Bea Making Collage

(Click on photo for detail)

Bea Making a Collage (Tomasito photo, 2009)


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Apple Blossoms

Apple Blossoms at Pala Asistencia, Pala, California. (Tanya photo, 2009)

One of the Stations added to the chain of missions founded by the early Catholic Missionaries in Alta California. The church at Pala is located on the Indian reservation of the Pala tribe--about 50 miles north of San Diego.

The present buildings of the Asistencia include school classrooms, an office, gift shop, small but interesting museum and a very well restored and preserved church--built in a square surrounding a lovely garden.

Tomasito, 2009

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The Way

On The Way (Tanya photo, 2009)

The Way is not always smooth--but it is always beautiful and worthwhile.

Once found and followed, life becomes better and happier.


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Zaccai and Al

Click on this photo to enjoy it--Tomasito photo, 2009


Papier Mache and Art Production Class

Al, one of the old-timers in my papier mache and art class, works beside Zaccai, at nine, the youngest (and newest) person in the class. Al, who worked in Hollywood as a Prop Boy at the MGM Studio in the Golden Age of Movies, knew John Wayne, Judy Garland, and many of the great artists of that time--said he thought Zaccai had a lot of artistic talent.

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Swallowtail

Swallowtail Butterfly (Tomasito photo, 2009)

This miracle was flitting around the wild mustard and radish we were gathering to cook for lunch and posed for this quick portrait.

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Deer Park Monastery 2

Tanya pats monastic dog at Deer Park Monastery. (Tomasito photo, 2009)

~Click on photo to enlarge~

This smiling old dog is everybody's friend at Deer Park Monastery--just as he should be.

The lovely monastery is lying gently on the landscape--hand made paths and gardens abound--and everywhere plants and birds thrive.

It is hard to believe that just a few minutes drive back down the narrow but paved access road the confusion of present-day California runs amok.

Tomasito, 2009


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Deer Park Monastery

Man and Monk at Deer Park Monastery. (Tomasito photo 2009)

Deer Park Monastery

Today we drove over to Deer Park Monastery--which is located in a mountain valley just outside of Escondido, California.

A branch of Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village in France, Deer Park Monastery is quiet, peaceful and beautiful--just as you would wish it to be.

Mindfulness is the watchword of the order--even the speed bump which slows visitor's cars at the entrance is labeled "Mindful Speed Bump".

It is a very good place to be.

Tomasito, 2009


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