senior envy

For a mere $10, a person or couple aged 62 or over, who happen to travel the US in the same car, can own a Golden Age Pass. This magic card not only has a pretty picture, but it grants you unlimited entry to US National Parks and Federal Recreational areas - for the rest of your life. For a one-time fee of $10, a senior citizen can see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, and so much more - and you can put up to 3 other adults your car(these adults don't have to be 62).  The whole US is at your fingertips, seniors, so -  GO - pay the equivalent of one dinner at Shoney's and see this amazing country.

For those of us 62 and under, we can purchase a pass for $80 per year. Still an unbelievable deal when individual park entries range from $20 - $30 per car.

sometimes you walk

james and i have gone approximately 80 miles by foot in the past month. never a strenuous journey - never running - never carrying a heavy load. just casually walking through the forests of tennessee, kentucky, virginia and north carolina. just to see what is there. just to hear the birds and sit in waterfalls. the more we walk the more we realize that we can never walk enough, we can never see enough, we never be outside enough. we need our time to be quiet, to reflect, to exercise, and to energize. we need it so that we can continue being normal every other day that we live and breathe. we need it like we need food and air and water. we need to be outside, we need to walk. we think other people must also need it, yet, mostly on our walks, we see no other person or people.

we walk to live. to cope. to be normal. we invite all others to walk outside for the same reasons.

tired feet - happy heart

Today was filled with my favorite things.....Lazy morning, Indian buffet at Mela in Asheville, hiking with good friends in Pisgah Forest (once again a longer hike than anticipated, followed by a double scoop ice cream cone (one scoop Moose Tracks, one scoop coffee) at Dolly's Dairy Bar. Now I'm sleepy and watching my friends make dinner. I love summer vacation.

ready or not

sometimes you do things that you are ready for. you go to the grocery and you have your list. you go to school and you have completed your homework. you go to cut your grass and your lawnmower has fuel. it's simple. you have advance notice of your task - and you do it.
sometimes you do things that you aren't so prepped to complete. you show up at the grocery and you don't really know what what you need. you go to work and you forgot to finish that excel spreadsheet. or - like James and me - you go on a hike - thinking that you were ready for 2. 5 miles - you are stretched  - you have food - you have energy - you are good to go - yet... the hike is longer, higher, harder, and it never seems to end. You stop for snacks underneath a giant old oak and you talk about the fact that you've been walking for 3 hours yet you seem to be nowhere near the end... you walk a bit more and you stop and drink some water and take another look at the sad little campground map... you walk another half hour past that and you resist the urge to sit on the rock and instead keep walking almost vertically - up - to the next point - "I'm sure it was supposed to take two - three hours."  Finally, you admit that you don't know where you are, where you've been or what might happen next and you turn around. Maybe you are defeated a bit, because you didn't finish the hike, the journey, the goal. But the reality is, you tried, you did something, you made the effort, you went outside, you were alive - today. So, who cares how high, how far, how hard you went? You went - that's all that matters.

avoid'n the rain

when all that sits between you and a potluck is a violent rainstorm... you might miss the potluck.

today has been worth a million bucks.
farm tour 2010 has been our motivation. firefly farm our destination.
for the past two days - we've counted visitors, shared info about the farm, played with puppies, told stories, heard a few, gone for a swim in the south toe river, picked some greens, made a salad.
life is good. we're sleepy.
and as the rain finally falls, we're sure glad we're the ones on the porch.

mountain retreat

James and I headed north last Tuesday. Our plans keep changing, so we weren't sure where our first stop would be. We drove through Georgia without even a brief hesitation and ended up in southeastern Tennessee before ever blinking an eye. Though we didn't know we were going there, when we arrived in Cherokee National Forest in the Chilhowee Campground, we both knew we'd stay for a few days at least.
Our last visit to the campground was two years ago during a forced evacuation from New Orleans for Hurricane Gustav. We ended up therequite accidentally after spending a few days in Alabama with our good friends Jill and Pinky. We couldn't return to NOLA yet and knew we needed to retreat to nature, so we headed northeast toward the NC mountains. We arrived in TN, saw the Ocoee River, and I (in a rare moment of bossiness:) demanded a cabin by the water. Alas, no cabins were available, yet the nice park ranger pointed toward the mountain and told us to head 7 miles north. We followed his instructions - drove to camp spot C12 and stayed there for the next four days. We couldn't remember what we did during that time, but we knew there were trails and a waterfall.

So, on Tuesday when we arrived, we were surprised at how much we remembered and didn't remember of that journey. We followed the trail that wound its way to Benton Falls and we sat at the top of the falls the first day. The next day we returned again and sat at the bottom of the falls. Other people came and went. We watched them and we watched the water. We took walks, smelled the green of the forest, and the reddish brown dirt, we read a little, talked a little, and felt amazingly complete and content. Some places in the world are meant for healing and recharging - this one serves that purpose for us.

ticks and giggles

goats and chiggers.... all is well in florida's swampy santa fe river. i have counted 24 chiggers bites acquired in the four days that i have been adventuring around. 5 ticks have made attempts at implantation in my legs and arms. 3 goats have roamed freely and without invitation on martha's land. we have chased them away 4 times and encountered evidence of their visits on seven different occasions. we have canoed twice, kayaked once, and gone swimming in 3 springs. we have grilled out and made pizzas, one time each. 5 friends have come to visit and we've spent time - just the two of us. life is itchy. but, sometimes, itchy is good.

driving the shuttle

riding on the shuttle this a.m. i sat up front close to the driver - a woman who was ready to tell a story. over the roar of the engine and the chatter of those around - she shared her adventures as a bus driver. Lakers fans dressed from head to toe in bright purple and yellow, couples who arrived with no pants, parties that never stopped and people falling in and out of the bus, nephews and nieces embarrassed to be seen with their parents, aunts and uncles.... she talked and talked and laughed and laughed and in the end as i left, she told me that she loved her job. so far, she is my favorite part of this day.

sharing stories

I met Julia Alvarez at the American Association of Museums Conference today. She was the keynote speaker. I missed her talk. I was on a tour of the Southwestern Museum of the American Indian and didn't get back in time. However, I went to her book signing. I waited in line and I talked with people - they hadn't read her books but they loved her talk.

When it was my turn to have a book signed, she began writing my name and signing my copy. I began speaking without knowing what I would say. I told her that I read 'In the Time of Butterflies' durning a period of great tragedy in my life - I had just experienced the death of one of my dearest friends - a nurse, a wife, a young mother. I carried Ms. Alvarez's book with me on the plane, to the funeral, and in the month's following. I read it slowly and with an aching heart - I needed to share the pain of loss and life with someone who wouldn't try to make me feel better, but who would let me take the time I needed to understand what had happened.  Her writing helped me mourn the loss of my friend and to cope with continuing to live without this important person in my life.

To this day I cannot think of Julia Alvarez without thinking of her role in my life. Ms. Alvarez sat quietly as I told her why I came to see her today - calmly, simply, without tears. When I finished she handed me my book and thanked me for sharing just a little of my story. I, in turn, thanked her for writing.

grapes for the table - grapes for the glass

Photos by Kathy A. McDonald


Attended a locavore dinner featuring foods and wines from within 110 miles of Santa Barbara last night. After being in transit from FLA for most of the day, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a warm and welcoming organic farmer, Tom Shepherd, and his wife, Susan. In the third course, carrots from their farm were served as a side to grilled sea bass, paired with a lovely Cimarone 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, and were the most delightful vegetable of the evening.

The Shepherds lease land a 40-acre farm, Shepherd Farms, in Carpinteria. The farm grows gorgeous red strawberries that were provided as a gift at the end of the dinner and many other vegetables, including table grapes. Tom has been a farmer leasing land since 1973 (my birth year:), and has farmed over 20 different properties, moving on as leases end or become more expensive. He is concerned that land in southern California is so costly, that though the soil is rich and the climate is perfect for farming, those trying to make a living as farmers won't be able to afford to do so. Much of his time and energy is spent educating both adults and children about food, farming, and the importance of creating farms that can sustain themselves.

Though times have been tough, they are hopeful. In recent years, interest in food production has grown, people are more concerned with where their food comes from and how it is cared for. The Shepherds receive frequent requests for farm tours and are always happily oblige. Volunteers are eager and often numerous and, this year, Shepherd Farms has its first farm apprentice.

Tom and Susan have taken their love of farm and food to another level and are working to write a book teaching children to grow food.  Susan, an artist and art historian, is providing the painted illustrations, Tom is providing the text. Together, they will share their knowledge and appreciation with the next generation of farmers.

Giving stuff

This morning, while reading an article at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, I came across One Million Jasons - an article about the problems caused by giving stuff internationally. Not necessarily used stuff - just giving things rather than money to a country not necessarily in need of or equipped to deal with the particular thing you want to send.

While in Guatemala, James and I were amazed at the countless stores selling second-hand clothes from the U.S. Every other shop in the town of Coban offered - "Ropa Americana" - American Clothes. Inside, piles and piles of clothes, shoes, belts, hats, toys, anything and everything you find in America's thrift stores and yard sales were piled high. We rarely saw anyone actually purchase anything. At first, we joked about it, but the more stores we encountered in even the smallest of Guatemalan towns, the more concerned we became.

Why are we, the U.S.ians, casting off so much stuff? We know the amount of unwanted items mounding up in trashpiles, storage facilities, and resale stores throughout our own country. Now we are aware of how much the small, Latin American country of Guatemala is receiving. How much more stuff is sent to the various other nooks and crannies of the world?

Perhaps instead of buying so much for ourselves and then donating it when we decide we don't want it, can't use it, don't like it anymore - we should not buy that something that seems like such a good deal - and, instead, send the money we saved to someone in need - let them decide whether they'd rather have a used t-shirt from Target or, perhaps, breakfast that day....

Opening Nite at the University Gallery

3 minutes chatting with him, 4 minutes chitting with her - a snack for you - a plastic cup of wine for me. The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition - the ending to three years of effort, heartbreak, deadlines, structure... the beginning of....?  a job, independence, the future....

MFA I wants his paintings to live and breathe more like characters in a Stephen King novel than another painter.

MFA II is thrilled for the compliment and is excited to have her performances shown in Europe for the first time.

MFA III is glad that he is graduating, because he barely pulled it together and

MFA IV may not be graduating....

MFA V is proud and feels that her work amply represents her vision.

MFA VI is finishing up and moving to China to teach,

MFA VII is too...,

MFA VIII is hoping that her work will insight change in Costa Rica.

MFA IX is using his work to raise awareness of people who have died due in driving accidents.

MFA X is just so glad that it is all going to be over soon.

MFA XI is MIA.

Tonight is their night to shine.
I wonder where they'll be a year from now.

1/2 of the Krewe of 2 = no krewe

James is in so. FLA doing his thing. I'm in no. FLA doing my thing. We are both motivated and happily working away, yet.... the krewe just isn't the krewe when there isn't 2.

takes a lickin' keeps on tickin'

Lost my timex while living on the boat last week. I took my running watch to use for gardening duties (not sure why I thought I needed to know the time, but it seemed the thing to do.) At some point, I took it off while on the boat on Saturday - then couldn't find it again while packing to leave on Sunday. Everything was tucked away and tidy - none of my toiletries or clothes or papers were littering any part of the boat - yet, no watch anywhere. I gave up searching, had my breakfast, read the newspaper, drank a cup of coffee with James, forgetting about my missing item. After breakfast, James handed me my very hot, very wet watch. He looked at me, looked at the coffee pot, looked at me again, shrugged and smiled. Apparently, my timex spent the night in the water hold of the coffee pot and - in the dark of the morning, James made coffee without ever realizing there was a watch inside.....

mound of mondo and the sore knees

James is creating an outdoor garden installation in Golden Beach, FL. For over a month, he has been re-designing an inner courtyard of a home and changing it from a pool surrounded by pavers into a multi-level deck and garden. This week I joined him to help garden. For the past three days, we have planted 750 mondo grasses around the slate walking path that he laid. We still have at least another 500 dwarf mondos to  plant and countless other butterfly and blooming flowers and bushes. It is lovely. Even in the center of a construction site with so much left to do - I am impressed with his vision and effort.

buzzzz......

How many phone calls does it take to display a teaching hive in a gallery?

One student's MFA thesis exhibition is turning into a paperwork nightmare leading through various crooks and crannies of the university. She wants to have an educational exhibit featuring honey bees. The container will be sealed, the bees will only live in the gallery during open hours during the two-week installation, the same bees will not be displayed for the entire exhibition. However, there are lists of concerns and lists of signatures needed to show that the gallery and the College of Fine Arts have considered all of these concerns. Safety (what if someone is allergic?); animal rights (are the bees at risk?); structural (will the bees escape their glass house?); emergency contact (who will take responsiblity if anything goes wrong).

up and down

I'm getting my exercise running up and down the stairs between two offices. At least I'm not sitting all day. At least I have offices. If only I could figure out how to get the right pieces of paper at each desk exactly when I need it....

of dying and death

Today is trash day, so this morning, I walked outside to deposit our garbage can at the corner. I noticed a raccoon hanging out in the driveway nudging through leaves. I thought it odd that she was out in daylight, but I was kind of entertained by it. As I walked slowly past, it surprised me that the raccoon didn't scurry away or even take much note of me. I dropped off the trash can and went back inside through the front door, avoiding the raccoon. Every now and then, I'd look out to see if she had gone, but the raccoon seemed sleepy and decided to curl up in the leaves under the big oak tree that divides our yard and our neighbor's.

About an hour later, it was time to go to work, so I grabbed my bike and was heading out - the raccoon was still there. She slowly rose to her feet and I noticed that she wasn't using one of her legs, I looked more closely and saw that her eyes were glassy and that she seemed unable to close her mouth. Suddenly, overcome, I realized that she was dying.

Strange to be confronted with death on your way to work, with so many other things on your mind. I was overwhelmed and helpless. I put a little tray of water out for her, never getting to close in order not to frighten her, and I talked softly to her - hoping she felt comforted. I called Animal Control - the dispatcher told me to do nothing, that they would be there soon.

I didn't wait. Not because I needed to rush to work, but because I couldn't be there when Animal Control arrived. I hope that she dies before they get there.

the trials of technology

so, at the gallery we have a three day video installation on display. it's a combo of sound and visuals. problem is - sometimes the sound works - sometimes the visuals work - but they can never seem to coincide.

currently, the gallery is filled with pumping dance music in a dark, dark room. kind of fun, if i felt like dancing. at the moment, i'm trying to work and am continuously interrupted by people poking their head in saying "hey, did you know that there is no picture?" yesterday, all day, it was "hey, is this film supposed to be silent?"

luckily, here at the university, we are a place of learning, of trial and error, of good humor (most of the time). the class who installed the exhibit had the goal of making a work that was user-friendly for the gallery. they may not have succeeded this time, but, hopefully, after endless visits to fix what is broken, they have learned something.

hangin' in my hammock

While in Guatemala, James haggled endlessly with a man named Miguel - his object of desire - a handmade hammock for me. The price started at around $50 US and by the time all was said and done - he shelled out the equivalent of $17. It has been worth every penny. Saturday, after an exhausting week, we hung our hammocks at the river and spent the afternoon soaking in the warm Florida sunshine and watching hawks fly, snakes slither, and canoers paddle.