Mugu Point, the Gettys and walking with wolves

Mugu Point, LA and the Wolf Connection

We've left the desert, the 90° temps and the eighteen hours of sun for 50°s, clouds and fog, a green landscape, the ocean and people. Lots of people. This was supposed a time for frolicking at the beach, as well as revisiting a couple of our favorite museums. We staunchly braved a couple of hours at the beach on the one afternoon with a bit of sun … but there wasn't much frolicking. Mostly we just wrapped ourselves up in blankets and turned into contortionists trying to position our backs to the wind, our faces toward the ocean and our bodies toward the sun. Haha!

We spent one day at the Getty Museum and another at the Getty Villa. I love the museum, the architectural lines of the buildings, gardens and water features are all in shades of white and are mesmerizing. I could spend hours just looking at those without even viewing the art. The collections are magnificent, from the Dutch Masters Vermeer and Rembrandt to the Impressionists Monet, Manet and Van Gogh with plenty of Rubens, Renoirs and even a Titian sprinkled in. The whole experience is incredible and magnified when one considers the effect these artists have had on not only the people around them or in their town or city but in the world for generations. I feel very fortunate to be able to see these works of art in a setting like this and experience them for myself. Martin prefers the Getty Villa. It is a reproduction of a Roman villa set on the Malibu hillside. It contains many ancient pieces, mosaics and more lovely gardens. It housed Getty's art collection before the museum was built.

How generous of JP Getty to create these spaces and share his collection with the public.

However, in the back of my mind … I'm saying to myself, all that money … and it came from oil which, of course, we now know is/has done a number on our planet. I support the arts, I love the arts but I also support healthcare, vaccine development, education, food and shelter for the hungry and homeless and coming up with ways to protect our planet from climate change. So maybe if you're one of the richest men in the world you can spend some of your money on your passion, in this case, art, and some of your money on a cause or a mission to do good, to pay back for good fortune, to give thanks, to try to leave the world a better place??? Just a thought. It would at least assuage my conscience as I experience these moving, exquisite masterpieces.

Then for something completely different, we moved to Castaic Lake so we could attend a program at the Wolf Connection, walking with wolves. A quick injection re the weather, then right back to the wolves. We had crossed over a mountain range so the temps were back in the 90°s. 🤷oi vey!

Have I mentioned lately how lucky, how fortunate, how blessed I feel to have Martin for a husband? He has meticulously researched and planned for this multi-year adventure. Finding all these interesting things, then asking me if I'd like to try it out or not. This is my roundabout way of getting back to the wolves. We had a most amazing experience with grizzly bears and wolves at Yellowstone NP last summer. No, you haven't forgotten, I haven't told you yet … it's in one of the "missing blogs" that I haven't written yet from our adventures last year. 🙄

Anyway, after that experience he found this and wanted to know if I wanted to go. Of course! The Wolf Connection is a non-profit wolf and wolfdog rescue that focuses on calming positive healing not only for the wolves but also for people who have experienced some sort of trauma, rejection or challenge.

For clarification, a wolfdog is an animal that is the result of a wolf and dog breeding and has a mix of genetic traits.

While it is against the law to mix breed, some people do it. Many of the wolves arrive in need of both mental and physical support to become well. The Wolf Connection doesn't turn down any rescue and they keep the animal for the rest of its life. It was a great experience, and I kept thinking how much my niece, Sonya, would have loved it. And yes, we not only met the wolves in their pens, a couple came into the circle to meet us and we did about a mile walk with four of the wolves. The wolves that didn't get to go started howling. That was both cool and a little creepy to hear 20 some odd wolves howling not far from you!

On to pics

Strolling on the beach with friends.

Do you think it realizes how much bigger it is? Reminds me of my adolescent years. Haha.

I believe this is a long billed curlew, but it might be a whimbrel

In flight

Surf!

Seagulls line up

Pelicans

The Getty Museum

A Rembrandt, the textures and light are stunning

"An old man in military costume"

This woman's face captivated me, but I don't remember the artist.

"Jeanne (Spring)" by Manet

"Irises" by Van Gogh

Some of the flowers around the grounds.

The Getty Villa

Harp player

Cycladic art, 2700 - 2300 BC.

One of the many water features around the Villa.

Hummingbird having a drink in the fountain.

Mosaics

Woman with earring.

I liked the juxtaposition of the earring against the dark sculpture.

The winged foot. (I wonder if I could strap that on to help get me up some of the mountains when hiking? Like the assist from ebikes, only they'd be wboots (winged boots). 🤔😂😂😂

The outdoor hallways, many interior hallways and walls featured trompe l'oeil painting, (faux finishing and painting). There was also intricate tile work on the floors.

An ancient mosaic

another water feature

Flowers from the gardens

Many beautiful irises in bloom. To my niece, Becky Sue, these pics are especially for you ❤️

water lilly

Yarrow and mustard

A fun spot for dinner. Also a long history of filming in this beautiful little spot. There was actually some filming going on while we were there for dinner.