What a delight! I find that my favorite bookseller, Joel Crockett, in Gualala at the Four-Eyed Frog Book store is also doing the River of Stones project! His blog is up and going. Check out that photo of the day the hail fell on Gualala. The warmth of his shop is perfectly portrayed.
It feels so special to know that kindred souls, out of touch for months at a time, but so close in space, meet again in this project. Blessed be!

On Thursday afternoon, when Nanette Wylde and Kent and I were installing the show DOLLED UP at Gualala Arts Center, there was a huge pause in the activity and we all seemed to have the same thought at once - the show did not have enough in it. Nanette asked me if I had some of my dolls that could be shown and I nodded in agreement as I rushed out the door to drive home. In a blur I grabbed boxes out of cupboards, took works off the walls and shelves in the living room. As I shoved the last box into the trunk, it was as if someone spoke and told me to take the roll of white paper.

Back at the art center Nan & Kent seemed delighted with the new-to-them works but wondered how to get all those bits and pieces on pedestals that did not mimic Signe's work in the other corner. Suddenly I began to crush paper and pull it up into the corner. Kent immediately got my drift and began to help by nailing it in place. Within minutes three long strips of paper were waterfalling over pedestals and we began to play with the dolls. You can see some are sliding down the falls, others are marooned on rocky islands and some even dribble up on to the shore of the gallery carpeting. It was one of those delightful moments when the art takes over and becomes itself.

celebrating

a new camera

in a new year

these people captured

in electric sparks

Most of my awareness was focused on getting Dolly to stand up to her true height here at Gualala Art Center. We were working so hard we all forgot to measure her while we still had the scissors lift in the room. Even without knowing that she dominates the room - at this moment. On Thursday the rest of the show comes into the room.

sleepless

the gift of these hours

that I am alive

the awareness of having

another moment of life

That pretty much says what touched me. Instead of being unhappy because I am too nervous to sleep (because of the Dolled UP show going up this week) I see these hours as opportunity to be aware of my aliveness. We want to extend our lives to the very end (and some wish even beyond that) but each moment awake is also part of my delight in my life - even if it is in the dark when everyone else sleeps.

This was done for the "from your kitchen window" haiga exercise at the AHAforum. In this small photo you cannot read the haiku which is:

dishwater

on the window

raindrops

After having the experience last summer of our well going dry I am very aware of each raindrop coming down here and the snowflakes on the Sierra Mountains which will arrive later to keep us clean and functioning.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Waking to blue skies instead of rain made me appreciate that from now on each day will be one minute longer - the light will be with us in increasing amounts. It may be cold and there may be more rain but the light returns.

one minute

the crowing of a rooster

measures

the light is returning

with the cry in my throat

My interest in reporting the progress of the book Taking Tanka Home has dwindled to the point of repeated proofings of the new edition. All boring stuff for other ears so I have been 'suffering along in silence' all by myself. Actually the work with Aya goes so well I haven't even had a chance to suffer. She has been so great! but we are still having problems with the program putting line spaces between the English and the kanji - boring I know!

Then, today I found this challenge at a river of stones and thought that would give me a new stream of ideas for this page. So on January 1 I plan to start the exercise. Join me if you will!