Rainy Saturday....Two Doves, Winter's Wreath, Joy and Friendship

A cold, grey, rain  Saturday...... last year at this time, I was deep in the realm of despair and sadness....but THIS year, I have regained Strength and Hope and,  yes, myself!  I have felt Life returning to me.....  I am beginning to love life....and more important...My Life..... I feel worthwhile and blessed to have friends like YOU....I no longer feel alone.

So, this quiet Saturday Morning, something drew me to the window....and there were two Mourning Doves, perched atop a wire!  I was thrilled - as we don't see much of these  little ones in Winter....seeing them filled my heart with warmth and joy....

Sending every one of you wishes for a blessed Winter... the "coldest time of the year" approaches)...(except for those of you south of the equator)...

Our friendship is like a Winter's wreath of fir branches....our "arms" meet and merge - from State-to-State - from Country-to-Country....and we form a bond so strong, so true....ah, it is a lovely!

And here, is my Winter Wreath...made of crystals - it sparkles and shimmers with a warmth that reminds me of You.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Turkey Takeover!

Wishing every one of you a warm, wonderful Thanksgiving.  I  know I am so thankful for your friendship and support as I continue to reclaim my life.  Friends are the most precious gift. A roof over one's head, shelter for one's family (including Furry Ones), food, clothing....all are gifts we should appreciate and be grateful for - but having wonderful friends is a special blessing for sure!

Some of our group are going through difficulties now.....I hope we will all be there for them to give them love and strength.  This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving....to give....not just food, but shelter, real and emotional.........to be, as KJ and Renee said, "Together Strong". 

I send big hugs and much love to you all.

Always,

♥ Robin ♥

P.S. HAW!!!!!!!

"Cyrano" Redux

I "know" you have all been thinking that I have not done an opera post in a few weeks.....  well, the season is winding down....  we are in the midst of the last weeks of perfomances....but, before the memory of "Cyrano de Bergerac" fades away, I wanted to leave you with some more photos.  Atop - it's me - "modeling" one of the "Cyrano" hats.....  I really wanted to sneak away with it....(but I didn't..)

Our wonderful Director, Set AND Lighting Designer - Petrika Ionesco!  He's Romanian - can't you tell?  What a moustache....  He is a brilliant director - who brought his dog along to all the rehearsals!  (Sadly, I didn't get a photo of the dog...

I WANT THESE BOOTS!  They unfold to over-the-thigh length!

And..... here is the huge cast - for their curtain call!  (Amanda, you can see Peter G in the front row!) Mon Dieu!  What an Opera.....tres magnificque!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Foxes Having Ffffffunnnnn!

This is ADORABLE!!!!  I couldn't believe it when I saw it and immediately knew it had to be an "AW" post! HAW!!!!!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Autumn in San Francisco

Ah, today was extraordinary...it was 75 degrees....in November!  (Usually our rainy season!)

I guess "Mother Nature" is playing a joke on us all..after the coldest, greyest, wettest "Summer" in 40 years, now, in November, when we should be shivering under cold, wet and windy skies.... it is warm and lovely!  (At least for a few days..)

Yesterday, I went down to the Ferry Building - where there is an amazing "Farmer's Market"....

I succombed to the intoxicating colours, the hypnotic aromas.....I bought red, yellow and green peppers, cucumbers...lavender-infused cheese...... and tonight, I am making a pasta with most of these ingredients....plus a crusty San Francisco Sourdough and a Pinot Noir for Dinner....  I am feeling happy and warm and full of hope....

I send you all a big hug and love...  we are all in different States, in different countries, but we ARE a family.... it is a wonderful feeling....

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Gulls, Gulls, Gulls

A few months back, some of our "Animal Wednesday" people toyed with the idea of doing a "themed" HAW Post.  I just happened to see Mim's latest - on Seagulls, so I thought I would join in.



So here we have 'screaming' gulls, 'laughing gulls' (aka the "Black Masked Maruaders"), 'pensive' gulls, 'cleansing' gulls.....and also a few Pelicans, drifting like battleships on the water.

And.... I had to add "Agent 007 3/4" - the "Bond Gull"!  A-ha-ha!



HAW to all!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Rain

I awoke to the sound of rain patter against my roof and windows.  Our first big storm of Autumn...it's grey and windy.  Funny how rain can make one feel....introspective and dreamy. I am enjoying this storm - even though I have a full day planned. It's the San Francisco Opera Volunteer Luncheon, then a final dress rehearsal of "The Makropulous Case"....  an opera with a touch of "Dorian Grey" about it - in that the "heroine" is a 337 year old woman (still beautiful, of course) who must make the decision to carry on with her "life" or to die.  A perfect day, weather-wise, to see it!

My life, though still full of unsettling things, is warmer and stronger....  I feel that Life has returned to me - after so many months of feeling dead inside.  And though Winter approaches, I look forward to it....to the smell of wood burning in a fireplace, to the glow of candles in the dark, to calls and notes from dear friends - both close and oceans away.

I hope your Sunday is a happy one - rain or shine....

I leave you with some charming words from Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses".

' The rain is raining all around.
It falls on field and tree.
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.'

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Geese on Ice

This is a funny video....not so much for the Geese "skating" on the ice....but for the commentary of the couple recording it.  I especially like the man's calling out in a deep, booming voice - the "names" of the Geese!  Hysterical!

HAW to all!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

October Postscript...

October was a truly magical month for me....and so I wanted to leave you with a few photos that need to be shared.  Above is the incredible, beautiful mandala that Marianne painted for my birthday. Now, it is framed and hangs in a place where I can see it daily.  It gives me strength to move ahead with my life! 


For Amanda......(at last) - Monsieur Peter Greathouse - fencer extraordinaire!
(Sorry it's blurry....he was preparing to dash onstage and defend "Cyrano"!)

 And...I had to include this Operatic "Halloween" moment.....  oooh...the things one sees backstage!

Anyway, I digress.... but it was a fantastic month for me - from "YART" to All Hallows Eve....and now, it's November....and Winter is coming....  but, it is going to be an exciting one for all of us...I can just feel it!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥