#ThursdayDoors: Bucolic

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016JT Twissel 24 Comments

I love the happy faces of well-kept barns, don’t you? I couldn’t get close enough to take a picture of the actual doors without going through the cow pen which would have been trespassing (as well as very messy).

I bet you think I took this picture out in farm country, right? Actually we were on the campus of the University of Maryland, about 20 minutes from downtown Washington DC. This is “The Farm” where agricultural students learn all about animal husbandry.

The students not only tend the cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and horses but they’re also famous for their hand-churned ice-cream. I’ve never encountered a working farm in the middle of a university campus but I definitely like the idea. I can’t think of anything more stress-reducing before finals than having a conversation with a pig. Can you?

Check out Norm’s #ThursdayDoors challenge. It’s always interesting to see doors from around the world.

#ThursdayDoors: A Stark Contrast

November 3, 2016November 3, 2016JT Twissel 21 Comments

Last month we took a trip back to Washington, DC and Charleston, SC – two places technically in the southeast but, aside from grits and soft-shelled (blue) crabs, they’ve little in common. One is a sprawling metropolis and the other a snapshot of the genteel south circa 1780. Needless to say, I have enough doors to be able to participate in Norm Frampton’s #ThursdayDoor event for a long time.

I’m going to start with these doors from the FDR Memorial to remind my American friends of the stakes at risk in our upcoming Elections.

Door representing the hopelessness of many people during the Great Depression

Door to the Soup Kitchen, the only way to survive for many people.

The Republicans and Libertarians have made consistent threats against programs like the ones President Franklin Delano Roosevelt put into place; programs that saved this country from the Great Depression and provided a safety net for millions of Americans, particularly the weakest and most vulnerable of us.

The FDR memorial sits across the Potomac from downtown DC and is just down the road from Arlington Cemetery (which is always on my must visit list.) The memorial is a maze-like series of granite walls representing each of FDR’s four terms in office. Into the walls are carved quotes from his most famous speeches.

The one above says: “We must scrupulously guard the civil rights of all citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.”

FDR and Fala, the only presidential dog to have his own monument.

It’s shocking to contrast what a man in a wheelchair and in dubious health created in both words and deeds in twelve years while for eight years our Republican-held congress has accomplished nothing but repeatedly attack Obama care, fund baseless investigations against the Clintons, and encourage through word and deed citizens to turn against each other with hatred, intolerance and incivility.

I think every American needs to keep in mind why social safety nets were put into place and why any politician seeking to destroy them should be defeated on November 8th. By next Thursday we’ll know. Are we going to go backwards or forwards – what’s your guess?

Apologies for the darkness of the pictures – we were there in the evening.

#ThursdayDoors: Community

August 18, 2016August 18, 2016JT Twissel 30 Comments

Blog-wise, I’m slowing down folks. I have plenty of excuses but the big one is, I’m getting ready to self-publish and it’s not that easy. No time to trespass for pictures of doors. However, there was no need to go out of my way for this shot:

They aren’t the most spectacular doors in the world but this building is special to me. For five years I spent every Tuesday morning in the art studio at the back learning to sculpt (click here to see the results).

According to this map of Old Orinda, the building (numbered 17) was constructed in 1925 and served as a high school before earthquake preparedness became such a concern. Now it’s a place for young and old to learn, exercise and create.

Behind the center is the outdoor theater so I had to take a peak.

Looks like they’re getting ready for the next show: Love, Sex and the IRS. Gotta see that one!

Check out other doors over at Norm Frampton’s blog.

Also – check out this video posted by Doug over at Elusive Trope. I call it Door to the World. Thanks Doug.

#ThursdayDoors: Young lady with wiener dog

August 11, 2016August 11, 2016JT Twissel 25 Comments

Somehow I think this soon-to-be posh stationary store is targeting a shorter clientele than the tall young lady with the wiener dog, don’t you? When I first moved to this area, Walnut Creek was a sleepy mid-sized town built over farmland previously used for. . . yup, you got it. Growing nuts. Hey, it’s California – what did you expect? Now it’s almost a city.

Last month I posted pictures of an outdoor stage being readied for a show. Well, guess what? My friend and I walked over one Sunday and saw the matinee.

Moments before the show.

On a sizzling day in bright sunshine, you have to stretch your imagination because the climatic scene takes place late at night. The show, Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie, is a whodunit set entirely on the deck on a cruise ship (the audience is actually sitting in the Nile). Between scenes we were asked by the director to pretend it was lights out as they played Egyptian music and moved props around the stage.

They handled the issue of intermission by having the character who’d just been shot leap to his feet and yell “Intermission!”

According to the director’s note, the play was almost blacklisted in London. The reason: the cast included a maid and the Ministry of Labour objected. It’s hard to imagine an Agatha Christie play being offensive to anyone, isn’t it?

Check out other ThursdayDoors over at Norm Frampton’s place.

ThursdayDoors: Antler Art

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016JT Twissel 25 Comments

We ran into this gate on one of our many road trips from California to Utah. It’s decorated with sun-bleached antlers formerly belonging to deer and elk. Antler art is huge in the West and especially in eastern Nevada. I believe these gates lead to a camping ground because in the distance we could see Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in Great Basin, a national park which runs along the Nevada and Utah border.

We had just passed Major’s Place, one of the last places to get a beer before heading into the Mormon stronghold of Utah.

This is the town of Major’s Place – just one building which is of course a bar.

As you can see the antler theme prevails here as well. It’s easy to miss Major’s Place as you speed along the highway, however if you do happen to spot it and stop, beyond the doors you’ll find more antler art, antler furniture and antler lamps. In that part of the world you just can’t overdecorate with antlers.

This guy got to keep his antlers probably because he looks like a dude you wouldn’t want to mess with.

I stole the bottom two images from Stay on Route 6, a website devoted to exploring the longest contiguous transcontinental route in the USA. Highway 6 is also known as the “Grand Army of the Republic Army” because it passes through many historic sites dating from the Revolutionary War. We didn’t go into Major’s Station as it was closed and it’s beyond foolhardy to trespass in eastern Nevada. You could end up in the ground and not in the slammer. Those folks love their guns

From Antler Art

Check out other doors over at Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors shindig.

ThursdayDoors: Matchless Orinda

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016JT Twissel 42 Comments

These are the doors to the Orinda Theatre, the symbol of my small town.

Over the years, the citizens of the town have fought many battles to protect this fine example of “streamlined moderne” architecture. As a movie theatre it’s never been particularly profitable and so in order to keep it going the town has begun holding many different events in the large auditorium including a short lived film festival and a talent contest for kids called the “Orinda Idol.”

The murals inside the main auditorium depict the Four Elements of Man, a popular motif of the time (1941). I can’t show you the inside for two reasons – it’s too dark to get good pictures and I’ve been advised not to trespass by Norm Frampton, the creator of the #ThursdayDoor event (he won’t bail me out if I get caught) but here’s a description of what you would see:

As you enter the spacious auditorium, Anthony Heinsbergen’s lavish murals of The Four Elements of Man greet you. They are an eclectic combination of references to classical mythology and modern technology. Fruits and flowers represent Earth, an Aqua God depicts Water, wings and a stylistic airplane portray Air and workers forging steel symbolize Water. The hand painted murals stretch from floor to ceiling. In recognition of Heinsbergen’s contribution to American mural design, the Smithsonian curated a special traveling exhibition, “Movie Palace Moderne” in 1972-1974 highlighting 43 examples of his monumental achievement which included 3 of the original water color drawings of the murals. Said to be some of Heinsberger’s favorites, the originals are still in the office Sweeping curves of wood and iron rail work, warm neon tucked behind oval coves, nudes floating among stars and a red and gold butterfly with the body of a boy complete the embellishments. This was the rich architecture of fantasy that is missing in today’s theatres. From the Lamorinda Film and Entertainment Foundation website.

A familiar site in Orinda – fog rolling in from the bay.

Fun fact: Orinda, which was originally part of four different Spanish land grants, was named after the poem Matchless Orinda by a 17th century poetess named Katherine Philips. Philips wrote primarily about the platonic love women have for each other -because they lack the equipment to consummate their love sexually.

What’s your town famous or infamous for?

#ThursdayDoors: Set Design

June 23, 2016June 23, 2016JT Twissel 13 Comments

These doors are magic in the making. One night soon the Starlight Players will emerge on stage to perform to small but loyal audiences. If you peak through the “windows” you’ll see another door.

Door to the dressing room?

Prop room?

I’m guessing the above pic shows the prop room. I was trespassing as all good ThursdayDoors folk must at some point or another. The Players are in the process of getting ready for their first performances of the summer. On the day we visited no one was working on the set but this is a community theatre group, most of whom probably have day jobs. For obvious reasons they don’t perform in the winter!

View from the stage, the stone stairs on which the audience sits.

I dabbled a bit in theatre in high school but I’m shy and can’t act so I primarily either helped with set design or props and watched the magic from behind the curtains. There’s a lot of flurry backstage during a performance. A lot of excitement. It’s addictive like so many things, for instance, blogging. I tell myself I must stop. The day is beautiful and there are things to see and do. But here I sit.

The Marquee

Check out other ThursdayDoors, the brainchild of Norm Frampton.

#ThursdayDoors: On a Carousel

May 12, 2016May 13, 2016JT Twissel 46 Comments

The last couple of weeks have been so stressful that I ended up in bed dying. Or so I thought. In retrospect it was probably a good thing as it stopped me from rushing into many decisions I might live to regret.

Tilden

On Sunday (aka Mother’s Day) we decided to drive over to Tilden, a 2,017 acre park straddling the hills between Berkeley and my small town of Orinda California. The park boasts an antique carousel, a child’s size steam train, a reedy lake for swimming, hilly golf course, botanical gardens, a small farm, and of course oodles of hiking trails and picnic areas. Tilden1

When I was a child there was nothing I loved more than a carousel. One ride around was never enough. I could ride all day, round and round to the sound of an organ and had to be dragged back to solid ground crying when it was time to go. I dreamt of visiting every carousel in the world and even of having one in my backyard when I grew up.

My children were happy with only a couple of rides and on Sunday my granddaughter only wanted one. It’s a sad thing when a girl doesn’t beg for one more ticket to ride the carousel. What is the world coming too?

Not exciting enough for kids these days.

Not satisfied with a beautiful, albeit, plaster palomino, Audrey wanted to find a real horse so we went to the farm. The Little Farm is in a beautiful pine grove but alas there were no horses.

Cow There was a cow.

Bunnies And bunnies but you couldn’t feed them.

How about you? Was one ride on the carousel enough for you? Check out other ThursdayDoors on Norm Frampton’s site.

By the way, I’m still weighing publications options. I decided not to rush but take my time. Thank you all for your kind wishes!

#ThursdayDoors: Best Poke Bowl

March 24, 2016JT Twissel 34 Comments

Today we return to Hawaii to find doors (last time I promise). These doors lead to the Kahuku Superette in the small town of Kahuku on the east shore of Oahu. They might not look like much but on the other side you can experience the Best Poke Bowl in Hawaii (according to them). We had no idea what Poke Bowl was and took turns guessing. My guess, it was a bowling alley where they used coconuts as the balls and pineapple as the pins.

If you’ve clicked the link above you know how far off base I was. It’s Hawaiian fast food. A Poke Bowl has a base of either white or brown rice, chips and/or salad. Followed by the condiments: white onions, sweet corn, carrots, seaweed, cucumbers, avocado and/or mango and the poke (raw fish): salmon, tuna, albacore, spicy tuna, shrimp, crab, scallop, hamachi, and unagi. Then you have your choice of sauces: original (mild/spicy), spicy mayo, unagi, Japanese Kimchi, honey avocado and/or miso. Last but not least, Poke Bowl is topped with any or all of these garnishes: masago, sesame seeds, ginger, wasabi, and green onions.

Is your head spinning yet?

Poke Bowls are served differently, depending on what part of the island you’re on.We’d stopped at the superette to pick up water and pretzels for the nearby beach (which was rumored to have calmer waves than the North Shore). Squeamishly we passed on their world famous Poke Bowl.

One more pic of the wild waves and then Aloha Hawaii!

By the way, if you find yourself craving a Poke Bowl, I’ve read that they might become the next rage in the culinary world!

Check out other doors at Norm Frampton’s #ThursdayDoors challenge here.

#ThursdayDoors: Chocolate Haupia Pie

March 3, 2016March 3, 2016JT Twissel 22 Comments

Beyond this unassuming door is one of the Must Visit places on the island of Oahu.

Believe it or not hundreds of people visit Ted’s Bakery every day, often arriving on tourist buses from resorts on the leeward side of the island.

Ted’s Bakery

The buses park at Sunset Beach, which is about a half-block away, and tourists stumble out to gawk at the view before wandering across the street to willingly stand in long lines in the hot sun just for a taste of Ted’s famous Chocolate Haupia Pie. Haupia is coconut cream pudding.

Sunset Beach. It was also hit by monster waves – only experienced surfers were allowed in the water.

As the saying goes: “Happiness is sharing a slice of Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Pie while sitting on Sunset Beach.” I must admit it was a little too sweet and rich for my tastes!

Hawaiian Chocolate Haupia Pie

Ted’s story is emblematic of Hawaii. The original Ted, Torojiro Nakamura, arrived from Japan in 1906 under contract to a sugar cane company on Maui. After his contract was over, he worked as a farmer until the 1950s when he and his son bought a piece of land across from Sunset Beach and set up a convenience shop.

The original Ted from the Ted’s Bakery web site.

When the surfing world discovered the North Shore Torojiro’s grandson recognized a golden opportunity and began selling donuts, pastries and cornbread. Today the menu includes pies (if you don’t like coconut you can pig out on Macadamia Nut, Peach Bavarian Cream, Lilikoi Cheese Pie or Pineapple Macadamia Nut), and healthier options such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner “plates,” all served with plenty of rice. In the laid back tradition which is the North Shore, be prepared for a long wait for the lunch plates.