Friday, June 24, 2011

Tourist Season

I arrive in SF about 8:30 each morning. Since I'm riding BART the cacophony of the City is a welcome relief from the incessant whine of  the train. Today The City smells amazing- cooking beef, roasting coffee and surprisingly, the sweet smell of Jasmine. Tatters of fog slide above the building spires taking the dirt and grit with it, at least for an hour or two.
Street people hang out on the Plaza, staring, whispering, singing laughing. The day promises to be a good one. I wait for the light and cross Market, checking the tall clock that hovers over the Chronicle Building. I have fifteen minutes to walk the mile and a half, I don't have to hurry, but I keep a steady pace anyway. Others are walking to work along the same sidewalk. Women in pencil skirts balancing cups of Starbucks and cell phones, men in suits on bicycles, kids on skateboards, fat men, skinny women with babies in tow,we all are on our own personal missions. I cross over alleys named after whores- Minna, Clementina,- step around dog shirt, vomit, and road work. I am careful to check over my shoulder before stepping off any curb. But it isn't all bad.  I keep my chin up, admiring the two story murals and advertisements.Bright orange and yellow nasturtiums, blue green Aloe plants taller than a man and scattered patio pots of vivid red geranium add the note of humanity that we all crave- even in the canyons of The City.
Reverse the route and I head home. This time I pass orange and black clad Giants fans heading toward the park. They are tourists, holding hands,keeping their dark glasses on, bumping into my shoulder in a mad dash to make the first pitch. They aren't the only ones. I hear snippets of conversation as people pass me, German, French, Russian, Spanish. I see cameras slung around fat necks, hear the slap of feet in thongs as they scuffle along, necks craned back to see what little bit of sky there is to see on Market,as if the skies over San Francisco are somehow different than any other sky. And over it all I hear the tinny ringing of bells. Cable car bells calling the crowds. And they come...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

It's finally Summer around here!

When I went out to the barn today it finally smelled like summer. The grass has dried up and turned golden ( even though we had late rains) and the aroma of hot bay trees, oaks and grass was strong in the cool of the morning. I was able to go out and ride yesterday and today~ I'm lovin' it!. Of course I have to work the next whole week- so I probably won't get to see the pony until next Saturday, if then.
You see- it is going to be Jr's third birthday!
Remember when he was a little mite and we drug his tiny little bundled up body out with us to the barn?
Well we still do!
Today he asked to ride Bob! So we put hm up there, I walked next to him and Mom led Bob around in a circle, over poles and around cones. Jr loved it.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

This and That

Just catching up on a few loose ends. I wanted to post a few pictures of things I find cute or interesting.


Tripps sleeps with his paw over his nose. He's really a goof. He weighs about 150 lbs right now and still growing!

Lil Mama's first Jewlery Party at my house.( Thats me in the mirror:) She is doing well and having a fun time selling this really nice jewlery. And she's so pretty too!

These are just a few of the horses that I am considering in my quest to find another Show Horse. I relly like this top gelding, and they have been showing him in the classes I want to compete in- a bonus. I haven't seen him in person, he is way down in San Diego and I'll have to fly there to see him. Still have to sell Desi though, so nothing is settled.

This pretty little mare ( yes I know, I don't want a mare) is closer- just an hours drive. I like her graceful neck and feminine face, but I'm not digging the angle of her fetlocks. She might just be set up wrong for the picture, which also might account for the downhill slope of her back. Her hooves look like different people have shod her- but if I like her enough I'll have my farrier evaluate her, then my vet. I do like those golden horses...

I liked Darryl too. This is my friend KBG up. Darryl is only two, and this was maybe his fifth ride. He tolerated it, and Lil Mama, the trainer and me, all on a windy and cold and awful day. He's in the top three too. I know he will grow into himself, but he is already almost 15.2HH- so I'll have to really like him for me to buy him. Us short old ladies can't throw our heavy Western saddles up that high!
And of course my best boy! He actually wanted to sit up on Desi the other day, and he didn't want to ride Bob with his Momma!  He did like trying to crack the whip though- typical!
He will be three in a few days!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

June Auction Time!

June was a super busy month- I am working two different auction houses and loving it
 But boy, am I tired.
Does anyone recognize this little ( big) gadget? There were actually three of them in the auction this month and they all sold very well!

This tasty item is a porceline stove.
Am I the only one out there that can appreciate a good working oven? Even though I don't cook, and my plan is to turn my stove into a planter- this would be a nice stove to actually turn into a planter! All the drawers and parts were there, except the Salt and Pepper shakers. Went to $  250 but now they have to move the dern thing!

I finally won an auction! This lot was two standing mirrors. I bought this one for Lil Mama and a nice Venitian Glass one for Mimi! 

Aww, what a sweet folk art angel. Hand carved and so detailed! Hey wait a minute! What is that under his foot? It's a head! Is it...SATAN?...


Same idea from a differnt part of the world. I guess to dominte the world you have to step on a lot of heads! This guy looks like he escaped from the Blue Man Group playing nearby!

Oh yes, the little mountain goat came back. This time they really did sell it though! One of my collegues actually stuffed it in someones back seat! $300!

The Room where all the magic happens...

I really wanted to bid on this lot, but I figured two mirros were ok- but a bunch more mirrors were just too many! Although I did like the Bakelite one there on the top. It was really heavy, the glass was perfect and it had beveled around the edges, ( you never see that) Plus all the other mirrors came with it. I think it sold for about $40 bucks.

My friend Terri! How did that get in there! She relly liked that giant c... er I mean rooster...


This was a pretty Navajo type rug.. I don't think it was really woven by Navajo, even Jamison who works there and is a Navajo didn't think it was truely done. HOW ever it was nicely woven and had pretty red yarn throughout. It went for $300. A Yei rug 3x5 went at the Gallery on Sunday for about $1000. Yei are special and very collectable.


You all know I am crazy for dishes. This pretty green and white set was missing a lot of pieces, but it was so sweet! I think it was about $50.

I put in a bid of $200 for this French Style Oak cabinet. I missed it by $25! The people who bought it bought ALL of the cute stuff I liked! Their shop is up in St Helens- I may have to go visit!

And last of all- the Musk Ox. He was big and soft and massive. Can you see this over your bed? There was a Cape Buffalo with a full stand on the other side of the room that was intense! I didn't get a chance to photo that thing but believe me- it was huge! And frightening looking. I kept imagining it walking through the showroom, bellowing!  Hahah!


So ...there is more

I finally signed my contract with the Auction House that has merged with Greg Martin Auctions. Heritage is run from Dallas Texas, but they have store fronts in Beverly Hills and New York  too. Now they will have one in San Francisco. It was touch and go as to weather they would keep me on, but the gang rallied behind me, and I was hired officially today. Boy what a relief! The vibe has been a little off in the office, but that is to be expected. Now there are all men and ME in the back, and only one girl in the front, I have to go up  and just gaze at her once a day to get my girl fix on, Those boys can really take it out of ya- they are like old women! Worse than I have ever been! Not that I dont like them- I do, but really men- no wining!
This whole process really threw me for a loop- so I've been keeping my stories close to my vest, There is lots of work to do, problems to solve and so forth. But at least I have a job that will last awhile.
Thank you LORD!


Sunday, June 5, 2011

It's Still Raining and It is June!

You know I live in California for a couple of reasons.
One is the weather. It is balmy and beautiful here most of the year.

Not this year.

It has been cold and raining since October! And it continues to be cold and rainy and now it is JUNE!
MiMi informs me that it last rained here in June 1947! C'mon! That is just wrong!
It rained so hard last night that water in my street ran like a river, gysering and gushing against the tires of my truck.
And the clouds were swirling and black... Did I mention that there have been tornadoes nearby?
I pay a good chunk of change to live in California. I want to know who has changed the weather! I want a refund! If I have to put up with Midwestern United States Weather I want Midwestern United States pricing on everything! I want houses for under $100,000. I want Diesel for $3.00, I want a ton of hay for $7.00 a bale! I want Chicken and Waffle Houses, Great Rib Restaurants and looser gun laws.
If this keeps up I'm gonna move to Texas!