A Mexican Circus has come into town.

  This might be an interesting circus to see.

   I went to a Mexican Rodeo once… it was a lot tougher on the animals that what you see in the USA.   It might offend the sensibilities of some ‘Amis’, or ‘Yanqes’ to see some instances of what wuld be seen as ‘animal misreatment’ in the US.

   I did see a matador get hit by a bull in Spain once. After the animal was lured away, some six buddies of his, all decked out in those flashy red uniforms, came out onto the field and hoisted him horizontal onto their shoulders and carried him out of the arena.

California Coffeeberry

   No, it’s not coffee at all. It was just named that due to its resemblance. It is a wild shrub in California, and has an attractive foliage all year long, and at times has these very attractive berries that are food for much wildlife. We have many of these plants on our property, they are one of the plants I resist removing or cutting.

   This is not a plant to eat… the berries will cause intestinal problems that can only be resolved by sitting on the toilet for many, many, many hours…. and you might wind up in the hospital… so don’t eat these!

 

 

   You can click the image to see it much larger.

   This is the ‘Rhamnus californica’  subsp. occidentalis   species

~David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Paul Kantner~
‘Wooden Ships’

If you smile at me, I will understand
‘Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
in the same language.

I can see by your coat, my friend,
you’re from the other side,
There’s just one thing I got to know,
Can you tell me please, who won?

Say, can I have some of your purple berries?

 Yes, I’ve been eating them for six or seven weeks now,
haven’t got sick once.

Probably keep us both alive.

Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy,
Easy, you know the way it’s supposed to be,
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be,
Talkin’ ’bout very free and easy…
Horror grips us as we watch you die,
All we can do is echo your anguished cries,
Stare as all human feelings die,
We are leaving - you don’t need us.

Go, take your sister then, by the hand,
lead her away from this foreign land,
Far away, where we might laugh again,
We are leaving - you don’t need us.

And it’s a fair wind, blowin’ warm,
Out of the south over my shoulder,
Guess I’ll set a course and go…

 

 

 

 

The Harbor in San Diego California hosts a meeting of the big masted sail ships every year. A fellow from there took video of some of the ships, and put it on YouTube with the song ‘Wooden Ships’ by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.  The song is great, the video is pretty well done, and the ships filmed are impressive…. if you ever get a chance to go to San Diego, do go. It is a fun town, and the weather can be counted on to be great. The harbor is fine, the people seem to enjoy to party… it’s a different kind of town… I’ve enjoyed it any time I’ve been there.

CALL TO ALL ARTISTS

Benefit Show for Fairview Gardens & Center for Urban Agriculture is the beneficiary of the Santa Barbara Art Association’s November 2008 Benefit Show. As stewards of the good land, Fairview Garden Farm provides wholesome local, organic food at the farm stand, farmers markets and through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program

.

As the Center for Urban Agriculture, the farm is a vital source of hands-on education for visiting school classes, public garden tours, Adult Education cooking classes and Summer Farm Fun camps.

The value of our local soil is abundantly clear when you tour the garden, experiencing the diversity of row crops and fruit trees. It has been estimated that a 30′ depth of the richest growing soil in California exists in parts of Goleta and Santa Barbara.

The value of well-maintained green spaces is evident in the wake of the Gap Fire, where agricultural land was an essential firebreak between the foothills and homes. Fairview Gardens is part of the Santa Barbara Land Trust.

You are invited to paint at Fairview Gardens between 8 AM and sunset, daily. Be respectful of the health of plants and soil by keeping to the pathways, and packing all materials and rinse water out. Do not compact the soil by walking between rows.

Use caution around farm machinery and irrigation. Images honoring the beauty of farmland, farm buildings and equipment, farm animals and birds, botanicals, figures in the landscape, and the agrarian way of life are preferred.

All SB county artists are welcome to submit up to 3 pieces, but a maximum of 2 will be allowed into the show. Sculpture that fits on a G113 pedestal may be represented with a photo that includes dimensions and weight.

Entry fee: $10 per piece with no refunds. Artists need to carry their accepted piece(s) from the Faulkner Gallery to Gallery 113 from 3 - 4:30 pm and pay $5 to help cover the reception costs. SBAA members must sign up to sit at Gallery 113.

The Fairview Gardens will receive 25%; the artist will receive 50%, and the remainder goes to Gallery 113 after sales tax and credit card fees have been deducted.

Ingathering for Publicity:  Wednesday, Sept. 3
Goleta Library at 500 N. Fairview, Goleta
Ingathering: 1-2 PM;  Pick up: 3:30-4 PM

Show Ingathering Date:  Monday, November 3
Santa Barbara Main Library, Faulkner Gallery
Ingathering: 10 AM -12:30 PM;  Pick up: 3:00-4:30 PM

Gallery 113 Reception:  1st Thursday, November 6, 5 - 8 PM

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For more information contact:
Erin Williams
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 698-0669
erin@erinwilliamswatercolors.com

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We got this e-mail… and even though I don’t dance, since it is from Barcelona, a town I fell in love with decades ago… I must pass it on…

FYI, Barcelona also has one of the most reknown cactus gardens in the world!

Oh Barcelona…. a very pretty town, nestled on a beach on the Mediterranean…. so much like my own beloved Santa Barbara.

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Call for Dance Schools/Groups:

Interested in performing in Europe?

Dear Choreographers/Directors/Dancers friends and colleagues,

The Directors of Barcelona Dance Award, present the International Dance Competitions for Dance Schools/Companies
and invite your dance group to performing at the most prestigious dance event in Europe the next 2009 season.

 BARCELONA DANCE AWARD - from 9th to 13th  April 2009 in Barcelona (SPAIN)
and DANCE GRAND PRIX from 18th to 22nd June 2009 in Italy and in Paris (France).

 For the past few years, acceptance to our annual festivals has been extremely competitive, please
prepare your application promptly according to the guidelines, we look forward to receiving your applications.

 We kindly ask you to help us distribute our news through your electronic network or printing out and
hanging our postage/news/material up at public places at your eventual dance hall or studio.

organizer E-Mail: <barcelonawardance200@tiscali.it>

 
our updated Web Site: <http://web.tiscali.it/barcelonawardance08/> 

We are looking forward to hear from your comments!

Best wishes,

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We invite you to submit applications for this exciting 2009 Festivals/Competitions:

We encourage modern/ballet dance emerging and established choreographers/companies to apply.

 Designed to showcase/competition the work of approximately 50 emerging and established dance schools/companies  from all over the  World, in marathon-like performances. The 2009 DANCE COMPETITIONS is an integral part of the larger Annual dance Award Europe curated by W.R Dancefestival Association the program will represent the freshest and most original emerging contemporary dance artists.

 The audience has the opportunity to enjoy up to 6-7 different companies in each hour of programming, evening and daytime weekend performances.

  We look forward to your participation and I hope to see you at the next DANCE CONTEST! come with us to our next step, Travel, Dance, Compete, and enjoy the best Old Wood stage TheatreS in EUROPE.

I’m inviting the “Dance Directors” who are willing to invest in themselves and who are interested in expanding their knowledge of other cultures, as well as promoting their work abroad, says Mr. Marcelo Barbieri  I’m looking  for “Dance Groups” who see this thrilling event as an opportunity to benefit their professional development.

 The Directors will have an opportunity to network and attend all performances by groups from all over the world.

 To find out how to qualifye mail the office space is limited, so “Dance Directors” should act right away.

ONLY A LITTLE FEE TO PARTICIPATE!!!

 This exciting trip will give dancers and students an excellent opportunity to present their work, to network with directors, producers, other artists, (hopefully to negotiate new engagements!) to compete and win the awards with the own performances.

 The Dance Grand Prix Festival literally draws thousands of people from all across Europe and other parts of the world, the festival is a thrilling extravaganza of hundreds of artists performing dance, theater and music within a wonderful old stage theatre near the famous EU Art Cities, courtyards, outdoor cafes and the hotel accomodations on the beach of the MEDITERRANEAN coast this truly promises to be an unforgettable experience.

 Choreographers, dancers and chaperones will receive hotel three star accommodations in twin beds rooms with bathroom/shower.

 We provide an entire and complete production package which includes excellent theaters, lighting, sound, technical assistance, publicity, pre-show rehearsal arrangements, and printed programs and poster advise all over the city.

 Our managers will meet your dance groups on the “Welcome Bus Service” in the meeting pointe airport.

 I look forward to your participation and I hope to see you at the next festival.

Have questions? Please email us and in a few days you will receive some advertising materials from us, the new brochures and posters of the  Dance Awards free on charges for you: 

please fax or e.mail the request at organizer E-Mail: <barcelonawardance200@tiscali.it>

our updated Web Site: <http://web.tiscali.it/barcelonawardance08/>  

Full Name:____________________________________________

School/Company Name:  ________________________________

Telephone:___________________________________________

Fax:_________________________________________________

Email Address:________________________________________* REQUIRED FIELD

Shipping Address:_____________________________________

City:____________________ State/Province:_______________

Country:________________________ ZIP/Postal:___________

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: THE INFORMATION HERE IN HAS BEEN PREPARED SOLELY FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL
& ARTISTIC PURPOSES AND ARE NOT AN OFFER TO BUY OR SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR SELL.
You are receiving this e-mail because I believe you to be interested in developing  your artistic career.

If you fell you have received this e-mail <barcawardance@tiscali.it> write remove in the subject line and click send.

Got yer goat

This is the neighbor’s goat.
He browses the hillside.
The neighbors recently asked if they could open a  gate between their property and ours and let the goat roam our hillside some. I agreed as having a browser like a goat will reduce the brush, and help reduce fire danger. So we all win. Happily, the goat gets along well with the deer, I often see the goat and deer browsing within twenty feet of one another.

He’s got some really wild horns, something like a shofar.

I betcha one day he’ll be a musical instrument in my hands….
but not today.

He’s got more beard than me…but mine probably smells better.

The dogs went nuts over this large goat coming too close to the house. Chica was the first to raise the alarm. Here she is, all five pounds ready to charge the hundred fifty pound goat.

But Whitey is the one who got the closest. Here he is a scant charge from the goat…ready to attack at the slightest provocation.  It is kind of sad because Whitey kind of kept losing sight of the goat, the grass is a bit tall for my little buddy.   Where we live is not only good for Vickie and me, it is also a dog’s dream.

Corvus Corax - Lingua Mendax

Lyrics: Latin
Lingua mendax et dolosa,
Lingua procax venenosa,
Lingua digna detruncari
Et in igne concremari

Lyrics: English
The mendacious and crafty tongue
The bold, venomous tongue
The worthy tongue is cut off
And is burned by the fire

Corvus Corax is a German band that plays music with an elemental twist,
and their lyrics are often in Latin or other ‘Romance Languages’.

In this video, some has wedded some images from computer games to the magnificent song called Lingua Mendax. It is just so great to see how much creativity humans can have. Would that we as a species were to spend it more fruitfully.

This video is so much like my dreams.

   The Santa Barbara Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places to visit. Although I only visit the garden every year or two, I tend to go there on Tuesdays if possible because it is free admission on Tuesdays.

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For Immediate Release
August 21, 2008
Media Contact:
Amanda De Lucia
Public Relations & Marketing Manager
adelucia@sbbg.org
(805) 682-4726, ext. 139

Holiday Marketplace Artisans Needed!

CALL FOR ARTISANS & CRAFTS PEOPLE

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s
15th Annual Holiday Marketplace
November 22-23 2008

Juried Artisans gather at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for our 15th
Annual Holiday Marketplace, where we showcase local artisans in a
beautiful outdoor environment. Each year we welcome previous exhibitors
as well as new talent, who offer nature inspired, one of a kind, fine &
functional arts and crafts for sale.

For an application: call 805-682-4726 x113 or apply online at
www.SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden.org
Deadline for application: October 15, 2008

Please forward this email to any interested parties.

For more information, contact (805) 682-4726, or online at

http://www.SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden.org

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road,
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

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Santa Barbara Visual Arts Alliance
Web Site: http://www.sbva.org
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Achtung! Klapperschlange Tal!
‘Warning, Rattlesnake Canyon!’

  The Botanical Garden is really a nice piece of art. I had a cousin and her husband visiting from Germany one time a few years ago… although he’s only seen them on TV, he is deathly afraid of rattlesnakes. I assured him there were few rattlesnakes in the botanical garden, and we’d likely not be in danger as long as we stayed on the marked trails.  I think we were near the 200 year-old dam in the canyon alongside the pretty creek with its picturesque boulders when we looked at a map encased along the trail. We were in ‘Rattlesnake Canyon’. Yeah, he kinda blanched, but we made it through.

   Actually, being afraid of rattlesnakes is the wisest course of action.  I used to handle rattlesnakes a quite a bit some years ago. Now I haven’t picked up a live rattlesnake for some years.  As long as you stay on trails, you are unlikely to fall into real danger from a rattlesnake. If one is on the trail you should be able to see it well enough. It is when you are in grass and brush and might step too close (or on) to a snake and cause it to bite you in response that you are in danger.

   In time you can learn to recognize the places snakes will tend to go on particular days.  Sometimes they’ll be in the open sunning themselves to get warmed up, other times they might try to stay in the shade to avoid overheating. 

   All-in-all, I’d recommend staying away from snakes in general, you don’t want to hurt a beneficial snake… and rattlers in particular, you don’t want to get a rattlesnake scared when you’re too close.

Here’s a couple photos of rattlesnakes I’ve taken this last year.

   This guy was curled up right next to this weed which I was about to pull (this was in our cactus orchard on the hillside). Luckily I noticed the little guy before I pulled the weed. Even a small snake like this (perhaps a foot long,it’s hard to measure a live snake), can put out a lot of poison. There are some who say the younger ones are more poisonous because they have little ‘flow control’ on their poison. They might dump all their poison in a bite, when a mature snake knows to apply just the amount needed and not waste poison which will take time to grow back in sufficient amounts to use. This might also explain why some people will get bitten and not seem to get much poison put into them.

   I’ve known a number of people who got bitten by rattlers. One fellow was airlifted out from a ranch to the hospital. He said there was pain, but he got lightheaded and woozy as if he’d been drinking, or perhaps like some depressent drugs might give. He laid down to keep the poison from racing and awaited the copter. 

  One other fellow I knew some decades ago had been bitten some five or six times. The last couple times he didn’t even go to the doctor. He said that he seemed to have grown a certain immunity, so he only got a bit swollen and sore for a week or two. He was on old-time rancher from an earlier age, the thirties through the sixties when cowboys were a bit extra tough. In fact, he won several national awards for ‘quick draw’ competition in the seventies.

This little rattlesnake was in some rocks at Montana de Oro park in California’s Central Coast.

Some folks might think that snakes in public access areas like this should be removed, but I disagree. The snakes are part of the environment, and if people don’t get into the brush or rocks you are pretty safe.  Myself, that’s the places I like to walk in.

We call this the ‘Triangle Garden’