Colorado Reunion ~ Plein Air and The Picinic

I'm up on day six, v-e-e-r-r-r-y excited because ... I see clear blue sky. After my usual mornin' rituals, I pack together my plein air painting materials. These jam packed days seem to present so many options that I find myself having to really settle in my heart, what I really want to do. This was one of those days. My friend had pulled together a visit way up on one of the out-of-town mesas to a ole' friend's home/recording studio. But . . .  today was sunny and gorgeous - - and I haven't had the opportunity to go paint at all. So you know what this artist chose to do, right?

I zipped up to my friend's house, letting her know what I'd decided to do for the early part of the day, and then, hiked up to the side of the mountain to paint. I had the precise spot I'd wanted to paint (here it is) and I got my chair situated, paints all set up and accessed my physicality. Oh HECK! I had to pee. Looking around, I was lucky enough to notice a nearby home that was under construction. I check with the foreman and he directs me to the inside bathroom (thanks Universe)! Ok, now I can get to painting. I decided to eliminate the wagon (since I had about an hour - and architectural things take me awhile). I was in heaven, the sun, the breeze, the sweet mountain air. Once the sun was pounding down on me, I knew it was time to finish up. I'm pretty happy with the image - and I also sketched up the full scene on this journal page.

I bustled back to my room to get tidied up for the grand art show at the "Telluride Gallery of Fine Art". Some of you may know, that showing in this gallery has been a life long dream of mine. When I lived in Telluride (and when I'd moved away), I dreamed, I envisioned, I yearned, I ached to see my work on these walls. So to take part in this show, although it's only for the weekend, I'm so thrilled. When I get to the gallery, it is wall-to-wall people. I squeeze in to greet people and am confounded and exhilarated with the faces. To remember my pieces, their positioning, etc. I have done a faded back sketch on this journal page. And I've captured several key people at the "Artist's Table" at the Sheridan Restaurant later that evening. You know who you are! What a day to live on in my memory ... thanks again Universe.
Oh but the next day, September 29, was another BIG day. After a lovely mornin' hike up Bear Creek I did my shopping for the giant Reunion Picnic in the Town Park. Oh MY - I nearly died at the cost of chips & dip in the local market. I never did find any gold in the bag either - oh well. It was a glowing autumn day, sunny with intermittent cumulus beauties dancing by. The picnic was enormous - over 400 people - and I tried to recognize those I could. I actually felt a bit overwhelmed (never did do big crowds well) and nestled close to my friends. They had us all wiggle together for a group shot and it was humorous trying later, to identify faces. But the special feeling of how we all were (the ole shots from the 70's really showed the hovel-like buildings we lived in, plenty of vacant lots and the dirt streets and the makeshift ski resort), what kind of dreams and community we all had and how those who'd stayed in Telluride, actually got to see it come into fruition. It was pretty amazing!

This scene, the back drop of the picnic, embraces several of the special people at the reunion that continue to touch my heart ... even after all these years. Can you sense the range and depth of emotions hooked to this magical place? I hope you have a place like this some where in your life ... it changes who you are ...

Colorado Reunion ~ Merriment and Alpen Glow

(Note: Just a lil' memo to let you know ... this trip took place the end of September 2012. )

After rising to crisp Colorado blue skies, I found a phone message from my friend. She'd arranged a Brunch at her place for several of my ole acquaintances to converge ... and I'd best be there!! Cool! I have my mornin' Chai Tea and amble over to my friends! There's Anna (who I'd known as Margie, and still can't remember to call her Anna) who's strumming on Hether's newly acquired banjo, Billie (who later arrives after just having flung himself over his bicycle handle bars, bruising himself and the apples he'd brought to contribute) and eventually, my ole' architect (did I tell you I'd had plans of buying property and building a home in Telluride? Well, that's another story ...), George Greenbanks. In the wanderings of George's office I spy this fantastic pen and ink sketch of George and I ask, if he has a small one I could perchance have? Digging in his pocket, he pulls one out and hands it to me. I smile, tears again ... this sketch is of George 'n my dear friend Hether at George's home in the garden.
A flood of memories wells up inside me and I'm between giggling and tearing up. It was a whole lifetime ago, yet still one of my very favorite times that held up so many opportunities to my young life at that time. I'm not unhappy where I am but my curious mind and creative heart wonders what my life would be like had I followed some of those dreams I'd had then ... all the way to fruition. I wonder ...

Mind wandering aside, after nibbling on brunch George and Billie offer us tours of  their nearby homes. I'm jazzed, homes are such holograms for us humans. And these two homes did not disappoint. Meandering our way up to Billie's I was reminded that George is the best town history buff, and we all garnered stories about each house and the people around it too! Where Billie's home had a warm, clean Asian feel with many an artist's thoughtful touches, George's was eclectic, with holdings from every imaginable memory and person. I ached a bit inside, wishing I'd stayed in Telluride, weathered the life there and had a home and life there now. But it was not the time for that future to manifest and so many other dreams have come true. I just had so many opportunities, it's hard to pick which one to follow.

Eventually, our group moved in our different directions and I return to my room to ready for my evening plans with my renewed friendship in Linda. Her business is the care and maintenance of homes for whom Telluride is not a primary residence. With her dedication to work, her Virgo organization and her integrity, Linda's positioned herself well in the small community. She picks me up and I travel deep south of town where I knew the Telluride Mine's tilings ponds to be. Now days the ponds have all been fixed and the homes there are some of the most exclusive ($1 million per lot). I savor the aspen sprinkled grounds while she does her work and soon we are curving back thru town and out the north end. My friend prefers solitude and lives nested out of town. Her cozy two-story home affords her lovely views overlooking the opposite mountains and mesas. She prepares a yummy fresh dinner and as we're talking I'm hopping up and down. The exquisite color play going on across the valley on snow-capped peaks and golden aspen groves is breath-taking. I try to capture it here in my journal peering over the nearby rooftops ... I hope you can gather even just a snippet of the pink, gold and orange alpen glow.

What an amazingly rich day ... I return to town and my quiet bungalow ... with memories and heartfelt friendships dancing in my head ... as I fall asleep.

Colorado Reunion ~ Nesting In and Catching Up

Yipppppppppppppie ~ my first FULL day in beautiful Telluride. Up early to kinda bounce around my new digs (didn't know there was a breakfast served downstairs - silly me, it is a Bed & Breakfast). So now I have a closet of food and there's more for me in the kitchen! I make a combo of my favorite cereal and their fresh fruits 'n berries. Delicious munches as I eat my "breakie" out on my lil sunny deck (had to paint the view from my deck for you!!), drinking in the yellow of the nearby aspens and vicariously romping like the dogs running along the river trail below. My aim is to get out soon and hike up Bear Creek Valley.

I do get off on my hike ... choose this yellow lil' pearl from my quaking aspens to install in my journal. The hike is invigorating with the sweetest smelling air! I feel so alive and energized that I tend to ignore the rain sprinkles. Once back from my hike I hustle to meet a friend to whom I've shipped my paintings that will go in the Tellluride Gallery of Fine Art Show. We lunch at the "Brown Dog" and I trundle back to the room with my big box. My evening involves unpacking the paintings methodically, photoing the positioning so that I can re-pack them to ship back home safely. N-o-o-o-o-w you know how detailed I can be!!

Next day I have learned that to miss the rain showers during my hike, I need to get going earlier. So I'm up, and off. After the same enlivening hike I bip over to my friend Hether's home to visit. A peer artist whom I've not seen in probably near forty years is there and we catch up. Hether is returning the glass bowl to Anna after it had traveled for fourteen years, finally to be here in Telluride when Anna, who now lives in Oregon, is here too! Then, Hether's son (now remember I used to live with Hether and her son was an ornery young pre-teen then) drops by ~ and ~ oh my!! Not only is he a grown man but he's a head taller than me and has broad strong shoulders (and some grey hair too!) I just had to capture his playful spirit and his kind heart clearly visible here as he holds one of his two Chihuahuas ~ such a size contrast!

My evening meal was a joyous reunion. One of my most dear friends in Tellluride had kind of disappeared from my world. Not responding to birthday cards 'n letters, I'd given up on her. Then, just before I came to this Reunion ... I get a birthday card from her! Who believes in serendipity? So my meal was a sweet reconnecting with my friend Linda. The Mexican restaurant is noisy and hurried, but the connection was warm and we agreed to a more private meal at her home later. Such a full, rewarding day . . . I'm lovin' my reunion with my beloved Telluride. I even fantasize . . . is there some way I can live here again? Hey, we can all dream, right?

The Western memorabilia - well, I just had to gather some part of the wild atmosphere - are collected from some of my travelings through Telluride - had to have the "Cowgirl" card. Most of you know I'm a closet cowgirl, right? Well, you know now :)

Colorado Reunion ~ Bunnies and Box Canyons

I arose my usual early self, did my yoga 'n meditation then, quietly peeked out the Colorado windows. Everyone else appeared to still be sleeping so I creeped upstairs and made my cup of Chai tea. Luckily my friends have a back door, just adjacent to my room and I tip-toe out the back door into the sweetness of the Colorado valley between Montrose and Ridgeway. Smells of the country, grass, crispness and the clouds whispering of the coming rain. At the base of the fencepost sat an adorable lil' cotton tail rabbit (Later, my friend told me how she used to feed the lil' rabbits daily next to their shed until one day a vigilent hawk swooped down during the feed. She was broken-hearted and no more rabbit feeding.) My bunny memory rests here in my journal now.

Once the house hold was up we breakfasted and soon were all packed up, ready to drive to Telluride. Tied to the roof were long metal poles which were to be used for a curtain hanging project. As the lightening storm approached and we drove off,  my friend's hubby says, "Those make good lightening rods!" Ok, now I'm really excited to get to Telluride!! En route we stop to see an art show at the Ridgeway Library. My friend touted it as a "horse" show. I love horses, ok, but within the hour we were leaving the library nearly in tears.

The two women artists, Karen Keene and Alice Billings, had done quick and emotional captures in bold acrylic. But as we read the titles and noted the small, handwritten labels ... the depth of the paintings came out. All the featured wild horses were from the Spring Creek Basin. The images depicted the animals' spirit and the label told about the horses lineage, their life and how many of them died or were maimed during BLM helicopter round-ups. I know,  I know, I've heard what happens when there are too many horses in the range - - but it still didn't keep my heart from being torn with each story I read in that show. Intense!

Just past Ridgeway, we begin seeing the magnificent San Juan Range - and thank goodness Hether was patient with my "tourist" mentality - I had to jump out of the car many a time to take photos. The brilliant colors along Dallas Divide were rich, washed clean by the diminishing thunderstorms. I created this blend of my favorite vistas along our drive, from left to right, the mesa beneath Dallas Divide, Dallas Divide and then, tucked delicately in the box canyon, my beloved Telluride.

After unpacking the car, I was delivered to what would be my lil' nest while I was in Telluride, the Manitou B & B. Room #5 was divine, up on the second floor I could see down into the valley over the town. And right under my tiny one person deck was the gurgling river alongside the trail, lined with golden Aspens, that lead to the Bear Creek trail. Ok, I've died and gone to heaven, right?!?!?!

Some "Sweet-est Favorites" before Flying Off to Telluride Reunion

This has gotta be one of my happiest memory journal pages. Following some trips or events I like to just sit down after the fact and nest into what was the very, very "favorite-est" parts of that time. It is with this page I did just that for my "Women's Journaling Alpine Retreat 2013". On our final retreat day we'd all assembled delightful, diverse lil' "Harvest Books". Kind of what we in brief, had "harvested" from each of the rare and rich spirits of the women at this retreat.

T'was one of the most riotous and creative times at the entire retreat and I wanted the nest my book securely in my journal. I adore my book, with it's tumble of word descriptions in the middle page and then, the individually designed page by each retreat participant, chattering joy, inventiveness and personality across the small, folded pages. It's such a treasure, so unique! I chose this copper, iridescent envelope which I cut off so as to display and make accessible my fold-out book. I loved the "serendipity" of the rusty, copper-ish fishing hook and Chef Izzy's simply elegant business

card residing so cohesively on the page too. Truly a statement of tender gems my life has been sprinkled with ... reminding me I am absolutely blessed.   :)

And not much less charged with happy energy, the opposite page starts chronicling my Telluride Reunion trip. For not much less than a year, I'd made my decision to make this travel down memory lane. And as it unfolded, not only did I get to reunite with many friends but, I was able to show at THE gallery of my dreams too. This page gives you a peek out the final plane flight that took me from Denver over miles of exquisite Rocky Mountain terrain into Montrose. It was just east of Gunnison that I began seeing the small clumps of yellow dotting the mountains below. Oh WOW - - it was my beloved Aspen trees in their golden autumn garb. I nearly cried. Some of you know how connected my heart is to these trees ... many times tears have come to my eyes just being under these lovelies. And it really grounds me to my Colorado roots.

When I reached Montrose my ole' friend (as in having been a friend for forty five years) picked me up with hugs and excited conversation. We shopped for groceries for my next week in a lil' B&B and settled in to meet her new husband. Their cozy home cuddles up against the eastern slopes of the long valley leading to Ridgeway and seeing ole' familiar territory where I'd so long ago lived stirred my heart. We barbecued dinner in their front yard barbecue (which you see here) then, moved inside as the evening cooled.

Boy, did I feel like I was home. I folded myself into the deep mattress and covers of Colorado nights, smiling at the anticipation of the coming days.

Visits to a Hospital and a Birthday

My residual retreat memories juggled with my annual birthday collage creates pages in contrast.

It was the final day at the retreat when one of my participants began feeling ill. We were blessed to have a retired nurse within our lil' family group and the three of us, the uncomfortable patient, our nurse and I became a trio that learned about the medical facilities in the San Andreas area. Not a bad thing to know since I frequent the beautiful, rugged country at least once a year, but, somehow, not what you'd request.

We were gifted with quick referrals to both the local nurse at the Bear Valley Emergency Response and then, a smooth drive down to the nearest hospital in San Andreas. Never fear, all turned out well, and our precious participant was declared safe, well, and out-of-the-woods, so to speak. This lil' sketch of what I vaguely remember of the small hospital (you'll have to understand that my focus was not on gathering images to update my journal while I was there) mainly reflects the darkness of the night and the glowing promise of safety in the yellow windows. My mind recalls much more when I see this sketch ... as with all my journal entries. A long night ... with a grateful ending  :)

The opposite page presents what has become a tradition with me: the collage from all the dear birthday cards I receive. I always had this pile of cards after my birthday ... wondering how I could throw 'em away while wanting to save the memories forever. So this has become my solution.

This year there seemed to be a floral theme, but two cards in particular had special meaning. One, of course what this wacky Tweetie bird!!! Not only did it give me a great suggestion for my b-day ("go shake your tail feathers!!") but the bottom of Tweetie is up on a lil' spring so that when I hit it - - it does shake!!

And then, the other special card with the tilting tea cups tells the tale of a revived friendship. This friend from nearly forty years ago seemed to disappear from my life. She'd not responded to any of my phone calls nor my birthday cards for over three years (we're both Virgos). It was this year that I'd given up on her and skipped mailing her a birthday card. So when I got that tea cup card from her - - it more than made me smile. It gave me back my dear friend :)  How coincidental was it that in just a matter of weeks I was flying off to a Reunion in the tiny mountain town where she lived. And I could reunite with my friend in person too! My heart was just singing for this birthday.

Life continues to be thoroughly fascinating ... don't you agree?!?!

Retreat's Thursday flows into Saturday

My Thursday at the Women's Retreat just echoed another day in paradise, with no relief in sight! After arising early (yes, only the quiet fishermen we up on the lake at the same time), awareness-awakening yoga, and another amazing breakfast, I introduce paperclay, one of my favorite mediums. Here you see one of the participants determinedly creating paperclay pizza! Yes, I did say pizza!! Endless ideas have to cease to allow a quiet Buddhist Meditation before it's lunch time.

Chef Izzy outdoes herself again (with Roasted Asparagus, Poached Egg, and Brioche and Creamy Shallot Vinaigrette) and happy round tummies we waddled down to the "Miwok Holes" area. There Jean instructs us in the dual assignment of imaging and writing our own Haikus. I love these stacked granite shore rocks with fasciniating rings demonstrating different water levels with a few yellow leaves clinging on to Autumn. So this become my subject for the Haiku. And you can see my resulting page too.

Thursday evening tumbles into Friday. We are served home made jams by Izzy and not only were the yummy but all us artists were in love with the glowing colors as the sun shown thru the jars! Of course, I had to paint them! Friday at the Retreat included making our precious individual books (stay tuned to upcoming blog entries to see mine). The formal instruction/schedule ends after our Alumni Lunch and participants sprinkle around doing their own bidding.

Saturday finds us all finding our own fun direction. I'm seeking some solitude and head off to the East end of the lake for a solitude filled sketch. Some of the others had gone on out on a mission to pick up any stray fishing line and/or fish hooks cluttering the beaches. So when they all returned with some actual "beautiful" rusty ole' hooks, I selected one that had to go in my journal. Here I've installed the hook in Mod Podge and sliced the business card of the quite delicious Mexican "El Vachero" Restaurant we ventured off to Arnold to try.

I'm really pleased with the diversity of this page and how it all melds together. It so is reminiscent of the quickly flying-by-time there at the end of the retreat. We all wanted to cling onto the close friendships and the exuberant laughter that we so often shared. But we all knew . . . our time together was trickling away.

I found my journal actually got kinda of shaken up and out of order. You see we had a medical emergency that had to be dealt with and it did scatter the usual organization of my mind. But I learned I could handle it and come out grateful for my health, the "miracle" participants present at the retreat and the eventual positive outcome nurtured by everyone's caring.

Life is a miracle . . . sometimes I just need reminders!

A Retreat Wednesday's Wanderings

This glowing Wednesday morn was greeted with smiles and anticipation. Today we are quickening thru our yoga, munching thru breakfast (although you can see Darlene, who's made a personal commitment to quickly sketch each breakfast, working away!) and plumply packing  our fabulous "brown-bag" bundle for our hike over to Duck Lake.

It's a mild four mile round trip up over the ridge behind Lake Alpine, dropping into a wide yawning meadow. Along the path we doddle for photos or nature detailing (did I mention one of the participants was a Botanist?), finally reaching Duck Lake and her languid granite surroundings.

Before our sandwiches, we launch into one of the two processes planned for our afternoon. Here is my resulting "Word Whittle" page, which I later illustrate according to the word I had selected. Can you guess what my word was? We break for our mid-day meal sprinkled amongst the trees and rock chairs. Sighs follow our round bellies and it's a good time to just watch Jean's demo for our next exercise. Once we attempt to understand "seeing" the way she's described, we patter off individually, seeking perfect subject matter for our version of "shadow-seeing". My "shadow" page not only reflected trees I was seeing, but I also had a flood of my own shadow side crop up. So I wanted to reflect that with the pensive portrait I found of myself ... keeping it also in solemn shadow monochromatic rendering.

Once back to the Lake Alpine cabins, we slithered into relaxation. The most robust activity we could indulge in ~ was the reading of our previous word exercise and sip wine! Our evening meal, "Lemongrass infused Jasmine Rice, Summer Beans and Ginger Marinated Prawns" was savory. Leaving the remaining hours filled with invested conversation and even some journal work (which I recall became so hilarious that I had tears of joy pouring down my cheeks!).

Gosh . . . and we just have to get up and have all this fun again tomorrow!!

A Tumble of Creativity for Retreat Tuesday

Tuesday breaks gorgeous. Following a calming yoga session down by the lake, we gather round the breakfast table and munch ~ between smiles.

We have a jam packed day with wide variety and some of my very favorite processes. Jean leads off with a mesmerizing contour drawing process. Now I love this exercise when I can totally give myself to the moment. But ... durn ... this year my brain kept chattering. So this years image was scattered and spotty. When I'd finished the initial image I felt I'd best go in and explain some of the significance in my confusion. I still love the rich memories that flood back with this on site meditation  Here's some of us punctuated among-st the shore line.


Our amazing Chef Izzy has given us the option of learning how to "pull the feather" from our soon-to-be-dinner squid. We learned that this feather-like, transparent spine must be removed for cooking. Delicately Izzy demonstrated how to tenderly pull the very breakable item from inside the floppy squid. I was successful at getting mine out without breaking the spine. Here I've mounted it for posterity in my journal. A very different experience for me!

Following a tantalizing lunch, we head to the Sequoia Cabin for some studio work. Delving into our "Animal Mandalas" touches an inner place in me, and usually when I witness how it speaks to the other participants, I'm quite moved. This year I was given a "Chipmunk". When I'd completed my research around this lil' guy, I knew how appropriate he was to me for where I am in my life. And off I trotted creating this delightful mandala (don't worry, I did further research for image references once I got home to finish it up like this!). But I smile each time I see this busy lil' guy and all he represents to me.

Our final journal work for the afternoon came out to look like this for me. This writing process is always fun and has become more frivolous each time I do it. Then, once home I find an illustration to accompany the deeper meaning of the words. I loved this in-flight swan ... with his secret message.

But do you think our activities are over? Heck no!! We'd planned on dining around the campfire followed by our musical Beth, pulling out her guitar for singing around the cozy fire. With thunderous cumulus clouds traveling overhead we decided to eat in the cabin but, launched out to our proposed fire site after dinner. What a riot! Old songs we'd not heard in years and then, getting everyone to sing and laugh at the harmonies. With great melancholy we finally doused the fire and returned to our cabins for a satiated nights slumber.

Can tomorrow be even better? Wait and see . . .