CATS, DOGS, ANACONDAS, ETC.

Hello My Dears!

Artist - Padget Mason

It is beautiful here in paradise, the sun is out, it's warm, and there is folly Downtown with the celebrations of Comic-Con.....and the ongoing celebration of Balboa Park's Centennial throughout the park.

We just closed the yearly, juried, Catnip Show, in Gallery 21....a salute to felines of all kinds.....Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, might feel slighted, but we look forward to December's yearly, juried, Dog Show....both shows donate some proceeds to benefit dog and cat foundations...It all balances itself out.  Honor, feed, love, play, and paint our likenesses.....we love it.....and, you will never find better friends than us.

Which, as I lay under this shady tree, makes me wonder why humans refer to us canines, of the 4-legged persuasion, in an offensive, unattractive, disrespectful (or worse), as 'dogs' when it comes to the perceived shortcomings of humans...(I heard someone refer to another someone as a 'dog' in an offensive way)....references to humans as  'dogs' as something that has no morals.  Morals are a human concept.  We, the real dogs of the world, have instinct....and, in many instances, more smarts and humanity than humans.....please don't use the work dog in offensive terms.

However, for us dogs, it is instinctual to not like cats....as cats don't like mice....etc.  

Here, in Spanish Village, we have cats, dogs, anacondas, giraffes, rodents, insects, etc.....a lot to like and try to like.  We all try to be copacetic, follow political correctness, and play nice....and then there are the artists.....they are like herding cats....(no offense to Erika, the rag doll, village cat, who is a buddy of mine)...she even agrees.

Here in Spanish Village, the creative pot is bubbling with diversified cultures, quirky personalities, and even bougeois values, and more,  that make great art.....who all enjoy the process of creating, talking about their creations, teaching their creations, and welcoming  you 7 days a week. 

It takes a good amount of heart and soul to make our community interesting and fun.

Come check us out!  We are open 7 days a week, 11-4pm weekdays, and 11-5 weekends....

and, we are free to enjoy, pet and family friendly....and always, happy to see you.

Come say 'hi' to me and my poodle buddy, Brandon....we like pats on the head, belly rubs, compliments, and really, really, appreciate pizza and meatballs.

In a couple weeks, we will celebrate 'Art N Bloom',  artwork with a flowery influence.  Stay tuned for more information!

                                                        

Love, Bow-Wow's, Woof-Woofs from, 

Bella the Blogging Dog at Spanish Village

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PETER RABBIT, CHICKEN AND EGGS

Springtime is always a special season, leading in the freshness and newness of Mother Nature.  Birds fly overhead, twigs in their beaks, eager to build nests...colorful blossoming buds, spreading their sweet fragrance, and a renewed optimism toward longer, sunny, days.

In Spanish Village Art Center, we celebrate with:

THE EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA HUNT

Come to the:

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday, April 5th

11 AM to 3 PM

rain or shine

FREE to children

 

Easter Bunny Helpers will hide eggs on the hour, from 11 to 3, in the patio.  Colorful, plastic,  eggs, filled with pre-wrapped candy, will be slightly hidden for children to find....remember to bring your Easter basket!  And, in honor of  ''Spanish'' Village, this Easter, the bunny has brought   ''cascarones'', colorfully dyed real egg shells, filled with confetti...crack them for good luck! 

 

Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, enjoy all the tummy rubs, pats on the head, compliments and

attention...   however, most of all, we enjoy seeing the return of the same children, only a little more grown up.....building happy, positive, family memories of Spanish Village, brought on by the fun activities, and the colorful, cozy, friendly environs, where introduction to all manners of art, demonstrations, and classes are offered by village artists.

 

 Over here, Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, and Emily, the village squirrel, have become quite an item.  Emily shares her raw peanuts with Franklin, he  reciprocates with bits of food scrounged from the village.  I hear Matilda, the canyon coyote, and Erika, the village cat, discussing the abysmal romance, calling it an act against social convention....however, I see they are happy together, and, after all, Matilda did run off and eat Franklin's first wife.

The weather has been quirky....one week it's as hot as the hottest day in the summer, and the next week, the weatherman is predicting rain....I suspect the plants are a bit confused.  On Saint Patrick's Day, Mother Nature waved her wand and created a severe solar storm (geomagnetic storm) that whipped through Earth's magnetic sphere, leaving in its wake a beautiful Saint Patrick's green across the sky, spanning from the Artic to parts of Oregon and Illinois.

 

Mother Nature, the greatest artist of all time.

I look forward to seeing you at the Egg Hunt!  There's talk the Easter Bunny will come...

(I so love the Easter Bunny, he tastes like chicken.)

 

Until later, my loves, 

Bella the Blogging Dog

Woof-woof!  Kisses, too!

MORE VILLAGE FUN STUFF!

 

 The Potter's Guild Twice Annual Patio Sale is Saturday, November 8th and Sunday, November 9th, from 10AM to 4PM.

 
Throughout the patio, booths will be displaying clay art in a diversity of artwork.  Utilitarian, as well as artwork made of clay will be up for sale....raku, salt, sagger, and other manners of glazing will be displayed....

Come to enjoy, talk to the artists, purchase the art, and sit a spell and enjoy the live music, and tasty goodies.  All 37 working art studios will be open, too.....

Remember, Christmas is just around the corner!

and, we have the original art as gifts!

We are dog and family friendly!

Take Care My Darlings!

Love,

Bella the Blogging Dog

Woof-Woof!

''SPRING IS HERE!''

The village Jacaranda trees are covered with lavender blossoms, Judy's flowers are blooming up and down the patio....it is a time for new life and new beginnings.

 

ANOTHER KIND OF NEW BEGINNING....

 

Photo is Copyright Protected

 

Come check out our NEW MEMBER SHOW!

Gallery 21, in Spanish Village, is hosting the New Member Show from April 30th to May 12, 11 AM to 4 PM daily.

Enjoy the visual creations by newly juried members of Spanish Village, who are emerging or seasoned artists, proud to share their creations, expressed in many different mediums.

A RECEPTION on Saturday, May 3rd, from 4 PM to 7 PM, Gallery 21, in Spanish Village, welcomes everyone to see the art, meet the artists, munch on the goodies, listen to the live music, and seep in the good vibes.

 Photo is Copyright Protected

 

  Photo is Copyright Protected

 

 

 

As usual, Spanish Village and this reception  is FREE to the public.

We are family and pet friendly.

 

 Photo is Copyright Protected

THE EASTER EGG HUNT.....was a success.  (Aagghhh!  I feel like burping up eggs!).  Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, spoke to Erika, the rag doll cat, about eating Margaret's baby rats.  Erika has conceded not to eat them anymore, only because we said Matilda, the canyon coyote, wanted to masticate on a plump, juicy, cat!  Hopefully, there will come a time when everyone knows it is not nice to kill and eat eachother.

 

 

In the meantime,  my two-legged friends, as H.G.Wells wrote: ''If the world does not please you, you can change it''. 

 

As for me, art, life, and change are synonymous.  

 

Everyone! Come to the New Membership Show!

 

Until later, my loves!

Bella

WOOF!  WOOF!

UNTIL NEXT YEAR, DECEMBER NIGHTS!

UNTIL NEXT YEAR, DECEMBER NIGHTS!     WHEW!   I am exhausted from all the activities at our annual December Nights! Brandon, my poodle buddy, Erika the rag doll cat, Franklin the arachnophobic rat, and I are basically immobile from all the goodies we have eaten from hand outs and crumbs on the ground. This is just Heaven! We still haven't covered the whole Village for overlooked goodies!   This year, we had so many guests walk into our Village and enjoy the decorated, cheerful, colorful, ambience of the Holidays. Twinkling lights, trees decorated with Christmas packaging & balls, booths lined up and down the patio displaying and selling their artwork, the aroma of food from the food booths, every studio spruced up and decorated for the holiday event....every year, this event happens, and every year, it is a place of magic, old time memories, and charm.   Soon, my cousin 'Miss Molly' will be visiting me...can't wait for you to meet her. In the meantime, I need to knock off a pound or two before she comes....(she's a silly, vain, creature and I couldn't have her slimmer than me).   Come visit us in Spanish Village Art Center...we're open 7-days a week, 11AM-4PM, and we have 37 working studios for you to see, and perhaps purchase a handmade, original, piece of art. We are family and pet friendly, free to come and visit, usually have live music for you to enjoy, and the vintage and ambience of a village in Spain.   Time for a nap, again.... Happy Holidays!     Love, Bella

ROXIE (aka Bella) 13 + Years of Wonderful Life

MISS ROXIE and TOM merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream! RLS   A cool, slight breeze, lifts my fluffy fur, pushing the fur from my face. I am running in a field of dew covered clover, fragrant, singing, flowers are turning their heads toward the warm sun. The sound of happy, barking, dogs join me as they greet me, and frolick. I have never felt this happy. I think I am home.   Something rouses me. I hear someone calling my name, offering me a slice of pizza.   Not this time.   I lay my head down, returning to this magical, beautiful, place, where I run, play, bark, and feel an indescribable joy.   In this dream, I'd rather stay.   And so, Miss Roxie AKA: Bella the Blogging Dog, passed away at the ripe old age of 14 years. A joy, a twinkle, a love, an intrinsic, beautiful, 4-legged, vibration in Spanish Village....through the years.....leaves her footprints in the memory of so many villagers who will miss her.   Author's Note: Bella will still live on in her blog. I think Miss Roxie would want it this way, and besides, she adores the notoriety.   So, good-bye good girl.....next time I see you, I promise to rub your tummy, bring you a brand new pink bow, and a big slice of pizza.   Until Later, Love, Lai

WELL WISHERS from the WISHING WELL

LAI and Bella (aka Roxie) at the Wishing Well

Memorial Day weekend at the village was a sunny day in paradise.....Visitors meandered through the 37 working art studios, listened to live guitar music, while the aroma of hamburgers on the grill wafed through the air from The Village Grill Restaurant....this is a photo of me and Lai in front front of the wishing well.....behind it is Studio 27, Jane's jewelry workshop, where you can check out all sorts of original jewelry, some made out of crystal, gemstones, natural stones and even fossils. I bet you can guess what I am wishing for.....A Village Grill Hamburger, for sure!

BELLA'S BACK (aka ROXIE)

My Best Friend is Tom you will find the two of us roaming Balboa Park on any given day. Please stop and say hello.

SOMETIMES, you can't teach an old dog new tricks...apparently, I'm one of those dogs. I found out a lot about myself while living with Lai...like residential living brings out the dysfunctional characteristics in me.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the 2 square meals a day, the smell of roast beef cooking, a place on her bed to sleep, countless belly rubs, new ribbons on my collar almost everyday, but all that gentrified living brought out the crazy in me.

As the countless days passed, I couldn't tell one day from the other. The television was constantly on, the little, white, yapping, fuzzy dog on the otherside of the fence annoyed me, and soon I was daydreaming about holding her by the neck and shaking her. I constantly barked at her to come out, so I could bark, growl and lunge at her. The Zen in me grew fangs. It was no longer a peaceful neighborhood.

Rapidly, I became frustrated and found relief in the tactile feeling of chewing on assorted shoes. Fuzzy slippers, tennis shoes, rubber crocks, strapped high heels, leather loafers....all lent relief with each chew. The backyard was riddled with pit holes I had compulsively dug.

My hindquarters began housing itchy, bitey, pinching, bugs which caused me to knaw at myself incessantly..... Lai took me to a veteranarian, who concluded there were no itchy, bitey culprits on me, and my overall behavior was an emotional reaction to my lifestyle.

Lai could see I needed to return to the Village, where each day held something different, and where I could be with my all my friends especially TOM my caretaker now. I'll never run away again I promise.

SO, I'M BACK!

There really is no place like home, and home for me is Spanish Village Art Center!

I'll be writing you soon!

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.