Oregon

I took some of these photos from speeding cars, so pardon the blur. I also took many more photos of my family, but I did not get permission to show them so the only person here is me, looking miserable, but trying to smile, I am after all at the beach! It is however very cold and raining and I have 3 layers of clothes on, but I got soaked anyway, walking along with my brother P was awesome just the same.

Other photos include a wonderful crow that let me get so close I could have touched him, buffalo, and many sights as I traveled around Oregon to see family and last, but not least this is Dotty my brother J's dog. There were many other darling animals (hi Gemma and Max and Buster), but I did not think to take their photos. Silly me.

I miss everyone horribly, but I am happy to be home and to have sunshine again.

Bella did beautifully at the kennel by the way.
XOXO

Home

I have returned home from my old home and it was painful. It was also healing. It was wonderful to be with my family. I do have some photos to share later, but for now I want to give you this, it sums up how I am feeling right now: 

The Road Between

To stand up and be worn
to something deeper
is a pledge that living
forces us to keep

I drove 500 miles down the California coast with the mountains on the left and the ocean on the right. For days they spoke to me of standing up and wearing down. Of course, I was driving a road we have made down the middle. During the fourth day, the road became a ribbon. It was here it was most beautiful.
I found the world out there all in here, and now I know:
The current of life requires us to stand up, again and again, and we are not defeated when we are worn down, just exposed anew at a deeper level. We are meant to live between the two.
In this way, life keeps getting more and more precious.
It is a natural law like gravity or osmosis: Stand up to be worn bare. It is how everything in the way is thinned, so we can feel just how thoroughly alive we are.
-Mark Nepo-
I am worn down, but still standing.
I will get back to visiting blogs soon.
XOXO

Fall

I think Fall is my favorite season. It is almost over here, In Taos it only lasts about a month and a half.
I am leaving to got to Portland for my Mom's memorial in a few days. This is a hard trip, but it will also have some joy mixed in with the sadness. I will be connecting to some people I have not seen for many years and that will be wonderful. I will also get one night at the beach. I simply cannot be that close and not go. I deserve it and need it. Walking on the beach and being with family right now will be very healing. By the time I get back Fall will be over here and the leaves will be gone, but I know Portland will be grand right now with all the millions of trees there. I plan on taking many photos and will share when I return. There will be little access to the computer and even less time, so this is goodbye for a while. Have a wonderful couple weeks. Love.
XOXO

Pattern and Snarl

I was very moved by this poem by Amit Majmudar, thought I would share:

Life likes a little mess. All patterns need a snarl.
The best patterns know how best to heed a snarl.


Every high style, every strict form was once nonce.
The best way to save a snagged pattern? Repeat the snarl.


Eden used to snow in fractals, rain in syncopated runs.
Adam never imagined he would hear its seedlings snarl.


Tug the wrong thread, and your wool sweater vanishes at once.
Death pulls at a wisp of us—and just like that, it’s freed the snarl.


What is it about order that we love? This sense,
Maybe, that a secret informs the pattern?


Is it a toddler’s joy in doing things again?
Is it the entropy in us that warms to pattern?


I never intended this line to rhyme on again again.
Then again, sometimes it's the snarl that adorns the pattern.
Amit Majmudar

XOXO

More New Paintings, My Mother's Journey

 I believe these are the last two paintings in the boat series that I painted for my mom to try and convey her journey into spirit. The top one with the stars is 16"x 16", I have included close ups and side views, the bottom painting is 10"x 10" and also has detail and side views. If you click on them to enlarge you will get a much better idea of the work and layers. All of the boat paintings will be making their way to my ETSY shop this week, but if you see one you like just email me and I can reserve it in your name. Prices will range from $250 for the 10"x 10"s, $350 for the 12"x 12" and $475 for the 16"x 16", but my blogger friends will get a 10% discount.

As for the Taos Fall Arts show, it was packed as usual, if I had to guess there was at least a couple hundred people for opening night. None of us were happy with where and how we were hung, but to be fair, volunteers do the hanging and they only have 3 days to hang the whole show and that would be about 700 paintings. I thought the art was of a higher caliber then ever. I won no awards and as of today none of my pieces have sold, but there is still a week of the show to go.

I am doing fine, some days are harder than others, it seems to go cling, pain, let go.The more I let go the less painful it is. I am seeking joy where I find it :-). Art and nature and friends. Thank you all for your love.

Have a wonderful week. XOXO