Saint Petka Church Altar

Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church Interior.
Tanya photo, 2009. (click on photo for more detail)

Good Friday

Today is "Good Friday" in the calendar of most branches of the western Christian tradition so I thought it would be appropriate to present this photo of one of the Orthodox Christian churches ion this area--Saint Petka in San Carlos--an altogether unexpected ornate building in the old tradition in this very humble and unassuming typical southern California town.

Tomasito, 2009


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Deer Park Monastery Altar

Deer Park Monastery, Escondido, CA, Great Meditation Hall Altar.
(Tanya photo, 2009)

This is the season of rebirth.

We drove out to the Deer Park Buddhist Monastery today to see what new wild plants were blooming and to enjoy the "Sangha", the peace and beauty of this special place.

I wish you could have all been there with us---it was very good.

There is an old resident dog there--quite an old-timer--I showed you a photo a few days ago of the dog with Tanya petting him--and he followed the group of us making a silent "walking meditation" to increase our mindfulness. He got more and more frisky as we walked until, when we were near the top of a big hill, he was racing circles around us and snorting like a young dog!

He was enjoying himself so much we all had to laugh!

Happy Spring, Everybody!

Tomasito, 2009


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Holy Week, USA

Altar Books and Decorations at Pala Mission, Pala, California.
(Tanya Photo, 2009)


Easter.

There has been a long series of beautiful days here in southern California.

Many of the inhabitants here follow various Christian denominations. For them this is the Easter Season--marking the death and resurrection of their---what shall I call Him? Teacher? God, Inspired Prophet? Lord and Savior?---it is impossible to avoid controversy on the subject.

But everyone, and I do mean everyone, welcomes this beautiful season of nature's rebirth.

There was a good cleansing rain last night--incredibly lovely cloud formations all day--clear air and bright, you could almost say "happy" blue sky.

Welcome, Easter! Welcome Season of rebirth!

Tomasito, 2009



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Creative Workshop

Zak Papier Mache-ing a Birthday Pinata.

(Click ON photo to enlarge it.)

Hello.

I seldom use more than one illustration per day, but I wanted show you some of the creative people involved in my workshop.

We are all doing artistic things--like papier mache, drawing, coloring and painting.

One interesting feature of the workshop is that it takes place in a live-in facility in Escondido, California, for elderly folks and people recovering from serious operations and like that.

The older folks in the photos are residents. I see them almost every day.

The children in the photos are neighbor kids who like art and who are able to spend a couple of hours twice a week helping me as "Assistant Volunteers".

We are all learning a lot and enjoying letting the creative juices flow so to speak.

Hannah Draws a House and a Dog

Helen and Bea coloring.

Al showing His Papier Mache Frame-in-progress.



Tomasito, 2009


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Good Soup

BEFORE

AFTER
(Tomasito photos, 2009)

This is the quick reaction to Tanya's latest Vegetable Soup.

She is using some new (for us) ingredients such as wild stinging nettle, mustard and curly dock leaves and another new (for us) vegetable: tomatillo.

This soup is delicious and is definitely of the Quick Vanishing variety!

Tomasito, 2009


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Hannah Here

Newbie Hannah Joins Al and Bea at Papier Mache/Art Workshop.
(Tomasito photo, 2009)
(Click on photo for detail.)

Hannah King, age seven, joined the usual old timers for drawing, painting and papier mache work for the first time today.

Her brother Zak finished his papier mache mask and a colorful pinata for his baby brother's birthday party this coming Sunday.

Al spent the entire work period on a large papier mache frame for one of Bea's collages and Bea drew an interesting house plan for one of the homes she has lived in.

There was LOTS of learning going on!

Tomasito, 2009


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Serbian Orthodox Chirch

Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church, San Marcos, CA.
(Tanya photo, 2009)

We were searching for a WalMart store the other day and accidentally discovered this very lovely Serbian Orthodox church.

The church was closed and locked on this week-day, but one of the Serbian priests saw us on the grounds and cordially invited us to enter the sanctuary where we took some photographs and absorbed the good vibrations.

It is very interesting, isn't it, how people from all over the world have immigrated to the United States and become citizens and yet have kept some of their ancestral traditions, language, culture and architecture intact.

In this building it struck me again how anyone from an Orthodox Christian background would feel right at home in this church--from the pleasant odor of incense to the decorations and silence--this would be a satisfying touch of the old country for any religious Greek, Russian or Serbian.

Because of my pilgrimage to Greece and my time of residence in Russia, I felt right at home too.

Tomasito, 2009



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