Our Votes Are Two For the History Books

NOT the most colorful photo I've ever taken, but one of the best, I think.
With these two mail-in ballots, the Mister and I are ready and willing to take the chance to change our country's direction.
I think, however, that with determination and thoughtfulness, WE are the real change agents. It is up to us to dedicate ourselves to stepping forward and helping out in America.
I hope that, on Nov. 4, we will see Barack Obama elected president of the U.S. Already, the excitement of millions who believe as we do - that our country's best hours are ahead - is mounting.
Tonight I am also stepping forward to volunteer to help change our country in another way. I am going to ask if Adelante Mujeres can use my help. I would like to be of some use to the young women who attend this school to better their lives, and the lives of their children. I would like to help them in some way - perhaps teaching them to read and write. Those are the skills I have to share and I do not think that Obama can change America all by himself. No one can.
We must support his administration while demanding the changes we were promised and not allow "politics as usual" to hold sway in Washington, D.C.
And we must be looking for ways to help in our own communities because there is so much that needs to be done by those who can afford to help. Donate one hour of the time you usually spend in front of the television or computer and make this country and its people stronger!
There; my heart is on my sleeve - femminismo

First Wednesday of October Tonight.

IT WAS First Wednesday in Forest Grove, which meant the Farmers Market was in operation.
I don't think anyone wanted to go home. It was a beautiful warm evening and there were tables on the sidewalk, wine flowing in the shops and lots of good things to eat and see.
It was my assignment tonight to take lots of photos for the newspaper I work for - although I am not officially a photographer. However, we might need the photos for tomorrow's paper ... so, I volunteered.
I felt quite self-conscious, but eventually it wore off. I even got up the nerve to ask around and see if I could go upstairs in one of the older buildings so as to take a picture down on everything from up above. I found someone who left me go upstairs into a new building being renovated - 14,000 square feet of executive and retail space, if anyone's interes ted.
Adelante Mujeres - Upward Women - was giving away "sabrosas," or little treats; hors d'oeuvres. It was chicken mole, practically my most very favorite thing to eat that's not pure chocol ate.
There were pile s of peaches, cases of apples and tons of tomatoes. And much, mu ch more. I wish you could have been there with me. We would have sat at a small iron table on the sidewalk and had a glass of wine and talked and talked. Or just looked around. There was music and quite a show going on.
But I suppose it really is time to

head off toward the old pillow and set the alarm for tomorrow.
The big debate is tomorrow night but I will be doing "downward facing dog" and "the plank" and "cat and cow" in yo ga class. I'm sure somewhere, someone will be playing the debate over and over again and I can catch up on what I missed - or didn't miss. This weekend I am off to a conference on using and selling words and picture taking tips. We'll see what develops. Oh, ho ho! I crack myself up - femminismo
p.s. I visited EyeCandy. Now I want to go to Athens, Georgia, and get scared at the movies! Ooh! The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

It's Late - I'm Crazy!

JUST WANT to tell you to check out the ValleyArt blog to see what I did this afternoon and tonight. Mary W. and I were hostesses for First Wednesday Downtown.
After we got the reception food out and welcomed the artists I went out into the farmers market and had a tantalizingly good sope. (Picture of one above.) Yum. The Adelante Mujeres were giving away more free samples of their great cooking. They made 500 of them and gave them all away and had to run to the store for more supplies. I think they were up to 600 handmade tiny, thick tortillas with beans, cheese, salsa. Soooo good.
It was a wonderful evening. There where still blueberries and I didn't get any! Just these in the photo. What's wrong with me? Maybe on Saturday there will be some at the farmers market for us "should have boughts" - femminismo
Gotta go. Like I said, I'm crazy!

Would You Remind Me, Please ...

PLEASE remind me that when I start whining and feeling sorry for myself it's MY OWN FAULT! That's where I was yesterday.
Today, because I bypassed going home and exposed myself to some fun at the First Wednesday Farmers Market, I met up with a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a while and met some new ones.
Marbella and Ramona, above, are part of Adelante Mujeres. Some of the group's many goals are increasing opportunities for family and community and advocating ecological awareness and action for a sustainable economy and healthy community. Immigrant women and families face challenges and Adelante Mujeres supports many of their ambitions by providing educational opportunities. I only wish I had been smart enough to get pictures of Bridget Cooke, executive director, and Gina Bell, market manager, two of the powerhouse women behind this group! Wasn't thinking - was talking.
Check out their Web site. And wouldn't it be fun to gather our forces and produce one work of art each (painting, sewing, pottery, jewelry - whatever it is, I know there's something you'd do that's just great!) and donate it for one of their fund-raisers? What think you, gang? Let me know. I was inspired by this idea and would love to help them.
I also scored some enchiladas to take home for dinner tonight. Excellent! They were offering these tasty treats at the market as samples, so you see where I got my menu planning. (Sorry about the blurry photo. Must have had the setting wrong.)
MORE of the sidewalks in Forest Grove have been newly redone and inset with numbers. There are also very artistic pedestrian crossings.
This is exciting news for those of us who are planning for the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival on September 20. Downtown Forest Grove will be literally crawling with artists on hands and knees creating colorful works of art on each numbered square. Check out the link for more. (Yes, I know I could use a pedicure. There's that curly "tall" toe - just like my sister's.)
WELL, what else do I have to show you? Oh! This one thing. As I was leaving I drove past the labyrinth dedicated to Dr. Faith Gabelnick, president emerita of Pacific University. The grasses planted around the labyrinth have grown and are now at least 6 feet tall. The tops were flowing in the slight breeze of the coming evening and I had to stop and take a photo. The sign at the labyrinth says the metaphor of walking it is that of life's journey. Taking it a step at a time shuts out the distractions of the outside world and makes you concentrate on your inner thoughts. It is a very peaceful place and the tall grasses isolate the pathway so you can truly feel alone with your thoughts. That's where I'll leave you now; alone with your thoughts - femminismo