Category Archives: Short stories

Sep15

Sante Fe, New Mexico

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After a long train ride from Oceanside train station, to Sante Fe, New Mexico we are now here!  I can’t tell you how much fun it was talking to new people, and getting to know some very interesting characters!    This time the people were all over the map in terms of background,  looks, etc.  From a railroad man to drifter, Sante Fe great-grandmother artist, to strange hippy couple.    I was in seventh heaven, I love new people! I hope and pray I can remember the faces so I can sketch them.

Sante Fe weather is fabulous! While everyone at home in California is sizzling from heat, it is mild – warm with a little breeze, and jam-packed with creative energy. The clouds are unbelievable….they actually look like they are out of one of Cathy Carey’s  paintings!  OMGosh, I’m so excited to be here, & today starts the first day of our week-long workshop.

Last night all of the artists, and a couple of husbands, had a little cocktail party so we could get to know each other.  I must say there only four of us taking this class, and that makes for a really great week.  Everyone was so nice, and from such diverse art backgrounds.   I wish all of you could be here to experience this incredible place with us!

It’s 8am and we are heading out for a little breakfast before the 9am workshop starts.  Have a fabulous day, I know I will!

I love that you have stopped to read my blog, thank you.  I hope you enjoy….

Sep12

Riding the Southwest Chief!

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Where are you going now?

Tomorrow, Les and I are boarding the train for Sante Fe, New Mexico. This will be my second trip to SF on the train, and Les’ first train trip ever. I’m excited to once again travel by train, but Les doesn’t know what to expect.
As a child my family use to travel back to Michigan each year by train. Mother, and all of us kids would pack up, dad would drive us to the station, and off we’d go. It was one of my favorite childhood memories!  Then at the end of three weeks, my dad would fly out, get a new Chevrolet (he was a General Motors man), and we’d have a three-week road trip back home.  We had some amazing vacations from the Mid-West to California with lots of interesting stops along the way.  Again one of my favorite childhood memories!

Name that train?

This time we board the Southwest Chief for Sante Fe, & stop at a few places on the way…  Since we travel all night to arrive at Ramy, a little whistle stop twenty minutes out of SF, Albuquerque is the first  stop I remember making.

Riding the Chief…

Why do you like the train?

Of course I have great childhood memories, but I also love the train because there are things to see that you certainly couldn’t see by plane, or driving.  The people are great, and from all walks of life, I love that part.  So for me it’s an experience I just can’t pass up!

I know, but why are you going?

My friend Cathy Carey is holding a week-long painting workshop.  Cathy is a wonderful Modern Impressionist artist, who I have admired for many years.  I’ve taken her classes before, but this is a special workshop.  One that is being held in beautiful Sante Fe, an artsy town that every artist would love to spend time in.  Me included!  Since it’s easier to travel with acrylics, that is the medium I’m using for this workshop.

It will be interesting to see what this trip holds for both of us, and you can bet I’ll be letting everyone know how much fun we have.

Thank you for stopping to read my post, I hope you’ll be back to hear more about my Artsie Fartsie trip!

 

Sep11

Thursdays Time out for Art

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Barbara's Morning Glories 6" X 4" Deep Canvas

Barbara’s Morning Glories
6″ X 4″ Deep Canvas

This is an interesting technique…..I covered a canvas with masa paper that had been put in water, and rung out.  It’s a bit delicate when it gets wet, so care needs to be taken while doing this process.  I put gel medium down first,  then placed the damp masa paper on the canvas.  I will never be smooth, and you want it to be crinkly.  After it dries, I trimmed the sides, roughly sketched my subject lightly in pencil, and painted it in watercolors.  These Morning Glories were in my friends backyard, and so beautiful I couldn’t help but paint them.

I learned this technique from my friend, and teacher Helen Shafer-Garcia, check her out she is a fabulous watercolorist.

Thursdays Time out for Art is inspired, and hosted by Zebra Designs, and Destinations…

Sep9

Dusty’s Digs!

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Labor Day we took a drive out to visit Dusty. It seems Dusty had a reprieve, and is now allowed to (with supervision) hip pity hop around the yard. He is a happy bunny because his yard is huge, and still he feels safe.

Dusty's Digs

Dusty’s Digs

Dusty’s new digs are now under the playhouse, so it’s quite large, and he has plenty of space to roam even when he is in his own yard!

Dusty is doing well, he is growing big and strong, his ears are also growing BIG and strong.  I find it amazing that a bunny can have ears the length of their bodies.  Can you even imagine having ears the length of your body?  I have to say,  I’m infatuated with these large lagomorphs!

Now might be a good time to tell you that in spite of my attempts, Dusty was too fast for me to take his picture.  After being inclosed in his own yard  all day where it was shaded, and cooler, getting out was a treat for him.  He took off hip pity hoping all over the yard, and just when I thought I’d get a good shot of him……hip pity hop off he’d go, and I couldn’t get his picture.

Thanks for hip pity hoping by to see what’s going on with Dusty, come back soon.

Sep5

Leaving Russia for Tallin, Estonia

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After meeting in the lounge to recap our two days in St. Petersburg, we could hear the ships horn blast, and slowly we could feel the ship start moving.  It was finally time to travel to our next destination…..Tallin, Estonia.

Anu our tour guide in Tallinn, Estonia

Anu our tour guide in Tallinn, Estonia

We cruised all night, the Baltic Sea was like glass, and our ship didn’t show any signs of movement.  This was fortunate for all the light weights aboard.  Les and I left the sliding glass door to our balcony open all night, as I drank in all the fresh ocean air.  That made sleeping much more enjoyable, and relaxing.

Gun towers from long ago!

Gun towers from long ago!

Our guide was a bouncy blond Scandinavian woman of middle age with a big smile, and a personality to match.  She proudly guided us through the streets of Tallinn as she told us of Estonian struggles, and achievements.

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We started our tour by stopping at the fair grounds where every four years they have a music, and song festival.  This is where the people of Estonia gathered to sing, and gain courage to build their voices in numbers enabling them to win their independence  from Russian rule.  This only happened some twenty plus years ago, and since then they have been struggling to build back their infrastructure, and becoming the strong country they know they can be.

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They are a proud people who literally sang their way to independence!

Looking out from Old Town to the new Tallinn

Looking out from Old Town to the new Tallinn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the stops on our day long tour was the oldest Cathedral in Estonia.  It had survived the Nazis, and was still standing.  This cathedral dates back to the 1200’s, and is quite beautiful.

Oldest Cathedral in Tallinn

Oldest Cathedral in Tallinn

The walls were thick, and the church cool.  While we were there we were treated to a short midieval concert with lutes, and midieval song.  I felt like I had teleported back in time!

Coats of armor from the Aristocrats. The most prominent place in the church, was from the wealthiest family.

Coats of armor from the Aristocrats. The most prominent place in the church, was from the wealthiest family.

As we turned to leave, I was able to take a picture of the old organ pipes.

Organ pipes

Organ pipes

After a long day our tour was over, and we returned to our ship.  I loved the excitement and enthusiasm of the people of Tallinn.   They were happy people, and seemed to be loving life.  In contrast to what many of them had been through, life was now good!

 

Sep4

Thursdays Time out for Art

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Dennis Bergstrom

Dennis Bergstrom

 

A couple of years ago my son Dennis was contracted to play music for a large vacationing group on the Island of Tavarua.  This is a video taken of Dennis while he was having coffee in the main house one morning.  He lives, and breathes his guitar.  Although his first love would be the ocean, the beach, and surfing.

Tavarua in the morning…..

Dennis is also the owner of B.Entertained, and is locan to San Diego County.

Thursdays Time out for Art is hosted by Zebra Designs and Destinations.  Todays post features the art of music.