"The Ring"....on the Horizon.... One Woman's Version

I'll bet you thought (and perhaps hoped) I would have come to the end of my Opera posts! A-ha-ha! Not so, dear Friends! In a little more than two weeks time, SFO will begin rehearsals for Wagner's "Ring of the Niebelungen". This is an unrivaled event in the world of Opera - consisting of FOUR Operas, over 17 hours of music, love, betrayal, death, and ultimately love. It's a big thing.....and consequently, it isn't done all that often. It costs a lot for an Opera Company to produce a "Ring"....$ for a set designer, conductor, director, singers (not any Opera singer can sing Wagner), chorus and Orchestra. (All of whom I and my Team will be feeding for eight weeks!) I have been fortunate enough to see five complete "Rings" in my lifetime..two of them in Bayreuth, Germany (the Opera House Wagner, himself, had built to host his Operas). Anyway, I digress.... so, to introduce you to what will begin on 12th May....here's a funny "Wagner 101" course by the late, great Anna Russell.




"Our" Walkure from last Summer......featured the "parachuting" Daughters of Wotan!  (You remember this.. - a spectacular entrance to that famous music!)

And the "Magic Fire" as Wotan puts Brunhilde to sleep...(until the end of the next Opera - "Siegfried")..

You don't have to be a lover of Wagner, or of Opera, to enjoy this.  Ho-jo-to ho!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Easter Wishes, Spring Songs

The air is like a butterfly

With frail blue wings.

The happy earth looks at the sky

And sings.

 

(Easter, by Joyce Kilmer)

 

 

I have always loved this little ode to Easter and Springtime.  April has been a difficult month for me - and for many others..... Spring is still being shy about showing herself in many parts of the world (including SF).... but, like the blue butterfly, we must try and reach the sunshine, feel the warmth of friendhip "on our wings" and give thanks for Life and for Love.

 

I send each of you an Easter hug of joy....whether you celebrate or not.

 

 

Love,

 

♥ Robin ♥

HAW! Mr. Orange Tells All!

Hello All!  Yes, it's Me....Mr. Orange.  (That's Sterling behind me....definitely the #2 cat around here!) 

I thought I would do this post today - and let Robin (known to us as the tall human with yellow hair who brings us meals and gives us neck and tummy rubs) have a rest! 

Ohhhh..that Sterling such a finger-licker...he's a litttle "kiss-up"!

Here comes Smoke.....  guess he was napping in the neighbour's yard..... he's always late!  (Just like the White Rabbit - but very unlike Emily V.V. Wabbit!)

See that small "black dot" in the back of our yard?  Look hard....there's Midnight....he also comes late from time-to-time...   Ya know, he really isn't "one of us"...not a true brother....  he showed up a few years ago....but, we "allowed" him to stay - he's okay and "Tall Yellow Hair Person" loves him almost as much as she does me.

Here's our Mum - Puchinella!  She must be at least 10,000 years old!  (Actually about 12..)  She is tiny, wiry and tough!  She disappeared for two months and we all thought she had gone "up into the heaven in the clouds'..... but, two weeks ago, she returned - just as feisty as ever....  we think she has someone else who feeds her.....  (the Hussy)!

Oh, you can also see Charlie at the end of the line....  Now, you've met us all!  OK..enough chit-cat-chat....time to EAT!   YUM!

HAW to all!

Love and Claws,

♥ Mr. Orange ♥

Animal Wednesday....It's a Mim Day!

I had intended to do an Animal Wedneday Post with my beloved Feral Furballs....(as I have cat-feeding duties this week).....but, of course, it's raining today....so it looks like my brood won't show up until the rain stops.  But, I was in luck - because a package arrived from Mim and she came to my rescue!  I bought another of her magical paper mache bowls....and inside - was one of Mim's "Famous Fish" cards!  Isn't it gorgeous! 


As I began to unwrap my package... I couldn't help but notice how Mim had wrapped my purchase in protective layers of PURPLE and PINK!  And...had also included this wonderful ornament (complete with favourite Hummingbirds, hearts and lilac colours).....

Gosh, I almost hated to undo the ribbons and unwrap the package......  but, as I knew what was inside, I succumbed and here it is...

I LOVE THIS BOWL!  It is magical and musical (if you look closely, there are musical notes meandering throughout the bowl) and it makes me happy! When Mim posted it on her Etsy site....I KNEW it had to be mine!  Thank you for parting with it! 

Tomorrow - a sunny day...so I will have more Animal Thursday photos!  Until then, enjoy the "Mim Fishies" and HAW to all!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Pulp Fashion...and....a Bridge for Suki

I saw the most amazing exhibit at the Legion of Honour (the de Young's sister museum) today.  It is titled "Pulp Fashion" and is filled with lifesized clothing from various periods in history - made ENTIRELY out of paper!  Mais Oui! The Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave is a painter by training, but textile and costume are her muses. Working in collaboration with leading costume historians and young fashion designers, de Borchgrave crafts a world of splendor from the simplest rag paper. Even her "lace" are cut in the most delicate manner...and sparkling "jewels and embellishments" are painted on to the paper.  Mon Dieu!

Pictured above are some of the ladies of the de Medici Court.

White Dresses....from a variety of eras... the one in the back on the right is a copy of one of Coco Chanel's earliest dresses.

Pulp Fashion draws on several themes and presents quintessential examples in the history of costume—from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel. Special attention is given to the creations and studio of Mariano Fortuny, the eccentric early-20th-century artist who is both a major source of inspiration to de Borchgrave and a kindred spirit.

The magical Fortuny Tent....the clothes, the actual tent, the bedspread - all made of paper!

The "Gentlemen" are also represented here....  charming clothes for a Marquis...or a Count.

A Neopolitian woman (with Rooster) - modeled after the 1635 painting by Stanzione.

Isabelle's sketch of a 1545 painting of Eleanor of Toledo. (That's Spain ....not Ohio!)

Isabelle and her Assistants painting all of the inticate details of the dress onto.....paper.

The finished dress!

More painted creations!

And... for those of you who prefer something a bit more "modern"..19th Century Dresses and hats!

The Legion of Honour sits atop a hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge...one of the loveliest vistas in the world.  Suki just did a post on "Bridges" - so I had to take a few photos for her today - in remembrance of

her life in San Francisco.  These are for you Suki!

I hope you all enjoyed your visit to the Legion and to San Francisco!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - "Klepto-Cat" Update

HAW!!!  It's Animal Wednesday - and....I am on time!  You have seen my earlier video showing Dusty (aka "Klepto-Cat") ...but here's a sweet sequel to it.  You can see ALL he has misappropriated!  HAW! It's a good thing he is so adorable !

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Visions of Spring

We have had a stunningly gorgeous week of weather in the "City by the Bay"!  Sunshine - no wind - 80 (yes, 80!) degrees...  Ah, sigh....  today, it is only 60.....but the sun still shines....the air is sweet with budding trees and flowers...and yes, "my" Mockingbird is back!  (Photo from last year.)  He is re-introducing me to ALL of his "arias" - he has hundreds!  And although he likes to begin at 3:00 a.m. - (right outside my bedroom window)....I don't mind at all.  After such a long, cold, wet Winter....his voice sparkles with joy!

For those of you still in snow-melty climes, Spring will arrive soon!  Those darn Groundhogs definitely were wrong this year....but soon, you, too will rejoice in this season of re-birth!  Plus.....it's Baseball Season!  (Woo-Hoo!)

Last....here is a special "Robin" bag.... a dear friend created this for me - complete with hand-drawn notes!

 I send loving ♥♥♥♥'s to all....  here's to healing world-round...  to renewal of Spring, of Life, of Love!

♥ Robin ♥