It's Just So....MOVING....

Breaking News from Morning Canyon Road...
We moved!
Soon the blog title will change as we no longer live in the Blue Cottage!
We are still in Corona del Mar, a block off of Pacific Coast Highway - with Little Corona and the vast Pacific Ocean across the highway...
Rent is much more affordable in this two-story town-home...and we love the neighborhood and the neighbors...
I am tired of living out of and stepping over boxes...once things are organized I will be back to making art and blogging!

I Haven't Sailed Away...

Photo of the Lynx in Newport Harbor taken by me...I added the stone angels on the sails using Photoshop brushes :)

I haven't been posting much. But I am still here!
I began a new full time job in Huntington Beach working with GREAT people a couple of months ago and I've had less time for art and blogging obviously!
We are also searching for a more affordable rental in the area if possible...still wanting to stay in walking distance to the beach if we can ;-)
Once things are settled I will get back to my creative side more - and try to sneak in a few minutes here and there when possible!

Thanks for continuing to stop by...I will try to have a little something for you to look at whenever I can!
PEACE!

You & Me & Rain On The Roof....

My favorite time at the beach is just BEFORE, DURING & AFTER a STORM :)
With strong winds blowing this afternoon I had to grab my camera and head up and over to the water...as I reach this high point around the corner from home this is my first view of the ocean...it has always been my favorite vantage point- even looooong before I lived here...it never fails to take my breathe away with it's beautiful vista...even (and especially!) on days like today-- dark and cloudy and wet!


No, this wasn't Photoshopped ...this watercolor of China Cove is taken through my rain covered car window :-)

Is this just too beautiful for words?.....

The five palm trees stood tall and clapped their hands in agreement!

This one was apparently so overwhelmed with her view her arms flew up in the air!


Further down the road at Little Corona Beach...I could watch these waves all day and never get
bored...


Down the road and around the corner...heading home under the rain soaked footbridge...
All too soon we will be back to BORING sunshine again...

...this post is for the BIRDS!

...but it's better than no post at all ;-)

I will be back SOON with ART & BLOGGITY GOODNESS!

All photos property of ~jolenemarie photography - copyright 2007

Finally........R A I N !

At about 11:30pm the skies over Corona del Mar finally opened and the rain POURED down upon us! You could actually hear people in our 'hood yell "wooo-hoo!" :) You would think it never rained in southern California the way we have been anticipating this all day!


In the late afternoon the ocean was choppy with a strong onshore flow...and clouds on the horizon obscuring Santa Catalina drew everyone down to the beach just to see this rare September "storm" approaching...

We get excited here about this stuff ;-)

Holding On To Summer

The Summer Season will officially end here in Corona del Mar on Tuesday, September 4th when all the schools go back in session. But we will hold on to summer as long as possible. Not difficult in Southern California.

Each day after work I make the three minute drive from Balboa Island back home and then head straight for the beach...
Here are some of the photographs I captured this past week...

Above: Big Corona del Mar State Beach where already the parking lot is looking empty...or as us 'locals' say...."we get our beach back!" :) Not that we don't love and welcome our visitors ;-)

Above: Crazy weather this week with thunderstorms forming all around us and extreme heat on the coast...

I have been trying to capture a photo of the hummingbirds sitting still, and finally did so this week!

A yacht hit the east jetty and sunk at Big Corona del Mar State Beach...it sat out there for nearly two and a half weeks before finally being raised and towed...truly an odd sight drawing a lot of local attention...
*************************
My daughter Jill sends a big THANK YOU to all of my blog readers for their well wishes :)

Hummingbird

...don't fly away, fly away.
...hummingbird don't fly away, fly away...

Photos by ~jolenemarie - Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, California

Just Another Day In Paradise

Ready to Para-Sail away? This flyin' high guy's feet are about ready to touch the water...as soon as he does the boat will pick up speed and he once again reaches great heights...

No, I swear, we don't live on a tropical island...this view is from LookOut Point looking south towards Little Corona beach...you can see right through the hole in Arch Rock...one of the most sought after backgrounds for photographers. From where I stood to take this photo it takes me only a few minutes to walk to Little Corona...I have gazed at Arch Rock for over 40 years!

I have loved fishing boats all my life. One of my favorite times is the late afternoon when the fishing boats start coming home in the harbor...they remind me of my (late) favorite Uncle Lee who was a commercial fisherman all his life...

I am never without my camera...I just never know what I might see...like this man and his DOG in the harbor...how cool is that?...

Big Corona del Mar State Beach...
Corona del Mar is Spanish for Crown of the Sea...

I shared a bench on the cliffs at LookOut Point with this sweet couple for nearly an hour. "Dr. Ralph" and his wife, Madeline. They both turned 85 last March. They are no longer strangers to me now, but instant friends. Dr. Ralph was a surgeon/physician for 50 years "in towns along the banks of the Mississippi"....where he told me he "did surgery in the morning, saw patients in the afternoon and delivered babies at night"! Up until only four (!) years ago Dr. Ralph was swimming a mile each day! Married 63 years...I am so glad I invited them to share the bench with me...they shared their stories and touched my heart...

No Words Wednesday

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood...
and that's all I'm sayin'... ;-)

Some Pretty Pictures While I Am Making Art :)

It's been awhile since I have posted any art...or blogged at all...so I thought I would post a few pretty pictures while my art is a work in progress...

The Lynx sailing into Newport Harbor...
Lynx is an interpretation of an actual privateer named Lynx built by Thomas Kemp in 1812 in Fell's Point, Maryland. She was among the first ships to defend American freedom by evading the British naval fleet then blockading American ports and serving in the important privateering efforts.
The Lynx is used as an educational experience for children and a team building experience for corporations. She spends some of her time here in Newport Beach as well as many other ports including Los Angeles, San Diego and Hawaii.

Although this is one of our narrowest streets in the village of Corona del Mar it is one of my favorites...Poppy Avenue will lead you right to the ocean (Little Corona beach) off of Pacific Coast Highway...I love the trees on this avenue...

Goldenrod Footbridge is right around the bend from our cottage connecting us to the beach ...a stroll across the bridge leads you to the ocean and Look Out Point overlooking Corona del Mar Main Beach, Newport Harbor, Balboa Peninsula, Santa Catalina Island ...and beyond...

More ART is on the way - so stay tuned ;-)