Wildflowers Always Put on a Show!
California’s Spring Sea of Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
California’s wildflowers always put on a dazzling show when spring arrives. Up and down the state the hills come alive with the vibrant colors of flowers.
Thousands of people a day turn out to see Mother Nature’s colorful display!
These photos taken during a previous bloom at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve near Lancaster by SurfWriter Girls friends Mario Conti and Sarah Burt show how vivid the colors are.
Their results are striking, bringing to mind the Impressionist paintings of Claude Monet and the glorious flowers of Georgia O’Keeffe.
The wildflowers are definitely a sight to see!
If you go, remember to stay on the foot trails and don’t tromp on the flowers.
Park rangers are asking everyone to be careful to avoid crushing the flowers’ petals and stems.
Please don’t stomp,
Roll or romp.
Let the flowers be
For all to see.
That way we all can enjoy these living masterpieces.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is give.
*************************************************************************
“Haiku to You”
Surf City Haiku Reflections
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
While the cold winter weather is keeping us nice and warm inside, it’s the perfect time to develop our Haiku writing skills. This ancient form of Japanese poetry dates to the 17th Century. A Haiku consists of three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti wrote these Haikus to get you started. Now, it’s your turn! Have fun!
A perfect wave break.
Sand and sea in harmony
in Huntington Beach.
At dawn the seagulls
fly past the sun’s horizon.
The new day is here.
Walking on the pier
early in the morning mist
just the seagulls watch.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Coloring the New Year 2024
Pretty In Pink or Blue Horizons?
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
At the start of each new year the fashion and design world waits on the edge of its seat to see what new color is going to take center stage. That’s the color that will be featured in everything from clothing, home furnishings, products, packaging, and more.
Color design company Pantone, which has been predicting the New Year’s dominant color since it made its first Color of the Year selection in 1991, is betting on pink with Pantone’s color Peach Fuzz, described as a “cozy” color for a “peaceful future.”
Paint manufacturer Glidden is on board with pink, as well, with Limitless, a pinkish “honey beige” that offers “versatility” to your environment.
Some of the other influencers in the color predictions arena are going in a different direction, though, picking blue.
Paint manufacturers Benjamin Moore and Sherwin WIlliams‘ picks for the new year are Blue Nova and Upward. Benjamin Moore says its color is a “Cosmic blue violet” that is “inspirational,” while Sherwin Williams says its color will “create a space for meditation and tranquility.”
Other paint companies C2 and Valspar are in the blue camp, too. C2’s Thermal, a “pale, but punchy blue,” is “poised for adventure and brimming with hope.” Valspar’s Renew Blue “encourages self-expression.”
With Pantone celebrating the 25th anniversary of its first COTY pick, it hopes that its pink hued Peach Fuzz will be the one that wins us over and “captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others.”
What color will be the top choice of 2024? Pink or Blue? Only time will tell. SurfWriter Girls Patti and Sunny have it covered either way.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Gurton’s warm bed by the fire was inviting,
but the city outside was too exciting.
Leaping through the window, he went on his way,
eager to explore his City by the Bay.
Holiday vendors were selling their wares.
Chestnuts were roasting in Ghiradelli Square.
Boats in the harbor bobbed when the wind blows.
The streets were lined with lighted windows.
Gurton heard carolers singing,
cable car bells ringing.
Wherever he looked, there was so much to see.
The Transamerica Tower just like a Christmas tree!
When he finally reached home
his food bowl was waiting and he wasn’t alone.
Contentedly stretched out on the floor,
Gurton had much to be thankful for.
Season’s Gurton to all!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Pierre Bonnard’s Ode to Autumn
Dreaming in Vivid Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Now that we’re in the middle of autumn, the changing foliage and harvest colors all around us remind SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti of the paintings of French artist Pierre Bonnard.
The acclaimed post-impressionist painter (1867-1947), known for his bold use of color, painted as much from memory as direct observation. Describing his approach, Bonnard said, “Before I start painting I reflect, I dream.”
A painter, illustrator and printmaker praised for his deft touch and artistic wit, Bonnard painted everything from still lifes and portraits to street scenes and landscapes.
And he had a special fondness for autumn…
capturing the transition between summer and winter using vivid colors that illuminate the changing leaves and abundance of the harvest.
Showcasing what impressionist Henri Matisse called “the full depth of his expression,” Bonnard infuses the fall season with electricity and emotion.
Though much has been said about the joys of spring, in autumn there is brightness and beauty to be found when we take the time to look.
And to dream.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Say Hello to Autumn!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
After summer says good-bye
autumn leaves start to fly,
blanketing the ground
in orange, gold and brown.
Dazzling sands and brilliant blues
give way to softer hues
and fall’s harvest weather
brings friends together.
Birds start on their quests,
mice are happy in their nests.
And now you and I
can have some apple pie.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Van Gogh’s Scenes of Summer
Flowers Everywhere!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh embraced spring and summer with a joyous abandon that brought to life flowers of all kinds in his paintings, leaving art lovers a legacy of beauty.
From paintings of wildflowers in fields to artfully arranged flowers in vases, Van Gogh (1853-1890) filled countless canvases with the color and light of nature’s bounty.
Among his most notable works is his Sunflower Series.
Sunflowers were particularly significant for Van Gogh because his favorite color was yellow, a color that represented happiness and positivity to him.
Inspired by the colors of springtime, Van Gogh said, “Spring is the fresh green of young corn and the pink blush of blossoms.”
Van Gogh’s painting Almond Blossom symbolizes “new life” because the trees bloom early in the spring. His style and off-center positioning of the subject were an homage to Japanese printmaking.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Art of the Skateboard Stamps
Gnarly Stamps Drop In at USPO
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Cowabunga! The U.S. Postal Service recently unveiled a new set of Forever stamps, Art of the Skateboard.
Celebrating skateboarding with four different stamps displaying the kind of bold, vibrant artwork found on skateboard decks, the stamps are a salute to a street sport that started out as “sidewalk surfing” before becoming the popular, Olympic-level sport that it is today.
Eye-catching and colorful, the four stamps chosen for the series were created by artists Crystal Worl, William James Taylor, Jr., Di’Orr Greenwood, and MasPaz (Federico Frum).
Reflecting her indigenous Tlingit/Athabascan heritage, Alaskan Worl created a blue and indigo image of a salmon. Taylor’s design features red lines and curves on an orange background. Greenwood highlights the color turquoise with eagle feathers against a sun in a nod to the Arizona and Navajo culture. Colombia native MasPaz’s design includes a jaguar, the largest cat in the Americas.
Like executing a perfect skateboard trick, these gnarly Forever stamps that dropped in at the USPO make sending a letter more fun than ever.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Say Hello to Spring!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Ka-pow! Bam! Boom!
Spring is in bloom.
Flowers everywhere.
Birds flying here and there.
Bright colors all around.
Air filled with birds’ happy sounds.
Each brand new sprout
pushing winter out.
Time to plant. Time to sing.
Time to all welcome spring!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Pantone’s Color of the Year 2023
Color Your Year Beautiful and Vibrant
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Color design and style influencer Pantone announced its Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta (color code: 18-1750).
The company said its choice is a fuchsia-colored, purplish-red that “vibrates with vim and vigor.” It’s a “brave and fearless, pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration” of life.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Institute, says the strong color is “rooted in the primordial, invoking the forces of nature.” Made from one of the most precious dyes in the world, “Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength. It’s powerful and empowering. It is a new, animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression.”
Pantone’s annual COTY selection is always eagerly awaited because it influences designers’ decisions in home furnishings, fashion, packaging, beauty products, and much more. Even this squirrel decided to show off the color.
Given the importance of reading the mood of the public correctly, Pantone relies on a panel of experts in design, fashion, arts, entertainment, and social media to come up with the perfect fit. Sometimes the color they choose looks good enough to eat!
While Pantone has been the leader in color-trend spotting since its first COTY in 1999, other companies have entered the scene with their own choices. Paint giants Sherwin-Williams (RedEnd Point: SW 9081) and Benjamin Moore (Raspberry Blush: 2008-30) also chose red colors. And, striking a contrarian note, Glidden Paint went with green (Vining Ivy: PPG 1148-6).
Sherwin WIlliams says its RedEnd Point is a “glowing, blush-beige, suggestive of desert tones.” Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Blush is “a bright and cheery, vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink that enlivens the senses.” Glidden’s bluish-green Vining Ivy is a “versatile, contemporary, and total conversation-starter” that encourages people to engage with each other.
Whether you want to make a bold statement, connect with nature, or start a conversation, there’s a new color waiting just for you to inspire and empower you. Whatever you choose, 2023 is the perfect time to color your world beautiful and vibrant.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Season’s Gurton!
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Gurton’s warm bed by the fire was inviting,
but the city outside was too exciting.
Leaping through the window, he went on his way,
eager to explore his City by the Bay.
Holiday vendors were selling their wares.
Chestnuts were roasting in Ghiradelli Square.
Boats in the harbor bobbed when the wind blows.
The streets were lined with lighted windows.
Gurton heard carolers singing,
cable car bells ringing.
Wherever he looked, there was so much to see.
The Transamerica Tower just like a Christmas tree!
When he finally reached home
his food bowl was waiting and he wasn’t alone.
Contentedly stretched out on the floor,
Gurton had much to be thankful for.
Season’s Gurton to all!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Rescue Dog Named Van Gogh Turns Artist
Finds Fame and a Home
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Snoopy isn’t the only dog with an affinity for Van Gogh’s paintings.
Now a one-eared, shelter rescue dog – named Van Gogh, of course – is making his mark in the art world with his impressionist paintings, which are selling for $40 each to raise money to benefit the Happily Furever After Rescue shelter in Bethel, Connecticut.
Van Gogh was rescued from a North Carolina dog fighting ring and taken in by the shelter, which was having a hard time getting people to adopt him because one of his ears had been severely injured and needed to be removed.
With few people showing interest in the lovable, boxer-pit bull mix, the shelter’s founder, Jaclin Gartner, came up with the idea to emphasize the dog’s artistic skills.
And so, with help by Gartner, Van Gogh the dog, is creating his own version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Sunflowers, and other paintings – using a technique that involves him moving his tongue over plastic-covered canvases that have paint on them.
The Washington Post and CBS Mornings show featured him. Soon word of Van Gogh’s art talents went viral and people from around the world took interest in him.
Best of all, he is now in a foster home and getting the love he’s been looking for.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************************
Much to be Thankful For
Written by SurfWriter GIrls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
We have much to be thankful for.
Family and friends at the door.
The Thanksgiving table set for more.
A delicious feast and treats galore.
Rooting for your team to score.
The oceans, beach and shore.
A beautiful world to explore.
So much to be thankful for.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Hello Autumn!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
After summer says good-bye
autumn leaves start to fly,
blanketing the ground
in orange, gold and brown.
Dazzling sands and brilliant blues
give way to softer hues
and fall’s harvest weather
brings friends together.
Birds start on their quests,
mice are happy in their nests.
And now you and I
can have some apple pie.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Savoring the Smiles of Summer
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Summer days give us joy and laughter. Picnics on the sand. Children running into the waves. Ice cream cones and popsicles. The warmth and beauty of summer heightens our senses, making us smile and turning our thoughts into poetry.
To see the summer sky
is poetry, though never in a book it lie.
– Emily Dickinson
And inspiring artists Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin to create masterpieces that celebrate the season.
There are so many summer smiles to enjoy and save as memories for later. Now that we’re nearing the end of this golden time of year, take time to savor Mother Nature’s special gift.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Van Gogh’s Spring and Summer
Flowers Everywhere!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh embraced spring and summer with a joyous abandon that brought to life flowers of all kinds in his paintings, leaving art lovers a legacy of beauty.
From paintings of wildflowers in fields to artfully arranged flowers in vases, Van Gogh (1853-1890) filled countless canvases with the color and light of nature’s bounty.
Among his most notable works is his Sunflower Series.
Sunflowers were particularly significant for Van Gogh because his favorite color was yellow, a color that represented happiness and positivity to him.
Inspired by the colors of springtime, Van Gogh said, “Spring is the fresh green of young corn and the pink blush of blossoms.”
Van Gogh’s painting Almond Blossom symbolizes “new life” because the trees bloom early in the spring. His style and off-center positioning of the subject were an homage to Japanese printmaking.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Signs of Spring
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Skies are a brilliant blue.
The ocean is, too.
Flowers glisten with dew.
Sprouts pop into view.
Birds chirp on cue.
The Earth begins to renew.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Beach Bongo and Bikini Art
Shag – the Swinging Retro-Style Artist
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
A great way to brighten the remaining days of winter is to look at the retro-style art of Josh Agle. Better known as Shag to the many followers of his artistic creations, he has a swinger’s view of life with a 60s sensibility.
Looking at his paintings of hip people in Hugh Hefner, Mad Men-type settings – from cocktail parties to backyard barbecues – you feel immersed in the go-go era.
Shag’s paintings are populated with an assortment of lounge lizards, glamorous women, Vegas Rat Pack types, night club-goers, and other cool cats (both human and feline).
SurfWriter GIrls Sunny and Patti love Shaq’s unique style that really captures the essence of the 60s. All of his pictures have an attention to detail that sets you in that mood.
Everything he does is creative, bright, and fun.
Shag’s paintings are playful and draw you into his own mod world, filled with turtle-neck-wearing sophisticates, bikini-clad bombshells, martini-drinkers, and more.
When you look at Shag’s beach art you feel like you’re in the middle of Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello’s Beach Blanket Bingo movie. So, get ready to party!
Shag has his own gallery, Shag the store, in Palm Springs, located at 725 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
The Palm Springs gallery (and an online website) features a variety of original paintings and prints, cloisonné jewelry…
painted handbags…
pillows and beach towels, glassware, and more.
So, when you’re feelin’ groovy take a look inside Shag’s retro world and slip into a pair of paisley bell-bottoms or neon mini-skirt.
******************************************************************
Pantone’s Color of the Year
Very Peri Blooms in 2022
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
It’s that time again when the Pantone Color Institute chooses its Color of the Year – a choice that influences design, fashion, home furnishings, packaging, and much more.
For 2022, Pantone was inspired by the blue periwinkle flowers that bloom in so many gardens and created Very Peri, “a dynamic periwinkle blue with a vivifying violet red undertone” that the New Jersey-based color influencer says embodies “an empowering mix of trust, faith, energy and verve.”
In choosing its Color of the Year, Pantone relies on a panel of experts in the fashion and design fields, arts and entertainment, and social media. Now, that it’s officially announced, Very Peri is already showing up in home decor and fashion.
A color that brings to mind the blue in Claude Monet’s impressionist painting Water Lilies, periwinkle has many associations and names, such as sorcerer’s violet and fairy’s paint brush. The color has a dreaminess to it and a sense of untold possibilities.
While Pantone has long been the arbiter of the new year’s dominant color since its first COTY selection in 1999, other rival companies have started making selections of their own, including paint manufacturers Sherwin-Williams (Evergreen Fog) and Benjamin Moore (October Mist) – both, coincidentally, shades of green.
But, if blue or green isn’t your cup of tea, there’s still coffee. When the Wall St. Journal asked readers to come up with their own COTYs, Eileen Ferris, SurfWriter Girl Patti’s sister, submitted this color featured by the WSJ: “Toffee Nut Latte – a warm pale beige reminiscent of the most dependable source of normality that I have relied on through the pandemic.”
Whatever colors brighten your year, each adds another dimension to the color palette. And, in the case of Pantone’s Very Peri, it symbolizes “transition and happiness” – things much in demand now.
So, let color bloom in 2022 and color your world beautiful.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Season’s Gurton!
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Gurton’s warm bed by the fire was inviting,
but the city outside was too exciting.
Leaping through the window, he went on his way,
eager to explore his City by the Bay.
Holiday vendors were selling their wares.
Chestnuts were roasting in Ghiradelli Square.
Boats in the harbor bobbed when the wind blows.
The streets were lined with lighted windows.
Gurton heard carolers singing,
cable car bells ringing.
Wherever he looked, there was so much to see.
The Transamerica Tower just like a Christmas tree!
When he finally reached home
his food bowl was waiting and he wasn’t alone.
Contentedly stretched out on the floor,
Gurton had much to be thankful for.
Season’s Gurton to all!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Pierre Bonnard’s Scenes of Autumn
Dreaming in Vivid Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Acclaimed French post-impressionist Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), known for his bold use of color, painted as much from memory as direct observation. Describing his approach, he said, “Before I start painting I reflect, I dream.”
A painter, illustrator and printmaker praised for his deft touch and artistic wit, Bonnard painted everything from still lifes and portraits to street scenes and landscapes.
And he had a special fondness for autumn…
capturing the transition between summer and winter using vivid colors that illuminate the changing leaves and abundance of the harvest.
Showcasing what impressionist Henri Matisse called “the full depth of his expression,” Bonnard infuses the fall season with electricity and emotion.
Though much has been said about the joys of spring, in this time of autumn, which is still a trying one for all now, there is brightness and beauty to be found when we take the time to look.
And to dream.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Smiles of Summer
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The golden rays of summer days are nature’s gift to us, lifting our spirits and providing hope for the future.
The warmth and beauty of summer heightens our senses, making us smile and turning our thoughts into poetry.
Summer’s Smiles
Running into the sea,
children shouting with glee.
Enjoying cool breezes
and yummy, icy freezes.
Scanning the horizon for miles,
thoughts caught up in summer’s smiles.
And inspiring artists Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin to create masterpieces.
Now that we’re nearing the end of this golden time of year, take time to savor Mother Nature’s special gift.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Japanese Woodblock Prints
Artistic Scenes of Nature’s Beauty
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With the world’s spotlight shining on Japan with the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, one of the best ways to learn about the country is through the beautiful woodblock prints that are one of its leading art forms.
Focusing on nature and often the sea that surrounds this archipelago nation of four main islands and thousands of smaller ones, woodblock printing became popular in the Edo period (1603-1868).
The image is first printed on thin paper, which is glued onto smooth wood that is then chiseled away around the image to make a template, or block, for the printmaking process. The block is then inked and pressed against paper to create the finished print. A painstaking process, this often involves several pressings when multiple colors are involved.
It takes an exceeding amount of skill to make woodblock prints and the artists that have been able to master this process are highly revered with some of their works selling for upwards of $1 million. Master printmakers include Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro and Hokusai.
In 2017 Hokusai’s print In the Well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa, made during the Edo period, sold for $943,500 in New York at Christie’s auction house.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Now that summer’s here people aren’t the only ones heading to the beach. SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel discovered that, for some kool kitties, water is the cat’s meow.
The next time you hit the beach and think you’re the first one there…look again. You might be in for a surprise.
Beach Cats
Early in the morning at Huntington Beach,
Under the pier far from reach,
Slowly the cats begin coming out,
Twitching their whiskers and dancing about.
Rested and hungry from their long naps,
Sniffing the air for fishermen’s scraps,
The cats frolic in the tide
Long before any surfers catch a ride.
Quiet, except for hisses and meows,
Without its cover of colorful towels,
Bright umbrellas and tatami mats,
The beach belongs to the cats.
~SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel ©
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Andy Warhol – Environmentally Yours
Flower Power And More!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Andy Warhol’s paintings of soup cans, Marilyn Monroe and other pop icons are legendary – images that transformed their subjects and changed the way we see art.
But, there is another less-known side to Warhol’s art that shows his love for nature and commitment to protecting the environment.
Warhol did many paintings of flowers, plants and animals and a critically-acclaimed Endangered Species series.
Speaking out on behalf of the natural world, Warhol said, “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own.”
Warhol, a Pittsburgh native and adopted New Yorker more accustomed to city life, often escaped to his rustic Long Island retreat. It was a special place for him where he could see unadorned beauty and find new sources of inspiration.
In drawing attention to the environment and leaving his retreat as a nature preserve for future generations to enjoy, Warhol, who died in 1987, left a living legacy.
Ultimately, with tens of thousands of paintings to his credit, one of Warhol’s best works of art isn’t on canvas at all, but in the untouched land he left behind.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Make Way For Spring!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Ka-pow! Bam! Boom!
Spring is in bloom.
Flowers everywhere.
Birds flying here and there.
Bright colors all around.
Air filled with birds’ happy sounds.
Each brand new sprout
pushing winter out.
Time to plant. Time to sing.
Time to all welcome spring!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Riding the Waves of Life
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Riding the waves of life
there’s joy and strife,
ups and downs,
twists and turnarounds.
The tides go in and out
while sea gulls fly about
and surfers at the break
choose which waves to take.
The sea is vast and open,
a dazzling blue ocean
filled with people, places, voices,
a lifetime of choices.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Colors of Hope – 2021
Pantone’s Color of the Year
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Each new year the Pantone Color Institute chooses its Color of the Year – a choice that influences design, fashion, home furnishings, packaging and more.
For 2021 Pantone broke with tradition to pick two Colors of the Year – Illuminating (a bright, sunny, hopeful yellow) and Ultimate Gray (a dependable counterpoint to offset the optimistic tones of Illuminating).
“The two independent colors highlight how the different elements come together to express a message of hopefulness,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director.
In choosing its top color choice, Pantone draws on input from leaders in the design and fashion fields, art and entertainment to get a feel for the mood that’s emerging.
With everyone eager to put 2020 behind us, Pantone believes this color combination of brightness and balance will add vibrancy to our environments and help us to find the security and serenity we’re seeking.
Just as the morning sun burns through the fog on an overcast beach, perhaps these colors of hope can illuminate our days and lift our spirits.
SurfWriter Girls are ready for that.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Pierre Bonnard’s Scenes of Autumn
Dreaming in Vivid Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Acclaimed French post-impressionist Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), known for his bold use of color, painted as much from memory as direct observation. Describing his approach, he said, “Before I start painting I reflect, I dream.”
A painter, illustrator and printmaker praised for his deft touch and artistic wit, Bonnard painted everything from still lifes and portraits to street scenes and landscapes.
And he had a special fondness for autumn…
capturing the transition between summer and winter using vivid colors that illuminate the changing leaves and abundance of the harvest.
Showcasing what impressionist Henri Matisse called “the full depth of his expression,” Bonnard infuses the fall season with electricity and emotion.
Though much has been said about the joys of spring, in this time of autumn, which is a trying one for all now, there is brightness and beauty to be found when we take the time to look.
And to dream.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Beach Poem for Matthew
Written by SurfWriter Girl Sunny Magdaug
During this time when people are staying at home and staying safe, SurfWriter Girl Sunny was glad to see her nephew Matthew Stockton recently…even if it was just through her car window.
Matt is recovering from surgery on his leg and can’t go surfing at the beach now. So, she wrote this poem to bring the beach to him.
Mother Nature’s Love
The tides go out and the tides come in.
It’s Mother Nature singing beautiful lullabies
from the vast ocean.
The blue seas are Mother Nature’s colors
reflected in the skies above.
Surrounding us in Mother Nature’s love.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Solitary Pursuits
Stimulating Our Creativity
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With much of the world staying at home now and engaged in solitary pursuits, an artistic renaissance is blooming as we explore the different ways to express ourselves.
People are passing the time developing their creative abilities. Writing, painting, making videos, playing musical instruments, perfecting culinary skills, gardening.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) recognized the value of solitude. He wrote his introspective American classic Walden in 1854 while living alone in a log cabin on Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts.
Thoreau moved into the remote cabin where he spent two years so he could be closer to nature and explore his own thoughts: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.”
Reflecting on the benefits of solitude and the healing powers of nature, he wrote, “The only medicine I need is a draught of morning air.”
Many others have channeled solitude into creativity, from poet Emily Dickinson to scientists Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein – who literally changed the world with their theories of gravity and relativity.
– Albert Einstein
Dickinson (1830-1886), an avid gardener, spent much of her life alone tending her plants…and writing poems – close to 1,800 in all, making her one of America’s premiere poets.
Now, while spending time at home, people are nurturing creative talents they didn’t even know they had…and opening themselves to new discoveries each day.
Even everyone’s favorite dog Snoopy is unleashing his inner artist!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Nature’s Edible Art
Beauty from this Land of Ours
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With so many of us gardening these days, we’re not only enjoying nature, but creating edible artworks.
SurfWriter Girl Patti’s friend Lynda DeWitt grew these beautiful Sungold cherry tomatoes that she says, “are delicious right off the vine or in a salad. They taste like candy”
She has luscious lettuce, too, that looks like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. “It’s fresh, live and ready to eat in a matter of minutes.”
And this “painting” Lynda created out of vibrant vegetables on a “canvas” of flat bread looks good enough to eat..and it is! She’s entering it in the Orange County Fair’s food competition.
It’s a “smoked cheddar garlic flat bread with Tower Garden embellishments (chives. bunching onions, spinach, parsley, lemon balm, Sungold tomatoes and banana peppers).”
“Dinner in 10 minutes? No problem,” says Lynda. Everything she needs is in her garden to make this rainbow-colored salad with fresh veggies and edible flowers.
When Lynda isn’t tending her garden or turning its bounty into photo shoot-worthy meals, she enjoys listening to her husband Stan’s front yard concerts performed for the neighbors from their driveway.
One of his standards is Woody Guthrie’s folk classic “This Land is Your Land.” Like Lynda’s artistic garden produce, the words are a perfect reminder of the beauty and glory of this land of ours.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Now
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
A kiss, a hug, a touch.
For now, that’s all too much.
Walking together on the sand,
holding each other’s hand.
These precious things we yearn to do,
separated by six feet between me and you.
But we will come through somehow,
this tiny point in time that is now.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Wyland – A Whale’s Tale
Creating Windows To The Sea
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Marine artist Robert Wyland’s paintings of whales and other sea life provide a window to the underwater world.
Wyland, who grew up in Michigan, moved to Laguna Beach, CA, in 1977 and began painting his oceanscapes.
In 1981 he painted the first mural in his epic Whaling Walls series on a wall overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Laguna Beach…
and set a goal of painting 100 of the massive walls – a milestone he reached in 2008 with a wall in Beijing, China.
Wyland’s artworks have grown into a multimillion-dollar business, including galleries from Hawaii to Florida, and in 1993 he created the nonprofit Wyland Foundation “to help children rediscover the wonder of the ocean through art.”
Dubbed a “Marine Michaelangelo” by USA Today, Wyland is building awareness of the natural world around us, creating a beacon of hope for preserving the environment.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Pantone Color for 2020
Classic Blue
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
It’s official. Classic Blue is this year’s hue – Pantone’s Color of the Year.
Perfect for a new decade, “it’s a color that anticipates what’s going to happen next,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.
Following last year’s Living Coral color, Classic Blue is another salute to the ocean – a vibrant deep blue that is an “enduring color” that instills “calm, confidence, and connection.”
For over 20 years the Pantone Color Institute has chosen its Color of the Year – a choice that influences design, fashion, home furnishings, packaging, and more.
Pantone has created several color combinations for it, including a color palette called “Snorkel” that pairs it with Coralessence, Lime Punch and Jasmine Green to evoke “a bliss-filled tropical paradise.”
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are excited about the new decade that’s starting…and the future that this Classic Blue foretells.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Nature Conservancy Photo Contest
2019 Winners
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Nature Conservancy announced the winners of its 2019 Photo Contest, which drew submissions from more than 150 countries, with Tyler Schiffman winning the Grand Prize for his underwater photo of a sea lion swimming in California’s Monterey Bay kelp beds.
Featuring awe-inspiring photos from the depths of the sea to the highest mountain peaks, the photos showcase the beauty and mystery of nature.
Animals of all kind, hovering storm clouds, people in nature,
photos that celebrate the majesty of the world around us.
See for yourself at: nature.org/photocontest
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Autumn Leaves Delight
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Summer was so bold and strong,
sun-splashed days that went on and on.
Who could guess that fall was near?
That autumn leaves would soon appear.
Covering the trees,
drifting on the breeze.
Leaves of all shapes and sizes,
here to delight and surprise us.
Beautiful, delicate, red and gold.
A wondrous joy to behold!
Wishing you a joyful fall…
especially Patti’s niece Theresa Flores, who has been eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
**********************************************************************
Smiles of Summer
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The warmth and beauty of summer heightens our senses, making us smile and turning our thoughts into poetry.
And inspiring artists Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin to create masterpieces.
Now that we’re nearing the end of this golden time of year, take time to savor Mother Nature’s special gift.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Summer’s Here!
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
It’s time to cheer.
Summer’s here!
Say hello to sun,
to days filled with fun.
Going to your favorite beaches.
Eating fresh strawberries and peaches.
Loading up the camper.
Stocking the picnic hamper.
Wearing flip flops and cool sunglasses.
Lying on the sand and green grasses.
No more fog and mist.
It’s summer solstice!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Lifeguard Stations Are Works of Art
Colleen Gnos Captures Colorful Past
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
As spring transitions into summer and lifeguard stations get fresh coats of paint, the ones in Avila Bay, on California’s Central Coast, stand out from the rest.
That’s because they are works of art created by acclaimed local artist Colleen Gnos.
Unlike traditional lifeguard stations, the ones painted by Gnos are adorned with unique marine scenes that draw you into a captivating ocean world. Take a look and you’ll see fishermen, divers, surfers…
whales and mermaids.
Commissioned by the Avila Beach Community Foundation & Arts Obispo, Gnos created eight murals that reflect the quirky beach community’s colorful past. “I remember the old Avila. It had a lot of character. It was a very salty fishing village for over 100 years,” says Gnos.
Voted San Luis Obispo’s Best Visual Artist of 2016, Gnos’ paintings are in galleries throughout the U.S. and Italy where she studied in Florence. The granddaughter of a tugboat fisherman, she told SurfWriter Girls she is fascinated by the sea.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Make Way For Spring!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Ka-pow! Bam! Boom!
Spring is in bloom.
Flowers everywhere.
Birds flying here and there.
Bright colors all around.
Air filled with birds’ happy sounds.
Each brand new sprout
pushing winter out.
Time to plant. Time to sing.
Time to all welcome spring!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Meet the Brophys!
Brophy Gallery, San Clemente
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Brophy Gallery in the rustic SoCal beach town of San Clemente is instantly recognizable by the colorful van parked in front.
With a welcoming patio and large windows open to the street, it beckons you inside to a dazzling world of oceans and suns painted on large canvasses and gleaming surfboards.
It’s here that surf artist Drew Brophy and his wife Maria bring artistic fantasies to life.
A warren of rooms filled with mounted artworks, painted surfboards, work and gathering spaces, the gallery is more than a showcase for Brophy’s art.
It’s a tranquil place to work, contemplate and spend time with family and friends. Close to the ocean, like the art inside, it is dynamic and filled with energy – bathed in sunlight on some days and covered in fog on others.
To see more about the Brophys, click on: Brophy
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
2019 Color of the Year Is Living Coral
Pantone Celebrates Nature’s Beauty
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Pantone Color Institute‘s Color of the Year for 2019 is Living Coral – a life-affirming, bright coral hue that energizes and enlivens our surroundings.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are excited to see that an ocean color is center stage again with this year’s choice – Living Coral. Last year’s top color (picked by Sherwin-Williams) was Oceanside blue.
Picking the Color of the Year isn’t easy. “A global team of color experts combs the world looking for new color influences,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of Pantone Color Institute. These could come from the entertainment industry, art, fashion, travel destinations, social media and more.
Pressman described Living Coral as “a color of carefree happiness that symbolizes our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits. It is a color we see in nature. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, it is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of nature’s colors and serve as a source of sustenance and shelter to sea life.”
Complementing the colors found under the sea, Living Coral pairs well with blues, greens, yellows and pinks.
So, let’s add the joyful colors of the world’s coral reefs to our lives and celebrate nature’s beauty!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Season’s Gurton!
By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Gurton’s warm bed by the fire was inviting,
but the city outside was too exciting.
Leaping through the window, he went on his way,
eager to explore his City by the Bay.
Holiday vendors were selling their wares.
Chestnuts were roasting in Ghiradelli Square.
Boats in the harbor bobbed when the wind blows.
The streets were lined with lighted windows.
Gurton heard carolers singing,
cable car bells ringing.
Wherever he looked, there was so much to see.
The Transamerica Tower just like a Christmas tree!
When he finally reached home
his food bowl was waiting and he wasn’t alone.
Contentedly stretched out on the floor,
Gurton had much to be thankful for.
Season’s Gurton to all!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
******************************************************************
Much to be Thankful For
Written by SurfWriter GIrls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
We have much to be thankful for.
Family and friends at the door.
The Thanksgiving table set for more.
A delicious feast and treats galore.
Rooting for your team to score.
The oceans, beach and shore.
A beautiful world to explore.
So much to be thankful for.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Autumn Is Here!
by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
After summer says good-bye
autumn leaves start to fly,
blanketing the ground
in orange, gold and brown.
Dazzling sands and brilliant blues
give way to softer hues
and fall’s harvest weather
brings friends together.
Birds start on their quests,
mice are happy in their nests.
And now you and I
can have some apple pie.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Gurton On The Go!
by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
From the hills of San Francisco to the harbor down below
Gurton moves quickly, always on the go.
Traveling by the stars.
Dodging cable cars.
There are streets and alleys to explore,
fragrant gardens and busy stores.
With sleek, black fur and feline grace,
he roams from Chinatown to Marketplace.
Tail swishing and green eyes glowing bright,
Gurton watches the city day and night,
mysterious and unnoticed,
a phantom in the mist.
*************************************
Gurton lives in the City by the Bay with his human and cat family, the Garbers.
An adventurer at heart, you never know where he is going to turn up.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Sunrise with You
A Poem for Greg
by Patti Kishel
Greg opened the window on an amazing view,
purples and reds of every hue.
The morning sky was all aglow
with a panoramic show.
Together we shared the dazzling sight,
the sun rising to push back the night.
The colorful moment soon faded away,
but the vivid memory is here to stay.
Fresh, vibrant and true,
like my love for you.
Greg, Happy Anniversary! – July 1st
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Riding the Waves of Life
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Riding the waves of life
there’s joy and strife,
ups and downs,
twists and turnarounds.
The tides go in and out
while sea gulls fly about
and surfers at the break
choose which waves to take.
The sea is vast and open,
a dazzling blue ocean
filled with people, places, voices,
a lifetime of choices.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Shore Stories
Films Build Public Awareness
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Thanks to the power of film – six films – you can find out about the impact offshore drilling is having on the environment.
Oceana, the Surfrider Foundation, and other environmental organizations focused on protecting waterways, oceans, waves and beaches, have been hosting free screenings of Shore Stories in local communities throughout the country.
This collection of six films, curated by Working Films and allied organizations, highlights the grassroots reaction to offshore drilling taking place across the United States.
The Stories are told by a diverse group of people – surfers, fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, and others.
Find out what everyone is talking about!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
************************************************************************************
Blue Hue for 2018!
Sherwin-Williams Picks Beach Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
When it comes to colors, Life is a Beach in 2018.
Sherwin-Williams, the leader in paint and home materials, made news when it announced its Color of the Year – Oceanside – “a collision of rich blue with jewel-toned green.”
The marine-inspired color provides “a harmonious balance of blues and greens that makes a welcoming statement,” says the company.
What’s more, it can also “boost creative thinking and clarity of thought.”
What’s not to like in that? Architectural Digest calls Oceanside “a fun, bold choice.” The magazine notes that “the shade plays well with other colors” and recommends “going bold with corals and yellows or pairing it with calming shades of blue.”
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are stoked about the new color (SW 6496) because we love blues and greens. And the beach vibe is a definite winner.
So, now’s the time to color your world in beautiful Oceanside blue and start channeling all your positive energies.
When it comes to mixing colors, it’s all up to you!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
***********************************************************************************
Andy Warhol – Environmentally Yours
Flower Power And More!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Andy Warhol’s paintings of soup cans, Marilyn Monroe and other pop icons are legendary – images that transformed their subjects and changed the way we see art.
But, there is another less-known side to Warhol’s art that shows his love for nature and commitment to protecting the environment.
Warhol did many paintings of flowers, plants and animals and a critically-acclaimed Endangered Species series.
Speaking out on behalf of the natural world, Warhol said, “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own.”
Warhol, a Pittsburgh native and adopted New Yorker more accustomed to city life, often escaped to his rustic Long Island retreat. It was a special place for him where he could see unadorned beauty and find new sources of inspiration.
In drawing attention to the environment and leaving his retreat as a nature preserve for future generations to enjoy, Warhol, who died in 1987, left a living legacy.
Ultimately, with tens of thousands of paintings to his credit, one of Warhol’s best works of art isn’t on canvas at all, but in the untouched land he left behind.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Wildflowers Wow the Crowds!
CA Awash in Sea of Color
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
California’s wildflowers are putting on a dazzling show. Up and down the state the hills are alive with the vibrant colors of flowers.
Thousands of people a day are turning out to see Mother Nature’s colorful display!
At the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve near Lancaster SurfWriter Girls friends Mario Conti and Sarah Burt had their cameras ready to capture the moment.
Their results are striking, bringing to mind the Impressionist paintings of Claude Monet and the glorious flowers of Georgia O’Keeffe.
The wildflowers are definitely a sight to see!
If you go, remember to stay on the foot trails and don’t tromp on the flowers.
Park rangers are asking everyone to be careful to avoid crushing the flowers’ petals and stems.
Please don’t stomp,
Roll or romp.
Let the flowers be
For all to see.
That way we all can enjoy these living masterpieces.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is give.
*************************************************************************
Springtime Wishes for Lesley
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
After months of rain and snow
it’s time for winter to go.
Time to fill the day’s hours
with sunshine and flowers.
For Lesley in Sammamish,
this is our wish:
Warm, vibrant Washington days,
dropping in to Seattle’s cafés.
An end to cold and flu,
a lovely spring for you.
*******************************
Steve & Lesley Meredith at the Empress Hotel on Vancouver Island.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Treasure Life’s Little Things!
Sunrise to Sunset
Written by Norma Sellers
Someone once told me to live for the little things in life.
Live for the 5 a.m. sunrises and the 5 p.m. sunsets where you’ll see colors in the sky that usually don’t belong.
Live for the road trips and bike rides with music in your ears and wind blowing in your hair.
Live for the days when you’re surrounded by your favorite people who make you realize that the world is not a cold, harsh place.
Live for the little things because they will make you realize that this is what life is really about.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Beaches Book Gives Bird’s Eye View!
Gray Malin’s Amazing Aerial Images
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the color photos in Gray Malin’s new book Beaches are worth 10,000 words.
Taken from a helicopter with Malin literally hanging out the open doorway to get them, the 125 color photographs provide a view from above that’s normally reserved for birds.
Los Angeles-based photographer Malin spent five years working on the book and photographing beaches from Sydney, Australia to Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
With stunning aerial photos from around the world and six continents, the book’s unique perspective turns beaches into colorful motifs and abstract patterns that look like they could have been painted by Mondrian or David Hockney.
For a day at the beach unlike any other you have experienced, settle in with Malin’s beautiful book and enjoy the vibrant images.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Summertime
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Hot, sandy summer days.
Cool, blue ocean waves.
Surfboard waxed.
Beach bag packed.
Hamburgers and chocolate malts.
Margaritas rimmed with salt.
Work’s on hold.
Carefree days unfold.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Signs of Spring
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Skies are a brilliant blue.
The ocean is, too.
Flowers glisten with dew.
Sprouts pop into view.
Birds chirp on cue.
The Earth begins to renew.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
NATURE IMITATES ART
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
They say, “Life imitates art.” Well, it turns out that nature imitates art, too.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel’s friend Beverly Biber sent these amazing nature photos that definitely warrant a second look. It’s almost as if they were painted by an artist’s hand.
“Where’s E.T.? He phoned home, but we can’t find him.”
Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.
“Up on your toes!”
Just the thing for a December bride. “Kiss me!”
Everything’s ducky.
“Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees!” “Polly wants a cracker!”
“Earthlings, Mothra has come to eat all your clothes!”
“You’ve got the cutest little baby face.”
“Let’s dance!”
Nature is the art of God. – Dante
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Cowabunga!
Cows Dive In!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
In surfing the web, SurfWriter Girls discovered some adventurous and playful cows created by Irish photographer, artist, author and video director Arthur Browne.
Based in Dublin, the multi-talented Browne has a great sense of humor and a quirky way of observing the world around us.
Browne’s cows are ready for anything…and love the water!
To see more of Browne’s work, just go to his website: Pouring My Art Out
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Summer is Meow Time
Cats Stake Claim at Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Now that summer’s here people aren’t the only ones heading to the beach. SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel discovered that, for some kool kitties, water is the cat’s meow.
The next time you hit the beach and think you’re the first one there…look again. You might be in for a surprise.
Beach Cats
Early in the morning at Huntington Beach,
Under the pier far from reach,
Slowly the cats begin coming out,
Twitching their whiskers and dancing about.
Rested and hungry from their long naps,
Sniffing the air for fishermen’s scraps,
The cats frolic in the tide
Long before any surfers catch a ride.
Quiet, except for hisses and meows,
Without its cover of colorful towels,
Bright umbrellas and tatami mats,
The beach belongs to the cats.
~SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel ©
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*************************************************************************
Birdsong for Spring
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
From the forests to the sea,
From a flower or a tree,
The birds sing for you; the birds sing for me.
From high in the sky,
From a branch nearby,
The birds sing hello; the birds sing good-bye.
From the earliest morning light,
From the darkest time of night,
The birds sing we’re here; the world is all right.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
*******************************************************
“Haiku to You”
Surf City Haiku Reflections
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
A perfect wave break.
Sand and sea in harmony
in Huntington Beach.
At dawn the seagulls
fly past the sun’s horizon.
The new day is here.
Walking on the pier
early in the morning mist
just the seagulls watch.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Cute and clever!
Count me in for Spring and Summer. Yes, this is why we pay the high cost of living in Southern California.