Between Posts - Still in a Fog

Golden Gate Bridge in Fog

Thank you for all your wishes, prayers,and good thoughts for my mother. Her femur is healing beautifully, but unfortunately her mind is on vacation for the time being. She lives next door to my sister now, on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge, where she receives 24-hour care.

I don't have the bandwidth to resume blogging, but Pinterest  keeps my creative juices flowing, even if only for five minutes a day. I hope to return to blogging here in the new year.

Full Plate

Salade Niçoise from La Boulange de Cole Valley

Sadly, no time for blogging at this time. My mother broke her femur two weeks ago and my energies are devoted to ensuring her speedy recovery. Hope to be back soon.

Apple Love

My Southern Gentleman Husband and I were invited to dinner by our dear friends Dirk and Josine this weekend. I brought this meandering centerpiece, partially to honor Steve Jobs, but also because I know that Josine adores apples. The tulips are a nod to our hosts' Dutch roots and I chose acorns because Josine's maiden name means oak tree. The winter berries? Just because.

It was a wonderful evening catching up with each other over wine, a gourmet home-cooked meal, and thought-provoking conversation.  Thank you Dirk and Josine, we cherish your friendship.

Sweet Baby Shower

One of my book club sisters is going to be a grandma for the second time. Last Saturday she threw a beautiful shower for her daughter.

Michelle, The Roving Gourmet, dropped off the food before the guests arrived. The menu was perfect:: cold celery soup shooters, spinach salad, poached salmon, chicken salad, fruit salad. All delicious! 

We ate outside in the back yard.  

After lunch we were invited to decorate onesies and shirts with fabric paints.

Several guest thought that the baby would be stepping into Daddy's car-mechanic footsteps.

Then came the gifts, and there were many.  The time moved swiftly because we played Baby Bingo with cards listing possible baby gifts. With every gift someone may ask "There wouldn't be a hooter-hider in that diaper bag, would there?" or "Could that be used as a pee-pee teepee?". You wouldn't believe the cheers when a night light was finally unwrapped. 

The baby will be well dressed for the World-Series-Winning San Francisco Giants ballgames.

There will be no shortage of onesies and shirts.



Baby will even have one with his Facebook page.

The afternoon ended on a sweet note.

The tiny bundt cakes were from a place called Bundtini. Super yummy!

Next time I will share with you what I brought to the shower. 

Resurrection after Hurricane Katrina

"Resurrection", c. 1894

Executed by the artists and artisans of the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, NY, NY

Restored by the artists and artisans of Associaton of Restoration Specialists, Hoboken, NJ

Wikimedia

On Thursday, August 25, 2005, the moderate Category 1 storm named Katrina made her first landfall in Florida. At end of day, Katrina traveled to the Gulf of Mexico where she gathered momentum over the weekend. By Sunday, she was a Category 5 hurricane.

On Monday, August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made her second landfall, this time she assaulted the southeastern Louisiana coastline. Her storm surge caused 53 different levee breaches in greater New Orleans, submerging eighty percent of the city.

Wikimedia

It was surreal to watch the news reports of my husband’s birthplace and our concern for his many relatives there was unbearable. Nearly all of his family members had already evacuated New Orleans over the weekend, but one aunt chose to ride out the storm. Sleep was difficult until we heard from her on Wednesday afternoon. By this time, most who evacuated had run through their two-to-three day supply of essentials and those who are hosted by loving family and friends are beginning to worry about overstaying their welcome. Each and every single one wanted to know whether their home was underwater, but accurate news about the state of the city was hard to come by.

We all hungrily read George’s account of his trip back into the city:

Sent: Fri 9/2/2005 8:43 AM

Excuse the grammar and typos I am quite tired

Hello all I just made a trip in to New Orleans with the assistance a friend in the military. Believe me I was quite concerned for my safety, before we left I was given a handgun and instructed on how to shoot to kill. Not that I don’t own hand guns and have been shooting before but getting instruction on how to kill humans from someone in the military and knowing I may have to was not too exciting.

We left and took I-10 from Baton Rouge about midday today and went through 2 check points before finally getting to Causeway and I-10, the intersection is being used as a transfer point for people leaving the city, most of the area is being used as a helicopter port they are taking off and landing constantly. It was raining and there were hundreds if not thousands of people huddled under the overpasses waiting for buses as well. The helicopters were mainly evacuating hospital patients, they would drive or boat the patients to the location and then fly them out, however they could not get them out fast enough and unfortunately there were many dead bodies there as well.

After a brief stop there (I stayed in the car) we headed down causeway to river road. At the airline overpass you could look to the left to see the city however it was being blocked by thick black smoke something in the city on the uptown side was burning bad. I still don’t know what it was. River road was already cleaned so that there was access to ochsner however you could not get down any of the side streets well maybe one or two but it wasn’t little trees, you would need more than a chainsaw to get through entire oak trees were down. I was expecting to see more damage to homes however it was only a little roof damage here some siding there not a lot of broken windows but the debris was beyond anything I could have imagined uptown does not look the same way, what you see on tv what you think it looks like multiply that by 100 you may be close.

We got to the parish line and things changed. Oak street was about knee deep in water and we saw people, I will refer to them as "urban outdoorsmen" since this email may get passed along, in the street. Perhaps looters but we didn’t wait to find out. We turned on river road the street was fairly clear but we did have to jump up in the rocky area next to the railroad tracks to get through, good thing we had a four wheel drive.

Eventually we made it to st charles and turned towards broadway my goal being to check on my house. I know this was crazy but it’s the not knowing that drives me crazy. When we hit broadway and st charles we could go no further without driving on the neutral ground there was a very big tree down right on the other side. We turned up broadway, at the intersection of freret there was a car parked we weaved past and then there was water. The flooding was not too deep nothing I haven’t seen before it was not over the neutral ground. I knew then that there was no water in my house (its raised about 5 feet) I still wanted to know was there a tree on it? were the doors blown open? was there roof damage? was it looted? We were now at zimple and broadway moving slowly due to the water and one block away appears a bunch of “urban outdoorsman” I don’t think they were up to no good, they weren’t carrying tv’s or any thing like that but there were about 8 of em. My escort was afraid of being car jacked if we drove any closer. We considered parking the car and walking but we didn’t want the car to get looted. He said “you have a gun if you want to go ill wait”. The thought of having to use it was not to appealing, splitting up we both agreed was not a good idea. So there I am a mere 2 and ½ blocks from my house and we had to turn around.

Plan B – carrollton to claiborne to broadway

Carrollton was full of debris as well like I said just unbelievable if they could dump it all in the marsh we could solve part of that coastal erosion problem. We made it to oak street the only real significant damage to property I saw being the nice canopy over nicks. At the rite aid on oak I saw the forklift used to open the steel door still there just like in the picture I think we have all seen by now. However there was one more thing there – a looter I took a pic its quite blurry his arms were full of stuff he could barely see over his loot, we sped by. All of the side streets going back to broadway were impassable and we soon failed with plan b when we couldn’t get past birch street – there was just way to much debris.

We turned around and set forth on our other goals, all in Metairie (we cancelled the remaining new Orleans ones due to anarchy). Metairie is dry, a puddle here and there but we were never unable to get anywhere due to water. The canals were low as well. However we had to drive the wrong way down many a major thoroughfare. I know Aaron Broussard said people could come back on Monday but anyone would be crazy to go. Major street are passable, barely in some places, one lane usually, but we needed to break out the chainsaw (which we had) to get through side streets. Additionally there are no traffic lights etc if too many people show up it will only make things worse. On a very positive note for Metairie entergy was at work with new poles up on west napoleon form clearview to transcontinental and the linemen beginning to work the wire.

Our goal was C’s parents’ house off of avron and clearview. C’s neighbors stayed so we knew her house was high and dry no water,, or any damage of any kind (she lives right off cleary and w metarie if you were curious). We made if to her parents’ house they had about 18” of water in the house it was all drained. We picked up some meds and a case of wine and headed out. We made a little detour to JA’s house on kawanee by east jeff hospital. The damage there was the same, water in the house and there were some shingles missing as well. We took more pics and left.

Last stop zephyr field fema is set up there. While there we found out that the coast guard was ceasing all rescue attempts until they could get bullet proof vests and handguns for everyone. We then left on our return to Baton Rouge.

I took pictures on the trip, I wish I had taken more but the shock of it all - you just stare and look and forget to take the camera out. It was also raining very hard so the windows on the truck were up, and lastly C forgot to charge the battery so it died.

Hope everyone is doing fine.

George

By October 4, 2005, the official death toll from Hurricane Katrina was 1,836 with more than 2,500 still missing.

—

With devastation all around, once in a while a silver lining appears. During the cleanup activities after the hurricane, seven Tiffany windows were rediscovered in a storage area of Tulane University.

In 1894, Mrs. Josephine Newcomb commissioned Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of New York to create three lancets in memory of her daughter, Harriott Sophie Newcomb. The “Resurrections” triptych depicts the risen Christ speaking to Mary Magdalene.

"Supper at Emmaus", c. 1895

Executed by the artists and artisans of the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, NY, NY

Restored by the artists and artisans of Associaton of Restoration Specialists, Hoboken, NJ

The following year, Mrs. Newcomb’s closest friend and counselor, Mr. Frank Walter Callender commissioned a coordinating triptych. “Supper at Emmaus” is based on a painting by Rembrandt illustrating the risen Christ and his disciples. Simon, Paul, and Cleophas mistake Christ as a fellow traveler and did not realize until preparing for an evening meal that they are the presence of their Lord.

Supper at Emmaus, 1648
Rembrandt van Rijn, (Dutch 1606-1669)

These windows were in the original chapel of Newcomb College, now part of Tulane University. When the college moved to its present location, the windows were removed and put into storage. They are now installed in the Newcomb Art Gallery of Tulane University.

Read more about Newcomb College’s impressive art program in their newsletter. Pages 7 and 8 of the Summer 2009 edition covers the relationship between the Newcomb College and Tiffany Studios of New York and their role in bringing the English Arts and Crafts Movement to the United States.

—

I thank George for allowing me to publish his e-mail and congratulate him and all others who survived the devastation for their unflagging spirit of optimism. Having just returned from New Orleans and seeing its vibrancy return stronger than ever,  I believe the rediscovery of these works of art was a fulfilled promise of resurrection to its citizens.

Macro Monday - Crocodile Recollections

When talented sculptor Patrick Gracewood published a post about crocodiles a few days ago, I was inspired to write about my recollections about crocodiles.

My first memory of crocodiles was in 1960 when we were ready to leave Java for my mother’s native land, The Netherlands. Indonesia’s spiraling inflation triggered the rupiah’s devaluation thus forcing my parents to invest their available cash in material goods. Their challenge was in finding goods that were easy to transport and not subject to stiff import duties. Even though I was only five years old, and my sisters eight and ten, we were dripping in solid gold bracelets, necklaces and rings as we boarded the Garuda airplane. Jewelry that was worn was not subject to duty fees. My mother also selected high-quality, compact Balinese sculptures and paintings plus two crocodile purses and one large crocodile suitcase. The concept of conservation and the term “politically correct” had not been invented yet. For my parents, it was a matter of survival.

It was fun to wear all the jewelry, but they quickly became a nuisance and their novelty wore off almost immediately. Of all the goods my parents bought, I was most intrigued with the crocodile luggage.

I loved endlessly stroking my fingers across the rich brown reptilian armor. I shuddered at the thought of encountering the animal that bore the high-ridged scales now running along the length of the suitcase. My mother noticed my fascination and told me that she planned to sell as many of our new purchases as soon as we landed in Amsterdam so that we would have cash. I was crushed. As luck would have it, or maybe by design, my mother never sold the crocodile goods. Until our last day in Holland. The couple that gave us a ride to Rotterdam admired our luggage and my parents sold all three pieces on the spot. I still remember how the attractive young wife pranced around with glee with the suitcase in one hand and a purse in the other.

In all likelihood, the crocodile the Indonesians used was the Saltwater Crocodile, (Crocodylus porosus), the largest of all living reptiles. Never again in my life did I ever see a crocodile suitcase that was as large, with ridges as high, and color as deep as the suitcase we owned for six years. Mostly, I think that is a good thing.

***

Last year, we visited the Cuando (Chobe) River in Botswana along the Namibian border. We arrived in time to see the elephants bathing in the river at sunset. It was easy to get caught up in observing the elephants’ social behavior in their tightly knit social groups. All our camera lenses zoomed out to the max, hoping to catch the antics of the baby elephants, still learning how to use their trunks. It wasn’t until our son gasped “Waaaa!” that we realized that two large crocodiles were right under our nose. I was more than a little unnerved to see these menacing creatures up close.

Over the next couple of days, we saw about a dozen Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). All were camouflaged artfully in their surroundings, like this pair catching the last rays of the sunset:

Having trouble seeing them? Here’s is a close-up of one; the other is out of frame, further up the riverbank on the right.

The only time I was actively concerned about my safety was when Poniso, our guide, pulled the bow of the boat up on the bank and then killed the engine.

Without wanting to sound an alarm, I gave a tiny squeal of concern. “Oh, don’t worry. He’s not coming after us. Look how full his belly is. He’s just had a full meal.”, Poniso rationalized. What if the engine won’t start up? What if he’s thinking about a little dessert? I can read it on his face.

He still looks pretty hungry to me.

Never have I been so relieved to hear an engine start up. I don’t mind a little adventure, but I don’t believe in pressing my luck.

Speaking of pressing one’s luck. We saw a young adult on another boat with his legs dangling over the edge of the boat and his bare feet ankle-deep in the water. Brrrr! This is an apt time to cite the delightful little Lewis Caroll poem that Patrick Gracewood found:

How doth the little crocodile 

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,

How neatly spread his claws,

And welcome little fishes in

With gently smiling jaws!

.....Lewis Caroll

Thank you Patrick for inspiring me to write this post. Please pop over to his blog to read his post about some beautiful crocodile sculptures.

Please visit lisaschaos, the lovely home of Macro Mondays.

Peter Rabbit Is Watching Over You

Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, 1901

Yesterday our babysitter of thirteen years came to visit since my daughter is home on spring break. We started reminiscing of the old days when our kids were toddlers. One story we particularly enjoyed retelling was when my daughter was just over a year old. She had the habit of calling us from her room at all hours of the night. Bleary-eyed, I would stumble to her dark room, lit only by her Peter Rabbit night light, and find her standing up in her crib with her arms stretched out ready for the next adventure. I would quietly whisper to her that it wasn't time to get up yet but that we would play first thing in the morning. Sometimes this would happen more than once per night and I would nudge my husband to take a turn. This became a real problem when we both had to go to work in the morning.

One night, my brilliant husband came up with a solution. He plugged the Peter Rabbit night light into a timer that would automatically turn on the light at bedtime and turn off when it was time to rise. He then explained to our daughter that when Peter Rabbit was on, he would watch over her while she was asleep. When Peter Rabbit clicked off, it was time to get up and play again. It only took one or two more times for her to understand when it was sleeping time and when it was time to get up.

Home for the Holidays

My daughter's on her way home from New Orleans after finishing her first semester of college. Three days ago she texted me photo of the St. Charles streetcar (I took these one when we went on a college tour together in 2007). She wrote: "They decorate the streetcars!" She also texted me that after Christmas, people in New Orleans take down their ornaments and then immediately put up Mardi Gras decorations.



She absorbed a great deal in the classroom but she is also learning the true meaning of Southern Hospitality. She learned the value of her extended family who has welcomed her with open arms. They have graciously hosted her for many Sunday night dinners, cookie-baking parties, family celebrations, and luncheons, and they shuttle her back and forth from the airport. How could I ever thank them enough for making her feel so loved and accepted?

Thanksgiving

California buckeye (Aesculus californica)

“One generation plants the trees, and another gets the shade."

-Chinese Proverb

Spending a wonderful Thanksgiving week in Houston with many branches of the family tree. Be back next week.

Boulange de Cole Valley

 

Ever since my mother got sick last year, she has needed a little more help around her apartment building. Though she is doing remarkably well for being 83, my sister and I help her get the apartments ready for lease and we help her select the next tenants. Whenever I have to drive up to San Francisco to hold an open house, deliver a light fixture, or meet the electrician, I know that I have a big reward waiting for me at the end of my errand. Located just a short walk away at Cole and Parnassus is Boulange de Cole Valley.

The aroma of coffee and freshly baked goods greets me as I walk into this bustling, warm place filled with the neighborhood clientele.

If I have to hurry back home, I go for one of the Grab & Go baguette sandwiches.



But if I have time, I will have them heat up a savory croissant or quiche, or I will order a  fresh salad from the chalkboard menu.

And if I’m feeling luxurious, I treat myself to dessert

I always feel so loved when I see their self-serve counter. Who else offers Nutella and cornichons as every day condiments?

 

The food is always scrumptuous and the atmosphere is warm and inviting, but most of all, they were incredibly kind to my mother when she was sick last year, and for that I will always be grateful to them.

If you are in the Cole Valley neighborhood, please don’t miss this San Francisco treat!

Blog Camp Marin County Style

We continued our summer adventure with Relyn and Robin Bird by driving north of the Golden Gate Bridge, to Marin County. As luck would have it, Anjie from Studio Wellspring and Little Miss Peach were already in Marin. We agreed to meet at Dipsea Café in Mill Valley:

We did our best to not fight over the baby. After lunch, we drove ten minutes to Muir Woods:

I was quite taken with this wild rhododendron, which I believe to be a Western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale):

The sun was directly overhead, not exactly conducive for artful photography, but that didn’t stop passionate photographer Robin from doing her level best to overcome the handicap. I look forward to seeing her photos. In the mean time, Relyn, Anjie, and Miss Peach paused for a photo:

After bidding adieu to Anjie and Peach, we drove for about a half hour, up to the top of Mount Tamalpais. At elevation 2,571 feet, we got a terrific view of the Bay Area. It was a hazy day, but we could still make out San Francisco, one tower of the Golden Gate Bridge (on the right), the Oakland Bay bridge, Southern Marin, the Richardson Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island:

We followed the easy, paved one-mile hike around the peak…

…and enjoyed the views from all directions:

On our way down, we stopped to see the mountain amphitheater. I went to high school in Marin County and received my high school diploma here:

Mount Tamalpais has many madrone trees with beautiful red barks that are cool to the touch. I learned on a school field trip that madrones are sometimes called “refrigerator” trees because Indians used to strap their food onto these trees in order to keep it cool.

I just learned that Relyn and Robin are blogging at an internet café; they may soon tell you about our time at Stinson Beach. I didn't take very many photos there and I am certain theirs are better than mine.

We had a beautiful day of friendship, laughter, and stories as we wound around Highway 1, hugging the Pacific Coast, relishing in the gorgeous weather.