Art is Cool!

As many of you know, Miki has been exhibiting at the Centro de Arte in Mojacar village here in Almeria, Spain.

We noticed, as we were preparing the inauguration, that we had more stress trying to keep the Cava and other drinks cool, than we did hanging the paintings!  Money as a bit tight for the arts down here, and therefore the facilities are somewhat spartan, so we decided to donate…..a fridge!

This will be of incalculable value for future artists exhibiting here. They can relax, knowing the drinks will be chilled to perfection, and their welcoming quiche won’t be wilting. But we didn’t want it to be any old fridge – so, keen to prove that Miki’s not the only artist in the house, I went to work with some masking tape, cardboard, scissors and a can of spray paint, and voila! A work of art!  (Of course I needed Miki perched on top to finish the effect, the cherry on the cake, so to speak!)

Kev Moore

An attractive design (with fridge below)

Spanish Sunday

Following Michael’s inspirational post, I found a poem lurking inside me that needed to get out. It’s a small observation on our Sunday here in Spain…..

I peer over the balustrade
The dried and dusty
Crack’d old parchment bed
Has given up the ghost and left
As from the mountains waters bled
A joyous bubbling
Made its way from rock, to hill, to plain
To froth and trickle past me
New river runs on this wet sunday
Where no river ran before
A miracle of nature
Right outside my own front door

My sleepy Spanish hamlet yawning
In the pitter-patter rain
The glistening streets, flamenco beats
Sun-drenched sierra surrenders briefly
To a freshness – seldom seen
Then that golden orb reclaims its own
And mirrored blacktop stretches out
Beneath a veil of rising steam.

Copyright Kev Moore September 2008

The Energy of Youth

Our friend Michael Pockocky described “The Energy of Youth” in the last Cafe Crem entry, as exemplified by his observations hanging with the Skateboard/Snowboard crowd. It got me reminiscing about my trip to Barcelona with my son as he attempted – and succeeded – to jump the famed “Macba 4″ steps in the city. It’s something of a European skateboard mecca, and sk8er boi’s from all over the world gravitate there, not for the Gaudi, but for the urban thrills.

My own experience, getting up close with this activity via my son, getting into the fashions, the mindset, has been nothing but positive.

So, Michael, as a photographic complement to your piece, here’s my son, skating on his home territory of Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK, demonstrating his own particular brand of youthful energy!

Corey gets some air

 

Kev Moore

Coffee Cups for Musicians

I found these last year on line, but no longer have any idea where I got them from.  So I can’t help anyone with where to find them other than googling “musical coffee cups,” in photos.

Bassoon Mug for Musicians

Saxophone Mug for Musicians

Music Mugs

Music Teacher Mug

Treble Clef Coffee Mug

Treble Clef Coffe Mug 2

Treble Clef Coffe Mug in White

Posted by Madame Monet

The meeting of two Cafe Crem family members!

WRJones sketching in a Sebastopol, California vineyard

As I write, my sketching buddy Bill is heading back home to southern California via a route selected for its cow and sheep scenery, which he plans to paint along the way. Yes, I successfully managed to lure the first of my Cafe Crem buddies to visit my home, taste our local wines, and spend an entire weekend sketching/painting in this heavenly fall weather. What a fun guy. What you can’t see in this picture are his beautiful blue eyes or the accomplished sketches he did, but the signature Bill Jones hat is there.

my sketch of Bill behind his back

Bill’s shoulders are in fact much wider than this (he wanted me to change the sketch to fix this, but I thought it was easier to just tell you).

So now it’s your turn to come visit!

And now Bill – it’s your turn. And Bill, don’t wait too long to come back!

-Susan

Are People Following Feng Shui Where You Live?

Feng Shui is an idea I first heard about perhaps eight years ago, and the first time I heard about it, it just seemed like a bunch of Chinese superstition.

Over a period of several years, I have come to believe there is something to it, and that perhaps whatever is behind it is something yet to be discovered scientifically (such as no one until recent times believing in germs because they couldn’t be seen).

Anyway, it seems as though people everywhere now know about Feng Shui.  Is it the same where all of you live?  Are any of you studying or using Feng Shui ideas?  What do people here think about it?

I’m just curious.

Madame Monet

Mixing business with pleasure….

Corey, Me, My Dad and Hollie, reduced to tears of laughter as my dad attempts to gain some extra height for the photo!

I wanted to share with you all my weekend. I had a show to do on Friday in Great Yarmouth, a dreary East-Coast English seaside town, but by happy coincidence, the date fell the day before the Family Party, so for the first time in a few years, I was able to attend. The Family Party was started after my Grandma died. Everyone on my Mother’s side decided the family should meet twice a year. Since my mum passed away, and all my Auntie’s and Uncles have got older, it’s now just once a year. But for me, it’s a great opportunity to see everybody in one go, as I never get chance to travel around the country to visit them individually. an added bonus was that my Uncle Owen, my Dad’s brother, was over from New Zealand – so that saved a a hell of a trip!

Although not strictly coffee-related, I do have a wonderful tea-related anecdote. My Grandma, who died when I was a teenager, used to have a big metal teapot. When she died, it remained within the family, and it gets passed around to whoever is hosting the family party each year to make the tea for everybody. This year, it was my sister, Kaz.

A treasured family heirloom...and a teapot.

But the best bit of all was being with my two children. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together, and I savoured it.

Hollie and Corey

There was also the revelation of seeing my Dad, at 76, still able to place a ball with deadly accuracy and devilish spin in a game of table tennis. (he used to play in a league when he was younger)

So, with no apologies, here’s some “family snaps”…. Kev Moore

Ladeez in da house - Hollie, My sister Kaz, and her daughter Rachael

Kids Picnic - My nephew Tom, his girlfriend, and Hollie and Corey, are banished from the grown-ups table!

Dad and brother Owen catch up on news from NZ while assorted Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Neices and Nephews look on.

Dad shows my cousin's young boy how it's done!

Balloons for Everyone!

Or at least for the first 6 takers. I am trying to catch up on the celebrating!

Hugs and kisses, Love and best wishes,

Shelley

p.s. I promise to bring doughnuts next time

Smart coffee

I never got around to actually counting all the different Starbucks coffee shops on the UBC Vancouver campus, but I think it was around 5. This one is in the Applied Sciences (engineering) building. Not shabby, huh? But Ben decided on day 3 to change his major from Applied Science to Physics, so no more newest- building- on- campus-with-built-in-good-coffee for him. I’ve been sharing bits and pieces from my trip on my blog so rather than repeat myself I’ll invite you there.

-Susan

Happy Birthday, Sajida! (Supersize)

Following a bout of unrelenting activity for both Miki and myself, what with gigs and exhibitions, I’ve been a bit lax in keeping up with our birthday traditions here in Cafe Crem, so sincere apologies to Supersize, and belated, but sincere birthday wishes from me, (via this clumsy self-portrait!) hope you had a great day Saj!

Kev Moore

Don't laugh, my hair's meant to be like that....