Author: cometsgirl

Today I travel to Texas. While I’ll land at Dallas/Fort Worth, and stay with my son and daughter-in-law in Keller, my destination is really Arlington, where my granddaughter lives.

Something remarkable and long thought about, is going to happen in Arlington.

I’m going to get a tattoo! Georgia and I are getting matching tattoos!

For a dozen or more years, I’ve thought about getting a tattoo.

My granddaughter, Georgia, has several. She’s a E.R. trauma nurse at a hospital in downtown Dallas. I’m in awe of her for many reasons, certainly for her work and her strength.

Two years ago, Georgia travelled for a short visit. Just a couple of days after she left my home, I read a news piece about grandmothers and granddaughters getting matching tattoos. It was a trend that was new to me!

Families Get Matching Tattoos: ‘My Grandma Was Like, Sure!’ was the title of the WSJ September 2022 article.

It went on to caption “Fading taboos on tattoos, especially among first-timers in middle age and older, have opened a buzzy fashion niche for intergenerational ink.”

I’ve never aspired to be in a buzzy fashion niche, but…

I texted Georgia about the article. Her reply was, “feeling inspired?” I replied, “kind of”.

And so it began.

We talked about it off and on. Then when I visited Georgia last March, we stopped by The Chosen One Ink.

She wanted to make sure I wasn’t too old. Karina assured us I was not too old.

Now here we are. Ready to do this.

A surprisingly empty interstate through Atlanta this morning.

Quiet time at ATL. For now.

I’m soon to board my flight. Stay tuned.

Travelling mercies.

Yesterday, Sunday, began with a visit with the llamas who live across the road.

They seem to be gentle animals, but I don’t trust that they won’t let loose and spit. So we all keep our distance.

Of course the day began with coffee from Taos Coffee Apothecary. My friend and I have known the owners for at least a decade. We stopped in during their 1st month of opening, and it’s always wonderful to reunite and catch up on their lives.

The Harwood Museum was our next stop. We went to see the exhibit, Luchita Hurtado: Earth & Sky Interjected

I was so drawn to her work, especially the sketches.

I really enjoyed the series of photos she took with her shadow in the image. I do this on occasion.

Next up was a road trip. Sipapu, a small ski area just east of Taos, was highly recommended by the coffee shop owner.

It didn’t take long to head for the mountains – literally. The drive was beautiful.

After awhile we pulled off the highway to slow down, and to stop and walk the trail just a bit.

There was local man fishing the Rio Pueblo. He was using a spinner and was getting a lot of action.

I chatted with him for a bit, then he was off to toss his line back in.

It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit and a pure sincerity of mind.
-Washington Irving

Yesterday (Saturday) was the reason why my traveling friend and I traveled to Taos. We came for the opening of a dear friend’s art exhibit.

Her show, Continuum, was extraordinary. What she refers to as her day work, Butterpie Productions, was prominently on display.

Her more recent drawings and printmaking pieces were paired with her larger ceramic plates and platters.

It was such joy to walk into the gallery and be greeted by Abby and her husband, Dean, with open arms and great smiles.

That morning we took a drive to Arroyo Seco, a small town north of town. Our aim was to see the beauty of the area in the summer.

There was bounteous summer beauty

Then, later in the evening, we drove northwest to try to find sunset. The following images declare we found it!

I have forgotten how much I love Taos in the summer.

Small to vast vistas

blooms

apricots and plums

blue skies

vistas

green grass

sleeping with open doors

and rainbows!

As Georgia O’keefe wrote, Taos is a high, wise, sage-covered plain. In the evening, with the sun at your back, it looks like an ocean, like water. The color up there is different . . . the blue-green of the sage and mountains, the wildflowers in bloom. It’s a different kind of color from any I’d ever seen—there’s nothing like that in north Texas or even in Colorado. And it’s not just the color that attracted me either The world is so wide up there, so big.

“something that keeps on going, changing slowly over time”

Today I’m traveling to Taos, NM.

It’s one of my favorite places. It’s also where one of my favorite persons has an exhibit opening in a couple of days. The exhibit is described as A Joy-Filled Exhibit of Abby Salsbury’s New Ceramics and Printmaking.

The exhibit is titled,

This has me thinking about the word continuum.

I’m in my 80’s and an on my own continuum.

Brain and body change slowly and quickly at the same time, it seems.

Often with scattered exuberance.

Mushy recall at times,

clear the next moment.

I’m acutely aware of “something that keeps on going, changing slowly over time”.

In the meantime, I have a chair in the sky to catch.

Traveling mercies.

On the eve of graduation day, we took a short drive to see the sunset. A perfect viewing locale was nearby.

It was awesome.

Sunset suggests the end of the day, with tomorrow bringing something new.

So, too, are endings and tomorrows in our lives.

I’m in Seattle for just that – my grandson’s graduation from high school.

It was awesome!

We began with dinner at Skal restaurant. A meal fit for a Viking.

It was quite the spread, complete with a giant pretzel and accompanying dips. The main event were platters of pheasant and rabbit with potatoes and asparagus.

Then on to the main event!

Nathan was cheered on with great gusto and love as he now moves on to higher education.

Traveling mercies.

Once again, my chair in the sky awaits me. Today I am traveling to the great northwest to celebrate my grandson’s High School Graduation! Yay!

This is my last grandchild to graduate living full-time at home.

Here’s what comes next. I visit my grandkids twice a year while they are in college. The Fall visit is without structure. However, the Spring visit is all about women’s basketball!

I’ll have a new team to root for – the Colorado State Rams. Just can’t wait!

Nathan and I enjoy each other’s company. It’s true of the three other grandkids as well. It’s such a gift.

I’m so proud if Nathan and relish this time to celebrate him.

Congratulations! You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way! Dr. Seuss

The mountain is out to offer a greeting.

Traveling mercies.

Yesterday we left the Westfjords, and then made preparations to leave Iceland this morning.

Images along the way caught my eye.

Not yet spring.

Cairn figure standing tall.

Rock bowling, anyone?

Smiley face.

Stationary.

Pizza!

Traveling mercies.

We began Friday morning with coffee just down the street from the hotel.

Then off to visit the Samuel Jonsson Museum. A short drive to the turnoff road, and my friend informed me it was 15 miles and was an hour drive. What?

And yes, it did take an hour.

We rocked and rolled, shook and shook some more.

But it was a stunning drive.

At last we arrived at the museum.

The work reminded me of the outsider art I have seen in Georgia.

Then it was time to “Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, Shake your booty, shake your booty” once again.

It was an awesome experience of beauty, birding, beach play, and body toning.

But wait, there’s more!

Late in the day we went Puffin searching.

This time the rock and roll, shake shake shake drive was 2 hours. Each way!

With winds at 50 mph, and 32°. I had to hang on to my hat! And hold on to my walking stick. And hope for the “best” as I walked along the high cliffs. Soaring was a possibility. The cold was brutal.

My friend shared this image with me.

Wow!!

And then it was time to rock and roll again. Filled with the experience on the cliffs, it was still a long and winding road back.

A couple of days ago we retraced some of the route we had taken north to Isafjördur. Our destination was Patreksfjörður, located in the south Westfjords.

We drove over some of the same roads that brought us up north. It’s always interesting to see things in reverse.

Nearing Patreksfjörður, we turned off down a dirt road to see the Golden Beach.

“Rauðisandur beach or the Red Sands Beach is a one of a kind beach in Iceland located in the Westfjords. What makes this beach so special is that it is not black like most beaches in Iceland but it is red or golden. The sand changes color from red to golden-yellow.”

While there my friend wanted to paint, so I found a place to pull over. Nearby were several sheep with their recently born lambs.

The adorable sheep paid little heed to us, walking on either side of the car.

Eventually they sauntered on up the road.

Following their lead, we sauntered off as well, stopping briefly at the final resting place of Garðar BA.

“It is Iceland’s oldest steel ship and it sits on the beach at Skápadal in Patreksfjörður. The ship originally came to Iceland during World War II. In 1981, the ship became dangerous and unfit for use, and was therefore sailed to the shallow shore at Skápadal in Patreksfjörður, where it still lies.”

Sunset over Patreksfjörður for our arrival.

Traveling mercies.