANK YOU DONNA!!!!

 

Donna O'Brien and Moi  

Where whimsy and charm reside

In recent weeks I went on a drive near the hills with a friend of mine (when we saw the horses) and prior to that BohoHandyman and I went across the bay one Saturday. On these ventures we came upon homes that displayed such whimsy of course I had to take photos. I love when people decorate their environments with artisitic abandon even if it doesn't fit the neighborhood or someone else's view of what is acceptable. The third house was not whimsical but full of old fashioned charm.

These photos below are in the front of a house Bohohandyman and I happened on when we were across the bay that Saturday.

  
 
   
 
I spotted this house on a corner and asked BohoHandyman to stop but there wasn't a place as it was a fairly busy street so went around the block and ended up in front of the house. As I got my camera out I saw a woman watering and asked if I could take some photos of her yard. She was so happy to oblige and just as I started I got these 4 in to it when my battery died on the camera. I was SO upset I didn't have my other one with me as this person seemed like the kind that would have let me wander closer in for better photos. But anyway look at the giant pink mosaic flamingo, isn't if fabulous? (I originally said swan but I MEANT flamingo, thank you commenter for caching that) I love cobalt blue glass and have seen other "bottle trees" and plan to do something like that in our back yard. She had so many bits of this and that, structures and sculptures that I am hoping we can go back across the bay and find the house again to get a more up close view. Obviously people not afraid of whimsy.

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The photos below are of a house my friend took me to see located near the hills here. Talk about whimsy, I'd love to know if the people who live there are some kind of artists.

The entire fence and the shutters on the front and porch windows are all painted like pencils

You can see a couple of  arbors along with other various things in the yard.

I just love these laughing heads on the garage door, I would love to know where they got them OR if someone there made them 
 
 

With 2 cars in their driveway I couldn't get a better shot but you can see there are 2 more laughing heads on the left and the word "wild" in the middle. I am wondering if the word "wild" lights up at night.

 
This is one of those arbors and yet another use of cobalt blue glass bottles. I kept hoping someone would have seen me taking photos and come outside so I could ask about the heads and maybe get a closer look.
  

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Now this house below wasn't one of whimsy but was one that made me swoon. It's been around a long time and I assure you that you don't see homes like this around here anymore. We have areas of older homes for sure, heck mine was built in '49 but not with this kind of lovely farmhouse quality.

It was the strangest thing to walk up to the fence and as I gazed at the house and garden I felt this sudden calm wash over me.

I could picture sitting out there with a good book, or a sketch pad or an easel or just laying on a blanket with my eyes closed. ...or for that matter twirling in the middle of the lawn. I could envision tables & chairs, umbrellas, fairy lights and a banquet table of picnic food for a lovely lawn party. One where musician friends played their guitars.

It's not over done but what is there is lovely and perfect. It's on a very quiet street so there was no noise of any kind that day....just a breeze and wonderful sunshine.

At the back, or hmm, is this actually the front? is located the original water tower. If it had windows it might make for a cool little studio space. In fact if it were mine I'd have a spiral staircase going up to the top with another area to sit and look towards the hills.

I have no idea what they use it for.
 

"you lookin' at me?"

This guy kept honking at us

   The goose and the Canadian Goose live in the garden and towards the side have a kiddie pool to flap in. The goose looks like a statue here.

The house and garden are just pure charm from every angle and I'd love to know what year it was built. Several years ago friends of ours lived on that street and there was a lot of open land by that house (which I don't think looked as nice then). Now the land on the right side and back of this house are all condo/apartments... BUT they look old fashioned, not sleek and modern from the outside. In fact many of the homes in that area are older but none have the ambiance this one does.

It truly is fun to drive around, as I've said before, keeping your eyes peeled for unusual and interesting sights. You just never know what you'll see or what may actually inspire you!

I hope you enjoyed driving through this blog post with me.

Oh and soon I will be telling you about a fabulous day a good blogger friend and I have planned. It was a great surprise for me and I am SO looking forward to it!

I hope you're having a wonderful start to your week!

Love,

Lisa

XOXO

P.S. Sadey continues to keep us on our toes. I am somewhat house bound during the day as she is WAY too young to leave alone yet (sometimes if I even leave the room she will start jumping in her play pen, howling, screaching and crying - the decibel being one to nearly shatter an ear drum)  and she's way too young to take with me places. It's tiring yes and sometimes frustrating but we remind ourselves that at this age (7 wks) she'd normally still be with her siblings and mother. Time and patience will see us through this early phase. We love her and she really is adorable!

 

Have a great weekend horsin' around!

 

A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.

Go right to the source and ask the horse
He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse.
He's always on a steady course.
Talk to Mister Ed.

People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day
But Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say

A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And this one'll talk 'til his voice is hoarse.
You never heard of a talking horse?

Well listen to this: "I'm Mister Ed."

 
If you look close you can see me in its eye

If you look close you can see me in its eye

   
  I ask you, does that look at all nourishing?

Last week before all the rain came my friend C and I went driving around. She is a school bus driver and was off on Easter break. Often she sees various things she wouldn't ordinarly as she's dropping kids off or picking them up. So she wrote things down to tell me about. Some I'd seen but some I had not. As we were drivng we saw  3 horses in a "corral" up in the hills here so we stopped and went over to them.  They were eating grass, what there was of it. They came right up to us with their big heads coming so close it startled us at first but we let them sniff our hands and then we pet them. I would cluck my tongue and call to one who would wander off and it would come back, the black one even followed me along the barbed wire fence line. I intend to go back up there with carrots for them this weekend if they are still out there, I think they'd relish a treat. I felt so bad they seemed to be out there rain or shine and you could see the ribs on the white one and all of them had  mud on them and needed a good brushing. I was thrilled to get the shot of the black one "talking".  It makes me think of the theme song for Mr. Ed. (see first photo) Anyone remember that show? Hmmm, I wonder what the black horse was trying to say to me that day.

 I will be posting more photos I took of things and places in the area on Monday. Funny what you see when driving around with eyes wide open so to speak. Do it sometime, you may be surprised at what you never noticed before or a road or street you find you never drove down before. Right now all the hills here are so beautifully green....they need to be relished because come summer they are brown and dry and begging for fires.

Love,

Lisa

XOXO

P.S. I may have something else to show and tell, we'll see after tomorrow.

P.S.S. Thank you for all the well wishes for the OWOH Love Connection Couple (previous post), they really appreciated them.

Kitchens and friends and sunny days out holding hands

Good morning everyone, I trust you had a lovely weekend....at least I hope so. Won't you join me in a cuppa and a muffin while we chat.

I thought I'd share some of the things I've been doing in my kitchen, I only wish the light had been better. I could have played around with it to make it better but frankly I don't have time. I think you'll get the idea though.
It's pretty clear I like COLOR!

This is one end of the kitchen as I stand in the middle. The trim around the window is what BohoMan recently installed and then we painted it, the inside of the window and the sill all the aqua blue. It truly contrasts wonderfully with the citrus green walls.  I brought in the blue shelf from my studio to put teacups on and the white dresser under it came from the studio as well.... it now holds tea towels and other sundry things. You can see my cabinets are oak stained.....boy do I NOT like them. When we remodeled back in 1990 I wanted white painted cabinets but was talked out of it (by the stainers)because to do them right and the paint last would have been 3x what it cost to just have them stained. I WILL have white cabinets some day if I have to paint them myself. Oh I could go on with what I'd change in there now............
But that's not the point right now.
I recently finished a painting for the wall (left side). It's very random but I wanted lots of color and so I just let it flow. It has no title or definitive theme or story but it works nicely with all the other color I've been adding.
oh and P.S. the 2 things hanging to the right of the window are actually wooden placemats from Target! I loved the colors and it was instant art for a narrow area!


I love hanging things in the window, a curtain valance just doesn't work in there because it blocks too much light. I have stained glass stars that were a gift a few years ago, birds, crystal with a face, glass balls, and a colored mirrored mobile that when it moves as the light hits it drives dots ALL over the kitchen.(the cats go crazy).  I have two more stained glass pieces coming from an Etsy seller that I can't wait to hang in the window as well. (a fairy and a blue bird).

I also love having Gerbera daisies in cylinder vases on the sill. I need to go get some more as these are starting to wilt a bit.  You can see my clothesline through the window and my giant windchimes that when the window is open on a breezy day fills the house with its sounds. I am on the hunt for more windchimes....I am very picky about the sound....it has to be melodious. The ones on our front porch have taken a beating and are falling apart so they really need to be replaced. This big one isn't the only one so....I like the sounds to literally surround the house.


We bought these moroccon looking metal lanterns over the weekend but they only had the orange, white and green..........the fourth one although hard to even tell in this photo....was white that we spray painted a lovely deep purple.  When I find the color I am seeking the white one in this photo will become a lovely fuschia.
COLOR  COLOR!!!

This is part of the light fixture above the kitchen table........the shades were a an ok blue but I felt they needed changing. I used colorwash spray to mottle them a sort of lime and sea blue, I like when you look up the insides look almost tie dyed or batiked.  I think the brown of the fixture itself needs changing but I haven't made up my mind about that yet. COLOR COLOR COLOR!

I was using the kitchen table for a project so I didn't take a pic of the whole room yet.......I will another day, especially after I make a new tablecloth.
So that's what I've been working on lately......it's just so nice to get up in the morning and go in there to see all that color welcoming the day. I am still searcing for my collection of 50's cotton tablecloths...I want to display them on a shelf or ladder in another part of the kitchen. They are packed away in garagapalooza...........so you know what that means.
Are you a person who likes to be surrounded by color? The wonderful thing about that is paint is an easy fix as well as accessories like various glass and things hanging that reflect the sunlight. If you have all white walls you can accentuate with colorful accessories to truly bring a room alive!









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Yesterday I had the priviledge of meeting up with 3 fellow bloggers (for the first time) for coffee at Peets on 4th Street in Berkeley.   Zorana, Sharon of All Norah's Art(who was here visiting Zorana from Texas to attend some art workshops) and Darla from Bayside to Mountainside whose birthday it just happened to be. It was a glorious couple of hours getting to know all three of these lovely ladies, I was thrilled to be sitting with them sipping coffee and chatting and laughing and getting to know one another! Sharon shared some of her art which was a rare treat to get to see it in person, I am a big fan of her!. We were also able to see some of Zorana's journal art as well. Such talent!!!  The extraordinary thing was how easy it all was...........no pretense, no awkwardness, no fumbling for something to say.........it was relaxed and genuine and went by way too fast! That's how it should be!
No one likes their photo taken (I know I don't) so we promised not to show any pictures BUT I found a way around it..........I hope this is ok girls. :)  Thank you for a lovely time, it was such a pleasure to finally meet you all!!
Sharon I hope you had a good flight home today!


After we said goodbye BohoMan (who was doing his own thing in the area) and I met up for brunch.



We sat partially under a bright yellow umbrella

Next to planters filled all around us with rosemary

We had a lovely time, great food, yummy drinks and the weather was perfection.
We walked a while afterwards holding hands, popping in and out of the shops, enjoying the perfect weather......... a beautiful day out!

It was a splendid weekend all the way around!

Now it's back to some projects that need to be completed and mailed out. Sue if you're reading this, that includes you.....you'll have it in plenty of time!!!

Life is good!

Love,
Lisa
XOXOXO

A Store, some salvage, redecorating, dreaming and remembering

The weather here Saturday (and Sunday) was not even springlike in that the temps were cool, there was a breeze and I got to wear a cardi all day! It didn't bother BohoMan (new name for G) or me. We set off in the afternoon and ended up at Ohmega Salvage yard in Berkeley. Funny when you go to places like this you really don't need to have anything specific in mind to perhaps find something that sparks your imagination.

(having forgotten to take a street photo this one is from the internet)

They have all sorts of things like bathroom fixtures, locks, knobs, handles, hinges etc. for doors......bits of furniture and lamps, a few pieces of furniture, tons of old doors and lots of windows. As we walked around perusing the selection of windows large and small I couldn't help envision my Enchanted Cottage Studio all built and surrounded in various windows like these......come on now, I never said I wasn't a dreamer.

There are rows and rows of them..........imagine all that light.
BUT
Since it's all just a dream right now we moved on looking around and THIS is what I left with...


Not the wood they're sitting on....just the various parts. When I told the guy what I was going to do with these random old pieces he was actually quite excited. In fact when I am done they want me to bring in what I end up with for them to see.......they  said they'd like to put a pic of the finished thing on their main website gallery of what people do with the things they purchase.   I am being vague for a reason....I want it to be surprise here too. You'll just have to wait and see what it all becomes.  Suffice it to say it's a fun place to explore, in fact we bought my studio work table there a while back and I love it.

From there we stopped at a store also on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley that you could easily miss driving by. It's a combination of 2 stores and it's called Juniper Tree. It's one of those places that no matter how many times you wander round and round and round you miss something. It smells lovely inside and there are there items to suit all tastes and themes. One side is for lotions and soaps and things to make your own of both...the other side has all the eye candy. I asked if I could take photos and she was quite obliging.







It wasn't until I was about to leave that I swear I heard it..... "psssst, Lisa, up here on the shelf behind that big chandelier hanging above you. pssst, you'll want me, quick before you leave". And sure enough I happened to glance up as we were walking out (I told you it's easy to miss things in there). I was like a whiny child pointing and saying "oooh, ooooh"......it was almost too high for BohoMan to reach....and he's TALL but he finally got it down.

You guessed it.................it's in our house now!
It's lovely, it's heavy, it's rather large.
We're going to hang it in the living room unless I can find some vintage stand.
The living room we are making plans to redecorate.
The following images are from a new publication I bought called Color it Coastal by the publishers of Coastal Living Magazine.
The other night I said to BohoMan "This room doesn't reflect us at all" as I looked around to the latte colored walls and well.....a mish mash of some good things, some not.  Funny thing was he had been thinking he was tired of the wall color and when I showed him the magazine he looked at me and nodded his head in complete agreement. I told him I didn't know what I'd do if he and I didn't like the same things. So beach vibe it will be, if only in the color scheme. Hooray! Painting walls is an easy fix to start.  Wanna come over and have a paint party? I'll make margaritas or whatever you want.

The color scheme will be restful and inviting. We're going to paint the walls white (they haven't been white in years) The black and white diamond rug is going in our room and the sisal looking rug from our room will go in the living room.

I have lots of blue accents scattered about AND packed away. Of course we won't have a sea view but we can bring those colors in more.


We already have some sea glass and this will be a good excuse for excursions to find more and we have a collection of cobalt blue bottles and sea shells we can bring back to the room.


The hues of various blues and greens are so beautiful. I love the look of colored glass in any form. I keep my eye out in various places for different shapes and sizes.
I have so many plans to redo this room that are easy and inexpensive. It was perfect timing to come across the magazine to help us get even more inspired.  We have so much in garagapalooza we can "shop" for now to redo/repaint/repurpose.  That's the one good thing about having too much stuff........you finally come full circle in to using some of it again.
Naturally I want it all done tomorrow but my ever level-headed BohoMan keeps telling me "be patient".  Hmmm, patience? That's a virtue isn't it? ;)
The thing is I know once we get the living room going we'll be able to segway right in to doing our room too. I'm jazzed.
Why you ask doesn't an Oceandreamer already have a restful coastal colored room? That's a whole other story.

Look at this image above...........
Is it too much to ask for in a backyard?  tee hee hee!

I sure talk about dreaming for lot of "things" I want to do/build/have don't I?

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one". J.Lennon

 Of course nothing is impossible but I know what is and is not a reality. Dreams don't cost anything. Dreams keep our minds alive.
Dreams don't mean we aren't grateful for what we've already attained.
"It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting" - P.Coehlo


So what did you decide? Coming over for that paint party or not?

Much love,
Lisa, the dreamer
XOXOXO


Memorial Day......
Remember all those who have lost their lives to defend this country and our basic freedoms.
Remember those loved ones who we loved and they loved us, who helped to shape us and enrich our lives.
Remember they remain with us in our hearts!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

P.S. Thank you  for your comments and emails on Free Thinking Friday. These subjects aren't necessarily about me...but I keep my eyes and ears open and hope in some wee way it can help someone struggling with certain issues to step back and rethink.
I'm keeping it real, that's how I roll.   Next Friday's "FTF" post I hope will make you laugh.