The Soul Can Split The Sky In Two; Photo. More Ascender’s Photos.

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The world stands out on either side
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky,
No higher than the soul is high.

The heart can push the sea and land
Farther away on either hand;
The soul can split the sky in two,

Renascence by Edna St. Vincent Millay

I mentioned to Aravis yesterday that I would try to find out more on this building on the rocks near Pacifica. I have been unable to get a non-blurry photo of it… and I must have 100 blurry ones. It is in an area called Devils Slide on Highway One. It is the remnants of a WWII bunker, similar to those at Fort Funston; a highly protected area that is nearly impossible to explore.

“Prior to 01 July 1940, the War Department acquired 9.61 … acres for a triangulation station and observation site. Devil’s Slide was one of a series of observation posts during pre-radar days and was a part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Military personnel would use binoculars and compasses to search for ships at sea and relay the position … using information received from other observation posts. Improvements to the site began in 1943, and included three observation pill-boxes, one electric generatorbunker, one communications and command bunker, and an observation tower.” ( see non blurry photos at artificialowl.net)

Map of bunker one and bunker two

Bird flock splitting the skies on Highway 5 on the way to LA

Sunset behind palms near The Grapevine on Highway 5.

Near Gilroy

Cattle, sheep, horses; all along Highway 5.

Speaking of land meeting sky… did you notice that I place all 50 images of the limited run (25 ea) 11×17 prints on it’s own page while supplies last.  Thanks Aravis, for your kind words about your Scatterlings© print purchase!

On The Road To Christmas; Photo. More Ascender’s Photos

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On Christmas Day, Kathleen and I
propel a raft with plastic spoons
through the hissing fur of surf,
stirring as we go
an Alka-Seltzer sun.

We pass Bolinas-Stinson School,
the fire house, and Smiley’s dive;
extinguished geodesic domes
along the mesa road
where Cream Saroyan lives.

With a telescope, my sister spies
the erstwhile chemist of Argonne
who left his post to polish glass.
As penance, he engraves
a glyph of hydrogen

on the blank face of every cliff
from Monterey to Inverness.
Beside us, cormorants describe
the chop in grunts, then plunge
through thirty feet of grease.

I try to hold my breath as long
and cheat or fail. As evening comes
we pass the final spit of land.
Once more around the Horn
and then we’ll make for home.

The Golden Hinde by Devin Johnston

Turtle Mail; Mixed Media, Collage, Two Sided Tag. Remaining available two-sided tags.

We are headed off to spend Christmas with family in Pasadena. Usually we go down for Thanksgiving but this year we’ve switched.

You know how I love my shots along the road. Here’s some from Christmas past…

This one reminded me of Wyoming’s No Dineros Ranch

Zooming down Highway 1; this woman standing on the edge of the hill looking down at cars speeding by. I don’t think she approves.

Got Milk? On the way to Davis University.

Life is a highway… I’m gonna ride it all night long.

I dunno. A circle of sticks in a field. Anyone?

Palm trees near LA; I think this is on the 5.  Or the 77?  or the 90?  Kidding I have no idea the roads down there.

In between the 5 and Gilroy.

Curious… all bald trees except one with leaves; and two chairs looking at nothing.  On the way to Santa Cruz.

King kong and a hay maze, also on the way to Santa Cruz

Christmas tree farm near Half Moon Bay.

Trees growing over a bridge; Gilroy to San Jose

Pigeon Point looks like it is on the highway, but it’s not.  On the way to Santa Cruz.

Near Point Reye.

On the way to Walnut Creek.  Hotel California?

Near Half Moon Bay

On top a mansion in Atherton.

I will return on Monday with a whole not stack of shots from the road.

I hope to finally receive those limited edition prints that I mentioned before and can take some photos then.  Looking forward to hearing how all your holiday weekend went.

What is joy? It is a bird That we all want to catch. It is the same bird That we all love to see flying.

Sri Chinmoy

Crows circling between storms.

Blessing the Birds; Illuminated Tile. (more) (purchase)

San Francisco, the clouds were painted on the building behind the eagle.

Between San Jose and Gilroy

Mountain Landscape with Cattle by William Keith. Oil on canvas. 30 x 50 in. More Huntington on this blog.

The great naturalist John Muir called William Keith a “poet-painter,” referring to the lyrical quality in Keith’s art. The idea for the Sierra Club was first formed in Keith’s studio during conversations with Muir, Dr. Joseph LeConte, the first president of the University of California, and Warren Olney, a prominent San Francisco attorney.

In 1891, he shared his studio for several weeks with East Coast Tonalist George Inness, Sr. [1825-1894]. Both men painted in a similar style and were followers of the mystical teachings of Swedenborg. The Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco: Described as one of California’s earliest pure Arts and Crafts buildings, this complex represents a unique collaboration of many influential architects and craftspeople.

Among the locations where Inness and Keith painted together were Monterey and Yosemite, and it was reported they discussed art from every possible angle. Under Inness’ influence, Keith painted more than ever in a Barbizon-influenced vein with many sunset and twilight scenes. More barbizon artists on this blog.

(detail of cow stare) Mountain Landscape with Cattle

Cow I captured staring while speeding 80 mph down Highway 5; I am rather pleased with this shot – what are the odds that it would be looking at the highway.

Whether lying in a straw-filled stable or lazily grazing in a grassy meadow, the many images of cows captured the rural lifestyle and conjured up a simpler time when man was more tied to the land — a subject that was popular at the time when modernity was sometimes viewed as a threat. This “cow craze” made the market for cow paintings very profitable and the images most fashionable — even for turn-of-the-century parlors.

Cows dotting the horizon near Gilroy. It reminds me of those Happy California Cow Commercials. Vote for your favorite today.

Sagebrush lined highway near Point Reye. I like the lush golden colors, hills in the distance, ocean beyond those.

My mother, from Missouri, used to say “That’s money you’re smelling” when passing large commercial cattle lots. (aka cash cow)

In the hills near Gilroy. Agenda of cow: meander to tree in the morning, picnic and a nap, meander back home at night.

I’ve been pulled into the Farmville craze. Have you?
Milk (Regular Cow), 1 day, 6 coins
Strawberry Milk (Pink Cow) 1 day, 12 coins
Chocolate Milk (Brown Cow) 1 day, 18 coins
Milkonium (Bovine-09) 1 day, 18 coins

(Sick of Farmville Cows on Facebook)

Oh, will you be my neighbor?