Its that time of year again. Came across some old polaroid shots of canning apples a few years ago.

Esme Skye in 2017 the day she toured Columbia as a prospective college. New York City is going to be her home now while she attends Barnard College of Columbia University.

I was working with the head of the art department at an east coast university for a show of my platinum/palladium work at their campus gallery as well as a week long demonstration of the printing process. If enough interest was generated there was hope to offer an extended workshop to students. Perhaps in the next year or two when the nation recovers....

Until then, my garden puts on quite a show.

My bookcase of gorgeous pottery made by artists Kathleen and Terry Vanderbrook, along with some bones (gifts from the river)and an exquisitely crafted bird's nest (by Kathleen).

A beautiful day hiking with my friend Hope.

Woke up to a surprise birthday breakfast .

Christmas night was magical: in the warm kitchen cooking with friends, lighting farolitos, and listening to Susan play guitar and sing songs by Violeta Parra and Leonard Cohen as we sat around the bonfire. Several shooting stars streamed above us- one beautifully caught in this photo by Beth Wald- a friend and one of a few very talented photographers in El Rito.

Because of Lois Ellen Frank,I will never look at corn the same way again. Because of Walter Whitewater, I will never look at a chili pepper the same way again. (And to add to my list of "nevers."...I knew, once I made my own chili and my own tortillas, that I would never want to buy those from the store again.) I suspected that learning to make chili was more than just a delicious experience, but was going to be the beginning of a love affair that would, like it or not, feed my friends for years to come.

I was fortunate and immensely grateful to study (up in the quiet mountains) under the master Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi. This tireless crusader travels the globe inspiring artists to work for peace. I met artists from all over the country (and world) who are deeply engaged in the global community and whose work serves all those larger and more pressing purposes than the self.

Beautiful autumn morning in the gallery preparing for studio tour.