Subterranean Homesick Blues

Super Far & Super Close

Growing up in California, wild fires are as predictable as the droughts that fuel them. But rarely do they hit as close to home as this weekend's fire did. The Mushroom Cloud perspective was taken from our perfectly peaceful walk in Venice on Saturday and the other pics were shot by Michael's dad on the front lines of the La Canada Fire! The House in the orange glow of the second image is the house Michael grew up in. Read what his dad wrote...

"The Station Fire originated less than a mile from our house (near an Angeles Crest forestry station) on Wednesday and we began to gather things that night. The mountains of La Canada were on fire By Thursday and choppers and bombers were a constant sight overhead. By nightfall the fire had reached the other side of our east ridge with a bright orange glow that lasted throughout the night. My son, one of his friends, Pat and I collected and packed in earnest. The fire worsened and by Friday night the fire had leaped over the ridge to the East and was coming towards us. The four of us packed more and loaded three cars to the hilt. Saturday morning at 2:40 a.m. we received a mandatory evacuation call (four separate times) and disconnected all of the computer systems and loaded them into the last spaces available. Pat left at 4:30 am and ended up at Starbucks. We stayed around until noon as the fire was extremely slow in its descent towards our street. No fire apparatus or personnel were to be seen anywhere and the choppers were fighting a greater danger taking place a few blocks to the East. As the fire attacked a tree at the end of our street a half block north, four "hot shot" crews appeared and headed into the mountain. Then a fire truck from San Roman Valley suddenly appeared and began pumping fire retardant into the face of the fire which was heading below the street to the canyon floor. After a half hour we evacuated and ended up waiting for the return announcement which was supposed to occur at about 9 pm Saturday night. Unfortunately, the fire serpentined around the backside of the ridge directly north of us during the afternoon and came to within about a hundred yards of our home at the bottom of the canyon where fire teams stopped it somehow. We were turned back near our home watching the fire as it was directly about our house and ended up at the Westin Hotel after calling a few people who had offered to let us stay with them but no one was home. On Sunday afternoon we were allowed to return home as the fire had already spread the day before and was attacking La Crescenta and Altadena."

*That's Michael's bedroom that he grew up in - top left corner of the house.

Sperm Whale and Swimmer

This was the pic of the day yesterday on nationalgeographic.com

The caption read, Andrew and his friend, a young sperm whale named Scar, swim together off the west coast of Dominica. The two of them became "friends" after Andrew saved Scar's life.

Photograph by Peter G. Allinson, M.D.

Uh, Malibu Art Fair?

Malibu, CA - August 12, 2009: Gallery-organized fair featuring work by internationally exhibiting artists to be held at the Malibu Country Mart August 28 - 30, 2009.

Seven Los Angeles-based contemporary art galleries are going to the beach! China Art Objects, Chung King Projects, Circus Gallery, The Company, Eighth Veil, Parker Jones, and Sister are pleased to announce the first Malibu Annual Contemporary Art Fair.

Costa Cat is here!

Here's the short story...

The little man's name is Costa Cat Henderson Moore
He was 6 Lbs, 12 Oz and his big sister is pretty proud.
Mom's doing great and we're all just adjusting to the newborn routine...
It's been a while!

These images off my iphone this morning will have to do the trick until we can get the images off the good camera downloaded...

1960s JANTZEN Polynesian T-Shirt

I first saw some amazing vintage skimboards on Reference Library the other day, which lead me to ebay, which pointed me in the direction of The Back Room Vintage Clothing store (aka Locals Only from Laguna). Back in the Hollister days, Locals Only was a seasonal stop at minimum. Always good. Clearly they're still doing what they do best - unearthing soulful items from the past that couldn't be fresher for tomorrow...

How good it this graphic!?! Who the hell owns Jantzen now??? Talk about a brand who's time has come AGAIN!!!

Go to...
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/The-Back-Room-Vintage-Clothing__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Lennon's 6 Eyes

took this picture with my iphone out of an Alan Aldridge book today...sorry it's blurry.

Sam Maloof

So I might be a little late on this one, but I just discovered Sam Maloof through an Ebay purchase. No, I didn't by an original handcrafted wood piece by him, but I hope to some day. The man basically hand carved his entire house. Sam has passed away earlier this year, but there is much amazing press and images online (just google him)...

I pulled the following off Interior Design's blog - http://www.interiordesign.net/blog/1850000585/post/520045052.html

Evaluating his career in 1983, Maloof quoted Emerson, who said “I look on the man as happy who, when there is a question of success, looks into his work for his reply.” By this measure, or by any other, Sam Maloof was a successful and a happy man. “God willing,” he wrote in the early 1970’s, “I don’t want to retire. I could work with my hands as long as I live…” Sam Maloof worked with his hands up until the month before he died. His life, and his work, are now a part of our cultural heritage, and will remain a source of inspiration to craftsmen, and to all who enjoy craftsmanship.

Pure Bliss

OK, so I am probably overdoing the vintage Gordie purchase, but Mark sent me these pics today and it reminded me how damn happy the surf makes me - even in the middle of a stressful Wednesday!!! Cheers mate!

Pillows from Istanbul

Casa Wreckage

So when it rains, it poors, and Monday as I left for the airport with Hannah a week away from 9 months pregnant, the wrecking crew also showed up. We've been trying to get some stuff done to the house for years and it hasn't worked out. Now, we're trying to get it all done before the baby gets here...any day! Inside and Out. There's a solid film of dust on everything - even the sheets!

Fuzzy in GQ

OK, Fuzz is probably going to kill me for posting this, but I couldn't resist. I was flipping through the new GQ on a plane yesterday, and BOOM! August Issue, Page 114. There was Fuzzy looking all sensitive and sweet!

1870s Japanese Boy's Apron Handwoven Tie-dyeing Cotton

Hannah won this beautiful indigo-dyed apron from Kyoto, Japan on ebay today. Text read...

Description
This is Hara-ate ( belly protector ) worn by a boy. Made with handwoven, indigo tie-dyed cotton in 1870s ( early Meiji period ). It measures 52.5cm ( 20 1/2" ) in length and 53cm ( 21" ) in width.

condition : a few small holes

And I picked up a New Log...

Actually it's my first collector board and my first log I have paid money for which would both point to the fact that I'm surely getting older and in the market for more buoyant cruising craft... Here is the Red Beauty right here...it's an early sixties Gordie that has been beautifully restored...
I have to be honest, I bought it for the handcrafted wood fin.

Lightning Bolts everywhere - just add Lopez.
The essential tail check!

Busy Week...

So I didn't pay much attention to bonfirebeachkids last week 'cause I didn't have much time to sit down. It's just a couple weeks 'till the new little guy comes so all of my freetime has been spent building furniture with Hannah, cleaning out closets and trying to get a new project completed in the studio. So it's on Sunday morning that I am sitting here and reflecting on the fact I actually made it up to SF on Wednesday. I love that city - it's like a larger version of Venice with rolling hills, gorgeous architecture and incredible views from every corner. I visited Levi's and was pointed in the direction of Hayes Valley to do a little inspiration shopping. I was only able to hit three spots before I had to head back to the airport and those were Blue Bottle Coffee, Nida and the new Levi's store on Castro. I hope to get back up soon. Maybe bring the newest addition to the family.