Apothecary Shed

LACMA 2019

October 12, 2019

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The LACMA is an excellent museum even when most of the permanent collection is stashed away during renovation. Contemporary art it is!

LACMA lights

The new building (not done yet)

NPS was here

Team Tartan Takes the Cup: Leukemia Cup Regatta 2019 is YOURS

October 10, 2019

gem dogs, sailing amy, blood cancer, fundraising, gem, leukemia, leukemia cup, leukemia cup 2019, phil venables, photography, potomac river, sailing, team tartan Leave a comment

Ten years of sailing the Leukemia Cup was crowned by another fundraising win thanks to you. We’re super pleased to announce that our final fundraising total (in our first “post baby” race) is $74,829 (a mere $171 from $75,000). That means the Leukemia Cup is Yours! A huge thanks to all of our 90+ donors.

Team Tartan Takes the Leukemia Cup 2019

Extra special red hat thanks goes to our stalwart supporter Phil Venables who donated an incredible $50,000 this year.

The Team Dog Joins in Celebration

Burgees

Team Tartan before the day

The morning started early as it always does in a regatta. On the water, our rusty sailing took over and we were clobbered in every race. Remind us that when your co-captains have a baby, they spend much more time changing diapers than sailing!

Sailing the Leukemia Cup

Team Tartan on the Water

But boy did we have fun.

Morning prep to sail in kilts

Secret weapon Stretch

Thanks from Team Tartan

Team Tartan has raised $366,066.61 since 2012! Thank you for your support and for helping us fight blood cancer.

Ancient Mariner in a Kilt

The Garden Winds Down

September 26, 2019

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The garden produced prolifically this year. It was a great year for watermellon and corn. Heck, even the squash lasted for several months before it was wiped out by the squash beetles.

Some of the last of the bounty is coming in now.

Pepper haul Sept

Cayenne

Jalapeño, habañero, hot banana, cayenne

Late September tomato

Pick a peck of peppers

The tomato plans and the peppers have lots more production to go before they peter out. Meanwhile, the corn and the sunflowers are done. So down they come.

Gleaned corn

Now you see it

Now you don’t

I will stand up the husks in a typical Fall display, probably tomorrow.

extra junk

Sunflowers down.

Beheadings galore

Now you see them

Now you don’t

Sunflower poles

Fall.

Winter is coming.

Shadow play

Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art

September 17, 2019

gem art, Photography, travel australia, museum cafe, photography, shaun gladwell, sydney, sydney mca, sydney museum of contemporary art, video 1 Comment

A quick afternoon visit to the Sydney MCA was almost punctuated by a glass of wine on the top floor. Sadly we missed the order window by two minutes. Don’t dilly dally, order.

The video art (non-permanent) of Shaun Gladwell this visit was remarkable. It all invoked a dreamlike feeling.

Definitely take the time to visit the MCA when in Sydney.

MCA from the harbor

Sailing Sydney Harbor

September 17, 2019

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The only bummer was that the jib was in the shop. Without enough sail our huge Beneteau required a motor to move along. Nonetheless, the day was perfect as was the wind. Next time we’ll keel her over.

Eddie sails the boat

Sydney transport of the fancy variety

beer on the water

Under motor

The Secure Code Warrior crew

The lunch spread was delicious

mainsail

Sydney landmarks

Madou and chess

Madou goes to the opera

Aaron goes to the opera

Marina

Iconic view

Wentworth Falls Hike

September 16, 2019

gem hiking, Photography australia, blue mountains, gem, hiking, katoomba, nature, photography, stairs, video, wentworth falls 2 Comments

As it turns out, getting from Katoomba to Wentworth Falls in a taxi (all of 4 miles) costs more than a roundtrip train ride to Sydney. Brian and I had quite the adventure because when we arrived at the train station there were no luggage lockers. Ultimately a very nice hairdresser near the station said she would watch our bags while we did a quick morning hike.

So it was off on a 1 hour and 50 minute walk of around 3.5 miles with a 1000 foot elevation delta. Yes, we did some stairs, but not all of them this time. Once again, the weather was perfect.

We made the Sydney train with only 1 minute to wait before departure. Excellent “plan.”

Wentworth falls trail is cut directly into the cliff

Wentworth falls in the early morning

Upper pool

Katoomba Blue Mountains Hike (Australia)

September 15, 2019

gem hiking, mountain, travel australia, blue mountains, dardanelles pass, federal pass, furber steps, gem, giant stairway, hiking, katoomba, lilianfels, photography, three sisters, travel, video 2 Comments

In about three hours, Brian and I hiked 6.3 miles covering an elevation delta of 1600 feet. We started at Lilianfells,took the Prince Henry trail over to the Furber Steps, went down the steps (with some great views of Katoomba Falls), hiked Federal pass to Honeymoon Lookout, doubled back through the Dardanelles Pass and then climbed up the 900 steps of the Giant Stairway to the Three Sisters. Finishing with the climb up the steps was interesting.