End of Summer Progress

A video of the progress I've made this summer on the garage conversion.  There's much left to do, such as waterproofing the CMU and capping the block walls, but the felling of the Redwoods on the adjacent lot forced a new fence and plantings which soaked up  a lot of my available time and resources.  Nevertheless, I accomplished my goal for the year of providing a waterproof cover for various items, preserving the garage structure and providing access to the backyard.

Duck Army

A Little Visitor

DARK-EYED JUNCO

I saw a Junco in the Photinia near the feeder the other day, and I thought of Stephanie Christy.  Surprisingly,  it flew over to me and landed at my feet, pausing long enough to make eye contact with its little black eye.  Juncos are fairly friendly, but to have one so engaging was a thrill. I haven't seen many in my yard this summer, so I enjoyed the how-do-you-do!

Trumpeters

TRUMPETERS

There was a time when Good King Wenceslas was trumpeted into my ear as I was cooking dinner. I'd send the loud and annoying boy into his room to practice so I could concentrate on what I was doing, but ten or twenty minutes later--when I was in the middle of everything--the Good King was blaring in my ear again.

How much emptier my life would have been during those lonely, insecure, and painful days without my young trumpeter.

Grandpa

Funny thing about grandpa was that he would rarely look at the camera.

Grandma either.

A rare photo when they both did.

I remember how much I loved my grandparents as a child, and I have longed for the day when I, too, could naturally bestow unconditional love on a grandchild of my own.

Some Solace

My brother observed that he saw some of me in precious Ella. I found this photo of us in our backyard in Phoenix in 1951, and I can see it too!

ELLA RAE

ELLA RAE

O God! Rear this little babe in the bosom of Thy love, and give it milk from the breast of Thy providence. Cultivate this fresh plant in the rose garden of Thy love and aid it to grow through the showers of Thy bounty. Make it a child of the kingdom, and lead it to Thy heavenly realm. Thou art powerful and kind, and Thou art the Bestower, the Generous, the Lord of surpassing bounty

---‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Aurora Borealis from the ISS

The Meaning of "The Wolf and The Lamb.."

"(C)onsider the welding power of His Word. Observe, how those in whose midst the Satan of self had for years sown the seeds of malice and hate became so fused and blended through their allegiance to this wondrous and transcendent Revelation that it seemed as if they had sprung from the same loins. Such is the binding force of the Word of God, which uniteth the hearts of them that have renounced all else but Him, who have believed in His signs, and quaffed from the Hand of glory the Kawthar of God’s holy grace. Furthermore, how numerous are those peoples of divers beliefs, of conflicting creeds, and opposing temperaments, who, through the reviving fragrance of the Divine springtime, breathing from the Riḍván of God, have been arrayed with the new robe of divine Unity, and have drunk from the cup of His singleness!"

"This is the significance of the well-known words: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together.” Behold the ignorance and folly of those who, like the nations of old, are still expecting to witness the time when these beasts will feed together in one pasture! Such is their low estate. Methinks, never have their lips touched the cup of understanding, neither have their feet trodden the path of justice. Besides, of what profit would it be to the world were such a thing to take place? How well hath He spoken concerning them: “Hearts have they, with which they understand not, and eyes have they with which they see not!” --Baha'u'llah

North Shore Ohana Casting Club

New Project

THE MANSION AT BAHJI


This little 5x7 oil painting is my first study in a fundraising project.

Concerning Shoghi Effendi's sentiment that Art must inspire: Personal satisfaction is not enough. I've chosen to paint  the Mansion of Bahji, a symbol of the ultimate triumph of the Cause of Baha'u'llah. For that, I hope to inspire.

Vincent's Cypresses

GREEN WHEAT FIELD WITH CYPRESS

CYPRESSES WITH TWO FIGURES

ROAD WITH CYPRESSES AND STAR

CYPRESSES

WHEAT FIELD WITH CYPRESSES

Sam Ewing Voiceover

Sam Ewing, formerly of KNTV and Gill Cable, doing a voice over for an event in 1986.

My boxing career was brief.  Here's a picture* taken a nanosecond before my official retirement .

*Thanks for the photoshop, Reidar.

Big Boy

This 1999 Crown Victoria is the most comfortable car I've ever driven.  On a road trip to California, it was as if I was driving a sofa.



The picture was taken above the Camas Prairie in Idaho.

Vicinity Map

Rocky Fire

Some pictures from the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California.

Bow Ties

Years ago I was invited to a party where all the men had to wear bow ties.  I made this one and wore it..

Palace of Fine Arts

PALACE OF FINE ARTS


A rough sketch.

More Tug

Forest Fire Operation in Northern California

CH-47 Chinook deployed in the battle of Rocky fire in Lake county, California.