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CONTINUING MARCH

A highlight of March has to be being serenaded by Universal Renaissance man, my friend Stanley Penner, playing a bit of Mozart, Brahms and more... ...on his Bösendorfer. I was told to "Look up!" So many treasurers... A lovely "Gratitude Luncheon" at the Athenaeum....

MARCHING THROUGH MARCH

The Children's Festival was a wonderful way to begin the month. Three days of getting up at five, wearing a white apron and helping all the kids find their way to seats at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for an exciting dance performance by the Hubbard Street Dance...

SHORT BUT WONDERFUL

February, being the shortest month, has to cram a lot of joyful happenings..I can't think of a better way to begin the month than by celebrating Susie Kat's birthday at the Jonathan Beach Club! Yours truly, Maggie, Susie's cousin, Carol Soucek King, our amazing...

JANUARY, AND THE NEW YEAR BEGINS…

I'm not too sure what to make of January. Perhaps it's because December is such an amazing high with Christmas and New Years that it's hard to re-focus on business as usual. Well, maybe not as usual but certainly not at the extreme! It took Veronica and me two days to...

THE MOST WONDERFUL NEW YEAR’S …

began with guests getting their bling on. Here Alexis decides on hers. Also, signing the guest book and indicating what yummy treat they brought. Here's Jan making her entry. And with her bling on. Then it was time for amazing Magician Tom to mesmerize all of us,...

CHRISTMAS AND SO MUCH MORE!

Valerie Foster Hoffman is truly the Hostess With the Mostest, a real-life Auntie Mame! And to be at her Christmas party is to partake of an unforgettable experience. Cookies anyone? With Sherry in the garden. With Santa and our Lovely Hostess! Photographer Karl....

MOVING ON TOWARDS CHRISTMAS

The partying began at the California Club for the CTG Affiliates' Annual Christmas Luncheon. There are beautiful mystery boxes that everyone bids on....here's the one I got. Delightful Mary Kay with her treasure box. Sweet Diane chats with Artistic Director Snehal...

BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!

It's impossible to express how much I love Thanksgiving! Shopping for all of my traditional recipes starts about a week before, and this time it only took five trips! I begin with making the cranberries the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and the next day, the stuffing....

NOVEMBER’S JOY

Sandie girl came to the studio to work on her Christmas card. It's so lovely, but I can't show it to you just yet! This is where it all began on November 6th. Backup from the water drainage area. It's the 25th and work continues... On to lighter moments. Dinner at...

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY AND SO MUCH MORE

It was time to celebrate delightful Patricia Faber and sooo much fun was had by all! Architrect Miller Yee Fong had to leave early so he wasn't in the group photo. Happiest of birthdays dear Patricia! Make a wish!!! Soooo cute! I was so thrilled to see the recent...

PARTY TIME BEGINNING WITH KALEY'S SWEET SIXTEEN….

….celebrated in the Living Room at the Peninsula Hotel.   Awwwwww……Kathy you are so dear to include me in this very special celebration….THANK YOU!  Hi Clara! I always love showing off the exquisite china our Lissi Kaplan hand paints for the Peninsula.   The ‘Tower of...

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CLARA'S BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME

 I was so happy when Clara told me she had found the perfect home not only for herself but also for her parents when they visit from China.  It was exciting to go to Santa Monica and be in her beautiful new nest. Is this the face of joy or what!!! We had great fun...

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A PERFECT DAY

 I’ll catch up with everything later but I wanted to write about yesterday while it’s still fresh in my minds eye. (I had to take a picture of this Art Center College directional sign as that’s where Charles and I met.  Awwwwww……) It began with meeting Carol at her...

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FINDING JOY IN OUR PURPOSE

Absolutely everyone has a purpose! Painting is my ‘work’ but I’ve found that my purpose in life is teaching and it’s in teaching that I find my greatest joy.  Here are a few moments in the past two weeks that I have loved. I used to teach a Landscape class at the...

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SERENDIPITY LEADS TO JOYFUL ADVENTURES!

Yes, I do tend to wander off if something catches my eye but that’s how all of my amazing adventures have happened as I told Jane Verrill, here on business for Harvard University, as we shared tea and reminisced at the Peninsula Hotel.  Tea time is made especially...

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THEATERS, MUSEUMS and SCIENTISTS…..

The theatre is a fun way to start the week and ‘An Act of God’ was hilariously wonderful! Sean Hayes delivered a tour de force of a performance!  Kendall’s Brasserie at the Music Center can always be counted on for a delicious meal.  Besides they have the best bread!...

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MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC…..

Checking in with Amy for a LA Opera event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. What joy! But first….there was a luncheon. We got to see the final dress rehearsal for The Magic Flute! It was inspiring to see the students from across Los Angeles who were selected to see...

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LOVELY THINGS HAPPEN……

 ….and right up there was a photo shoot at the Huntington Botanical Gardens with amazing photographer Martha Benedict.  You can see her stunning work at www.marthabenedict.com I am always amazed at the difference a professional photographer makes…...  Sweet Cris from...

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COMING FULL CIRCLE……..

……I was delighted when Linda Cantwell asked me to speak and do a Brush painting demonstration for the San Marino League Sustainers.  This was amazing to me on so many levels as over twenty years ago I  gave a lecture to the San Marino League on the history of Brush...

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JOY at the HUNTINGTON…..

  I always look forward to all of my classes but this past week at the Huntington was an explosion of JOY!  There were 19 students and we painted Camellias.  …….But first, because there were quite a few new students, I did a review of various brush strokes and the...

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WELCOME…

to my personal blog where I’ll be sharing adventures and how I determine each day to live joyfully as an Artist, Teacher, and Author. My latest book “What If… We Have the Power to Change Our Lives” an inspirational book that hopefully will empower you to live your best life! You can find me and my work at nanraestudio.com My hope is that this blog will inspire you to find joy everywhere and in everything and that is what I wish for you!

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