Animal TUESDAY.....Down on the Farm with Capone

A bit early for *AW*...but today works for me....so hope you don't mind!  Last week, I went to the *Mysterious East Bay* (so-called because I rarely venture in that direction)....to visit my friend Carol (who was Dog-Sitting her daughter's wonderful Bulldog - Capone)!

Meet Capone!

He may look *Tough*....but he is a real sweet♥!

Carol's Daughter lives next to Blake Gardens...  a gorgeous estate that once housed the Chancellor of UC Berkeley.... here's the view from Capone's Backyard..

If you *embiggen*...you can see the Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.....not really too far away..

We HAD to stroll around Blake Gardens...

The pool is filled with many large Koi ....

 And some interesting figures can be seen...

I particularly liked this very old-world, Forest Deity one......

Suki, any clue as to who she is?

Ok..time to visit the *Little Farm*, located in Tilden Park....this is where the *City-Folk* come to interact with *Farm Critters*!

Helloooooooooooo!

Just chewin' my cud, enjoying the Sunshine!

Fun to see a *Farm Goose* as opposed to the Canada Geese over in SF.  Very well-fed, don't you think?

*Punk-Rock Rooster*!  

Hens, Roosters - oh my!  Cris in Oregon - this is your future - a-ha-ha!

Look at those sweet paws!

Hello - do you have any lettuce or carrots for me? Of course, we did!

Mr. *Aries* - look at those beautiful horns!

My favourites though.....were...

Because it takes one to know one!  They were just adorable!

We all had a great day.....  but *someone* was pretty tired after all the *exploring*.

Look closely at Capone's ears.....they have *Leopard-like* Spots on them!  Too cute!

HAW (one day early) everyone!

Love,

♥ Robin - the Black Sheep - ♥

Bluebirds, Butterflies, Bison and..... Potpourri

As I write this on a damp Tuesday Morning, the Storm Clouds are gathering out over the Pacific....  we had rain last night and there is more on the way.  Sunday and Monday though, were cold but Sunny....and I was out and about with my trusty Canon...

Storm Clouds on the Horizon

Glorious Spring Colours....

The *Palace Swans*

*Feed Us*!  (Look at those Amber Eyes!)

 Artists Capturing the Beauty of a Sunny Day

The *Bluebird of Happiness*!

He was kind enough to stay long enough for me to take a few shots!

Mr. Muscovy - Cris - just for you in Oregon!

Mr. Bison takes a rest...

*Buffalo Butts*!

The End......a-ha-ha!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Valentine's Day Sun, Moon and...Music.

The Valentine's Day Sun peeking through the Fog this Morning....

As I left work last night, I saw the beautiful Crescent Moon through the trees..

You KNOW I had to leave you with some passionate,romantic music.....  two of my favourites ..  

Placido Domingo as the Artist, Hoffmann, declares his love to Guiletta...

(SF Opera will perform the *Tales of Hoffmann* this Summer....it is one of my top 5 non-Wagnerian Operas.....can't wait to see it again!)

Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak....in my favourite Hitchcock Movie...*Vertigo*.

The score by Bernard Hermann is so hypnotic....(of course, it borrows a lot from Richard Wagner's *Tristan and Isolde*)..... perhaps that's why I adore it so.

Happy Valentine's Day to each of you! May your day be filled with the warmth and power of L♥VE.... it's what really matters.

♥ Robin ♥

*Es war Einmal*

*Es war einmal* translates from the German into *Once Upon a Time*...  an appropriate beginning to this post.  There were once four *Sisters*...not bonded by blood, but by sisterhood, friendship and kindred souls. Some were separated by a continent - and some by an ocean AND a continent....still, they became close confidants - as sisters do.  Their names were: Lo, Marianne, Marja and Robin.  Lo lives in Rhode Island, Robin in California and the *M*s in Holland.

Lo

Marianne

Marja

Robin

Marianne flies for KLM - this affords 
her ample opportunities to travel the world - including New York, Los Angeles (where I first met her two years ago) 
and San Francisco.

Marianne and Robin in LA - 2011

Marianne, her youngest son, Felix also were able to visit Lo in Rhode Island with a stopover in P-town to meet KJ and JB.  (Sorry...no photos..) And again, in 2012 Lo, Marianne, K and JB met for a day in NY.....(yup..no photos...)

The missing link was Marja.....who had yet to make the trip to America....so, imagine my surprise when I came home from work last Saturday to find a voice mail from Marianne informing me she and Marja would be arriving in SF on *Super Bowl Sunday*!

OMG!  They're here!

Meeting Marja!

Three Zusters - at last!

So.....on our three days together we:



Had dinner at the Waterbar






Day Two  - took the Sausalito Ferry for lunch

Marianne with Diamond - the most famous Dog in Sausalito - you can  find her on YouTube!

Fresh Dungeness Crab......  there's nothing quite like it!

Dinner at the Empress of China.....hmmm  do I remember how to eat with chopsticks?

Chinatown - late at night....

Day 3 - to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building

Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory Overlooking Union Square

Then, it was time to part.....I had to go to work...and *M & M* off to explore....  we had a WONDERFUL time....only one thing was missing to give our magical tale a perfect ending....our fourth *Zuster* Lo... thankfully, we *Skyped* so we all toasted our amazing friendship!  I hope we will all meet again this year!

I hope you enjoyed the photos!  

Love,

♥ Robin ♥