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Trip to the Bay

January 22, 2023 4 Comments

It’s been over three years since I’ve been to one of my favorite places. Covid put a stop to the annual San Fransisco ACC craft show and I haven’t been back since August 2019.

I’ve missed my annual trip there, so I was very happy to be able to go down for a short visit. This time, instead of August, with the perfect San Fransisco sun and ocean breezes, it was cool January with lots of rain, rain, rain. You’ve read about their flooding? I packed a rain coat and warm sweaters.

Happily, there were enough breaks in the weather for walks in the neighborhoods and visits to parks.

California is not Oregon. They have citrus trees. With oranges. Right in their front yards.

Definitely not Portland.

And lemon trees.

In Oakland, right next to the sidewalk and hanging over fences.

Lemons.

And magnolias blooming.

Portland has magnolias, but they won’t bloom for weeks and weeks.

There weren’t a lot of signs of the heavy rains, except I did see evidence in the lake at Oakland’s Temescal Park.

From all the run off, the water was a muddy brown color and over flowing its banks.

But still beautiful.

No fishing.

Most definitely required for me, a day in San Fransisco.

Did I mention it’s one of my favorite cities???

I still get a thrill when I see its outline cross the bay.

First stop, the Presidio. An army base until 1994, it is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The old army buildings are still in use, except now, instead of soldiers, they are leased to businesses and organizations.

I was there to see the most recent addition, the Tunnel Tops park.

The Presidio Tunnels Parkway, the southern highway access to the Golden Gate bridge, goes through two tunnels. On top is the Tunnel Tops Park.

Below is a 3-D map showing the park. That’s the Golden Gate Bridge in the upper right corner of the picture. Can you see the highway disappearing under the park?

Maybe easier to see in this detail shot. There are two tunnels, you can see them better here.

My photo, showing the highway appearing from under the park and disappearing through the second tunnel in the distance.

This beautiful park has amazing views of the bridge,

and in the distance, the city. Can you see the pyramid?

Here’s a hint, for a relatively empty park, visit on a cool, cloudy day in January.

Next up, a short visit to the Japan Center.

Packed with visitors on a rainy Sunday, it really felt like Japan.

Restaurants displaying their menu selections with examples in plastic.

Rows of gorgeous papers in the stationary store.

And good wishes for a Happy New Year of the rabbit.

The year of the rabbit is the luckiest. It symbolizes hope and mercy, elegance and contemplation.

Which sounds good to me. I’d love a little more hope, mercy, elegance and contemplation.
I send Happy Year of the Rabbit wishes to you!

Happy Happy Holidays!

December 18, 2022 2 Comments

Can you believe it? Here we are again. The light returns and a new year begins.

Let’s acknowledge this magical time!

However you celebrate I hope you have the very best and happiest holidays ever!!!

And, for sure, I send all my wishes to you for a joyful, delightful and blissful 2023!!!

Retired Racers 2023 Calendar

November 6, 2022 4 Comments

A few weeks back, Holly Andres, photographer extraordinaire, asked if I would participate in a fund raiser for our local greyhound adoption organization, I enthusiastically answered yes!

When greyhounds can no longer race, often between 3 or 5 years old, they are retired. The Greyhound Pet Adoption NW organization helps to find homes for these beautiful dogs.

The idea was to photograph the dogs wearing ‘Elizabethan Collars.’ Not those cone shaped collars that dogs wear after surgery, instead, they wanted fancy, Tudor inspired collars.

Holly gathered 12 local designers and asked them to create their own version of an Elizabethan collar. The photos would be for their 2023 calendar.

What to make? I still had a headpiece for the ‘bride’ in this photoshoot from a few years back and thought it would make a good starting place.

It wasn’t quite Tudor size, so I added bigger bias loops. And in honor of Elizabeth I, it needed more pizazz and sparkle, so I added some good sized beads.

A detail shot.

I handed the collar over to Holly who photographed it and the 11 other contributions.

The final photo, on the beautiful Zia, looking glamorous and fetching. And oh so sweet.

Miss November.

The calendar is available at the Greyhound Pet Adoption website. Only $19.99! All proceeds go to the adoption, medical, transport and housing of these retired racers. Check it out here.

The backside, so you can see some of the other photos. I am always blown away by how different the results can be when creative people are asked to complete one task. Amazing!

Please check it out. And consider helping out this wonderful organization by buying this calendar!

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