It's a good spot

'The Sticks' 9x12" ink, colored pencil; Kathleen Faulkner

 

A friend said that there is not much 'wilderness' left. 

He felt that humans' management of forest lands

deems them no longer virgin and not truly wild.

I agree.

I walk in Washington Park

This area is regularly maintained

yet

highly beneficial to my good health.

I am grateful.

Ghosts

'Wildflower earrings' sterling silver; Kathleen Faulkner

When I was a child, my dad and I would hike deep into the wilderness.  He was an obsessed outdoors man, among other things, so I spent a lot of time in forests.  I saw many things during those times: lots of bear,  and one up close and personal,  elk all around me, many elk,  critters,  birds,  old growth forests,  billions of wildflowers and on and on and on.

One time, while hiking, we came upon Ghost Pipes.  Pale, dreamlike fairy tales from some other world.  I was fascinated.  My father said to me, "You'll probably never see these again, they're very rare."

I've thought about them much over the years, how lucky I was to see something so rare and the impression they left,  as if they had become attached to my very being.

One day, while walking in Washington Park,  there they were:  Ghost Pipes!  I was stopped in my tracks, my mind bursting with memories and emotion.  I wanted to shout out, "Hey, Dad,  Look!  Ghost Pipes!  After all these years I finally see them again!"  Instead I only thought it.

Maybe ghosts see and hear everything, even thoughts if we want them to..

Living on the Salish

'Rock Brooch' sterling silver, beach rocks; Kathleen Faulkner

Another full moon... 'The moon when all things happen'

I head down to the water's edge where I look for rocks.  The place where I go has every color except for blue.  While there I can see across to the Olympics and over to Lopez.  Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I see the  graceful little otter family, a seal or two and maybe a woodpecker, eagle or owl.  I always see the deer.

This is the place where the madrones hang out discussing dance moves and the cedars watch over everything.  On a warm day the mix of cedar, pine and fir cooks up a heady aroma that is addictive.  I can never get enough.  

I look back on my life and thank myself for moving here.  It is one of the moves I would not change.  I am grateful every day.

The Salish Sea is a magic place that is rich with life and deserves our respect.  I hope we manage to keep it thriving.

 Things are happening.   I'm paying attention.

Full Moon: Lunar Eclipse

'Animalia'  20'x various sizes, sterling silver, Kathleen Faulkner

We live in Paradise.

Saturday I walked along the shore at Washington Park. It was low tide.
 Living, breathing, the scents of ocean world
a whole universe that we usually take for granted.  

         the big trucks with their pleasure boats all lined up, waiting for the tide to come in

     while I wonder at the colors of the kelp, and textures.

The whales turn and glisten, plunge

and sound and rise again,

Hanging over subtly darkening deeps

Flowing like breathing planets 

in the sparkling whorls of

living light-

Gary Snyder from 'Turtle Island'

Yogis

'Yogis' 36x24" oil pastel, Kathleen Faulkner

Another interesting week. 

As oil gushes out of the earth, politicians stir the pot and everyone is on edge.

My solution:  play for an entire four days. 

MoNA's annual auction with a preview on Friday night and the actual auction on Saturday was a smashing success and the celebration hearty. Of course I attended both nights. I also had company staying over and, earlier on auction day, bribed a friend to go to Burlington with me to participate in the 'Very Berry Days' Parade.  Father's Day started out with eggs benedict with another friend then morphed into moving about the area delivering artwork and visiting still more friends. As Monday was the Summer Solstice, it was my duty to celebrate once again with more dear friends: a music aficionado, a top notch chef and a wine dealer with excellent taste:  eat, drink and be merry.  

A long and wonderful weekend that was over the top..

Today, though, I feel the effects of four days of fun and I am reminded of the madronas down at Washington Park: 'Yogis' that practice diligently and I think, as I drink another glass of water,  that maybe I should, too..

'Very Berry Days' parade