The Perfect Hostess Throws the Perfect Playdate.

LINDA is absolutely the hostess with the mostess. She invited a group of us over to make shrines at her fabulous "farmhouse" with its great big playroom in the basement. If you click on the link under Linda's name, you will be taken to the Web site she and her family have for their letterboxing adventures. You will also see her wonderful home. The view is terrific from the living room window. Well, actually, every window has a great view.
Before I left for our afternoon art adventure, however, Nikki came by to claim her prize for being the 2,000th person to visit this blog. That's been a while ago, but we finally connected. She got her framed lady-face picture - with other collaged images and trinkets - and it was good to visit on a sunny afternoon. This is Nikki, her daughter Caitlyn and the picture.
Back to our trip to Linda's house: JoAnn picked me up, then we got Sylvia and Darlene followed us in her car. It was a short over the river, almost through the woods and we were there.
Dawn arrived minutes after us and we all trooped down to the basement and claimed our work spaces. There were the shrine pieces (back, walls and "floors") all cut out and painted with matte gel (both sides on the foam core board so it didn't warp) so we were all ready to begin. I went in a couple of different directions with the materials. There was a four-armed Indian Ganesha finger puppet. It appealed to me, but the Mexican influence called strongly. I gave in willingly.
I painted the walls and floors on one side and papered them on the other. Very colorful paper, too. Linda put on great, inspirational music - Mexican folk music and then we visited other countries with reggae and Irish music. Very international afternoon.
Here is JoAnn, at right, dabbing purple paint on gold. A great way to decorate the back and top of the shrine.
Below are Linda's elegant hands painting the edges of the box - four pieces glued together at the corners - that will then be glued onto what is the base (or back) of the shrine. Following me here? I hope so.
Sylvia's shrine (below) is taking shape. I love the goldy-orange of this paper and borrowed a piece for my own project. Linda had lots of milagros, devil heads and skulls and pictures we could cut out. She was just so generous!
We worked along until finally someone noticed it was getting to be "hungry time," so we took a break. We pretty much all agreed that art captured our attention so completely that it was one activity where we didn't much notice the passage of time.
Upstairs, we had pumpkin scones, plums, tasty tofu dip, fresh veggies, blueberry cake and apple slices with delish caramel dipping sauce. After eating and conversing, with a cup of tea in hand we went at it again. Back to the shrines.
Darlene had brought some recycled wooden pieces with her and decorated those as a shrine. This is her piece with the two bowed wooden pieces on top. I liked the tin hearts. I'd like to find more and try those out.
Dawn's shrine had the purple-blue background with a mermaid and other images and a devil head in the center box.
I think I told you we were making Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) shrines, but not so. These shrines are just in honor or remembrance of someone or something. They are artworks and not for that holiday.
JoAnn's shrine (right) has dried marigold petals in the glass ball. (The dead can find their way home with the scent of marigolds.) I like her stack o' skulls, too. Hanging things from ribbon was an inspiration. It's easy to make holes through the foam core board and then knot the ribbon above.
Here is Sylvia's finished shrine with a lovely rat on top. This "enclosure" with the crosses on top is really neat, with the skull picture inside decorated with flowers. I also like the skulls she used. And the jeweled flowers. Nice touch.
Linda's gent in the tuxedo and wings adds a slightly sinister edge to this shrine, I think, along with the heart. He looks like Mr. Heartbreak to me, the angel who comes at the end of a love affair. (Maybe not. I'll wait to hear from the artist on this one.)
And here is mine (left). I call it "Defending the Homestead." I didn't like the senora as much as the Ganesha, but when I put the pistola in her hand she took on a whole new dimension. I would imagine sharp shooting was a handy skill back on the Mexican frontier during the Revolution.
All in all, we had a great day. If you're still reading with me, congratulations. I hope you'll try your own shrine. Out of foam core board, cut out one "house-shaped" piece, paint both sides with gel medium; cut out two longer skinny pieces foam core and two skinny shorter pieces, coat both sides with gel; let dry; paint everything or cover with paper; glue together those four pieces into a four-sided enclosure; glue to house-shaped piece; stick inside whatever fits your theme. I may make one for Hanukkah - femminismo

Will We See Judy Wise in Oregon Again?

I WENT to the RaeVen's Nest site to see which classes Judy Wise is teaching there and what all is going on.
If I hadn't just remembered that John went with her - at least, I think I'm remembering right - I might wonder if she was coming back ... because I saw who the entertainment is on one of the first nights of the get together that group is having. Woowee!
The Alex Wilson Band - and girls, that is Alex Wilson over there in that photo. And you know what a party girl Judy Wise is! I will bet you dollars to donuts that she was up and shaking her bootie to this man's music.
(What does dollars to donuts mean, do you know?)
Anyway, I hope she does come back to Oregon and doesn't run off with this piece of "mancake" (thanks to Mrs. G for that expression). Or if she does run off, I hope she still finds time for plenty of art and posts all about it.
It is late and you will all have to wait until tomorrow for pictures of the shrines we made at Linda's house. We had so much fun, even without a house band. There was plenty of recorded music and lots of heads bent over tables working the matte gel and glitter. Later - femminismo

I Love Almost Everything About October.

THIS morning - early - the sky was filled with the most unusual light. The back yard was suffused with this glow, and trees, shrubs and grass seemed surreal as if they were under a very large yellowish umbrella with lights trying to shine through it.
I wanted my camera to capture the color of this light, but it was a foolish request. I wonder if even the most sophisticated, expensive cameras can record light the color it was this morning at 7 a.m.
I took photos of the tree peonies, wanting to savor the delicately radiant orange and yellow leaves. I was in my pajamas (or "pyjamas" for Brits) and bare feet but I wasn't that cold since I was in photographer mode.
Then I saw the sky and realized where all of this beauty was coming from. I think with the sky photo the camera did a pretty good job of recording what I saw.
I may have been colder than I thought because all of the photos were very shaky and consequently, blurred. Then I realized the picture of the tall unclipped rose, "floating" above the garden, looked like what I try and manipulate in the watercolor special effects in Photoshop. So why bother with that when you can just shake the camera? (This is my "tip" for the day.)
Tomorrow, my pals, JoAnn and Sylvia, and I are going to Linda's house to make Dia de los Muertos shrines. This is going to be really, really fun and I hope, when I get back and show you what I did, that you won't hate me for going off and leaving you to do grocery shopping or cleaning the toilets. (Please don't hate me, because that's what I'll have to do on Sunday.)
I found this guy at http://www.diadelosmuertos.us/. A very interesting site with even lessons plans for Day of the Dead. Isn't he colorful? I am feeling inspired. Now I'm going to go spray paint bottle caps for decorating my shine.
And if you're wondering what I don't like about October, it's the rain - when it begins and doesn't end until ... well ... whenever it feels like it - femminismo

Feeling Silly Posting This ... But Oh What the Heck.

YES, sure I'm feeling silly, but when I found this picture on my computer - I was looking for something else - it made me laugh. At Art in the Pearl over Labor Day weekend, I saw these in a downtown Portland store window.
Did you ever see such a thing? Remember, laughter can keep you healthy!
I have been telling you of my travels and adventures, but I sure haven't been posting much art lately. I found this picture of a journal page I didn't have the nerve to post, but suddenly I find I do have the nerve to show it to you. Prepare yourself for nudity. I was looking at (insert famous artist's name here)'s famous painting and decided to do my own interpretation of it. What I got wasn't quite what I expected, but it was fun.
Let's see ... what else has been going on? Work. Eating. Yoga. A little yard work. I made an apple crisp. That's about it. Trying to finish up a newsletter for Valley Art, so I've been writing.
I will leave you with this one shot, taken with a digital camera through the lens of a very old Ansco "Rediflex" camera. My pal, JoAnn, told me about this. She was first to do this and I was so impressed I had to get an old camera right away. I apologize if I'm repeating myself and you've heard about this before. Here's the picture and then I'm saying good night - femminismo
p.s. Oh, wait. I "fixed" this old clock photo in Photoshop and I want to remind you that time is running out on our candidates and state measures and local political races and the hour is close upon us when it will be time to vote. I hope you are registered and will vote on November 4! I know I will.

An Excellent Adventure.

ON SATURDAY I truly had an excellent adventure on the Art Harvest Studio Tour through Yamhill County in Oregon.
It was perfect weather for driving and since I waited too long to find a fellow adventurer I decided to make the trip alone. That way I could cover as much ground as I wanted, as slowly - or quickly - as I wanted, and have some time to myself in the bargain. So off I went into a perfect, sunshine-filled October day in Oregon. I traveled many familiar roads that were filled with good memories.
I went to Pike first, a town that no longer exists but is now only a name on a map, and visited the studio of Jim and Linda Hayes. They had a warm fire going. Both of them design jewelry and I wanted to buy everything in sight, but I can't do that and still afford access to the Internet ... and eat. That's important too.
I did buy a pair of Jim's earrings in a style I have always admired. (I have a pair of Linda's and I "luv" them.) This necklace is an attempt of mine to capture the beauty of Jim's jewelry.
Up the road a bit I found Annie Witherspoon's studio on the second floor of a barn. Without using all capital letters and exclamation marks, how do I tell you what a marvelous space she has? Hmm. Can't be done. Here are the signs leading to her studio. The house is built on a hillside and the barn is down below with a fantastic view of the valley.
Inside the studio the windows are filled with jewel-colored stained glass pieces. Wonderful "lady faces" and people. Annie is a terrific person, who volunteers her time teaching math skills to the women at Adelante Mujeres, the group I have spoken of before. I had a delightful cup of ginger tea while I talked with her. I do hope our paths cross again.
Back on the road, I headed for McMinnville and passed the Lakeside Grain barn. Don 't tell the Mister, but I was driving curvy roads and shooting photos through the sunroof. Not a good idea when you're told to be careful and drive safely. I love the countryside, however, and couldn't do nearly enough gawking. This is where a fellow adventurer comes in handy to drive and let you look. (Next time maybe.)
I saw one sad thing on my trip: A magnificent oak tree I had always loved had been cut down and the stump was in the process of being burned out. The tree had been in a wheat field next to a house I lived in for a couple of years, and I would see it every morning at sunrise through the kitchen window ... then in the evening I would watch the sun set on it. Sad to see these giants pass.
Well, in McMinnville I looked for a place to eat lunch and found Orchards Bistro. Lovely, lovely place. Smoked turkey sandwich (with grapes and walnuts) and tomato basil soup. The water was infused with cucumber and something else. I thought it tasted like parsley. It was wonderfully refreshing. My waiter was a handsome young man who directed me to my next destination in Sheridan. (I left a little tip of my own.)
Landry Deese is a very well-spoken, well-traveled young man, who is a wood fire ceramist and kiln builder - and wild man, I think. (This is a good thing!) I bought one of his tea bowls and I really like the way it fits my hand. Visit his Web site and explore. He knows a lot about clay and kilns, and also does concrete countertops.
His gallery partner (or maybe it's the other way around, and he's her partner) is Kim Hamblin and her work is tedious, time consuming and ultimately a joy to admire. I got up onto a stool to get an overview of this project she's working on. It's called something like "Playing with the Heart." Sorry if I don't have that totally correct. She cuts out paper, paints it, does this again, and then uses tiny nails to pound it all together. Wonderful stuff! Remember: You can click on any of these photos to make them bigger.
I only had a little while until the Harvest Tour ended for the day and I decided to go back to McMinnville and visit a book artist. This is one of the most wonderful decisions I have ever made. Marilyn Worrix started making books 10 years ago and then it became an obsession. There were wonderful books on display in this "gallery" upstairs. I say "gallery" because it turned out not to be just one little room of handmade books. It turned out to be her home - a former Elks Lodge (I believe) she and her husband bought and refurbished - and the rooms rambled on one into the other. It was a Craftsman's paradise, with skylights, and the ballroom under construction, and could easily hold parties for 300 or more. And everyone would have a place to sit!!! This is the dining room above.
Here is the ballroom, which I understand they are in the midst of renovating.
I took photos, since every single room was open for viewing, but not all the pictures turned out great. : (
Marilyn's name is linked to many Web sites and she is active with the Oregon Cultural Trust and other book groups.
An artist who also exhibited in her home was Doug Roy. When I saw his work in the Art Harvest brochure, I assumed his work was quite large. It turns out his "papercarvings," which is how he terms his work, are quite small. Magnifying glasses were hanging next to the wonderful work. Check his Web site to marvel at the tiny detail.
Now I simply must go because by now you have probably stopped reading and these keys are typing out words only I will read. Art Harvest Tour 2009, can't wait - femminismo

A Time for Remembering.

FRIDAY was a time for going back into the past and looking forward to the future.
Paula would probably hate me for doing this but I'm going to anyway. I want to talk about her and remind us all - especially myself - that life passes quickly. Too quickly. I took the day off work Friday - October 10, Paula's birthday - to attend my friend's life celebration. She died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Paula and I attended the same high school. Isn't she gorgeous. Her hair was always perfect! We were friends, had lots of fun together and then both went our separate ways. Last time I saw her was at least 20 years ago at a high school reunion. That's a lot of time to let pass and a lot happened.
Paula didn't want friends to visit her out of curiosity and see her in a wheelchair. She didn't want a funeral service either. Not even an obituary. And she certainly didn't want anyone to hold a life celebration for her. However, she raised two extraordinary daughters who admitted they didn't always "do what Mom said."
Her brother, who was in my high school class, spoke at her service, as did both her daughters. There was also a slideshow, so I got to catch up with Paula. She was full of fun and life and a wonderful mother. She took her kids skiing, to museums, played with them, taught them to be responsible people, climbed Mt. Hood, loved her grandchildren and was never bitter about the cards she was dealt. At the end she made her own decision to withdraw the feeding tube that kept her body going.
In the slideshow there were so many wonderful photographs of her laughing, loving and having a great time living. The Mister and I talked it over and wondered if anyone could put together such a reflection of our lives when the time comes. We immediately made plans to have some pictures taken of grandkids on our laps - and Paula would be the first to laugh at such a thing.

Later in the evening we attended a concert with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, playing some of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," and that was a magnificent ending to the day. All the lovely joy in the music reminded me of the beauty in the world - in music, art, friendships. Baroque violinist Monica Huggett played an 18th century Dutch instrument and this is just a short clip. I hope beauty finds you today and every day - femminismo

Our Best Intentions

WE ARE not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. - Abraham Lincoln
Only a thought for today. More tomorrow - femminismo

80 degrees in Athens, Ga., 49 in My Hometown

SHIVERING, that's what's going on here in Oregon, as fall - clamoring for its three months of fame - has announced itself.
Farmers are wrapping up harvest time and putting things to bed in preparation for Ol' Man Winter.
On Tuesday I got my hair cut and then went driving in the countryside to see if there wasn't something to photograph. I was working with a different camera and having fits with the automatic settings on it and the setting sun. (No, I didn't turn any dials on the sun.) This photo is what I came up with. I also caught some sheep in a pasture, but they weren't too receptive to having their photo taken. None of them turned out well. (Not the sheep; the pictures.)
So, anyway, what was I saying? I'm cold, I guess that was the gist. And I don't like to be cold. But I did enjoy being in this small valley close to the Coast Range hills. These hills go on for many miles and separate us from the sea. If I could get high enough I would be able to see the ocean ... but then, couldn't we all.
I got an e-mail from an artist friend, Roderick Smith. He is absolutely an amazing painter. I actually own one of his paintings and I wouldn't mind if he got the adulation he deserves, because I consider this painting an investment in my spiritual life. Click on his name to go to his Web site.
He sent me a photo of a painting he did on some rusty tin he found. I asked for and got his permission to show this to you. Here is "Obama."
On another note, I want to let you know - or remind you, if you already knew - that this week in October is Mental Health Awareness Week. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, focuses its attention on many aspects of mental illness. For those who do not personally know me, I want to tell you I have a brother with schizophrenia. He takes his medications regularly and for that we are very thankful. There are many mentally ill persons who are either distrustful of medications or have no one to help them - no family, no friends.
My brother is going through a rough time right now, with "flashbacks" plaguing him. His mind keeps running hurtful episodes, of times he would rather forget, over and over through his brain and he is powerless to stop them.
He has been talking to himself more often, and on public transportation he has noticed people changing seats because they don't want to sit by him.
He has a part-time job, receives some Social Security Disability, and Medicaid helps with doctors and prescriptions, but there are many things he has to do without. One thing he doesn't lack, however, is support from family. It's time for our nightly phone call now, and almost time to leave for yoga. I'll say goodnight, now, until next time we visit - femminismo
Oh! p.s.!! Check out this French blog for my Mona Lisa - "Scary Mona" - a collage I did. I was so happy to loan her out.

You'll Never Guess What Happened!

YOU won't ever guess what happened and you'll have to wait until the end of the post. Don't peek, either. Those are the rules.
Remember how I took JoAnn's photo in the Red Riding Hood outfit? It's in yesterday's post.
Well, she took a picture of me being photographer, too. She calls me Sister Mary Jeanne, and I think it fits pretty well. Say a prayer to me, the Patron Saint of Small Digital Cameras and you will always find them sandproof, waterproof and loss resistant. (I said "resistant." It's not a sure thing.)
I told JoAnn I may have to line the hood of my raincoat with some other color. Maybe chartreuse. The way the vented back flares out makes it look like a veil, too. How funny!
I wanted to show you some of the wonderful flowers in Cannon Beach before I go on to other things. Here are some lively little faces.
I love the sweet blue and yellow faces on these pansies. The flowers in this town are amazing things. They grow so big and last so long. It's the misty cool facials they get, I think. And maybe just a little magic fertilizer.
The yellow ones got shortchanged, however, so I added a little something.
Feeling very tired and a little - lot - silly.
These hydrangeas were magnificent. They were very close to a yarn shop and JoAnn said it was a good thing her purse was in the car and she couldn't buy yarn. She is a great sock knitter, something that looks way beyond any amount of patience I have left in me. Check out her knitting at her blog - and her yummy photos, too.
OK, here is the wonderful thing that happened ... since you've waited so patiently and not looked ahead. Right?
In Cannon Beach, JoAnn and I went to peek at a little craft fair in town. It was put on by the American Legion and so I bought two baggies of chocolate chip cookies and then, since they asked and I couldn't say no, I bought six raffle tickets for $5. You wrote your phone number on them and put them into the jar that offered a prize you'd like to win in the raffle.
Well, I never win anything, but I wanted to help the American Legion and these women who had worked so hard at making the craft fair a success. Now you can guess what. I won something! Me, who never wins anything. I won a FREE overnight at the Inn at Cannon Beach! I am so excited. Now I can take the Mister back with me and we will have a free evening in town to enjoy ourselves.
I promise not to post so many photos of the trip I make you ill - femminismo
p.s. The Mister has been turning out lights for the past hour. He just might pull the plug on the computer. Gotta' go. Nighty nite.

Stimulating Scenery and Scintillating Company.

YOU CAN'T ask for much more, can you? Good company and great scenery lift the spirits and get you quickly out of the doldrums. The Oregon Press Women met Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5, in Cannon Beach. (And, yes, as you can see, there was dessert.)
Jan Jackson spoke on "Shoot the Story" and gave us great tips on how to get "stories" in our photos - and much more, too. Check out some of her own wonderful photos and stories. (I was even brave enough to still use a camera within eyeshot of Jan after her talk.)
Kim Cook's topic was "Reject Me Please!" Very good information on marketing, "branding" yourself and taking rejection in stride and using it to make you stronger.
Freelancing was addressed by Jo McIntyre, an Oregon writer who is also president this year of Oregon Press Women. She writes for the Sheridan Sun Newspaper and other publications. Sorry, Jo, I couldn't find a link to your name. She left for Amsterdam today, however, and other exotic European locations, so don't feel too sorry for her.
Sally Petersen spoke on the business of running a business. Very practical, good advice. The kind you really need if you're going to turn your words into a way to make a living from home by yourself. The real American dream. Check out her book.
And Susan Butruille! Oh my gosh, what passion and persistence. She has written a readers theater production on womens suffrage that is just terrific.
JoAnn, a colleague, and I shared a room at the conference and enjoyed a Saturday night out to dinner with the OPW group at JP's in Cannon Beach. We enjoyed luscious food and fabulous conversation. I had the seafood pasta and JoAnn had the steak. Delicious! Real roses on the table, flaky-crusted bread, chilled small pots of butter, glittering candles in glass lanterns - very romantic. And the wall mural put you in Italy - a fine place to be. I sat next to Serena who used to cover fashion for The London Telegraph. Such stories she had, you wouldn't believe. JoAnn and I both agree when we are older we want to be fabulous, juicy women like Serena and have magnificent tales to relate. (JoAnn's chocolate cake had a marionberry cheesecake filling. Can you imagine?) Sorry the photos are blurry. Low, low light.
So, today, on Sunday, JoAnn and I walked to Haystack Rock after breakfast. It was a little windy (just a little) and a little rainy (just a little) ... we made it to the rock and took photos as we went.
The seagulls were all over the beach. It must have been their own Sunday-go-to-meeting time.
I took so many photos I can't possible post them all. I did do some art along the sand however, so I'll show you that.
JoAnn is just the "sweetest-heart" and most encouraging person. There is nothing she doesn't think you can do. Just put your mind to it. I am lucky to have her to encourage me along my path to doing ... what? Something, I'm sure. That's what.
Here is my favorite picture of her, taken today as she did her "photog" thing. I am sure I looked very similar, only not like Red Riding Hood, but like a nun - in my black raincoat with the white trim around the hood.
I had better go. I need to get some sleep and talk some more with the Mister, who was generous about me getting out of the house and running away for a while - femminismo

Guess Where I Am!

I WON'T keep you in suspense: I'm at Cannon Beach, Oregon, attending the fall conference of Oregon Press Women - and no, we're not bench pressing. We're talking about writing for newspapers, magazines, writing in general and how to market our writing ... and where to go from here if we're working for the fading newspaper industry, which is an ancient idea begun by Egyptians trying to market papyrus.
Cannon Beach is a lovely town. JoAnn and I can see the ocean from our window and Sunday morning, before we leave, we hope to get through some of the shops and walk on the beach. There's an actual independent book shop in town that I love to go through when I'm here, so that's on the list.
I don't have any photos to post and it's just as well. Since we are in a "bowl" here at the Hallmark Inn there is no wireless Internet service and I'm back to using dial-up. Yikes! Ever think you could go back to that again? Think again. I am - femminismo

Every Calendar Day is Special to Someone.

I AM writing this on Oct. 2, 2008 — which would have been my mother’s 86th birthday. She passed away in June 2006.
This morning in Athens, Ga., on Oct. 2, my niece - and my mother's granddaughter - Amy, gave birth to her third child, a boy, Guillermo. The baby has blue eyes — for now, anyway — and so did his great-grandmother.
Today I can feel my mother so close to me on this day - her birthday. I can imagine how excited she would be that the new great-grandchild was born on "her" birthday.
I recall the times I remembered her birthday with a card, or lunch or a sleepover at her house. I remember forgetting her birthday once! (It's OK. She forgot mine once, too.)
I close my eys and I can feel her arms around me and the special "Mom kisses" she would give.
I can remember the last time she walked into my house and I remember the evening she left it.
We all wish, of course, that my mother could have witnessed another great-grandchild in her "portfolio." There aren't many who love babies as much as she did.
"My goodness, what your dad and I started," she used to say. They had seven children. My mother told me my grandmother (her mother-in-law - whom she loved dearly) asked her one time, "Margaret, how are you going to take care of all these children?"
And she stubbornly answered, "I'll feed them and love them." That's exactly what she did, day in and day out without fail.
It’s odd how certain dates have a way of pulling us back in time. As the post title says, every calendar day is special to someone. It might be a birthday or an anniversary of a glad time or a sad time - a beginning or an ending.
Now we've been blessed with these wonderful grandchildren and we are so lucky to have them all healthy, smart, loving people - and we have our parents to thank for that last part, I think.
Amy's paternal grandfather, William, passed away very recently on Sept. 13. That was a really sad day for everyone. William also had blue eyes. I will always think of this new baby, "Gil," born on Oct. 2, with the bluest of eyes, as a link in the generations and a reminder that miracles keep on happening everywhere we look.
I'll also remember that the saddest day on the calendar to me might be the happiest day to someone else. This is a happy day. Mom was born today and Gil was born today. Welcome to the world, Gil, from Great-Aunt Jeanne! I know Javi and Isa and Daddy are waiting eagerly to get you and Mommy home.

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