Une excursion a la Ansel Adams!

My husband, Rollie, is an amateur photographer, but, in my opinion, some of his work is quite professional. One of the cameras he owns is called a large format camera. It was the kind of camera Ansel Adams used back in the day. Here you can see a picture of Ansel with one of his cameras. It was a really beautiful day a couple of weeks ago, and Rollie wanted to go photo shooting with his large format camera, so we took a drive to Coloma. If you are familiar with these cameras, you know that using one involves more work than modern cameras, especially those great digital cameras. One of the challenges is getting the camera and tripod to the location. Here, Rollie uses a cart with wheels for transporting his equipment.

Here is Ansel with his form of transportation. Quite the set-up.

It takes quite a while to set up the camera prior to taking the picture; lenses, position, lighting, etc. has to be just right.

Once all the details are sorted out it is time to shoot. Rollie was actually taking pictures for a portfolio for his film class, so special care was necessary, and he ended up getting a great black and white photo of the ruins of an old jail.

Rollie caught me exploring the jail with his digital. The black and white picture turned out well.

Of course, we always take a digital camera along. Here are a few of the scenes we captured as we were walking around. Coloma is a pretty place to visit, and, if you are interested in California history there is much more to see than what is shown below.

We had a great time, and the photographer treated his assistant to lunch. Ah, la vie est belle!

La Politique #2, Why this Mormon favors Obama.

This blog is really intended to just chronicle events and experiences in the life of the Bowns family. My last post, "La Politique, the Romney Factor", was intended as a bit of family history, tongue in cheek,(a la Andy Rooney). Well, I have been surprised by some political reactions to my blog, so at this point, I would like to share my reasons for feeling the way I do.

Before I share, however, I would like to recount another little bit of family history. My dad tells a story, which, goes like this, if I remember correctly. The Apostle Henry D. Moyle stayed at our home when I was a child, and watched the Eisenhower/Stevenson election results. My dad vehemently cheered for "Ike". When they finished watching, Elder Moyle turned to my dad and said, "The best man just lost." When discussing politics, never make assumptions. A gentleman in my French conversational class made the statement, "If you don't want to vote for Romney because he is Mormon, then don't vote for him because he speaks bad French." At which point, I let him know, "Je suis mormon."

Oui, je suis mormon et j'aime Obama. One facebook friend said that he was trying to understand how I could possibly vote for Obama, and basically asked me why. Well, thanks for asking.

Nine years ago, I went back to teaching French full-time at a high school where the student population was made up of minorities. African-american, hispanic, asian, filipino were the predominant races in my classes. I saw that racism and poverty is still very much alive in our country. I saw students who had been challenged educationally, emotionally, and culturally in so many ways. I saw students who were abused,without medical care, students who didn't come into this world with the same advantages I was born with. They changed my heart.

When President Obama speaks of hope and change I believe he is talking about bringing our country to a place to bring where there is opportunity for everyone to be able to grow to their full potential, and that means having certain basic needs (health, education) met so they can thrive.

Some of my students were so far behind the eight-ball, that no amount of hard work was going to bring them out of the cycle of poverty that they were caught up in. I believe that President Obama was speaking to them, and that one of the fundamental changes he wants for America, is to level playing field. We need to change our mindset, from acquiring riches to acquiring compassion. I believe that those of us who have so much can give a little more.

You might think by now, that I am a left-wing socialist. I don't think so. A truly socialistic government brings about apathy and loss of incentive (i.e.Cuba). A uniquely democratic country fosters greed and chaos. Our country is a republic, and we have always had social programs, and will always need them to keep our nation strong. A nation that won't take care of its people is not a responsible nation.

I think President Obama understands this, and that is why I voted for him, and given what he had to start with, he has done a credible job. It is too bad that the media has chosen to use name calling, and to "demonize" a good man. He is intelligent, competent, and his core beliefs are evident in the way that he is able to quickly respond when questionned. The man can think on his feet.

I chose to de-register from the Republican party because it had become an embarrassment. I felt that the party was using "freedom" rhetoric to protect self-interests, rather than focusing on the needs of the nation. An important question to ask in any poltical race, is my vote based on what I want, or what really needs to happen?.

So where does this leave me with Mitt Romney? Well, I intend to listen to him, to read his book, just as I did Obama's books. I am open to seeing what his plan is for creating a healthy society, but so far, he has not been very convincing. This week he has not done a good job. (His comment that the safety net for the poor is ok, and accepting Donald Trump's endorsement is not helping me believe in him one bit.) He was born into privilege, and comes across as privileged and a little out of touch with the reality of what is really going on in America. To get my vote, he has some work to do.

Mitt Romney doesn't support the "Dream Act" and I do. This is one area where I am surprised his Mormon background doesn't play a factor, and I wonder if he is being true to his beliefs, or being politically expedient. The LDS church is soft on immigration,and very open to gathering people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

So, is what President Obama trying to accomplish feasible? I am going to recommend a book for you to read, Creating an Opportunity Society, by Ron Haskins and Isabel Sawhill. This book is non-partisan. (It has been quoted lately by politicians, Republican and Democrat, alike.) Haskins has worked with Republicans for almost two decades, and Sawhill is an economist who worked in the White House during the Clinton eras. This book proposes some ways in which we can (Yes, WE can!) create a society that is healthy and sane, in spite of the many challenges we have. It is not easy reading, and I am still slowly working my way through it but it gives me hope.

Thanks for listening. I just needed to say this! This is my personal value system, and if you disagree, you are free to do so. Just don't expect me to engage in lengthy political debates. It just isn't my style. Now, I will return my blog back to its intended purpose, as soon as something interesting happens around here.

La Politique, The Romney Factor

During my childhood years, I lived in Toledo, Ohio which at that time was part of the Detroit Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church, stake=diocese). Mitt Romney's dad, George Romney, was the Stake President. He was a distinguished, dynamic man, and President of the American Motors Corporation. My dad came into contact frequently with George Romney, as he served variously as a Bishop and High Councilor in the Church. It would not be an understatement to say that George Romney influenced my Dad greatly.

In 1957, my family was the proud owner of a beautiful white Ford Fairlane. It looked like this.

My mom and I loved that car! It was sleek, roomy, and stylish. Everthing an up and coming family would want in a car. However, I was becoming increasingly aware of a concept being floated about by George Romney's car company, "Beware of the gas-guzzling dinosaurs", and distinctly remember a cartoon showing a large car with huge fins slurping up gasoline.

Not too long after that, my dad came home from work, and he was not driving our Ford. Instead he came home in this (ours was dark gray):
with interior like this (ours was orange and black, yes the true Halloween colors):

Surprised would be the mild way of putting our reaction. While my dad touted the advantages of all the money we would save on gas, my Mom cried. My dad did drive a lot as he was a sales representative for Sunoco Gas Company. (There is a certain irony in this situation if you think about it). Also, he drove those long trips to Detroit (80 miles) for Church meetings. If you are Mormon, you know what that involves. And, of course, this was the car we took to visit relatives in Idaho with my brothers and I scrunched in the not so roomy back seat. No doubt, George Romney was a terrific salesman.

So...... (now for politics), does my family connection with the Romney family ensure a vote for Mitt? Well,....... no. I feel like the lady in the movie, "Blindsides", when being interviewed for a job position by her Southern Conservative, future employers, said that she had a confession to make. She confessed, "I am a Democrat."

I have to confess that Rollie and I are no longer registered Republicans, but re-registered as independents. Over the past few years, I realized that my core values did not match completely with the Republican party agenda, and yes, (GULP), I voted for Obama in the last election, still without regret.

It would be a long and lengthy blog to explain my politics (which, maybe, I might do someday), but I will conclude this blog with one opinion. I sense very much, when I listen to Obama, that he is congruent and centered in his politics. While I believe Mitt Romney is a very good man, very grounded in his faith and values, he hasn't projected a confidence in his policies (still not sure where he stands on some positions), that I am looking for. There is a possibility I would vote for him, but I don't know. His dad sold my dad the ugliest car on the face of the planet!!!

Toujours a la Mode!

In the mid 1940’s when fashion was beginning to flourish after taking a backseat to the events of World War II, my mother boarded a train for New York to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion . What dreams this young girl from a small Idaho town had in mind, Mom never told me. Perhaps she dreamt of becoming a fashion designer to the stars, or a seamstress and designer in a Paris boutique. Paris couturiers could now show their collections and the fashion world attracted attention, but after her year at Traphagen, my mother returned home and met my father, just home from the war. Whatever dreams led her to New York were now replaced with a different vision.



Sewing, however, still continued to be part of her vision. Wherever she went, she sewed. Her “atelier” took many forms, from the corner of a room, to a closet, to the basement, and years later a sewing room. Mom’s midwestern sewing rooms were not like those in New York and Paris, but her prolific production could rival a Parisian seamstress.




I was born a year after my parents married, and I entered into her sewing world. Sewing was never off limits to me. I spent hours sitting at her machine when she wasn’t sewing, first sewing on lined binder paper (without thread in the needle), to practice straight sewing. From there I learned to sew on fabric making seams and darts. At the age of 6 or 7, I wanted to make an outfit. Mom took me shopping to choose fabric (an activity that continued throughout my growing years). I choose a cotton fabric (turquoise with little lambs) and Mom helped me sew a gathered skirt and sleeveless blouse; quite an accomplishment for a child. She patiently guided me through the whole process. I was very proud of my efforts.



There were no short cuts for my mom when it came to sewing. I could have had no better teacher. The fabric was straightened, patterns placed on the grain line, and all markings marked with tailor tacks. I often heard her tell me that proper pressing was just as an important part of sewing as the actual sewing itself. If my sewing was shabby, she showed me how to improve. Once I was making a pair of Bermuda shorts and she suggested that I sew flat felled seams for durability. The shorts turned out well. (Ethel Traphagen, credited with introducing shorts and slacks into the American scene, would have been proud). She showed me how to do French seams on my blouses and I loved the “look”. Perhaps that was the beginning of my fascination with all things French.



Mom’s designing skills flourished over the years and I was the lucky recipient. Being her only daughter, my wardrobe was “à la mode”. As a child, my dresses were made of layers of organdy, or dotted Swiss. I twirled until the skirts flew high over my head and the front sidewalk served as the runway as I paraded my new outfits. Mom continued to sew for me through high school, college, and into my maternity years. Sometimes she would use a pattern, but often she would design something unique for me. If we saw something in a store that I wanted and we couldn’t afford, she went home and magically created a copy. I had my own personal couturier. If, as a teenager, I pouted like an” ingénue” and complained that I needed a new outfit, she worked long hours into the night to see that the perfect ensemble was created. Her gift at sewing seemed to be my birthright and it wasn’t until years later that I realized not all girls my age had a mom with this talent.




In 1967, I was the one who boarded a plane for France. I was spending a year studying the French language at Aix-en-Provence. Moms’ sewing skills met her all time challenge, as her next line of clothing would be worn on European soil. When she finished, my luggage was loaded with “designer” clothing, and I was ready. Cameras flashed as I boarded the plane. La France, me voilà!



The Traphagen School of Fashion did turn out some famous designers, such as Geoffrey Beene, James Galanos, Franklin Rowe, and Mary McFadden, to name a few, but Traphagen also gave me my personal designer, seamstress, and mentor. I realized that my Mom’s passion for sewing could have equaled any famous designer, but fame is not always the goal of a proper education, and Mom’s skills continue as a legacy in her daughter and granddaughters. Merci Maman!!!

Chartres

During our trip to Paris, Rollie and I took a one day bus tour to the Loire Valley, where we visited two of the many castles to be found there. Our first stop, however, was in the town of Chartres where we visited the famous cathedral, Notre Dame de Chartres (not to be confused with the Notre Dame in Paris, which I will write about on another post). This cathedral is magnificent. It was built in the thirteen century on a site where a cathedral had stood since the sixth century.

You have probably noticed the the two towers of the cathedral are not identical, one being a Gothic tower and the other being a plain Romanesque tower. Due to the fact that a fire destroyed part of the cathedral, one tower was rebuilt in a different century, with different architecture.

European cathedrals are very ornate. These sculptures are on the exterior of the building and represent Biblical people.

Chartres has been a stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for many centuries. These pilgrimages still take place today. On our way into Chartres we noticed a long procession of school children, singing and carrying flags, in celebration of the pilgrimages. Rollie and I were fortunate enough to be there on the weekend where this religious observance took place (once a year). School children from all over France walked in this procession. Rollie took several pictures for me because of the varied uniforms and outfits being worn. The French Boy Scouts were even there.

Stepping inside the cathedral you see the nave. The buttresses are incredible.

Below is the "pulpit", (not sure what the actual name is), where the priest would stand to speak. I have seen many scenes in French movies where these are used, and was interested to see one up close.

The stained glass and sculptures inside the catherdral are amazing as you will be able to tell from the photos. I learned something from these elaborate structures, which gave me a different perspective. I had always thought that the clergy of the Catholic church jealously guarded the Bible, and spoke only in Latin to keep the lay person ignorant. Perhaps some of that happened, but Chartres is an example of how the clergy wanted to share as much of the Bible as they could with those people who could not read. Throughout Chartres are many elaborate sculptures which depict the Biblical stories, and the stained glass windows intricate detail also teach the Bible visually. You could spend days in Chartres, "reading" the Bible.

Below is a picture of the floor, (and my feet). The floor is significant because you can see how worn it is from the pilgrimages. Chartres was one of the cathedrals that was a stopping place where the pilgrims actually spent the night. In the castles and palaces in France, much of the stone worked steps and flooring is polished smooth. And speaking of castles, there is still more to come.

Next blog we visit Amboise and Chenonceaux. A bientot!!

La Seine, Les Ponts, et Les Bateaux Mouches

There are many ways to see Paris: by foot, by bus or by boat. The river Seine meanders through the center of Paris, and tour boats, called "Bateaux Mouches", glide up and down the river giving a different view of Paris. The words "Bateaux Mouches" means "Fly Boats", as in those annoying flies that hover at picnics. I often wondered why the boats were given that name. A French friend gave me her explanation that the boats are like the eyes of a fly which sees many views at once, much like the people on the boats see many views. That metaphor works for me.

Crossing the Seine are many bridges (35 or 37 depending on your source). These bridges range from centuries old to fairly modern (as within the last hundred years or so). I read a quote while I was teaching, something to the effect that Paris dangles her bridges much like a woman showing off her bracelets. The bridges are amazing in construction and variety, and Paris has every right to show them off.

Please join us for our ride up and down the Seine river via Rollie's photos.

"There are other cities farther north than Paris, but somehow its particular quality of light and atmosphere, and its palette of silver, gray and slate-blue, is only found here." Laurel Delp

"The glorious river Seine" Anatole France

"The Seine at Paris is more than beautiful. Poets and neoimpressionists shift their attention to it as the mood strikes." Mort Roseblum

"I do not know how many bridges there are on the Seine, but I do know that no public buildings are as deeply imprinted in the affection of the Parisians." Pierre Schneider

"The Seine flows between banks of books." Guillaume Appollinaire

"I could spend my whole life watching the Seine flow by. It is a poem of Paris." (author unknown, but my sentiments exactly)