Sunday, November 8, 2015

Guard Dogs at The Castle Shed and Lemon Curd Soon

It has been a gorgeous weekend in Fresno, sunny and 70 degrees. Maybe that's why two of the three guard dogs at the Castle Shed are laying down on the job.


We've been doggie and kitty sitting since Thursday. Three frisky rat terriers but they have been good, grandma is spoiling them, evil laugh. So with the weather so nice I did a little organizing in the shed and look at that, through the turret window you can see lemons starting to turn yellow.


That means it will be tea time with crumpets and lemon curd soon.


Looks so inviting, time for a cup of tea and work at the medieval table while the weather is so nice.


I can go down the rabbit hole in here.


One of the mini notepads I listed on the Paris Cabinet shop last night
is handy, more about them here.  


And where is kitty? Shadow has to stay indoors.





Thursday, November 5, 2015

Norton Simon Museum for the Soul in Pasadena

Viewing Van Gogh paintings is something I need for my soul! In Amsterdam, in 1990, I saw the 100 year anniversary of his death exhibition of paintings that Van Gogh considered his most important works. It left a lasting impression on my life.

Last week we visited friends in San Marino for several days and when we found out the Norton Simon museum was open till 8 p.m. on Saturdays we went in the afternoon. It was Halloween, when we arrived at 3 there were people there but by 6 p.m. we were practically the only ones left besides the staff. It was our treat to take our time without fighting crowds like there are at the Getty museum.

The Norton Simon museum has six Van Goghs, an amazing number for a small museum. Three are on the wall entering the first room.


Portrait of a Peasant was painted in 1888. You can never appreciate Van Gogh art as much until you see it close up to experience the thick paint and use of colors.


Much of Picasso's work leaves me feeling as disconnected as they look but this piece was interesting, at least it was a complete figure.


It was like a private visit to this impressive museum.


Another Van Gogh from his earlier darker period in Holland, one of the potato eaters.


Downstairs with a view to the gardens.


And the closer view.


It was the art we wanted to see again, we first visited the museum several years ago. Another Dutch artist, Frans Hals, did this Portrait of a Young Man. The Frans Hals museum in Haarlem, Netherlands, is where I first saw his work.


And then the master! Portrait of a Bearded Man in a Wide-Brimmed Hat, 1633, by Rembrandt.


It was amazing to see the face close up, almost alive, just ignore the few reflections from the glass.


The self-portrait of Rembrandt was amazing.


What a beautiful way to spend Halloween evening among the works that are so unbelievable. These are just a few of the many famous paintings, we won't wait so long to return to the Norton Simon museum.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Fun Witches of Clovis California

Grizelda the witch passed the torch this year. We were away for Halloween so Lisa borrowed my witch costume for her friend, Sandy. They had a fun time and now I'm getting requests for witch costumes! Last month I posted the story about how it all started, you can read it here.

Here are this year's fun witches of Clovis, California, Lisa and Sandy sitting on the photo bench squeezing out the skeleton.




They had fun before all the craziness of trick or treat started for the evening.


Would these witches scare you if you were 5 years old?