Today’s post ties-in with the Salvation Mountain post that I wrote a couple of days ago. I’m a wanna-be archeologist, a die-hard scavenger, a gal who dreams of wearing khaki shorts and a safari hat. I love to hunt for hidden treasure. I dream of digging for dinosaur bones in southeast Asia, or dusting off artifacts uncovered in Egypt. Those new treasure hunting t.v. shows really float my boat. See, the thing is my idea of a treasure is sometimes confused with trash. I’m just a natural-born recycler. I went “green” before it was even hip.

While caught up in the magic that Leonard Knight created on the mountain, I began to notice amazing treasures lying around. A myriad of forgotten objects that were oozing with Leonard’s energy. I began to form a pile. Luckily I was with the girls and didn’t have to see hubby’s face. After 11 years of marriage…he knows my pile routine. He also knows that the piles are usually stored in our over-crowded garage before they find a permanent home. As my pile grew, I began to wonder how I was going to fit everything into the 4-Runner. Thank God my dearest pal is the finest packer I know. She rivals any man when it comes to packing a car. She rocks with rocks! (my pile included miniature boulders)

I was over the moon when I noticed empty paint cans coated with hot fuchsia, electric blue, and canary yellow paint. Visions of a colorful paint can fence display popped into my busy brain. I can only imagine my hubby’s face if I tried to nail these cans to our back fence. (I don’t think my girly glue-gun would’ve done the trick.) I quickly gave up on that idea.

I’m actually married to the most patient man on the planet…however he does believe I have a problem with clutter, collecting, and redecorating. He’s right. I admit it, I love to change things up. Just follow my blog and you’ll see what I mean. I get bored and switch my blog theme like underwear.

My man has been pushed to the limit this year with the following “Cindy” moments: The day I put up the four-man tent in the dining room….cool fort area I thought. He nearly fainted when he walked into the house and saw that the great outdoors had replaced our eating area. He didn’t get it. Then I moved the living room and family room sofas back and forth four times… whew, kinda heavy. Dining room and kitchen tables have changed places three times…whew, kinda heavy too. Plus my studio has been a swinging door of change.

Anyhow back to the Mountain. Well, my pile of treasures was beginning to grow. Even my two partners in crime were looking a bit nervous. This didn’t slow me down….I continued to happily hoard in the 105 heat. Pay dirt consisted of dried brushes, pieces of  plaster flowers, glass domes, old tools, rusty nails, cracked tiles, and rocks! Whoop! Whoop! A piece of art would soon be birthed!

The pile made it home, thanks to L. Yes, it’s currently housed in the garage, but not for long. I wanted to create a large piece and decided a Lowe’s door would be the perfect palette. My art studio is too small to work on a piece that large, so the kitchen table has become home for the door.

I decided to collage the door before pulling out the paints. It’s a work in progress, but take a peek.

 

Hey gang! What’s more fun than an over the top glittery mermaid…..an over the top glittery merman! I spotted these sassy ornaments in a shop in San Fransisco. Hmmm….. it’s a tough call to make, but I’d have to say my favorite merman is the doctor. What’s yours?

P.S. Just a heads up……I’ve gone back to using my old website once again. Yes, I’m a certifiable nut case. I tend to obsess over my website, which eventually leads me to jumping ship. The problem is I usually climb back on board the old ship. My apologies for the inconvenience. I’ll keep you in the loop on my wacky whereabouts…wink.

If you ever travel to the southern end of California, be sure to stop in and see Salvation Mountain. Created by a lovely man named Leonard Knight. Leonard has a simple message to share with the world….LOVE. The mountain represents his message and his energy is felt everywhere. Take a peek at this video, I guarantee it will make you grin from ear to ear.

A couple months ago I had the pleasure of visiting this magical place, and was deeply moved by the mountain…very spiritual place. I was looking forward to meeting Leonard in person, and brought him a piece of art as a gift. Unfortunately when we arrived, we were told that Leonard had had a heart attack two months earlier and was recuperating in town. I’m hoping he is now back on the mountain spreading his message of love.

I created a video with the photos I took on my visit…I hope you enjoy.

I had a wonderful time yesterday with one of my favorite people….my daughter Emma. Her and I went to see the Picasso exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. The tickets were an unexpected gift from two of the loveliest people on the planet…. thanks Joel and Cindy!

The show was fascinating, especially being able to get up close and personal with the artwork. Seeing the brushstrokes, textures, and hues was amazing.

The best part of the day was bonding with my daughter. I was originally going to take Terry, but when I remembered Emma had the week off from school I invited her. I thought it would be a wonderful experience for her to see Picasso’s work.

My special girl makes me very proud. I felt very safe knowing she was driving us and was taking the lead. She’s only 17, however she possesses a wise old soul. As she get older she quietly understands the Parkinson’s, and jumps in when needed. She has a heart of gold, a killer sense of humor, and a strong sense of who she is.

When we left the museum she took me to her favorite restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf, Capurro’s. She ordered linguine and clams and I devoured a delicious shrimp salad! The day was filled with great conversation, tons of laughter, and made for a magical memory.

Me and the Mr. got out today and spent a few hours in Sacramento…yep, our state capital. This past year I’ve spent some time exploring Sac, which is only 40 minutes from our home. I really like the diversity this city has to offer. There are tons of ethnic eateries, a zillion cool thrift stores, one awesome outdoor vintage flea-market, a multitude of artsy hip boutiques, new and used book stores, and Old Town….which is where we hung today.

The weather was perfect, mild with a cool breeze.When we first arrived it was a bit hazy, which was fine with me. Bright sunlight can play havoc with pics, so the soft cloud layer meant I might get some good shots. Man, I love my camera. It’s right up there with a paintbrush. Photography is my meditation…it helps quiet my mind. A photo seems to tell a different story than a painting. It forces you to look at the world in a new way. It turns your senses up a notch.

I love “the hunt”, in other words scoping out a cool shot. I’m a natural-born treasure hunter, which is probably why I love photography so much. I tend to get into my own world and zone out when I’m shooting photos. I forget about everything around me and get lost in the lens.

Luckily Terry is a sweetheart and naturally on the quiet side himself. He get’s it when I occasionally wander off to click away. He gave me my first camera five years ago, and has encouraged me from the beginning.

I have to admit I’m totally obsessed with taking shots of strangers. People are diversely interesting to me. I love to sit and people watch…fascinates me to no end. I think a person’s face tells a story. I find it amazing to capture the human essence in a blink of an eye. Very addictive. I’m trying to be less brazen when clicking, which is a real challenge with my chunky camera. Terry casually glances the other way when I shoot peeps, I think he’s concerned he might end up with a broken nose. He actually has a point.

I took quite a few shots that I’d love to share, however I don’t want to put you to sleep! I’ll be posting more soon. In the meantime my dear friends, have an awesome Sunday!