Thursday, December 10, 2009
memories
With the Holidays almost upon us, I got to thanking about earlier times and family and friends.....Above, that's me with my father. The occasion was the opening of one of my One-Woman Art Shows at The Ankrum Gallery, here in Los Angeles....It was the only show of mine that my father ever came to and both my sisters came, too.
And here above is Daddy Joe and is harem...lol....Well, not really. But my brother couldn't come to this opening so it was just us girls----including Daddy's wife, Olga. That is my sister Gene over on the far left. Olga next to her, Daddy; then my oldest sister Robin and then me. Both Daddy and Robin are gone now---Daddy died the end of August, 1981 and Robin died the beginning of February, 2005.....
And here we are above....The Three Sisters, though not really anything much like Chekhov....! (Well, maybe just a little.....). Everyone had flown out from the east coast---Gene from New York, Daddy and Olga from Washington, D.C. and Robin, from Boston. It was really wonderful that they all could come!
And above, two of Robin's children joined in the celebration, too. Danny and his lovely wife Nancy---over on the far left, and Debbie, right next to Robin over there on the far right.....Danny and Nancy had flown down from Davis, California, and Debbie had come from Boston with Robin. It was really great to have them all share in the excitement of this opening.
When I found this picture above, I was reminded of the fragility of life and how fleeting it can be. Both these very dear friends, John and Hanna are gone now, too. Hanna died in May of 2008, and John died in May of 2009.....Here they are above looking so young and alive.
Above, good and dear longtime friend Lee Grant over on the far right....And next to her, Barbara Bain, who, along with her then husband had been members of Theatre West.....and on the far left is Lila Kedrova, a wonderful actress that Lee had brought to the show. Lee was in the middle of pre-production for a beautiful film which she was directing with the brilliantly talented Lila Kedrova and and the equally brilliantly talented Melvyn Douglas called "Tell Me A Riddle". (Worth renting from Netflix, believe me.....). I was thrilled that Lee brought Kedrova with her and honored to meet her, I might add......Lila Kedrova is gone now too, having passed on in 2000. Below, Lee's husband Joey Feury with the wonderfully talented painter, Morris Broderson......
That is Joey over on the left---hair everywhere...lol, and Lisabeth Hush in the center there, and dear Morris, who has always been so very supportive of my work. Morris' paintings hang all over my home---I began collecting his work in early 1961.....And I turned Lee and Joey on to his Art and they have a large number of major works by him....I'm happy to say, Lee & Joey and Morris and Lisabeth are all still alive and all still good friends!
And above, the incredibly talented and very dear dear Ron Rifkin....I think it was the year of 'the beard'.....lol! Another good old friend who is still very much with us, I'm happy to say. If you watch "Brothers & Sisters" you see him every week playing a very lovable character, and before that series, he was on "Alias", playing a rather evil character. He and his dear wife Iva have always supported my work as an artist, too, and I am deeply grateful to them......One more picture below....Pat Crowley, Earl Holliman and Oliver Hailey.
Oliver was an incredibly talented playwright who died much too young...There were so many lovely Holiday party's at The Hailey's...every Christmas Eve they would have a wonderful open house with gorgeous food, all made by Oliver's talented writer-wife, Betsy Hailey...If you have never read "A Woman Of Independent Means", you have missed one of the dearest books ever written! And dear Earl---well, in fact, I just spoke with him yesterday. We talked about New Years Eve--a tradition here. And dear Pat...well I am still in touch with her, too....And you know how long I have known her? Well, here are two pictures below.
That's me in the hat. And Pat is on the far right.....And below, I am in the upper right hand corner, still in my hat, and Pat is looking up at all of us.
It was the summer of 1952 and the play was "My Sister Eileen", and the place was The Sea Cliff Summer Theatre! Pat played 'Eileen', and I don't even remember the name of the character I played....But, what is so nice is that I re-met Pat around 1964 here in L.A., at Theatre West....And here we are below at my art opening in 1978......
Pat was here for one of our 'Ladies Who Lunch' in the fall of 2008 as I recall.....and we speak on the phone every month or so....So, there are some lovely memories of times past that seem to crowd in around this time of year.....And it is very nice to re-visit those lovely times. Poignant, of course, but, that is life, isn't it?More To Come........
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| posted by OldOldLady Of The Hills at 3:11 AM
Sunday, December 06, 2009
kind of quiet
Some Beautiful flowers to touch your soul....This pair above just knocks me out......Perfection from Natures Garden.....! It lifts the spirit and touches the soul, and brings peace to one's heart......
I haven't been feeling all that great these days so there's not much to write about....Here are a few more pictures to please the eyes......And an update on Betty....She is doing very well, so I hear. She is now in The Rehab place for Physical Therapy and will be going home in a few weeks.....So, keep those good thoughts coming her way......
A couple of Roses that pleased me...The colors and the petals....So Pretty. So soft. So soothing......!
And above, a closer look at a gorgeous Orchid....The colors are all so very pretty.....Lovely and soft, aren't they?
And above, another breathtaking beauty of an Orchid....the colors are just so rich and deep.....My God, Nature is Miraculous! I have been watching a lot of movies these last few days....If I get up the energy, I will write about them....I'll mention just one. It is French. "A Christmas Tale". A lovely haunting story, but filled with humor too and very touching, as well....The ever radiant Catherine Deneuve gives another performance that is absolute perfection. Rent it, my dears...... More To Come..........
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| posted by OldOldLady Of The Hills at 12:12 AM
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
the franks and "rabies"
Ruth and Danny Franks are very very old friends of mine from the New York days....I actually met Danny, before he met Ruth---back in early 1954, I believe. That's Danny over on the far right, and Ruth is sitting in between Audrey, their daughter-in-law, married to Michael who is on Ruth's other side. Michael is Ruth and Danny's oldest son. And at this point, Rabies was visiting with dear Michael. The Franks, Ruth and Danny that is, have six children!
Here above is a closer look at sweet dear Michael, with Rabies sitting on his shoulder.....Our lives are so entwined.....Below, is a picture of Michael back in 1965-66.....He was just a little boy then.
The picture above was taken at my mothers house in Great Neck---the house I grew up in. It is very meaningful to me that Ruth and Danny and their first three children all knew and loved my mother---and she loved all of them so very much, too.....
Here I am with Michael. I was doing a lot of Cross-Stitching all during those months before Christmas, and after, as well---in fact, I must have sewed 60 or more pieces and those were my Christmas presents to everyone that year. My mother was very ill during this time and had been in and out of the hospital any number of times since the summer---her doctors having discovered that her cancer which had been in remission, had returned and had spread. I was flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York a lot during those many months.....
Here above is Ma, affectionately known as 'Jen The Hen', with little Susan Franks on her right, Michael Franks is behind her, and the youngest of these first three children, Joshua Franks, over on her left. She never knew the next three Franks children, Naomi, Jessica and David because within a few short months after these pictures were taken she was once again back in the Hospital another two times and she died on April 2, 1966.
Above, there is Ruth and Susan and me. Danny was taking the pictures that day, as he always did. I am so glad I have these pictures of my mother with Michael, Susan and Joshua.....and with dear Ruth, too.....Here is Ruth below, here in my house the day after Thanksgiving, with her darling daughter-in-law, Audrey......
And of course, the ever delightful Rabies, sitting on Audrey's shoulder. Michael and Audrey just had their 18th Wedding Anniversary in October and I was the "officiant" at their Wedding on that wonderful day in 1991. And it was such a 'full circle' kind of happening....I was there at Michael's Briss, when he was just a baby....and then, I got to marry Michael and Audrey on October 27th, 1991 at Greystone, the old Doheny Estate in Beverly Hills.....
Above, there I am wearing my Reverends Robe....it was a very cold crisp windy but sunny day, and we were all thrilled because the Wedding was outdoors in one of the Gardens at Greystone and the day before, at the Wedding Rehearsal, it had been pouring rain and there was no 'plan B'. Thank God we didn't need it....lol!
And above, the Bride and Groom and me, at the reception, which was held at a lovely restaurant here in Los Angeles....Audrey hasn't changed at all....And if anything, I think she looks even lovelier now....!
And here is an amazing thing. Audrey's maiden name was McCann. Her brother Jim is married to Naomi Franks, and her brother Andy is married to Jessica Franks. Isn't that something? There is some very deep connections between the McCann Family and The Franks Family.....!
Above, dear Danny. Papa and Grand papa.....who turned 86 years old two days after this picture was taken, on November 29th. Danny was 31 years old when I met him, and I was 23 going on 24.....Good Lord! Where did the time go? It was lovely to spend a few hours with them last Friday....we just always pick up where we left off, no matter how much time has gone by. I hadn't seen Ruth and Danny for two years, (When they were here in Los Angeles last year for Thanksgiving, Danny got sick and so we couldn't get together....) and it was three and a half years since I had seen Audrey and Michael. And they live right here in Los Angeles! But isn't that always the way.....I think Rabies very much enjoyed meeting all of them. He certainly seemed quite content with having visitors meet him, and they all just loved him.....!More To Come.........
NOTE: On Thanksgiving Day afternoon, my dear friend Betty G. fell at the home where she and her family all always have Thanksgiving Dinner, breaking her hip quite badly! 911 was called and off to the Hospital she went. On Monday morning she was successfully operated on and is doing incredibly well....They couldn't operate until Monday because her blood levels had to get to some better numbers showing that her blood had thickened sufficiently to be safe.....I spoke to her late this afternoon---talk about resiliency---and she sounds amazing for a person who has been through as much as she has in the last 5 days......Do send positive thoughts and prayers her way for a very speedy and full recovery....I know she will be most grateful as will her dear family and all of us who love her so very very much, too. She is so very precious to so very many people......
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| posted by OldOldLady Of The Hills at 12:11 AM
Sunday, November 29, 2009
crystal clear
The last few days--except for Friday....have been crystal clear here in Los Angeles....At least it's been very very clear from here on my hill!
My trees.....I love my trees. Above, a little closer look a few moments later as the sun continued it's descent in the west.....On Friday, it was somewhat cloudy and a bit overcast.....And as the sun set on Friday, below is what the sky looked like behind my trees.......
And a closer look at this lovely sunset, below......
And just a few moments before....look below at this amazing wonder of colors........
And going in closer.......
And below, closer yet--once again.......
Sometimes, the camera just cannot capture the true colors as I see them....perhaps it is the limitations of me or of my camera.....Whatever it is, still----what the camera does capture is quite extraordinary.
And.....a few moments later.....this picture above. The variations of color are pretty astounding and takes ones breath away.......Once again, nature gives us "art"......!
And today......out of the clear blue sky came this cloud cluster.....More 'art' created by nature.....! Below.....a closer look.......
I never ever tire of all that I can see from my deck, here on the hill. That's the Pacific Ocean out there on the horizon.....I guess that was clear without my saying anything because the sun always does set in the west.....But just in case you didn't really look......There it is, my dears......And there are my trees......!More To Come..........
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| posted by OldOldLady Of The Hills at 12:11 AM
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
happy turkey day
"If it isn't "chocolate" it's a Vegetable to me....."...said my old friend Carole Cook....and how true that is...lol! The Chocolate Turkeys above are a Thanksgiving Day Tradition for me. As children we had Chocolate Turkeys from Scrafft's....(One day I will do a post about Schrafft's....) and then from Fanny Farmer.....After I moved out here to Los Angeles, I discovered See's Candy. The Chocolate Turkeys, as seen above, come from See's and have since 1961! Though I cannot go anywhere anymore I still send the Chocolate Turkey's to the home where I had spent many Thanksgivings, where there are lots of children who now think of this as a tradition, too.....
So.....I wish each and everyone of you the Happiest of Thanksgivings.....Do eat well! And enjoy all the people you are with....!
All kidding aside.....Do have a truly Happy Thanksgiving.....!
And if you are traveling...Drive Safe and Fly Safe........
Now....I really mean, 'all kidding aside'.......
Enjoy, Enjoy!More To Come..........
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| posted by OldOldLady Of The Hills at 12:05 AM
x4
