Inspiration From The Street

I am heading off to bed, high on inspiration! I spent the day free-wheeling around SanFran with the boys...art class on the cheap. We had a public art day and it was fabulous!!!! I saw an Andy Goldsworthy piece (several more to get to in town if I am motivated enough), visited the incredible 16th Avenue mosaic stairs and then walked up and down the Balmy Alley murals with my boys. Incredible. I also painted three little pieces that I am really happy with, something I haven't done in a long time.















Today felt very good. So much beauty and creative energy in the world. Must be part of it and appreciate it!















One of the big lessons I am taking away from today is that I can go to a city with my kids. NYC is calling. Time to go attack my wistful Pinterest board of New York sights as soon as I get home.



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The Myth Of No-Season

Recently, I heard a Californian lady lamenting a recent usage of the age old line, all of us trot out to avoid her state: "Oh man, I don't think I could ever live here. I'd miss the seasons."






I'm not saying the seasons are exactly the same as New England....and I would still miss snow at Christmas but I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by all the little autumnal bits around me.





I am sure it drives Californians insane to hear me say it but I honestly didn't know if there would be pumpkins to pick and carve (duh!!! Pumpkins like hot weather like the other vine crops.), cider to drink (turns out apples grow beautifully in California) or anything festively fallish to see.






I have to set minds at ease and stories straight and tell you that there is real autumn in California. There are trees turning bright gold and lipstick red (several species of maple and many others) and lots of streets where an aisle of sycamore has dropped crackling piles of brown leaves to kick through. Yes, there are also fresh strawberries at the farm stand down the road and I won't pretend that my mind isn't a little bewildered by this time-warpy effect but...autumn is unmistakably here too.












Every morning when I get up and hustle into my robe I wish I had brought some pajamas that had long sleeves. A goes out running and invariably reports back at breakfast that the morning chill is in the 30's and the 40's. The other night walking with the cousin children along the trick-or-treating route we were all shivering along, breathing steamy clouds into the air, talking fondly about the hot cider at home when I noticed it was fall here too. I didn't go away and miss anything seasonally.






So, this is just me....setting the record straight, letting you know....there are seasons in California after all.


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The Crab Night Boogie

A little retro boogie on the radio tonight as we head up the peninsula to check out 99 Ranch, a Chinese grocery wonderland. San Francisco is an Asian culture paradise, so amazing little groceries like this are peppered around us. This my first foray.







The boys and I are playing a new game we invented: Guess That Instrument. Reeds are the hardest ones for them to pinpoint, clarinet bleeds into sax and even oboe can be tricky to single out in the reedy tangle.

We are having steamed crabs and Chinese lacquered duck for dinner, melted butter, California lemons and on the side steamed asparagus. Might have to dig some boogie woogie up on Pandora to listen to while we crack crab.






Speaking of which....I don't think we have cracking implements. Oops.


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