We loved this place

It was about the only dining experience we could afford when we were students. I think it was $1.95 for a spaghetti dinner and I think that included spumoni ice cream for dessert.

Dinner at Minerva's

We had a lovely dinner with Donna yesterday. It never disappoints.

Thank you, Richard

We had a nice visit with Richard yesterday and he helped us with various things.

Hot hot hot in California

It seems even the saguro cactus are dying.I loved seeing these amazing plants and hope they get some help soon.

From The Desert Sun newspaper: Arizona's saguaro cacti, a symbol of the U.S. West, are leaning, losing arms and in some cases falling over as record-breaking extreme heat consumes the state, Reuters has reported. Summer monsoon rains the cacti rely on have yet to come, testing the desert plants' ability to survive in the wild as well as in cities after temperatures soared above 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 days in Phoenix, Tania Hernandez, a succulents cactus scientist at Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden, told Reuters. Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden, which covers an area of 140 acres, has over 2/3 of all cactus species, including saguaros which can grow to over 40 feet tall. "These plants are adapted to this heat, but at some point, the heat needs to cool down and the water needs to come," said Hernandez.

Lunch yesterday

We went off to Dunbar's Bells and Whistles and had hot dogs. Very tasty lunch.

Sam Francis

Another interesting artist. It looks like fun to paint like this.

"Sam Francis was born in San Mateo, California,[1][2] the son of Katherine Lewis Francis and Samuel Augustus Francis Sr. The death of his mother in 1935, who had encouraged his interest in music affected him deeply, but he later developed a strong bond with his stepmother, Virginia Peterson Francis. He attended San Mateo High School in the early 1940s.[2] Francis served in the United States Air Force during World War II. In 1944, while in the Air Corps he was diagnosed with Spinal Tuberculosis.[3][1] He was in the hospital for several years, and it was while there, after being visited by artist David Park in 1945, that he began to paint. Once out of the hospital he returned to Berkeley, this time to study art. He received both his BA degree (1949) and MA degree (1950) in Art from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied botany, medicine, and psychology."

The Pagoda Paris

I thought I had seen most of the famous sites in Paris but missed this or don't remember it.

Some pretty amazing airports

No one likes spending time in airports but these beauties might make it a little easier. You'll have to read the article to get the names. https://dailypassport.com/most-unique-airport-architecture/

A lovely brunch with Donna Sunday

At the University Golf Club again. We heard all about her trip to see Roger and Kerry and saw photos of their wonderful grandchildren. What great looking kids! We had the Eggs Benny...always a great example. And she treated us because of recent birthdays. Thank you, Donna! And the Blue Jays won.

Is it too early for Christmas thoughts?

Well, the people who produce "The Good Life France" don't think so. "Bon weekend from a Christmassy village in July in France! Bonjour! I hope that you and yours are well - and a great big welcome to this newsletter if you’re new to it, and a huge thank you and massive hello again to those who have been with me longer – I’m enormously grateful for your support and all your lovely messages! If you were to wander into my little village this week you may be forgiven for thinking we’ve all gone quite bonkers. Everywhere you go (and admittedly there is not a lot of everywhere to go, there are about 152 people living here, no shops or bars), in every street, and even at the tiny town hall (a former school room), Christmas lights are being hung. Yes, in mid-July. Jean-Francois the village handyman has been stringing flashing coloured lights in the leafy branches of the old oak tree on the village square. Jean-Claude, my neighbour AKA Monsieur Partout as everywhere you go, he seems to be there (I do sometimes wonder if he is a triplet and he and his brothers are playing tricks on us), was spotted up a ladder which was balanced rather precariously on the roof of his little white van. His bossy wife Bernadette was sort of holding it steady but kept forgetting as she waved her hands and shouted instructions ‘put the lights round the chimney’ (luckily for Jean-Claude they live in a one storey house), ‘trail them along the weathervane…’ A large party tent has gone up in the town hall courtyard (the former schoolroom playground). Along the tops of hedges and around the rose bushes growing over doors, and across window boxes dripping with brightly coloured geraniums – there are strands of Christmas lights. There are no Christmas trees though. And just why have we all seemingly decided that this week is Christmas in the middle of nowhere rural northern France? Well, it is the weekend of the ‘Illuminations.’ And so we are illuminating. Nobody knows why we do it. It’s a tradition and I suspect an excuse for a good old knees up since that party tent will be full of people dancing, munching on moules frites (mussels and chips) and enjoying a glass or two of wine whilst admiring the twinkling Christmas lights on a sunny July night! This is no big budget affair. There is no fanfare. But a lot of heart and camaraderie goes into making this one of the big nights of the summer in these parts. Vive the illuminations! Wishing you a lovely weekend from a festive little village, and please enjoy a read of the totally FREE Summer issue of The Good Life France (and I'd love you to share it if you like itI) Magazine: magazine.thegoodlifefrance.com Bisous, Janine Editor ps Top photo Antibes, by Marianne Furnes"

Lunch at The Sylvia yesterday

It always seems to be our go to place these days.

Burrard Bridge by ProsserArt

I seem to love just about everything he does.

Burrard Bridge Guard Canvas Print $95.00 - $600.00 or 4 interest-free payments of $23.75 with ⓘ 1 Select an option How to get it Required Shipping Store pickup ProsserArt 4690 Hazel Street Burnaby BC

A lovely visit with Nigel and Leslie yesterday

They were in from Victoria and staying at the Gage Suites at UBC so we had brunch together. Great to see them and catch up on Victoria news.

Lawren Harris and Georgia O'Keefe

We saw documentaries on them Monday. Just so love their artwork. Some works by Harris

A work by O'Keefe

McCleery Golf Course

We had a lovely lunch on Monday in the sunshine and watching the golfers.

Ah, tourists....you gotta love them

"A tourist has slammed the highest mountain in the British Isles as "far too steep" in a scathing online review. Ben Nevis has a summit of 4,411 feet above sea level and attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year, who travel far and wide to attempt a climb up to the summit. While Ben Nevis is among the most popular sights in Scotland, particularly amongst hikers and climbers, one recent visitor was less than thrilled by the munro. In a one-star review, they complained that the mountain was "too steep" and criticised the lack of shops or toilets en route to the summit. Slainte!"

A lovely lunch with the Peckfords

We had lunch at the University Golf Club with Brian and Carol yesterday. Always nice to see them and catch up on their news...and talk about Palm Springs.

Somehow Paris works with stuff like this

This wasn't in Paris the last time we were there. I don't think there is anything I don't like that Frank Gehry was involved in. "With a striking modern, abstract exterior covered in giant panels of smooth glass, the Louis Vuitton Foundation — designed by famed architect Frank Gehry — is impossible to miss. Since the art museum and cultural center opened in 2014, the foundation has housed a permanent collection of 268 pieces from 102 artists, in addition to two temporary displays of modern art, which rotate annually. The minimalist interior includes exhibits on pop art, expressionist art, and music and sound, displaying works from both the 20th and 21st centuries. Don’t forget to visit the auditorium, designed to showcase live artistic performance, such as dance and music. Lovers of the arts will fall hard for the whole experience."

Bastille Day

I'm sure I have posted about our Bastille Day experience in Paris. We met some Americans on the subway and they had tickets so we could get a front row view. We did feel a bit guilty having such great views when French citizens were craning their necks to see anything. It was rather unnerving seeing all this military might. I'll never forget the flyover of the jets with red, white, and blue smoke fumes. I can't seem to get any photos of the jets that will upload. "How to Celebrate Bastille Day in Paris - July 14, 2023 Parade, Parties & Dancing, Concerts, Fireworks on French National Day! If you are lucky enough to spend Bastille Day - known in France as La Fête Nationale (French National Day) or Le Quatorze Juillet (July 14th) - in Paris, you'll get to experience the biggest summer celebration in the city. Bastille Day celebrations in Paris always take place on July 14, the anniversary of the storming of the infamous Bastille prison in 1789 - a turning point for the success of the French Revolution and the end of absolute rule by monarchs. Bastille Day is a national holiday throughout France. Paris Bastille Day events kick off with a military ceremony followed by a huge military parade down the Avenue des Champs Élysées and flyover by military aircraft."

The Red Vineyards

"The Red Vineyards near Arles is an oil painting by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, executed on a privately primed Toile de 30 piece of burlap in early November 1888. It depicts workers in a vineyard, and it is the only painting known by name that Van Gogh sold in his lifetime." Wikipedia I'm rather surprised I was not familiar with this painting since I have seen a lot of Van Gogh paintings in galleries and in books. Also surprised it was the only painting known by name that he sold in his lifetime and that it was on a piece of burlap.

Lunch with Liz yesterday

We went to the Galley Patio and Grill and we split our usual fish and chips.Liz had the fish tacos which looked pretty good. Perhaps we'll get them ourselves the next time.

I liked this painting....will have to look up more work by Agam

Galaxy Noon 2013 42 3/4 x 42 3/4 in. (110.17 x 110.17 cm) mixed media Provenance Private Collection, Maryland, acquired directly from the artist in his Paris studio 175,000 Yaacov Agam is widely considered to be one of the most important Israeli artists of our time. Agam's art often utilizes optical illusions and visual trickery to create his desired visual effect. The artist has successfully worked across different media, including works on canvas, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking. "Galaxy Noon" (2013) was purchased by the current owner directly from the artist at his Paris studio. Agams work can be found in countless museum collections worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.

Paris Fashion Week

Always some pretty wild takes on clothing.

A day of chores yesterday

We renewed our Drivers' Licences and both got our hair cut. I'm glad we didn't have to do a road test. We felt we needed a reward for dealing with these nuisances so had lunch at The Sylvia.I had the salmon burger and Jim had the Croque Madame. We used to love that in France. And I was very impressed with the quality of the salmon and it was perfectly cooked.

Mini Europe

At first I thought this was a rather dumb idea but then I came to like it quite a lot.I can see that it would be a fun way to explore Europe's culture and history. INSPIRATION ATTRACTIONS This Unique Park In Brussels Lets You Explore All Of Europe In Just A Couple Of Hours Ingus Kruklitis/Shutterstock BY DIANA LOTTI/FEB. 8, 2023 1:14 PM EST Belgium is a remarkable nation that's too often an afterthought among travelers, despite its rich history, culture, architecture, and spectacular festivals. Brussels, its capital, is also known as the capital of Europe as it houses the European Parliament. Other impressive landmarks in Brussels include the Grand Place, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, the Royal Palace, Mont des Arts, Notre Dame du Sablon, and the Atomium. The Atomium is particularly interesting as it is a structure meant to look like an atom. Per the Atomium's website, the structure was built in 1958 for the Brussels World's Fair and restored in 2006. It now receives hundreds of visitors yearly. Next to the Atomium is another unique landmark in Brussels known as Mini Europe. Mini Europe encompasses miniature replicas of some of the most iconic monuments, landscapes, and cities from all over the European continent, including the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Brandenburg Gate. Not only is Mini Europe a unique park in Brussels that lets you explore all of Europe in just a couple of hours, but it is a great way to explore Europe's culture and history in a fun and entertaining way. What Mini Europe has to Offer Ingus Kruklitis/Shutterstock Mini Europe is a unique open-air park in Brussels with over 350 incredible and detailed monuments and landmarks in the European continent. All of the models at the park were reproduced at a 1/25 scale, so models like the Eiffel Tower and the Tower of Pisa are still as impressive as the originals. According to the Mini Europe site, the Eiffel Tower stands 42 feet (13 meters) tall, and Big Ben stands 13 feet (4 meters) tall. Travelers can also appreciate the attention to detail for each landmark and monument model created, such as the 6,000 figures placed one at a time in the Bull Ring in the Seville exhibition. Read More: https://www.explore.com/1192835/this-unique-park-in-brussels-lets-you-explore-all-of-europe-in-just-a-couple-of-hours/

I do love all things Van Gogh

This would be one cool watch to have. "Van Gogh's self-portrait and Sunflowers are among the works painted inside the watch An artist has painted three microscopic re-creations of Van Gogh masterpieces on a watch mechanism. David A Lindon, from Bournemouth, said he spent six months rendering the 0.5mm (0.02-inch) paintings by hand. Mr Lindon, who began work as a micro artist in 2019, has previously miniaturised works by Banksy, Monet and Munch. The watch, which is on display at an art gallery in Shropshire, is being offered for sale for £150,000."

So great that these wonderful trees are now protected

"After years of attempts to protect the western Joshua tree with designation under the state or federal Endangered Species Act, the iconic and gangly high desert plant finally will receive permanent protections through a less-typical route: a trailer bill passed as part of the state’s budget. California lawmakers passed the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act on Tuesday as part of the state budget agreement, which also includes $5 million for environmental organizations to participate in conservation efforts for the species. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the state budget agreement sometime this week. The bill prohibits any person or public agency from importing into the state, exporting out of the state, or taking, possessing, or selling within the state, a western Joshua tree or any part or product of the tree, with some exceptions."

My favourite flower is doing good work!

"Globally 1 in 7 of us live with a disability. And of those, 80% are invisible. That is over 1 billion people who are living with a non-visible disability. What disability is not visible? While some of us experience a disability that is visible, many of us have a non-visible disability that is not immediately apparent to others. These can be temporary, situational or permanent. They can be neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and including sensory and processing difficulties. They also include respiratory, rare diseases and chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes. As diverse as these conditions are, so are your individual access needs and the barriers you face in your daily life. So you can opt to wear the Sunflower to discreetly be seen in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces. A list of invisible disabilities At Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, we believe that the more we all understand about non-visible disabilities, the more we can help to improve the lives of people experiencing them. So to raise awareness of the wide range of non-visible disabilities that our Sunflower wearers experience, we are building an index of disabilities that have few or no outwards visible signs. Alongside the Sunflower training we provide, you can now explore how you can support Sunflower wearers and consider workplace accommodations for your colleagues and customers based on their specific invisible disability."

A day for chores

We renewed our ICBC yesteray and then went to the Sylvia for lunch. The view was lovely as usual...the ocean was quite choppy. It certainaly didn't look very inviting for a swim.

Wonderful sounding exhibit of the work of Monet in Monaco

From The Art Newspaper "In December 1883, Pierre-Auguste Renoir invited his friend Claude Monet to join him on a trip to explore the Mediterranean coast from Genoa to Marseilles, with a stopover in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Monaco. For Monet it turned out to be the first of three painting campaigns on the Franco-Italian Riviera over the next five years and, argues a new blockbuster show, a pivotal point in his artistic practice. Monet in Full Light, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, celebrates the 140th anniversary of that first trip. Conceived in collaboration with the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, it traces the 60-year arc of the artist’s career from 1860s landscapes around his native Le Havre to the 1920s water lily paintings in his Giverny garden, with a special focus on his Riviera sorties. Almost four years in the making, it will bring together nearly 100 paintings, including 44 from the Marmottan and others loaned by more than 30 private collections and museums in Europe, the US and Brazil."

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/06/29/sea-change-how-a-trip-to-the-riviera-with-renoir-changed-monets-painting?utm_source=The+Art+Newspaper+Newsletters&utm_campaign=6f89b7b03f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_06_30_03_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6f89b7b03f-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

So glad these wonderful trees are being protected

I remember the first time I saw these wonderful trees. It seemed so amazing to see them in such a hostile environment. Cacti we expect.

The new law prohibits the unpermitted killing or removal of the trees. Photograph: Étienne Laurent/EPA California Joshua Trees win long term protection in environmental victory The bill, to be signed by the California governor, requires drawing up a conservation plan and creates a fund to protect the species Maanvi Singh @maanvissingh Wed 28 Jun 2023 21.47 BST California lawmakers have voted to permanently protect the iconic western joshua tree, delivering a hard-won victory for environmentalists who have warned that the climate crisis has imperilled these fixtures of the high desert. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act was passed Tuesday, as part of the state’s budget agreement. It prohibits the unpermitted killing or removal of the trees, requires the development of a conservation plan and creates a fund to protect the species. It appears to be the first California legislation focused on protecting a climate-threatened species.

Interesting fact about these wonderful creatures

"Dolphins are known to be one of the smartest animals on the planet—possibly because they can conserve their brain power. Since they must always be on the lookout for predators, the marine mammals have developed a neat trick of maintaining partial consciousness even as part of their brain sleeps. Researchers have tested whether this "half-sleep" negatively impacts the animals' alertness during the day, but have found that even after five days of having their nocturnal alertness constantly tested, they've remained as alert and perceptive as ever." From "Interesting Facts".