fencing

On the day we were so rudely forced to leave San Elijo, we had to give up the campsite by noon but  planned to stay and enjoy the beach on a gorgeously perfect summer day. We had the westy and Bill's truck, and from our site we could see when the parking spaces we were seeking became available out on the street. Julie and Colleen kindly volunteered to move the truck while Bill and I packed the westy and mom watched the girls at the beach. After they secured the space, we passed a few items over the paltry chain link fence for ease of transport from site to rig. Then Julie and Colleen were ready to rejoin the ebbing tide of fun at site 103. It seemed silly for them to walk all the way down the street and into the campground and all the way down the campground road to get to us. We didn't have all that much time, so I suggested that they do the obvious and just hop the fence. They were sort of game, and I was abundantly supportive. Colleen asked: " Will you help us?"

Of course I'll help you, Colleen!

Oh, I'll help you alright. 

I grabbed the camera.

Here we see Julie bravely blazing the trail. it looks so simple, and really would be simple if one's legs were just a few inches longer. please zoom in on Julie's pained expression

Once she'd successfully traversed the obstacle, Julie regrouped and offered her support and assistance to the beloved young LaLa Girl.

Get that leg up there, Col! Good plan!

Yeah, yeah, no that was a bad idea. use the center bar for leverage and support

There you go, girl! Look at you, up and over!

Up, and ..... um. up? Here, let me spot you

No wait, let me join you. Look, Aunt Jacquie provided a helpful crashmat just in case you fall

But you're SO not going to fall, because I will catch you!

Here, I got ya. Give me that leg.

................

So they made it.

If only I had a triumphant photo of our young heroines, fresh from the kill. I think I was too excited/busy celebrating their arrival.

Or perhaps tragically scarred by that last photo?

Here, let's look at this instead:

Ach, that face. That gorgeous, dumb face. Get that face back upstairs in my westy pronto, wouldya?

This one's for you, Ellie

-day

-th day

Happy, happy day, Ellie. May your day and year be filled with light, love and lots of laughs. And wine. And champers. And good beer. Love you, girl!!! xoxo

A Study in Schleckah

We didn't just eat and drink our way through Boston, you know.

No, we also practiced Art. Serious Art. The fabulous and fantastic Art of Photography.

Actually, it was more like the fabulous and fantastic art of the Panasonic DMC-Z58 camera, with Leica lens.

One can capture Mistah dreamily looking out the window . . .

. . . or in sepia tone . . .

. . . or in black and white.

I like the black and whites . . .

. . . Mistah looks timeless.

I used all the settings I could find to Make My Art . . .

Oooh, there's Narrow Mistah . . .

. . . and Photo-Album Mistah . . .

But I always return to those black and white Mistahs. I mean, just watch him taste his wine, Film-Grain Style:

Am I right??

Then of course there's black and white Dreamy Mistah . . .

 . . . and black and white Thoughtful Mistah. . .

. . . the black and white Pensive Mistah. . .

But my favorite camera setting of all?

Hearts-and-Flowers Mistah

this is the way we goooo to schoooool

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Happy Labor Day

Hoping everyone has time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors (eg, the beach!) this lovely Labor Day.

Soak it all up, because it's back to the dreaded school routine tomorrow!

Olmec-like sand scuplture, Ocean Beach, CA