29 seconds of my morning walk. i’m including a link for email subscribers.
the usual way i spend saturday mornings.
thought some of you might want to see and hear what a flock of wild california parrots are like.
walking around. today’s focus: succulent pots.
i walk. i stop. i sit. i read my book from my phone.
i guess meandering is a better description than walking.
but i’m moving!
and that’s something.
i stop to make a video of squabbling parrots.
i love those guys.
afterwards i drove to a coffeehouse and had a giant latte.
wrote in my journal.
i came home and piddled.
read.
stretched out.
more watercolors from class photos. i’m going to fill this book with 4 year old portraits. i’m thinking when i’m 54 or 64 or 74 or 84 or 94 i’m really going to love looking back at these little people.
the way back machine
the blog is a record. i like to check it sometimes to see what i was doing years ago on this date.
i’ve thought lately about a blog i used to read going on 8-10 years ago. it was written by a woman with a big family who lived somewhere on the central coast of california. she homeschooled her young son. they went to the beach together. she was crafty and made things, but i can’t remember what she made. does any of this ring a bell? her blog was widely read at the time…
does this happen to you? it happens to me more and more. hardly anyone keeps blogrolls anymore so it’s harder to find people. drat.
okay back to the watercolor board.
see you soon!
I”m pretty sure I know exactly the blogger you’re referring to. Wasn’t she just a guardian to her son, maybe adopted? In fact, his dad was in the picture, I believe. She was really crafty. I’ll think of it and come back with it. Gosh, I hate it when I can’t remember things.
I DO NOT like it when I can’t find one of my blogs. I have most of my “must Reads” on Bloglovin, so I get an e-mail message when there is a new post!
Oh boy, I love those portraits! What lucky kids to spend the day with you, singing, dancing, and just being alive. As for parrots, my eccentric Aunt and Uncle have been feeding one of the Berkeley flocks for about 20 years. The birds come most days, and my Uncle goes out with nuts and seeds and slices of apples. They built perches for the parrots outside the kitchen window, and my Aunt calls them all by name, as she watches them eat lunch, and they watch her watching them. They have mated, brought new babies, and once my Aunt and Uncle rescued one who had been attacked by a hawk. It’s really quite something to be there during the parrot hour! So much chatter! I am constantly amazed by our ability to have relationships with non-human animals, so very very cool.
how thrilling to get to experience this!!!
we human animals like to make connections with all sorts of things it seems. animals, plants, places, books, rocks shaped like hearts (hah!)
hey let’s see that janet flanner portrait!
Okay, I’ve got a list going here. I love the parrots. I’ve lived with a couple in my house and am familiar with their exuberance. Are the ones in the video cherry heads? I love the gardens you walk in and the beautiful western plants. I love the portraits and your way of making them. I love the way you look at life. And I got to thinking how long I’ve been following your blog and trading some emails. Blogs can come and go. But yours is a lodestone in my internet world.
oh carol. THANK YOU.
Here in South Pasadena our parrot flock is so raucous it often drowns out the sound of movies we watch. We love to observe their, let’s call them antics, and note the different species that hold court at different times of the day – parrots, crows, woodpeckers, mourning doves, various songbirds, the occasional geese fly-over. Makes us very happy. Beautiful photos of the succulents, always a treat to visit here. Thank you. xo
Are you thinking of The Pioneer Woman blog?
oh no… she lived here in california.
but you’ve reminded me to go pay PW a visit!
Just…..delightful!
So nice of you Mary Ann to immortalise the parrots. That was really something with all the jabbering.
The portraits are adorable.
What a gorgeous garden to meander in! Your portraits are really extraordinary – you are definitely capturing the personalities…although I hope little Rachel isn’t quite as sad as she appears. Do you show them their painted portraits? If so, what is the reaction?
rachel is a shy and rather worried child because she has to attend school all day and doesn’t understand the language 🙁 she is able to converse with the other children in cantonese. i smile at her a lot and speak slowly. and we dance.
When I saw your painting, I thought Rachel looked a little worried…you seem to have captured her personality so well. I also love your blog and I cheer you on as if we were friends IRL. You are heartfelt, brave and generous and I adore you!
LOVE your portraits. You make it look so easy. Even though I haven’t seen their photos… I’m sure you’ve captured their essence.
You certainly live in a beautiful area!
Your portraits are charming. I’ve always felt more comfortable (read “in control”) with pen and ink but your work inspires me to let go of my fear of imperfection and just go for it in my own painting. Also, no doubt you’ve already seen it, but just in case you haven’t, anyone interested in wild parrots must see The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.
i absolutely loved that documentary! so good..think will rewatch. it’s been awhile.
Thank you for sharing your daily life with all of us out here. I look forward to each and every post, your uplifting take on everything, your paintings, videos, photos, and travel. Living a bit vicariously, and enjoying it all!!
A wonderful walk, and oh the sounds!
I’m 74 now and loving your sweet portraits.
Thank YOU!
These water color portraits are extraordinary. Truly. Keep it up.
Beautiful portraits of your 4 years children !
I have read all your Posts in the last 4 weeks and I love special your Scandinavien adventures ,
The most beautiful countrys of the world . All the beach adventures are yummy too !
And your cats , your skisters , your sweet mom , great to read your memories of her .
My English is bad , i’ll never learn it , I came from the Netherlands and I am 72 years old ?
I love your lifestyle Mary Ann !
your english sounds very understandable to me catharina. i cannot wait to get back to the netherlands. enjoyed myself so much there in your land!
That portrait of Rachel is v. v. good. The color is wonderful.
I love looking at succulents but never can decide which to try so I just look at the pictures from you and Pinterest. Sad, isn’t it? I will be redoing the yard when all the construction (new garage) is over, so maybe that will be time to choose a pot full to begin with.
I play with color and texture in my pots and don’t really care what they are. It’s very fun and you shouldn’t wait! My less than year old pots were blooming with the most interesting flowers. I had no idea they’d do that!
exactly right laurie! they bring such pleasure
Just when I think your posts can’t get any better, they do! I love everything I see…those plants and succulents make me crazy !!
I love the parrots. I love your 4 year old portraits. I love the succulent pots. Your beautiful walk location is drool-worthy. Where is it?
XO
huntington gardens in pasadena. i go every weekend early before the throngs. it is a WONDER.
One of the jewels of southern CA. I I love Huntington garden! So much! I am from northern CA.