Animal Wednesday - The Return of Maru!

You may remember Maru, the cat who lives in Japan!  Suki and I both did a post about him last year.  This video came my way via an Opera friend... Maru's *owner* put a stick inside the drain....and Maru was determined to get it out!  Enjoy!

HAW!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

The Calm After and Before the Storm

The rain has stopped!  (At least for half a day...)  I drove down with a friend to Crissy Field to have lunch at the Warming Hut....and we were joined by some adventureous Blackbirds!  We ate outside...unbelieveably, there was NO WIND!  It was almost mild..... but as you can see, those storm clouds are preparing to move in again!

Having a bath in the fresh rainwater!  Ah, feels good!

Okay...you fed me some of your sandwich....but I want MORE!!!

Me too.....I am fluffing out my feathers, trying to impress you so you will feed me!

Of  course no trip to Chrissy Field is complete without a Peli-sighting!  This fellow wasn't too sure about me...and was stepping away...love the foot action!

 

I was planning on using this as part of my next *Colour* blog....(that's why I am pointing to my sweater)...You will probably see this shot again one day and now you all know what colour I will be posting about!

Right after my friend snapped this photo, the rain drops began to fall...so we dashed back to the car and home!  Rain is expected non-stop for the rest of the week.....sigh...

I hope everyone is having a glorious Spring-like Monday!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - ♫ Canine Concerto Duet ♫

Borrowed from my beloved Koa's  (the Opera Star) FB page!  Aren't they too adorable!  Thank you Koa and Rodney!!

♫ ♫

HAW!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Feathery Friends at Ft. Point and Near the Bay

Last week marked the end of our beautiful, dry Winter....(it's storming today and for the remainder of the week)!  Winter in Northern California is definitely going *out like a Lion*!  Roar!  Anyway, my friend Carol and I spent most of last Friday wandering down Crissy Field and into Ft. Point.  Enroute, we met a Raven-friend!

 Mr. Egret posed prettily!

I love the Raven perched atop the building with the Golden Gate in the background. (All my Raven-Sisters, especially Renee, were on my mind that day.)

 And...more Hummers!  Suddenly, they all want their *closeups*!

Blackbirds having their own "private" picnic!

As we approached Ft. Point, we spied a Cormorant sunning himself.

He waited for us to get closer...

 And still posed for us as a wave almost spashed us! 

Ft. Point was the only Fort on the West Coast (built in 1853) that originally functioned as a protection against attacks on the Pacific during the Civil War. 

 I loved the pattern of the entry door to the Fort.

 The cannons were originally used to discourage attackers from scaling the Fort.

Here is an archival photo, taken in 1910.......  what's missing from the view?  The Golden Gate Bridge - it wasn't yet built!

This was taken in 1933....the bridge is just under construction...

The view of the City from the top level of the Fort.

 Looking North - this sailboat appeared at the perfect opportunity.

Standing directly UNDER the Golden Gate.... it's fascinating to listen to the *music* of the cars passing above...

The Lighthouse.....a must in our fog..... this one was used from 1864 to 1934, when the foundation of the Golden Gate blocked its light.  (These days, there are several Lighthouses up and down the Coast....I love listening to them on those foggy days!)

 We had an unexpected *Feathered friend* fly up to where we were standing to say "Ahoy ..I think I'll land and keep you girls company"!

It was a lovely day....  I hope you enjoyed coming along!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

A Letter to Renee

Two years ago you left us.... but not a day goes by when I don't think of you....your warmth, your wit - your sarcasm....your encouragement...your ability to Love....  I miss you, but I feel your presence - like a warm hug.  Thank you for the great gift of your friendship..... I wouldn't be where I am and who I am today without you.

Love, always,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday

I am actually combining two days worh of Animal Sightings!  These photos were all taken on March 2nd and 4th....gloriously warm days.

I wandered back to the *Magical Grove* where I encountered Monsieur Reynard last month - in the hopes we would *meet again*....alas, no fox....BUT, I did meet this enchanting Blue Egret..... I love this *discovery* of mine....no one, it seems, ever visits here....so it is beloved by animals!

 Okay - not a real *Animal*....but a large Chess *Knight* piece that helps hold up a Gazebo where people

can sit and play chess!

Spring IS coming...

I loved seeing this Ivy climb up the tree.....  near my *Magical Grove*.. 

Don 't they look like they are glowing from within.... 

 A few of the Bison who live in the park....there are now ten (I counted them)....including six babies...but I couldn't get a clear shot of them ....without the protective fence obstructing my view.

My *Masterpiece* Photo!

This little Hummer decided he WANTED to pose....so willingly sat while I clicked away! I was THRILLED to see parts of his head and throat were a brilliant, metallic Magenta....and I was able to capture it when the sun shone on him just so...

Here he is without the sun reflecting on his gorgeous throat....still spectacular!

Blurry....but I had to include it...

He sat there for (at least) a minute...while I  clicked away!  Then, he soared straight up into the sky and *zoomed* away!  I'm still in awe remembering it....

 Mr. Squirrel....looking for food!  (I forgot to bring something with me.....so sorry *Squirrely*...)


Mr. Squirrel says: A-ha-ha - Emma, the *Squirrel Huntress* is not here to chase me!



Mr. Mallard has a gorgeous teal neck too.....but the photo blurred...and I didn't want to take more as I already disturbed him from his afternoon siesta...

A small *Armada*...

Lastly....I have to leave you with a photo I didn't take.....  it's Koa, the Goldie, and *Star* of SF Opera's *Heart of a Soldier*.  Sunday night, our local Classical Radio station re-broadcast the opera...and Koa's *Dad*, Rodney, sent me this photo of Koa as he *prepares* to listen to his *solo*...(he barked on cue)!

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Animal Wednesday!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Bernini's Medusa

Last Sunday, while I was at the Legion of Honour to visit *The Cult of Beauty* Exhibit, I was thrilled to learn that Bernini's *Medusa* was still on display.  *She* was scheduled to return to Rome a week before, but due to public demand, she stayed! (O wise SF people!)  This afforded me the opportunity to see this extraordinanry sculpture.

She is made from Carrara Marble....and is displayed on a stand of pink marble....  alas...I could not find a photo with her atop the stand......it is truly otherwordly!

Gian Lorenzo Bernini created her sometime around 1630.  According to the Greek myth, Medusa, a Gorgon with snakes for hair, turned anyone to stone who gazed on her. Although she has a beautiful face, she seems to realize her own fatality and in this climactic moment, reveals her own pain and anquish. Like many of Bernini's sculptures, this depicts the most dramatic and transitory moment.   As I walked around the bust, I was impressed with Bernini's skill - and thought.  Medusa's front part is already transformed into writhing snakes - but the back of her head still retains some hair.....this gives you the feeling you are witnessing her transformation as it is happening.  Chillingly beautiful.

In Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and the mythology it drew upon, Medusa was the mortal one of three beautiful sisters. After Medusa trysted with Neptune in a temple sacred to Minerva, the goddess punished her by rendering her and her sisters monstrous, with snakes for hair and faces so terrible that they turned any onlooker to stone. Perseus, equipped by sympathetic deities, would later slay her and use the petrifying power of her severed head as a weapon.

That's your Greek History Lesson for March 1st!  (Amanda, I thought of you when I saw this!)

Happy March everyone!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥