Seeing these women watercoloring at Director’s Park reminds me of the magical month of August I spent watercoloring in and around Siena, Italy twelve years ago. We sat on little chairs like this in piazzas everywhere.
Category Archives: color
august 12
spain
Spain has been invading my life lately. The men’s tennis tour made stops in both Barcelona and Madrid during the clay court season, my close friend Lee and her son recently traveled there and sent back beautiful memories, and this amazing time-lapse photo video found its way to me. This beautiful country is next on my list and this is just one of the reasons why.
glass beach
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Located on the northern coast of California, Glass Beach seemed a bit elusive, almost mythical when I first heard about it. A beach covered with thousands of pieces of multi-colored glass.
Our first quest led us to the wrong location. However, asking around we quickly found the beach in Fort Bragg and ventured there early one morning after the sun had just risen. Glass, freshly coated with salt water, was glittering in the sun.
Glass Beach didn’t start out this beautiful. It started as a city dump where trash was thrown directly into the ocean. Out of sight, out of mind.
Nearly fifty years went by before they stopped this practice, but by that time the sea was filled with glass and metal which the ocean and rocky coast line thrashed around in the surf. I’m not sure when the glass first started appearing on the shores, but the beaches are now filled with smooth glass polished by years of rubbing against rough waves, rocks and sand.
I spent hours walking around and talking photographs, convinced that the most beautiful combination of glass pieces was just around the next corner. I was particularly drawn to the emerald greens and the rare blues – two of my favorite colors.
the colors of new orleans
New Orleans is awash in color of many kinds – colorful people, colorful beads, and colorful architecture. The French Quarter is especially rich in all three and so I took one morning to walk aroudn Vieux Carre’s quiet streets to marvel at the architectural colors of the city.
nike clash of champions [part two]
Not only did the Clash of Champions highlight tennis, but it served as a complete love fest for the University of Oregon. Obviously none of this would be possible without the University’s close ties to Nike and everyone at Matt Court knew it. One spectator, who perfectly captured the crowd’s sentiments about halfway through the evening yelled, “thank you Uncle Phil”! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
The love fest was present in every detail – from Nadal, Federer, Sharapova and Azarenka dressed in UO colors to the little Oregon Os on each of their custom made shoes. There were videos that played throughout the evening highlighting Oregon and Nike’s ties to great sports moments, and UO football stars Joey Harrington and Dennis Dixon served as linesmen. After the matches the tennis stars donned custom made Oregon football jerseys while joining the crowd in our common refrains – “OOOOOOOOO” and “Go Ducks”! Complete and utter love fest… you know like two teenagers who’ve just started dating. Kind of amazing after all these years.
I never thought I’d see the day when my two sports loves would be together in one place! Add in the Red Sox and you would have had to take me away in an ambulance. Good thing that didn’t happen. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a minute.
Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova wore custom made yellow, and Rafael Nadal and Victoria Azarenka wore custom made green.
I especially loved the details on the shoes from the little O’s on the tongues to the green and yellow tread patterns.
UO football starts Joey Harrington (in perfect O formation) and Dennis Dixon (showing Justin Gimelstob his Super Bowl ring) enter the court, wearing green shoes of course.
Uncle Phil greets the players after giving them personalized UO football jerseys.
Even the Duck can’t believe he’s standing next to Nadal… and Federer, Sharapova and Azarenka!
quick pics from my recent travels
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