“The finest men in all the world are not to be found in the warm, genial climates, where the earth has only to be tickled with a hoe, and it laughs with plenty; but the strongest and the most enterprising spirits have been found at the back of the north wind, where there are frosts and ice, and long, dreary winters, and men have a hard struggle for a livelihood. They become really men under that stern training. Now, if there were no thorns and thistles, no struggles and no trials, should we have any brave Christians? Should we have any great and noble souls at all? When did the Church yield her best men for her Lord’s service? It was in the persecuting times, when they had to swim through seas of blood to hold fast the truth of Christ. These are silken days, and we have wretched specimens of Christians everywhere; but if the times of persecution were to come once more, with the rough winds blowing, and the whole sea of the world tossed in tempest, we should then find brave sailors who would put the ship’s head to the wind, and ride safely over the stormy billows in the name of the Eternal God.” Spurgeon, C. H.
From the Thorns and Thistles Sermon, Vol 39.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
And Buck and Grimes at Bing Auditorium Stanford
Brought the family out for a jazz concert. In some ways it seemed like a sophisticated event.
But we brought the level of sophistication down by going to In and Out before we arrived and bringing a couple of goofy kids.
It was a special treat to see one of the greatest jazz musicians of our time doing something that was totally unique. The merging of an entire jazz orchestra and contemporary jazz and street dancing styles.
They didn't want photos during the concert. These are a few snaps during a short farewell jam during the standing ovation. Every song from the concert expressed a different animal, and the dancers imitated the animals during the song. The orchestration was impeccably linked, with tap dance solos weaving together with the rhythm and accents of the band so that the dancers and band performed as one . A masterpiece work of art performance merging dance and jazz. We brought the family and sat in the back stage, but after having seen it, I consider it worth the money to spend the $100 a ticket to sit in the front!
Tuesday, September 04, 2018
One of the last classic bowling alleys
A belated post from a bowling alley visit in January 2018
So many bowling alleys are leaving the classic bowling alley decor and moving towards a more entertainment driven, club atmosphere. But Morgan Hill still has the classic bowling alley look and feel that I've grown up with.
The kids bowled without the bumpers, which resulted in more discouragement as the ball often found it's way into the gutter.
But it also meant that those victories where well earned and enjoyed.
Wether she was making points or gutter balls, she did so with some style.
And mom was there to provide some support.
Matthew had his own unique twist on celebrating success.
Between frames, I would catch him relaxing in style.
And one of the favorite discoveries was a game room with Galaga.
It's unfortunate we don't go to these places more often. So many options in the Bay Area that years can go by before we revisit a place and then the kids are so much older.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
The Doctor, Harlequin and Colombine
They were dabbing in the 1800's. The Doctor, Harlequin and Colombine, 1750 French Porcelain at The Casanova exhibit at Legion of Honor Museum San Francisco.
Tuesday, May 08, 2018
We've had these cute bunnies for around a month now. They eat and poop constantly, and you would think that this description would make them a nuisance, but they are so cute to watch that I quickly forget how messy they are.
This first photo is from the first days with them, they were as tiny as a mouse. The strands of hay seem larger than the bunnies.
We bought them at Easter time, which is a very popular time when people buy bunnies. The cousins had a great time playing with the bunnies in their Easter outfits.
They are a different experience to hold. They can be soft and quiet creatures.
They can also be very curious, exploring the various nooks and crannies. They love to hide underneath the bookcases or the couches.
Sometime they seem to be making themselves at home, kicking back like the rest of us.
Other times we set them out in the backyard and they spend a considerable amount of time eating the grass, running and jumping around.
Each morning we let them out into the dining area. They come running to my feet at the sound of their treat bag, and they love to run around on the hard wood floors. They especially like a mat in front of the back door, where they jump, sprint and twist.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
The Santa Teresa Hills in the Springtime
This view is a daily visit for my dog and I. During the summer, the hills are golden brown. During the springtime they display a carpet of green. I'm continually captivated by the various ways morning sun, peaking over the eastern hills, lights up the green hillside.