Asian Art Museum - first Sundays

The Asian Art Museum is FREE the first Sunday of every month. You may be wondering what the draw to the Asian Art Museum is - well initially it was the Bali exhibit that's on until September, but since our visit, the real draw is the building...





I really appreciated this quote in Samsung Hall. In case you can't read it, it says "Quiet is Kin to Learning".

North to Mendocino

During Bob's Spring Break we took a day trip north to Mendocino. It was the warmest day of the season - 86 degrees at one point! - so a beautiful day for a drive.

First we drove through the vineyards northwest of Santa Rosa. No, that isn't snow - it's a carpet of white flowers!





Then we drove through some redwoods - the Navarro River Redwoods State Park to be specific...



We walked around Mendocino and enjoyed some more flowers. This particular bush was very fragrant and attracting a healthy dose of bees...





Visited the local "grocery store" aka food co-op with an amazing bulk food section...



Purchased a small jar of local (bulk) honey at the food co-op. It seemed appropriate given our encounter with the bee bush...



And drove out on the bluff for some prime sunset viewing!

de Young - Friday evening events

Every Friday night at the de Young art museum there is a FREE "cultural event" involving music, dancing, etc. We happened to get in on the Flamenco dancing event which was awesome to watch!

Legion of Honor - weekend Organ concerts

Bob is taking an Art Appreciation class at the Legion of Honor, a museum we've never visited. Turns out they have a pretty impressive Rodin gallery AND a Skinner Organ designed specifically for the museum.



It's fascinating because of how it's built into the building, and it's amazing to listen to because it fills the rooms of the museum. It was originally intended to be played during museum hours, to accompany visitors viewing the art installations. Currently they only play it for an hour (from 4pm - 5pm) every Saturday & Sunday, but it's another of those San Francisco original experiences that shouldn't be missed! When we went, they played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which was composed for the organ and is one of Bob's favorites.

Farewell to a true friend

We returned to the Bay area on a somber (but joyful) note. Our friend Adrienne passed away on February 20th - she will be greatly missed.



She wrote a poem shortly after she found out she had kidney disease that illustrates the greatest reason we'll miss her.

Let's not wait until we're ready to die,
before we show our love and say good-bye.
But here and now, really try
to do our part and truly care,
by proving the love we do bear.
It can soften lifes blows and woes.
Let's trust in God and His Son who, all things knows
After all, He lived and died and rose
And filled the plan our Father for Him, chose.
And no greater love than that, could any ever impose.

South to see Granny

Granny made her annual winter trip to San Diego, so we made the trek to the sunny south. It's a little warmer there than it is in the Bay area...



And we got to do something new - visit the tidepools in La Jolla...





There were a couple mighty hermit crab hunters along...



And Eileen happened to be in the area; she convinced everyone to stick around for the sunset over the tidepools. It gets a little chilly when the sun starts going down - after all, it is February!

Hanging out with Parker

We had the privilege of hanging out with our 4-year old friend Parker for a couple weeks in January while he was waiting to become a big brother...I think he had fun and I know we did!





Bob and Parker explored the vast wilderness of Bernal Heights Park while Mommy and Suzanne took the easier trail route...



Parker wants to be a farmer, a fireman and a big brother... looks like he got 2 of the 3 this month!