WOLFFIETRACKS CHASING RAINBOWS: Rain, Rain, Rain

Barbara Stahnke and Bryan Bishop

Well our rain continues and now it is cold, in the low 60’s, which is a refreshing change from the 80’s and high humidity. What a wet summer we have had and now with the Fall feeling weather my thoughts turn to planning for the next season. Time to get out the warmer clothes and check the filter on the heater, the other night we thought about turning on the heat, but found warmer clothes instead. This summer has had cancelled hikes and picnics, we just don’t know how to deal with the rain and storms very well. My sister talks about going on picnics often in the rain in Portland, Oregon where it rains a great deal. The parks have covers over the picnic tables, they plan for the rain, not so around here.

The most startling event of the past week, was when my cat, Tyler leaped from the middle of my bed straight through the glass window and out into the yard, for reasons only known to him. I had just gone to bed, and turned out the light. I heard the cat running full charge down the hall, he then leap on to the bed and right through the window into the black night. I looked out the window with a flashlight, but didn’t see him anywhere around. The next morning he was waiting in the kitchen by his food dish same as every morning. He did have a little cut on top of his paw, but he didn’t seem concerned about it. It is a true unsolvable mystery as to why he did this. He does spook easily, often running out of a room and hiding, but really, crashing through glass!!!! I guess I have to chalk it up to a moment of just being loco.

We went to a delightful flute and piano recital of my friend, Barbara the other night. It was a special treat to see her perform. The recital was "Classical Music Through Time" with historical comments about each piece, that added to the listening. The final piece was an original composition of Bryan Bishop, a real treat and a great way to end the evening. Setting an watching and listening to the music was so inspiring, it reminded me of one of my favorite college classes. I had a music appreciation course that was live performances of the grad students. They were taking a performance class, so they we working on their skills and we got the benefit of it, as the audience. I always found it inspiring and helped me with my artistic voice. I often sketched my ideas for the art projects I was assigned to do.

So, here is my solution to all this rain, I’m painting design images of the sun. I’ve started yet another Talavera Pottery inspired series. One of the most popular wall hanging in Mexico is a colorful ceramic sun with the design motifs of Talavera Pottery. I have seen many of them while in Baja and thought about buying one but never found “The One” that I just had to have. There are so many variations, it is really fascinating to research the images. The one thing that I have found that is very surprising to me is all the suns have blue eyes. I wonder why, since blue eyes are extremely rare with Mexicans, as yet I haven’t found a reason for it.

Final comment, the family is on baby watch, my nephew and his wife are having a little girl any moment now. The Doctor said it could have happen yesterday, but it didn’t, so we all continue to wait for the blessed event.