My brother has telephoned.

I've been out gathering kindling, 

 just before the sun sets over the Pacific

and San Francisco lights up in the distance.

My father taught me everything I know 

about wood fires 

and kindling

how to be resourceful

and see,

not just look. 

I climbed the rickety fence

and cut these roses

just before returning home.

He taught me that as well...

that nature and beauty are everywhere

any season

any weather.

I go in the house to light the fire

and send smoke signals to my father

telling him I'm coming

and to hold on tight

home

It always seems to be this sort of weather

for the

"Sixth Annual Shore to Shore Paddle Race"

From Brighton Beach in Bolinas

to Stinson Beach

it's a long paddle out, in the gray, foggy chop...

As young as nine, and as old as seventy

they paddle all sorts of craft.

 out there with the seals, sharks and sea lions

"You're just part of the food chain"

says Toby.

and afterwards you feel happy

and proud

and glad to be part of it and the sea and miracles

p.s.
public declaration of love...
congratulations to my son 

Hey Mick !

I've been thinking about Muley Point

and him,

of course

the way the wind blows

and the scent of dry air horizons.

If only we could meet there

I could tell you secrets

about how much we loved him

and how we left him there

amongst the rock

and light

and dry earth heat

that he loved...

( all photos by stella )

Like a modern day 

Caravaggio

Pierre Gonnard

some of the most touching portraits 

I have experienced in a long time

A south summer swell

is serious business...

p.s. 

(Robert Frank)

Ester Williams 
8 August 1921 -  6 June 2013

By then MGM had built a $250,000 swimming pool for Williams on Sound Stage 30 — 90 feet wide, 90 feet long and 25 feet deep. A "bucket camera" was devised to follow her underwater. The pool was filled with special-effects equipment to create underwater fountains, geysers and fireworks, and there was a central pedestal with a hydraulic lift that could raise Williams 50 feet out of the water.

"Like Venus on the half-shell," she said.

only today  I have discovered...

Ottavio Missoni

has died

February 11, 1921 - 8 May 2013

grandfather of Italian knitwear

track star

gentleman of the first order

since 1955

he delighted and mystified 

fashionistas everywhere

postscript:

believe in beauty

put on your booties

take off running

grab your friends

charge down the hill

believe in beauty

an explanation...

we had a home that we loved 

and moved to on blind faith

you can see what I mean,

We were besotted...truly.

it was mainly about the light

and surf

of course

nothing was easy

most especially the road in and out

but the sunsets were surreal

no need for photoshop at all

and we got accustomed 

to this sort of beauty

and then

the world turned

and we did too

and he ran towards his future

and I followed

and we can only believe 

in the next leap...