Saturday, January 4, 2020

Designing a Path



My study of landscape architecture introduced me to the challenge of planning the built environment in a way that harmonizes human activity with artistry. The practical side of the curriculum included learning the design process, plant materials, surveying, irrigation and graphic presentation.  The artistry came from within.





The brother of Andrea Zivari Giannoglou achieved the distinction of serving as a designer at the Baha'i World Center.







Thursday, December 26, 2019

The UHJ is One Such Institution






“One of the signs of the breakdown of society in all parts of the world is the erosion of trust and collaboration between the individual and the institutions of governance. In many nations, the electoral process has become discredited because of endemic corruption. Contributing to the widening distrust of so vital a process is the influence on the outcome from vested interests having access to lavish funds, the restrictions on freedom of choice inherent in the party system, and the distortion in public perception of the candidates by the bias expressed in the media. Apathy, alienation, and disillusionment are a consequence, too, as is a growing sense of despair of the unlikelihood that the most capable citizens will emerge to deal with the manifold problems of a defective social order. Evident everywhere is a yearning for institutions that will dispense justice, dispel oppression, and foster an enduring unity between the disparate elements of society.”

The Universal House of Justice
Haifa, Israel


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Monday, December 23, 2019

Endurance




ENDURANCE








Saturday, December 21, 2019

Friday, December 13, 2019

Women's Column of Strength











WOMEN'S COLUMN OF STRENGTH 
ST. MARY'S SQUARE, 
SAN FRANCISCO

Image: Ronaldo Farelli






Sunday, December 8, 2019

Romolo Place




ROMOLO PLACE, SAN FRANCISCO  -Roger Rubin







Friday, December 6, 2019

Thursday, December 5, 2019

'Abdu'l-Baha's last day in America












JULIET THOMPSON’S words on the departure of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá aboard the S.S. Celtic:

“... I stood on the pier with May Maxwell, tears blurring my sight. Through them I could see the Master in the midst of the group of Persians waving a patient hand to us. It waved and waved, that beautiful patient hand, till the Figure was lost to sight.
…Because of those blurring tears I could not see the look on His face, the look of profound agony, as though He were on the cross, as He bade His immature children farewell, foreseeing for us so many sorrows, so many failures, and a world gone to pieces because of our failures.
This look I have seen ever since in a photograph taken at that last moment.”

—The Diary of Juliet Thompson, 393-395
The photograph was published on page 394 of Thompson’s diary.





Monday, December 2, 2019

Ocean Beach





Ocean Beach, San Francisco




Salvatore Incontro





Unknown








Saturday, November 30, 2019

Searching for Laylí


From "The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys" by Baha'u'llah





'It is related that one day they came upon Majnún sifting the dust, and his tears flowing down. They said, “What doest thou?” He said, “I seek for Laylí.” They cried, “Alas for thee! Laylí is of pure spirit, and thou seekest her in the dust!” 

He said, “I seek her everywhere; haply somewhere I shall find her.”

Yea, although to the wise it be shameful to seek the Lord of Lords in the dust, yet this betokeneth intense ardor in searching. “Whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it.”' 

 Link





Friday, November 29, 2019

Monday, November 25, 2019

1950 Ford Business Coupe




1950 Ford Business Coupe


























Sunday, November 17, 2019

Franklin at Foushee Street




FRANKLIN AT FOUSHEE STREET
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA






Friday, November 15, 2019

Baha'i's of Bolivia Now as Then






Baha'is of Bolivia, 1970


     There are Bolivians who are keenly aware of the needs of the age in which they live and they're advancing civilization by proclaiming the reality of the unity of God, of religion, and of mankind.   

    These people consider themselves citizens of the world first and foremost, while at the same time endeavor to live up to their duty to be obedient to their government, for "Unity, order, and cooperation are the basis for sound and lasting change". *


*From a letter to an individual from the Universal House of Justice  27 Apr 2017






Monday, November 11, 2019

Punch: Arvid Häusser







PUNCH

Hand-operated coffee mill

by

Arvid Häusser





Sunday, November 10, 2019

Khumbu Ice Fall Timelapse




TIMELAPSE





NAVIGATING THE ICEFALL










Thursday, November 7, 2019



The Maple is spectacular this year.












Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Screen the Neighbors



Built a trellis for the Wisteria that will screen the new building next door in a year or two.






Thursday, October 31, 2019

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Vine Maple



Showy Vine Maple this year.


















Friday, October 18, 2019

The Gravesite of Thornton Chase








'Abdu'l-Baha learned of the death of Thornton Chase, the first American Baha'i, when he arrived in San Francisco by ferry from Oakland in the early morning of October 3, 1912. On Friday, October 18, He left San Francisco by train for Los Angeles, and then by tram to Inglewood Cemetery where Sabet (Steadfast), as ‘Abdu’l-Baha named him, had been interred.




Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Joe at 72







"Nature has a way of balancing things: The less hair you have to comb, the more face you have to wash." --Sam Ewing




Monday, October 7, 2019

Door-Michel Kotski



Door:  San Francisco Marina District, by Michel Kotski









Sunday, October 6, 2019

Trained Pear





After 18 years the driveway reached fruition. The trained pear turned out to be a perfect fit. It has three different varieties grafted horizontally (shows in leaf color). Unfortunately, only two blossoms were pollinated, but those Bartletts were tasty!














Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Weather Report







There was a major weather front moving toward the California Central Coast in January, 1982, and it eventually caused major flood damage and loss of life in the Santa Cruz area.

On the evening of its approach, I was busy washing dishes at home, so I asked my 8 y.o. son Jeff to check the weather report on the TV. After a few minutes, he came into the kitchen and gave this report:


"There's a big storm heading our way. Details at 11!"








Friday, September 20, 2019

Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha unveiled



BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The Universal House of Justice has today released the highly-anticipated design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to all National Spiritual Assemblies. LINK

















LOCATION









Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Вика у меня во дворе



Вика у меня во дворе.