Last Weekends Science Breakfast

Last weekend was our Third Annual 'Science Breakfast'. It is really a project of Jim's and if it were me I think I would call it the Astrophysics Breakfast. It started when Jim was introduced to our friend Virginia Kron's (local cello legend) brother. Richard Kron is an astrophysicist who teaches at the University of Chicago and works at the Fermilab. He visits every time this year and Jim couldn't help but think of friends who would just love to pick this guys brain. This post is courstesy of Steve Newkirk who thought to take a bunch of fun photos.

 Lucky for us Richard has been really enjoying the free breakfast, and small interested audiences we provide. I have to admit however after the first year of trying to follow what he was explaining about black holes and dark energy I realized my type of brain just can't follow much of it.

 Jim (and some of our friends no look forward to this all year- here he is in a tie. He said this is as close a thing as going to church for him)

 (Abby of course understands every word)

 On the left is Steve Newkirk our in house photographer (also sometimes known as Mr. Virginia Kron)- Thanks for all the great photos Steve!

 I think Steve was intrigued with 'what goes on in the diaper pail'- fish food of course.

 Richard Kron in the spiffy ironed blue shirt.

 A few of Steve's random photos from around our house. It's fun to see what catches other peoples eyes. Steve is an artist too so he appreciates it.

 Antique replica waterwheel that Jim made. (yes he can make anything in any style)

 Early word processing toy.

And Lucky for me 'Baby' Joe Mueller was in town to keep me company. We sat at the kiddie table to eat then snuck away to work a bit on my new Website. 

What Happened to December?

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CHRIS AND JIM

Well I have to say it's never a month for lots of studio time. I usually take the month off from the studio and after two shows (you can still catch them at HumanArts in Ojai and Santa Barbara Arts in Santa Barbara) I felt like I needed it. So this post is mostly me me me and not much art.

I promised myself I would finally get to know photoshop and after at least 15 hours of online classes I'm still overwhelmed with that program. I was able to put together the little collage above. But I fear anything I do- I do it pretty backwards.

We did have some fun things going on here listed in reverse order. We had a "Science Breakfast" featuring the guest brain of Richard Kron who is the brother of our friend Virginia (Cello player-see house concert below). Richard is a renown astronomer who works at the Fermi Lab at the University of Chicago. He working currently on the search for dark energy. We invited friends who are interested in all things astronomical and as you can guess I mostly spaced out (realy no pun intended) and did the dishes. It was a big hit.
Some grainy photos. Why can't I get along with my camera!?
And why was I incapable of understanding a word that was said? Good thing the food was good. We made frittatas with sausage and spicy coffee cake. Yum.
Complete with a slide show of some pretty cool Hubble telescope photos.

The 2010 "I WAS A TEENAGE FILM SCHOOL DROP OUT FILM FESTIVAL"

This year we didn't have a film entered but were invited back as guest photographer (plus we were hosting the morning after science breakfast with the host's brother...)

I have to say Virginia Kron is one good cook.
Our classy hosts.....
Steve gives out the awards
Richard Kron always enters one or two things and this year he swept the awards.
Ojai's Yue Deng (best darn violinist I have ever heard).... She re-edited a cute little communist china propaganda film of her as a young tiny prodigy.....of course translating and adding English subtitles.
Me showing off my Photoshop tricks.... somehow this captures for me the feel of Steve and Virginia's party basement.

TRIP TO COLORADO

Just a couple bad grainy photos from our week long Colorado trip. I hadn't been out to stay at my sister Maureen's house for almost 4 years I think. She and her husband Jack (pictured...Jack is the architect who designed the addition) have been working their butts off with out much extra time for the usual house maintenance. We decided to combine a visit with a work vacation and we did a bunch of fix it stuff to help out.
I should have taken some before and after shots, but I got lazy with the camera. We took all the original wallpaper down from the bathroom. Re-painted and changed out a lighting fixture. Jim replace three interior doors. I helped kill and drag this (way too big) tree about a third of a mile through the snow. They look so much smaller out in the wild.