Blue Skies, Harvest Moon, Tree Frog...

Do you know what this is?

BLUE SKIES - that's what! Yesterday, the fog rolled back and VOILA - the Azure heavens revealed themselves. I had to climb the roof of my home and snap a few photos.

Then, the sun set and, slowly in the East...

An almost-full Moon , as yellow as a Harvest Moon rose..... (La Luna is dead centre in this photo, the large light to the right is someone's window.) Those few hours were inspiring and uplifting...because as you all know, I have not seen Moon nor Sun in a month...

Today, alas, we are back to "normal"....cloudy and grey and cold.... but at least I know there is blue sky and golden Moon and sparkling stars somewhere up there.

Oh, yes, it's Animal Wednesday too.... but I had to post this first because I have been so crushed emotionally and spiritually.... I don't have a self-taken Animal Shot.....but, I am showing you this little fellow - the "Red Eyed Tree Frog" (from Costa Rica).... he's pretty adorable (and colourful).... hmmmm...if I kissed him, would he turn into a Prince?

HAW to all my lovely friends.....

♥ Robin ♥

"Ewarence" of Arabia

Yesterday, I watched David Lean's extraordinary film, "Lawrence of Arabia". I have not seen it since I was 10 years old....when my Mum (God Bless her for being "different" as Lawrence was), pulled me out of school to see a re-showing of the original film. I was "different" enough myself, even then, to understand that T.E. Lawrence was an extraordinary person.....as were the Arab Sheiks (all from different tribes) he was able to inspire and form one Arab Nation to win their freedom from the Turkish Empire during WWI. Mind you, I didn't really comprehend what had actually taken place.....I was moved by the compelling Maurice Jarre score, by the beautiful brown eyes of Omar Sharif (this was before David Lean cast him as "Dr. Zhivago") and the beautfiul blue eyes of Peter O'Toole. (His film debut.) I was moved by the hypnotically gorgeous but yet, exotically deadly desert, the camels.......graceful, yet awkward, the White Arabian Stallion that Anthony Quinn acquires and rides off into the sunset.....

My Mum adored this film. She saw it many times before she invented an excuse to get me to a theater to share it with her. She owned the soundtrack (those days on a LP recording)....and as I grew older, I fell in love with it's exotic leitmotifs. (Shades of Saint-Saens "Samson et Delilah" and even a bit of Verdi's "Aida".)

Watching it yesterday (courtesy of Netflix), I learned a lot from it. Perhaps it was seeing the burning desert Sun - since I have not seen it's warm and comforting rays in many months.... (gasp, it's really true)...or perhaps I was re-living my 10 happy Summers in New Mexico with "C", where we climbed ancient Indian caves in Bandolier or - (courtesy of John Fowles) - the extraordinary cliffs of Tsanwaki.....anyway, I was spellbound....David Lean was a Film Magician - not too many could create his magic. (Anthony Minghella, Werner Herzog and the team of Merchant/Ivory come to mind).... but, the story itself, was compelling too. My Mum, bought all of T.E. Lawrence's books....and I read "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" at 11 years old.... I admired him then - and I admire him more now.....it took great courage and passion to enter the world of Tribal Chiefs and to have the ability to reach out, to make them believe that his vision for an Arabian future..was theirs as well. Lawrence was a DREAMER..... but he has the strength to make part of his dream come true.

I have always been a Dreamer too.....and for most of my life, I was fortunate enough to make my own dreams see fruition. Life is different for me now.... it is hard to accept....and I am looking everywhere and anywhere I can for inspiration to help me go forward and regain some semblance of a life - and happiness and dreams.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Enjoy the music....and if you have not seen this film, I highly recommend it.

Butterflies

Yet another cold and gloomy week here.....I can actually say that we had three hours of sunshine last Thursday and about 2 on Friday..... my ear is still not working....life could be so much warmer - in every way. BUT, I can still send out love and hope and beauty to all of you.

Looking at these gorgeous butterflies reminds me of a happy time in my life with "C". One day, he took me to the Natural History Museum in NY..... he wouldn't tell me what exhibit he was so eager to show me.... we walked in, climbed some stairs, turned the corner and entered in a large, protected chamber FULL of different coloured butterflies and moths..... it was so lovely, so magical.... we walked about and the buterflies would land on us for a few minutes and "ride" about on us.... an afternoon I will never forget.

May this be a particularly wonderful "HAW" for all of you. Please keep me in your prayers, I am going through a really rough patch.

Love.

♥ Robin ♥

Soaring High.....Carrying Hope and Love

A strong,emotional week for me....in every way. Many of my "Blogging Family" are going through intense times... (you know who you are).... but, ALL of you know how much my "Blogging Family" means to a girl who is, for all intensive purposes, alone in life....

Anyway, yesterday, I was enroute to a job interview....and as I walked down the hill, who flew almost directly over my head....but a wonderful Blue Heron. (Not the one pictured above....as I did not have my camera with me.....)

He WAS in flight though....and I had to stop and take him all in....the huge wings, gracefully flapping, the long legs, straight back as he soared through the sky. It was a breathtaking moment....(rememember I live in a City....) and it infused me with hope and strength.

And you know, I KNOW you can all relate to this moment in my life - because you are ALL so wonderful.

For those of you who are struggling....know I am there with you, sending strength and love.

And, of course, I send each and every one of you my love and gratitude because I have "met" you and we have become more-than-friends.

Always,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Emily V.V. Wabbit's Screen Debut

I know you have been wondering WHERE Emily Rabbit has been scampering off to while K.J. has been gallivanting around NY, RI and Vermont..... well, besides "Starring" in a Comic Strip with the TALENTED Miss Em, Emily was recently seen at this Underground "Concert" - where she made a "Cameo" appearance! She was greeted by HUGE cheers of adoration... her career as a new "Reality Star" is taking off! Did any of us ever doubt it? -

HAW!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Sunshine Amid the Fog

I would have loved to tell you all that I am experiencing the warmth of a golden, sun-filled day...but, alas, I am not. (Well not in the usual way..) We have not had one ray of sun in two weeks....

But, sunshine DID arrive yesterday in the shape of an envelope with a stamp from Holland....yes, it was a packet from the talented artist and lovely lady - Marianne. Inside, was a beautiful card filled with the kindest words and uplifting sentiment. And....three of her exsquisite ATC's...

Marianne....I had to show you that in fact, I do still have some Unicorns in my home....so, you KNOW how much I loved the Unicorn ATC! The other two are so gorgeous.....and I will treasure them always.

My heart and soul were immediately filled with the warmth of friendship....

I have been blogging for almost four months now....and I have to say something that all of you already know..... the community in the "Blog World" is filled with amazing people...

I am in the midst of the worst two years of my life.....yet, I am a better and

stronger person because I have "met" all of you. You have filled me with encouragement and those two most important gifts.....hope and love. I feel eternally blessed and grateful to you for opening your hearts to me.

Renee, I could have not and WOULD have not done this without YOU....

I think of you every day.

And for my other beloved friends....you know how much I love you all. Really. You are the family I no longer have.....and it means so much.

So, although today is grey and cold...... my heart is filled with warmth.

Thank you Marianne....

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Bumble Bees! Bzzzzz..

I thought I would do a post on these little ones....my dear friend Ann, who lives North of me, is quite the expert on Bees....and gave me a sweet little lecture about them the other day before we departed to the opera. I found this first clip (narrated by Sir David Attenborough) fascinating.... nature, truly is a wonder and full of little miracles.

And.....you KNOW I had to include a musical portion too.....so, here is Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Flight of the Bumblebee"!

Bzzz.....Bzzzz......HAW! Bzzz......

"Ho-Jo-To-Ho! My Life......Wagner's Life.....My Life..

Okay, I KNOW I am asking for a lot of understanding.... this is the world of Opera...not something most of you, my "blogging family" likes - or even understands.... but, nontheless, I am going to share with you. If you watch these clips, you will see the "Stars" of SF Opera's "Die Walkure" talk about what makes their "chacter" LIVE ..

This is probably not going to make sense to most of you.....but this IS my passion....and perhaps it will reach a few .....

The last video was shot (not by me) illicitly...from the SF Opera Grand Tier....probably from a cell phone (hence the shaky footage)....but, it conveys (for real - no rehearsal) the opening scene of ACT II where Wotan greets his favourite daughter, Brunnhilde. Yes, it is a "Board Room" and yes, "Valhalla' does seem a bit like NYC....and yes, they are in 20th century clothes....but, oh, the voices. the voices...even on a poor recording.....the orchestra.... trust me, this was 'greatness"....

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

"Das Ende'...of the San Francisco Opera 2010 Summer Season

I know, I KNOW.....I said "no more Opera posts''....but, frankly, it has been most of my life the past month....juggling an ear infection, uneasonably cold weather and just life in general...our Summer Season provided me with warmth, joy, strength, friendship...and, of course, beautiful music!

Here are a few photos of some of our major opera stars ... they were taken by a good friend of mine, John Martin, who is the resident photographer for San Francisco Opera. I hope you enjoy.

Happy 4th of July to those of you in the States! Happy Summer Weekend to those of you abroad!

Love,


♥ Robin ♥





Patricia Racette as "Marguerite" and John Relyea as "The Devil" in "Faust".

Deborah Voight as "Minnie" in "La Fanciulla del West".

Nina Stemme as "Brunnhilde" and Christopher Ventris as "Siegmund" in "Die Walküre".

Tamara Wapinsky as

"Helmwige" - one of the

eight parachuting "Walküres".

Last...it's Me! John needed a "model" to set up his lighting etc..... so here I am, on a rare warm Sunday afternoon, setting up for "Die Walkure" in a Summer Dress!