​A walk in the woods this morning astounded me with color. I arrived at the trailhead (near Big Tesuque) just as the sun was lifting over the mountain, and the topmost branches of the aspens caught the slanting beams, as if they were radiating light themselves.  The area around Tesuque Creek is known for the aspen groves gracing the mountainsides – every year visitors come to walk under the quivering amber leaves – some even ride the ski lift to view the trees from a hawk’s perspective.  Often I like to walk alone in the aspens world – the sunlight filters through the leaves, bathing everything I see in a golden glow. Today, however, I walked where the aspens were fewer, and they mixed in with the Ponderosa Pines and the gambel oak – their splashes of bold yellow: canary, marmalade, saffron - appeared all the brighter in contrast to the firs surrounding them.

​Harvest season had produced an abundance; squashes are piled high in the markets and bushels of pears and apples are waiting to be chaperoned home: cakes, pies, and cider.  (Have you ever tried perry? A pear cider! Special pears go into perry – they are called wildings!)

​ I have been busy producing new collages and I have brought new items to the Market.  I debuted 4 new greeting cards and created a new collection called Fine Ladies Dancing. I now have over a dozen individual cards and 6 card packets (collections of 5 blank cards and envelopes). 

​ The “Perfectly Pear” and “Fine Ladies Dancing” collections feature five different images, while the others - “Dragon’s Lair” “Have No Fear” “Pluto” and “Loosen Your Soul” have feature one image for the five cards.

​ Many of my customers find these collections make lovely gifts; if you would like to purchase, click here to go the Contact Form to reach me. Yes, I do ship! 

​While Harvest is a celebration of what we have, it is also a practice of hope and expectation.  We are grateful for what we have and we look forward with faithful hope. 

​Hope.  Something that Chicagoans are familiar with.
 
I am still thinking to a Road Trip: I think I will.  I will report back with my adventures.

​Love and Peace


Deco

​A recent jaunt out of town brought me to the lovely small city of Spokane, Washington. The weather was autumnal, crisp enough in the mornings to appreciate a scarf, with balmy sunny afternoons.  Trees were beginning to tip their leaves with red and gold, and the last harvests of the fruit trees were fewer but sweet. Flower gardens were vivid in bright hues: I saw dahlias with blooms the size of my head, koi soaking up the sun, a Great Blue Heron contemplating stillness.  Nearby mountains framed the views, and Idaho was just an hour drive away.

​Being “away” is so restorative – as if just breathing different air makes a difference in my being.  Of course, more than fresh air contributes to renewal: meals with unusual flavors, new dialogues mix with old family stories; a slower pace lets lazy hours spool away untroubled by the cares of home. Like a retreat with intentional moments, I found I was calmer and stronger, able to handle the madness of the world, which shivered like a crashing cymbal on my return to “real life.” But not right away.  My return flight took me over the snowy peak of Mount Rainier, near sunset.  Like the mountain asana in yoga, the promontory was solitary and wholly at rest. I thrilled to see it – first in front of the wing and then behind it.  I like to sit in the window seat when I fly; sometimes the reward is the mountain, and the reminder to grow in stillness.

And then home.  Autumn is beginning to appear in the High Desert Plains – we have had record breaking rainstorms in the past week. Snow sparkled on the ski basin. Before the harsh days prevail, however, we celebrate the clear brilliant skies in New Mexico by adorning them in gorgeous color: The Balloon Fiesta! Look up! Balloonists from all over the world come to Albuquerque, and aficionados rise before the sun to see them launch.  The festival lasts for ten days, and[D1]  includes a variety of celebrations.  When they are not watching the balloons loft away into the mountains, many fans come to Santa Fe to while away their hours.  We artists at the Santa Fe Railyard Artisans Market would like to invite these visitors to come see our wonders too, so we have added an extra day to our schedule.  Not only will we be open on Sundays, but we will also set up on Friday, October 13, 2017, in our usual location, The Farmers Market Pavilion, for our usual hours, 10 am to 4 pm.

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