Meow Wolf

We went to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe.  Hard to fathom, an artist cooperative, creating an installation for people to enjoy and interact with.  On a huge scale in a repurposed bowling alley.  It supposedly has a mystery to solve but it was so big and complicated, I couldn't even start to imagine it.  For example, you go into a strange kitchen, open the refrigerator and there's a slide down into a space ship.  And it goes on from there.  Kind of reminded me of Myst but much bigger and complicated.  Even wandering around there, I'm sure that neither Dennis nor I saw all of it.  And who would know anyway.  I kinda thought that they should make you sign a release before you go in there.  Can't say if I was a Meow Wolf lover but I did enjoy my time inside.

Pictures from Lothar's family

From my newly found relation Inge from Australia.

My grandfather's cousin (David Baumann), along with his wife and son (Marta and Lothar) and Marta's parents perished in the Holocaust.  Separately in Sobibor and Auschwitz.  I am planning to do a memorial in Amsterdam (their last known residence) 'sometime'

I received these pictures today from Inge (age 84 and Lothar's cousin).  They show Inge's parents and grandparents as well as pictures of Marta and a younger Lothar.  Most from 1937.  Maybe David is taking the pictures.

Let's take some lessons here.  Things were bad in Germany for Jews in 1937 but nobody in these pictures knew how much worse it would get.  So for us.

Georgia O'keeffe

Some distortion at the top.

The painter Georgia O'keeffe spent much of her life in Northern New Mexico as well as Santa Fe.  Much of her work is gathered in a dedicated museum in Santa Fe.  I admit that Dennis and I were not all that interested in her work when we came but we were enthralled by the end.  We had a speaker for several hours talk about her life and art and then walked to the museum to see her paintings.  Her perception and presentation are so keen and insightful.  The pictures made me think that I could do it but I know how complex they really are and how deep the talent.

I don't know the name of this painting.

My necklace from the marketplace

Throughout Santa Fe is full of art, jewelry, pottery and other themed merchandise sold in a million shops.  But the area in the main plaza next to the Palace of the Governor's, only special vendors may sell.  They must be indigenous, sell crafts that have been made locally and the vendor or their immediate family must have made the item.  No exceptions.  I wanted to buy a turquoise necklace and I wanted to buy it there.  So the top picture shows the market, the second shows my necklace among the wares marked with the arrow, the third shows me with Mary who made my necklace.  Unfortunately I am not wearing the necklace which I wore almost the entire time.  But I felt some connection with Mary; liked her a lot; went back to see her. 

Our leader Vanetta

Where have I been?

Dennis and I just returned from a trip to Santa Fe and Taos New Mexico.  A Road Scholar trip.  Kinda pricey but an excellent time and so well run.  Here's Dennis with our fearless tour leader Vanetta.  A dynamo of energy and information, she ran an excellent tour.  From the New Mexico farming ranching heritage.  We went everywhere and did everything.  And so much excellent New Mexico food.  The question in New Mexico is Red or Green?

Chili of course.

Picture taken with Dennis at a traditional weaving shop on the way to Taos.

This is our second Road Scholar trip; the other one was the Alaskan Ferry.

Crazy electrical storm

There was a crazy thunderstorm here last night.  We usually don't have them here.  Much at all.  But this huge storm with tons of sheet lightening, pounding thunder and downpours.  Not a pet in town liked it a bit.  I was leaving a team meeting near Alderwood Mall and as I got in my car, I saw some strange light.  Now you always have lights from cars and traffic in a parking lot.  But it went through my mind, 'that kind of looks like lightening.'  And it kept going on and 1.5 hours maybe longer.  And I had to drive through it, the freeway becoming illuminated.  Happened again and again.  I was so glad to get home safely.

Gummed up the UW/Cal football game.  There was a 2 1/2 hour lightning delay and that game didn't start until 7:30 pm.  I was listening and gave up at the end of the first half at 11:30 pm.  Didn't end until 1:23 am with UW losing by a point.

I picked up this picture from  Facebook from a collection so I don't know who to credit.

July 4 Harstene

A bit of the summer in its waning days.  Hard to tell when summer blends into fall around here though it usually happens before Labor Day.  Which came as a shock to me when I first moved here many moons ago.  This is summer apparel around here. Sweaters and jackets.

The group at the Harstene Island cabin this year.  Nobody under 60.  It's hard to date a picture when there are no children in the picture.  But Teddy is there wondering about the camera that makes all these clicks and flashing lights.   Probably the first time I can actually identify everyone in the picture.  I still look different than everybody else...

Dennis is doing the end duty with the Naomi's popsicle shift today.....

The ferry in the Sound

This picture of the Washington State Ferry is from a photoessay in The Atlantic by Alan Taylor.  Used with attribution but not permission.  He published a series of 34 photos of Washington State as a tribute to his parents.  I considered using one of the Palouse.  But though I appreciate its beauty, I'm not there very much.  But here's what I see fairly regularly.  Puget Sound, or maybe more accurately, The Sailish Sea.  With the ferry on its way.  With Kitsap or Whidbey Island in the near background and the Olympic Mountains in the far background.  With the light blued and the whole image a bit gray.  Everything kind of blurred into everything else.  I've seen this but I've never had a camera that would capture it.

I have the resident's view of the ferries.  Instead of seeing their charm and the excitement of the ride, I see it as an annoyance.  What will be the wait and will we get on?

My Mother's cousin Marilyn

Since we're on the theme of parent's cousins, or first cousin once removed ... just so happens that I have another picture that meets the theme.  My mother's favorite cousin Marilyn.  Who passed away a short time ago.  Shown here with my favorite (she's always got to be the fave) second cousin, Marilyn's daughter, Flash/Susan.  Always looking gorgeous, talented and lovely.  With her mom at some formal event.  Flash posted this picture recently with this comment:

She always asked, "What time are you going on?" so she could consciously send support that moment. Now it's my turn to always think of her.