SUSTAINABLE PLEASURE & BOB SCORES 100%

A NEW KID IN THE APPELLATION

The great looking design by San Luis Obispo

architect Heidi Gibson is the tasting room of

the new Shale Oak winery.

It's on a turn on Oakdale Road that just a 

couple of years ago was acreage for sale.

When ever I passed it I would tell Lana

"There's a great spot for a new winery."

New indeed!  And forward thinking.

As the Shale Oak philosophy states

"Sustainability in every facet."  They talk of

"holistic stewardship" of the vineyards.

Those are concepts and practices that 

are dear to Paso Robles wine growers and

drinkers.

Visible are the rain harvesting and water run-off

reclamation systems.

Their LEED certification is pending. Shale Oak

employs solar photovoltaic panels.

Regional natives are being used in landscaping.

Their beautiful tasting room looks out at vineyards

and Red Soles, a great "mom & pop" winery of distinction and elegant charm.

The winemaker, Kevin Riley, is known in the area

for a quality product. We left with a couple of bottles

and look forward to future visits and purchases.

Products from re-cycled, local and "green"

sources are sold.  We like the "ethos" of Shale Oak

and the commitment to doing it properly.

Even at that, I probably would not have posted

like this, had it not been for that "dream" that

always occurred as I drove by, usually on the 

way to Pipestone, another sustainable, organic

and top quality Paso wine.

Shale Oak promises to be a great addition to 

California's best appellation.

UPDATE FROM BOB

Frequent readers of LightBreezes have followed Bob Foster's 

progress in living with leukemia. As he undergoes pre-treatment

for a bone marrow transplant he is keeping busy.  He and 

I have begun preliminary work on a film treatment and

he's "tested" his brain cells.

I passed the "Amateur Extra Class" license exam today with a grade of 
100%. By upgrading my license to the highest level of Ham radio, I  
fulfilled a promise I once made to my father.

In 1964, Dad purchased a "BC-348-Q" WW 2 shortwave radio receiver for 
me. It cost $45, a lot of money for us at the time. The fact the radio 
came from a B-17 aircraft made it seem magical. Dad bought the radio 
only after I sincerely - as sincerely as a 14-year old boy can be - 
promised to one day earn the highest grade of Ham license. The old "348" 
opened the world to me. Many a night I sat, headphones clamped to my 
ears, listening to voices from Europe, Africa and South America. 
Interest in becoming a Ham would come and go. Slowly, I learned the 
Morse code. By age 20, I earned a "Novice" Ham license. By age 30, I was 
a "General Class" operator. Today, 47 1/2 years later, I fulfilled my 
promise to my father.  I am now an "Extra Class" operator. Thank you, Jesus.

Oh, Dad died last summer. I sure wish I could have called him today with 
the news.

--Foster

See you down the trail.

BRILLIANCE-A FILM AND SUN ON A BEACH TOWN

ACTING BRILLIANCE

REEL THOUGHTS

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

I came out of this film somewhat stunned.

Michelle Williams as Marilyn was mind blowing.

The acting, even to the bit parts was a tour de force.

I simply did not see it coming.

It is a bright, clever and even poignant film.

Based on the book by Colin Clark, who spent

time as a junior director in Laurence Olivier's company as the famed actor tried his hand at directing Marilyn,

the film is a reminiscence and portrait.

There are moments in the film where you forget

you are watching Michelle Williams play Marilyn.

So brilliant, nuanced, subtle and beautiful!

Williams mastered a technique with her eyes

that seemed to channel Monroe.  If Meryl Streep got

praise for her Julia Childs, Williams should get

a crown for her Marilyn. 

Boozy, pill sedated, insecure, manipulative,

William's Marilyn provides an intimate look

into the mega star that  became an icon.

In this film, you "get" how she became what 

she did. Williams was incredible.

But so was Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier. Olivier fans might quibble a bit with some of the quirks, ego and insecurity, still it was great acting.  Young Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark and Harry Potter's Emma Watson were great.

Then there were the superb "bit players"-Judi Dench was masterful as Dame Sybil Thorndike.  Julie Ormand as Vivien Leigh, and Zoe Wanamaker as Paula Strasberg were also masterful.  Michael Kitchen and Derek Jacobi had even smaller parts, but their cameos also shone.

This is an actor's film and Director Simon Curtis presided in such a way to let some real cinema magic happen.

There are bigger, more important films this year,

but this is sweet, luscious and so well acted.

DAY BOOK

Cayucos Bright

The great surfing and retro beach town just down the 

coast, wears the sun well.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) THAT WAS US ZEITGEIST 2011

A GOOGLE WORLD LOOKS BACK

WE MADE IT

In our television news shops we tried to give viewers

a little something extra during this time of year-

reviews.  These looks back remind us of what

has made the fabric of the year. It's

always fascinating to see it all, put side by side.

So in this cyber age here's an enjoyable

recap, with a beat and mined by Google and 
enabled by YouTube.

Enjoy.

See you down the trail.

READING THE CLOUDS

MORE THAN JUST SUNSHINE

Working in television news in the midwest we

would joke about weather forecasting in

in California.

"More sunshine and blue sky followed by 

blue sky and sunshine....etc."

Now I know better.  There is probably nothing like the 

weather extremes in the heartland-tornadoes, blizzards, thunderstorms, scorching heat waves, floods and rapid changes.  Still the weather from the Pacific, influenced by

mountains, winds from the east or north west, and the 

changeable currents of a coast make for our own

fascinating weather.  True many, many days are 

sunny with blue skies, but we do get interesting

cloud formations from time to time.  And that is unusual.

 The mountains on the horizon and mostly in the clouds are Rocky Butte, Black Oak, Vulture Peak and Red Mountain.  They top out around 3,200. They can get an icing of snow this time of year.
You may recall and wish to link here to the June post when we took you to the top of Rocky Butte

 THE QUESTION OF THE CAT'S TAIL

Wonder why our newest, Hemingway, at the far right,

curls up his tail while Nesta and Luke let theirs out.

Any theories? 

See you down the tail, er trail!

MATTERS OF LIGHT

LIGHT PLAY

A variety of topography, weather, micro climates

and the sun's arc combine to provide

a continual show of light and color here on the
Central California Coast.

Here the Santa Lucia peaks "float" on a sea of fog.

Breaking through the heavy marine layer the sun

finds a reflecting companion on the sand.

Wish I could control the exposure as the sun blasts

heat and light aloft and on the water.

Subtle shadows.

The last triumph of the day.

Looking west from about 1,800 feet in the Santa Lucia range.

UPDATE FROM BOB

Friends,

New chemo protocol is having the desired effect. Well tolerated. Am no 

longer anemic. Immune system strengthening, although still suppressed, 

so I wear a mask in public. (Little kids get wide eyed when I bend over 

and say to them, "Luke, I am your father."  This latest chemo is a 

maintenance mode. It will eventually lose effectiveness like the others. 

The goal is still getting to transplant in early 2012. Feel great!

Anticipating a normal holiday. Been studying for my Radio Amateur Extra 

Class license. Taking the test Saturday. Can't keep my hands off equipment.

Foster

Bob is a long time friend and former on air colleague back in the glory days of radio.

See you down the trail.

CREATIVITY

LA MEETS SAN FRANCISCO IN PASO ROBLES

A few of our merry band gathered last night for a

moon lit drive over the mountain to Paso Robles for an evening of art and dinning.

Vale Fine Art, a modern gallery, presented
"A Little Nightmare before Christmas"
featuring the remarkable works of Edward Walton Wilcox and Lee Harvey Roswell.  Wilcox, originally from Florida and more recently from LA and Roswell, from San Francisco,
combined to make an inspired show.
Owner and curator Madeline Vale has created an
engaging and dynamic new contribution to
Paso's growing sophistication.
Cypher Winery provided the "liquid art."
It was indeed a bit of LA and bit of San Francisco
mixed nicely with the Central Coast.
More about Madeline Vale and her Gallery here.

By quirk of fate the PierceModern gallery is next door
and the Il Cortile restaurant is across the street.
Our dinner was also a work of art.
We then cruised  Vine street, past the Victorian style homes and others festooned with Christmas lights.
As we drove back over the mountain the bright moon
and sparkling lights of Cayucos and Morro Bay below us on the coast added their creative illumination to the 
Christmas lights we saw dotted on mountain side
ranches and wine villas. Our own quiet village
beckoned through the December dark as hillside
lights twinkled into view. A nice evening out.
If you are in the area, we recommend both the Vale Fine Art, PeirceModern gallery and certainly a meal at Il Cortile.
DAY BOOK

HOME MADE INGENUITY

 Daughter Katherine gathered local material

and created a couple of center pieces.

Nothing artificial here at all.

See you down the trail.

EXTRAORDINARY-FILM & NATURE

REEL THOUGHTS
THE FILM THAT'S GETTING THE BUZZ

THE DESCENDANTS 

This is one of those films that opens by winning awards and creating Oscar buzz. It doesn't seem to be a big

film, nor even an important film until

it has you twisting between pathos and clever humor.

It walks a line and moves with deftness between

those two spheres, like the masks of the Greek muses, Thalia and Melpomene-comedy and tragedy. 

 You also find
yourself realizing that it is a film where "good and decent"

prevail even within dark and morbid moments. 

It is an important film, making points

about behavior and honor.

Even when you know where something may be 

headed, you find yourself either amused or surprised

and always entertained by how it plays out.

George Clooney is brilliant as a befuddled but good guy who must struggle between the poles of grief, anger, love and surprise.  This is probably a break out film for Shailne Woodley, a Simi Valley actress. She is beautiful and authentic as Clooney's eldest daughter.  Amara Miller as the younger sister and Nick Krause as Woodleys goofy boyfriend are superb.  Beau Bridges is enjoyable as Cousin Hugh. Judy Greer as Julie Speer plays a small but powerful role that could be remembered as one of the most elegant on screen portrayals of compassion and honesty, ever.
Then there is wonderful background story of land ownership, history and development in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. We left wanting to get genuine Hawaiian music. This is another masterful directing and 
writing product of Alexander Payne, probably best known for Sideways.  I think you'll see why it is getting
all the talk.  We attended a 4:15 Monday afternoon
performance and they had to turn people away.
Well done!

DAY BOOK 

ROCK AND SEA

There is a space in the interaction of

of the Pacific and those rocky beaches

where another world seems to dwell.

In the tide pools and on the rocks

are scenes of the eternal relationship.

 Tides and conditions must be right for 

the tide pools to mirror back the coastal scene.

 Rock and stone, often underwater, give up a

secret language or code and low tide.

See you down the trail.