'R' FOR 'ROBIN'

Ardenwood Historic Farm was named after a forest
area described in Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It'. 

On Sunday I saw an American robin for the first time in my life. I saw it in a dream place. It is called 'Ardenwood Historic Farm' and is located in Fremont, on the way to Palo Alto. The farm takes its name from the William Shakepeare's play: 'As you like it'. I also saw a peacock and a ram for the first time. Big butteflies I had never seen before. These animals were all so close I could touch them.  

I was so happy to see robins hopping on the ground freely and confident in their own habitat. They live with other 99 species of birds spotted in the Ardenwood historic farm. Robins here are definitely in good company. 

I told the robins there that I have dedicated a few of my posts to them. I told them that I love them. I added that in Italy they are called 'red brests', pettirosso. I said that their cousins over in Europe are slightly different and do not lay blue eggs. However they are called the same: Robins. 

Hardenwood Historic Farm is huge. It's beautiful. I would live there. 

Ardenwood founder was George Patterson, an American 49er who came to California in search of gold. He ended up getting rich by way of the hard work coming from his art: farming. What a beautiful story! 
                          

George Patterson came to California with a dream like many other Americans in that time: finding gold. He ended up making his fortune with his own art: farming. This is the Patterson's family home. It's now part of the East Bay Regional Park District. 

To know more about 'Ardenwood Historic Farm' visit: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
                                                                           

American Robin 

ROAR STANDS FOR ROBIN:  My new series of posts is inspired by my name: Roberta. In the United States Robin is the most common name variation for Roberta.

Robin's new borns
This is what I mean by roar. So sweet!

       

American Robin's eggs 

                          

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"C" for "COLORS"

The symbols of peace (dove) 

and plenty (cat).

Peace is on top of plenty.

Last year I found out something interesting regarding the family crest of an Italian noble family of the area in which I am currently living.  It is important to me because it is related to colors and their meaning.

heraldic dove 

The family crest is divided into two horizontal parts: the upper blue background is on top of the red part, wrapped by a classical gold/yellow ribbon. By looking at the family crest I suddenly felt I could relate to the colors on a personal level: blue for the color of my father's eyes and red for the family's workshop floor at Cama's. 

                                      

The family crest on a fresco surrounded by Renaissance grotesques. 

Heraldic cat
(Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License)

It is thanks to the crest's symbols, the dove and the cat, that I understood the meaning of its colors: blue stands for peace  (a dove carrying an olive sprig), and red stands for abundance (a walking cat with a majestic head).  Indeed the sign of a well-fed cat is indicative of wealth whereas the dove is an international symbol of peace. 

But there is more to it. By studying the relationship between peace and abundance, I also discovered that in mythology peace accompanies plenty, the two allegories are described and painted together. In classical ages, events happened through the action of couples, just like the sparkle of love!

This is my free interpretation of the family crest by looking at it through the eyes of my experience, the colors of my time at Cama, and Renaissance symbolism. I hope you are enjoying my discoveries with me. 

Tiffany Blue or 'Robin's Egg Blue'

One of the pastel shades of red: candy pink

note: I am learning with this post that the American Robin lays blue eggs. This color is called 'Robin's egg blue'. It's better known as Tiffany blue. I love this color! 

This is my fourth post of short stories entitled "Cake Stands for Cama": stories about my favorites starting with "C".  I hope you enjoyed it!

                                                                    

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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