Colours - Lilac

The second post in my series of colours..  (and I am *cheating*...as I took some of these photos earlier in the month when I was out shooting my *Orange* series). It was fortuitous...because I have injured a tendon/ligament and have had a lot of pain when I need to go out and about.   So for the past week, I am only going *out* when I need to.....rest seems to be helping....but for a girl like me, who lives for the outdoors and being amid Nature, it's been rough!

I adore all things*Lilac*, I usually don't like houses painted with this colour....however, this home, in Pacific Heights, is gorgeous!  And...the owners have recently purchased one of those *mini-easy-to-find-parking-in the City* cars.....custom-painted!  Wunderschoen!

I have no idea what these pipes are used for.....but they are definitely my favourite shade of lilac!

Wildflowers.......  ah, so lovely...especially in December!

A Christmas gift from my *BS*, Lolo!

 A gift from our New Hampshire Poestess, Suki!

The Nightlight in my Dining Room....

I was thrilled to find "Lilac Alley"!

I took this photo a few years back in Germany.  It's Neuschwanstein..  deep in Southern Bavaria!  I was the only *Madwoman* hiking about in the deep snow...but hey, I got a terrific shot!  (And the sky was *almost* this Lilac.....just a wee bit of *tweaking*!) 

And of course, Marianne knows just what to place all my Christmas gifts in!  A-ha-ha!

Look at this sweet, loving face!  He is a Pitbull.....but, you would be hardpressed to meet a more gentle doggie.  I haven't *tweaked* the colours.....but he definitely is a Lilac-Hound!

And.....you KNOW my bedroom is as Lilac as possible...here is a small corner of it! 


So, dear friends....I hope you enjoyed this second in my colour-series!  I send each one of you a joyous hug as we approach 2012!  May this New Year bring us all health, joy, inspiration, gratitude and HOPE for a glorious year!  I love you all!

♥ Robin ♥

Happy Winter, Happy, Blessed Christmas to ALL of You.

This beautiful album cover truly represents what is in my heart for all of you....my beloved blogging family. 
I have no real family..... but thanks to Renee.....I have YOU...and you are indeed, my family.

I have left my Christmas *message* on my sidebar (my Voki image and my voice) as a Holiday Message.  This, in itself, is a gift from dear Vicki (*Nollyposh*)....who showed me how to do it.

Below....a few of my most beloved Christmas songs.....I hope you enjoy them.




















It has been a particularly emotional year - both happy and tragic.  So many losses..both human and animal.....so many loved ones battling illness and heartache....I guess this comes with age....  but, one thing I do know - that also comes with age..is to realise and embrace true emotions.. and LOVE truly conquers all.  Every one of you is a shining, sparkling star in my life.  You enrich my spirit....I am profoundly grateful to know you. I love you all.

Blessings,

♥ Robin ♥

December Full Moon Photos

All photographed hours before the Lunar Eclipse last Saturday..... I missed the *Big Event*...(fell asleep)..but still managed to catch some gorgeous shots - if you are a lover of *La Bella Luna* like me, I hope you enjoy them!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - It's All About MiMI! (And Deer..and a litttle Opera !)

Yesterday, I returned from four glorious days at my friend Joyce's Home.....and of course, the Home of the WONDERFUL MiMi!  It was unusually cold - even for Northern California....but it's a beautiful place....and healing for me after losing so many beloved friends in November.

One of Joyce's friends bought her this T-shirt last Summer at Santa Fe Opera (my old *stomping grounds*). The *Mimi* of the shirt refers to the heroine of Puccini's "La Boheme"...but trust me, Joyce's Mimi shares many traits of the Operatic one!  A-ha-ha! It is so perfect - so, of course, I had to photograph Joyce and....MiMi....(who truly believes - and is right - that is really is "All About Her")! Mimi, in case you don't remember, is part Border Collie and part Healer....and UNBELIEVABLY SMART!  She knows English...oh yes, she does!

Mimi with her *most beloved tennis ball*!!!!  She loves to play *fetch* and can do this forever and at any hour of the day or night!

  "Ah, Life is GOOD"!

Really Good!

I did have a few hours *sans Mimi*... Joyce and I went to see the Met's HD Broadcast of *Faust*....with the delectable Jonas Kaufmann....and the mesmerising Rene Pape,  the set was awful, but the singing was WONDERFUL! The next day, we  walked out (yes, really) on the La Scala HD Broadcast of "Don Giovanni".....NO WAY could it compare to our glorious, sexy SF Opera version! Boo!  Hiss!  (I almost NEVER walk out of a performance....but, this was unbearably awful!)

Back to Sweet Creatures....I  encountered some wonderful Deer.....(embiggen please)

 In the Front Yard.....

And on the neighbouring golf course!

I also had several gorgeous sightings of Geese at twilight in flight formation, honking away....how I wish I could have photographed them...but I was out walking Mimi - and when you are holding a dog lead in one hand and a *poop bag* in another....there's just no room for a camera too......

I  took some gorgeous shots of the full moon rising through the trees and over the mountains on Saturday...but will save those for another post.

In the meantime (although I am a day early).......HAW to you all!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Colours - Orange

My friend Britt-Arnild once did a post on *Colours*.....it was fun to play along, so I thought I would do a post from time-to-time concentrating on just one colour. A precursor to Winter's soft colours.....on a walk last week, I photographed all things Orange...

 These mushrooms were actually quite ORANGE....  (guess they should not be eaten)!

Last.....but certainly not least.......Mr. Orange!

I'm off to Santa Rosa to spend a few days with my friend Joyce and the wonderful Mimi!  I hope you all have a great weekend! 

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

SFO End of Season

Last night, our 2011 Season ended.... this year, SFO truly ran the gamut of different operas...from the Imperial Court of Ancient Peking (*Turandot*) to the poignant, beautiful *Heart of a Soldier*,  the Italian Borgias, to that sexy scoundrel - *Don Giovanni* ,  Handel's Baroque *Xerxes* and, finally to.....*Carmen*....which seemed to play on and on and ON for eternity!  It was, for the most part, a solid season.. my two undeniable favourites were *Heart of a Solider* and Don Giovanni*....but, it was great fun to bring Marianne backstage (when she visited me in SF) to see *my world* - for a *Carmen* Final Dress.  (Ah, *Carmencita* - my LEAST favourite production this year...and I worked EIGHT of them!)

So, here, in photos, are some memories of the season!  Enjoy! 

 Imperial Court Ladies wait to make their entrance in *Turandot*

 Some of the *Heart of a Soldier* Cast.  (Including the handsome, new rising tenor - Ta'u Pupu'a in WWII costume.)  Why are these men dressed in Business Suits for *Costumes*?  Because the final scene takes place in the Twin Towers on 9/11...

Baritone Thomas Hampson and Cast

 Tenor William Burden in Army Gear

Renee Fleming as *Lucrezia* and her Borgia Courtiers

 Tenor Michael Fabiano.... in this costume, he kept reminding me of Billy Idol....and he acted a lot like him too on stage!  We all kept breaking into "White Wedding" backstage!

LUV the boots!!!

The Ghostly Zombie-Statues of *Xerxes*

  Countertenor David Daniels

 Mezzo Sonia Prina...she is a *Princess* who disguises herself as a man.  Marianne, she is the woman we saw on the ferry when we went to Sausalito!

 Bwaaa.....hahaa

 Mezzo Susan Graham....she plays the role of a man - our *hero*, Xerxes!

Ooohh.......that naughty *Carmencita*!

Ole!

 A Sister meets *Ladies of the Night*!  Dios Mio!

 Here's what really goes on backstage...waiting for entrances....  A-ha-ha!

Ah, it's over...until May....when our Summer Season begins!

Bravi to all who made this SF Opera season a success!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥