Spring is finally here! Seeing nature rebirth itself in a burst of color and bloom is such powerful medicine to our weary souls.
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One thing that’s been really interesting to learn is how my home sets the tone for my day. When I was young and my apartment felt a little bit thrown together, I remember my life feeling a little bit thrown together. But when I started to treat my place with a little more pride, it inspired me to carry myself with a little more pride. I almost felt like I had something to live up to. Simply put, my home had the power to make me feel incredible
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April Fools’Day, the first day of the month, has been “celebrated” for centuries by different cultures, with shenanigans that include practical jokes often bellowing “April Fools!” at the end of the prank. Popular culture, media and major brands have ensured the unofficial holiday’s long life though its exact origins remains a mystery.
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Carlo Ponti Jr, Sophia Loren's eldest son, is best known for being a prolific Italian orchestra conductor, the founder of LAV, Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra.
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Some facts about Great Horned Owls they are fierce predators that can take down large prey, including raptors such as osprey, peregrine Falcons, prairie falcons, and other owls.
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Part 2 of a coastal Oregon photo tour made last August. Part 1 is Photographing the Oregon coast.
Landscape photographers based in the South Bay get endless chances to shoot great seascapes. The creative possibilities from Manhattan Beach Pier to the Peninsula down to Cabrillo are endless. The Beach Cities have been my backyard for over 20 years now.
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Visiting my college-aged daughter in New York as we’re coming out of Covid was the perfect time to put my social expertise to the test. We had a full schedule planned for my five day stay, lots of opportunity to practice mixing and mingling with everyone from her dorm mates at school to the maître d' at restaurants.
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The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy invites you to celebrate Earth Day 2021 with a variety of inspiring and engaging activities. On Thursday April 22nd at 7 pm join us for a live Zoom event hosted in partnership with the Palos Verdes Library District, Friends of the Library and the California Native Plant Society.
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Special Events
Guided Nature Talk (Virtual) of the Alta Vicente Reserve, Sunday, April 18th, 1:30pm. Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a virtual guided tour of the Alta Vicente Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes. You'll enjoy exploring the beautiful native wildflowers, rare animals and discovering the historic features of the area such as the Japanese farm lands and military sites along trails with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island
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Spring is here, and it is time to look at all your habits when it comes to healthy eating, working out and self-care.
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The first Saturday of April is National Handmade Day, but at Ten Thousand Villages, celebrating crafts made by skilled hands is an everyday event.
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History has a tendency to repeat itself. After the pandemic of 1918, everyone wanted to get out and see the world. And they did with rudimentary social tools that were available back in the day. Social restrictions are just terrible both then and now. And as we rotate out of the current COVID pandemic, the urge to get out is stronger than ever. And our social tools are more abundant now than ever.
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Snakes have fascinated me ever since I held an Anaconda, in Brazil, across my shoulders. Although, it felt slimy, the skin, glistening in the hot sun looked so beautiful. I fell in love with this dangerous reptile only for a moment till it tried to wrap its tail around my arm, crushing my bones!
Snakes predominantly represent re-birth, death, and destruction, due to shedding of its skin and metaphorically "re-born". They hold a significant role in numerous cultures and mythologies. Hindus worship snakes as Gods and refer to them as “Nag Devata” (Snake God)! At Greek hospitals and temples, non-poisonous snakes were used in healing rituals. With the passing of time, snakes have been correlated with medicine.
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Jane Russell was a powerful presence on the silver screen and created a powerful role in “The Revolt of Mamie Stover” in 1956. This stunning green gown was designed by William Travilla who was also designer for almost all of Marilyn Monroe’s films at 20th Century Fox Studios. And since March is the month for Saint Patrick’s Day, green seemed the color to highlight. The gown is of green silk brocade with gold thread woven through it. What makes it really unique is the large strand of gold beading that extends from her hip area and cascades down the front of the gown. Note also that the hand colored images sometimes turn the actual green color to more of a blue -green. And the most interesting part of the costume is that is was not even designed for this film, but instead was for “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 1953.
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St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures throughout the world. But for all of his prevalence in culture; namely the holiday held on the day of his death that bears his name—his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling. Information below is from History.com and it is a story I had never heard before---and I am Irish!
St. Patrick was born in Britain—not Ireland—to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.
Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family.
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WORKAHOLIC?
IS THIS YOU:
Hard-charger?
Achievement-driven?
“It takes discipline for me not to work.”
“I can sleep when I’m dead.”
“Never enough…I must do more, more, more.”
If so…
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My fifth children’s book, “After the Ark” came out right before Christmas in the middle of our pandemic.
You didn’t know?
I usually send out a trumpeted announcement inviting everyone I know to my house for refreshments, book signings and live reads, but the latest pandemic restrictions have certainly put the kibosh on that lively endeavor.
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Palos Verdes resident John Van Hamersveld’s iconic artwork comes alive again at the Los Angeles International Film Festival on March 13.
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