Monday, April 4, 2011

Spring: In like a lion, out like a lamb!

Hello friends, here is April's monthly WORD, and for my new friends who are not familiar with my blog, WORD is an acronym for Welch On Rice Diary. 
March was busy and April is proving to be even more so.
L-R: Marvin, Diane, Inge

Personal Rice Home Tour
Marvin and Inge in front of the Bingham home


While I prayed for sunshine on March 24, after a few days of unsettled weather that included a hail storm on my birthday, March 21st, mother nature did not disappoint with a sunny day as I gave a personal guided tour of Rice homes in Rancho Santa Fe, to Inge Horton (author of “Early Women Architects of the San Francisco Bay Area”) and her husband, Marvin. The day was glorious and we soaked up the architectural ambiance of several Rice cottages, commercial buildings, and two beautiful estate homes. 

We had three interior tours thanks to the generosity of the respective home owners of the former Ralph and Belle Claggett home on Via de Santa Fe; the Chester and Cornelia Bristol home on Via del Alba, and the Hamilton Carpenter Home on La Valle Plateada.

Claggett home interior. Photo by Bertocchini Photography

Exterior Hamilton Carpenter home. Photo by Darren Edwards

Exterior Chester and Cornelia Bristol home. Photo by Gary Conaughton

 
Four days later I presented my DVD documentary, “Lilian J. Rice: Sincerely Yours” to our friends at La Vida Del Mar, in Del Mar. My excitement was piqued by the introduction to a lovely gentleman in the audience, Bob, who was a draftsman for George Chandler Hatch, a famed architect, a graduate of MIT, and friend of architect, Bill Krisel. Hatch worked in Lilian Rice's Rancho Santa Fe office while the San Dieguito Union High School was being designed. I'm looking forward to future conversations with Bob about Hatch and his role in San Diego architecture.

I received word recently that Molly McClain, associate professor at USD, has reviewed my book, “Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California [Schiffer] for inclusion in the next volume of the San Diego History Center's, The Journal of San Diego. When we last spoke, Molly had read the book and was appreciative of my efforts and gave me positive feedback. I'll post a link to the journal when it is published.


ZLAC on the bay. Photo by Diane Y. Welch

ZLAC clubhouse and gardens. Photo by Paul Body Photo









By coincidence, Molly is also a member of ZLAC Rowing Club. Thanks to her prompt intervention I am looking forward to a May presentation on Lilian Rice, at the clubhouse in Pacific Beach. Lilian Rice was on Crew IV, was president in 1915 and commodore in 1916, and designed the new boat and clubhouse in 1932.

In the news

Last week in the San Diego Union Tribune, Linda Macintosh published details on the upcoming April 16th Escondido self-guided Garden Tour to benefit the Escondido History Center. On the tour are two Rice designed homes. One owned by the Hillebrechts and the other by the Lievers. It's not too late to get tickets, only $12.50 if purchased ahead and $15 if  purchased on the day at any one of the tour gardens. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic in the serene beauty of Escondido's hidden treasures. Click on the link to find out more.

The adobe built Hillebrecht ranch home. Photo by Gary Conaughton

Events

On Monday, April 18, I will present to the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary weekly meeting at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. I am so looking forward to the lecture as I am always so warmly received by Rotarians.

On Friday, April 29, I will attend Schiffer Publishing's author meet and greet in Los Angeles. And the next day Paul and I will go to the famed Los Angeles book Fair.

Giving back

As many of you know the lectures I give around San Diego county are done so with no funding or support and are free to attendees. The reason is that it is my mission to spread the word about Lilian Rice with as many people as I can. I believe that Lilian J. Rice is a national treasure and should be recognized as such.

On April 17, I will take part in a six author panel at La Costa Resort and Spa to benefit Childhelp. I have donated  an autographed book and a percentage of my proceeds to the charity that helps children who are the victims of child abuse. I'm looking forward to the event.

As the price of gas escalates it is making an impact on the pocket book, as such I am always looking for sponsors, who could support my cause in return for visibility for their business. So if you know of any organization or company that wishes to partner with me to facilitate these lectures, please contact me.

What's ahead?

The month of May sees more lectures, a book fair at the Solana Beach Library, and a presentation on my Del Mar Fairgrounds book for the San Dieguito Newcomers Club. Thanks for stopping by friends of LJR.

As always, I welcome your comments and ideas.

Warmly,

Diane