Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 31: Slick

Rain, especially the first rain of the season in California, can make walking and driving surfaces very slick.  Be careful how you go.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 30: Shooter's Choice

On the day I went to the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, at one point I looked up to the windows above.  There was standing a couple sharing a moment together.

I love everything about this shot; the intimacy of the moment, the blue of the sky against the darker interior, the shiny fronds of the palm tree and even the reflection of the museum's ceiling lights reflected in the window.  It's a simple photo, but it always makes me stop and look at it one more time.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 29: Guess what this is?

It's amazing how differently thing look when you view them up close.  This looks like ice, doesn't it. 

However, when you pull back and see the item as a whole, you discover instead that it is something very solid and very heavy:

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 27: Freedom

The Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland is such a beautiful, peaceful site.  It was established in 1863.  One of the areas that most surprised me, however, is this Civil War Park in the foreground.  To me, California seems so removed from that terrible event in our history.  Instead, I found there were both Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. 

Going back through the genealogy of my own family, I found the same to be true.  We, too, had men who fought on both sides. How very sad.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 26: Dirty

I love our Trumpet tree, but boy, it does cause dirt on our sidewalk and stairs.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 25: Geometric

It doesn't get much more geometric than this.  This enormous painting was being exhibited at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco.  Both the colors, perspective and sense of infinity appealed to me.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 24: Tied

I'm currently on pet-care duty for my neighbor's cat.  When I went there tonight, I found the feathers on her favorite toy had come untied.  Harkening back to my fishing day and using a cinch knot, the feathers are now securely tied to the spinner.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 23: Knothole

Sure, I could have walked outside and taken a photo of a knothole from on of our trees, or from the fence.  That would have been too easy and obvious.  But I love a play on words so how could I resist instead photographing a knot hole. 

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 22: Has Seen Better Days

No matter how much you may love a particular item of clothing, there comes the time when you realize it must be retired and replaced. 

I've had this seersucker summer-weight robe for many years.  It came from the Vermont Country Store and I loved it.   Unfortunately, the hem became caught under the wheel of my desk chair one too many times, and I'd torn the fabric away from the zipper one too many times. 

Finally, about a month ago, I thanked my old robe for it's many years of service and replaced with a new one.  It was sad to see the old one go. 

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 21: Pot

When you grow up in the Mid-West, picnics are a very big part of summer life.  They certainly were when I was a kid.  However, one thing that made our picnics unique, was that my Dad absolutely refused to use plastic anything.

My mom had a complete set of Red Wing pottery dishes that we used.  Plates, mugs, casseroles, and a large pot for baked beans.  Sadly, mom sold almost all of her Red Wing in various garage sales.

I always remembered those dishes and the memories associated with them.  As an adult, I set about building my own collection; and I have.  Over the years, I have acquired mugs--great mugs--dinner plates, salad plates, several serving pieces and a pitcher.  However, these may be my favorites.  I have used these are wonderful individual lidded pots to serve baked beans, chowder, onion soup, even desserts. 

They may not be the same dishes my family had, but the memories are still there.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 20: Inspired by Georgia O'Keefe

The painting of the left was done by American artist Georgia O'Keefe.  The photo on the right is my interpretation of it.  My thanks to my neighbors for the wonderful arbor covered with old roses.

This really is a case of art imitating life imitating art.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 19: Curves

I am fascinated by architectural detail; it's workmanship and style.  Cemeteries are a treasure trove of architectural detail as their focus isn't on being practical, although it does serve that purpose, too.  No, the focus is on beauty and, often, conveying wealth and status. 

If found this door at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California and was entranced by the pattern of curves, as well as the patina the metal had developed.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 18: White

There was a time when I did quite a number of, what I termed, casually-elegant dinner parties.  People weren't expected to "dress" for dinner, but to wear casual clothes.  However, I always set an elegant, formal table with all the various place-settings of linen, china, crystal and flatware.  After the first time, friends started asking when I'd be giving my next party as everyone loved the combination. 

I was thrilled when I found this three-piece set in an antique shop.  The last thing one wants to do is put a bottle of salad dressing on a formal table.  And besides, it's cute.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 17: Crockery

I know very little about this wonderful bowl.  It was given to me as a wedding gift.   It outlasted my marriage.  Sadly, I don't remember from whom I received it.  However, it's a wonderful bowl that is 8.5" across and 4" high, and I use it often.  So thank you, to whomever gave it to me, and to "Ruth", the very talented artist who created it.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 16: Drive

No matter where you've been, it's always a good feeling to turn into the drive and know you're home.  There really is no place like home.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 15: Match

It's wonderful to find something you love and that's comfortable to wear.  If you're smart, you buy more than one because you know, you'll not find it again in the future.  However, therein can also lie the problem. 

If you get dressed in the dark, and they are two items close in color, it's best not to leave the house without checking that they do, truly, match.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 14: Spray

When stairs are something of an issue, and your hose is on one level, and your plants are on another, by far the easiest way to water them with with a spray nozzle set to fine.  They get a good soaking without damage.  Plus the window and walkway get cleaned, too.  You get a maximum result for minimum effort.  It works for me.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 13: Starts with "K"

Go ahead.  Turn the key within the keyhole of this old sideboard.  You never know what treasures you might find inside.  Does it contain only the expected items of china and linen?  Or might there be fairies living within?  You never know.  You'll have to open the doors to find out.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 12: Lace

This lace tablecloth was passed down from to me from my Gram Nissen, who received it from her mother.  The photo in the back is the wedding picture of my great-parents who wed on the 8 of April, 1903, Oliver Callison Bingham and Alvina Christina Jans.  if you look carefully, you can see that my Great-Gram is also wearing a lace collar.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 11: Message(s)

It is not uncommon for authors to ask if they might send me their books to review. Robert Fate (Robert Fate Bealmear) was one such author.

His first book, "Baby Shark," sounded interesting, so I agreed, read it, enjoyed it, reviewed and sent him an email with a copy. Robert thanked me and asked whether he could send me his second book, "Baby Shark's Beaumont Blues". Once again, I agreed. I found I liked book two even more than the first. Again, I sent Bob a copy of my review.

Bob then sent me book three, "Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption." With book three, I had an issue with a omission author's sometimes make. They assume the reader has read the previous books in the series, so they neglect to establish the back story of the characters and their relationships. Still, it was a good book and I reviewed it as such, but not as highly as the others. I also emailed Bob, and explained my issue to him.

Bob had always been very gracious in our communications, and never more so than now. Although I was afraid he'd be upset with my comments, the reverse was true. He agreed with me! I've retained his email all this time:

LJ - Thank you for your kind review. You are so correct in calling me to task for the lack of back story. The excuse I would use would be that I had spent too much time marketing Beaumont, got behind on my writing schedule, and had to give up High Plains before I was truthfully finished in order to meet my publisher's schedule.

But, the truth is, and we both know it, I neglected to properly add back story, regardless of my publisher's schedule. It will be these gaffs that will separate me from the more experienced writers until I get my ducks in a row. You would have thought by book three... but, there you are.

I am presently at work on Baby Shark's Jugglers At The Border and am making a conscious effort to get the relationships and back story included without making it seem an effort. We'll see if I am successful.

In the meantime, I appreciate you keeping me honest and for doing it in such a classy manner. You're a good buddy, indeed.

Warmest best regards, Bob

However, the nicest gift of all came when he sent me the ARC for his 4th book, "Baby Shark's Jugglers at the Border." The inscription made me laugh, which I told him.  Not only that, but when I reviewed it, I felt it was his best book to date.

Sadly, we've lost touch.  His next book was a standalone and I move on to reading other things.Last night, I downloaded the first two chapters of book five, "Baby Shark's Showdown at Chigger Flats". Everything I originally enjoyed about Bob's writing was there, and more.At some point very soon, I shall have to read this latest book, and see whether we can reconnect. No matter what, I enjoyed our emails and, albeit virtually, knowing such a lovely, and talented, author.

If you like books with great characters, including one very strong female, high action and set in 1960's Texas, you just might want to add Robert Fate to your reading list.  Just sayin'.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 10: Playful

It was very nice of this young man to give up some of his time to be playful a bit for a group of crocheters and knitters.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 09: Arrive

I arrived at my friend Heather's framing shop yesterday.  She has owned it for four years, and has been recognized as the BEST custom framer in the Bay Area for the past 3 years in a row.  It is well deserved. 

When Heather saw I had broken my much-loved blue-and-white spoon rest, she offered to glue it back together for me.  She's not only a great framer, but a great friend.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 08: Strong

The Tower of London, opened in 1097, is impressive all on its own.  However, within the walls of the Tower, is this section of wall built by the Romans somewhere between 197-220 A.D.  That is strong construction!

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 07: Bathroom

All though my middle- and high-school  years, my two best friends and I would spend, as often as possible, one day each weekend at to the Jersey Shore.  When my photo group had an auction to benefit the very sick sister-in-law of a group member, one of our group offered this painting.  It so reminded me of those Shore days, I knew it had to be mine.

I was thrilled when I won the auction but the original painting was done in colors not of my preference.  Still, I was happy.  Then the artist, Deborah Dix who resides in Tasmania, mentioned she needed to finish my painting.  Really?  Hmmmmmm.

I wrote and asked whether it would be possible for her to replicate the piece, but in different colors; colors that, for me, better reflected the sand and colors of the water.  She was gracious enough to agree. 

It took awhile, both for the painting and for it to arrive from the underside of the planet, but I couldn't have been more delighted.  I absolutely love it.  Each time I look at it, I see three good friends, walking side-by-side, down the beach and into the ocean.  And yes, it is in my bathroom.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 06: Model

Of course, I have the Nancy Pearl action figure with backdrop--sadly, it's a bit creased--and accessories.  How could I not?  She is my hero.

In case you don't know her, Nancy Pearl has become America's librarian.  While Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library, she started a program called "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book", which was so successful, it spread across the country. 

Ms. Pearl has written several books, including Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Reason (2003) and More Book Lust (2005), as well as one for children and teens titled Book Crush.

She truly won my heart, however, with her Rule of 50 which states "If you still don't like a book after slogging through the first 50 pages, set it aside. If you're more than 50 years old, subtract your age from 100 and only grant it that many pages."  Thank you, Ms. Pearl, for making it okay to not finish a book I'm not enjoying. 

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 05: Sparkly

I have long maintained that I was a crow in a previous life--I love sparkly things.  I have a whole collection of sequined, or sequin-accented, or rhinestone-accented clothes, not to mention jewelry.

For a time, I was a member of a choral group called "The Distaff Singers".  As part of our yearly concert, I was also part of a quartet.  I've no idea what number we performed, but each of us bought this tank top and jacket to wear above a floor-length,black pleated skirt.  Under the lights, how we did sparkle and shine.   

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 04: Band

Even in this age of technology, sometimes all you need is an elastic band. 

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 03: Used

This incredibly tall, ornate table lamp was definitely used prior to me.  In fact, it's not really even mine as it is on long-term loan from a friend.  But I love it, especially that it has a base switch.  That makes it very easy to turn off and on while sitting on the sofa.

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 02: Balance

As with everything in life, it is all about achieve balance.  And, you never know when you'll need an empty box. 

Photo-a-Day - May 2013 - Day 01: Celebration

Making baby items for charity "Stitches from the Heart" is a celebration.  It is a celebration of new life, as they items are donated to over 1,400 NICU centers and hospitals across the country.  It is a celebration of volunteerism, for all of us who love doing for others.  It is a celebration of generations of women, and men, who love keeping alive the tradition of hand-crafting.  I do love celebrating.