deplane, smoke, chartreuse

gems and impressions from a week in the woods:

*When I deplane vegetal air rushes to envelope me.

*Smoke of autumn follows me as I drive. A mother and children are gathered around red licking flames. Their clothes when they prepare for bed tonight will exude a reminder of their leaf fire and the potatoes Mom popped into the embers as a surprise.

*Chartreuse waxy brainscaped sphere, clean tangy aroma--maclura pomifera.

packing, no, time change

*Packing fly to a big city, drive to a cabin in a big woods.

*laptop, yes

laptop, no

laptop, no

therefore no gems for a while.

*Liking very much the results of the time change.

PS-- I so like the way brussel sprouts grown on their tough

looking, thick stalk. They are sold on stalk at the market so

shoppers angle them in the push basket (bec they are so

long) and I just found a good receipe for them that I'm

going to try when I come back from the cabin in the woods. It

-the receipe-involves forbidden thick bacon.

family, the whole day long, canvas

*In this month of my father's birth and death I have been missing him. To counteract this longing for both of my parents I decided to get super busy with classes, exercise--pulling out my bag of tricks to keep depression at bay. I am taking a genealogy class. Yesterday I called a cousin who I have not seen since 1967. Today a second cousin returned my call. What fun and joy to hear family stories, impressions. I learned that my aunt's real first name was Wilma. And family history will come to me in the mail.

*An entire day of sunshine and warmth.

*Kate brought over my painting of sunflowers. For now I put it in my office and its oils permeate the room.

safe, cousin, ristra

*Sitting in a barbeque joint. One lady walks by with a holstered gun on her hip and handcuffs tucked into her jeans. Three men walk by with holstered hand guns. All in plainclothes. = I feel safe while enjoying barbeque.

*I talked to a cousin for the first time since 1967. No difficulties between us, just busy lives.

*I finally decide to hang the ristra from the chandeleer.

side by side, lost in Seattle?, golden beauty

*Sitting side by side figuring out computers.

*Wondering if maybe I got lost in Seattle without my knowing it and then being smacked in the eye by the sun (for the first time in how many days?).

*When I glance up to the shelf my eye is caught by the ikon that I bought in St Julien.

Monday, stack, relaxation techniques

*Dog walked. Coffee brewed. Shot received. Crossword puz complete. "Metropolitan Dairy" read.Latte in hand. threebeautifulthings.blogspot.com and parisdailyphoto.com = Monday has begun.

*A stack of books to begin.

*Wowy zowy! Do dogs ever know how to relax!

a knock, first snow, jacket

*A knock on the red door. I wrap my yarn around the hand. "Can you come over for a minute?"

The wind and cold smack my face but it is a mere 5 steps before I am enveloped by warm air (furnace is on). Then I see---three sunflowers on canvas, their round seed centers a deep, rich brown-black. A partial leaf peeks out among the yellow petals. K has painted a canvas for me. How can I wait until it is dry so that I can hang it? (I know which wall already.)

*A first snow. Is it too early? The most common question from the people--adults and children--that I meet when I walk Khaki:"Does she like the snow?"

*In previous winters I've layered through the cold weather--sweaters, hoodies, scarves. Today I found a warm jacket with mitten pockets in the shop.