Leonardo da Vinci

Thank-you Leonardo, your words inspire me.

Lady With Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci, 1483-90 This painting reminds me of my Mistaya, simply because she is tall, lean and graceful.

Mistaya, Pip and I toured the da Vinci exhibit at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture,  Spokane, Washington. I feel connected to other artists throughout history. There is common thread, a way of thinking that connects all true artists. I think that it is the belief that nature and art are connected and that life and aesthetics cannot be separated. Leonardo was the illegitimate son of a peasant mother. He received no formal schooling until 13. He taught himself to write the alphabet: backwards (this aspect reminds me of my Tabitha, who at age 4 taught herself to recite the entire alphabet backwards just for fun). He studied painting early on, apprenticing under a master painter. The exhibition included replicas of almost all of his inventions: many war contraptions: catapult, release ladder, boats, quick-build bridges. In addition, many of his flying machine contraptions as well as many machines with chains and wheels (used for cycling) and many pulley machines. He invented many and also improved on many already existing designs. He was determined to think about everything in new ways and create something either better or new.  Pip enjoyed trying to make all of his contraptions work.

Back Home in Kelowna

Later in the evening… arrived home from supper out with Peter–at Joey’s. The meal took so long to arrive that they gave us our entire bill for free. The wait wasn’t too bad as we were not in a rush to go anywhere. We ate at around 8:30 p.m. and the restaurant was quite quiet so really there should not have been a wait. No time for a movie out tonight–will go to The Help tomorrow night.

Mistaya and Tabitha have both had sleep over dates with friends. Pip is happy that Tab’s date was at our place so she could get in on some of the action. She loves Tabs’ friend Mic and often gives her little kisses. This afternoon, I taped Mic and Tabs singing a song from Glee (we filmed on their school grounds) and then I was instructed to throw Slurpees on them while they sang. I did as instructed–they’re going to post the results on You Tube. I enjoy encouraging their creative whims.

Just thought I’d mention one of the most dreaded sounds a traveller might hear on closing one’s suitcase, the unmistakable hiss of an aerosol can unloading its contents inside the case. This happened to me on leaving Spokane. The culprit? Spray-on sunscreen. The victim? All of our 5 passports–soaked in oily sunscreen.