tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37836702450365013972024-03-14T05:16:04.448-07:00Christa Polkinhorn Bookworm PressMy ramblings about books, travels or whatever else moves me.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-79578163044832967962018-01-08T14:13:00.001-08:002018-01-10T06:51:15.762-08:00My blog moved to WordPressDear loyal followers,<br />
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I moved my blog to my website on WordPress and will add new posts there. Come and visit me there. It's fun!<br />
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<a href="http://www.christa-polkinhorn.com/blog/">http://www.christa-polkinhorn.com/blog/</a><br />
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Christa, The Scrivenerauthor Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-14170966842697984872018-01-03T16:34:00.001-08:002018-01-03T16:34:50.125-08:00Los Angeles - a city of urban sprawl and the most exciting as well as quirky attractions! - Part ThreeI'm obviously a slow blogger. This post is about the last day of Shawn and my Los Angeles city adventure back in October of 2017. This time, we ventured downtown again, to a historical restaurant/Tiki bar/almost a museum, called Clifton's. Here is some information about the place:<br />
<a href="http://www.cliftonsla.com/">http://www.cliftonsla.com/</a><br />
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But first we had to find parking and that's one of the problematic sides of downtown Los Angeles. During the day I now take our new Metrolink train from Santa Monica to downtown. In the evening and at night, however, the car feels a little safer. Fortunately, street-smart Shawn was driving and we did find a spot close-by. Well done, Shawn.<br />
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And here we were, stuffing ourselves on an elaborate buffet-style dinner.<br />
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It wasn't exactly "fine dining" but plentiful and there was an amazing variety of food! Having regained our strength after the hunt for a parking space, we ventured upstairs and checked out the mysterious and glamorous environment and the art works. Here are a few photos:<br />
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You can tell that Shawn was overwhelmed!<br />
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I don't have more pictures of that evening. I had too much fun and forgot to take pictures, but Shawn did a better job of documenting this amazing place.<br />
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Hop on over to his blog! <a href="https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/11/off-to-la-la-land-part-2.html">https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/11/off-to-la-la-land-part-2.html</a>author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-59213225454829208412017-12-13T09:31:00.001-08:002017-12-13T09:31:25.138-08:00Los Angeles - a city of urban sprawl and the most exciting as well as quirky attractions! - Part TwoMy friend Shawn and I spent a weekend exploring Los Angeles, a city of many surprises. I've lived in the area for many years and I still discover new and interesting spots. Shawn was doing research for some articles for one of his freelance journalist projects and I was tagging along, having fun. While waiting for the Griffith Observatory to open<br />
(see last post: <a href="https://christa-polkinhorn.blogspot.com/2017/11/los-angeles-city-of-urban-sprawl-and.html">https://christa-polkinhorn.blogspot.com/2017/11/los-angeles-city-of-urban-sprawl-and.html</a>),<br />
we had breakfast in a nearby coffee shop and then checked out another quirky and very interesting place, called Wacko/Soap Plant in Los Angeles. This is a store that sells an amazing collection of magical and crazy stuff as well as sophisticated works of art and some splendid books.<br />
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But first we checked out the current art exhibition in the store. I knew of my friend's love of Tiki bars and Tiki drinks and took it for just another one of his many quirks. I have to admit though I've acquired a taste for these Hawaiian inspired drinks myself. What I wasn't familiar with though was the more serious aspect of this international movement of Tiki Art. The exhibition of paintings and sculptures was truly amazing. One of the famous artists among the group is a guy by the name of Shag. More about him here:<br />
<a href="http://www.shag.com/">http://www.shag.com/</a><br />
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And here are a few pictures of the Wacko store and of the art exhibition. It's located at the end of Hollywood Blvd. where it leads into Sunset. Here is the outside--you obviously can't miss it.<br />
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And here the inside: paintings and sculptures, the true Tiki phenomena. I was really excited about it!<br />
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Above: This is the kind of crazy and magical stuff you can enjoy there.</div>
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Below: This is part of the exhibition</div>
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Our next stop after Wacko and the Griffith Observatory was Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. This part of the city, which is now mainly a tourist attraction, was founded in 1781 and has an interesting and at times controversial history and Latin heritage. More about this here:<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvera_Street#Early_days">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvera_Street#Early_days</a><br />
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We visited <i>Calle Olvera</i> October 21 and the street was already decked out for the Mexican holiday <i>Dia de los Muertos (</i>Day of the Dead) on November 2 and 3. Here are some pictures of the tourist attractions and the more historical buildings.<br />
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More follows--another fabulous Los Angeles highlight, Clifton's Cafeteria. Stay tuned!author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-43540236325655234042017-11-20T15:45:00.003-08:002017-11-20T15:45:55.298-08:00Los Angeles - a city of urban sprawl and the most exciting as well as quirky attractions!The week after Shawn and my research/fun trip to Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Cambria and Morro Bay, we explored a bunch of exciting places in Los Angeles.<br />
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I remember very well when I first came to the United States and traveled through part of the country eons ago, my initial thought was that Los Angeles was the one city in the United States I would never ever want to live in. Famous last words! I still don't enjoy the urban sprawl and the impossible traffic congestion, but I've come to love Los Angeles for its wonderful museums, concert halls, libraries, and its many exciting and quirky entertainments.<br />
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Los Angeles can be intimidating and I always dread driving in it. My friend Shawn, however, is much more adventurous and so I always love it when he visits because he takes me to places I either have never been to or don't know very well.<br />
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Anyway, here we were and our first visit was to the famous and amazing Griffith Observatory. <br />
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For information on the history and activities at this world famous observatory, check out its website: <a href="http://www.griffithobservatory.org/">http://www.griffithobservatory.org/</a><br />
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More to come!author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-89789299787807138302017-11-14T11:27:00.000-08:002017-11-14T11:27:06.377-08:00Adam Cohen and Leonard Cohen momentarily forget their lyrics--it can happen to the best of them.<br />
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A fun and moving moment I had to share! <br />
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A<<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z_x5Gm8ugVI" width="560"></iframe>author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-15393181968310736272017-11-12T15:45:00.000-08:002017-11-12T15:45:03.933-08:00Research & Fun - Part Four: Morro BayOn the last day of our fun research trip, Shawn and I headed over to the Central Coast again, this time to a typical tourist spot, Morro Bay. But aside from the purely entertaining--shops, bars, restaurants--we took a harbor cruise that was both fun and informative. I have to admit though, I didn't listen too closely to the information the captain gave us in a fast and very repetitive voice (the poor guy must have told the same story hundreds of times). I just relaxed and enjoyed the landscape and the many sea birds and sea animals. <br />
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Let's start with a few pictures. Well, actually, the first thing we visited was the Morro Bay Aquarium, which was going to be closed soon. Thank God, because it was a really sad affair. All these sea animals locked into these small areas. Too depressing, so I didn't take pictures. Shawn, however, has some very colorful photos. Link at the end! <br />
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Here is the aquarium from the outside: <br />
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Afterwards, we needed to fortify ourselves with a delicious lunch; well mine was, Shawn wasn't too crazy about his.<br />
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And here are the pictures from the harbor cruise. Below is Morro Rock one <span class="_Tgc _y9e _BBn">of 13 rocks in San Luis Obsipo county that are remnant necks of extinct volcanoes. More on that here, if you're interested:</span><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morro_Rock"><span class="_Tgc _y9e _BBn">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morro_Rock</span></a><br />
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This bay is full of sea otters, sea lions, and all kinds of sea birds and sea animals. <br />
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The captain of our boat.</div>
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It's not easy to take good pictures on a boat full of people, but I'm proud of having caught a good shot of this royal bird!<br />
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All good things coming to an end. After Morro Bay, we separated, Shawn heading north and I south to Los Angeles. It was fun. Great time and great company! <br />
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During the coming weekend we explored interesting parts of Los Angeles. Stay tuned.<br />
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Make sure to hop over to Shawn's post!<br />
<a href="http://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017_83.html">http://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017_83.html</a><br />
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<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-17059483789225615252017-11-08T10:31:00.000-08:002017-11-09T07:51:18.011-08:00A wonderful tribute to Leonard Cohen by the Irish singer/songwriter David Kettyles<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/73T7XzaszLo" width="560"></iframe>author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-83795878431383252712017-11-01T18:49:00.002-07:002017-11-12T14:31:48.432-08:00Research & Fun - Part Three: San Luis ObispoI usually drive through San Luis Obispo on my way to Cambria or Paso Robles wine country. This time, I wanted to explore the city itself and what better guide than Shawn who has a knack for spotting interesting and quirky sites. Our first stop was the famous Madonna Inn. I've seen it from the road but have never been on the grounds or inside. What a crazy, more than slightly overdone but fun place that is! Now, if you have some extra (lots of extra!) disposable income, you can spend the night at this Californian symbol of craziness, but it's quite expensive. Looking around, however, is free and the food at the coffee shop is reasonably priced. The food is okay, the coffee somewhat sub-par for my spoiled coffee palate but the scenery is well worth a visit.<br />
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Anyway, here are a few pictures of this amazing hotel. <br />
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A painted cow seemed a fitting object for this environment.</div>
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Our next stop was at the mission of San Luis Obispo, with its beautiful gardens, a lovely museum and those amazing three large bells. The full name is Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and it was founded by Father Serra in 1772 and named after Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, France. It was built with the help of the local Chumash Indians. If you are a mission fan, like Shawn, you can read more about it here: <a href="http://missionsanluisobispo.org/">http://missionsanluisobispo.org/</a> <br />
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Below are a few pictures of the mission:<br />
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The garden with the three beautiful bells and the small museum were particularly enchanting.<br />
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The next stop, an old library converted into a history center, was close-by.<br />
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There is a story to these bottles which Shawn describes in his blog (of course completely fictional).<br />
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Next, we took a quick break in one of Shawn's favorite places--a Tiki bar (it's a long story). I only have a few pictures, but on Shawn's post, you'll get more detail (link at the end of the post).<br />
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Next, we found a truly amazing place, another one which I've never seen nor even heard of. It's called the BUBBLEGUM ALLEY. That's right, only in California. It's an alley where people over many years deposited their chewed bubblegum on the walls and created a truly Californian "work of art" and to this day people still add their own gums to the masterpiece.<br />
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Next we headed over to the coast to Cambria to check out the elephant seals and Ragged Point, the entrance to the mountain road to Big Sur, which is still closed.<br />
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This odd place in Cambria is called Nit Wit Ridge--there is a story to this as described in the next photo, which you probably won't be able to read. Ask Shawn! <br />
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The last two photos are from Ragged Point, also called the entrance to the mountain road to Big Sur. Since I dealt with this and the elephant seal sanctuary at Piedras Blancs in former blog posts, I didn't take many pictures this time around. Shawn has a lot more on his blog post. <br />
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There is more to come in my next blog post. But don't forget to check out Shawn's interpretation of this day--an absolutely fictitious SILLINESS GALORE! Have a good laugh and enjoy some great pictures!<br />
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<a href="https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017_29.html">https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017_29.html</a><br />
<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-6212033047212863532017-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:002017-11-01T20:37:03.242-07:00Research & Fun - Part Two: More Fun than Research in Paso Robles Wine CountryOn the second day of my trip up north, I met with Shawn, who does some research for several of his own projects. We stayed at the Adelaide Inn in Paso Robles, which has become one of my "homes from home" during my jaunts in the Central Coast of the California wine country.<br />
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As you can see, the motel was already decked out for Halloween!<br />
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Once Shawn arrived, we took off for a reception at one of the wineries for members of the wine club he belongs to. I had the honor and pleasure of being the invited guest. On the way there, we visited another winery. Here are a few pictures of the Pear Valley Winery and the Chronic Cellars in Paso Robles.<br />
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Now, don't you get the wrong idea! It may not look that way, but this was by no means pure entertainment. After all, in order to write intelligently in an article or a book about wine, you have to be able to taste and investigate it. Okay? Never mind.<br />
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Enough research. The wines were anywhere from decent to excellent. Mission accomplished.<br />
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In the evening, dinner in Paso Robles.<br />
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One of these four gentlemen I came across in Paso Robles must have imbibed so much that he forgot to put on his appropriate shirt. He was, in fact, Drunk 3.<br />
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My pal Shawn wrote his own blog post about this day and has a bunch of fun pictures as well.<br />
Attention: DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING HE SAYS ABOUT ME THOUGH!<br />
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<a href="https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017.html">https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017.html</a><br />
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To be continued.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-78470492921592987462017-10-23T14:28:00.000-07:002017-10-23T14:28:11.580-07:00Research & Fun - Part One: The Monastery of the Risen ChristMy friend Shawn and I recently met in Paso Robles in the Central Coast area to do research--Shawn for some articles he writes as a freelance journalist and I for my novel series The Wine Lover's Daughter. I'm working on book three of the series, called <i>Fire in the Vineyard</i>. I came up with the title long before the devastating fires in Napa Valley and I certainly don't think I'm psychic, but now, the title sounds almost ominous.<br />
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Anyway, we decided to pool our resources, do some "work" and have some fun at the same time. The first day of the trip, I was on my own. I drove up from the Los Angeles area to Paso Robles and made a stop in San Luis Obispo. One of the characters in my novels is associated with a Benedictine monastery in the Piedmont in Italy as well as in the San Luis Obispo area. To get a feeling for the place and the environment, I visited the Benedictine Monastery of the Risen Christ. It's a lovely place, simple and unassuming, high up on a hill with a gorgeous view of the valley and the surrounding hills and mountains in the background. Here are a few pictures.<br />
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The main building open to the public with a chapel and small library</div>
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The inside of the chapel</div>
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So peaceful and quiet up here. Makes you want to just hang out.</div>
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Gorgeous view of the back country of San Luis Obispo</div>
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At the bottom of the hill, there is a meditation labyrinth made of stones where you can walk through the 14 Stations of the Cross or just sit on the bench and enjoy the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere.<br />
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There are different events at the monastery for the public to attend. You can also stay there overnight and get a feeling for the life in a monastery or just take a few days off from your busy life. Very tempting!<br />
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Here is the link to the monastery:<a href="http://monasteryrisenchrist.com/"> http://monasteryrisenchrist.com/</a> <br />
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After visiting the monastery, I drove the rest of the way to Paso Robles, the wine country, for another kind of "spirit." After all it does say somewhere: In Vino Veritas!<br />
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To be continued.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-8942027059218266162017-10-06T14:40:00.000-07:002017-10-06T14:40:59.763-07:00Letter from a farm kidGreat blog post!<br />
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<span style="color: black;">"Dear Ma and Pa,</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I am well. I hope you are too.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Tell Walt and Elmer that the U.S. Army beats working for old man Doggett by a mile. They oughta join up quick before all of the places are taken...."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://bluebirdofbitterness.com/2017/06/26/letter-from-a-farm-kid-2/">Read more:</a> </span>author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-36006325330527933192017-06-05T10:03:00.003-07:002017-06-06T08:17:00.659-07:00California, here we come, Part FiveFrom San Diego, we took a trip inland on Hwy 8 to El Centro in the Imperial Valley and the Anza Borrego desert. For visitors from mountainous Switzerland, the desert has a special fascination. El Centro is also the place where part of the Polkinhorn family lives, so it was exciting for my Swiss family to meet them for the first time.<br />
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But first, we made another surprise visit to a dear member of the "Polkinhorn Clan," Harry Polkinhorn, in San Diego. He and I used to live in Switzerland and he knew my family there, but hadn't seen them in over twenty years. So, it was a wonderful surprise when we showed up unannounced.<br />
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Our trip east on Hwy 8 brought us through the mountains and into the Anza Borrego desert. I remember well how impressed I was the first time I took this trip many years ago.
The mysterious landscape and the purple/orange colors of the rocks never cease to fascinate me.<br />
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In El Centro, close to the Mexican border, we met a few other members of the Polkinhorn Clan, my ex-husbands brother and my sister-in-law and their daughter. It was a first get-together for everyone and we truly enjoyed it.<br />
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Rae Lynn, my sister-in-law, accompanied us into the desert to Yuma, Arizona. Yuma is a quaint city with a pleasant climate (it does get quite hot in summer), so in winter the town gets inundated with the so-called "Snowbirds." These are people from states such as Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and others (mainly retirees) who want to escape the brutal cold and spend the winter in sunny and warm Arizona. At this time of the year, not much is going but during winter, this is supposed to be quite an active place. By the way, it is alleged that Billy the Kid spent time in jail here. Yuma also has some excellent restaurants and funky bars. <br />
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The next few photos show the inside of the restaurant we had lunch at. You'll see quite a few celebrities of the entertainment business and the famous civil rights leader!<br />
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One of the highlights of our journey into the desert were the sand dunes with their otherworldly ambience. They are simply breathtaking.</div>
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Thank you, Rae Lynn, Billy and Harry Polkinhorn, for your kind hospitality!</div>
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And a heartfelt thank you to my dear friends, Jeanie and Bernie Lauer Van Dam, and my Ladies Club (Martha, Relly, and Yasue) for making my family feel so welcome!</div>
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Unfortunately, everything has to come to an end. The two intense and wonderful weeks are over and soon it was time to say goodbye.</div>
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At the airport once again, this time to fly back.Bye and see you soon!</div>
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Back in Switzerland, where it was definitely a little colder. But home sweet home nevertheless.</div>
<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-91066389007688812462017-06-02T10:29:00.000-07:002017-06-02T10:29:06.951-07:00California, here we come, Part FourAfter our trip north, we drove back to Los Angeles, relaxed a few days in Santa Monica, and then went onward to San Diego and the surrounding areas.<br />
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We stayed in Pacific Beach in a motel right next to the beach. I used to live in San Diego many years ago, so this trip was kind of a "down memory lane" experience for me. <br />
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One thing that surprised us was the somewhat unpredictable climate during our trip. The hottest days we spent in ... believe it or not ... San Francisco, where it's usually fresh and windy. This time people who live there actually complained about the heat! San Diego, the most southern area, on the other hand, was fairly cool, even cold at times, and it rained one day.<br />
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We explored the interesting downtown area of San Diego with its harbor and the fascinating navy ships.<br />
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Had to think of Moby Dick when I saw this beauty! </div>
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The Midway, an impressive airplane carrier, was built during World War II. It launched right after the war. Standing next to one of those amazing ships is almost scary. Can't imagine what it must have felt to actually live and work on one of those monsters!<br />
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My nephew, Captain Rico Spiegel, getting outfitted for his next cruise!</div>
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After a drive over the Coronado Bridge to Coronado Island, we explored the famous Hotel Colorado, definitely a place for the rich and those who don't mind to splurge! The architecture though was fascinating.</div>
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More to come. Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-56482999589752913492017-05-29T11:07:00.000-07:002017-05-29T11:07:55.992-07:00California, here we come! Part ThreeFrom San Francisco, we drove south to the wine country of Paso Robles, which also happens to be the area where some of my novels in my <a href="http://author.to/ChristaPolkinhorn">The Wine Lover's Daughter</a> series take place and where I did quite a lot of research.<br />
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This time, however, we explored another venue. We drove east along Hwy 42 to the James Dean Memorial, the place where the young actor (only 24 years old) was killed in a car accident with his Porsche. There is a nice inn right next to it with memorabilia and photos of the actor. At the same time, a group of classic car fans were there as well. My nephew who is both a James Dean and a classic car fan was very happy about this. <br />
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The Paso Robles area has a lot of fun restaurants and shops and my relatives realized soon enough that clothes and shoes were quite a bit cheaper here than in Switzerland. So they shopped till they dropped, then relaxed in a restaurant or at the pool.<br />
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The following day, we headed south again to Santa Monica, checked out Hollywood (a must), and then drove to San Diego for a few days.<br />
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More to follow.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-3134115936041621722017-05-22T13:10:00.001-07:002017-05-22T13:10:20.859-07:00California, here we come! Part TwoThe next part of our trip was a visit to San Francisco and then a drive south to the Paso Robles wine country.<br />
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For my nephew, Rico, and great-nephew, Muriel, this was the first time they experienced the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Most people probably don't know this, but one of the builders of the bridge was the Swiss-American structural engineer, Othmar Amman, who was also responsible for the design of the George Washington Bridge, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge, and the construction of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City.<br />
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A different Swiss is responsible for the design of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in downtown San Francisco. Mario Botta, from the south of Switzerland, is known for his fascinating public and private buildings all over the world.<br />
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In fact, quite a few Swiss people made their mark in California, one of them being John Sutter (original name Johann August Suter), 19th century settler and colonizer of California. He fled from bankruptcy and financial collapse, leaving his wife and children in Switzerland, and tried to start a new life in California. After gold was discovered on his land, a turbulent personal and public history developed, which ultimately led to his ruin. More about him here: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Sutter">https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Sutter</a>.<br />
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I love the mixture of modern and old architecture in San Francisco, a Romanesque church in front of a ultra-modern building. Somehow, the old and the new coexist in peace here.<br />
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Onward: After letting the impressions of this magnificent city sink in, we drove south toward Paso Robles, the wine country, and the James Dean crash site memorial (the latter, a first for me too!). Stay tuned!author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-60278648607549683282017-05-15T12:18:00.001-07:002017-05-15T12:18:45.653-07:00California, here we come! Part OneI've had two intense, exciting, and joyful weeks with my relatives from Switzerland who visited California. They were my nephew, Rico, my niece, Claudia, and her husband Alberto as well as their two children, Risayra and Muriel. For three of them it was the second visit to the United States, but two of them came here for the first time. <br />
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The week before their arrival, I was a nervous wreck, afraid they might have problems with the U.S. customs. I read and heard of people, even US citizens, being held back at the border for no valid reason at all. Luckily, they had no problems and arrived after a long flight from Zürich via Düsseldorf to Los Angeles. Here they are, and Auntie Christa is very relieved!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Rico, Risayra, Muriel, Alberto, Claudia<br />
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The first few days we spent in Santa Monica, then drove up the coast past Malibu, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo to Cambria, one of my favorite spots along the coast. <br />
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In the small town of Cambria we stayed at the Cambria Pines Lodge on the hill above the actual town. I love this rustic place with the gorgeous gardens.<br />
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A "Place to Dream" indeed!<br />
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During our stay in Cambria, we explored the rugged coast, in particular Piedras Blancas in San Simeon, the place where the elephant seals come to rest, molt, give birth, raise their young and go back out to sea to gather food. It's a fascinating stretch of coast where you can watch the development of these amazing animals all through the seasons.<br />
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Unfortunately, we weren't able to visit Big Sur, another one of my favorite spots along the Californian coast, because of the damaged bridge and other obstacles. We did make it to Ragged Point though, the beginning of the mountain road to Big Sur. I've driven past this place many times when heading to Big Sur but never stopped and consequently missed a gorgeous area. This time, however, we took a break and admired the landscape, the cliffs, and the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. <br />
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Risayra was so inspired that she greeted the location with a yoga pose.<br />
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Relaxing after sightseeing!<br />
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The next day, we went to San Francisco. Stay tuned, more to follow!author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-33875218736858704132017-03-27T08:03:00.000-07:002017-03-27T08:03:59.257-07:00The miraculous journey of a street sweeper turned authorMichel Simonet, a citizen of the town of Fribourg in the French part of Switzerland, went to college, studied theology ... and became a street sweeper--yes a street sweeper or street cleaner--in his hometown. Today, he is the most famous street sweeper in Fribourg as well as in whole Switzerland and beyond. Michel Simonet loves his job and wouldn't want any other kind of work. And this, in spite of the fact, that he published a book, which became a bestseller. <br />
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You see, the book is about his thirty years sweeping the streets of Fribourg, meeting and getting to know all kinds of people, from CEOs, CFOs to blue collar workers, mothers and fathers with their children, everyday people with their struggles and joys. All these experiences he collected and wrote about in his book, <em>Une rose et un ballai, </em>in English <em>With a Broom and a Rose.</em><br />
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The book is a lyrical tribute to his profession, a profession he is proud of. The title of the book shows his "trademark"--a rose he gets every morning before starting his work from a flower store and attaches to his wheelbarrow. It symbolizes his work: beauty within ugliness.<br />
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And anybody who ever looked down on blue collar worker or minimum wage earners, should take note. Every job, when done well and with pride, deserves our respect.<br />
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I'm proud of you, Michel Simonet, not just because you wrote a book but because you contribute to society by making part of our cities more beautiful.<br />
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Here is a short article in English and a picture of him: <a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multimedia/simple-joys_musings-of-a-street-cleaner/42910002?&ns_mchannel=rss&srg_evsource=rss">Musings of a Street Cleaner</a>.<br />
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Here is a video in French about Michel Simonet: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB76--VJ1no&feature=youtu.be">YouTube Video</a><br />
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Article in German: <a href="https://www.srf.ch/news/regional/bern-freiburg-wallis/freiburgs-beruehmtester-strassenwischer-hat-ein-buch-geschrieben">Freiburgs berühmtester Straßenwischer hat ein Buch geschrieben</a>.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-68296054646371628252016-11-07T11:07:00.000-08:002016-11-07T11:07:24.065-08:00The Los Angeles Central Library - a research repository and a gem of art and architectureThe city of Los Angeles has many faces. Some people see it as a cancerous urban sprawl, with awful <br />
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rush hour traffic, bad air, and crime. For others it's the glitz of Hollywood, the metropolis of business. It is all these things, but the city, including its neighboring areas, is also one of the most important cultural centers of the world. What?! I hear some people call. Yes, and I repeat it: Los Angeles is one of the most important centers of art, architecture, music, and literature. It has some of the most interesting and amazing museums, theaters, and art galleries. If you do just a little of research, you'll find out that many of the world's most famous writers, musicians, singers, sculptors, painters, and other artists have at one time or the other called Los Angeles their home. So, move aside San Francisco and New York! Just kidding.<br />
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Of course, the negative sides of Los Angeles do exist. It is a sometimes ugly urban sprawl and anybody who is forced to drive on the freeways during rush hours knows the challenge. And let me tell you, when I first came to Los Angeles over thirty years ago, I told myself that the one city I never wanted to live in was Los Angeles. Well, famous last words. I changed my mind and here I am.<br />
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There is a secret about Los Angeles. Well, it's actually no longer a secret. In the midst of cars, gasoline fumes, skyscrapers (some of the world's most beautiful, by the way), and clogged freeways, you find amazing treasures. In two of my last posts, I wrote about the beautiful Huntington Library and gardens in Pasadena.<br />
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Today, I want to show you another treasure--the Los Angeles Central Library downtown with one of the most extensive collections of books, maps, and works of art. It's not only a repository of literature, art, and culture, but an architectural landmark. It has been designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. And I have to admit (and hang my head in shame) that after living here for over two decades, this is the first time I have visited the main library. I've never been without a library card but I have always frequented my local library in Santa Monica. The main reason was that driving downtown and parking there can be such a hassle. But now, that we have a new train line that connects Santa Monica with downtown L.A., the journey is a breeze. And the last station of the newly opened Expo line is just a couple of blocks away from the library.<br />
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So yesterday, I embarked on the adventure and here are some pictures. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new train! Expo Line Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles</td></tr>
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Left: View from the train<br />
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Most of the descriptions below are from the walk-in tours you can either to take on your own or with a docent. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here it is: Main Entrance from Hope Street</td></tr>
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The main building, called Goodhue Building, designed by the architect Bertram Goodhue</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main lobby with the rotunda, wall paintings, and chandelier</td></tr>
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The chandelier is made of cast bronze and weighs one ton. The murals above were painted by the magazine illustrator Dean Cornwell.</div>
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There are three sculptures by artist Lee Lawrie. This marble figure symbolizes what the Library represents. In her right hand is a book with quotations in five languages. In her left hand is a torch which represents civilization's power over land and sea. The crown contains a miniature model of the Library--two angels for the City of Los Angeles and the bear and star for the State of California.<br />
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The two pictures above are from the Tom Bradley Wing. In 1986 two arson fires destroyed 400.000 books and damaged 800.000. 95 percent were saved. After the fire, the library was restored and underwent a major renovation and improvement. One of the additions was the Tom Bradley wing (named after the former mayor of Los Angeles). The three chandeliers above are made of aluminum and fiberglass and weigh 2.000 pounds each. They represent the three themes: the natural world, the man-made world and the spiritual world. (I wouldn't want to stand under them during an earthquake!)</div>
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And here is one of the library's reading rooms </div>
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How many of you remember this? I do! When I did research in my early college years, that's how we found the books, by going through the card catalog, often very tedious and painstaking work. Nowadays, this is merely a nice memory as we breeze through the search engine on our computers!<br />
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Above an early map of Santa Monica</div>
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The three pictures below show just how carefully crafted and artistic every room is. So much care went into the building and the renovation. </div>
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One of the many beautiful ceilings</div>
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Right next to the library are the majestic skyscrapers that make out the Los Angeles skyline</div>
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I hope you enjoyed the short tour through one of the pearls of Los Angeles. If you want to know more about the library and its history: https://www.lapl.org/branches/central-libraryauthor Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-70475909818928486792016-09-25T15:04:00.000-07:002016-09-25T19:07:49.533-07:00A Poem that Rhymes!Poets are not academics (though some are) or highly educated men and women (though they may be), but most of them are ordinary everyday people with the desire to express something fun or meaningful or turbulent or painful or joyful and so on and so on (you choose).<br />
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Many are computer nerds, taxi drivers, hamburger flippers at McDonald's, cleaning men and women, students, drug addicts, police officers, shoe sales people, firemen, some doctors (yes it happens), teachers (okay, that may be obvious), presidents (you never know). Anyway, my point is--is there a point? Not sure. There is no rule or regulation as to who can and should write poetry--or anything else for that matter.<br />
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That brings me to a poem of my own. Nothing serious, just a fun play with words. So, please don't take it seriously. It really isn't meant to be taken seriously.<br />
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Here we go, a silly poem that rhymes--well somewhat:<br />
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<b>A Poem that Rhymes </b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
On the deck in front of my room</div>
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at Cambria Pines Lodge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a little after noon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m tempted to snooze</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but my undone work</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
wraps around my neck like a noose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is so tight</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to fight</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but then I see the light</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and throw pen and paper out of sight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d rather go for a walk</div>
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I don’t need to talk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
or sing like a lark.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sigh and admit</div>
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that this sounds like shit</div>
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but write I must</div>
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even if nothing</div>
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comes out of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There’s nothing to say</div>
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that hasn’t already been said</div>
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I’ve nothing to say</div>
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at the end of the day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Oh, the freedom of silence</div>
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around me and in my mind</div>
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so I gaze at the highland</div>
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in the distance and pray</div>
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and so it’s okay</div>
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that I’ve nothing to say.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amen.</div>
author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-66241813357645216632016-09-19T10:20:00.000-07:002016-09-19T10:20:13.123-07:00Dreaming and Research - Central Coast of CaliforniaOne of my favorite types of research for my novels is traveling to different places where my characters live and work. This time, I spent a few days in one of my favorite spots in California, namely in Cambria at the Cambria Pines Lodge. Since the fictitious Segantino family lives in the wine region of the Central Coast in California, the Paso Robles area was on my itinerary as well. And last but not least, I checked out the California Polytechnic State University or Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. This is the place where Julietta Santucci, a major character in The Wine Lover's Daughter series, studies architecture and environmental design.<br />
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Here are a few pictures of my vacation/research in beautiful San Luis Obispo county.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LFRzsGdayDdwrRsbFFjAA9ebaRhEpAy4FMXQ_56OriYvL_TrTM0kVFNnqCMmApEgylAWo9yzZAp0cZ8uVLgMhteenZGEaoGjmacNi-o0J6IAvnbEtU7x704BakxG9TpY21XlZKf0suU/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LFRzsGdayDdwrRsbFFjAA9ebaRhEpAy4FMXQ_56OriYvL_TrTM0kVFNnqCMmApEgylAWo9yzZAp0cZ8uVLgMhteenZGEaoGjmacNi-o0J6IAvnbEtU7x704BakxG9TpY21XlZKf0suU/s640/IMG_0539.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambria Pines Lodge, Cambria</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU6jDfMCIXoOJdhMdhCJ7qsCJgQ5gf7x24cNdtzOe9AE2eWj4miB3fvINF1uNnwAVyeD9ImAPEpPFqYIUIpgnjhyQV1fT9_sQnFFyPl2OwVkc4F6CPrVG2uL8PTxEr1H443-ki2KZhT8/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU6jDfMCIXoOJdhMdhCJ7qsCJgQ5gf7x24cNdtzOe9AE2eWj4miB3fvINF1uNnwAVyeD9ImAPEpPFqYIUIpgnjhyQV1fT9_sQnFFyPl2OwVkc4F6CPrVG2uL8PTxEr1H443-ki2KZhT8/s400/IMG_0532.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Cambria Pines Lodge is situated on a hill above the town of Cambria and is a charming lodge with beautiful gardens, the perfect place to dream and write.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimccckecdhaBMXISCGOzf_hIRu0e6gKWr3a5pf16j-af9eQ2Vp91gAKMbfx-48FUbS8FZ1x-Vn9XrpOmtS8vYD3th8BHmSfdxc1Wg6fFV_g1Cs_iSSeZx7L4XYSRXvxshtWzpOC5cje3k/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimccckecdhaBMXISCGOzf_hIRu0e6gKWr3a5pf16j-af9eQ2Vp91gAKMbfx-48FUbS8FZ1x-Vn9XrpOmtS8vYD3th8BHmSfdxc1Wg6fFV_g1Cs_iSSeZx7L4XYSRXvxshtWzpOC5cje3k/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very special kind of flower bed </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruRl2T1xaEH4cBprz2VcdH7JGI2USnAWENV6VlQWMbBC69qe-F8Gw9Ob6mr5SZhpvhxwHvt3LLseAPDjYAzLptL3ndPTEOEvFVF3EjWTNQbDExJI8MgnUhg7njWTAtWxl-2vUYtjGuU8/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruRl2T1xaEH4cBprz2VcdH7JGI2USnAWENV6VlQWMbBC69qe-F8Gw9Ob6mr5SZhpvhxwHvt3LLseAPDjYAzLptL3ndPTEOEvFVF3EjWTNQbDExJI8MgnUhg7njWTAtWxl-2vUYtjGuU8/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A garden with organically grown herbs and vegetables they use for cooking is also part of the landscape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRswjHS_eJ31vTydRE7t99NWcYr42L63QXG4uB0OkV6fgjbG1mD-v0JgE5QhXwcHLCc9dPnmPvRi76-3VJ5NvQAUifzbsYBmYiisvIZ1hiFoa2Kl3d7aR7unwh-jMZlp3JZD9nFs0CI/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRswjHS_eJ31vTydRE7t99NWcYr42L63QXG4uB0OkV6fgjbG1mD-v0JgE5QhXwcHLCc9dPnmPvRi76-3VJ5NvQAUifzbsYBmYiisvIZ1hiFoa2Kl3d7aR7unwh-jMZlp3JZD9nFs0CI/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my room</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A couple of miles north of Cambria is a famous elephant seal spot. These amazing animals come here year after year to breed, raise their young, and relax between their long and arduous migrations in the Pacific Ocean. Every season has its own kind of spectacle. In September, the young males are jousting playfully, preparing for the serious and often bloody fights for dominance and their chosen females.<br />
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Of course, a visit to the famous wine region around Paso Robles, the imaginary home of the Segantino family, is mandatory!<br />
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Next stop is San Luis Obispo, where I took a brief walk through the Cal Poly campus, a well-known technical and agricultural university.<br />
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Another important spot that plays a role in my next novel is the Benedictine monastery in San Luis Obispo, but time ran out and I had to postpone this for another visit. There is always a reason to come back to this beautiful area of California.<br />
<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-57390796060430583222016-09-05T10:24:00.002-07:002016-09-05T10:24:45.688-07:00Surprise Find - New "old" PoemsI was browsing through my Writing directory and came across a folder I totally forgot about, called Poems 2000. These are poems I wrote around the year 2000 and after reading a few, I decided to review them and perhaps use them in a new poetry volume.<br />
<br />
Here is one of them. Not sure what made me write it--perhaps an old man sitting on a park bench or memories of my father? <b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I hope you'll enjoy it!<br />
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<b>The Old Man and his Memories</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He always walks the same
street</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">stops at the same coffee shop</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">sits at his favorite table</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oo8T1ZkupPYE0Mft8kNRIBnah-nADFCz1vDnRKzzIa33DRkuPwRIw3KdREda3YcY3jhdRqsYwgaYdBSxkQkvTZ-W5oLC_lxCUAPgZNy1KAXXj-i4kCrdfW_7VhNsPMK2v7I-jEQN2n4/s1600/old+man_black%2526white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oo8T1ZkupPYE0Mft8kNRIBnah-nADFCz1vDnRKzzIa33DRkuPwRIw3KdREda3YcY3jhdRqsYwgaYdBSxkQkvTZ-W5oLC_lxCUAPgZNy1KAXXj-i4kCrdfW_7VhNsPMK2v7I-jEQN2n4/s320/old+man_black%2526white.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">looking lonely and somewhat
bored</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Today is different; today his
eyes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">accentuated by the blue hat </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">are deep and longing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">he scans the sky </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">as if he heard the spirits of
lost friends </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">converse with one another </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">somewhere above the evening
clouds</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s holding a long-stemmed
rose</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a perfect bud of red with
white tips </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">who knows which young girl </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">took pity on an old man </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">quite decently dressed </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">alone and possibly ill</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the blotchy skin </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">one edge of his mouth
drooping</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and the hands unsteady</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">signs of a past stroke</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps he’s thinking of that
night </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">he walked along the beach </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of the flecks of gold on the
horizon </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of his wife, long dead, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">who used to love sunsets </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of his married daughter who
lives in France </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and the grandchild, a girl
with long dark hair, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">who sends him letters in
French</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">he barely understands but</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">delights in anyway</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I don’t have it bad </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">he probably thinks </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a place to live </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a few friends</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">you can’t ask too much at my
age </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">an occasional phone call from
overseas </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the usual invitation to come
and visit</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ll take you to Paris </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">didn’t you always want to go there?</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No, not anymore, not without
his wife</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">it would be too sad to always
be reminded </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">how much she would have
enjoyed it </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">more than he who’d really
rather stay home</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but he would have gone to
please her </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but now there is no reason anymore
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His daughter and the family come
to visit </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">once in a while for a few weeks
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the young girls passing by
the coffee shop </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">remind him of her; she used
to have long hair </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">braided the French way </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Tonight, perhaps, he’ll sort
out </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the old photos in the
cardboard boxes </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and stick them into albums </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">which he had been planning to
do for a long time </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">only to abandon the task </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">feeling the life flow out of
him and settle </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">in memories of past
adventures </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">past loves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes, before falling
asleep,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">voices from within the
bedroom walls</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">convince him that someone is
still alive there </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s smiling now </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a slightly crooked smile </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">one corner of his mouth
pointing upwards </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the other one hanging down.</span></div>
author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-32756905988551628232016-07-14T12:59:00.001-07:002016-07-14T12:59:34.823-07:00Finding Angelo (The Wine Lover's Daughter, Book 2) - paperback is out!!Dear Loyal Readers,<br />
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I have great news for those of you who still like to hold a "real" book--made of reap paper and ink and with a beautiful glossy cover--in their hands. The paperback version of <i>Finding Angelo</i> is now available on Amazon.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://mybook.to/Print_FindingAngelo">Paperback Finding Angelo</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">As a reminder, here is the blurb again:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">A hidden diary and a crumpled envelope, postmarked in Italy, are the only clues Martin Segantino has to what happened to his younger brother Angelo, the black sheep of the family, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances twenty years ago. When the police find the skeleton of Angelo's close friend buried in one of the fields on the Segantino vineyards, the hunt for Angelo begins. Is he the killer or is he himself a victim? Sofia Segantino, great-niece of Angelo by marriage, embarks on her own search for the missing man. On her trip through the Piedmont region of Italy, she uncovers clues of Angelo's whereabouts, which puts her in grave danger. The local gangsters are equally interested in the elusive Angelo and are ready to do whatever it takes to find him. Will Sofia be able to outsmart them?</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Part family drama, part suspense, <i>Finding Angelo </i>takes the reader on a thrilling journey from California via Chicago and New York to Italy.</span><br />
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Happy Reading, my Fellow Bookworms!<br />
<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-52960687027179417602016-07-05T09:32:00.001-07:002016-07-05T09:32:27.644-07:00Huntington Library, Pasadena, California - Part 2My second visit to the Huntington Library was in company with my friend Jackie Ingerson. This time around, I got to see one of the great treasures I didn't have enough time for during my first visit: original manuscripts and the Gutenberg Bible!<br />
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But first a few more shots of the beautiful gardens. In one of them, the rose bushes were named after famous actors and artists. Here is one dedicated to Henry Fonda. <br />
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The Japanese Garden and Pavilion belong to the most serene sceneries.<br />
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The next series of pictures are of original manuscripts and of the famous Gutenberg Bible.<br />
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On the right and below is the original manuscript of Jack London's White Fang <br />
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The next manuscripts are from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Milton's Paradise Lost<br />
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This photo below doesn't do the Gutenberg Bible justice. You really have to see it in person to appreciate the beauty of it. The old-fashioned script makes it look like it was produced by the hand of a perfect scrivener. The print and the decorations are gorgeous. <br />
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I could spend whole days in this place. I hope you enjoyed the "walk" through one of southern California's precious heritages.author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-24294895674165433082016-06-25T13:01:00.000-07:002016-06-25T13:01:52.648-07:00Huntington Library, Pasadena, California - go on a treasure hunt!One of my favorite places in the southern California area is the Huntington Library. "Library" is almost a misnomer, if you think of a regular public library. The Huntington Library is a vast landscape with gardens, museums, coffee shops, pavilions and more. It's almost impossible to see everything in one visit and once you are there, you will want to come back for more. The first time I visited this amazing place was with my good friend Shawn Gadberry and we focused on the valuable paintings, some of the gorgeous gardens, such as the one devoted to Shakespeare.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Picture Gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9PnX6ZAxOPtHY33ZJym89tm1jE-BaOPwRmkryluTNOxOc5SGs0qkofizeJObIKkb5b8mMwOyY4lU6tqbRv49shlaqUJg5K7ac270QHuItgsBFwMQ1u6YOPFVuA94-GDYw5sgCC8eS7A/s1600/Pinkie+by+Sir+Thomas+Lawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9PnX6ZAxOPtHY33ZJym89tm1jE-BaOPwRmkryluTNOxOc5SGs0qkofizeJObIKkb5b8mMwOyY4lU6tqbRv49shlaqUJg5K7ac270QHuItgsBFwMQ1u6YOPFVuA94-GDYw5sgCC8eS7A/s320/Pinkie+by+Sir+Thomas+Lawrence.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough (the painting, of course)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many gorgeous gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bard</td></tr>
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After all this food for the soul and spirit in this exciting environment, we also needed food for the body. The Rose Cafe serves the most delicious and very extensive English Afternoon Tea. <br />
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I'm glad we saw the art and the gardens before indulging in this spread. We may not have made it afterwards!<br />
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Photos courtesy Shawn Gadberry.<br />
More to follow!<br />
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<br />author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783670245036501397.post-20085381510697362312016-06-08T06:32:00.002-07:002016-06-08T17:02:21.489-07:00Finding Angelo (The Wine Lover's Daughter, Book 2) - ready for pre-order!Dear Friends and Bookworms,<br />
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For those of you who are not on my mailing list, here is an exciting announcement. By the way, getting on my mailing list and being informed about new books and important events in my writing career is easy. I promise, I won't fill up your inbox. Just click on Mailing List below and fill out the short form:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://christa-polkinhorn.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=502b2c14b88462f9412fd8bbf&id=7bc66dbffe">Mailing List</a></div>
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Greetings and Salutations!</div>
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It's been a while, but here I am once again, your slow but loyal wordsmith. The ebook version of my new novel, <b><i>Finding Angelo</i></b>, the sequel to <b><i>The Italian Sister</i></b>, is now ready for pre-order on Amazon for a very modest price of $1.99. The price will increase after the official launch on <b>June 21, 2016</b>. So reserve your copy while the discount lasts!<br />
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Here is the link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Angelo-Wine-Lovers-Daughter-ebook/dp/B01GOQVPOI?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_2427780_160035660">Finding Angelo</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a><br />
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For those of you who still like to hold a "real" book in their hands and inhale the scent of paper and ink (I do!), there will also be a printed paperback version.</div>
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Both <i>The Italian Sister</i> and <i>Finding Angelo</i> are stand-alone novels, but I recommend you read them in sequence. In case you haven't read the first part yet, the ebook version of<i> <a href="http://mybook.to/ItalianSister">The Italian Sister</a></i> is available on Amazon for 99 cents (instead of the regular price of $3.99) for about a week. So grab it while you can. If you like the book, I would of course appreciate a brief honest review on Amazon. This does not have to be a professional literary review, just a few sentences why you liked (or disliked--I hope not!) the book. The number of reviews, particularly positive ones, draws attention to the book and makes it visible for other readers.</div>
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And now without further ado, here is the blurb of <i>Finding Angelo</i>:</div>
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<i>A hidden diary and a crumpled envelope, postmarked in Italy, are the only clues Martin Segantino has to what happened to his younger brother Angelo, the black sheep of the family, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances twenty years ago. When the police find the skeleton of Angelo's close friend buried in one of the fields on the Segantino vineyards, the hunt for Angelo begins. Is he the killer or is he himself a victim? Sofia Segantino, great-niece of Angelo by marriage, embarks on her own search for the missing man. On her trip through the Piedmont region of Italy, she uncovers clues of Angelo's whereabouts, which puts her in grave danger. The local gangsters are equally interested in the elusive Angelo and are ready to do whatever it takes to find him. Will Sofia be able to outsmart them?</i></div>
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<i>Part family drama, part suspense, Finding Angelo takes the reader on a thrilling journey from California via Chicago and New York to Italy.</i></div>
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I hope this triggers your interest! </div>
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Your devoted Scrivener,</div>
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Christa</div>
author Christa Polkinhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14609212815347152668noreply@blogger.com4