MARIN OMA

The Redwoods' Newcomer Dinner

2012-01-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

The Class of 2011 was welcomed at

the 2nd Annual Newcomers' Dinner tonight.

Everyone that moved to The Redwoods

during 2011 was a guest.

This was our table.

I was a hostess as well as a newcomer this evening.

The centerpieces were wonderful

with fresh lemons among the flowers.

The chefs created a beautiful dessert.

Almost too pretty to eat!

Susan (our COO), thanked all the staff

that helped to put on such a lovely evening.

I especially loved the fact that some of our

department heads served us and

poured our wine and beverages.

It made it very special that they were

present after a long and hard day of work.

They then have a long commute

back home after our newcomers' dinner.

The staff is so great here.

They love the residents and it shows!

Meyer Lemons

2012-01-24T12:16:00.000-08:00

Our Watercolor Journal Group met today.

There were just 4 of us...

and we had a great time --

painting, having a cup of tea

and enjoying each other's company.

A Quiet Day

2012-01-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

Today was a quiet day.... I am looking forward to

the rain storm that should be here soon.

Not much to paint in my unit,

so I choose to do this small plant

on my coffee table.

A New Number Today!

2012-01-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

It was fun to see this number when I checked in today.

I really enjoy going to Curves

and I think working on the machines

has kept me healthy,

limber and flexible at this "elder" age.

Left Brain, Right Brain --- another Boo Boo

2012-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Our Watercolor Journal Group met today.

We spent the morning inside as it was rather cold outside.

I did a single camellia in this fun beverage bottle.

When it came time to write about the page

and to date it, my mind stayed over on the

right hand creative side and I

once again, put down the wrong date.

I get into how the numbers look and

I don't seem to notice that they are not accurate.

Just so long as they look good!

Here is what the whole book when

it is open looks like.

Wrapping Up the Christmas Season

2011-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying a quiet day at home today.

I like clearing out the old and making

room for the new.

This Poinsettia is the last reminder of

the Christmas season.

It will last for awhile and will

remind me of my warm family

celebrations and love.

Christmas Morning 2011

2011-12-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos from our Christmas today.

After all the present giving, we piled 4 dogs,

4 adults and 1 child in the mini van

and went to a dog park in the East Bay.

It was a beautiful day and we walked along the shore.

What a blessing to have family close!

Elsa and Oma

Mama and Elsa

Santa brings a doll house!

Aunt Kate brings a barn and farm animals...

A great self portrait and story done at school.

Kris tries on Elsa's new earrings.

Princess Elsa with her tiara and earrings!

Peonies

2011-12-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

My friend, Anne, brought me some peonies this

morning when she came for a visit.

I love having fresh flowers.

Peonies are my daughter, Porter's favorite flowers.

So now I get to look at these and think

of her and of my friend, Anne, too!

An Andy Goldsworthy Inspired Serpentine

2011-12-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

This week at The Redwoods,

we watched Andy Goldsworthy's film, Rivers and Tides.

He is an amazing artist that creates sculptures
out of nature.

They are breathtakingly beautiful.

Being inspired by this, a fellow Redwoods''
resident and I made up one of our own.

A couple of people stopped us as we were creating

to make sure we were to planning to eat these mushrooms.

We assured them that this was "Art"
and not for consumption.
We did, however, scrub our hands thoroughly
when we were done!

Little Old Ladies can have fun, too.

I felt like I was in my "kid" as we played with mushrooms.

My Laundry Basket is Full!

2011-12-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

It's a great feeling to be all done with my shopping.

Thankfully, there are lots of fun bags to put gifts in...

what a easy way to wrap!

I just had a couple of large gifts
that did not fit into a bag...

so I used brown paper mail wrap

and then decorated the plain paper.

I like to keep it simple!

Elsa's Holiday Concert

2011-12-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

I got to be the proud OMA as I sat in the front row

to enjoy Elsa's performance.

After the little ones sang their songs,

they were allowed to sit with their families

and watch the rest of the event.

Elsa is a happy girl to have sung her song

and then have a front row seat!

Of course being with OMA is nice, too!

Here are Kris, Jack and Skyler.

All so proud of themselves!

The girls say goodbye to a favorite teacher.

Fruits and Veggies are for me this season.

2011-12-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

I have been eating very healthy ever since Thanksgiving.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman has a Holiday Challenge that

you can find on his web site -

http://www.drfuhrman.com/

The result so far, is not the dramatic weight loss that

he promises. But, I do feel terrific and am not missing

the sweets and treats that are everywhere

during this holiday season

It is a lot of food each day.

Eat one very large salad each day with

lots of raw veggies and also

eat about a pound of steamed veggies, and

a cup of lentils, beans or other legumes. '

Eat 3 fruits a day, and toss in about

a handful of almonds or walnuts.

Avoid white flour, sugar and oils.

It is simple and packed with nutrients.

This is why I think I am not craving sweets.

We will see where this all goes.

I am committed in following this plan until

the New Year.

Plant "Explosion"

2011-12-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

Last week, I posted a journal page of the Amaryllis Plant

that I brought home for the holidays.

What a difference a week makes.

I now have 2 huge blooms on my plant.

They are so big that I had to use some plant stakes

so they don't fall over.

Here is a photo of the plant.

A Change of Season for Cards

2011-11-27T18:47:00.000-08:00

This was an image that I used on some

Thanksgiving Cards this year.

Now we are officially in the season of Advent.

The first Advent candle was lighted in church today.

I brought home an amaryllis to add to my "decor".

It is a mystery plant as I have no idea

of the color to come when it blooms.

This afternoon was "Open Studio" at The Redwoods.

We have a room open for residents to come

and play with paints and paper on Sunday afternoons.

This is what I did.

I created two cards to send to my

friends and friends for Christmas.

A "Tall" Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Rockwells and The Merrimans gathered at

Lake of the Pines for a festive Thanksgiving event.

The Lantermans host us with a

delicious dinner and very fun company.

Chhanseda, the only petite adult, was the master chef.

She prepared a traditional meal and a vegan

meal for the different members of the family.

It was so very thoughtful.

Davis, who is 6' 4" tall is helping with the potatoes.

Skyler and Elsa are hanging out with Oma "supervising" in the background.

Oma stays out of the way as the countdown to dinner approaches.

i pads and kindles are very popular.

Bentley 6' 4" and Felix over 6' stay out of the kitchen.

Felix is the German "au pair".

He is 19 and this is his first Thanksgiving.

We quizzed him about the pilgrims and he knew

pretty much for a visitor in our country.

Kris hangs out with the little people.

Elsa and Mama have a moment.

John reads the Reddi Whip can.

There are no food ingredients,

just chemicals.... UGH!

We tease Felix as he actually drinks some water,

a rare event for him.

Skyler and Kirs share a piece of pumpkin pie.
Pretty good, I think!

A Paint In and A Birthday

2011-11-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

All of the original Watercolor Journal keepers were here today... we will have been together for 3 years come next March. Some have found out about the group from art classes, some from friends and one noticed us on the internet. We have grown to be good friends and enjoy celebrating each other's special days as well as enjoying our plein air and "paint in" sessions.

5 of us went on to El Fornaio for a delicious lunch and a birthday celebration. The shopping center was packed. People are already going nuts with the shopping frenzy.

I make it a point to not enter a single retail store between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is my way of boycotting stores that put up their holiday decorations in early October. What ever happened to waiting until after Thanksgiving? Nordstroms is the one store that honors this old tradition. So, if any one will get my holiday money, it will be that store. I mainly make my own gifts, give donations to charities in honor of my family and friends and find some treasures at local bazaars.

Yountville Van Trip

2011-11-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

I took a delightful van trip up

to the wine country today.

9 of us piled into the Mill Valley Community Center's

van and headed up to Yountville.

The weather was clear, warm and fall like.

The colors were unbelievably beautiful.

I especially loved the brilliant Chinese Pistachio trees

that lined the streets and bordered the vineyards.

Seeing these brilliant reds backed by

the fall colors of the vineyards was .

a gift for the eyes.

I did a quick page of part of the Vintage shop area.

Of course, my right brain forgot

that it is not August but November.

I just made this mistake on another page.

Oh well, progress, not perfection is the name of the game.

It was so nice to have some one else drive

so I could look out of the window to see all

the fall colors in the vineyards and fields of Sonoma and Napa Counties.

I live in a very beautiful part of the world.

I do not take it for granted.

The Bay Area has so many different types of eco systems

all within an easy one hour drive.

A New Journal

2011-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

It's fun to try a new format for a journal.

This long page may be a good way to

have room for both an

image and space to write about my day.

Cornerstone in Sonoma

2011-11-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Our watercolor journal group headed on up to

Sonoma for a wonderful day in the sun.

Cornerstone has a collection of over 20 different gardens as

well as interesting shops and a cafe.

The gardens go from whimsical to

beautiful as you can see

in two of my photos.

There was so much to see that we did not

get too much painting done.

I did manage a quick sketch of a fun store.

I loved the yellow table

and chairs and door that was

propped against the wall.

Sr. Joan King's Birthday Ice Cream Extravaganza

2011-11-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

A group of us gathered to celebrate

the birthday of Sr. Joan King.

She leads a ministry named

Guided Imagery with Music.

We have all been blessed over the years

with her loving guidance.

Elizabeth, Joan and Margaret

It was such fun creating a card with all of our

images on it. I took photos of the card and

already posted them a couple of days ago

on this blog.

Joan loved her card and we love Joan.

Tuesday in Mill Valley

2011-11-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning was a glorious day for a long walk.

I went to the MV Library and

enjoyed stopping down town

to have a cup of coffee

before I headed home.

Here is my journal page for the day.

Later on in the afternoon,

Our chairperson of the auction hosted

a lovely gathering in our 8/10 Gallery

for the Silent Auction Committee.

The Annual Bazaar raised over $18,000.

and

our Silent Auction contributed to

one third of that total.

A job, well done, by a lot of people

working together to create a great

Silent Auction.

Now raise a glass and celebrate!

A New "Old" Rug and A Larger Table Top

2011-10-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

An old friend returned this lovely rug

that I had loaned her several years ago.

It is perfect for my apartment.

I had forgotten the colors and pattern and

am thrilled with how well it goes in my living room!

It is a better shape for my room.

She had it washed for me, very nice!

I also had a piece of plywood cut to

make my 30" square table a little larger.

It is now 32"x42".

I put on a vinyl table cloth and

a clear desk protector.

Now I can play with paints and

have my lap top on the table at the same time

Here is a card I made for a friend's 82nd Birthday.

It is a two sided card that has images on the back and front.

Grandchildren Photos from this Week

2011-10-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken in Auburn.

Bentley and Davis are now 19 and 16.

They are both very tall and

continue to be very sweet guys.

Bentley

Davis and his admirer, Elsa

Elsa and Mama on the party boat.

Porter and Chhanseda

Kate brought Elsa by for a visit today.
It was wonderful to see her.

Kate grabbed my iPhone and took a few photos for me.

Hugs are so nice!

The Redwoods Apple Strudel Story

2011-10-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of activity in my

downstairs neighbors' apartment.

This Fall, Carrie has been picking apples

from our organic orchard and

keeping them cold in some of

The Redwoods' larger refrigerators.

Carrie and some of her friends have

been busy creating 300 slices of

her famous Apple Strudel.

Carrie got the apples by picking them

off the trees in

our Redwoods' Organic Orchard.

On Wednesday, I went down and helped her

cut 55 pounds of apples into quarters.

Then, she got busy with her

Cuisinart and chopped all 55 pounds

one batch at a time.

Once all the ingredients were ready,

a team of experienced strudel makers appeared.

This team of three layered the ingredients

and rolled the phylo dough

into long rolls.

Here is our master baker, Carrie, in her kitchen.

The rolls were cut into pieces and
baked in several neighbors' ovens.

Our ovens are only 20" wide and
not much fits into them.

All of this happened in a 500 sq. ft. apartment
with a tiny kitchen.

Our sinks are the size of bar sinks
and we have

a whopping 5 feet of counter space.

The aroma traveled throughout the
halls of our building #8.

YUM!

The wonderful smells brought me downstairs

to see what was baking.

Seeing this team effort, I decided to

record it with my point and shoot camera.

This is the finished product ready to

be taken downstairs and sold at the bazaar.

How many bakers can you fit into a small apartment?

A lot apparently!

Joseph, Carrie's husband, is in charge of selling

the Apple Strudel.

I am sure that the pieces will go fast.

They are delicious.

This is my first Redwoods' Bazaar and

it is amazing to see what the residents

produce to sell to raise funds for

our programs.

Autumn Leaves and an Autumn Prayer

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Once again, here is my beautiful Liquid Amber Tree.

I could not resist posting a couple of more photos.

Now the leaves are falling and

even the pattern they make on the ground is beautiful.

The prayer that follows has the line,

"God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns in the ground...."

I have a favorite Autumn Prayer

that I heard at an Episcopal Service in Medford, Oregon.

This tree reminds me of the prayer.

Here it is for you to enjoy.

A Prayer at Autumn Time

God of the seasons there is a time for everything;

There is a time for dying and a time for rising.

We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green,

Letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender,

With all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground,

Our lives have their own patterns.

As we see the patterns of our own growth,

May we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights,

There is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives.

We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.

May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain,

Many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender.

We must wait for harvest in faith and hope.

Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season,

Your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind,

And what needs to be carried into the future.

We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs,

May your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us,

You entrust us with the freedom to choose life.

For all of this, we are grateful.

Author Unknown - This prayer was read at a service at St. Mark’s Church, Medford, November 2006

Journal Group Paint Out

2011-10-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Our Watercolor Journal Group decided to put off going to China Camp until our next meeting.

There were only 3 of us around to show up

so we headed off to a local mall.

The weather was iffy.

So we needed an option to be able to

go into a book store with a cafe

if the skies opened up

and the rains came our way.

As you can see, I am on the last laps of

my 75 Day Pen and Ink Sketchbook Challenge.

I miss my watercolors and have

received comments that others miss seeing them, too.

12 more to go, not that I am counting.

This has been a good discipline for me.

Using only pen and not pencil helps you

to really look at what you are seeing

and get it right the first time.

If you do correct,

you can see how you were off the first time.

A Redwoods' Outing to Lake Lagunitas

2011-09-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

Today, our Redwoods' Bus took a group of

us up to Lake Lagunitas.

4 Volunteers drove up ahead of the bus to prepare

a wonderful BBQ lunch.

After enjoying our lunch,

a group of us hiked up the hill to the lake.

It was a beautiful day and the lake was calm.

I went ahead and walked part way

around the lake and enjoyed myself

by sitting on a log along the shoreline.

It was so quiet and peaceful to be there

all by myself and to breathe in nature.

The three with name tags in this photo were our volunteers.

They are such pros and are really helpful to those

of us that need a little help now and then.

Before the bus took off for home,

we asked our Volunteers to come and say goodbye.

We have them a hearty THANK YOU!

They were great!

I sat by the spill way and did a quick sketch

in my book for today.

Up to Number 47 of my 75 Day Sketch Challenge

2011-09-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

My Morning View!

2011-09-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is the view that greets me each morning.

This Liquid Amber tree sits right beyond my deck

and is fully in wonderful reds for the Fall.

I love greeting the day this way!

Redwoods' Corridor Welcoming DInner

2011-09-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

This atrium connects the 3rd floors of

Buildings 8 and 10 of The Redwoods.

The residents put on a very nice welcoming dinner.

There were 3 of us that, as newcomers,

were the guests of honor.

People brought special dishes to share.

And plenty of wine and beverages flowed.

Sadly, the photographer, cut off 1/2 of one of our

honor guests' image (see the woman on the right)

when she took the photo.

Sorry Eloise!

I guess I had too many glasses of Martinelli's apple cider!

The residents did a very nice job of decorating with fresh

flowers, white linens and green cloth napkins.

Every one brought their own set ups with plates,

silverware, etc. None of us has very much

china and that sort of thing in our small apartments.

The hall was transformed into a lovely dinner setting.

More Pen and Ink Sketches for 75 Day Challenge

2011-09-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

"Washed Ashore" at Marine Mammal Center

2011-09-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

My sister, Barbara, is visiting from Seattle.

We spent some time here looking at this amazing collection

of sculptures made from plastics washed ashore.

Freddy the Fish

Later on, we went down to the beach..

I took a short walk and dipped my toes into the Pacific.

Being by the shore always restores my soul.

Everything falls into proper perspective for me.

God is big and I am small and all is well!

The Banner is Done

2011-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

This is what I have been up to these past 10 days.

It is a relief to have it up and done.

AND, I had fun doing it!

It is a banner showing the history

of our church since 1957 to now.

It's done on very elegant butcher paper

with children's crayons and pens.

Very High Tech!

Up to day #28 of my 75 Day Sketching Challenge

2011-09-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

I am in the midst of a big project at church.

I am creating a "mural" depicting the past

6 decades of church and world events.

Obviously, it is being done rather simply

and one really could not call it a mural.

It is a very long strip of butcher paper

with some whimsical figures and drawings.

Our Journal group went out to West Marin today.

There is a special trail that runs along

a creek right outside of Pt. Reyes.

We spent the morning there and then had lunch

at the Station Cafe.

We also enjoyed the Box Show at the gallery in town.

Artists take a plain wooden box and

create a work of art out of it.

So many interpretations of a box, very fun!

Now here are some pages done around The Redwoods.

Labor Day and Day 21 of Sketch Challenge

2011-09-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

One more week of daily sketching.

Everyday sights around my home.

This Week of 75 Day Challenge

2011-08-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Finishing Week #2 of Sketching Every Day

A Day at MOMA and The Stein Collection

2011-08-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Our Redwoods Bus took a group of us into SF to see

the Stein Collection today.

Matisse, Picasso and the Parisian Avant-Garde

has been a big hit.

First, we fortified ourselves with lattes for
energy to deal with the crowds.

I loved this "bug" by the roof top garden coffee shop.

This glass sculpture and the light streaming into the museum caught my eye.

After seeing the exhibit, I took my sack lunch

across the street to the Yerba Buena Center.

The sun came out and I had a delightful and

peaceful time enjoying my lunch in

this beautiful park in the center of SF.

St. Patrick's Church, built in 1853,
stands surrounded by large modern buildings.

I loved the contrast of the old and new and did a page as

I sat at one of these tables
that were being set up for a crowd.

The Moscone Convention Center is near by.

It was a delightful day and it was so nice to be driven.

No need to park your car or fight the traffic.

These excursions are one of the reasons

I moved to The Redwoods.

Elsa is 4 Today

2011-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Elsa has her hair braided with beads for the very first time.
Porter sent me these photos... so very cute.
More cake tonight with Aunt Kate and Oma.

A Tiburon Waterfront Home and Garden Day

2011-08-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Our Watercolor Journaling Group returned to paint at

a very special spot right on SF Bay.

Jeanne's friend, Joan, graciously opened her home

and garden for us to enjoy.

It was magical to be able to be right by the water on such a gorgeous day.

Two of us painted water scenes and

the rest of the gang did pages from the garden and patio.

I did not spend too much time on my page

as I really enjoyed taking off my shoes and wading in the water.

It was so peaceful and a quiet walk along the shore

was just what the Doctor ordered!

Edy did a quick and loose painting of the fog across the bay.

I love this one!

Jeanne did a lovely painting of the garden

and the garage/studio.

Audrey enjoyed rendering a plant pot and its blooms.

Miriam did several pen and ink drawings of flowers.

She is getting really good at these!

2011-08-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

I finished my first week of my pen and ink drawings today.

Here are the last 5 that I did.

This was done in the Library of The Redwoods.

A round ellipse is hard to do as you can see from this page.

So far this fan has not been needed this summer.

Sitting by the creek that borders The Redwoods.

Muffin Mania ... a very favorite spot.

When I chatted with the owner,
she shared that she knows Elsa.

Who can forget Elsa? She brings sunshine into a shop.

Her Aunt Kate brings her here from time to time.

"Are You Old?" at The Redwoods

2011-08-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

I brought my almost 4 year old granddaughter, Elsa, to spend some time with me at The Redwoods today. Before entering the common area of the buildings, I sat her down and explained that, not only did we need to use our "inside voices", but it was important to walk and not run. I went on to say that a lot of my friends at The Redwoods are old and it would not be good to bump into them. Some of them are "fragile" (which is a word that she understands) and they might fall down if Elsa ran into them.

Elsa listened with great attention to this interesting lecture. We then went into the library and the front reception area. Each time I introduced her to a resident Elsa would ask in her sweet young voice, "Are you old?" Thankfully, each person got a kick out of the question... it led to them asking her if she was old. She was very proud to announce she was almost 4. Her birthday was in 4 days. A good friend, Connie reported that she just had a birthday and she is now 88. Elsa has not learned to count up to that number so she was not sure just how old that was!

It was really nice to see the interchange between the generations. Elsa made a big hit with my friends.

Here she is playing with her wooden dress up dolls, a favorite activity.

Elsabet with her dolls.

Changes at The Redwoods and our Bazaar

2011-08-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

I could not help myself!

I rearranged the furniture in my bedroom

for the 3rd time since my move to The Redwoods last March.

I think I like this arrangement the best.

It gives me more room by the window for my chair

and the bed feels cozy in the corner.

I get these ideas to do the moving and,

of course, am not patient enough to wait for help.

So, I needed to take every thing off of the shelves

and out of drawers to be able to shift the furniture around.

My daughters tell me I have a little OCD

and perhaps they are right.

It would have been easier to move this stuff

with some help but then,

I would have had to wait.

Not my strong suit.

Anyway, I really like this 3rd and hopefully, last arrangement.

I finished this baby blanket after many hours of knitting.

It will be sold at our bazaar this fall.

It will probably go for a very low price.

So, I figured my time was worth about 10 cents an hour.

Oh well, it is very good therapy for me.

I knit when I watch TV and

when I go to some what boring meetings.

It keeps my hands busy and I do not become impatient.

#2

2011-08-18T09:23:00.003-07:00

Day 2 of my challenge, an easier subject ... I needed to see what really was happening on the back of these lovely purple blooms. It was tough to not get out my paints and add color. But, I am determined to stick with the pen and ink for these 75 days.

#1

2011-08-18T09:23:00.001-07:00

I just started a 75 Day Challenge to do a pen and ink sketch each day... no erasers, no pencil, just pen.

This is will be good for me, I really have to study each thing. Now what line goes in front of the other?
What are the proportions? Where is it light and dark? I so rely on color to tell the story, this will help to improve not only my "seeing" skills but, hopefully, my drawing skills, too!

Artichoke in Bloom

2011-08-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to share my morning

with 4 year old, Miss S., who is a budding artist.

We did our pages together.

Have you ever seen an artichoke that has been left to open

and burst forth with its'

beautiful purple thistle bloom?

Our Watercolor Journal Group painted in a
friend's garden in Greenbrae.

I found this wonderful choke in full color

Here is a photo of the choke.

And here is a photo that our gracious hostess took

after we finished painting in her garden.

Where is Summer?

2011-08-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

Our summer has been cold, foggy and windy so far. Here we are in August and the temperature might get up to 70 degrees, but winds continue to blow in from the Bay. My unit is up on the 3rd floor and all see are the trees blowing in the breeze. So far, it has been too cold to sit out on my deck... I really love being out side. We do have a protected patio downstairs. Today, I took my book down there and read for an hour this morning.

Having said that -- I will take this cool version of summer over the heat of the rest of the country any day! I can always put on a sweater to enjoy my outdoor walks, but when it is hot and humid, there is not much you can do to stay comfortable.

I'm seeing some early signs of Fall around here in some of the foliage. These grape leaves were so beautiful, I had to bring a couple inside and paint them.

An Amazing Succulent in our Garden

2011-07-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

This is the last lesson for my online class.... I have not been following the lessons as closely as I would have liked. Life gets in the way. But I did pick up some helpful ideas from Laure.

This wonderful Agave plant is stealing the show right now in our succulent garden, such a very long stalk from a rather small plant. I am surprised that Gravity has not won the tension ... the stalk leans a little more towards earth each week.

Photos from my Jacksonville Visit

2011-07-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my recent trip to Jacksonville.

It was such fun to see dear and old friends.

These first two photos were taken
on the deck of Bonnie Miller's home.

This group of women met weekly

in my home in Jacksonville for many years.

We were a Bible and Book Study/Prayer group.

We grew very close.
It was wonderful to have a reunion in person.

We still email one another with our life updates

and our prayer requests and praises.

Bonnie's home over looks the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon.

It was kind of a gray day

so the valley below does not show up too well.

I LOVE these women,

they have been an important part of my life since 2002.

Mae is one of the 3 women that
bought a home together in 2000.

We were like the Golden Girls, the talk of the town.

We named our property Trilogy.

Mae is now married and still lives in Jacksonville.

Shirley, my other housemate,

made her this candy bar banner
to celebrate her 75th Birthday.

Barbara Murphy, who now lives in Port Townsend,

is also an old Petaluma friend.

She was driving south when we were visiting.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Jacksonville Inn patio.

L to R is myself, Barbara and Shirley.

My daughter, Kate took the photo.

Birthday Cards for Redwoods' Friends

2011-07-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

There are three birthdays this week up on the 3rd floor

of my building at The Redwoods.

I have started to make "name plates"/ Birthday Cards

for my friends and neighbors.

So far, every one I have made them for has

enjoyed putting them up on their apartment door.

Our doors are pretty basic, so this adds a touch of color.

Besides the name, I have included a few simple

images to match some of the interests of my friends.

Hector orders all the films for The Redwoods.

He also organizes outings to local restaurants.

Hector is a master knitter in his spare time.

Maryann is a retired librarian.

Her apartment is filled with her books.

If you are not familiar with the Dewey Decimal system,

#817 is Humor. Maryann has a wonderful sense of humor.

She is also a fabulous knitter of very intricate patterns.

Holly really loves the out doors

and one can see her on the trails around our campus.

She loves being in nature and can out walk

most folks around here!

Concrete Flowers at a Scenic Rest Stop

2011-07-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Kate and I drove down the coast and then along Highway 101 to return to Marin County from Southern Oregon. It was a beautiful drive with many scenic vistas.

So what did my eye focus upon with an idea of a journal page?
This sweet little flowering plant that was popping up through the pavement of a parking area.
I am always touched by the blooms that fight their way through obstacles to bring a little beauty and brightness into my day.

The funny story to go along with this page is the fact that I managed to bleach the bottom of some brand new bright blue pants. After using the porta potty, I remarked to Kate how clean they were and how I could smell the Clorox odor. "They must have just cleaned them just for us" I exclaimed to Kate.

Later on I looked down to see that the bottom edge of my pants had a bright white rim where it had touched the floor of the potty. Now, I will always remember my drive down the coast when ever I wear the pants.

Jacksonville Visit

2011-07-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

My darling daughter, Kate, gave me the gift of helping me

drive up to Jacksonville, Oregon to visit friends.

I lived there for 8 years and made many good friends.

We spent 4 days visiting and generally

enjoying this wonderful small town

in the Rogue Valley.

We stayed with Shirley.

She had just had a local artist deliver

this wonderful poppy sculpture as

we arrived. It was very celebratory!

Shirley is on the left and the artist is on the right.

The Poppies are so much fun.

Shirley brought home this little fish recently.

This is her first "pet " for awhile.

She named it "Sami", as he is a fighting fish.

Sami for Samurai.

A Morning at the Larkspur Community Gardens

2011-07-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

Our Watercolor Journal Group met

in the Larkspur Community Gardens today.

This very tall Century Plant got my attention.

My friend, Miriam, tells me she sees visible

growth every time she comes to tend her plot.

Right now, it is about 25 feet tall.

A very large black bird sat and allowed

me to paint him this morning.

Miriam put some garlic cloves into her plot

and this is what is happening.

We are not sure if a flower follows the

opening of this bud.

The inside of the open pod is intricate

and filled with small berry like buds.

C.S. Lewis once wrote,

"God's magnificence is seen in
His attention to the smallest detail."

This is what I thought about as I was up close

and personal with this intricate "bloom".

A quick page to cover 2 assignments this week.

2011-07-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

This week got a little busy.

So I sat down and put two of the suggested lessons onto one journal page.

I choose a calendar and the pill box

because they were all about squares and rectangles.

Then I put on the bright plastic water cup that I use

to take my meds as the dominant contrast.

Of course, I needed to change the color of the plastic glass

to include my signature color

So here it is as the dominant feature in my favorite Winsor Red.

I used the red again in the exclamation point

just because it needed to be some where else.

This is not very much watercolor painting

but was fun to put together.

I am very blessed to have only 2 pills I take each day,

pretty good for an "elder".

A Pretty Quiet 4th For Me

2011-07-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

My Fourth of July was pretty quiet.

The Redwoods has a big outdoor BBQ, but no vegan choices.

I chose to not pay the price of the ticket for food

I really do not eat.

I enjoyed a big salad at home.

Believe it or not, I spent most of the afternoon doing

a page in my journal for my online class

AND

the bigger project of completely going through all my paints.

I have a new smaller metal palette and

I needed to choose 14 colors to go in it.

This can be a BIG decision... so many choices.

I did fill up an older plastic palette.

Having another palette with a 2nd choice of colors

gives me more choices if I want them.

Of course, I managed to get purple paint

on a new shirt. So part of the afternoon

was spent trying to get the 3 spots out.

There is no washer or dryer in my unit so

a lot of hand washing and scrubbing went on.

Text as Design Lesson

2011-06-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

JOURNAL PAGE

This was a fun lesson.

My online teacher, Laure Ferlita, encouraged us to use text

on our journal pages and incorporate it as art.

We were asked to use our theme

in our practice journals and then choose

one of our favorites for a page.

I choose this page because the word was short!

It was easier to create art with 3 letters.

And, I wanted to show how simple things

can become serendipities for me.

I love my cup of tea, getting snail mail and

having a small bunch of posies in my apartment.

I pick one or two flowers each morning

as I come home from my walk.

I consider these simple pleasures gifts from God;

thus the ribbon and celebratory colors!

PRACTICE PAGE

My theme is "Serendipities".

This is a very long word.

It means the finding of small joys and pleasures in my day.

If I keep my eyes open,

there are so many small gifts that grace my day.

I love living with a sense of expectation

that God is going to surprise me

if I stay awake and aware.

Rainy Day Paint in at Miriam's Home

2011-06-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

We are having a rain storm today

so our "paint out" became a "paint in".

Miriam had invited us for lunch so we came early

to her home and painted flowers inside.

She had so many flowers set out in different vases for us.

I choose a red geranium from her deck.

She put it into this sweet vase

with a ribbon tied around the neck

which added some visual interest.

L-R.. Audrey, Miriam, Jeanne, Jillian, Phyllis and "me"

We did our pages and then gathered round for our

"show and tell".

It is always fun to see our pages.

Several of us had done quite a few since

our last get together.

Miriam prepared a beautiful luncheon,

all vegetarian and very healthy!

She served us with her china and silver,

a rare treat these days.

Once again, I seem to tower over my friends.

Oh well, you can always find me in a photo.

Lesson 4's page

2011-06-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

(Ooops, "It feels" rather than "I feels"... on the above text!)

This is what happens when one is hanging out in their right
brain, spelling and language go out the window!

This week we were to combine several elements together as we created our pages.
Laure Ferlita asked us to use Positive Space, Negative Space and Values as well as remembering to "design" our pages to incorporate titles and/or word art, borders, and backgrounds.

Then, we were free to do what ever we wanted subject wise.

Following my theme of "serendipities", I chose to paint my lower kitchen cabinet that has a brand new metal pull out rack. Every time I reach down and simply pull out the rolling rack, I give thanks that my creaky old knees are not needing to kneel on the floor to reach the back of the cabinet. Small things bring great gratitude these days.

I wanted to keep my page simple... I used negative painting behind the pots and pans and to create the wire rack. I also made a "wire" border.... my signature Winsor red is here and there.

Garden Party to celebrate changes at The Redwoods

2011-06-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

Had fun doing a page about the sweet peas that are now in our Garden.

This is a new metal palette I found online.

I really prefer a metal palette to plastic for my watercolors.

I filled the pans with my tube colors.

My other palette was too large for my small table.

Now everything fits on the table when I paint,

my laptop computer, my journals and my paints.

Today, we are having a Garden Party in our Organic Garden.

It is going to be closed for a complete renovation.

The Redwoods received a generous donation to bring our Garden up to date.

It will be exciting to see the changes.

I will miss my daily walks through this special spot.

Value Study Lesson from Laure Ferlita

2011-06-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

This week's online lesson was stressing the importance of value.

The eye sees value before color.

Laure suggested that we try a seeing a subject in grey tones

before painting it in color.

I have done that before by putting the photo in a

black and white copier. It really helps to see the values.

Our first task was to paint the subject

in monotones... thus the blue trees above.

This is my color version.

I put my my theme color, Winsor Red, in the letters

and in the background, too.

The serendipity of these trees is finding parts of the peeling bark.

I enjoy taking off a thin layer and using it in my journal.

There are always treasures to find if you are looking!

Oma Blanket for Baby Jackson

2011-06-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

When a new baby arrives in our family or close friends, I knit an Oma blanket.

Often, this becomes a favorite "blankee" I am told.

Perhaps it is because of the pattern, little fingers like the texture and holes.

I can not begin to tell you how many blankees I have done over the years.

This Oma blanket was made for the newest arrival in my cousin's family.

Jackson was born in early May. Because of my move,

I got a late start on blanket.

I was determined to get it done in month.

I took it to every meeting and event here at the Redwoods.

Soon, the residents were checking on the progress of the blanket.

They will be surprised to see me today without my knitting bag.

What ever will I do with my spare time?

The Redwoods has a bazaar in November

SO there are plenty of opportunities to be knitting.

We have lots of donated yarn.

Today, I will go visit Betty, the head "Knit Picker" at The Redwoods,

and I will see what I can find to do for my next project.

Negative Painting Lesson from Laure Ferlita's Online Class

2011-06-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

This tea pot is part of my china, "Queen's Bird" by Spode.

When I moved, I gave my china to my daughter.

I did keep my tea pot, creamer, sugar and one tea cup.

They sit on a small shelf in my kitchen where I see them easily.

Looking at them reminds me of the many times

our family ate meals together using this china.

Walking into the kitchen and seeing these sentimental reminders

always brings me a sense of joy .... it is one of the "serendipities" in my day.

Serving tea to a friend or pausing for a cup of tea

through out my day is another "serendipity".

A cup of tea is the perfect answer for a restful pause

or a wonderful way to connect with a friend.

I enjoy negative painting and use it often with my floral works.

Winsor Red is my signature color for this series.

It is pretty strong for this subject but it was fun to use only this color on the page.

A New Online Watercolor Journal Class - Serendipities

2011-06-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

I thought a lot about the theme of my journal this week and came up with the word Serendipities.

Since moving to The Redwoods (a senior living community),

I have been struck with how often I experience a serendipity during my day.

“Finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for...”

I also include the idea of "coincidences" being occasions when God chooses to remain anonymous.

One of the serendipities that brings me great joy is being able to stroll thought our Organic Garden on my way home from my morning walk. I pick one or two small blooms and bring them home to put in a tiny vase. Looking at these sweet flowers during the day is unexpected and fortunate pleasure.

This is a Nasturtium bud that pleased me today.

It sits in my vase with a couple of leaves, too.

And here is my journal cover page.

It will be fun to live with a sense of expectation and surprise

as to what God will bring me my way in the days to come.

A Day at Filoli Gardens

2011-06-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

This morning, I hopped on the Redwoods' Bus for a trip to Filoli.

But first. I had to get in the mood by doing a page in my journal.

It makes it so easy to have adventures when some one else does the driving.

My seat mate was Audrey, an ardent gardener and a watercolor journal buddy.

Fred, our garden co-ordinator, was our leader for the day

There are 16 acres of formal gardens on this amazing estate,

now owned by the National Trust.

Filoli is located near Crystal Springs reservoir in the Peninsula,

south of S.F.

I am just sharing a few photos.

I could fill several pages with all the wonderful vistas.

The views looking through the walled garden gates were breathtaking.

This was a page I did in the patio of the gift shop.

They sell beautiful plants here.

My little deck is too small for them,

so I just put a few on my page to remember.

After a few hours of walking through all the gardens,

I ran out of gas.

I sat and had a caffeine fix, ie diet coke,

so I could have enough energy to get back on our bus.

Rock the Ages Chorus Sings Today

2011-06-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

The Redwoods has a chorus named Rock the Ages.

It was created after the film, Young at Heart,

came out several years ago.

We practice once a week and have a lot of fun.

The audience seemed to enjoy hearing the old folks

belt out these old songs from the 60's and 70's.

The age range of the chorus is from the mid 70's to 98 years old.

This is why many of us chose to sit and sing!

Can you find me in the back row?

I always seem to be one of the tallest in a group!

Redwoods' Scholarship Awards

2011-06-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Each year the Redwoods' residents raise funds to provide scholarships for worthy graduating seniors.

It is a long and difficult process to narrow the field down to the 7 that received $3000.00 for their college education. Many of the recipients are the first in their families to graduate from high school and to then go on to college. Three of the young men live in West Marin .... not only have they done well academically but they have also worked hard on ranches and other jobs in order to help their families.

One young women has lived in a foster home for most of her life. She wants to be a social worker in order to help other youth as she has been helped by her foster family.

The life stories of these wonderful seniors was so inspiring. It makes us want to get busy and raise more funds for next year's group so we can help more than seven.

Here a a few photos of our afternoon event. It was very special.

The students each were introduced by a Redwood's resident that had worked

on the committee.

They presented the students their scholarship checks and certificates.

Emogene hands off her envelope.

One of the worthy young men and his family gather for a photo

along with Audrey, a resident.

He plans to be a math teacher and wants to return to his rural

West Marin school

to help others as he has been helped.

Marna visits with a student and her mother.

This smiling student plans to go to Santa Clara and major in sciences.

Sheila and Emogene congratulate him for his accomplishments.

Dora made backlava for every one at the reception.
As you can see, they went fast!

She used her daughter's oven for this big baking project.
Our ovens are tiny.

This was truly a labor of love for these students.

The Sun Came Out Today!

2011-06-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

I had a large mirror put up in my bedroom that has the same dimensions as my window.

It makes a big difference.

Now I can have a double view and much more light.

And, the room seems larger.... an added bonus.

Now I can sit in bed and look out the window.

The sun finally came out today and I was eager to get outside and do a page in my journal.

I decided to do a quick sketch and keep it simple.

We have a potting area at The Redwoods where people can come and play with dirt and plants.

There are some gorgeous orchid plants and large pots that have all sorts of flowers.

It is a nice place to hang out and just sit if you don't feel like getting your hands dirty.

I have just a few plants on my deck.

It gets pretty windy and so I am waiting to see what is hardy enough

to take the wind which can be quite strong.

Today the sun is out, yet there is a stiff breeze up here on the 3rd floor.

Thankfully, we have an protected courtyard area downstairs.

I took my ipad down there this afternoon and read my book.

Hairspray at The Redwoods

2011-05-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Each year the Mountain Play puts on a performance for the Redwoods.
The entire cast shows up and sings the songs of the show along with a narration of the story line.
This year was outstanding. The cast was young and very talented.
They received a standing ovation.

After the show, the cast came down and mingled with the residents.
There were lots of hugs exchanged.
What a wonderful treat for all of us.... old and young!

Dash, the son of one of my friends was in the chorus. It was lots of fun to see him perform.

Every one left in a very happy mood.... and we did not have to go up Mt. Tamalpais to enjoy the show.

A "Chilly" Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from a fun but rather chilly Memorial Day Parade

in our little town of Mill Valley.

The Redwoods' Volunteers set up chairs

and a refreshment table for us ... very nice.

My downstairs neighbor, Carrie, serenaded us with her violin

as we sat and waited for the parade to start.

Carrie played familiar tunes that we could sing along to as she fiddled.

The Redwoods' Drummers were in the parade.

They meet once a week and have a lot of fun.

I love this photo of a family making sure that Grandmother is nice and warm.

Betty comes from Florida and she is not quite accustomed to our chilly springs.

My friend, Sheila, is waving to all of us from the MV Community Center wagon.

Later on in the day, I went over to Kris and Porter's home

to enjoy a BBQ with the kiddos.

Aunt Kate was there, too.

I love being included in family get togethers.

Ours are casual and very comfortable

WJG in our Garden and A Water Droplet Lesson

2011-05-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Our small but hearty group met again in the garden this morning.

It was perfect weather before the rain that is promised to be here tomorrow.

I fell in love with the lone onion stalk.

It looked like it was protecting the crop as a sentinel.

I had a volunteer who was watering the garden help me capture a water drop on a Nasturtium leaf.

The photo turned out well showing just what my online art teacher, Laure Ferlita was teaching.

The light and dark of the drop and the dramatic cast shadows were quite evident.

I made a practice page after I watched the video that Laure made and took notes.

Hopefully, I will find time to do the Nasturtium leaf with the wonderful "drop"!

I exaggerated the size of the drop so I could see the process more easily.

Noting where the light source is. helps you remember where to put the lights and darks.

See my little sun, I used that as a reminder.

Phyllis sketches in the garden.

Audrey hangs out in the orchard where she can focus and not answer any questions.

Miriam was painting a poppy but as she was working,

one of the residents came and cut it. No more poppy!

Unbelievable, it made for a good story and a good laugh.

Jillian is engrossed in her page.

She uses watercolor pencils and a waterbrush to go over the pencil work.

I am trying to figure out the structure... hmmm, this leaf goes in front of the wood.

I better put ink in first.

When I use ink, I need to figure out what is in front of the other,

so my ink lines don't cross over each other.

One More "Tweak" to my Nest

2011-05-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and had to do it.

One more "tweak"!

I moved some furniture around in my bedroom.

This gives me more space for my swivel chair and

I am no longer needing to pull the bed away from the wall

each morning in order to make it.

Now I think I am finished for good.

Stay tuned to see if this is really IT on the tweaks.

My Nest is "DONE"

2011-05-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's been about 2 months since I have moved into The Redwoods

and this week. I am declaring my Nest DONE!

Of course, there are always things one wants to do

but this is the stopping place.

What have I done?

I've had a coffee table built that is just the right size

with a shelf under it for "stuff".

I found a small shelf unit for the front hall to store things that go in and out.

The finishing touch is the built in room divider from IKEA.

This coffee table is sturdy enough to put up your feet which I enjoy a LOT!

You can see the small hall unit.
It provides a handy landing place for my shoes, keys and purse

I moved the 3 tiered basket unit back in the corner.

My printer is on top of it hiding under the cloth.

Finding a place for my printer has been a challenge.

I'm not thrilled with this solution but it is working for now.

I do a fair amount of scanning with my art work

so it needs to be where I can reach it.

It is so ugly I am trying to hide it!

My kitchen is pretty small but it works well.

I learned to only use a couple of plates and utensils

and to wash them and put them away as I go.

The sink is small and it's good to keep it cleared off for the next thing landing.

I have a small range but do most of my cooking in the microwave and toaster oven.

The most important item is my electric tea pot that gets a lot of action every day.

Here is a closer shot of the unit.

The bottom cubes are for "messy" stuff and the top cubes hold my art supplies

and my 3 wire office/desk basket system.

I have used this system for years, since I was a professional organizer.

I had no place to put it until now. I was in my clothes closet before.

The system is so great.

A and B baskets for "To Do" priorities and the bottom on is "To Pay".

It holds all my financial stuff, check book, calculator etc etc.

The small box on top of the unit is just right for my stamps, envelopes and mailing stuff.

Just thought you might want to know what works for me and has for years.

A Rainy Week in May!

2011-05-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to find this photo in my cubbie in the mail room earlier this week.

It was taken at The Redwoods' April Birthday dinner.

Kate came to help me celebrate.

It was a very nice event put on by the Friends of The Redwoods.

The volunteers take photos of each Birthday celebrant

and then give them 2 photos as a gift.

I love having Kate closer so we can be together on special days.

All of my family now lives within an easy car drive.

We no longer have to ride on a plane in order to see one another.

Very Nice!

This morning, I was planning to paint with a friend in our Organic Garden.

But the skies continued to open up with a cold windy rainy storm,

so I did a page inside.

This small vase often holds a bloom or two that I "borrowed" from around the campus.

There are banks of Nasturtiums all around our building

so I hope they don't miss this one.

I love the tiny leaves and buds on the top.

This page is for our 5th lesson online with Laure Ferlita.

We were given the choice of little creatures one finds in the garden.

Lady Bugs are a favorite of mine, so I chose to do this "Lady".

WJG in The Redwoods' Garden

2011-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Our Watercolor Journaling Group met at The Redwoods' Garden this morning.

It was nice to host an outing that was in my "back yard".

I brought down some treats and drinks and had them out for us on the table.

My first page was this cabbage.

I had a hard time capturing the color of the blue/green leaves with my small travel palette.

It was absorbing to really look at the colors and try to do them justice.

Then I moved on to this whimsical lady that one of my friends planted with succulents.

Her hair do was fun and matched her personality.

Claire works in the garden as do many of the other Redwoods' residents.

Right now, I am just "playing" in the garden.

Trusted Tools at The Redwoods

2011-05-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

This page went through several stages. I almost threw it away. But, I have learned to put my journal away and look at it again the next day. I decided to add some pen on the tools which helped to define the edges a little bit better. I was disappointed with tub but later, it seemed to not be as prominent.

This is the finished product below.... once I remembered to add the shadows under the tools

We have an Organic Garden at The Redwoods. The residents work in the garden and even the less able gardeners are given a small section of the raised beds that becomes "their" little acre. They weed and tend and water.

Each Thursday, we have a harvest and the produce is brought into the main room for us all to enjoy. There is nothing more special than fresh lettuce, just picked from the garden, in my salad. YUM!

The Marin Human Race

2011-05-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, 2 bus loads of Redwoods' residents were dropped off at

the Marin Civic Center for the annual Marin Human Race.

This event is put on by Marin's Volunteer Center.

Lots of non profits participate.

Runners/walkers/strollers all are sponsored by donors.

The funds they receive go to the non profits they are representing.

It was a very fun day... loads of people and volunteers cheering us on.

We stayed for a picnic lunch and then headed on home for a well deserved nap.

I was so appreciative of the many friends and family that supported me with their donations.

It made the walk not only fun, but a practice of gratitude for all the dear people in my life.

I did not come in first or even close for my age group as

I had to make a call to the "loo" on one of my circuits.

Oh well, maybe next time I won't have a big mug of tea before I start my race.

This afternoon I walked along the creek behind our campus.

I was treated to a large blue heron and many egrets.

Then on the way home, these 2 would not get out of my way.

We have many pairs of mallards around here... they are nesting on the grounds.

They have become very tame.

The babies are starting to show up now.. they are so sweet.

75th Birthday Extravaganza!

2011-05-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

My birthday seems to have stretched over 2 weeks.

I am feeling the LOVE

These flowers are from a dear old friend.

We are Godparents for each other's children.

My apartment is filled with flowers and cards.

Every where I look, there is a reminder of a dear friend or family member.

I had a very special ladies' night birthday party.

Most of these women have been in my life for years

and I see them regularly.

We share a spiritual journey together.

On Sunday, my daughters, Kate and Porter whisked me off to breakfast

and then treated me to a wonderful SPA massage... it was very relaxing.

After coming home for a nap to recover from such pampering,

I went over to Kris and Porter's home

to have a birthday dinner with 3 of my grandchildren.

Here I am with Elsa, we are reading my birthday card together.

Skyler, age 4 and Elsa, age 3 are looking at the beautiful butterfly

that their Moms brought me from Hawaii.

Butterflies are a very important symbol for me of transitions and new life.

This one is so amazing and is set up in a plastic box so you can see both the back and front.

Porter and I enjoyed some dancing done by the girls.
It was a repetitive dance done mainly on the trampoline.
So I experienced everything from grown up sweet sentiments
to an interpretive "chicken dance" done by the grandkids.

A Rich Full Day!

2011-04-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

My day started in our garden, I wanted to get a few reference photos for future journal pages.

These two stood out as candidates for painting!

Then I took my morning walk, a 2 mile circle that is so beautiful... I walk along the marsh and creek of Richardson Bay.

Later on in the morning, I had a very successful shopping excursion to Costco and Ross ... finding some real bargains. I even found a pair of Levi jeans that had 32" inseams for my long legs at a greatly reduced price. I LOVE good deals on clothes!

I met my dear friend Sandra for a Birthday lunch... we have known each other for over 44 years and we raised our children together. We are Godparents for each other's children. She brought me a beautiful bouquet, a box of Sees candy and treated me to a delicious lunch. Then the server brought me a piece of cake with a candle. It was so good to spend some time with an old friend, we have so much history together.

My birthday is lasting a couple of weeks this year. It started early with The Redwoods' monthly Birthday dinner and will go on through May 1st. when my darling daughters are taking me on a surprise adventure.

Stay turned for more festivities!

This afternoon the Human Race team put on a "Kick Off" day in the patio for all the Redwoods' residents. It was a warm afternoon... we sat in the sun, enjoyed our treats, listened to some music and got in the spirit for our participation in the Human Race on May 7th. I am walking the 5 miles and already have received checks from many of my friends that are sponsoring me... how nice!

We had a sign up sheet for donors and some of the residents participate by sponsoring friends who will be running/walking/rolling that day. As some one said, "Every wiggle counts!" I love that.

This is a great thought... we have a Step Up and Step Out program that encourages its members to keep on moving... and they do. It is very inspiring to see people out with their walkers putting in their steps. The Step Up and Step Out participants wear pedometers. We keep track of the members' steps each month and receive grant money in proportion to the miles covered. So "Every wiggle counts" and brings in donations for our programs and activities.

My goal is to have 10,000 steps each day... I rarely get there but have some days that make it. Right now I have 9751... a few more steps and I'll be there today!

Dominican University Paint Out

2011-04-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today, Our Watercolor Journaling Group met on the Dominican University campus.

It was one of those glorious spring days that are crystal clear with just the right temperatures.

This building was originally a residence.

The university added on a wing (see to the left of the photo)
and turned it into a dorm/conference center.
There is a wonderful bank of California Golden poppies...

they really look beautiful set against the dark shingles of the residence hall.

I loved these rocks set into a bed of flowers

Miriam captures the flower bed on her page.

One of the gardeners stopped his lawn mover to show us an albino poppy.

It had a pale shade of pink in the center that the camera was unable to capture.

Jason was so nice to us. He loved chatting about the different flower beds all around us.

Here is a close up of the Albino Poppy.

I had never seen a white California Poppy.

Here is our gang at the table for "Show and Tell".

L to R - Jeanne, Jillian, Miriam and Audrey.

Today's page in my journal.

This is the last page of my current book.... a nice ending!

I borrowed the idea of a close up of a flower in a circle from my online class with Laure Ferlita.

A Full Easter Day

2011-04-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is the 2nd Assignment from an online class I am taking ... it keeps me in my paintbox!

The Merriman/Rockwell families carpooled over to Livermore

to have a wonderful Easter Egg/Brunch Extravaganza.

Lot of little kids and lots of eggs to be found.

Elsa was so proud of her bucket full of eggs.

The rain stopped just long enough for our hunt.

Birthday Roses

2011-04-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

This beautiful rose was from the April Birthday Dinner at the Redwoods.

I love the way the color darkens on the edges of each petal.

I had fun painting this bloom in my journal this morning.

Spring is here at The Redwoods and a Birthday Dinner

2011-04-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I walk on The Redwoods Campus, there are plants and trees bursting in bloom.

We have so many beautiful trees, here is a Dogwood.

I think this might be a cherry, heavy with blooms.

I went into our Organic Garden to take a few photos of what is happening there.

These poppies are huge!

A close up of a Bradbury Apple blossom ... we have an orchard in our Garden

Tulips in their full blooms.

APRIL BIRTHDAY DINNER CELEBRATION

Each month The Redwoods hosts a birthday dinner for the residents.

If you are a birthday person, you are a guest at the event.

The Redwoods volunteers prepare a beautiful table and serve the guests.

I invited my daughter, Kate, to join me in the festivities.

Here is my place card and the menu for the evening.

We were served a delicious gourmet meal. by volunteers.

They hovered over us to made us feel special.

"Would you like some more wine or champagne?"

There was also entertainment provided pro bono by even more volunteers.

Each birthday guest received a beautiful rose. Here is mine.

I might have to paint this one!

A New Online Watercolor Journal Class

2011-04-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

I started a new online class taught by Laure Ferlita this week.

It is titled, "An Imaginary Trip to the Garden".

Taking a class like this helps me keep on painting.

It is easy to get distracted with little things like MOVES!

I have not done many pages in the last month.

My days seem to have been filled with getting settled and trying out new things.

I started a new Journal with this class....it is fun to have a brand new book.

WJG Paint Out in Fairfax

2011-04-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

We lucked out with a beautiful day to do a page in our journals.

Jillian arranged the morning and even brought a set up for tea.

This building is very interesting with all its angles and roof lines.

I simplified it a bit ... they call this "artistic license".

Several of us went for lunch after our paint out.

We ate in a funky Fairfax eatery called "Fairfix".

It was good to visit and catch up with my art buddy friends.

All in all, it was a delightful morning .... Spring is really here at LAST!

My "Senior Prom" Dance Partner

2011-04-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to find this photo in my mail box at The Redwoods this week.

The photographer, Suki Hill, who took photos for this event

was kind enough to share this photo with me.

Kayne and I really enjoyed our time together during the Prom.

He was so poised and mature for a Sophomore in High School.

Kayne and his family moved to Mill Valley from New York City last year.

We had a very interesting talk about the difference between living in a cosmopolitan city

like New York and living in the small town of Mill Valley.

I really love the way the Leadership Class from Tam High socialized and danced with the older set. They are a wonderful group of kids.

It is encouraging to know there are great kids out there

that are volunteering their time to serve others.

The Redwoods Report 5

2011-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thursday Morning at The Redwoods

It really gets busy around here on Thursdays and every other day, too!

After my morning walk, I stopped by to watch the Line Dancers.

This is the Intermediate Group practicing for a show they will be putting on soon.

There is also a Beginners' Group and a Walkers'Group.

Then I showed up at Sarah Oliver's Knitting Group, "The Purlettes".

You can read about this wonderful business venture on her web site,

saraholiverhandbags.com

The Purlettes crank out several bags each from Thursday to Thursday.

I was able to do just one. Here it is in all its glory!

Daphne is working on a Bridal Clutch Bag, the finished product is in front of her.

Sarah receives the knitted bags each week, she pays the knitters for their work.

The bags are then felted and made into beautiful creations.

Gumps is one of her retailers.

Be sure to check her web site to see some of her gorgeous bags.

saraholiverhandbags.com

After checking in with knitters,

I drove up to the Earthquake Store to fill my Grab and Go bag with the suggested emergency supplies.

I got back just in time for the Garden Cart to show up ..... so many goodies this week.

I loaded up on lettuce, kale and radishes.

Just in time to make myself a delicious salad straight from our own organic garden.

Whew, it is almost time for a NAP!

Jerusalem Marketplace - 29 C.E. - Westminster Pres. Church

2011-04-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

We turned the clock backwards at Westminster Presbyterian Church to give our children the experience of a Jerusalem Marketplace during the 1st Century C.E.

I was asked to be a Potter and help about 40 children, ages 3 to 13, to create something out of clay.

I made several simple things might have been used in years past.

We also had actual artifacts from that era that they could see to get ideas.

Every one was offered a costume to get into the swing of things.

I even wore mine to the church service before the Marketplace.

The older children showed up first and made some wonderful pinch pots and spice jars.

We did not have too much time for our creations so I had each potter work on a plate.

They could take their clay home and finish their pots and jars.

Some of the girls really got into it and stayed the entire time of the marketplace.

You can see the lunch tables in the background.

We had Middle Eastern food served. It was delicious!

One of our younger potters showed up towards the end of the market.

I was able to give her lots of help as she learned how to create a simple pinch pot.

Sailing on SF Bay

2011-04-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I was treated to 3 hours on SF Bay, our host was Len,

who offered this as an outing to our Church members.

I was fortunate enough to get my name in early.

This trip had been postponed 2 Saturdays due to stormy weather.

Today was great.

We sailed on a 43 ft. Jeanneau sailboat

Len took us out under the Golden Gate bridge.

It is always fun to do that and to see the bridge up close and personal.

You can hear the traffic above.

The bridge was built the year I was born and it is still going strong.

They paint it constantly staying ahead of the rust and salt water air damage.

Here I am in my Tilly Hat enjoying our sail.

It wasn't too windy and the surface was pretty calm.

I loved being able to see my familiar surroundings from the water.

There was a spinnaker race going on today... the colorful sails are so pretty.

Captain Len at the helm.

He was a great and gracious host.

We all had a really good time.

The Redwoods' Report 5

2011-03-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Redwoods has a wonderful organic garden that provides opportunities

for the residents to get their hands into the dirt.

It is built with raised beds so it is easy to reach the plants and to work in the soil.

We have a garden activities co-ordinator, Fred.

He assists the residents with the garden... many of the seniors are excellent gardeners.

GARDEN CART

Even if you do not step a foot into the garden, you can benefit from the bounty produced each week.

On Thursdays at noon, the garden cart gets brought into the library.

The "harvesters" gather the week's harvest and put the food into baskets.

Then the food is shared with the Redwoods' Residents.

Today, I enjoyed a salad made with fresh greens and some Miner's Lettuce.

Here is Fred and 3 Harvesters behind the cart laden with fresh produce.

The Redwoods' Report 4

2011-03-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

Each Friday afternoon, The Redwoods' has a Wine Coffee Social.

People gather around tables and enjoy an hour of visiting and socializing.

Right after this event, the Seniors for Peace go out on the corner of Miller and Camino Alto with their signs, guitars and placards and demonstrate for peace.

Cars that pass by give them a thumbs up or honk and wave.

This has been going on for years.

The average age of the residents here is 87

so it is very heart warming to see these Seniors stand up for Peace.

Perhaps a little wine before fortifies them for their demonstrations?

Wine and Coffee Social

A volunteer serves cookies and goodies.

Today, I was planning an afternoon walk and once again, it RAINED.

I am getting little weary of the constant rain since I have moved in.

I felt closed in when I sat and read this afternoon

as my chair was in the windowless corner.

So instead of walking, I moved furniture.

I really like my new arrangement better.

This small barrel chair swivels so I can spin around and look out my window.

I am very much an outdoor person,

It is very important for me to be able to see out side.

Now my Stressless Leather chair is in the living room.

It has an ottoman and reclines, just right for TV watching in the evening.

Stay posted, furniture may be traveling again.

Those who know me, know that I like change.

I plan to keep on tweaking until I get it "right" whatever that is!

The Redwoods' Report 3

2011-03-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Friday Free Food

Each Friday morning, volunteers drive over to Whole Foods to pick up

their donations for The Redwoods.

Residents line up in order, first come first serve.

They stand and chat until the carts are rolled in... then it is like the locusts descending upon the fields. You have to be fast to get what you want.

Joseph, my downstairs neighbor, is one of the volunteers that fetch the food for us.

Here he is bringing in a load of Acme and other wonderful breads.

I was able to snag a loaf of Acme Walnut Wheat bread, and an assortment of veggies.

I feel a soup coming on.... peppers, asparagus and cauliflower.... YUM.

More Tweaks to My Nest

My Greenbrae neighbor, Gregg, came over to help me hang this mirror.

It really helps my narrow bedroom look more spacious.

He also put together this table that I ordered from Amazon.

It looks great in space and will do triple duty as a dining table, desk and art center.

When you live in a small space,

each piece of furniture needs to be able to do more than one thing, if at all possible.