15 Bags Full!

...of just clothes.  Well, admittedly many of them were thick and bulky, turtleneck sweaters, tights to wear under skirt and jeans.  Socks!!! My goodness the socks -- all fuzzy thick and warm.


Then there were the sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, jackets, coats, and more jackets and hoodies, warm scarves, raincoats, hats, leather coats, etc.  Oh, and three scrumptious mohair sweaters too, along with fancy dresses, tons of long sleeve shirts for both of us!

Generally, all one needs for life in Humboldt County -- ah, the layers and layers we wear!

In all, from the garage sale through to today's ruthless sweep through all our clothes closets and cupboards, 15 full bags of clothes -- that will be going to local thrift stores.  Now not only does our nearly empty house echo, we can see the back, sides and bottom of all our closets.  Goodness does this feel amazing -- really makes you wonder why you never did this before!


  

Packing the Vases

There is something very intimate and personal about the vases I've collected over the years; each tell their own story -- where I was when -- who I was then, and so on.

Most of the year there are some kind of blooms in the yard and consequently flowers in my kitchen window, on the table, and always on the altar.  Of course, we are sneaking a few of our special bulbs into our moving boxes -- our wedding calla lilies, some of our favorite iris, and of course some tower of jewels seeds.

Chips and scratches, dings and all; as I wrap each one I am grateful for all the flowers of our yard and the people and memories they recall.  The yellow azalea that we planted when Kimbre died, the camellia my mother gave us when we moved in, the contorted filbert I bought for Phil for his birthday.  Donna Mae's azalea and the bulbs we bought with Carol and Jerebob, Walt and Jenny at the bulb farm one autumn.  All are sweet remembrances -- "of people and things that went before - I know I'll often stop and think about them." The old Beatles song comes to mind as I tuck them safely between bathroom towels.

Dis-Assemblage De-Construct

The Art of 
Who You Are


For both of us, the house-stuff has been the easiest; the art-stuff, however a different story.  Phil's was first -- all the lighthouse note cards (unsold) and his remaining watercolors, representing a massive amount of time and energy.


But this week, it was my turn to admit that taking over 40 boxes filled with assemblage treasures to Hawaii just wasn't the answer.  The "deconstruction of assemblage" as an art form has been percolating in my mind and heart for weeks.  The art you make does express who you are, but who you are is not your art.


Yesterday the decision became real as I laid out the time and space to go through all the boxes (again) -- with a different goal in mind.  Last night, while reading (as always) a Science Fiction book, another view of the answer was presented in a way I never would have expected.  Those who know me best will understand.

"Live long and prosper."   

The Heart says -- "Not for Sale"

Deciding what is and is not for sale for our Estate Sale September 15/16 has been quite a labor of love, memories and (more) letting go.  And, as our friend Margaret wisely advised, "sometimes, you gotta just get ruthless."  Yeah, and sometimes the heart just speaks up too.


That's what happened as we deliberated about taking this unique one-of-a-kind iron sculpture that was created at the Eureka Iron Works in Old Town Eureka.  The piece was given to Phil during a massive clean-out under the building that Many Hands Gallery has been in for 23 years.

To take it, or not to take it -- we both love it so much, but it takes three normal people and two beefy sorts to move it -- it IS solid iron.  So, last night our Puna friends Iris and Jeffrey were over, and we shared our love of the piece (which had been priced at $1200 for the estate sale.)  In a fit of absolute joy and passion, we pronounced together in one voice -- "It HAS to go with us."  And Iris had the distinct honor of ripping off the price tag, after which we had dinner and talk-story knowing we had made the right decision -- let the movers do it!!

SF CHRONICLE -- PUNA!!

September 7, 2012

The San Francisco Chronicle ran a terrific article about PUNA -- and tells a great story about our new neighborhood.  We know many of the places and names they talked about.

If you'd like to learn more about the Big Island and especially the district of PUNA, just go to this link:


http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Big-Island-s-Puna-side-often-overlooked-3848610.php#ixzz25qFvh3L7

Stepping off the Edge

Aaah, the things we unearth digging down through the middens we have developed over our many years of accumulation.

Here I am at age one "stepping off" or at least seriously envisioning my mobility.  I like this one best out of many; I was not posing by the roses in front of the house, or next to my teacher, or in fourth grade with a prominent and permanent cowlick in my  hair.

No, here I am -- determined, if a bit worried, blessed with curiosity and a willingness to seek and discover.  Like the FOOL card in the Tarot deck -- I remain a willing risk taker.  I no doubt took a major tumble shortly thereafter -- it seems that falling down (which is not remotely close to "sin") is the way we learn the best.  How ever are we to know what is past the edge.  Then, I was reminded of a quote I wrote just after Winter Solstice 2011 in our Hawaii journal "Papamanawa" --

"You will never discover new

continents without losing sight

of the coast."   Andre Gide