Red Baron II

Last night we appeared at our friend's house with two birthday cakes in tow only to find the gate closed. Not too welcoming. Then we saw our friend out in his garden in a ratty t-shirt and shorts. Are we too early? Well, yes, he said , we're a week early. We wound up ordering a pizza, and having a most enjoyable evening. As far as OilMan was concerned, a much preferable way to spend his birthday than the planned festivities. The only problem was the two birthday cakes which we had after the pizza and for breakfast and lunch today. The rest of the cake we took to a birthday party for the daughters of our friends from India.

I found myself walking around with "blipfoto vision" this morning. Everything I looked at was was a potential blip--our walk through the local regional park, the drive back home through old apple orchards and new vineyards--even a bumper sticker on a car which said "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE AREN'T THINGS". I finally settled on a garden sculpture by a Sebastopol artist named Patrick Amiot. All his work is made from recycled and found objects. He has persuaded most of the people on his block to put his work in their front yards. As a result, he has put his street, Florence Avenue on the map.. Recently he opened a studio near our farmhouse and I found the dog flying his red plane above the fence a most arresting sight.