Sunday Art Review: The Passage of Time

Today marks the final Sunday Art Review of 2008. Another year has flown by- the passage of time seems to be moving at a record pace. What is it about time? It goes by so slowly when we are young, yet as we age, it passes far too quickly. Time seemed an appropriate theme for this week's Sunday Art Review: The Passage of Time. I searched high and low, near and far, for an artistic representation of time, and chose the hour glass to tell this story. The following pieces are borrowed from around world wide web. I hope they tell a story of time. All I ask is that you remember how precious time is to us all. So "Carpe diem" (seize the moment).

above: "Hour Glass Skinny" by Katie Flindall

above: "Vitruvian Man with Clock" by Da Vinci.

above: "The Hour Glass" by Bruno

above: "A Matter of Time" by Tilly Strauss

above: "Hour Glass Rock", by George Mendoza

above: Hour Glass, Jahangir-Enthroned

Which piece do you like best? Go ahead, leave a comment, it's the last Sunday Art Review for 2008!

To close this post I thought I'd share a piece of 80's pop music history. A song called "Time" (Clock of the Heart) by Culture Club, oh, so 28 years ago! I hope you enjoy it.

-Rick Rockhill

The Saturday Seven: Favorite Cheeses

Our Christmas holiday was blessed with a series of gastronomic pleasures. Delicious meals, paired with enjoyable wines, fresh baked breads, fantastic cheeses and scrumptious desserts. There is something quite enjoyable about cheese. Typically when I go out for a fine restaurant, I like to end the meal with a selection of cheeses. It is a practice quite common in Europe, but less-so here in the US. It isn't hard to find good cheese here, but most people think of cheese as a before dinner food. I find cheese to be a wonderful way to end a meal. Last night we enjoyed a quiet dinner at home, and finished off with a fantastic wedge of Rugged Coastal English Cheddar Cheese. It was deliciously sweet, with calcium crystals in it, signifying its proper aging. It was the inspiration for this week's edition of The Saturday Seven: Favorite Cheeses. I don't profess to be a connoisseur of fine cheeses, or to have a particularly advanced palette, but none-the-less, here are my seven favorites:

#1 Cheddar: Without question my favorite variety. I am partial to English Cheddar, but I usually eat American Cheddar, made from happy California cows, or from Wisconsin. Cheddar is usually aged from nine to twelve months. A mature cheddar has a firm, smooth texture and a rich, full flavor. It can be "white" or "yellow", but either way I find it delicious.

#2 Stilton: A magnificent cheese, known as the "king of English cheeses", it is smooth and creamy with a slightly acidic flavor. It is a delicious dessert cheese too. It is made from whole cow’s milk cheese, aged for four to six months with some Roquefort added to grow the mold. It is creamy yet slightly crumbly and has delicate blue-green veins. It has a somewhat mild flavor, not too heavy in the usual 'blue cheese" family.
#3 Buffalo Mozzarella- seems like an odd choice among flavored and hard cheeses but I love it! It is a soft, slice able curd cheese that originally comes from Italy. Some readers may recall I saw fresh mozzarella being made before my eyes while in Sicily this past fall. I was amazed and enthralled by it that day. Traditional mozzarella is made from water buffalo milk, which is high in fat. This cheese is not aged like most cheeses and is actually best when eaten just after it has been made. I love to eat it with fresh ripe tomatoes and basil, a touch of olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar.

#4 Stinking Bishop: is a soft cheese from the South West of England. It is made from cows raised in the Gloucestershire area and is distinctive for its flavor. As the name suggests, it is a cheese with an odor, but it is quite pleasant. Its color can be white, yellow or beige and often has a rind that is usually white, but sometimes orange or grey. It's nice on crackers, or fresh baked, warm crusty French or Italian bread. Add to it a glass of wine? Mmmm I get excited just thinking about that, don't you?

#5 Caerphilly: It is a fine Welsh white cheese, moderately firm and creamy. Its delicate flavor is slightly salty and lightly acidic. Caerphilly is made with a long and complicated process. It curdles at high temperatures, is cut into cubes then is stirred for awhile before it is able to age. It is probably the most famous of all Welsh cheeses-I first became enamored by it while living in the UK back in the early 80's. I spent many a time in Wales and learned to partake in the local pleasures such as Caerphilly cheese!
#6 Havarti: a well known, semi-soft Danish cheese made from cow's milk aged for three months. Havarti is aged without a rind and has a smooth buttery, slightly acidic flavor, with a white cream to yellow color depending on how it is made. It is known for having "eyes", small and irregular openings throughout. The "holes" are not as large as Swiss cheese, these are much smaller and not as hard in texture.
#7 Lancashire: a creamy, textured cheese with a mild flavor, aged for two to three months. It's light, creamy flavor makes it perfect for breakfast, sandwiches or even with tea. It can be slightly crumbly and has a mild acidic flavor, aged for just two to three months. It is an "easy" cheese to enjoy, not offensive to anyone. It is a safe choice when having guests who may not be cheese fans. I guess I would compare it to things like Monterey Jack cheese, although that is a little more soft and creamy.

What kids of cheeses do you like? Go ahead, leave a comment. Even if you are a velveeta or cheese whiz person, I welcome all comments and opinions.

-Rick Rockhill

Christmas at Melvyn's!

For Christmas dinner, we went to the famous Melvyn's restaurant at the legendary Ingleside Inn here in Palm Springs. Rated by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous as one one the top destinations, Melvyn's restaurant offers a taste of old Hollywood glamour. It's one of my favorites for the food, atmosphere and stellar service. We arrived early to relax in the lounge for a martini and to enjoy the live music. The staff take excellent care of me, and are so charming. "Nino" was performing at the piano, and in no time I was humming along to the festive Christmas songs. In this photo I am sitting at the piano bar, before any of the other guests filled the lounge. Shortly thereafter we were whisked away to my usual table, which is known as the "Sinatra Table", named because Frank himself dined here for many years. Melvyn's has such a great history, loads and loads of famous people have passed through these doors over the ages.

above: I stopped in front of the entrance to Melvyn's by the Christmas tree for a quick photo.

Another "Glamor Shot"

above: I was trying to get a photo without the flash reflecting in the mirror- it was tough to do with the cheesy camera I have. As a side note, I'm wearing one of the new ascots I bought in Venice a few months ago- it matches this velvet jacket perfectly!

Christmas Eve....

above: Christmas Eve was a cozy night- we spent it with friends and enjoyed the glow of the fire by the tree.

above: It was also the birthday of a friend- here is the cake served in his honor, isn't it fantastic? Bee, since you love cake too, this is for you! Christmas turned out to be a wonderful holiday this year. We are truly blessed in so many ways. I hope your holiday was enjoyable too.
-Rick Rockhill

Christmas Extravaganza Post

Greetings! I am happy to present this Christmas Extravaganza Post, just in time for Christmas. I recently acquired a web cam to be able to see my two nieces more regularly. It seemed appropriate that the first use of the web cam should be for my good old blog. What a perfect time to create Christmas Extravaganza video, I thought. So I pulled together some odds and ends, set up the webcam and Voila! OK, so this might not actually qualify as an extravaganza, but it sounded nifty. Since I scraped it together at the last moment, I had to make do with what was around. Owen has been a good little kitty lately and wanted to open the video, so he put on a Santa hat. He is fighting a cold at the moment, sneezing and coughing so he only makes a brief appearance. Hopefully Santa will bring him some goodies tonight as a reward. So without further ado, we present the Christmas Extravaganza Video.... (it's a little long, so get comfortable). Click the little arrow below the box below:

To watch the Christmas Extravaganza video click above.
I hope you enjoyed the big Christmas Extravaganza video! We had a lot of fun filming it. Next time I won't bob and weave around so much. It caused a lot of blurriness. After we finished filming the video, Sheldon borrowed Owen's "Santa hat" and posed for this photo, isn't he cute? We're going to listen to Christmas Carols tonight by the fireplace and relax with some hot chocolate. What are your plans? Whatever you do, we wish you all a Happy Christmas!
-The Palm Springs Savant, Owen & Sheldon

If you had trouble viewing the video above within blogger, try this version on You Tube:

Breakfast at The Waldorf with Olivia

Last week I was in New York for a few days on business. I made last minute plans to meet Olivia for an early breakfast. Regular readers may recall that I last met fellow blogger Olivia while in London, where she had been living before relocating to New York. As I was staying in Midtown Manhattan, Olivia very kindly made the journey into the city, braving the snow & sleet. It was a nice chance to catch up on things since London. We had a relaxing chat over breakfast. I had Eggs Benedict and coffee, Olivia had a bagel and tea. Much to my surprise, Olivia brought a present for me (see the beautifully wrapped package in gold stripes). It was a lovely picture frame for me to use in memory of my beloved Koshimi. It was such a nice gesture, I'm not sure I properly thanked Olivia for her thoughtfulness. Our time flew by ever-so-quickly before I had to dash off to a work meeting. Olivia may be moving to Washington DC next, I wonder if I'll have any business travels there! I'm starting to wrap things up at work before the holiday. I'm planning a Christmas extravaganza post, so I hope you can check back. Thanks for stopping by today.
-Rick Rockhill

Snow Has Arrived in Palm Springs

Winter has arrived in Palm Springs. Recent storms in Southern California did not spare us, coating the mountains that surround the Coachella Valley with a layer of marshmallow-I mean snow. With mountains as high as 10,000 and 12,000 feet high, we usually see snow at the highest peaks during this time of year. Cooler winter temperatures, along with a series of storms led to snow accumulation at the lower levels of the mountain ranges, probably as low as 2,000 feet high. In this series of photos you can see how low the snow is on the mountains. Here on the desert floor, our daily temperature these past few days have been around 65-68 degrees, so we don't have any snow. I took this photo above, and the little video below. The rest of the photos are from The Desert Sun website, which are much better than what my camera would have taken. I'm sharing them as proof that we actually DO have a change of seasons here in the desert!
Here's a video taken from my back yard:

And now a few spectacular photos-click on them to biggify:

above: you can see the difference in elevation, where the snow accumulated. My guess is that's about 2,500 feet high.

above: these are taken form an angle looking up toward toward the higher elevations. I like the contrast of the palm trees against the snowy mountains.

above: another great contrast. One of the many reasons why I love living in Palm Springs. We get the snow, but can enjoy it from our back yard in shorts! How's the weather where you live? Share your story...

-Rick Rockhill

Sunday Art Review: A Fellow Blogger's Work

First off, I want to thank everyone who left such kind comments and sympathies about the loss of my beloved Koshimi. I hadn't planned on taking so much time off from blogging, but I really needed to focus inward this past week. We're doing fine, but it did affect me more than I expected. I did decide not to send any Christmas cards this year because I'm just not feeling very cheery. At any rate, I'm happy to be back blogging again to resume my normal routines. So here I am, with a fresh installment of The Sunday Art Review. I thought I'd feature the work of a fellow blogger, Erin, from The Babblings of a Whimsical Brainpan. She recently shared some of her work on her blog, and I received her permission to feature her here on the Sunday Art Review. This first one in the top left is entitled "Rose", in watercolors and ink.

above: "Pond", in pencil and ink

above: "Flowers", watercolors and ink

above: "South Paw Days" in color pencil

above: "Lillies", watercolors, based on a Robert Maplethorp photo.

Which work do you like best? Erin is modest about her work, but she says she enjoys creating it, and that's all that matters, isn't it? So please leave a comment to tell Erin what you think. And stop by to say hi to her sometime.

-Rick Rockhill

A Memorial to My Beloved Koshimi

Today is a sad day for us. Our beloved Koshimi has passed away this morning. About two years ago, I thought we were going to lose Shimi when he had some serious back and hip problems. He was given a major dose of meds to help him, but there were no guarantees on how long he would live. I cherished every day of the past 24 months, knowing that each additional day was a gift from God. Along the way we helped Shimi adjust to the aging process. Extra vitamins, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements too. He had good days and bad days. Some mornings he would wake up feeling stiff with creaky joints, so we would give him a baby aspirin. Other days he was raring to go and would happily walk and run along for exercise. He compensated for his bad hips and back legs by building strong muscles in his front legs, pulling himself along wherever he wanted to go. This dog was resilient and never gave up. He was the perfect family dog: loyal, loving and always happy. He lived a long, happy, healthy life. We always fed Shimi the highest quality natural/organic food and treats, which I believed helped him live as long as he did. When I returned home from work Thursday night I knew something wasn't quite right with Shimi. His head was crooked, his eyes darted back and forth and he had difficulty moving. For the past two nights I slept on the floor next to him, keeping him company. This morning when we awakened, Shimi's condition had not improved, yet his mood and spirits were bright and cheery. He smiled as he enjoyed a hearty breakfast, licking his lips after he finished eating. But we knew. When he was able to stand, he was wobbly, and would just walk in circles. I suspected he had suffered a little stroke, causing some neurological damage. He wanted to keep going, but his poor little body was just worn out. I loved Koshimi so much, but I would never let him suffer. Fortunately he was never in any pain. This morning we went to the vet's office, where he was thoroughly examined. The doctor concurred with our assessment, Shimi's body was worn out. The dreaded time had come. The vet staff were gentle, kind and so considerate- we had plenty of time to say goodbye. Even though I had spent the past two nights crying for my "son" I still wasn't ready. We were with him as he breathed his last breaths. We were the last things he saw, as he gently put his head down to sleep. It was a deeply moving moment that I will never forget. I just wrote this little Ode to Koshimi in his memory:

You made me smile everyday

You kept me going on my way

A welcome smile and wag of the tail

Greeting me home when I went for the mail.

.

With the toss of a ball, a rope or teddy

You loved to fetch, always at the ready

Your later years you settled in

With a watchful eye and a happy grin.

.

You had your routines, each day and night

And reminded me of them with all your might

We were best buds- through and through

Everyday that passes I will think of you.

Farewell dear Koshimi, I miss you so much already.

above: Early this morning, I put Shimi in this chair with his brother Owen so they could spend some time together.

above: Just a few minutes before we left for the vet's office. You can see how Shimi's head was crooked and one eye slightly closed.

above: I wanted these photos more for my own memories, but somehow sharing them is a coping mechanism for me.

above: Happier days: last year Koshimi and Owen together, best buds.

above: just a few months ago: the three amigos. Koshimi, Owen and Sheldon

above: This morning, my little Koshimi in the library- how I loved that face. Thank for you stopping by today. I have some business travel starting tomorrow, so there we be no Sunday Art Review this week. Hopefully my business trip will take my mind off things for a while. See you Monday.

-Rick Rockhill

He's Really Slowing Down...

I love this dog. Koshimi is my very very old Shiba Inu who has been showing his age more and more of late. Last night I was out at a business dinner and when I returned home, Koshimi was sitting in his favorite little bed looking like he had a stroke or something. His head is sort of cocked to one side a little. Maybe its just his stiff joints in the cool damp beach air. Hopefully when we get back to the desert today he will be better. But to be sure, I decided to sleep on the floor with him overnight, just curled up to be with him. I think even Sheldon and Owen understand their brother is getting close to his final days. As long as he seems happy, eats and drinks on his own, and shows a glimmer in his eye...This photo is from a few months ago when we drove up to Sonoma wine country, he enjoyed that road trip a lot (see photo below)

I'll keep you posted with his progress.
-Rick Rockhill

A Bit of Royal News

This is old news now, but if you don't regularly read world news and such, you may have missed the annual opening of British Parliament on December 3rd. Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament for the 56th time in her reign, leading a ceremony with over 500 years of tradition and history. Admittedly I am a bit of an Anglophile and have always enjoyed all the pomp and circumstance, so this is stuff I enjoy sharing. The videos below are a little long, but I find them both interesting. If nothing else, its a nice diversion from all the nonsense in the news of late.

above left: The procession leading to the Palace of Westminster is quite extensive. Her Majesty arrives in the State Coach, drawn by four grey horses. Above right: The Queen reads the speech to the Lords and members of the House of Commons.

above: even in her advanced age, The Queen still looks great. Of course, all the diamonds do help. above right: The Queen's jewels, including the Imperial State Crown (which she wears to open Parliament), are priceless and are stored in a heavily guarded room in the Tower of London. Check out this (long but) interesting video about the opening of Parliament:

And here below is Queen Elizabeth delivering her speech to open Parliament. It's a bit of a yawn-fest, but check it out for a spell:

Well, I hope you weren't too bored by all this. I'll post The Queen's Christmas message on December 25th, so she'll make another appearance here again soon. Have a great Thursday.

-Rick Rockhill

La Jolla...that's "La- Hoy-uh"

One of the things I enjoy about living in Southern California is the proximity to so many different climates and types of topographies: desert, beaches, mountains, farmland, and wine country. In just a few hours drive you can have a complete change of scenery. Since I spend so much time at the beach house in San Diego, I often get to La Jolla, one of my favorite locations in Southern Cal. (La Jolla is pronounced "La Hoy-uh"). It is a stunning seaside community with beautiful homes, a charming village area, dramatic cliffs and spectacular beaches. This painting above left, by artist Bob Phillips is one of my favorites because it conveys La Jolla's casual beach side atmosphere. Recently I had lunch at a restaurant on the beach and took a few photos to share with you.

above: looking south, you can see a surfer walking along the beach.

above: the same beach, looking north

above: not an especially great photo, but I just liked the way the sun was reflecting on the water.

above: this was the restaurant where I had lunch. We sat at a table under these umbrellas for shade and enjoyed the sunny day at the beach. Maybe next time I'll take some photos of the more scenic areas of La Jolla. Hope your week is going well, and thanks for stopping by today.

-Rick Rockhill