DECEMBER NIGHTS - December 7th & December 8th

DECEMBER NIGHTS - December 7th & December 8th

Watch video we're getting ready for December nights!

DECEMBER NIGHTS at the VILLAGE

Greetings Everyone!

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO:

DECEMBER NIGHTS

DECEMBER 7, FRIDAY 5PM-10PM

AND DECEMBER 8, SATURDAY 5PM-10PM

 It's a free event held every year in Balboa Park.

Come early, there is limited parking, shuttle service from the VA Hospital, valet parking, and for those of you who are not polar bears, dress warmly! Bring your appetite, because there are lots of food boots, and yummies to enjoy!

MOST OF ALL, COME VISIT US IN SPANISH VILLAGE ART CENTER!

 It's Thanksgiving weekend which means LEFTOVERS! Yes! Bites of turkey and stuffing, yam with marshmallows, cranberry sauce, and scraps of pumpkin pie!

I'm pretty stuffed from oblidging everyone's generosity to me, and am lying down motionless for lack of energy....too stuffed.

 Around me, villagers are intently decorating the village in preparation of 'DECEMBER NIGHTS'....AKA: Christmas on the Prado....a great family event where over 100,000 visitors come to celebrate and experience the holiday event.

On this festive Friday and Saturday night, museums are free, colorful Christmas lights are festooned throughout the Park, free entertainment everywhere, lots of caroling and music at the Organ Pavilon, ethnic foods galore at the International Houses, and much ado for the holiday season throughout the Park....

But, I'd rather stay in Spanish Village Art Center, where my Village family welcomes everyone into our charming, quaint, storybook setting, lined with vintage white cottages, and outdoor booths, displaying a wide variety of original artwork to admire and sell.

Up and down the Village are twinkling, colorful lights, festive decorations, food booths, live Christmas music, a live Santa to tell your gift wishes, and the aroma of popcorn, cinnamon, and apple cider.

Christmas in Spanish Village is a glimpse into the past....an Old Time Christmas.

Don't be surprised to see dogs dressed up with hats, some lighted up, wearing Christmas frocks, and colorful bows.

In Studio 26, dogs receive courtesy Christmas collar bows, tasty doggy milkbones, belly rubs, pats on the head, and fresh water....a pet friendly stop.

 

I am looking forward to seeing you! I will be the fluffy, longhaired, 4-legged, smiling, beauty, with the big pink bow on my collar!

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

FAMILY DAY & DOGGY COSTUME CONTEST

PUMPKIN and HOT DOG

Last Saturday was the Doggy Costume Contest.....dogs dressed as hotdogs, hamburgulars, kings, bumble bees, scary hatchet dogs and, ................

THE LION KING

                 Movie Star MAE WEST

 

 ..  and, my newly discovered Love.....SIMON!

He came as Frank Sinatra, Old Blue Eyes....and when I looked into those dreamy Siberian Huskey blue eyes, I knew I was thunderstruck....I think I'm in love. Simon! Simon! Simon! He won the most handsome category....hubba, hubba! I keep wondering how it would be to be Mrs. Simon....I keep roaming the Village to try to capture his scent!

Love, really is a splendid thing!

 

Until Later Loves,

Bella, the Thunderstruck Dog.

 

 

 

HALLOWEEN DOGGY COSTUME CONTEST

 

 

HALLOWEEN DOGGY COSTUME CONTEST

OCTOBER 21, NOON-1PM

CHECK IN NEAR THE LILLY POJND

OR IN SPANISH VILLAGE PATIO

HUMANS ENCOURAGED TO DRESS UP

TRICK OR TREATING FOR CHILDREN, TOO!

PRIZES! PRIZES! AND MORE PRIZES!

 

It's drizzling this weekend, after weeks of heat and humid discomfort. I am hoping for a dry Saturday, because of the Doggy Halloween Costume Contest!

I am going to be a princess (and any other princesses better watch out!)...Miss Piggy and I have quite a bit in common....Brandon, my poodle buddy, is coming as Dean Martin, complete with cocktail glass.....and he's going to bring his buddy, Simon, as Frank Sinatra!...Old Blue Eyes!.....Studio 26 is giving out Halloween treats for the four legged friends....and the other studios are handing out Halloween treats for the trick or treaters....as for me, I am looking forward to just being beautiful and adored.

 

Everyone, come share the Halloween festivities, Saturday, October 27th in Spanish Village Art Center!

 

Until the witches and goblins get you!

Love,

Bella

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Nose, Paws, Tongue.

Nose, Paws, Tongue.

Nose, Paws, Tongue.

They are all working overtime, day and night, reacting to the hot and humid days and nights, lasting for days, then, weeks and now, months.

Do I look any thinner from this constant sauna? Nooo! Just haggard and panting, and my fluffy fur is quickly loosing it's bounciness.

 

 

Fortunately, I went home with my best buddy Tom. Here is a photo of me, stretched out on his cool, airconditioned, tiled, kitchen floor.
 

Gentrified gals, like me, require airconditioning, cool fresh water, tummy rubs, leftover pizza, and Johnny Cash. Now, Johnny Cash is one hot I like. Woof!
 

Despite this heat, Andy, in studio 19, is teaching and demonstrating glass blowing. Village artists are sweating and creating in their 90-100 degree studios.....and patio artists have set up canopies for protection from the sweltering heat....
 

However, Brandon, my poodle buddy, Erika, the rag doll cat, Emily, the squirrel, Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, and all my other 4-legged friends, have the sense to stay out of the heat....well, such are humans.....
 

Stay Cool, My Loves,

Bella

POETRY, ART & EMOTION

JOSE RUIZ, author, artist, just an all around good guy!

 

 

In our village, many art forms are appreciated. On a warm and quiet Sunday morning, I plunked down in studio 13's cool, concrete, floor, where Sylvia creates and displays organic, clay, creations, many depicting her Native American heritage.

However, on this beautiful day, she has welcomed JOSE RUIZ, to do a reading of his second published book...a book of poetry...words read with his intonations, reflecting his life and views of life...some whimsical and some thoughtful.

 

The willingness to express Art comes diversified...Expressions in clay, glass, paintings, wood and more, lend to visual images of Art. The expressions in words lead to images from our minds. All, hopefully affecting our emotions. All being different forms of Art.

Do you think Art is Emotion?
 

I think pizza is emotion.....and a cool, freshly, dug hole to lie in.....

 

 

 

 

JOSE'S books are offered on Amazon.....  Click on Link below!

"Thunder and Wind" 100 Poems

http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Wind-Poems-Jose-Ruiz/dp/1469914107

Keep Cool,

Love, Bella

 

 

 

BLOWN GLASS and IGUANA SKIN

The Glory Hole at Studio 19 Spanish Village Art Center - Balboa Park

Andy, in studio 19, has a working art studio at the back of the village in an alcove. In her studio, you can see the results of her glass blowing, purchase them, if you like, or stand outside and watch her demonstrate the art of blowing glass or teaching a student the steps to blowing glass. Because of the nature of her equipment, the high temperature from the glory hole, and molten glass, safety is equally important as the actual learning of glass blowing....and having the skin of an iguana, because of the need for high tolerances of heat....

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

 

It is amazing how small grains of sand-like material melts with high heat, and allows itself to be blown, with human breath, into different shapes and sizes.

Andy brings to life, an old, respected, craft, and shares the skill to her students.

 

                                                     Andy and Kevin - Studio 19

 

On weekends, and some weekdays, you can drop by and watch her demonstrate.

As for me, heats makes my fur frizzy, so I prefer to keep a distance, preferably near someone eating....who likes to share.

Until Later My Loves,

Bella

MEMORIES and MINUTIAE

SCOTT KUHNLY and BELLA (aka Roxie)



SCOTT KUHNLY, a member of Spanish Village for over 40 years, passed away July 27, 2012.   For as long as I've been with the Village, Scott would give me bites of his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, long tummy rubs, and pats on my head followed by the familiar sounds of his voice. Scott displayed his watercolor and oil paintings near the entrance of the Village on the patio.

The scent of Scott has disappeared, and the habit of seeing him almost every weekend makes me sad, now that he is gone. An overwhelming minutiae of feelings and memories leave me uncertain, but I focus on special memories with Scott....the minutiae dissipates to warm thoughts and memories I hold in my heart....recapturing my friend, Scott....and that feels good.

Until Later, all my Love, Bella

Check out an earlier post with Scott and I at this link.  http://bellathedoginspanishvillageartcenter.blogspot.com/2010/06/sometimes-when-weather-is-sunny-i-like.html

SUMMER CAMP at the VILLAGE

Good Morning, I've been rising earlier with the laughing, chattering, and excitement brought on by the kids who are attending the village's summer school program. Children, ages 6 and up, attend by the week, art classes taught by village artists....classes are held both in the morning and afternoon....Handsculpting with clay, objects made from natural fibers gleaned from the park,

acrylic painting, mixed media classes and so much more, offer children eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, use of art utensils, focus, color/pattern and shape appreciation, and a happy environment to introduce kids to art.

The creations made by the kids bring smiles to their faces, and an opportunity to make new friends, and good memories of Spanish Village Art Center. As for me, I love all the attention from the kids, especially when it's lunch time, Until later, much love, Bella