Hope 55

Hope 55

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

After dinner walk and talk. 

There's nothing like it.

Hope 54

Hope 54

Oil on Wood

6"X6:"

Life goes on, which is the very definition of HOPE. I am grateful for everything, past, present, and future. 

Hope 53

Hope 53

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

I love Poppies -- their tenacity, delicate strength, beauty, and the fact that they are self sufficient and thrive in poor soil. 

My father, who was born 107 years ago today, loved poppies too. We walked these same California hills winding our way through the golden grass and poppies.

In 2010 I remembered him with these words:

"Last week I spent a lot of time reading letters that my father wrote to his family who were still in Europe during World War II. They describe the excitement and struggle, optimism, and ingenuity that brought him to America where he landed in 1939, put down roots, and thrived for 60 years. It made me miss him more than usual. His vision, tenacity, and belief in his own intuition. How was it that he who claimed to feel perpetually insecure managed to create a life so brilliant, so imaginative, so spectacular that remnants of his creation are still visible around the world today?
Then this weekend in a sea of golden grass taller than my 5'4" there stood a vermilion red poppy. A seed, dropped by a bird, or blown by the wind just happened to land there and take hold and grow and bloom into fleeting magnificence."

I think of him often these days hoping I can summon some of his ingenuity, optimism and courage to meet this moment of turmoil. Happy birthday to the man who insisted, "there is always a way."

Hope 52

Hope 52

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

I am feeling better than ever today. It may have something to do with our belated big birthday gathering in my sister's secret garden yesterday evening. The birthday was big. The gathering was very small. I felt safe and loved and half my actual age. Given the circumstances, not even my whole family could be there. But we will do it again one day.

When darkness fell, we watched slides (yes, slides taken by my father long long ago, expertly edited by my daughter and put into a vintage carousel she procured, projected on a sheet strung between two photo light stands).  Seeing beautiful images of ourselves and our parents and grandparents and this land that I love was dreamy. I remembered how it felt to be 6 and 8 and 16 and 20. Even now I am moved to tears.

As for today's painting of a young bird perched at the top of a young tree on this magnificent land, life goes on, and I am filled with deep gratitude for the life I have been given and for the amazing people that have accompanied me on the journey. 

Hope 51

Hope 51

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

There is nothing like being with family, even with some distance and rules of engagement.

We are finding ways to be together and that has made all the difference in my state of mind.

Hope 50

Hope 50

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

What has changed? Time. Humans are adaptable. The disappointment of missed celebrations is just absorbed and replaced by awe on my evening walk.  My patch of wild Queen Ann's Lace is thriving at the front gate. All on their own, a myriad of tiny flowers unfurl into delicate globes, quiet little bursts of beauty rivaling any elaborate fireworks display that might have filled the sky but won't this July 4th.

Hope 49

Hope 49

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Today I am surprised by how I am becoming used to the upheaval and dire world situation.

We are finding ways to live with uncertainty.

A bouquet from my sister sits in a bright yellow pitcher from my daughter.

 Simple beauty and feeling loved. It is the bedrock of well being.