Williams Lake

Ahhhh...we're up in the Taos Ski valley this weekend. We have been coming here on Labor Day weekend for at least the past ten years. Mark's birthday is Sept. 4th, so he calls this his birthday weekend.

So, let me take you on the hike I did today. Could be one of my favorite hikes to do as I usually do this hike when we are here. I went alone; Mark didn't feel up to it and neither did the teenage boys. The trail has a lot of hikers on it, so you're never really alone.

The lichen hanging from these trees (there's a lot of it)is called Usnea. Usnea contains potent antibiotics which can halt infection and are broad spectrum and effective against all gram-positive and tuberculosis bacterial species. A tincture of this is far more effective in treating strep throat than antibiotics. At least, that has been my personal experience. But, you do have to educate yourself on it and how to use it.

A beautiful clump, grove or whatever it would be called, of larkspur on the way up. The trail head starts at about 10,000 ft. and you end up at about 11,000 ft., so hiking up the two miles does take a bit of effort.

Stuff like this gets me excited. Geez. It's just moss. Wonder what the hikers passing by thinks of this woman on the ground in contorted postitions taking this photo!

In the mountians in new Mexico at about this time of year, people go mushroom hunting. There are edible ones that are a kind of portabello mushroom. When folks find 'sweet' spots of these mushrooms, they don't even tell their family members who are with them of their find! It's like a gold rush, but for mushrooms. By the way, these are not edible (that I know of).

I'm not sure what these are called, but there are lots of them along the trail. And asters, elderberry, wild roses, Queen Anne's Lace and much, much more!

Lots of fallen trees too in varying states of decay. The bark on this one is more like a cloak or something.

Ah! This one could be the proverbial postcard shot! If you are familiar with this mountain range, I'm looking towrds the ridge where Kachina mountain is.

As you get closer to the lake, you walk by these really LARGE fields of basalt rock covered with moss. Quite like a scene from "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy.

This is Williams Lake. It's not as full as it usually is this year as the area did not get as much rainfall during the summer months.

Another 2,000 feet up and you see Wheeler Peak; the highest mountain in New Mexico. Someone we know got up at 4 a.m. (Grady, Sam and ?) this morning to hike up to the lake and to Wheeler's Peak so that he could see the sunrise from there.

And there you have it. A hike up to Williams Lake. I'm not hardy enough to attempt climbing the additional 2,000 feet to get up to Wheeler. I'll leave that to those who can; like that 70 year old man that blew right by me on the trail this morning!

Busy as a...

BEE. That's what I've been. Busy as a whole bunch of bees! Y'know, I was so thrilled to get this bird water thing in my garden. And the birds just LOVED it. Until the bees came along. Now the birds don't come. I guess they will when it gets too chilly in the air for the bees to fly.

Recap. Got back from the family reunion on July 29th. Within a week of getting back, I hung two art shows and was a participant of a third show. The 8x8x8 show was the BIGGIE for me since I was the one who put it together. It was hectic indeed getting that show hung. Mind you, one of the pieces is 8 FEET by 8 FEET. It was hot and humid and setting up for the reception in those summer temps made me feel wilted! But, we pulled it off and had a great turnout in spite of the torrential rain that night (it poured for an hour and a half!). When it was raining hard, my wonderful hubby took to being the doorman and got himself armed with several umbrellas and helped folks out to their cars so that they wouldn't get too soaked.

So, here are the images from the reception that night(August 8th)!

It felt like showtime when I took the "OPEN" sign out to the sidewalk at 5 p.m.

I don't know which is more exciting. Having your friends show up to see the show or total random strangers showing up for the show. So, a BIG thank you to everyone that showed up! Especially to so many who came in the POURING rain and arrived totally drenched! Thank you...

I wasn't in a state of mind to take pictures that night. Mark managed to take a few. Too much going on! And, I'm so not used to talking so much.

What a night! There is also a tv interview that was aired the night before. Click on this link to see the interview (I really don't like being in front of a camera; I feel much more comfortable BEHIND the camera!). Oh, and then I had about eight days to totally pack up fourteen years worth of stuff in my kitchen. Right now, I don't even have walls and a ceiling in my kitchen as it goes through a transformation over the next eight weeks.

Call me crazy...

Akalā Neves

While in Hilo this past July, I had the extraordinary chance to attend a luau where the honoree was a young girl named Akalā Neves. This luau was not the usual luau as it included a lengthy hula program that served as Akalā's 'ūniki (for translations of the Hawaiian words, go to this link here). Her father is a very well known kumu (teacher) hula in Hilo and this hula graduation excercise was Akalā’s rite of passage into becoming a kumu hula herself.

Akalā is an incredible and intense young woman. She is on her way to college now and I know she will do amazing things with her life. Her name is poetic in itself; translating roughly to mean the pinkish sky that appears before the sun rises.

The following images are from this special luau. The moon was full that night and the energy of the singing and dancing and the presence of all the guests was something to behold.

These are ipus which are made from large gourds. They are used as a percussion instrument.

Some of the dancers "backstage" getting ready and some last minute instructions.

This is the name of Akalā's halau and the banner that was made for her.

Part of the requirement of becoming a kumu hula is to make your own instrument. This is what Akalā made: a pahu or drum. She named it, "Ho'oheno" which means to love, to cherish.

There was a good handful of women who were really decked up; this woman is a perfect example. I really would've loved to have photographed all of them, but I felt intrusive as it was asking permission to take this picture.

The procession of dancers at the start of the hula program.

Akalā dancing. She is an amazing dancer and performer.

Her eyes is what I wanted to capture as it speaks of her intensity, her passion for what she does.

Her incredible parents dancing for her. How proud they must be!

Abstractions

I must admit I am exhausted silly, but I've been wanting to post these images. I call them 'abstractions' as they are only parts of a whole. So, here you go. No explanation needed I think, as they speak for themselves. They were taken at Hilo Bay and the road up to Volcano Village.

Here's why I am exhausted: we just hung our group show today. It was HOT and humid. I must have melted several times over.

A year ago, I convinced seven other artists to participate with me in a show that would open on 08/08/08. This became the theme or premise for the show. Eight artists producing eight pieces of artwork 8x8 in dimension. Well, except one of my artists decided to do a piece that was eight feet by eight feet. So, he only did one. Thank goodness! Hanging that puppy was a feat! To find out more about this show, go to: http://eightbyeightbyeight.blogspot.com/

Lucky day, lucky number.