Remembering Tash

Here is looking at you, kid.

On Sunday May 10th, 2015, Natasha passed away after years of battling cancer. She was her same happy self until her very last day. 

Traveling and visiting national parks was one of her real joys in life. Being able to explore the world was like nothing else she could experience.

Natasha also sang every week with the Zhena folk chorus at multiple areas in Los Angeles. Her chorus' songs can be found on iTunes, and still within our hearts. 

Her son Ian is continuing his Bachelor's degree in physics and will continue with research as a career in sub-atomic physics. As a loving mother, she was the best friend I could have asked for.

Even selfies existed in Natasha's high school years in the 70s.

Her family at home misses her dearly. Thank you all for being such a wonderful community and helping Natasha's life full of joy with her love of photography.

Don't Mess with a Goose ... (Prescott, AZ)

"Back off!" at Lynx Lake, Prescott, AZ



"Still got my eye on you" at Lynx Lake, Prescott, AZ



Ocotillo at Joshua Tree National Park (SkyWatch Friday)

Dessert blooms, Joshua Tree NP, 4 April 2014

Monday's Mural: At parking lot's edge, La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles

Parking lot at La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles (Dec. 2013)

Unexpected views in the parking lot: a gorgeous mural on the wall of the garden storage building (did not find the artists' names anywhere), a parking lot that needs mowing...

IN and OUT of focus at the Grand Canyon, Arizona

IN focus, from Lookout Studio balcony (21 Feb 14)

OUT of focus, from Lookout Studio balcony (21 Feb 14)

On the recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I discovered a wonderful pioneer architect of the Southwest, Mary Colter who designed the Lookout Studio and 4 other interesting buildings/structures on the South Rim of the canyon.

Reflecting upon THE Canyon

The Grand Canyon, AZ (21 Feb 2014)

Morning Greeter

"Top of the morning to you!"

GUESS

At the open area of Del Amo mall, nearby. The lights were quite festive.

I was told photography was not allowed. Anybody's GUESS as to why.

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO

THE Arch (implied), St. Louis, MO  (25 Jan 2014)

... when in St. Louis, the Gateway Arch is a MUST see. I loved going to the top. 

This was the second time I visited; I am always delighted by its beauty, and 

astounded by engineering feat that the monument is.

Looking East

Looking West

Reflecting on winter... (SkyWatch Friday)

Sunset reflection in a hotel door, St. Louis, MO (26 Jan 2014)

Hotel in St. Louis, MO

<=  the hotel that provided the door.

Art Opening Night

Cheers! from Descanso Gardens  (12 Jan 2014)

...a hat that deserves a 2nd look...

"Portraits of the Garden" art exhibit is going on at Sturt Haaga Gallery at Descanso Gardens until March 30th.

The "Cash Only" guy...

Tending bar at Descanso Gardens art exhibit opening  (12 Jan 2014)

Pretty drink, bubbly, Cash Only

... see what I mean ...

Looking at art... and Eve Pericich with "Many Hues in the Garden" collage



"Looking" at Descanso Gardens, Sturt Haaga Gallery (12 Jan 2014)

  

 Click here for the "Portraits of the Garden" Brochure

Eve Pericich with her garden collage, 12 Jan 2014

My friend Eve Pericich's lovely and interesting collage was selected to be part of the "Portraits of the Garden" exhibit at Descanso Gardens. This snapshot is from the opening on Jan. 12th. The show runs until March 30th.

"Aegean Prototype VI (Canopic Hopes)" by Madeleine Peck Wagner (... for the Year of the Horse, of course)

Madeleine Peck Wagner: "Aegean Prototype VI (Canopic Hopes)"
Wood, Acrylic, and Found Objects
At the airport, Jacksonville, Florida (3 Dec 2009)

Finding TRUTH in Palos Verdes

TRUTH, Rolling Hills Est.

Looking down from Peninsula Center Library rooftop parking lot... Here is what the camera took:

"It never rains in California" ...



Powell & Hyde St. Cable Car Station, San Fransico (7 February 2014)

Today, we are getting some much needed rain in LA area. The photo is from a recent, very rainy weekend in San Francisco.

Mural Monday: A Horse (of course) --- detail from Piazzoni's "The Land" mural at de Young in San Francisco

Gottardo F.P. Piazzoni (1872-1945)
The Land, 1932 (oil on canvas)

The Land is one of two panoramic five-panel mural suites (the other is The Sea) "created for a loggia at the top of the grand staircase in the main building of San Francisco's Public Library, The paintings, which were intergrated into the architecture of the Beaux-Arts building, were intended to suggest vistas seen through the columns of a terrace." These now reside in the Piazzoni mural room at the de Young fine art museum in San Francisco. The room is lovely and the museum hosts various events in this space.

The Land, 1932
Gottardo F. P. Piazzoni (1872-1945)

 

Fountain at Mission San Miguel (off of Hwy 101)

I headed up north for a couple of days, 2 weekends ago, to spend the wettest weekend since 2012 in San Francisco. Saw some nice sites along the way...

California Winter

I ♥ you

Happy Valentine's Day from a bakery in Monterey, CA.

What remains...

... is inspiration.
(Inside the burned out building from previous post.)

What remains ...

Giorgio's restaurant on Silver Spur had a kitchen fire a couple of years ago. The building now stands empty and is ready for renovation (hopefully soon). The 2nd floor had extensive fire damage too and is mostly gutted now... but some things were left behind... 

P.S. Georgio's reopened late last year at a nearby new location on Deep Valley Drive.

恭禧发财 -- Happy Year of the Horse -- Mural detail by Elizabeth Garrison & Victor Henderson

Wishing you a Happy Year of the Horse with this outstanding artwork by our own Elizabeth Garrison and Victor Henderson. 
The mural was installed last year at Lake Los Angeles Community Gymnasium. 
Lake Los Angeles is a community in Antelope Valley near Lancester, CA.

Theme Day: Entry --- Welcome to Lake Los Angeles Community Gymnasium

Original tile by the artist Elizabeth Garrison -- a friendly greeter to all at the entry to the Community Gymnasium at Lake Los Angeles

DOS ... SkyWatch Friday

Springtime in the winter.

Outside the Red Onion restaurant, Rolling Hills Est. (Jan 2014)



Fancy Footware --- Zhena Folk Chorus at the Exxopolis in Los Angeles

Can you spot my feet?
Find more info about Zhena Folk Chorus at zhena.org

Zhena Folk Chorus --- Exxopolis, Los Angeles, 15 September 2013



Ines Thomé: Classical Guitarist at Palos Verdes Library

Ines Thomé, guitar (11 January 2014)

Ines Thome gave an outstanding performance last Saturday at the PV Peninsula Center Library.

"Ines has studied classical guitar since childhood in Germany. In 2013 she completed her masterr's degree with distinction at the Stuttgart State University of Music and the Performing Arts. She is currently a Graduate Certificate Program scholar with the University of Southern California. Since 2011, she has kept a busy performance schedule. In addition to being an accomplished classical guitarist, Ines is a lead electric guitarist with an all-women metal band which has released two albums." (inesthome.de)

Ines Thomé, guitar and YuEun Kim, violin (11 January 2014)

Ines was joined by YuEun Kim for the last piece.

The Classical Music Series brings "great music into the library" with a monthly concert through June, is organized by the dedicated young librarian Ashley Kagan, and is sponsored by the Peninsula Friends of the Library.

2 CELLOS & 1 Drummer

What I've been doing instead of blogging... concert going.

The superb and comical Stjepan Hauser (cello), the very talented and sweet Dušan Kranjc (drums), and the handsome and outstanding Luka Sulić (cello) at Nokia Club, Los Angeles, 7 Oct. 2013.

Srećan Pravoslavni Božić --- Merry Orthodox Christmas

Morning sky from our upstairs window (12 Nov 2013)

Preping for an afternoon tea...

... maybe even with crumpets.

My table setting with pastel by Bernard Fallon in the background.