Cindy O’Dell
@cmodell.bsky.social
Former journalist, happily retired, writing about this and that on Substack, playing lots of tennis and trying to make sense of it all. Find me on Substack at https://cindy613b6.substack.com
Busy: Leaves only assignment before and after ikebana class; floating egrets; the beauty around every corner at Huntington Gardens; Friends of the Library luncheon with updates from library staff; gnarly bark; and first try at a pottery mug. #sevendayssevenphotos
January 31, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Busy: Leaves only assignment before and after ikebana class; floating egrets; the beauty around every corner at Huntington Gardens; Friends of the Library luncheon with updates from library staff; gnarly bark; and first try at a pottery mug. #sevendayssevenphotos
I drove near a high school in South Orange County, CA (not known as a bastion of radicalism) today and the street corners were full of students waving “no more ICE” etc. signs. Honestly, it made me tear up with pride. #thekidsareallright
January 31, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I drove near a high school in South Orange County, CA (not known as a bastion of radicalism) today and the street corners were full of students waving “no more ICE” etc. signs. Honestly, it made me tear up with pride. #thekidsareallright
Only leaves Sogestsu Ikebana. @ikebana @sogetsu
January 28, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Only leaves Sogestsu Ikebana. @ikebana @sogetsu
A respite from the news: Sometimes you just have to spend some time with flowers or admiring busy hummingbirds or a slightly foggy walk to find a little peace among the chaos. Trying very hard not to strike Shadow’s response to “Let’s go.”#sevendayssevenphotos
January 25, 2026 at 11:16 PM
A respite from the news: Sometimes you just have to spend some time with flowers or admiring busy hummingbirds or a slightly foggy walk to find a little peace among the chaos. Trying very hard not to strike Shadow’s response to “Let’s go.”#sevendayssevenphotos
Eye catchers: Renka ikebana; morning light through trees; evening light; symbolic F bombshell — handy when reading the news; book group book and food; pink clouds; new trail shoes. #sevendayssevenphotos
January 17, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Eye catchers: Renka ikebana; morning light through trees; evening light; symbolic F bombshell — handy when reading the news; book group book and food; pink clouds; new trail shoes. #sevendayssevenphotos
Beige, brown and a splash of color: Days of rain and mud gave way to high winds and reddening sky. Meanwhile a little furniture rearranging; pottery to glaze and climbing squirrel. #sevendayssevenphotos #photography #california
January 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Beige, brown and a splash of color: Days of rain and mud gave way to high winds and reddening sky. Meanwhile a little furniture rearranging; pottery to glaze and climbing squirrel. #sevendayssevenphotos #photography #california
We're almost the same age! What an inspiration.
The Hero We Need Now
How a tiny 75-year-old woman stood up to Kristi Noem’s goons.
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We're almost the same age! What an inspiration.
Heading to the holidays: Choir party; curious husky and Snoopy, too; beautiful wreath from my sister; dog treats from the crossing guard; gifts from FOL bookstore patron; pumpkin cheese cake at Prego to cap a tennis party meal planned by Chef Ugo; Stephanie and “Santa.” #aweekofphotos #photography
December 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Heading to the holidays: Choir party; curious husky and Snoopy, too; beautiful wreath from my sister; dog treats from the crossing guard; gifts from FOL bookstore patron; pumpkin cheese cake at Prego to cap a tennis party meal planned by Chef Ugo; Stephanie and “Santa.” #aweekofphotos #photography
Nice end to November: Time with my birthday boy; a gift poinsettia; my favorite couple; ritual turkey carving; late afternoon walk; flying ikebana arrangement; biscuit and jam. #aweekofphotos #photography
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Nice end to November: Time with my birthday boy; a gift poinsettia; my favorite couple; ritual turkey carving; late afternoon walk; flying ikebana arrangement; biscuit and jam. #aweekofphotos #photography
Wild and sometimes wonderful: It’s a little damp out there; coyote spotting; fog; clouds; raindrops; glorious sunset; cool leaves. #aweekofphotos #photography
November 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Wild and sometimes wonderful: It’s a little damp out there; coyote spotting; fog; clouds; raindrops; glorious sunset; cool leaves. #aweekofphotos #photography
Random sightings: My neighbor’s always changing “most interesting” man; California autumn natives; my finished if imperfect knitting projects; sunset; clouds and a nearly full moon in the morning. #aweekofphotos #photography
November 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Random sightings: My neighbor’s always changing “most interesting” man; California autumn natives; my finished if imperfect knitting projects; sunset; clouds and a nearly full moon in the morning. #aweekofphotos #photography
Ready for their closeups: Bougainvillea blossom; passion flower; Western fence lizard; tropical hibiscus; India hawthorn berries; Sycamore leaf; unidentified berry. #aweekofphotos #photography
November 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Ready for their closeups: Bougainvillea blossom; passion flower; Western fence lizard; tropical hibiscus; India hawthorn berries; Sycamore leaf; unidentified berry. #aweekofphotos #photography
Creatures great and small: My dog Shadow making herself small; the genuinely small Baxter; praying mantis;geese; ibis; handsome medium-sized Indie; tiny sparrow on a fence. #aweekofphotos #photography
October 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Creatures great and small: My dog Shadow making herself small; the genuinely small Baxter; praying mantis;geese; ibis; handsome medium-sized Indie; tiny sparrow on a fence. #aweekofphotos #photography
Scary, not scary: Autumn sunset; Halloween decorations; the best San Francisco tour guides you could ever want (my son and daughter-in-law); Halloween reading a the FOL bookstore; pretty pumpkin; Victorian ghosts; moon-illuminated clouds. #aweekofphotos #photography
October 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Scary, not scary: Autumn sunset; Halloween decorations; the best San Francisco tour guides you could ever want (my son and daughter-in-law); Halloween reading a the FOL bookstore; pretty pumpkin; Victorian ghosts; moon-illuminated clouds. #aweekofphotos #photography
The pleasure of learning something extends beyond a new skill, especially when you find examples everywhere. #ikebana #ceramics #asianart #nature
Ikebana in the wild
One of the things about taking art or craft lessons is the way it changes your perspective.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Signage, random sign.
San Francisco!
San Francisco!
October 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Signage, random sign.
San Francisco!
San Francisco!
Shades of October: Perfect weather in San Francisco plus the other side of cable cars and delicious food (a pair of financiers capping amazing dinner at Routier) meanwhile pomegranates, knitted and baked pumpkins and crows on the lookout. #aweekofphotos #photography
October 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Shades of October: Perfect weather in San Francisco plus the other side of cable cars and delicious food (a pair of financiers capping amazing dinner at Routier) meanwhile pomegranates, knitted and baked pumpkins and crows on the lookout. #aweekofphotos #photography
Flying into fall: Southern California may not have a classic fall but it never lacks for color (or welcomed imports) including plumeria, Nandi Flame, hibiscus, sunlit snails, Mexican bush sage, crimson fountain grass and high flying crows. #aweekofphotos #photography #fallcolor
September 28, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Flying into fall: Southern California may not have a classic fall but it never lacks for color (or welcomed imports) including plumeria, Nandi Flame, hibiscus, sunlit snails, Mexican bush sage, crimson fountain grass and high flying crows. #aweekofphotos #photography #fallcolor
Randomly: Ikebana arrangement in class and then reworked for the kitchen; tree flowers, skate park stickers; late afternoon on the Venta Spur; the perfect bag for knitting (know your Dickens); Irvine wildlife bandit. #aweekofphotos #photography #dahlias
September 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Randomly: Ikebana arrangement in class and then reworked for the kitchen; tree flowers, skate park stickers; late afternoon on the Venta Spur; the perfect bag for knitting (know your Dickens); Irvine wildlife bandit. #aweekofphotos #photography #dahlias
Surviving August: So hot, so still; crossing guard and her dog treats return; Friends of the Heritage Park Library bookstore reopens; back in ikebana class with a wonderful new vase; Canada geese return; ants still marching (rocks to fend off dog sleeping there); #clouds #aweekofphotos #photography
August 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Surviving August: So hot, so still; crossing guard and her dog treats return; Friends of the Heritage Park Library bookstore reopens; back in ikebana class with a wonderful new vase; Canada geese return; ants still marching (rocks to fend off dog sleeping there); #clouds #aweekofphotos #photography
August 22, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I managed to avoid listening to the McEnroe brothers all the way through Wimbledon. Not so lucky tonight. Going to be a tough couple weeks. #tennis
August 21, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I managed to avoid listening to the McEnroe brothers all the way through Wimbledon. Not so lucky tonight. Going to be a tough couple weeks. #tennis