A Blog for 2025

December 24, 2025 Due to a sudden illness T and I had to not go to Annie's.  We are both sad but each warm in our own homes and not passing germs.  I am here alone with a burning purple votive and frankincense.    I made the decision at seven thirty this morning to be nice to myself all day, but I realized I wasn't quite sure what that meant.  Normally being good to myself meant jumping out of bed and going to the pool, but this morning my instinct was to place the flannel sheet over my head and soak in the sun and not be with people.  So usually not the way I go.  This morning I stayed put.   I worked on a card for everyone showing the images of a set of cards T. and are creating to give everyone a present.  I realize I actually do like making cards and I do like sending them this time of year and I'm sorry I didn't make solstice cards to mail out.  Maybe I will make New Year cards.  But this morning I created a note to all, t...

  photo by Ember 5/20/23 December 23, 2025 I just like this photo of my drooping eye   It used to get infected quite a lot., too. When my mother was 19 she played for a traveling California state orchestra.  She was 1st flutist and they traveled throughout the Northwest.  She met her first true love in that orchestra. Owen was a cellist.   He was an eye doctor and they stayed close friends and loved each other for over 50 years.   I was born with a lazy left eye and my Ct. eye doctor thought I should have surgery on it in about 1960.  Owen recommended that I not have the surgery and to do eye excercises instead.  Mom took Owen's advice and I did not have that surgery.  I had really good eyesight and the left eye was a target for humor throughout my life. I've been trying to have eye surgery for over a year because the muscles around my left eye have basically stopped working all together and I shut my eye most of the time....

December 22, 2025 Migratory Way at sunset. I ended last night with the statement and the intention of leaving my heart open and not giving into my food addictions today.  I had an interesting time with both.   My open heart got warmed, felt pain, held EJ on my lap.  Was loved by friends, felt other's fear, other's worry, and other's happiness.   The pool was wonderful this morning, people I love were missing, but others were truly present.  Stretching is a success strategy for my daily practice. I cannot begin to explain what it is like for me inside my head at this time  of year.  My sadness, my otherness has nothing to do with any one other person, it has everything to do with my own responses to my own buttons that are ever so obvious in these two weeks.      Birding is the perfect activity for me. The canal was filled with them today and the sun was setting.  It was a perfect time for me to be there.  I also made ...

  12/21/22 December 21,2025 Over the past 4 years the only Solstice that I really photographed was 2022 You''d think that wouldn't be true, you'd think I would have been in celebration most years.  I have been, therefore, not behind the camera.   Last year was the closing reception for the Community Art Show.  It was really good.  My friend Jean came and joined us.  At the end of the day we went to China Gourmet with Donnie and family and Gerard and family.  There are a few phone photos,  but no real ones.  I don't know, I guess my attention gets taken away from my camera on the 21st of December. I have started to rebuild my Christmas wall this year.  I've  not received too many cards so far, but I gathered all my ornaments.  I've been thinking about having to give things away soon and I think one of the places I could start would be all the Christmas decorations that have been in a large plastic crate since maybe, I don't...

December 20, 2025 Last day of programming. We ended it all with a disco party that consisted mostly of staff, but was a blast.  V made the place very dancable    We are a very silly group, but it's because we all work really hard in our lives  This whole group does multiple jobs both for LAVA and other places.  We had an art auction to end the year.  Local artists  donated art throughout the fall and the stuff that did not go was auctioned off today.  I'm not sure what any of the totals were today, but I think it's potentially a very successful fundraiser for LAVA.  The whole team was there.  After it was over V. set up a disco room and people danced and played,  lots of laughter and a good way to end the year.    I actually bought a piece of art.  When I bring it home I will photograph it and share it.    Ash was the auctioneer.  She thinks fast so she can do it, she adds facts in about numbers and art...

  December 19, 2025 Exit 4 on Rt. 91 at almost 4 this afternoon.  No rainbow, but there should have been. If you are in Putney over the weekend go into the Pop Up Vendor shop right next to the General Store.  Several vendors are displaying goods there.  Annie has earrings, block print baby clothes, assemblages, blank cards.  There is vintage clothing and old jewelry, ans other people's wood prints.  Absolutely beautiful old fashioned baby and toddler clothes, which I adored.  Really, if you are around, drop by, especially if you are looking for that special gift.    Clara and I went up and had lunch in Putney.   It was almost 50 and pouring rain.  We were in the restaurant for a long time, but then we walked across the street and visited the Vendor Pop Up. As we were getting gas and then driving onto the highway the sun and clouds were doing a major, gala dance.  I thought for sure there would be a rainbow.  Do you re...

December 18, 2025 This day ends on another plateau.  I am calm and present. I am so calm and present, I realize I have nothing to say tonight.  I took 2 photos of clouds today and I was sent several photos from friends. This one is Annie's sign for the Vendor pop-up in Putney.  They are open through the 21st in the center of town.  Several vendors are there.  Annie's inventory is special.  If you are near, go visit.   EJ sent me these photos earlier. They are of the spread they created tonight as the continue to celebrate.  I opened them as T. was handing me salmon stuffed with seafood and avocado.  As I opened the photos I say, "Why wasn't I invited?" and immediately took it back 'cause I had just been adorned with love, comfort, care and good food right in my own living room.  Such sweetness and care.  Did not take a picture, but did acknowledge the provider of it all and carried on with feeling gratitude for all of it.  ...

December 17, 2025 The five readers of tonight's Writers Read.  Photo taken by Charlie. For the past 4 years Writers Read has highlighted the staff of LAVA Center in December.  Tonight we got to do it again to a very nice audience of friends and the entire staff, not just those of us who read. Tonight was the first time Matthew has ever read his fiction aloud.  He's writing a novel and read a piece of it, an entirely different culture, an entirely different country, and an entirely different century.   Skyler ran the front and did all of the take down.  He'd baked bread.  Clara baked cookies.  We had mulled cider and seltzer, a few little snacks, and quite a good reading.  We are an interesting  collection of voices and we are so supportive of one another; we blend well. The other thing is that Writers Read has great audiences.  I was pretty informal tonight, but the audience was attentive.  They laughed at Venessa's writing, th...