Villagers at Art Walk

There's much ado about Artwalk in Little Italy this weekend. More than 20 artists from Spanish Village are participating in one of the biggest art events in San Diego....I wish I could go, but I will wait patiently for their return, and hope some goodies will be left for me while they are gone.....

Easter Aftermath for Bella

Ohhh, my tummy feels bad....too many pieces of Easter candy. Yesterday, we had an Easter egg hunt throughout the village. Many children, carrying Easter baskets or toting plastic bags, scampered up and down the main patio, hunting for the colorful, plastic eggs stuffed with candies...I just want to lay under a tree and wait for lunch....ummmm, maybe some pizza!

Lyric, ceramics & goldfish crackers

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet..............Edith Wharton

It was mid morning and I had found another safe spot to slumber...under a jacaranda tree. A rhythmic clacking sound approached me...it was my friend Lyric wearing a big smile, pushing her popcorn pusher towards me. ''Lyric, why don't you go say hi to Bella'' said Beverly, who is Lyric's grandmother. While Lyric was petting the top of my head, I was licking her lips...what's that taste? Yes, it's cheese goldfish crackers. As I walked towards Beverly's studio, alongside Lyric and the clacking popcorn pusher, I found my favorite spot to plunk down, in Lyric's play area... Bev's studio is well equipped as a clay artist...there is the slab roller, kiln, potter's wheel, canvassed tables, ecstruder, and bakers shelves. Most of her work revolves around fish sculptor. Her fish pole was juried and exhibited in the Urban Trees project along the embarcadero. They are colorful, whimsical fish made to adorn gardens, shelves and walls...sometimes, she throws pots on the potter's wheel, then she rakus or saggers them. Around the lips of the pots are inflorescence or torrey pine needles woven in a coiled style, creating a mixed media container.

My ears perk up...I hear the rattling of a cracker box...and the area where I am lying down is showered with goldfish crackers, tossed about me, with a big smile and generous hands from Lyric!

Accepting Change

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself......Josh Billings

Last year has brought on some profound losses. My friends Philip, Mary and Sylvia have passed leaving missing stitches in the fiber of Spanish Village. Longtime members of our village whose footprints will be remembered. So much change. And now, the stately carob tree in front of studio 25 has fallen over, a result of a shallow root system and the barrage of rain experienced this week....my favorite shady spot, my favorite safe spot, gone...sigh. And yet, all change. They say change is dynamic, and change is good...but what if it leaves gaping holes and feelings of loss?? Well, I roll over on my back and get my belly rubbed....ahhhh!...and life becomes more acceptable.

Welcome Another New Year!

Cheers to a New Year, and another chance to get it right....~Oprah Winfrey

And another favorite quote:
People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between New Years and Christmas......~unknown

A new year nudges me into considering all the blessings that make me feel grateful. Fortunately, through the kindness, concern and good will from my friends, the villagers in Spanish Village, I have found a good home where having food and love is not a worry for me...and I am most thankful.

Happy New Year to All of You and Yours!

Love,
Bella the dog in Spanish Village
Woof!

Warm Wishes for this Holiday Season

A little smile,
a word of cheer,
a bit of love from someone near,
a little gift from one held dear,
Best wishes for the coming year!

Bella wishes each and everyone of you warmth, love, health and happiness for this Holiday Season. May all that is good smile upon you.
Love,
Bella

December Nights, aka: Christmas on the Prado

Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day....Steiner-Rice

The sun was setting and a golden glow descended on the village on this cold December Night's celebration. Many people began meandering through the village. As the dark fell upon us, the twinkling white lights generously strung throughout the village, gaily wrapped gift boxes whimsically hung from the trees, vendor's booths set up and down the main patio, and Santa's decorated gazebo added to the festivity's ambiance.

I got up from my slumber, did my Bella shake from head to tail...ahh, every hair is in place now, and proceeded to enjoy the night. One of my favorite things to do on such occasions is to see what I can find off the floor to eat...yummm, popcorn, bits of candy, hot dogs, tamales, and other foods....such delectable treats! How I love the Maddy's kettle popcorn! And, folks would stop and pet me...''oh how cute!'' ''she's darling'' and my favorite, ''honey, do we have anything to give to her to eat?''.....I can never get enough of the compliments, pets, and the treats!


And, I met 3 of my cousins from my maternal grandmother's cousin's (2nd removed) during the day....Tyler(boo-boo), Sammy and Edie(little girl)....they pose so well in front of the camera....meeting and welcoming other dogs in our village is a joy for me. December Nights in Spanish Village has something for everyone.

Christmas is in the Air!

Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas......Dale Evans

Thanksgiving is passed and Christmas is in the air. There is much commotion at the village as boxes are wrapped and happy ribbons adorn the packages...I am laying tightly in a ball trying to keep warm, enjoying the festivities of the villagers who are busily working on the decorations. There must be hundreds of wrapped boxes ready to be hung from the trees and piles of pine tree garland waiting to be adorned on Santa's gazebo. Steve is busily giving directions on displaying the hundreds of boxes. There are villagers tying bows, climbing ladders, and carrying armfuls of gift boxes here and there....there is much commotion on this cold November day...getting ready for December Nights in Balboa Park.


''Hi Bella'' ''How you doing girl?'' Steve pats my head as he hurrys to install the Christmas lights at the entrance.
Misha asks Steve if I've had anything to eat. ''Are you hungry, girl?'' she asks.
Hungry? Me? I wag my tail, lift my head and nudge Misha's hand and smell the aroma of fried chicken....
''Have some fried chicken, Bella''
...and the day became less cold because of the warm friends I have in the village.

Goodbye Sylvia.....

SYLVIA SCHMAHMANN
Sadness has fallen on the village. Our friend, Sylvia Schmahmann has passed away. Our village will feel the emptied spot that Sylvia once filled.
Our spirited, independent, kind, thoughtful, friend has passed on.
We had a memorial service for her this afternoon. Many villagers and friends were there to show their respect, and profound loss. Some cried, some laughed, some laughed and cried, as stories were remembered of Sylvia.
A buffet was offered to the guest....but I didn't eat...I was saddened to the pit of my stomach....my friend Sylvia is gone.

The Potter's Guild Sale & Pepperoni

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. Roger Caras

It is a sunny day.
The whole main patio is full of tables covered with ceramics of all kinds, interesting sculptures, and utilitarian clay works. Twice a year, the Potter's Guild puts on a big weekend sale, showing off their many interpretations of clay.


I see Elizabeth and Shirley busily loading their tables with their wares. There are casserole dishes, bowls, cups, sushi dishes, vases and more. Doug is loading his tables with many colorful sculptures. People are meandering around the tables, picking up interesting pieces to appreciate and examine. The shapes and the glazes are intriguing.... The line to pay for the pieces is beginning to snake around the corner...customers are patient to purchase their treasures. I decide to get up, do my Bella shake, ahhh, that feels good, and trot on down to the Potter's Guild...I can smell the pizza's aroma coming from the guild....I enjoy the admiring looks I get from all the visitors, but really enjoy nothing more than a slice of pepperoni pizza! Woof!