small house seems big

 My first tenant, Ari, flew back to Paris yesterday. He left Emma's Room in good condition and even though I didn't see much of him, the house feels different. Quiet. Empty. I have a few weeks before tenant #2 (Laura) arrives and a bunch of laundry to do. All in all this has been a good experience!

my city of color

My BFF Ginger used the expression "the tyranny of beige" from time to time and we have certainly avoided that here in San Francisco, thankfully. The purple jacaranda trees are in bloom and big and small houses add just the right amount of color, in my opinion. I am back to walking about 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day and there are always visual rewards.

pomp & circumstance

 I'm wearing my SCAD sweatshirt to honor Cass today. I was able to watch the graduation ceremony on my iPhone at 6am this morning and that was really quite wonderful. As much as we often curse modern technology, it does provide us with these terrific opportunities to be and experience these special moments.

a poem for graduates

Dreams

Langston Hughes

1901 – 

1967

Hold fast to dreams 
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes published by Alfred A. Knopf/Vintage. Copyright © 1994 by the Estate of Langston Hughes.

for Steve Carell fans...

 ...and I am one. Thanks to Terri for this recommendation of Rooster on HBO. This takes place on some fictional college town and so far I like it a lot. And no violence so far, a relief from my other TV choices.

almost all spoken for

 There were 5 (out of the original 7) kittens to visit yesterday ~ good homes have been found, thankfully. My neighbor Cristina (middle photo with kitten inside jacket) will be taking two, she thinks. These kittens are trilingual: English, Spanish and Italian. They are non-stop and such fun to watch, but I'm happy with just one lazy 9 year old feline. 

a beautiful day on the Bay

 Thanks to our neighbor, Cristina (top photo), Heidi and I spent a full day going to/fro Jack London Square in Oakland from which (whence?) we took that FREE yellow boat (aka Velveeta, second photo) over to Alameda where we had coffee at a Target store. Heidi, bless her, provided lunch and you can see that we could not have asked for better weather. ALL the boats were packed with tourists and locals and everyone was just so nice and honestly, it was a day to celebrate and remember. Then Heidi and Rob fed me dinner so who isn't spoiled rotten? Not me. 

not exactly gourmet...

 Sometimes a woman just needs a hot dog, garlic fries and a lemonade. Especially after walking around Stow Lake, now renamed Blue Heron Lake, in Golden Gate Park. Neti and I walked around the lake twice yesterday with hundreds of other folks eager to be out and about on a sunny Saturday. So beautiful. 

in-home movie day

 Amy, Heidi, Annabelle and I had a lovely afternoon around my TV yesterday. Two Flix® movies, popcorn and Kleenex®. The Marty Short doc was better than expected and I enjoyed watching Remarkably Bright Creatures again. Microwave popcorn was a hit ~ I outdid myself.

the same old story?

 

Not. I love the Dumpling Story on Valencia Street, as you well know by now. Yesterday Doug, Barb and I enjoyed a feast of noodles, fried chicken, kelp salad, pork dumplings, onion pancakes ~ with lots left over for my dinner last night. Best of all, of course, was catching up on our lives because they have been traveling here, there and everywhere. 

this time of year

 Beautiful days and nights here in SF. This was from my back room at sunset ~ the photo doesn't really do it justice, but it wasn't touched up. My French tenant, Ari, heads back to Paris next week and I hope he only has wonderful memories of his stay here. In the Fall he will attend MIT. This has been such a good experience for me. I am adaptable after all (sort of). 

coffee in the Grove

 Pat Snyder prepared a lovely snack spread yesterday as we caught up on her busy life that is currently filled with weddings and graduations and lots of travel. I'm of course happy to be a stay-at-home San Francisco woman of leisure.

graduation ~ how is this possible?

 Here is Cass (formerly known as RR) making friends with a snake. I do not like snakes but Cass is special indeed. What a pleasure watching Cass turn into this lovely and VERY talented person. Soon Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid will be heading to Savannah for the SCAD graduation ceremonies.  I know, the years zip by. At least Cass has not befriended any alligators, to my knowledge. Congratulations!

well worth the rental price

 May I recommend The Christophers? I missed this on the big screen, but it certainly works nicely as an at-home treat. Two artists, London, eccentricities and humor. On Prime ~ enjoy!

an Epic celebration

 Dancing Jen's birthday lunch was down at the Embarcadero yesterday ~ a gorgeous day, as you can see. We had front row seats for the naked bicyclists on the patio of the Epic Steakhouse. I'm in no position to body shame anyone, but really, we wear clothes for a good reason. Lunch was delicious and we had such a lovely time catching up with our lives. Today is Bay to Breakers, a good reason to stay home, right?

Filoli on Friday

 I've always wanted to go to Filoli Gardens down on the Peninsula about 30 minutes or so from SF. It is a huge, lush estate and yesterday I finally got to really enjoy it thanks to Shelley and Heidi. The name?

FI = fight for a just cause. LO = love your fellow man. LI = live a good life. 

What a glorious day and the weather was perfect. We walked and walked, had lunch and visited the gift store. Tried to identify flowers and birds (we were pretty good) and of course talked a lot as women do.

Matisse at SF Moma

 Thanks to Terri for scoring Opening Day tickets to the Matisse exhibit yesterday. She took the bottom photo of me taking photos of people taking pictures. First we had lunch at Cafe Jane next door and then we enjoyed wandering all over the 4th Floor. The curators did a fabulous job and I especially loved the recreation of Gertrude Stein's apartment in Paris. Well done, Moma!

tradwives in America

 Yay, a new novel and this one knocked The Correspondent off the #1 NYTimes best seller list. Already a page turner, I started Yesteryear yesterday. I can only say that once. Drat. Our heroine is an Instagram influencer with a bunch of kids and a very funny inner life and yes, I like it. A lot.

new in the nabe

 Yay! A new, big and colorful mural up on Bryant and 24th, the heart of the Latino district. I couldn't get it in one shot, as you can see. I believe that's a coyote along with birds and a car and flowers galore. 

and MORE dumplings

 Granddaughter Samantha and I had a lovely late lunch yesterday back at Dumpling Story on Valencia Street. She is full of plans which include (alas) a move to Florida and yes, we will miss her and Luke and the big old doodle Harlow so much. And they will miss the Bay Area, that much I know for sure.

a poem to start the week

 

Tablecloth

Victoria Guerrero-Peirano Translated from the Spanish by Anastatia Spicer and Honora Spicer

My mother made a tablecloth She crocheted At the time I didn't know anything She took it everywhere I wondered at how she crocheted in the darkness of a theatre But she did And the next day there wasn't a single stitch added or dropped That was my mother in those days A strange woman She worked during the day and on the weekends stitched She took me to the theatre I didn't understand her then My friends' mothers stayed home They cooked   They picked them up from school   They packed lunch boxes When the tablecloth was finished She put it on the table It was magnificent But back then I didn't understand It was complicated I was tangled in her delicate web I saw my mother through that pane of thread She kept being different from the others: She worked during the day Embroidered on the weekends And couldn't really stand being at home I never understood her Maybe I didn't know enough She also never taught me Thought it was too much for me—or too little Now my mother says she can't do anything with her hands The tablecloth stays tucked away in the kitchen cabinet I got myself knee-deep in diplomas And I don't know how to embroider

a remarkably good movie

 Thanks to the Blogmaid for recommending Remarkably Bright Creatures featuring Sally Field, Lewis Pullman and a chatty octopus who is filled with all sorts of wisdom. On the Flix®.

let's call them step flowers

 Nancy, my almost perfect step daughter, sent this glorious bouquet and my house smells lovely as a result. I was not a great step mother, but I lucked out and am grateful to have experienced the growth and development of Bill's four children. And of course the six grands are a delight. Happy Mother's Day to the REAL mamas out there. Good job!

ah, those Brits...

 A select team of undercover Customs investigators infiltrate the drug world back in the 1990's. This is based on a true story and these civil servants risk their lives to stop the flow of heroin into the UK. Starring Steve Coogan, Tom Burke and Ami Ameen. Six episodes on the Flix®.

a little Monet, please

 Yesterday Chef Sarah and I went to the deYoung to see Monet and Venice, a sweet little exhibit that brought back lots of memories of my trip to Venice. I recommend this and it wasn't too crazy/busy so we could really enjoy the paintings. The Red House (bottom photo) might be my favorite. Good early lunch in the cafe along with easy parking made this a lovely, special day. Thank you, Sarah Ann.

the kitten update

 All seven are flourishing and will be going to their forever homes soon. I admire Cristina and Deanie so much for taking on this chore. The mother was never found in the field so these kittens have been bottle fed and cleaned are as healthy as can be. Annabelle does NOT want a little sister or brother, so there.

inside the web of red yarn

 Chiharu Shiota's work at the Asian Art Museum is spectacular, especially Diary in the top photo.  My friend Ken works at the Asian and I benefitted with a good visit and excellent lunch in the cafe there yesterday. And I love the gift store. All in all, a delightful Monday for your blogger.

talking trash once again

 Here we have my neighbor/friend Heidi and Ari, my French tenant. Yesterday we introduced him to the community at Manny's and we walked and talked and picked up street litter. We met Paul from Indiana and Mari from Florida, young people who work in start-ups so they had a lot to talk about. And it felt so nice to be with others doing a bit of good work before our free breakfast. Thank you, Manny and SF.

bagels and art and bleak weather

 Yup, May Gray is here and June Gloom will follow. That's OK, we bundle up. Yesterday the Blogmaid and I met for lattes at the Chit Chat Cafe on the pier in Pathetica. I needed a touch of therapy with my bagel. Then on to the Open Studios at the Sanchez Art Center in Linda Mar where I had never been and I thank my friend for taking me to/fro. A good Saturday indeed.