Camera Critters, #172 - Great Camouflage - July 23, 2011

Amazingly, I spotted this little critter at the Marin Art and Garden Center.  It startled the
heck out of me as I was taking pictures of the flowers.  I trid to get more pictures of
him/her as he/she darted about but I just couldn't keep up and, since he/she was the
exact color of the dirt and rocks, I was lucky to manage these shots!

I am participating in Camera Critters #172 - check out the site

and add your own critter shot to join in the fun!

Mellow Yellow Monday # 129 - Pretty Flowers & Sign - July 11, 2011

A few weeks ago, while I was attending the concert of my friends, Sony and Jerry 

Holland, at the Marin Art and Garden Center,  I also enjoyed the Marin Farmers 

Market with its array of fresh vegetables, lovely flowers and wonderful food vendors!

Tomorrow, my friend, Meaux, and I are are off to West Sacramento for three days with 

my middle son, Alex, and his wife, Laura - for more fun.  It's been so lovely having her 

here with me.  The days are flying by too fast.

I am taking part in Mellow Yellow Monday #129 - check out the site and join in the fun!

Macro Flowers Saturday - The Matilija Poppy - July 2, 2011

I first met this incredible flower, the largest variety of poppy, from the family
Papaveraceae, just last year ( I am sixty-six ), much to my dismay.  The only two
species in the genus Romneya are perennial shrubs, native to northern Mexico and
California.  It is reputed to be difficult to grow but, once they establish themselves,
they are hard to remove.  I don't see why anyone would want to rid themselves of these
lovely beauties, which have been nicknamed the "fried egg flower"!

According to Wikipedia, Matilijas prefer warm sunny soil with good drainage.  Another
interesting tidbit is that, in the wild, they are often called "fire followers" as they often can
be found in burned areas.  What a beautiful blossom to give hope after devastation!

The San Francisco Botanical Garden has a wonderful section with these beautiful
flowers as does the Marin Art and Garden Center.

I am participating in Macro Pictures Saturday - check out the site and add your own flowers

to join in the fun!

Skywatch Friday: Season 4, Episode 51 - June 30, 2011

Ross, California scene - beautiful tree, beautiful sky!

Photographed at the Marin Garden and Art Center.

I am participating in Skywatch Friday - check out the site for some

other lovely sky shots and add your own!

Shadown Shot Sunday #162 - Bench and Shadows - June 26, 2011

My trip to Ross, California on June 16, 2011 to hear my dear friends, Sony and
Jerry Holland, in concert was a bonus in many ways.  I got a number of excellent
pictures to use in my blog - lovely flowers from the Marin Art and Garden Center,
offerings from the Farmer's Market that day, and other interesting photographs.
Todays Shadow Shot Sunday was a result of that visit.  I think it is one of my most
interesting shadow shots.  What do you think?

I am participating in that wonderful meme,

Shadow Shot Sunday!

Check out the site and join in the fun!

Mellow Yellow Monday #126 - Mini vegetables - June 20, 2011

Last Thursday, when I was in Ross, California, near Sausalito, to hear my friends,
Sony and Jerrry Holland in concert, there was a farmer's market in the parking lot
at the Marin Art and Garden Center site.  There were all sorts of wonderful fresh
vegetables for sale - as well as scrumptious things to eat. 

I fell in love with these pretty little minature squashes - though I opted for other,
more practical vegetables, more reasonably priced.  I thought they were pefect
for mellow yellow, though.

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - check out the

site and add your yellow post for all to enjoy!

Sundays in my City - Sunny Sony Sounds - June 19, 2011

I've been home from the hospital since Tuesday afternoon, still on two different
oral antibiotics, and I'm feeling better.  My only real problem is that my left
ankle is not healing as fast as I would like.  I'm still having trouble walking on
my left foot and there is still some swelling that remains.  I hope this isn't going
to be permanent since I need to be able to get around!!

It's been a nice weekend and I could not entirely obey doctor's orders to spend
most of it in bed, with my ankle elevated.  The Bay area's former jazz diva,
Sony Holland, and her song writer husband, Jerry Holland, who is also a guitar
virtuoso, were in town to do a series of three shows for their loyal fans.

Thursday, they did an outdoor performance at the Marin Art and Garden center

in Ross, California.  It was a glorious day and people spread out their blankets

on the lawn, brought picnics, and enjoyed the music.  Children of all ages

danced and cavorted, dogs raced about, and birds joined in with their

melodies.  I am sure it must have been a bit distracting for our beloved

entertainers but they were just wonderful, nonetheless.  We also got to see a

bit of the gardens before the performance, with so many beautiful flowers

in bloom.

Saturday night, our glamorous diva performed in Palo Alto, California at the Jewish

Cultural Center.  This time, in addition to Jerry's guitar, she was accompanied by

Benny Watson on the piano, Seward McCain on bass, and Bob Blankenship on

drums.  Dressed in a sparkling black dress and glittering bling, her performance

was beyond description.  You could hear a pin drop in the auditorium as she sang

beautiful numbers from the Great American songbook, several songs writter by

her husband, Jerry Holland, and rocking tunes like "Honky Cat."  The whole

evening was fabulous.  I never tire of hearing her.  And there's more to come.

This evening, she and Jerry return to Cafe Divine in San Francisco where they

used to perform on Sunday nights.  It will be packed full, a reunion of the

"Dynamic Duo" and all their adoring fans! 





I am participating in Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City - check out the site

and join in the fun!!

Shaggy Dog - June 18, 2011

Thursday afternoon, my friends, the Hollands, were in town to perform at the
Marin Art and Garden Center as part of the summer concert series.  It was a
spectacular day and there were quite a few people, children and dogs sprawled
on the lawn in front of the gazebo where Sony sang and Jerry accompanied her
on the guitar.

This shaggy dog got a great deal of attention from his two-legged companions
and he was very well behaved during the concert.

I am participating in Pet Pride and Camera Critters #167.

Check out the sites and join in the fun!