Animal Wednesday - Hide and Seek

I know you all (no matter where you live) will recognise some "Furry, Feathered and Scaled" Friends...

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Ballet, Sangria and Tapas

Last night, friends invited me to attend a perfomance of the Alonzo King Lines Ballet Company -
it's "National Dance Month" and I was thrilled to be in the audience. I have never seen this troupe before.....but I intend to remedy that. They are a small company - only eight dancers but such power and beauty. Their presence fills the stage. Lighting and choreography were fantastic. The night was divided into two acts: Act 1 featured the ensemble plus four members of SF Opera's Adler Centre (a training program for upcoming singers) - who not only sang the music, accompanied only with a piano, but also danced! (And danced well!) Their songs varied from Lieder by Strauss, Schubert and Brahms to the Faure "Requiem". Act 2 switched gears and consisted of one piece entitled "Rasa". It featured Moroccan music by Zakir Hussain. The dance itself was passionate, at times primitive, at times tender and graceful.

After the performance, my friends and I dined at a nearby Spanish restaurant, where we had Tapas and Sangria....and a little live Flamenco music. Ole!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Sunny Spring Sunday

Actually, I took this yesterday....also a sunny day, but with the fog drifting lazily around the Golden Gate Bridge. (You know the poem....about fog and "little cat's feet"....)

This morning, I am relaxing with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee and....reading blogs. How much fun is this for a "newcomer" ? A LOT! I am still reveling in the fact that there are so many wonderful, creative and caring people "out there"...

Later, I am meeting friends and going to the Ballet. I'll "review" it for you soon!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Earth Day - "Bouquets to Art"

My second "Home Away from Home" is the de Young Museum. (First "HAFH" is SF Opera.)

I was working there today, Earth Day - and in a very San Francisco way, we celebrated the day and Spring with the 25th annual "Bouquets to Art" Festival. One hundred sixty one artists created floral art that represented their individual "take" on an actual painting or sculpture that hangs in the de Young. The festival lasts for a week. (It's hard to keep "living art" blooming and fresh for much longer.) It draws over 70,000 patrons. Sorry I could not photograph all 161 pieces - but here are three of my favourites. I hope you enjoy them and also hope YOUR Earth Day was a lovely one.


♥ Robin ♥

This represents the museum "Tower" and stands over six feet tall.

Animal Wednesday

I had chosen to do another post for today's "Animal Wednesday" - a dog-related one, but decided to use this instead. A dear friend is going through a rather stressful time with her dog, so I opted for this...... because it's funny...and laughter is healthy and healing! It's another Operatic vignette....but it made me laugh! And....I hope you do too! Some of you may recognise the conclusion of "Turandot" reprising the aria made famous by Lucianno Pavarotti...this version, however, is really "special"!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

de Young Ducklings

Some of you know that I volunteer at San Francisco's de Young Museum on Sundays. Yesterday, a gorgeous and warm Spring day, as I rounded the fountain next to the employee entrance, I heard "peeping" - a lot of it. Imagine my surprise and joy when I discovered a "Mama Duck" and her 13 Ducklings! They are all fuzzy and full of energy as they begin to discover the world. At the other end of the fountain though, was a large Blue Heron - looking greedily at the babies. I was getting ready to take my shoes off and jump in to shoo him away - when he noticed me moving towards him and thankfully, flew off. (Trust me, I would have gone in the water to save these cuties!) The top photo isn't clear, but I was moving SLOWLY towards them...hoping not to alarm "Mama" too much and get a better picture. I hope you enjoy these.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Furry "Ferals":.....or.. My Boys

"Hurry, Hurry, "SHE" is here! Gotta get to MY Bowl First".

"OK - enough with that silly camera.....we want DINNER".

Although I am currently "petless"..... I do have six "ferals" that my neighbour and I have been feeding for over six years. They are all (save one) related....and we have managed to have them spayed and neutered. (That was a project in itself!) My neighbour, "A", feeds them 90% of the time as she has the studio which leads to the garden where they "hang out". However, when she goes on holiday, I am the "Keeper of the Kibble"....and boy, do they know it. It was just impossible to get all six in any of my shots - plus my battery was low.... but I snapped a few.....here goes....





"FOOD........NOW.......I MEAN IT".

Hope you enjoyed these...

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Listen to the Mockingbird

I know it really MUST be Spring (although it is still only in the 50's) because my wonderful Mockingbird has returned. He (or she) has been a Springtime resident on my street for about five years. He has quite a varied repertoire of songs - and it keeps growing! The only downside (and it is teeny), he loves to begin his daily "concerts" around 3:00 a.m.! (Usually right outside my bedroom window.) He makes me smile though - and his clear, bright voice enriches every day. Welcome Back!

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥

"Liebestod"

Last night, I went to see renown Soprano, Christine Brewer, sing, among other things, the beautiful "Liebestod" from "Tristan und Isolde". (My FAVOURITE Opera.) I actually had reservations about attending - because I knew it would be an emotional evening. But, compelled, I went... Many of you know that last year, I parted with the love of my life. We had been together for 16 years.... and I thought we would be forever.... one of the many things we shared was a love of Opera... particularly, THIS Opera. Last night, was the first time I heard it live since "C" was no longer in my life. I would be lying if I told you that I sat there, stoically, like an Ice-Maiden..... the tears began to slowly trickle at the very first notes.... but, as Ms. Brewer continued her impassioned aria, my mind wandered and I began to think of Renee, of KJ, of Lo, of Joss, of Annie, of Suki - so many having suffered some kind of "Love/Death"...(the actual meaning of "Liebestod")....and I suddenly felt uplifted - no longer sad. You accept your heartache, your loss, and you reach out to Life - to Friends, to Family...to Nature... Living is a GIFT - and we would all be foolish to toss it aside and continue to live in the realm of sadness and sorrow.

A postscript: After the concert, my friend and I were leaving and we ran into Ms. Brewer, so I was able to chat with her for five minutes and we shared our feelings about the magic this music brings to one's soul.

I hope Spring abounds where ever you are today! It is raining here....but Spring is in my ♥.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

April 10th, 1984

Today, twenty six years ago, my Mother died. She was young and so was I - although she was ill and in hospital, she was expected to come home. When my Father and I kissed her goodnight and left the hospital, we never expected the call that came at 3:00 a.m. saying she had passed. Just like that. Gone.

She was beautiful, vibrant - she loved to laugh, to dance. She loved to travel and was able to realise her dreams by becoming a flight attendant... she visited every continent - except Antartica. She passed her love of travel on to me and we were blessed to have taken many trips together. Her favourite flowers were Lilies of the Valley and every time I see them or smell their sweet scent, I feel my mother close by me, looking out for me still. I love you so much Mummy...and still miss you every day. These flowers are for you.

Love,

Robin

Animal Wednesday - Menino Sings Mozart

I found this adorable video of Menino, the Parrot, singing the "Queen of the Night" Aria from Mozart's "Die Zauberflaute" - or - "The Magic Flute". It's one of the most difficult arias a Soprano (or a Parrot) can sing....and I thought he did an excellent job!

Bravo, Menino! Enjoy everyone!

♥ Robin ♥

Lovely Gifts from Lovely Friends

I have been recovering from a nasty bout of food poisoning..... so I've not felt much like eating or...blogging.... but, I am better today and now can share a photo of the lovely gifts I received over Easter.

First, is this gorgeous painting from KJ. It was done by Lolo - I'm sure you recognise her amazing and magical style. KJ aptly chose this Robin and her eggs for me. It also has a "stamp/quote from Miyoko Ohno" that reads "Balance is Beautiful".....something that resonates with me - as I am always striving to become more balanced.... (I am a girl who lives on the Mountain Tops or in the Deepest Valleys.)

Also pictured is my "Winning Treat" from Suki - our Mountaintop Artist/Poet.... it is some of her famous REAL Maple Sugar candy. I have been too ill to sample it - but today, I feel well enough to have a piece!

Although I am a new blogger, I have met and made some fabulous friends.... I feel fortunate to have become a part of this wonderful world.

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥

Play Ball!

Ah, Easter, Sunshine, Springtime.....for me, it's a happy time because it's Baseball Season! I am a new friend to most of you and I am sure after reading my first posts, looking at my photo and my colour choices, you think of me as a "Girlie-Girl".... well, you are partly right....but, I have one passionate, all-consuming sport interest.... Baseball! Love it - love the grace - love the mental challenge (it's a lot like Chess)...

"MY" team, the Atlanta Braves (too long a story to explain why a SF girl follows an Atlanta Team ..but I do and have done for 20 years),

opened their season yesterday with a victory...so, although I have been recovering from a severe case of food poisoning, it was a treat and made me feel better.

Only 161 games to go before Playoffs! Go Braves!

Just had to share my passion (the non-operatic one)!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Easter Blessings, Spring Greetings

Wonderful Lolo did a post the other day showing her "Bunny" Collection. I don't have many, in fact, only two - but thought I would use these little guys as my Easter/Spring "messengers". You will see a predominence of lilac "creatures" - but there is a little "black sheep" in the back. He used to sit on my desk at work....a playful pun on my last name: Lamb. And yes, I was (and am still) the "black sheep" !

Anyway, these "fellas" send wishes to each of you for a wonderful Sunday - whatever you celebrate (or do not celebrate). Enjoy Springtime - may it be warm and sunny where you are.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥