Thanksgiving

The day before I was to leave for San Diego, I woke up a very sick gal.  I have no idea what sort of bug attacked me but it created a pretty violent day for me.  Based on what was going on with me physically I called my family and said it didn't look like I would make it to Thanksgiving dinner.  Naturally, they were worried and told me not to even try to make the 400 miles drive.  That night I slept well and in the morning awoke feeling quite good.  I decided I didn't want to sit home and have a "pity party" being all alone on Thanksgiving Day so I pulled myself together and hit the road.  6 hours later I arrived before the turkey was done.  In fact, I had time for a nap before we all sat down to celebrate the Holiday.  As usual, the food was wonderful.  I tried little bits of everything but my appetite was not very robust.  What I did enjoy was our gathering of family and friends and the blessing of being together.  I only stayed a couple days and made the trip home with an overnight stop in Yuma.  It was probably not the wisest choice for me physically but life is short and I don't want to miss a thing!  The picture is of our gathering at the Thanksgiving table.

Dan at the head of the table, Onay on his right....as it should be.

Arts and Crafts

This was the frame I found in a junk shop

 I've been building a screen door to use as a garden gate.  I saw this done this summer while I was in Port Townsend and decided to "steal" the idea. 

I stapled on the screen and added two cross pieces

Almost finished, added embelishments and painted

Now completed just waiting for the hinges.  Nice entry to my patio

Putting this all together was quite a process but it is now complete and only waiting for me to hang it.  I like it....silly as it may be. 
 

My Night with Leonard

He's 78 years old and still so sexy it is palpable!  Not to mention his ability to go down on his knees and rise without a problem with none of that nasty cracking and popping so many of us experience.  I speak here from experience which may account for my admiration of this physical fete Mr. Cohen engages in so easily.  He "may ache in the places he used to play" but it doesn't seem to slow him down. 

I attended his live concert at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on November 5th and I'm still in a state of grace.  His voice these days is low, sultry and rich.  So much more appealing then in his early years.  His band is made up of virtuoso musicians and he features them throughout.  The "girl singers" consist of Sharon Robinson, his co-writer on several of my favorite songs and the Webb Sisters, stars on their own. 

Downtown LA is something to behold at night.  Now referred to as "LA Live" it is a fun place to be.  People watching is a hoot and there are many places to eat and drink and stroll.  The LC fans were out in great numbers (sold out concert) and not all of them were oldies....I met a couple of fun younger women who had driven from Las Vegas that day to see Leonard.  I also enjoyed a parade of women wearing their Fedora hats in his honor. 

My only complaint was the rude and late arrival of so many people after the concert started.  It was so bad that Leonard apologized "for starting on time" and asked that the theater lights be turned on so people could find their seats.  Later in the show he played the first song, "Dance Me to the End of Love" again so we could enjoy it uninterrupted.  Sadly, I was unable to get any pictures of Leonard but at his age, he has eliminated the "meet and greet" time after the concert.  He was on stage for over 3 and a half  hours with only one break in the middle....he was filled with energy and literally skipped on and off the stage.  My pictures show my joy at this "Bucket List" event.

Nokia Billboard, Leonard Cohen Sold Out!

Ms.Happy face @ a "Bucket List"event!

LA Live Plaza

My dinner Place

New Friends from Las Vegas

My Concert Tee

Highlights of the concert included a solo performance of "Alexandra Leaving" by co-author Sharon Robinson and one of my true favorites "Anthem".  A sample of its lyrics follows:

...The birds they sang at the break of day, "Start Again", I heard them say. Don't dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be.  Ah, the wars they will be fought again.  The holy dove, she will be caught again

Bought and sold and bought again, the dove is never free

So ring the bells that still can ring.  Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything...that's how the light gets in....

Another of my favorite lyrics is a verse in "A Thousand Kisses Deep"....it really speaks to me .  It goes like this:    ..

..And sometimes when the night is slow, the wretched and the meek, We gather up our hearts and go, A Thousand Kisses Deep.

And finally, though I could write for hours to include all the lyrics I love in Leonard Cohen's songs and poems, I will just share a few and hope to raise your interest in learning more about this amazing poet of my time.  He sang this song and it is hard to choose only some verses but the following especially move me....

...The light came through the window, straight from the sun above and so inside my little room there plunged the rays of Love.  In streams of light I clearly saw the dust you seldom see.  Out of which the Nameless makes a Name for one like me.  All busy in the sunlight the flecks did float and dance, and I was tumbled up with them in formless circumstance.  Then I came back from where I'd been.  My room, it looked the same - But there was nothing left between the Nameless and the Name....

Those lyrics talk about experiences I have had in meditation where the Nameless and I become one....with the dust and will all there is.  Love Itself.

So my night with Leonard was well worth the 800 mile drive and the substantial investment.  He "took me to a place of grace" and left me there.....a wonderful place if one must be left.  No "broken Hallejulas" here.

   

                                       

.

Settling In

My new Swing

I still don't have my blog editing figured out.  The text that appears below my pictures was suppose to be up here so I'm afraid this posting is a little confusing.  Anyway, it is all about the work I did on my backyard after being away for the summer.  I'm loving the way it looks.  I hope you do too.

View from the patio




Path to my Wagon Wheel Corner




This is the rabbit proof area for planting flowers



The grass &rosemary green area



New Rock Lined Path

My Patio Area

A view to the backyard

Cactus and Agave area filling in

Alittle outdoor art on the Living Fence

So I've been home from my summer travels for almost a month now.  Still not completely unpacked, hard to believe but true.  I spent a couple weeks feeling overwhelmed with being home and actually having to keep a house and yard and live a "real" life.  I hated the way my yard looked.  The summer had not been kind to it so I called Gilbert and we got busy.  Now the hard stuff is done and it looks so good and I am busy with planting and doing the little "tweeking" things I love to do.  Purchasing a garden swing was a totally frivolous expenditure but it brings me such joy to swing that I just did it.  The beautiful Park in Port Townsend with the old fashioned glider was such a place of tranquility for me I wanted to replicate the experience at home.  Here are some pictures of the results of all the work Gilbert and I did. 





Home in Arizona

I left Port Townsend and traveled South.  Spent 2 nights with Marianne and then on to my Cousin Lee's place in Sandy, Oregon.  His wife Peni died last November and Lee has gone through open heart surgery so I was happy to see him and his daughter Stacy.  I hope I brought him some love, plus I got to watch the President debate with a man who shares my political leanings.  All good.

When I left Sandy, Oregon I got on Hiway #5 and just drove everyday until I felt so tired I needed to get off the road.  1300 miles with only 2 overnight stops.  So this "Road Warrior" is now "road weary".  I got home last weekend and have been working on getting my house back in order, unloading the car, getting the yard problems fixed and the AZ room (screened in room) cleaned up from 4 months of dust.   The mail situation was overwhelming.  So much paper to look through...most of it magazines, catalogs and Junk.  It has now been whittled down to a small stack of things to either file or take care of.  I also found out that the resale shop I take my clothes to for selling has closed.  I had a check and letter in the mail but she closed the checking account in September so I have to take a loss there.  Oh well, onward we go.

I got back in time to attend the first meeting of the year for the League of Women Voters.  It was a great meeting and wonderful to see all the women again.  They presented information (pro and con) on the AZ. Ballot Measures and I now have the info I need to vote.  I'm so glad I found and joined the League.  They are a group of older women who are uber smart and do such good work in educating the public and registering voters. 

I have to admit that coming home is quite a let down from the summer I had.  I've been very tired and feel myself getting depressed.  I'm sure this will pass, it always does but when I am in the process it is not fun.  Think I'll add some of the pictures that haven't yet made it to this blog.  I know seeing them will bring some cheer to my soul.



Fall has arrived in the Northwest




The wonderful Rose Theater in PT

Downtown Hotel Port Townsend



My Favorite Lunch place, Silverwater Cafe in PT



Historic Water Tower PT



Downtown Fountain Plaza, Port Townsend




View from Uptown with ferry coming from Whidbey Island




The wonderful Aldrich Market in Uptown




Food Bank Garden




One of my happy places PT Library




My last Poetry reading at the Writer's Workshoppe



Living Room in my summer Cabin





Winding up my summer in Washington State

When I pulled out of my garage in AZ. the middle of June, I had no idea I would have the wonderful summer I have had here in my home State of Washington.  I think it has been one of the best since I retired.  Filled with old and new friends, lots of opportunties for creativity, amazing weather and the discovery of a town I have fallen in love with.  It is so funny, that I have been to Port Townsend many times over the years and never felt the way I do now.  Although I would love to be able to live here year 'round, I know what to expect from the weather in the coming months.  Long winter days of dark and damp that make my joints cry out for relief and my psyche long for a "sun break".  So instead of lamenting something I have no control over, I will rejoice in the fact that I have choice.  I can spend my winter days in my beautiful Arizona home enjoying all the benefits I was beginning to take for granted and when the desert begins to burn I have this place awaiting me.     I wrote a poem to express how I am feeling about Port Townsend.        

 "The Magic Of Place"                                             

To find a place that fits is always a gift
In this town I knew the minute I came over the hill
And looked down at this gathering of
Brick, wood, stone, glass and water
And was overwhelmed with the
Energy of Good

Maybe it is the history still alive
With stories and vision

Maybe it is the water
That rises to cleanse the shores

Maybe it is the people
Who began here and stayed
Or left and returned
Or the ones like me
Attracted to the mystery

I don't know why a place can feel so right
And feed your soul just by being
But when you find such a place
You should bow in Gratitude
And add your energy
To keep it Good

Port Townsend Farmer's Market

Happily buying Heirloom Tomatoes and Flowers

The Writer's Workshoppe, a welcoming place

More of the Farmer's Market

At the Beach in downtown Port Townsend

Beauty survives

My Neighbors

The Cabin that has been my home for a month

I have decided to come back next summer and stay June through September in this cute little cabin.  I have found a wonderful Unity Church and gotten to know some lovely people there.  I have been writing and reading my poetry at the "Open Mike" at the Writer's Workshoppe and met some talented people who have been very kind regarding my work.  My Cabin is located in the very real Uptown Neighborhood where something is happening all the time. The local Farmer's Market on Wednesday and Saturday has kept me in flowers, and fresh veggies,  I have been going to an exercise class at the Community Center, I have a new library card, I've attended Gallery Walks, found all the good Thrift Stores and actually done some crafts in addition to writing.  There is real "pride of ownership" in Uptown, people have restored old Victorians, cottages abound, and the local deer roam freely, protected here. Although it is lovely to see them on the streets and in the yards, they bring chaos to the gardeners that haven't yet installed "deer fencing".  After many years of trying to out smart the rabbits that have destroyed my attempts at Arizona gardening, my sympathy has transferred to the gardeners.

Celebrating my First Open Mike Reading



My First Driftwood Mobile



My Second Driftwood Mobile



Taking the Ferry



Ferry to West Seattle

Before picture of my Wreath



After Picture of my Wreath





Local Neighborhood House & Yard



Bicycle as Yard Art

Another Neighborhood House with a beautiful yard

Local Business on Water Street

City Park on the Water

Downtown Water View





Music on the Dock with a local free spirit