Chorizo Burritos and Fresh Air

Well, the few bites of chorizo burrito didn't settle well in my tummy....therefore no one would let me lie down in their studio...humans seem so persnickity about fresh air.




The Open House is at full throttle and the sun is beating down...It is a very hot day. Booths line the entire patio with artwork of all kinds, and artists are busily talking to our guests. Paintings of all styles, jewelry, gourd art, custom pens, photography of many interpretations, ceramics, baskets, a caricature artist, Tundrita the gifted tarot card reader, an informational booth selling T-shirts and aprons, kettle corn, tamale stand, and even more. Thanks to Kathi all stayed organized...she even managed to keep a smile on her face. Open House brings out many smiles into our quaint village.

A corner was set aside for artwork made out of ostrich eggs....a contest created by Frank. A diver made from a Bubble gum machine, puffer fish covered with shark teeth, quaint cottages, mosaics, a pregnant Mother Nature, an egg with a political statement and more lined the display table.

Music, played by Capello and Schnaegle, better known as Benchmark, vibrated through the air. Guests & artists were dancing to the rhythm, girls were hula hooping and moving to the beat, many feet were tapping, heads were bobbing and my tail was moving to the music....the sounds gave a lively pulse to the village....and I overhead some say it was nice to see older musicians play 60's & 70's music.
Open House is always a fun day to celebrate our magical village. Each studio sets out treats and I love searching for my favorite goodies.

My tummy was feeling better...and I was hungry. Trotting down to see what Carol was serving for Open House, I lifted my nose to smell...what??? HOT DOGS! No one could serve anything tastier.
'Hey Bella!' 'Come on in girl'...it was Don with the hot dogs inviting me in....don't mind if I do....he put out his hand to pet me, and I went up to Don with a big smile (and no more dog stinkies!)...oh, how they embarrass me!

Wake Up, It's Time for Open House

Winchester had a wild night last night...I heard him pouncing on the adobe tile roof galavanting with Cloris, the feisty Siamese...looks like we'll have little Winchesters and Cloris's in a couple months.
These warm velvet summer nights are so glorious. The coyotes are chasing the cats who are chasing the rats who are just trying to escape, lovers stroll through, and the occassional homeless will find refuge to sleep in the village. Even at night, the village holds another existence many of us do not see. All leading to sunny mornings, fresh and new, greeted with the sunrising and the concert of birds chirping. Spanish Village is such a magical place.
Time to get up. Ahhh! I love to do my special Bella stretch...up with my head, up with my tail, spread wide my toes and stretch! Ohhh! Followed by my special body shake...there, all the way to the tip of my tail... all my furs are in position...I am perfect.
Today is our Open House day...cars are beginning to park on the patio. Patio artists are unloading their cars, setting up their canopies, and introducing themselves to eachother...I see Barbara and Scott unloading their paintings, Ramon and Susie setting up their jewelry booths, the basketman, Mr.Salazar the photographer, and so many more patio artist setting up for the day's festivities. I could feel the sleepiness rapidly dissipating as the energy of the patio artists began creating their display booths.
Ummm! What's that smell? Chorizo Burrito! Yummm! Let me lift my nose up to see who has it....sniff, sniff! No more Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches for me...Scott, my buddy, my UFO aficianado, has the burrito. My stomach began to grumble....time for something to eat....and putting on the Bella charm!

felted purses, polymer clay faces & sylvia

The day after July the Fourth is a busy day. It's a 3 day weekend, with Monday being the last of it. Ramon's silver jewelry, Barbara's jewelry and paintings, Scott's paintings, and many more patio artist were set out, ready to capture the audience as they entered into our beautiful village...not much sun, and a cool breeze ruffled my soft fur...time to get up.
Gazing down the main patio, I saw Sylvia, just a red dot, slowly walking toward Studio 37. I got up, did my Bella stretch, ohhh! ahhh! feels so good! and shook my fur all the way down to the tip of my tail...every fur in it's proper place. I am perfection.
As I trotted toward Sylvia, her red dot began to take shape...at 82 and a half years old, (she always reminds you of the 'half') she holds herself high, for such a petite lady...
'Bella, is that you? Come on in. Are you going to keep me company today?' Sylvia still has her accent from years past. I wagged my tail as Sylvia patted my head.
It's a little studio, full of oil paintings, silk wearable art, and Sylvia's polymer clay faces and felted purses. Settling down for the course of the day, I watched Sylvia pull out skeins of yarns, all vibrantly colored. The soft piles of yarn quickly become uniquely created purses. She machine washes them to break down the fibers to felt, and adorns her felted purses into color whimsical works of art...quite similar to the colorful polymer clay faces, all uniquely characterized, intricate, playful and full of whimsey, created into adornments for clothing.
I walked up and put my head on Sylvia's lap.
'Would you like me to tell you a story?' she said gazing into my eyes.

I snuggled my nose up to her hand, encouraging her to tell me one of her South Africa stories...where Sylvia immigrated, stories long ago....and as she began to spin her story, I heard the 'ding' of the microwave and I wondered which I would enjoy more...warmed honey buns, or Sylvia's wonderful reminiscence.




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