Some Highlights from my 70th Year

I haven't written in over a year. What is up with that! I turned 70 this year. Reflecting on what I'm calling my sunset years. I've enjoyed taking the trailer out for a few outings, went to Portland several times, and am taking care of our diabetic cat Bob.

I did a little art, by making some linocut towels for passover gifts, and a feminist fist for Basja. 

Mostly what is new this year is going to my silver sneakers class. I try and go two times a week and enjoy the teachers and the other students, about my age, trying to stay in some degree of fitness/health. New chapter.

My New Fence and Other Art Projects

 
I have been working on my fence project with my yard worker Paul. We finally replaced the long line of fence and the front gate. I remade three panels. It nearly killed me but I was obsessed to finish. Anyone who knows me knows how I can get.

Maya graduated from South Eugene this June. She is leaving for Paris tomorrow, and then Philadelphia in July, and Richmond, VA in August to start VCUarts. Very impressive. She won a gold for a watercolor called Water. 

I made a slideshow for Maya's grad party and some photo panels of her from Birth to High School grad. I guess that's where all my creative juices are going. 

 

Latest Art Projects

I've been doing some art, linocut, scarves, and now a little collage and computer stuff. This piece is my homage to Maya leaving for college and venturing out on her own. 

I did a couple of scarves for Ellen and happily got paid. This supports my habit of buying more materials. 

I did a linocut with Tamara of a pigeon, that came out alright. Of course there were a few backslides with some linocuts, I guess I had beginner's luck with some of the pieces. 

Here are a couple of scarves I made. They were for some mothers. I keep at it cause it makes me happy.

Leaving Las Vegas

Went to Las Vegas with Harriet and Aggie this weekend to celebrate Harriet's birthday. We stayed at the Bellagio and spent a fun filled weekend seeing a show, eating and drinking. 

We saw "O" cirque de soleil. It was fantastic. Our room overlooked the fountain, and we had a fountain show every 15 minutes. 

We walked through the many casinos on the strip, took a gondola ride in the Venetian, went up the Eiffel tower in Paris, and ate at Gordon Ramsay's Burgr, among many things. It was "Disneyland for adults", as we said.

Now we are home sweet home in normal Eugene. What a blast.

 

Coming to the end of 2014

Got through the holidays, enjoying Chanukah more this year. It has been a good year, lot's of creativity, good friends, happy home, and health (knock wood).

This year Barb joined us for our trip to Odell.

Maya turned 18 this year, leaving the nest soon. Starting to look at colleges.

I married two gay couples with my internet ordination.

I've been making tallit and linocut art.

And Aggie has fed us well from her garden, and has more critters than ever: right now, a guinea pig, two rabbits, one hedgehog, a hamster, and three cats. I have a new cat borrowed from the neighbors.

Long Hot Summer- I'm Not Complaining

This summer has been a true summer. Lot's of hot days and nights: vacation, camping, visitors, swimming. I really felt like I had a summer.

Fall Creek 
Swam with Kendra in the cool waters of the pools at Fall Creek. We are so lucky and got the place to ourselves twice.

 Orcas Island
What a beautiful and enchanted island. Waking up to the beautiful view every morning. Adventures on the island, and no cell service - which was good.

 Diamond Lake
 I loved being outside and near water. Essential for me. I went kayaking twice this summer, and swam a couple of times. 
Officiated a marriage for my friends tova and Anno. Barb was here for a month, went up to Portland and of course ate well.

and the summer continues. Went to Silver Falls and spent the day hiking the falls. It was beautiful. Discovered the town of Silverton. So sweet and authentic.  

Coco's Passing

Today was Coco's last day on earth. Life was getting hard. She was such a good dog, sweet, quirky, beautiful, happy and kind. She got along with everyone, and everything. She didn't have a mean bone in her body. Tomorrow I won't be helping her down all those steps to the yard. Just one more trip tonight to her final resting place.

The Vet Teri Sue Wright couldn't have been any nicer. She was perfect, loving and gentle. The whole experience was very loving and I feel a big lump in my throat and an achy heart. 

I think we got to do everything we needed in this life. Goodbye my girl. My sweet companion.