Tag: inspiration

A pure love for life in Balboa Park.

This morning I’m going through my computer removing old photos.

I found a few that I’d like to share.

Balboa Park is a special place where minds are released from daily concerns, and hearts rediscover a pure love for life.

I feel so fortunate to live within walking distance. My legs seem to like the place.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Do you love Balboa Park, too? Follow my special blog which I call Beautiful Balboa Park!

That moment you see inexplicable magic.

There are moments when this world seems suddenly, inexplicably transformed.

New light.

New perception.

New understanding.

A short story came to me yesterday while I sat in Balboa Park across from a splashing fountain. My eyes were resting on the broad scene.

So many people, engaged in every sort of activity. So much humanity. And at the center of it all, that everlasting fountain.

Shimmering and shining like magic.

I took out my pen and wrote down a few inspired words.

They might form a short story, or they might form a poem–I’ll let you decide. Read it here.

A favorite garden, so close to perfection.

Today I enjoyed one of my favorite places. I took a slow walk through the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.

Beauty is cultivated and revered in this very special garden.

It’s almost like heaven–so close to perfection.

After strolling along the clear stream in the Lower Garden, I headed up out of the canyon and paused for a few moments in the Exhibit Hall. I sat on a bench, near a window overlooking the Dry Stone Garden. Several participants in an afternoon Japanese Tea Ceremony were quietly practicing.

Refinement and elegance.

Deeper meaning.

A joy for life.

So close to perfection.

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This afternoon I also enjoyed a visit to Balboa Park’s lush Botanical Building. When I got home, I used my computer to convert photographs of plants and flowers into colorful oil paintings!

You’ll find those images on my other website Beautiful Balboa Park. To see those unique “oil paintings” you can click here!

Inspirational photos of Memorial Day.

I had all sorts of plans for this Memorial Day weekend. But I’ve decided to rest and write. Three uninterrupted days of writing. In a quiet place.

I’ve blogged about local Memorial Day events in past years. If you’d like to see many inspirational photographs, click the following links:

Photos of Memorial Day at Mount Hope Cemetery–remembering those who perished in the Civil War.

Memorial Day at The Veterans Museum in Balboa Park–remembering those who died in the Vietnam War.

Photos of Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Rosecrans–sloping fields of flags and roses.

World War II vets honored on USS Midway–remembering the Greatest Generation.

A short story about regret and redemption.

I wrote another short story. This one is titled The Firefly.

It’s about regret and redemption.

And hopelessness and release.

And hurt and freedom.

If you’d like to read this small work of fiction, click here.

Creativity and fun at the Little Italy ArtWalk!

Hundreds of artists had their work out on the streets of Little Italy at the 2018 Mission Federal ArtWalk.
Hundreds of artists had their work out on the streets of Little Italy at the 2018 Mission Federal ArtWalk.

Early this afternoon I walked down from Cortez Hill to enjoy the 2018 Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy. What fun!

Hundreds of artists had their colorful work out on display along several Little Italy streets. I enjoyed meandering about and letting my eyes feast on life wherever they happened to turn. I was happy to unexpectedly meet some people that I know. I also grabbed a tasty bratwurst with lots of onions and mustard!

Another perfect day in San Diego! Smiles, warm sunshine, an easy stretch of the legs, plus the treat of fantastic, inspiring art!

A crowd of art aficionados converged on San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood.
A crowd of art aficionados converge on San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.
The big annual Mission Federal ArtWalk is a time to relax, enjoy life, and feel creative inspiration.
The big annual Mission Federal ArtWalk is a time to relax, enjoy life, and feel some creative inspiration.
Art, food, friendship and sunshine.
Enjoying art, food and friendship.

Little Italy's new Piazza della Famiglia featured a stage plus cool chalk art, which I'll blog about shortly!
Little Italy’s new Piazza della Famiglia featured a stage plus cool chalk art, which I’ll blog about shortly!
Some of the artists were kicking back and talking to potential buyers. Others were concentrating at a canvas creating new work.
Some of the artists were kicking back and talking to potential buyers. Others were concentrating at a canvas creating new work.
Little Italy, in downtown San Diego, is a lively place where culture thrives.
Little Italy, in downtown San Diego, is a lively place where culture thrives.
This guy broke a string as I walked up. He smiled for the camera anyway!
This guy broke a string as I walked up. He smiled for the camera anyway!
People were invited to work on this interactive mural sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Supply.
People were invited to work on this interactive mural sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Supply.
They also had a table nearby for anybody who'd like to create their own art!
They also had a table nearby for anybody who’d like to create their own art!

More musical entertainment in Piazza Basilone.
More musical entertainment in Piazza Basilone.

Joy and creativity abound at the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy!
Joy and creativity abound at the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

More cool art found walking around La Jolla!

Expecting to Fly (for the Zeros), Fred Tomaselli, 2013.
Expecting to Fly (for the Zeros), Fred Tomaselli, 2013.

You might remember I posted photos of street art and many of the Murals of La Jolla a couple years ago. You can see all of that fun artwork by clicking here. Sadly, a couple of those murals no longer exist.

My adventure today included passing by even more public art murals, plus some beautiful and inspirational stuff that I found while journeying down sidewalks.

I snapped a great map and legend of the Murals of La Jolla in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on Prospect Street, which is undergoing a renovation. To see the location of all the current murals, which include some that I photographed in that earlier blog post, click the map below and it will enlarge.

Map and legend that you can use to locate the many amazing Murals of La Jolla.
Map and legend that you can use to locate the many amazing Murals of La Jolla.
Playing La Jolla (for all it's worth), Terry Allen, 2015.
Playing La Jolla (for all it’s worth), Terry Allen, 2015.
Suns, Victoria Fu and Byron Kim, 2016.
Suns, Victoria Fu and Byron Kim, 2016.
Man, Myth and Magic, Steven Hull, 2017.
Man, Myth and Magic, Steven Hull, 2017.
Art near entrance of Le Chauvinist depicts three kids at the Lincoln Memorial.
Art near entrance of Le Chauvinist depicts three kids at the Lincoln Memorial.
A fish etched in the concrete sidewalk near El Pescador Fish Market!
A fish etched in the concrete sidewalk near El Pescador Fish Market!
Angel wings on a gate.
Angel wings on a gate.
One of the most stunning gates I've ever seen. Golden leaves and blooms seem to grow through it.
One of the most stunning gates I’ve ever seen. Shining golden leaves and blooms seem to grow through it.
By the sidewalk. Joan Goldstein Graf and Alan Goldstein. Their bench.
By the sidewalk… Joan Goldstein Graf and Alan Goldstein. Their bench.
Painted flowers near the roof of Salvage Salon.
Painted flowers near the roof of Salvage Salon.
Come into my garden so my flowers can meet you.
Come into my garden so my flowers can meet you.
A very cool mural in the alley next to the Grater grilled cheese shop in La Jolla.
A very cool mural in the alley next to the Grater grilled cheese shop in La Jolla.
It appears Mona Lisa has a taste for grilled cheese sandwiches!
It appears Mona Lisa has a taste for grilled cheese sandwiches!

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