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Wishing you all the absolute BEST in 2025!

I took this photo several years ago at a Ruby’s in Southern California. The light was right, and I tried to capture the waiter as he went about his duties. I went back and edited it a bit, had it printed, and took it to my camera club’s Christmas party. There’s something about photos I take at the beaches that end up being among my favorites- I need to get back there!

Guess where we went?

Yesterday I took a day off from my to-do list. I know I am retired, but I keep pretty busy with photo group work (editing a monthly newsletter, photo club decision making, meeting, more meetings, creating presentations, taking and editing photos) and genealogy (leading a group, more presentations, and actually researching my own family). I’ve had some computer issues lately which have taken a boatload of time as well, so, after finishing 3 recent projects, I decided to take a day off (Labor Day!) and do whatever I wanted to do in the moment. I did some genealogy, but then opened Lightroom and started looking for photos to edit.

Somehow, this is what I came up with- very different from my usual creations!

To explain- I am fascinated by space and regularly view the latest images from the James Webb telescope. And I have absolutely NO understanding of any of it. That’s OK with me, because the mystery of the universe is what fascinates me. This started out as an image of the inside of the dome of a church in Kansas- and somehow evolved into the image above almost before I knew what was happening! I added the sunset I photographed a few days ago, an ICM image of Alaska clouds and rain, and some photoshop brushwork.

It is what it is- however you want to interpret it.

When we visited Kansas, we drove out to the tiny farming community where my husband’s father grew up and where my husband spent large chunks of his childhood. His grandparents had died forty years before, and we had heard that the town had fallen on hard times and was no longer the same. What we discovered as we drove by was that the family farmhouse had burned to the ground and all that was left was the detached garage. I was thinking about this recently and ended up creating this composite of the garage and a photo of my father-in-law as a young teenager- with the 1940 census layered over. Just a few years later my father-in-law was off to the Navy and World War II.

This is a shot taken from our patio to the upper level of our side yard. It’s not a great shot and it’s hard to figure out what is happening here. My version of the story is that the bunny was up there munching on grass- and along came the quail (there are two in the photo). The bunny froze in place as bunnies tend to do (if I don’t move, you can’t see me!). The bunny was immobile for as long as I watched, and the quail moved on. Backyard drama for us retired folks…

The memorial for the 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shots who were killed in the terrible wildfire, just as we were moving to Prescott eleven years ago, has been put in place in Courthouse Square. It was worth the wait, as it is simple and elegant, a poignant tribute to the men who died in this tragic event.

Such a sweet face!

I went on a field trip with our photo club a week or so ago- to an ALPACA farm! It was a wonderful experience learning about the alpacas- and feeding them. I will never forget the feeling of those soft alpaca lips on my hand as I held out the food. In an alternate universe, I raise alpacas and spin their wool/fiber into yarn. I would have to be a very different person to live on a farm, but one can dream!

We have just returned from a trip to Petaluma, California to gather with friends to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Georgia. Georgia passed away October 23 after a shockingly sudden and brief illness of only two months. Although I know she was at peace with dying, I also know that her family and friends are left with a huge hole in their lives. I am only beginning to process the loss of such a vibrant, intelligent, passionate, talented, loving, and exceptionally witty person- a true friend.

I met Georgia in 1976 when we moved to Petaluma. I was looking for a play group for our 15 month old daughter- but also for adult friends for myself. Little did I know that I would find friendship that would last almost 50 years, despite our family moving three times. Our group of 8 women, calling ourselves the Rapunzels, began as a parenting class and a playgroup, but ended up being not only our social network, but a support system for us and our families as we navigated the joys and hurdles (great and small) of family life.

Georgia’s home was central to our group. While I was still adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom, Georgia could have taught a master class in the subject. Her cooking, baking, sewing, home-decorating and entertaining skills were at a level you could only see on the food network or HGTV if there had been such a thing back then. Plus, she was so much FUN! We all have such wonderful memories of the children’s parties and the ADULT parties- and the impromptu gatherings on her patio accompanied by strawberry daiquiris!

And then there were the cookies- and the decorated cakes! She made our daughter’s wedding cake! Have I mentioned how smart she was? She was a fantastic writer of letters, funny sketches of memorable events, and memoirs of her childhood and beyond. She was an exceptional gift giver- my favorite being a book of her recipes, which I use to this day.

All the Rapunzels have similar memories- and many were shared at her memorial, led by her sister, with heartfelt speeches by her two sons, her husband, her best friend- and her oldest grandson. Her spirit was captured by each of the speeches- what a fantastic job her family did with the memorial! Lonnie and I both felt her presence as we listened to the talks and later visited with her children, the rest of the family and all the Rapunzels and their children who were present. It was a day we will never forget.

We have gone from 8 to 7 to 6 and now 5 Rapunzels. Vicki. Marie. Georgia. Losing each friend has been heartbreaking. Growing older and accepting the loss of a dear friend is a challenge- and a life lesson which I am trying to learn.

What I will miss most about Georgia is her friendship; she was one of those people that make you feel like you are one of the most important people on the planet. And, more than the cookies, I will really miss the laughter- gosh, she was so much fun!

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About the photo: It was taken in her backyard the last time I saw her in May 2019 (pre-pandemic…). She and her husband, Jerry created a beautiful sanctuary in their backyard, filled with flowers, and I always think of Georgia when I see roses. Because it’s a cell phone shot, I actually don’t know if I was the one that took this photo- but I think so! Apologies if it was Darlene or Claudia- or maybe Jerry. But I think it was me…probably…

Last in the series of abstracts from our visit to Tumacacori Mission