RON HENGGELER

October 28, 2017
Patrick Amiot sculptures in Sebastopol, Bodega & Bodega Bay, Sonoma Coast State Park, and a book launch and reading of Stories from the Left Coast in Occidental

Last Sunday, Dave and I took a road-trip up north into Sonoma to attend a book-reading and signing in Occidental.

A friend of mine Bev Riverwood, is part of a women writer's group in Occidental, a small community located in the midst of a scented

old redwoood forest near the Russian River.

They've recently published selections of their work in a book titled Stories from the Left Coast. A photo of mine was used on the cover of the book.

Here are photos from our road trip on Sunday into the wine country.

Sunrise from my window

 

 

A detail, in the round room at home

A detail, in the round room at home

 

in the round room at home

above the fridge

A detail, at the windows overlooking the back yard

A detail, near the computer

A detail, just inside the front door at home (the jar on the left is filled with broken glass shards from the old Sutro Baths)

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol

Autumn on display on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol, California

 

Metal sculpture by Patrick Amiot displayed on Bodega Avenue in Sebastopol, California

Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Bodega, California

The white wooden church with a steeple sits on a hilltop above the small rural town of Bodega.   Jasper O’Farrell, for whom O’Farrell Street in San Francisco is named, donated the redwood lumber and a lot from his 1843 Mexican Land Grant, Rancho Estero Americano, to construct the church.  Legend has the church built by New England shipbuilding carpenters in 1860.  Upon completion the lot and church were deeded as a gift from John O'Farrell (Jasper’s brother) to Archbishop Alemany of San Francisco.  The Archbishop dedicated the church in Bodega on June 2, 1862 under the name of Saint Teresa de Avila, patron saint of Jasper O’Farrell’s sister.  A young French-Italian priest, Father Louis Rossi, was appointed pastor.

Saint Teresa of Avila Featured in Alfred Hitchcock's “THE BIRDS”

The Birds is a 1963 suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on the 1952 story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. Saint Teresa of Avila is located directly next to the Bodega Schoolhouse, which was the setting for the schoolhouse scene in Alfred Hichcock’s film The Birds. The Church can be seen in the film.  Hitchcock attended services during the filming. History of St. Teresa of Avila Church

Below is a link to an interesting history of St. Teresa of Avila Church that includes early documents from the 1860s and biographies of the people who the stained glass widows of the church are dedicated to.

Download File

The Bodega schoolhouse that appears in Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds

The scene on YouTube

Saint Teresa of Avila Featured in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

The church was also photographed by Ansel Adams.

For more inofrmation, see:

Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Bodega, California

A mannequin of Tippi Hedren outside the General Store in Bodega, California.

Bodega's schoolhouse and church appear in Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds.

Here's Tippi trapped in the phone booth in The Birds.

 

A mannequin of Alfred Hitchcock in front of the General Store in Bodega, California

Bodega, California

A view at THE TIDES on Bodega Bay

In the parking lot of THE TIDES on Bodega Bay

A view at THE TIDES on Bodega Bay, made famous by appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds

A view at THE TIDES on Bodega Bay, made famous by appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds

Here's Tippi Hedren crossing Bodega Bay in a boat

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Russian River

The mural on the side of the Occidental Center for the Arts. 

It was painted by David Gordon.

Four years ago, nine women created a writers’ sanctuary of freedom, acceptance, and encouragement. Out came notebooks of writing and poetry to be employed in further meditation, creative exploration, and discovery. The women faced down internal and external critics and jointly they've now published a book, Stories from the Left Coast.

Noel Bouck - scientist, community organizer, writer
Helen Caswell - writer, painter
Meryl Krause - lawyer, writer
Blythe Klein - musician, singer
Jana Lane - activist, writer
Janet Langton - attorney, writer
Alexis Lorenz - activist, realtor, writer
Diane Masura - tile setter, community organizer, writer
Bev Riverwood - activist, writer

My photo of the Labyrinth at Lands End in San Francisco was used for the cover of the book.

Bev Riverwood introduces the book at the Occidental Center for the Arts.

The Solstice Singers sing “Circle Round for Freedom” to open the program. Circles are important to them as an archetypal symbol of safety and wisdom.  (The Solstice Singers specialize in seasonal songs from the earth-based spiritual practices.)

Beverly Riverwood reads her selection from the “Childhood” section of the book.  It’s about how she first met Kuan Yin at the age of 10 in the Dayton (Ohio) Museum and found a friend for life.

Meryl Krause describes her dad, the flamboyant Judge Krause from Cleveland, Ohio.

Noel Bouck, who as a cancer researcher, wrote only science articles, talks about the arrival of her little brother, Jimmy. 

The Solstice Singers celebrate the angels watching over us, especially during childhood.

Diane Masura explains a sudden surprise when she saw a sweet old woman grab a pigeon off the sidewalk to eat for dinner. This is in the Coming of Age Section.

Bev Riverwood reads from Helen Caswell’s coming of age novel, “Scared.” This excerpt describes how the young heroine, Daisy, escapes a forest fire by hiding in a cave behind a waterfall. It’s an exciting book.

 

The audience at Sunday afternoon's book launch at the Occidental Center for the Arts.

Rock singer Blythe Klein and Musician Gordon Stubbe perform “Paperback Writer,” and “Bookends” to celebrate the birth of the book.

Another shot of Blythe and Gordon. Blythe contributed to the book but preferred to enliven the show with music.

The women writers on stage for the reading noticed that I was photographing them through a splay of peacock feathers set near the edge of the stage.

 

 

Alexis Lorenz reads an excerpt from a surf fishing adventure on the Bodega Coast.

More of the coast. Alexis also took the photos that accompany her reading.

Noel Bouch. Scientist,  reads an excerpt from her hilarious treatise on the power of clothing. “Blouses” expounds on the secret meanings of clothing purchases.

Noel Bouch. Scientist,  reads an excerpt from her “Blouses”.

Diane Masura reads about her engineering education and its perils to life and health. 

Diane Masura reads about her engineering education and its perils to life and health. As a young student, she was once sent out to climb a giant tower as a JOKE.  They never expected anyone to do it, but she did, and then shocked them by getting to the highest and most dangerous part. 

Meryl Krause reads a poem about her years of living in Australia.

Meryl Krause reads a poem about her worship of the Goddess of Love.

Meryl Krause reads from a poem about the sacred redwood trees that live on her property.   

Alexis Lorenz talks about our connection to Elizabeth Warren and her slogan "Nevertheless She Persisted." 

The card from Senator Elizabeth Warren to Alexis Lorenz

Alexis Lorenz reading a very short poem about a prodigious orange she recently encountered.

Bev Riverwood reads “Revenge on Saturday Morning” about her desire to punish her neighbor for stalking and shooting her pets. The constant shooting was finally stopped by a court order.

Blythe Klein and Gordon Stubbe perform Blythe’s composition “Be a Man, Put Down Your Guns.” The song is on her CD “Into the Light” and was added into the “Wisdom” section of the book Stories from the Left Coast.

The Solstice Singers sing the old Irish favorite “The Parting Glass.” A blessing on the kind and appreciative audience.

A recent photo of the participating readers – Diane, Bev, Meryl, Alexis and Noel. It’s difficult to get them all together at once. They have busy schedules as we are all still working and doing community organizing as well.

Another attempt to capture the elusive writers at Alexis’ home in Bodega Bay. Alexis stands next to their expatriot Janet L Langton and the elusive Jana Lane, who could not be prevailed upon to read her incredible fiction sections.

The founding member of the writers group, Helen Caswell, who is now 94, was in the house, but not on stage. In the photo on the screen she is with Bev Riverwood.

Left to right, Diane Masura, Bev Riverwood, Meryl Krause, Alexi Lorenz, and Noel Bouck.

 

Left to right, Diane Masura, Bev Riverwood, Meryl Krause, Alexi Lorenz, and Noel Bouck (with Helen Caswell on screen).

Stories from the Left Coast can be found in local bookstores or ordered online at: Booklocker.com

Jazz the cat next to my 1915 Underwood typewriter

Jazz the cat keeping watch of me at the computer

Jazz the cat

 

Newsletters Index: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006

Photography Index  | Graphics Index | History Index

Home | Gallery | About Me | Links | Contact

© 2017 All rights reserved
The images are not in the public domain. They are the sole property of the artist and may not be reproduced on the Internet, sold, altered, enhanced, modified by artificial, digital or computer imaging or in any other form without the express written permission of the artist. Non-watermarked copies of photographs on this site can be purchased by contacting Ron.