WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH!

What's Love Got To Do With It!

Pastel Chalk by artist Michael Heikkinen

Hello Dear Ones,

The heavy rain storms have finally subsided and the once thirsty plants
are yelling 'Enough'....streets are flooded, trees have fallen and construction
workers have had a few days off due to the inclement weather. 

ALL I DREAM ABOUT IS A BIG BOX OF CHOCLATES

Much commotion is in the air.  Yesterday, we inaugurated a new president, said good
bye to the old one...and today, hundreds of thousands of women, throughout
The world are demonstrating and participating in The Woman's March...voicing their
Concerns about woman's rights and interests.

How I love our freedoms.
And I love ....
ART ABANDONMENT DAY!!!!

WANT YOU BE MY VALENTINE?

Spanish Village invites art lovers to participate in our annual

Art Abandonment Day
Sunday, February 12th
Starts at 11AM and runs throughout the day
Until all the art donations are gone.

Art, throughout Balboa Park, will be set out, in plain eyesight For you to take for FREE.
It is an opportunity for village artists to share their love of art
And a chance for you to own original art.
Rain or Shine Art May Be Thine!!!

I love you,

BE MY VALENTINE

Bella the blogging dog
PS Happy Valentines Day!!!

A Gobble Gobble, Ho! Ho! Ho! and Cheers! to you!

Dear Ones,


We are off and running for the holiday seasons!  Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's is fast appearing in our hearts, minds, and pocketbooks.

Brandon, my village buddy and I are placing bets as to whether Franklin, the village rat, will be eaten for dinner or served dinner for Thanksgiving by Mathilda, the canyon coyote.....never can tell.

Christmas on the Prado AKA: December Nights, is happening the first Friday night and Saturday night of December from approximately 4-11 PM.....As usual, the Village will be lit up with fairy white lights throughout the patio, live music will entertain your ears,  the aroma of yummy treats will tickle your nose, Santa will let you sit on his lap for a photograph, lots of art and food booths will be set up for your perusing, and the village artists will be looking forward to sharing their art.


Most of all, Brandon, the poodle and I, will be awaiting to greet you, get belly rubs, pats on the head, compliments, and perhaps taste treats from you....I will be wearing the  big red bow and Brandon will be wearing his green bow tie.


As usual, parking will be at a premium, although there is paid parking next to the carousel....shuttle service is provided from the Naval Hospital....we hope to see up to 200,000 visitors over the weekend.....museums are free at night.....lots of festivities throughout the park.....and keep in mind, it is usually COLD.

Hope to see you there!


Love to you!

Bella the blogging dog from Spanish Village Art Center

So Long 'Elements', 'Hey There' Earth Day, and the Sculptor's Guild

Art by Edward  Moores, Maryellene Deason, Kathi Vargo

 

Hellooo My Dears from Paradise,

Another day of blissful sunshine, warmth, and good stuff.  I am lying under the table at the Gallery 21, enjoying the village artists who are coming in to collect their art creations from the ELEMENTS SHOW, something special put on by the village for the park's centennial.  Too bad it is closing.  It is
the first of its kind, and quite a success.  However, I do enjoy the pats on my head, belly rubs and compliments as artist come to pick up their art.

   Art by Deanne Tiffany             Steve Maddy                Rebecca Lowell

 

 As we close down one celebration, we gear up for another.







Art by Carole Mathios, Lucy Wang, Linda Smith, Carol Foster, and Susan Mae Hull




This Sunday is Earth Day throughout Balboa Park....and annual celebration that brings thousands upon thousands of people.  Come see the booths set up in the park, displaying information about keeping Mother Earth well.  In our village, we will have demonstrations relating to art, too.

During this celebration, Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, like to greet tie-dye folks,  polo shirt folks, flip flop folks, dread lock folks,  and whatever the cat brings in....(no offense to Erika, the village cat). We truly love to see the diversity of folk that Earth Day will
include....and Brandon, Erika, Franklin (the arachnophobic rat,) and his big squeeze the squirrel girlfriend, will enjoy the food droppings of our guests.  Best of all, we enjoy meeting other 4-legged friends and doing the smell test.

Later on in the month, the Sculptor's Guild, in the village, will have its closing reception on April 25, from 5 PM to 9 PM.....music, tours, refreshments, sculptor's raffle, silent auction, and a rocking ambience will invite an enjoyable time to anyone.  The Sculptor's Guild is comprised of local artists. The event is free.

Art by Roxanna Maria

 

Did you come to the EASTER EGG HUNT?  I saw Franklin lying on his back, feet up, from eating too much dropped candies....his main squeeze was squirreling mouthfuls of candy booty and running up the tree to store away....Matilda, the canyon coyote and Erika, the village cat, have formed a strong bond protesting the relationship between Franklin, the rat, and his squirrel squeeze....agreeing and bonding on the aberration in social convention (overlooking the strangeness of a coyote and fat cat friendship).

Such is life at the village.

Come visit us at the village!  We have 37 working studios, friendly artists who love to talk about their art, demonstrations and artist's vendor booths set up in the patio....we are open 7 days a week from 11 AM to 4 PM....and visiting the village is free.  We are family and pet friendly.

Until Later My Loves,

Bella the blogging dog
Woof-Woof, kisses, too.

SEE OUR HOWLING HALLOWEEN DOGGY CONTEST!

Last Sunday was the Annual Halloween Doggy Costume Contest! 

Thank you, everyone, for participating in this folly!  We had a 'howling' good time! 

The winner went to a beautiful Great Pyrenees named 'Princess', dressed as a butterfly, first place went to 2 little furries dressed up as flamenco dancers, 2nd place went to 'Lady' a golden retriever dressed as Hawaiian waihaine.....and third place went to a coupla football playing retrievers with mom and dad wearing matching shirts. 

All the doggy competitors had big smiles, and good manners.  Everyone received a bag of prizes!

Barbara, wearing the 'Lorax' hat, chaired the costume contest... and Pirate Jeff served as Master of Ceremonies for the doggie costume parade.

 

I am grateful for the attention she has brought to my 4-legged brethren. So, my friends, remember, come  next October to another doggy costume contest and march in our parade!
We are dog and family friendly!

Take Care My Darlings!

Love,
Bella the Blogging Dog
Woof-Woof!

HAVE A DOG-GONE MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Christmas isn't a season.  It's a feeling..........Edna Ferber

 

And I'm feeling the spirit as I watch the villagers scuttling around, moving and decorating throughout the village.  Twinkling lights, wrapped packages, colorful Christmas balls, rag tied Christmas trees, wreaths, and so much more unique decorating in front of the studios.....really, it's enough to wear a dog out just lying here watching them.

 

Balboa Park's Annual December Nights is scheduled for December 6th and 7th, from 5 PM to 11 PM.....the museums will be free to enter, carolers, food booths, Santas, and much entertainment will be throughout the Park.

 

Parking is at a premium.  Valet service is available.  Shuttle service is available.

Dress warmly....

This is a family event....but if your dog is handsome, bring him along too....as I get older, just looking at handsome dogs is enough for me...perks the old fur up.

 

I will be eagerly awaiting your company in Spanish Village Art Center.  We will be festooned with colorful Christmas decoration, twinkling lights, the aroma of hot apple cider and freshly made popcorn, arts & crafts booths throughout the patio, live entertainment, food booths, a jolly  Santa booth for kids with an agenda, and lots of happy village artists looking forward to sharing the ambience and spirit of the season with you.

 

Franklin, the arachnophobic rat is eagarly anticipating the free yummies dropped on the floor, while Erika the rag cat is anticipating what Franklin would taste like....can't we just all get along???  Brandon my poodle buddy and I will be randomly greeting everyone, and humbly accepting handouts to munch.....although, belly rubs, head pats, and compliments are always appreciated.  I will be wearing a bright, fluffly, red bow on my collar, and Brandon will be wearing a large, green, bow tie on his collar.

 

There's a saying ' He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree'....Roy L. Smith........however, Franklin, Erika, Brandon, me and the other 4-legged members of the village look forward to all the goodies left on the grounds....waiting for us to store it away.....that, I guess, are our gifts from the Christmas season.

 

Well, come and celebrate with us!

Remember to keep the Spirit of Christmas all year round....and remind my brothers and sisters not to pee on the tree.

 

I love you all!

Bella

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

 

This Sunday, April 21, 10AM-5PM, Balboa Park, including Spanish Village Art Center, is celebrating out annual Earth Day festivities.

Throughout the Park, informational and demonstrational booths will offer ways to help celebrate and appreciate Mother Earth, encouraging us to be conscientious caretakers of our Earth, acknowledging how she nurtures our ecology, our dependence on her.....knowing her well-being means our-well being.

As for me, a freshly dug hole to lie in, and the warm sun and nurturing rain, that goes to growing wheat, that feeds the cows, that makes the cheese, that makes the cheese pizzas on my whole wheat cheese pizza, that gives Anthony, the delivery person a job, and so much more to our economy/ecology.....

Earth is our Home.....Care and Protect Her!

Love, Kisses,

Bella

ART GLASS GUILD SPRING SHOW & PATIO SALE

ANN L MITCHELL, ARTIST BLOWN GLASS Erika, the rag doll cat, and I were laying in a cool, freshly dug up hole, listening to Ramon strum on his guitar.....the patio was covered with tables laden with all kinds of glassware....vases, jewelry, dishes, suncatchers, sushi dishes, tea pots, odd coffee cups, and whimsical animals.....alll made of glass! Mother's Day weekend was the twice yearly patio glass sale. Erika climbed a tree and was adoring the school of glass fish....she wanted you to see it, too.

CYNDY McQUADE, ARTIST BLOWN GLASS Did you know we have school for glass blowing here in the village??? Well, that's a different kind of school....

A WINDY DAY in the PARK

Here I am taking a short break to PEOPLE WATCH it's such a windy and blustery day in Balboa Park. Sigh!.

It's funny. You can't see the wind, but you can feel and see the effects of it.
My fur may appear a bit disheveled, an effect from the blustery, rainy, week.

Pricilla, our feral cat, who detests getting her paws wet, and Franklin, our overly anxious village rat, have found hiding places for warmth and shelter.

At night, on the weekend, the folks in the alley set up a party called 'Art in the Alley'....it was raining, but the artists and guests were having fun. Everyone was giving me taste treats (my favorite was meat balls), pats on my head, belly rubs (ahhh!), and compliments.

I love village festivities!


P.S. Is Love like the wind? You can't exactly see it, yet you feel and see the effects. What do you think?

Until later,

Bella aka Roxie

FYI! I am constantly walking up to those who smile, When Im not watching people, I love to rub up against them for a "petting-session".

Should I have my own Facebook page?

Bella and her Buddy Lai

The morning was sunny, and the heat was already creeping into the day. Winchester, the cat was licking himself with interest, the squirrels were chirping at eachother jockeying for a special tree limb, and I was wondering where I would find my next treat. Lying down underneath the shade of the carob tree, I heard keys jangling, someone was coming into the charming little patio...it was Lai my buddy.
''Hi Bella! How you doing girl?' '' Do you want a treat?'' .....say no more to me. I immediately got up, did my Bella shake, yes, all my fur is perfectly in place. I really am beautiful, you know, and trotted off to follow Lai into her cool studio.
''Just a second while I put this stuff away, okay, girl?''

I lied down on the cool concrete floor as I watched Lai put away her day's needs. Everytime, I come into her studio, I enjoy the paintings of her dogs, or 'doggies' as she would say. Colorful, whimsical, full of expression dogs of all ilks, all from her imagination, hung from the grids attached to the wall. Painted on canvas with oil pastels, each one of her colorful paintings jump out and say 'look at me' and invariably bring a smile or chuckle on the viewer's face.

And along the display shelves, I can see Lai's organic baskets made from materials she mostly gleans from the park's grounds. They are made from dracaena draco, inflorescence (king palm), flax, philodendron, and more. Some are coiled with the inflorescence, and some are weaved with the dracaena draco...they, too, are whimsical and organic.
''Okay girl, let me put the doggy bones in this cracked bowl for my doggy guests, and okay! Ready for a cookie???''
And I looked her in the eyes and gave her a big Bella smile...''don't have to ask me twice!''
Note: in Studio 26, where Lai's doggy paintings and baskets are, is also a drop off point for doggys to have a milk bone, fresh water, a hose to spray your heated dog down, a cool place to lie down, and tummy rubs (for the dogs). In Lai's studio dogs rock!