PARADISE and KARMA

It's a beautiful day in San Diego, paradise, really. The village is letting out a sigh of relief from the excitement of Earth Day, and parking is possible now.

I was wearing my new tie-dyed ribbon, made especially by Cassandra, for Earth Day, and I really thought I would steal the day....I felt slim and perky, my fur was clean and fluffy....

Carol put a bit of perfume on me....and Don had brought in some pizza and meat balls.....

However, in came Karma, the village black cat, riding on Tom's shoulders....everyone congregated around her....(that cat will do just about anything to upstage me).....however, I think she's lost a few whiskers and put on a pound or two, ....eating too many of this spring's mice.

Next month is Mother's Day! Remember to come to Spanish Village for an original, handmade gift for her!

Take Care, my loves!

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

BUNNIES AND BASKETS

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail,

hippity hop, Easter is on its way!

 

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

You Are Invited to a:

Children's Easter Egg Hunt

in Spanish Village Art Center

on Easter Sunday, March 21, 2013

11AM-3PM

Eggs delightfully hidden by the village artists

Free to the Public

Spanish Village is celebrating its annual Easter Egg Hunt, where hundreds of colorful, plastic eggs, stuffed with pre-wrapped taste treats, whimsically hidden throughout our charming patio area, and hidden on the hour and on the half hour, 11AM-3PM, will bring happiness to those adventurous Egg Hunters.

I will be wearing my Easter pink bow on my pink collar, but please don't feed me chocolate or taste treats....doggies shouldn't eat such goodies...but I would appreciate a pat on my head, belly rub or compliments....(should you have a slice of pizza or a meatball, that would be appreciated, too).

It's a fun occassion for all...parents can poke around the 37 working art studios where one can watch demonstrations and purchase unique artwork, listen to live music, people watch while enjoying the charming ambience of vintage studios, springtime flowers, and where ever else the imagination leads.....and of course, we are Dog Friendly!

 

So, my little 2-legged friends, arm yourself with an Easter basket, and make happy memories of Spanish Village!

Hopping Easter Day!

Woof!

Love,

Bella

P.S. Easter: happens on the first Sunday after the full moon on/or after March 21.....

LOVE

 

        Valentine's Day is coming up.....  My mind wanders to what is really Love.

It's clearly a feeling, like a cool breeze on a warm day...something I know is real, but cannot hold or see...only realize the effects of it...such as Lucy's yummy chow mein, Brandon's wet tongue across my nose, Priscilla nudging her kittens, Danielle's signature on a finished watercolor, and so much more.

 

Is Love the impetus to good actions or art, or are actions and art the impetus to Love? ( I feel like I'm chasing my tail).

Valentine's Day brings me meatballs, bites of pizza, tasty tidbits of this and that, a new pink Valentine's ribbon for my collar, hugs, kisses, and belly rubs from my 2-legged friends in the Village, who show their Love by creating artwork of all types, beit jewelry, paintings, glass/enamel/wood/clay or sculpture, and much more.

So, if you fear that chocolate heart, or box of candies, will make your man loosen his belt buckle, make your lady bust her pants, or finance your dentist's second home....Come to Spanish Village Art Center's 37 working art studios to buy a CALORIE FREE token of your Love.

Okay, so what is Love?
Love has many facets.
It is as hard as diamonds, and much much older.
It is what continues with its own intentions through the minutiae of fear, darkness, and callousness.
It is the undying pulse where there is conciousness.
I am lucky to be loved, but more fortunate to Love.

So, my 2-legged, reading, friends.....

I LOVE YOU.

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Bella

I LOVE 2 PARTY!!!

artist Weston Riffle "Imperial Valley"                                                       Images are Copyright Protected" Hi Everyone,   Did you go to the Small Image Show's reception last Saturday night? If you didn't want to brave through the opaque fog, or the rain, here are some photos of the BIG taa-doo about small art!                                                                             BOW WOW! artist Ally Benbrook "Stubby Dog" Images are Copyright Protected   And, remember, it is free to the public, and runs 11 AM-4 PM, 7-days a week, until Feb. 25th!! Come enjoy! Come Buy! Come and say 'hi' to me!                                                  Everone seems to be enjoying the show   Looks Like my friend Barbara was having fun!   So, take care my 2-legged friends.  We are pet & family friendly! Bella

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Oh, this warm sunshine feels so, so, appreciated! Last week's cold spell sent all my 4-legged friends scattering for warm shelter.

 

EVERYONE! YOU ARE INVITED TO:

38th Annual Small Image Reception

Spanish Village Art Center -  Balboa Park
1770 Village Place - Gallery 21
San Diego, CA 92101
Saturday January 26, 2013
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Free to the public!

It's a unique challenge for artist's to create artwork no greater than 10''x10'' with a wide range of visual expression.

The show opens on January 23 thru February 25.

11:00AM to 4:00PM

All artwork is for sale, and catalogues are available.

My favorite part is the reception where all those yummy taste treats are offered.....especially the meatballs! And, the leftovers dropped on the floor, are graciously eated by Franklin, the arachnophobic rat.

If you would like to enjoy the vibrations of other art lovers, stroll around Gallery 21, and enjoy small works of juried artwork, COME TO THE RECEPTION!

I will be the beautiful, longhaired, bearded collie, with the pink bow....meatballs are alway appreciated.....

Til the Reception!

Good Bye, 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

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