Musings

If our temporary pets were any good at climbing trees, these would be leaf-less twig-branches.

Posted at 9:30 PM | No Comments »

I know you’re supposed to eat more protein as you get older, and I’m surely more elderly, in fact elderly enough to eat more protein. The latest numbers I’ve read are that I should bump it up from my “adult” days on the order of 20% to something like 70 grams or more (probably more). I need to consult nutrition tables to figure out how to do that.

Posted at 9:11 PM | No Comments »

MaNachur rained herself out in the dark hours, so that I found this spider web plastered onto the screen—obvious against the tree-obscured dawn sky…however, I could not get the focus correct. Ahhrrrghhhh.

A few moments later, the next screen had no web, but instead gem-streaks—and a first peek of the sun.

Posted at 9:27 PM | No Comments »

Often kids accept that the household practices of their home are what happens in the other homes around them. I remember thinking how odd it was that none of the neighbors changed out their living room rugs so that there was a winter one and a summer one. Of course, many of them had wall-to-wall carpeting and that complicated my pattern observation. Turns out, I’ve yet to meet someone who changed out the rugs like my mom insisted we do. Was that a Victorian practice?

Posted at 9:43 PM | Comments Off on Light/dark “painting”

So, I was in a mood, and the tomato seemed to need a moment in center stage.

Posted at 11:07 PM | Comments Off on (Anthropomorphizing)

Unwatered fountains look like something’s missing (duh fits, but it’s more than duh). We’re on the edge of the first raft of spring pollen, so I suspect fountains will flow soon.

This somewhat pineapple-y fountain is in Greenville EssCee, and no, it doesn’t turn.

Posted at 9:18 PM | Comments Off on Turn turn turn

A line of storms came through about 4:45am…very hard rain and wind. When daylight came, we saw two big trees down in our back yard, but not on or (I think) threatening a structure. Noontime, we had a tree guy out assessing the situation. We’re on track for tree “extraction” beginning tomorrow morning.

Image: another close-up from Georgia O’Keeffe show we saw yesterday at the High.

Posted at 9:21 PM | Comments Off on Sunday events lead to Monday adventures

Flower center.

Georgia O’Keeffe: White Flower, 1929.

White Flower, super contrasty, altered. The “grooves” that section the petals are interesting; I didn’t notice them standing in front of the painting, although they are plain as day. Instead, I noticed the subtle shading of the colors…yellows, blues, blue-greens…and the background in the upper corners.

Thanks, MSM, for suggesting this High adventure.

Posted at 7:57 PM | 1 Comment »

Clever signage from our trip that I neglected to post…as in, I already had too many photos selected for the day’s post…. The letters and symbol were cut from the sheet metal, when the light was bright, produced a…what’s the opposite of a shadow? A pass-through of light?

Posted at 8:34 PM | Comments Off on Castilla y León art

Different day, different museum: Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, established 1908. This is the “Old Building;” behind it, the new is being reworked—note crane. The collection focuses on Basque and Spanish works.

This is Ramiro Arrue’s (1892-1971) “Euskaldunak karta jokoan,” meaning Basques playing cards.

He did it about 1919. I was fascinated by the footwear, especially the boots on the left with exterior laces.

Aurelio Artete did this in 1930–35, and called it “Euskal arrantzaleak,” or Basque fishermen. Again: footwear…. I’m wondering if the short boots are of rubber? They do look globular. Also: bare feet.

We saw one Picasso on display: “Still life with glass/bowl of fruit,” dating to 1937 (don’t know the original language of the name). In English, it’s “still life,” but in Spanish it’s “naturaleza muerta,” or, literally, dead nature.

They had three Goyas on display, including the side of the shipping crate they came in from France…I didn’t get the full story. This was the middle painting of the three (yes, I cropped it), the esteemed Bernard Tavira, dated about 1787-88.

Here’s a detail of the Señora’s carnation and ruff.

A few smaller rooms displayed fascinating historical documents and the like that normally no members of the public get to see. These are a pair of pages from “Corpus Iuris Civillis;” it dates to before 1477, and is in Gothic script. This is a later copy of a compilation of Roman laws from AD 117–565; the compilation was ordered by Emperor Justinian I, who was emperor from AD 527 to 565. This copy was made for Pierre de Laval, who became archbishop of Reims in 1473, and died in 1493. Many modern legal systems relate back to these laws.

Here’s a small section of the official document of excommunication of Henry VIII of England by Pope Clement VII and the Holy Council of Cardinals. This is an authorized copy sent to the Spanish court, and dates to 1531.

And then we were outside enjoying the sun…we found groundskeepers at work—here the fountain cleaners.

Here’s Bilbao’s river, the Nerbioi (Basque), or Nervion (English). This view is toward the mouth. This area was once the port area. With larger ships, it’s moved to the bay at the mouth. Note also that Bilbao, the city, is along the river, and the higher elevations are forested.

The façade of this building stood out to us both. It appears to be a private business…. BTW, that’s a pedestrian bridge to the left.

And, our riverfront trajectory brought us back to…this sculpture/building by Frank Gehry (born Frank Owen Goldberg, in 1929).

I very much enjoyed seeing Anish Kapoor’s “Tall Tree & The Eye” (2009) without raindrops.

Here’s this combo moto and lift that I posted yesterday from the other side.

Guggenheim detail. I think this is employee parking on the “back” side.

And, for giggles, a totally different façade, in town, away from the former port area.

Posted at 12:55 PM | Comments Off on No archaeo, day three