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Looking almost straight up from Jean-Luc's house on Monday, Greg and I could barely see the cross in the middle of this photo. We'd spoken about hiking up the previous Monday (I'd done that hike before-felt like a goat by the time I'd reached the top), but opted instead to drive up and then walk over...instead of up and up and up and up. After a couple of wrong turns and backtracking a few paths...this is what we saw!
Running around regularly out in City Park, I have lots of photos taken of me there. Most were taken by my brother Tom. These are two of my favorites taken on the stone bridge across the lagoon behind the Casino Pavilion. Tom would have taken these in the early 80's, shortly after I purchased Columbus Street.
Having creative and talented family and friends is a blessing any time of the year, but especially on your birthday! Imagine my joy, when I discovered this birthday greeting from my friend Marina who visited us with her friend Vassily earlier this summer! There's the Chatette in the corner, the Château, the Lot, me as Mona, Sam, and then the best is that those are actually our butterflies! It is such a beautiful, special, fun, loving creation that I had to share it with you today. I'm thinking Marina's Magic should be shared at the vernissage this year...another contributing artist who loves this place. She said she "decoded DaVinci", but I think she decoded my heart!
It seemed like a good decision at the time...piano lessons or pom-poms? You can see which one I chose. After 5 years of piano lessons with a teacher who rarely allowed me to play anything but classical music, I had had enough. I still have my #49 from when I tried out for the squad at Ferguson Junior High, but I don't think I could produce a cartwheel or a split at 57 the way I did for tryouts at 13. I didn't go on to try out for the high school squad. Money was tight. Mom could make my uniform for Ferguson, but at McCluer-you had to purchase them and there was one for each season. As much fun as it can be to do these things, the best part was to look up in the stands and see my whole family sitting there just to watch me perform!
Being in the middle of the week of my birthday, I've been going through photos for the vernissage and have rediscovered some of me through the years that are favorites. This one is particularly special. It is my first passport picture. Who would have known that being born in Great Britain when Dad was stationed there in the American Airforce, would be such a plus for me later in life? I tease Mom and Dad all the time, that the best thing they did for me was to have me in Great Britain! With each birthday, we look back together. I have the letters that Mom wrote to Nannie and Nannie wrote to Mom, while she was in the hospital and I was just born. The story I always remember is how they flew down country roads on their way to the hospital to the sound of thudding rabbits against the car in the dark!
When I'm inside St. Etienne in Cajarc, I'm generally visiting my Merci Lady, sitting in a pew, soaking up the silence and oozing gratefulness. I rarely wander around in the darkness. The other day, I ventured further and discovered that there is light. Ah, the wonder of motion detectors!
When I looked at this spotlighted stone in the barn the other day, I saw the profile of the man I found in the stone behind the lavoir earlier this year. I'm beginning to wonder if the same man inhabits our place, and moves from spot to spot for a change of scenery or maybe just to keep me company and keep an eye on me. I'm feeling very protected!
When I used the metallic treatment on yesterday's photos of the light, it gave a lot more definition to the stone and the hole of light as it grew. I love the stone as much as I love the light! If I stop long enough to allow myself to feel this place, fun and amazing things rise to the surface. Do you see anything in the photo below? It is the same stone, same spot of light, but just closer up.
When we were living in New Orleans before the storm, Dali and I started every morning walking in City Park. I titled this shot: "Walk Towards the Light". When we did, I would close my eyes and there was this sense of stretching the limits of human form to become part of the universe...not a bad way to start your day before the craziness begins. Everything you see in this photo is gone.
I love the light. It fills my life and carries me to amazing places no matter where I am. Is it any wonder, that our barn should have its own special brand? Until recently, the shutters in the loft have remained open. Now that I've finished them, I've hung Mom's windchime and prism along with Kat's crystal, and closed up the doors. This makes the inside of the loft much darker than usual, allowing very bright light in through the many tiny holes in the roof. Closing up the other day, I was sitting on the ledge, legs dangling over the opening, getting ready to begin my precarious voyage down the ladder. Right in front of me, was a very strong ball of light. I couldn't resist. I had to touch it. The light got bigger and turned pink. It was so beautiful. I had to keep touching it. I laughed-it was like turning a light on and off with my fingers. This is what I saw...(to be continued)!
Working as hard as I am, my overalls are paying the price. This pair in my work crew may have to be retired after this summer season, or they may have just had enough that they can walk off on their own. There is soil caked on the behind, black iron paint on the knees, dangling suspenders have fallen into varnish, they've been torn many times when captured on various nails and other impaling objects, and I have a bad habit of taking my clean brush out of the water and just brushing it off on the legs to dry. Each pair has a life all their own and a story to tell that reflects my life and times. Do you think there's an Overalls Heaven?