Art Gallery House Tour

Last Sunday Mary and I went on the Art Gallery House Tour. The "great wall" house on King George Terrace (#2) was on it and we were particularly intrigued to see it. It looked like a complete monstrosity when it was being built and now looks like a minor monstrosity. Well, there are fabulous views even though you do have to look through power lines for some of the view. It's on a scale that is more for the showroom than human habitation. Actually, many of the houses on the tour impressed us this way. We went home to our cosy houses and appreciated them.





I think our favourite was #7 because it was on a human scale, although spacious and elegant. We liked #4 too. I think the Art Gallery would do well to do something like the Hospice "Itty Bitty Garden Tour" which Elaine and I enjoyed so much. It was so interesting to see what people had done with small spaces.

I'm always fascinated by small spaces and enjoyed this website:


Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

The battle of the boxes

Don and Elaine moved on Monday and have loads of boxes to unpack but they are already enjoying their new home and the fabulous view. I took this photo just as we were leaving for a wine maker's dinner at the Grand Pacific last night. Fabulous meal and wine! First time Don had been out to something like that this year and everyone was thrilled to see him looking so well.

More Santa Fe...

Santa Fe photos

I'm going to be posting a whole load of Santa Fe photos as most of what I posted before got interchanged with some other photos due to a time saving strategy of mine that didn't work.

Great to see this stuff go!

When we were having dinner in Vancouver a few weeks ago at Donna and Neil's their nephew, Chris, was there and we learned he was moving to Victoria to do grad work at UVic and needed household things. We jumped on this like a dirty shirt and today he and his roomy, Jake, took away our old stereo set, two sets of speakers, a computer table, two wooden chairs, a recliner and ottoman, a coffee table, and a TV...and they mangaged to fit it all in the car in one trip. Bravo!

My latest painting

I did this for the Garry Oak Ecosystem people.




"Olympic View with Garry Oak"
18 x 24 acrylic on canvas
Sept/08

A slight reprieve from the mud slinging

John McCain managed to walk a bit of his talk tonight about being a maverick and trying to reach for the middle. I found it interesting that when he got the nomination months ago he said he hoped the election campaign would be more like a "conversation among friends". Well, I don't think his party is going to allow that and it's questionable whether he can actually control his party and achieve these original goals. Wouldn't it be nice if someone actually could. Seems the party is controlling him these days especially with this ultra conservative pick of a VP.

As far as substance as to the issues, he pretty much trotted out the same old Republican ideas that I seem to have been hearing for centuries. And most of his comparison of his policies and Obama's were outright lies. But, what the hey...this is a Republican Convention after all.

And of course the never failing reference to his war history. This time it went down a little bit better because it was a somewhat compelling point that he changed from being a self-centred individual to wanting to serve his country because of his experiences. Let's hope we don't need wars to shape up the youth in the US.

It seems to me that the concept of heroes in war is necessary to make sense out of the senseless. Let's remember the Vietnam War was particularly unjust and many atrocities were perpetrated on the innocent and helpless. Are those people who particiapted in this war heroes or just poor smucks? Perhaps the real heroes are the ones who opposed, protested, and refused to fight.

Let's hope we never have to be subjected to another 20 minutes of Cindy McCain's self serving platitudes...god, she was appalling. The idea of her swanning around the Whitehouse is enough to make your stomach turn.

Itty Bitty Book Review: Careless in Red

"Careless in Red" by Elizabeth George

This came up at the library pretty quickly but they do have around 60 copies if you count the fast reads, audio books, large print, and the usual. I've said it before but we really do have an amazing library system. They buy loads of copies of popular books in various formats and I rarely can't find something I read about.

Vintage E.G. and she really kept you going through all 600 pages. I found it hard to put down. A good mystery is always fun summer reading...and winter reading by the fire for that matter.

And they were worrying about the teleprompter?

Earlier in the day the Republicans were worrying that Palin could read the teleprompter with ease. Well, she certainly proved that! She mouthed the speech writer's words very well. An incredible lack of substance.

And I think even some of the supporters of McCain will surely get tired of the constant reference to his war service 40 years ago. And what was that really....he got captured and lived through it with some honour but what choices were there?
They say his grandfather and father were admirals in the Navy. Well...that puts a lot of pressure on a young lad. Guess he figured he had to be tough.

Just like this poor Levi (the father of the child of Bristol, the daughter) who is dragged into all this...guess he'll go through with marrying her since he hasn't much choice after McCain was embracing them both (perhaps really wanting to strangle them both...) at the airport today.

Same thing with Palin. I think she had some ideas when she was Mayor of her small town and Governor of Alaska but she better forget about any independent thinking now. She will be towing the party line all the way whether she likes it or not. That's how it works.

I guess I'll watch McCain's speech tonight...in for a penny, in for a pound. I hope it isn't all cliches and "country first"...I may just go stark raving mad if I listen to too much more of that.

I loved this sign!

Larry Vizer, a Rocky Horror fan, read my blog and sent me this. I got a real laugh out of it.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

aka The Republican Convention...a sea of white faces and blue rinse.

I think a commentator on Larry King Live last night said it best:

"Watching the Republican Convention is like watching the trailer of a scary movie."

It will be interesting to see what Riflewoman has to say in her speech tonight. In an article in the New York Times today it recounts that when she was first mayor she tried to ban some library books and fire the librarian who protested. When she wasn't successful she dismissed it all as "rhetoric" on her part. I'm curious as to what her rhetoric will be tonight.

She appears to have one redeeming quality...a sense of humour. "What’s the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mum,” she asks. “It’s lipstick.” (From the British tabloid The Sun)

* To my faithful blog readers. As you know I generally try to stay out of rants and politics but I am indulging myself this week. I promise you I will have no comment on the upcoming non-event of the election in Canada. What if they had an election and no one voted? Seems like the perfect response to me.

** Perhaps I need a caveat on the sense of humour. I just read in the TC today that she repeatedly laughed on air during a January radio interview as the host used words including "cancer" and "bitch" to describe one of her political opponents, a woman who happens to be a cancer survivor.

Obama has it right

Good on Obama for saying family is off limits. Of course the press won't see it this way and Palin should have known that and not subjected these young people to such scrutiny. Her daughter's future husband's MySpace comments have been removed due to comments like "he'll kick ass if he's annoyed" and that "he doesn't want kids". Pretty normal adolescent stuff and surely they both have a right to be kids and perhaps decide not to marry. How possible is that going to be now? The story is all over the British tabloids and their photographers are probably already in Alaska and ethics aren't exactly their strong point.

I find Palin's parenting skills shocking especially given the "family values" angle of the Republicans. What was she thinking subjecting her daughter to this publicity by accepting the nomination? And what about her special needs child she dumped at daycare when the child was three days old. Surely this child is going to need a lot of parental attention and how is that going to happen as VP candidate and possible VP? Guess this is the Republican way.


Father-to-be of Sarah Palin's granchild a 'bad-boy' redneck - Telegraph

John McCain running mate Sarah Palin misled Republican supporters - Telegraph

Quite an interesting article in The Telegraph today. I think this choice of McCain's could really backfire and work in Obama's favour. Let's hope so. I despair of the US if they elect the Republicans again. I see Bush and Cheney have opted out of the convention because of Gustav. Great luck for McCain not to have those two buffoons around.

John McCain running mate Sarah Palin misled Republican supporters - Telegraph

And a few more...

Itty Bitty Book Review: The Foreign Correspondent

"The Foreign Correspondent" by Alan Furst

Great summer reading...one of his spy novels set in the time just before WWII. I can see why he has quite a following. Quite intriguing for character, plot, and especially setting. How can you not love a novel(especially if you love Paris!)that starts:

"In Paris, the last days of Autumn; a gray, troubled sky at daybreak, the fall of twilight at noon, followed, at seven-thirty, by slanting rains and black umbrellas as the people of the city hurried home past the bare trees."

More Garry Oaks....

Garry Oaks

It's always interesting to see who happens on my blog out of the blue! I got this email the other day and of course am thrilled to do a painting for them. I've been meaning to do Garry Oaks for quite some time. In fact, when I looked over my iPhoto library for Garry Oak photos to get ideas from I realized that pretty much the first thing I did with my first digital camera in 2002 was to take a whole load of photos of Garry Oaks around the neighbourhood. I'm going to post a bunch here over the next few days.

Here's the email I received from GOERT. BTW, the handbook is very impressive and gives lots of ways to create a Garry Oak meadow.

Hi Janice,

I just saw your posting about Don and Elaine's new home at http://www.whypop.net/janices/ -- I'm always on the lookout for items about the trees because I work with the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team in downtown Victoria. Do you think your friends would like to receive one of our free handbooks? It is full of interesting information about the tress, which invasive species stop the rare wildflowers from coming up, etc. They are welcome to give me a call at 250-383-3447 and I would be happy to send them one.

You wrote that you may paint the tree. Please excuse me if I seem pushy but I'm going to ask anyway … Would you consider doing a painting of a Garry oak that we could borrow to hang in the long (empty) hallway leading up to our office? The hallway is dark, but it has character as the building is the oldest brick building in Victoria, built in 1858. Shall we talk? I won't take offense if you gracefully decline. We believe strongly that artists should be paid for their work, but because we are a non-profit we just don’t have the budget. I'm going out on a limb here but as your work is full of life and colour, I have the feeling that you won't take offense.

Betsy

Betsy Rose, Interim Financial Administration
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT)
209 - 606 Courtney Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1B6
Tel: 250-383-3447 / Fax: 250.590.3410
finance@goert.ca
www.goert.ca

The Last Supper

We had a great "last supper" with Don and Elaine last night. Don made his famous Caesar salad to die for and his special bar-b-que salmon in lettuce leaves...fabulous. We started with champagne and scallops and bacon...yum.

And we were in for another treat! Elaine gave us her mother's UBC alumni plate since we both went to UBC. It has an etching of the main library on it and we met pretty much in front of the library! Just last week when we were in Vancouver Jim was at that library doing research. It's something we will always treasure and I have put it along with our photos of us from UBC many many years ago...

It's interesting that Elaine's mother went to UBC in the 20's and we have seen her BA diploma which is on an actual sheepskin and in Latin! Not many women went to university in those days.

The link below is a little history of the library.

buildings



Don and Elaine



Me, Elaine, Don



Don and Jim



We will miss this view of their backyard and especially the wonderful Willow tree but we have a new view of a fabulous Garry Oak and the ocean to replace it. We're looking forward to our first meal in their new home.



UBC alumni plate with an etching of the main library.

O'Keefe and Adams

I love this photo of the both of them. I noted down these quotes from the exhibit in the Georgia O'Keefe Museum.

**According to John this isn't Adams he took the photograph. John tracked it down and the man in the photo is Orville Cox. And I tracked down who Orville Cox was.
"Orville Cox was the wrangler at Ghost Range and the guide on a several week trip taken by O'Keefe, Adams and others. One interesting point of the photo is that it was taken with a 35 mm camera."



Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keefe




"Nothing is less real than realism. Details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get at the real meaning of things.
- Georgia O'Keefe 1922




"Art is both love and friendship and understanding: the desire to give.
- Ansel Adams 1937

Don and Elaine's new home

Elaine and I dropped over to their new condo on the way to swimming the other day and I just loved it. The view is fabulous and as Elaine says they plan to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in their sunroom. They overlook Moss Rock Park and have a wonderful Garry Oak in front that I will have to paint!

We're having the "last supper" in their house tonight. Sad to leave after 26 years in the same house but I feel very excited about their new home and I know they will love it there.


Elaine in the sunroom.



The view...the photo doesn't really do justice to it.



I love this tree! I can see a really interesting container garden developing on the balcony here.



We lunched beside the ducks later.

Vancouver in the rain...still wonderful

It wasn't quite the weather we were expecting in August but it's been wonderful having this view. We had a really fun time at a bar-b-q at Donna and Neil's and seeing Linda and Cec again and also Kerry was in town too so a real old time reunion. Talk about monsoon season...it was torrential rain coming home after dinner.

We saw John and Carol for lunch today and very appropriately took them to the Raincity Grill...delicious "steak-frites" for us and their salmon looked great.


















Our breakfast companion.