Paper!

A new exhibit on paper just opened at the Phoenix Art Museum.   Since I love paper, it was an exhibit I had to see.    I use paper to scrapbook, make cards, and write.   These artists showed that there is a whole lot more to paper than that.

One of the first exhibits is a giant, white ceramic paper wad.  It’s a great intro piece.   It was also appropriate for me since I managed to mangle the paper-folding invitation that the museum sent to members.  As you can see from the pix, the flyer was colorful and fun.   The directions told how to fold it into something that your fingers were supposed to be able to slip inside.  It sounded cute.   

The Museum’s webpage shows two of the articles on display, including a pop art paper dress.    There were lots of other paper dresses and t-shirts, too.   They also had a paper-making kit on display and other paper items that looked like they were from the ‘60’s.   

Their handout shows a sampling of some of the other types of art featured in “Paper!”    In addition to the exhibits in the Steele Gallery, there were items featured all throughout the museum.

My favorite exhibit, however, was the photographs of W.Eugene Smith.   He was a photojournalist for Life magazine, and a few of his most moving articles are on display.    Two of them involve a country doctor in Colorado and a mid-wife nurse in South Carolina.    The exhibit will end June 17, so I was lucky to have gotten to see it.

We had lunch in their cafe’.  I had a great Sonoran Chicken Salad while Kent had their tuna salad sandwich.  Both were yummy!   

They had a book sale, too.   Can’t pass up books, of course, so we came home with a few.   

Then we rode the light rail back home.  Even though it takes about as long to drive to the nearest light rail station as it would to drive downtown, we like to support light rail.   One of these days (soon, please!) it will be extended to Surprise.    Can’t wait.

A Common Thread

Today’s blog entry is a tribute to my mother, LaVaun Sloneker.  Today would have been her 97^th birthday.   She was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on May 27, 1915.  This picture was taken of us at Christmas, 2010, at her assisted living center, The Inn at Renaissance Village, in Ohio.  

Mother was an excellent seamstress when she was younger.   Her love of sewing inspired me to write an article that was published in 1997 in the “Profiles from the Past” section of Over the Back Fence, a regional Ohio magazine.   They titled it "A Common Thread".   Mother loved it, but she always wanted me to write about what a great card player she was.   I never was able to do that, but here is part of the Profile article:

“While waiting for Mother in her doctor’s office, I perused the pages of a sewing magazine.  Its glossy pictures revived memories of Mother sitting at her sewing machine, making dresses for me and doll clothes for my Barbie.  I remembered the creative world that she and I shared when she was a young mother and I was a child.  It was a magical time when she wove sewing lessons into the lessons of life:  measure twice and do your best. 

When we both grew older, that era faded.  My world expanded with decisions to make and responsibilities to bear as her world slowed down.  With fewer choices and less options, she didn’t have the opportunity to participate in my world; and I had not yet arrived in hers.  Looking at the magazine, I hoped it might bridge the distance between us—so I ordered a subscription immediately. 

When the first copy arrived, I tucked it into my purse and drove to visit my mother.  I handed her the copy and watched her smile at the photographs of curly-haired little girls.  “When you were three, I made you a dress just like this one, except it was blue,” she said proudly.  By looking at the photos and chatting about the styles, we rekindled a common interest.

The next issue arrived, and I couldn’t wait to share it with her.  Together, we studied its pages and circled the patterns that promised to reduce hips and elongate torsos.  One day we hurried to the fabric store where we found bolts of colorful calicos, tweeds and knits.  We walked up and down the rows, feeling the fabric between our fingers and debating the virtues of virgin wools and cotton blends.

At the row of velvets, she told me about seeing “Gone With the Wind” when she was a young paper mill worker.  It was her first movie and she recalled her favorite part:  the scene where Tara’s green velvet drapes were made into a dress for Scarlet.  ...”

  Until earlier this spring, Mother had been doing very well.  Her mobility was super.   Pushing her walker, she would zip up and down the halls at The Inn.   But her memory was failing, as was her hearing and eyesight.   Still, we joked that she could remember the important things: me, her family, and that she wanted to win a million dollars.   I told her that the fact that she couldn’t remember what she had for lunch (or if she even ate lunch) wasn’t important anyway.   She would reluctantly agree.  What did upset her was that she was no longer able to remember how to play cards.  She LOVED to play any type of card game.   Her memory for what cards had already been played rivaled any card shark in Vegas, too.  

When she was young she had always been feisty and independent.   She went to work in a dime store before she was legally old enough by lying about her real birthdate.    Later she got a better job at Champion Paper Company.   During World War II, she temporarily left Champion to work in a propeller factory in Cincinnati because it paid better.  When she and the other women were fired so the men returning from the war could be rehired, she returned to Champion.    This was lucky for me:   Her new job was to give vitamins to the men working in the mill, and that is how she met my dad.          

Unfortunately she caught the flu a few months ago, and it weakened her in body and spirit.   She had gradually been losing the ability to care for herself.   Now she was totally dependent on others, which she hated.   Mother always said she had lived a long and happy life.  She was ready, she said, for the next phase.    She went there on May 17, 2012.   

I’m sure she’s reunited now with my dad, my sister, and all of her other relatives and friends.   I just hope she can find a card game going and a sewing machine there, too.

Wigwam Festival of Fine Art

         We went to Litchfield Park today to see some great art and hear my favorite musician, Arvel Bird.   The Wigwam Resort is hosting the three day festival.   I saw so many great pieces of art--sculptures, paintings, photography, jewelry and even some clothing.   But the highlight for me was the music and dancing.

The performance began with a blessing, as is traditional in the Native American culture. This was followed by story-telling and an explanation of the dances.    I didn't write down the names of the dancers because I thought I'd be able to find them on the web.   Unfortunately, I couldn't.   A lesson to me to take my own notes!

This dancer is doing a Shawl Dance.   The men compete in Fancy Dance, and this is the women's equivalent to that.   Very beautiful and fast-paced.

Arvel Bird started with the title song from his album "Ride, Indian, Ride".  I love this album and listen to it a lot on my commute.  After a few songs from this album, he performed "Great Blue Heron" and "Dolphin Dances" from the  "Animal Totems II" album.  I love the stories that he tells about the meaning of the animal totems whenever he performs. 

This young man did a great job with his hoops.  

The national championships are being held at the Heard Museum this weekend.  I wondered if he would have competed in one of the youth divisions if he had not been performing with his family here.   His father is the drummer, barely visible to the far left.

Arvel Bird's latest music features the Celtic side of his heritage.   One of his selections was a tribute to the poorer passengers on the Titanic, many of whom were from Ireland.  The music is excellent, but his Native American songs will always be my favorites.  

  

  

A Trip to the Zoo

    There's nothing like a trip to the zoo to make you feel like a kid.    Kent and I and our friends, Chris and Lou, spent last Saturday at the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium.   Kent and I had visited there a few years ago, but our friends had never been there.    Since that first visit the Zoo has added the aquarium and greatly expanded.   

     Most of the exhibits are outside since Arizona has such great weather.    Cages, except for the obviously dangerous animals, are kept to a minimum.     The cute Prairie Dogs were the first residents to greet us.

The big guy in the center kept his back to me for a long time.  I know he saw the camera in my hand.   But when someone new walked up, his curiosity got the better of him, and I was able to snap this pix.

      The zoo has a number of unique animals that I had never viewed before.   Singing Dogs. African Wild Dogs. Wart Hogs. I didn't get any pictures of them because even though they're different, they didn't appeal to me.    They have a "Dragon" exhibit that we skipped, too.  Too reptilian for me.

     My favorite exhibit was the petting zoo.  I went right in with the kids, both kinds.   I love goats and couldn't resist feeding and petting them.  They also had deer and llamas. I WISH Kent could have taken a more flattering picture of me--but this was probably the way I looked the entire time I was inside the petting area.

   This Zoo is a private one, much smaller than the Phoenix Zoo, but miles closer to where we live.   It has Arizona's only public aquarium, complete with sharks, stingrays you can pet, and penguins.   The penguins were small ones, not the big Emperor variety, but they were very active when we saw them.    I had petted stingrays when they were on temporary exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo a few years ago so I skipped petting them here.
     The WWZ has an amazing number of exotic birds.    Parrots, macaws, swans, ducks, a giant condor--every kind of bird you can imagine.    Many of them are free to roam, like the swans and peacocks, while others are located in aviaries.  A huge number of birds are kept near the small primates.    Another set of cages is located near the tiger and lion area.   Black swans are found in the ponds as well as lounging with the kangaroos in the Australian area.   They were all beautiful.  But by the time we reached the African Walkthrough Aviary we all agreed we had seen enough birds for one day. 

A pair of Blue and Gold Macaws and a different macaw perched over a pond.  Macaws are from South American and mate for life.

      Desert and savanna animals do well here.   This camel was very regal!

The giraffe feeding station was a hit with the two-legged kids.

     The Australia outback must be similar to Arizona because the kangaroos and wallabies seem very happy here.    They are free to roam, but the people are encouraged to stay on the path.    

       At the end of the day we went home tired, a little dirty, but very happy.   Just like I did as a kid!

      
 
         

Spice of Life

          When we left our house in Ohio, we left behind a great spice drawer.   I tried to get one added in our new home, but a spice drawer wasn't on the list of available kitchen options.   Ever since moving in, I've wanted to find one.  
         I'm not sure why I liked the spice drawer as much as I did.   I'm not a great cook, and right now Kent does all of the cooking.  He's better at it, he likes to cook, and he's retired.
       We use a lot of spices, stored in a cabinet near the stove.   They took up two shelves, and the one I wanted was always at the back.   This didn't seem to bother Kent, but I missed my old drawer. 
        Even if I wasn't cooking, I wanted to have another spice drawer.  I like the look, and it gives me hope that someday the other drawers in the house will get organized, too.   

  

      A few days ago I found one on Amazon.   It didn't cost much, especially compared to the first one, which was part of a semi-custom kitchen.   My new drawer is smaller.   Too small to use the expanders, but the main part fits great.   Kent installed it and put the spices in place.   

      When I looked at them, I was surprised at how they were arranged.   I had alphabetized my old spice drawer, but Kent organized this one by which ones he uses most often.  His favorites in the front row and the least used on the back row. 

      Since he's the cook in the house, I left the drawer alone.   But it made me wonder whether sorting by use is a man-thing or a cook-thing.   

      In any event, it's different.   Which always adds a bit a spice.       

        

      

      

Happy 2012!

Happy 2012!!!

          

      In my family we had a tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day.  I'm not sure why, and I hated it as a kid.   It's okay now but I don't keep that tradition.

      Instead, I do on New Year's Day the things I hope to do all year.  It's more fun than making a resolution to lose weight, and I have a much better chance of succeeding.  So I've been writing, making cards, walking, viewing wildlife and partying.    All of these activities are too much for one day so I've expanded New Year's Day into New Year's Weekend.   It worked out great this year.

       I saw a nice sized coyote when I went to the mailbox on Saturday to mail out the last of the year-end charitable contributions.   He was walking between our house and the neighbors.   We both stopped.  I wished him a Happy New Year, and he returned to the back yard.  

       From inside the house, Kent and I watched him sniff under bushes and hunt around the mounds of cacti.   He managed to scare up a few quail, but he didn't find any rabbits.   But that didn't discourage him.  He was having such a good time he was wagging his tail!!!   Neither of us remembered seeing a coyote wag its tail before.   It was fun to see him so happy.   

       Our friends came over later to celebrate Christmas & New Years.  We had left for Ohio before having a chance to celebrate Christmas.   The day was so nice, sunny and in the 70's, that Kent grilled steaks for us.   Much better than sauerkraut! 

       Today I've been writing and making cards.   The New Year is getting off to a great start.  

       So if New Year's resolutions depress you more than inspire, think about changing your tradition.   Do at least one thing you hope to do all year.    You may not lose weight, but you'll be happy.   

   



Bicycling is Grand!

             We went for a bike ride around Grand again today.   We've been doing this on Sunday afternoons lately.  It's a great way to exercise without feeling like you're punishing yourself.  

I hate to do traditional exercise.  I hate the smell, the noise, and the atmosphere of a regular gym.   Even here, where the "gyms" are really health clubs, I have trouble making myself work out on machines.    But riding a bike is fun.  

We park our bikes in front of the Sonoran Plaza.   

    

         Inside are classrooms where the Adult Education groups meet.   They have classes on every topic imaginable:  history, art, wine tasting, writing, language,  and much, much more.   I can't wait to retire so I can go back to school.  

         The Scrapbook Club meets in here, too.   Another one of my hobbies.    There's also a small sandwich shop, Birt's Cafe, which specializes in healthy foods that taste great.  It also supports some important social services, too.   

The Sonoran Plaza

      We usually get a cup of coffee or a Coke and relax by the water feature for a few minutes.  It's always relaxing, and frequently something unusual is happening.   Last week some women were doing a scavenger hunt.   They needed to bring back a picture of 12 or 13 people, so they rounded up a group of us and snapped their photo.        

The View from Dillon's Patio

         We rode over to Dillon's and walked around to the back patio area. The restaurant has been closed for repairs and remodeling.   Recently it was announced that the Board of Directors is going to try to find a different restaurant to run it when it re-opens.   The drawings of the new look are impressive.   They are doubling the size of the bar and adding some booths.    

          The back patio area overlooks a large pond and one of the golf courses.   It's great to watch the egrets and herons fish the pond.   Bunnies are usually hopping all around, too.    I've missed going there since it has been closed, not because of the food (although it was good), but because I miss watching the wildlife.   If the sun is at just the right angle, you can even see the fish swimming around.   Some of them are huge! 

          I can't wait until a new restaurant goes in so I can watch the birds and bunnies again.