Pledge to take better care of ME!

America, Still Today.

I knew there was still racism in America but with the election of President Obama, I thought we had come a long way. We have come forward, yes, but not such a long way as I once thought. Then I thought maybe it was just little towns like the one I live near in northern Idaho - St. Maries - that still lived in the past with racism, fear, hate, holier-than- thou attitude, etc. When I wore my Obama button to town before the election, I was told by my Farmers Ins. lady that she was surprised I hadn't been shot at yet. All I could say is Wow! You're kidding me?! She wasn't. The election of a black President, has brought out all the hidden, ugly, crazy, racism full force. But, it's not just little towns. It's all over America. What a shocker! I'm so dissapointed in this part human race.

I am afraid for our President and his family. There are some crazy people out there with hate and fear just fuming inside of themselves. Just waiting for an excuse to let it out - to lash out at someone - especially a black President, an abortion doctor, a gay person, a non-christian, etc. Something HAS to be done before it's too late. Media HAS to stop fueling this hate and racism. Any corporation or any one that puts profits ahead of human life and safety, should be charged with domestic terrorism or something if someone gets hurt or killed because of it.

In the meantime, while we compassionate and caring human beings continue to fight for what is right and decent for all, we can't let the hate and anger get to us. We can't. Otherwise, we are no better than the crazies. We have to educate all we can about what is really true with the Fox News types, the Glenn Beck types, the Michelle Malkin types. The poor ignorant people that believe those types of people that are spreading and fueling poison, might actually change their minds IF they had access to the truth. We have to keep leading them to it. It really could be a matter of life and death.

Life has been exceptionally great lately!

Mike and I went to a memorial in Orofino, where Mike was born and raised as his father was. His granfather homesteaded the place before that. We enjoyed it so much. What a great bunch of relatives he has. There are a couple of religious ones that are annoying to a degree, but tolerable.

I didn't get any pictures.....have no idea why. Maybe I can borrow some from his relatives.

Went to Kootenai Co Humane Society highend fundraiser last night (they don't euthanize - yay!) a@Beverly & Dr. Berger's lake home via cruise boat. Coming off the boat, Beverly grabbed Mike & I & took us into her home (which was off limits) to show us the 2 mosaic'd window art pieces she had bought before - one from a gallery & one from me last year @Taste of CDA. She won the piece I donated! Went for $650. YorkNot bad for an unknown artists work! It was a succes & much money was made to help the animals including some $ for much needed veterinary equip! Could see some effects of economy but all in all it went very well. I donate to this casue every year & will always. So many caring & compassionate ppl in Coeur d'alene & nearby areas! Proud to be a part of that! Beverly has 3 pcs so far and I am hoping to fill her 15,000 sq. foot, plus (just guessing) with many more pieces of mine! Bliss! I am so honored to have my art in such a magnificent home owned by wonderful, giving people.

Mid Week, Mid July 09

It's a nice summer day today after a couple of days of good rain, thunder storms, and lightning!
Mike and I did our yoga, hiked up the mountain trail that Mike built with Magoo~our cat, Sox~our Akita mix. Shilo, our old lady grouchy dog but still sweet, didn't make it far before she turned around and headed home.
Now, after a nice day of working on a Sunflower mosaic window, we're having dinner ~ BBQ'd steaks, couscous, & a lettuce & arugula salad.
Tomorrow Mike gets to (hopefully) finally find out why he has such debilitating pain in his shoulder & now in his neck and reaching to the other shoulder. We don't like the doctor much because he just isn't taking this seriously and seems to have a very big ego! But, we'll see.
Going to a memorial soon and will be meeting some of Mike's family for the first time. We are looking forward to it.

Life is good and just keeps getting better!

Namaste~~

Gorgeous Day

Great day for our hike, meditation, some yoga and then to really work hard on some art. No goofing off. Must get some done for 2 shows coming right up this month and a custom sink for a customer (almost done) and then one piece for the Kootenai Co Humane Society's Tails at Twilight fundraiser. I think I will donate purple iris's against a orange sunset with greens for the grasses and stems.

will post a picture when done.

Mary Jane's Farm Fair

Yesterday, Mike and I spent the entire day in Oakesdale, WA which is on the Palouse. I just can't express how wonderful the day was. Well, putting aside the fact that we thought we were actually running on schedule, and about 3 miles from our place, I realized that we needed to *be* there by 7:00 am, not be a few miles from home! It's a good hours drive from our place. So, we got there and I was paniking we wouldn't have enough time to set up. It all worked out just fine. Could have done w/o the panic attacks. It only added stress and did no good whatsoever! I've got to stop that!

We met and had a nice long conversation with Mary Jane Butters of Mary Jane's Farm, which includes but I'm sure is not limited to in any way: a farm - but not just any farm - an organic farm, & now owner of the 100 yr old grist mill in Oakesdale - which is magnificant and huge!, & designer and maker of the "organic" camp trailers, & author of 3 books so far & editor and owner of her own magazine publication. Later, yesterday, she had a book signing and Mike went to it and purchased, had signed, her first book: Mary Jane ~ IdeabookCookbookLivingbook.

There was like a little petting/information zoo with a horned sheep, a lamb, and a adorable goat. There were horses to ride and many partook in that! There were free tours of the old Grist Mill and we would have loved to do that but the tours were done by the time the farm/art show was over at 7:00. Maybe next time.

Mike walked a couple blocks over to the little local store and the store was out of ice before noon! Not very good planning by someone - probably the ice company! We know this is probably true because on the way home we stopped in Plummer, Idaho to grab some snacks and the clerk was putting up a sign that said OUT OF ICE....we told her about our experience and she said she'd been out of it for some time and that many places were as well.

Must share this and hope it doesn't sound braggish. I'm just so excited and honored and awed that Mary Jane Butters herself, a local celebrity of sorts, loves my mosaic'd windows and would like to have some for the 12,000 foot business / home they are building on her farm. I hope she doesn't forget me and my art!

Mike was so excited because he has followed Mary Jane's story for 20+ years now. She used to be a forest service worker, Mike still is and she's an huge organic gardener, Mike has always only done it that way and would like to expand into a small business of some kind of organic thing - some herb maybe.

It was good to get home and we slept in big time this am. Mike is napping right now and I feel like it, too a little. Life is so good. I am so grateful for my life, Mike, my art, our pets, our home and our acreage here.

Peace, love, and blessings...

Becky

Haven't posted here for a while. Have had an art show since last posting and was my first time there. It was ArtFest in Spokane and was a very nice show. We we're exhausted before, during, and after but got through it and had a great time. Met some very nice people. Brown's Addition, Coeur d'alene Park is a lovely area.

We had to cancel our yearly party which would have been this next weekend. Many many reasons to do so and are relieved.

We have completed planting a veggie garden for the first time in a few years. With Mike's normal wildland firefighting job, he just couldn't do it. We have also planted a couple more apple trees and some other things. Things are looking like our little paradise out there.

The art gallery we had planned to open by the end of May didn't happen yet. It will be a couple more months possibly before we can now. The art and nature retreat will be down the road another year or two. But, the vision is clear! We WILL do these things.

Life is good. And it is supposed to be!