Coit Tower Part Two - Interior Views; So Beautiful!

Executed under the Public Works of Art Project a Federal New Deal employment project,

the Coit Tower Murals have always been a little controversial

because of the "Leftist" associations claimed both by the artists who made them,

and the Lefty tendencies assigned to them by others.

The quality of the work is uneven, some of it executed by people who were students at the time.

But, I found these last two paintings to be exceedingly beautiful in the colorations and their simplicity.

What do you think?

Coit Tower Part One - The Exterior Views

Dave Eggers, a temporary San Franciscan in his book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, 

describes the natural elements of San Francisco as almost "sexual".

 So exuberant to the point of ferociousness, and rugged, framing the nacreous peaceful

people-scape of the city, with its mostly low-rise silhouette on a hilly horizon.

The greenery doesn't always seem to be a product of the earth, but rather, something

left behind by the wind, or the sea.......the limbs seem always outstretched and a little tortured.....as if crying to be taken back along for the journey.  Out across the great not-so-Pacific-maybe Ocean.  To escape.  To adventure.  To oblivion.  To discovery?

Coit Tower is a perfect place to witness all of this from, and to see San Francisco as a

cosmic and elemental celebration of all of our small blue planet's comings and goings.

Cue the Music - Topps Diner in San Francisco

The local Diner:  A Great American Tradition.

I met my hubby in one.

Have I mentioned that?  

Mmmm Mmmmm Good!  (No regrets here!) 

Can you hear Chuck Berry playing in the background?


(HAPPY WEEKEND!!!)

Metanzas Creek Winery

Another day, another winery........

These pics are from our trip up to Northern California

at the end of May.

Too bad we were just about a week too early for the lavender.

Fields of lavender in full bloom?

Still on my list of "Thousand Things to Do Before I Die (!)".  What's on your list?

Summer's Progress

How was your weekend everybody?

Ours?????  Same old, same old.  Sometimes I like it that way.

Americana Too - Via Posie Gets Cozy

From a wonderful blog that I used to have on my blogroll and then drifted away from.

Posie Gets Cozy (click it to see!)

I have to admit, I'm not really a flag-waving type.  I prefer to see America represented

by peaceful, colorful, creative images like this.

That celebrate our diversity.

And what we enjoy in common.

And remind us that we once used to represent refuge.  It's more true for some than for others now, I'm afraid.

Hope you all are able to find a little of all this where you are this summer weekend.

Americana, Maybe?

A little more of what America looks like

on the day that it celebrates

LIFE

LIBERTY

 AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?

At least, what it looked like on the California Coast.  Between Cayucas and Morro Bay.

En Toute Simplicite

It came so quickly again didn't it?  The weekend I mean.

I hope you get to enjoy it in toute simplicite.  Cause that's what summer should be all about.  XO!

Scenes from a Weekend - Fourth of July 2013

How was yours?

Mine was short but sweet.

It started in the wine country around Paso Robles.

But we decided we wanted more fresh air and less wine.

So we headed to the coast and to "Harmony".  Yes.  It's really a place.  With about 15 inhabitants.

And a lovely hike.

Further south, Cayucos and Morro Bay were full of revelers in RED-WHITE-BLUE regalia.  But I found somebodies who were reveling in nature.

In Santa Barabara it was all about crowds for the fireworks but you might not know it from this picture.

It's a colorful town.  I recommend it.  (More on this soon.)

Bicyclers were out.  En masse.

You will have to take my word for it that the pinkish burst at the back of the picture is fireworks.  And you'll also have to take it from me that you HAVE NOT LIVED until you've experienced FREEWAY FIREWORKS.  Whether you've come down the coast from Mussel Shoals to Camarillo as the road winds along the coast and the starbursts are in your headlights or exploding out across the water .....  or if you're on the Santa Monica Freeway and seeing them shooting off of rooftops and out between the palm trees.  Right in the middle of  L.A.  

Fourth of July in California is FUN.  Wish you could be here.