Up and Away

Mount Rainier, from the air, near sunset

​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.

New Dawn, collage by Deco

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.

 [D1]
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TTFN


Love and Peace


Deco

​I will be there of course, and working on a new piece.  No, I am not going to tell you what it is; you have to come and see!  Be sure to pick up the special discount card and redeem it with participating artists at the Market. 



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If you can’t come to New Mexico to see the magnificent balloons, and would still like to see beautiful colors, take a look at the Gallery pages of my website.  If you see one that entices you, reach me on the About page.