Skip would have loved this rain!

The much heralded rains finally arrived yesterday evening. It was, for the most part, just the kind of rain Skip loved. Steady through the night and off and on during the day. Nothing quite as wild here as we had been expecting, but evidently we were the lucky ones. The radio spoke of trees down and precarious rides through Fort Bragg. Just fine where we are and my ride through town and then down to Mendocino this evening was totally uneventful.

Good friends invited me for dinner and then we went to an amazing performance at the Art Center. It was a slow motion one woman show involving stunning costume elements hinting the shapes of insects or similar creatures. The scene opened with the spotlight on a semi-dark stage with a slightly quivering figure center stage with various shapes and constructions strewn on the rest of the floor. I'll come back to this description tomorrow in this same entry when I can tell you more authoritatively what I was seeing. Let's just say for now that it was exciting visual stuff. I thank my hosts a million times for suggesting that we attend this unusual textile enriched, sculptural performance.

I saw lots of old friends there, some for the first time since Skip died. People are so kind. I really appreciate their efforts to comfort me. I know that for some of them it is difficult to find the words they are looking for. Such a contrast .... this aesthetic marvel we've just been watching and then consoling conversations. I guess that's life. I just had never noticed it that way before. We capped the night with a nice cup of tea and more conversation. I drove home thankful for such comfortable and thoughtful friends.

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Our good friend Lolli is coming down from Seattle this week with her ninty something mother. Her Mom will stay in Fort Bragg with Ron while Lolli, Holly and Roger take off on Friday for the dream of a lifetime trip from Lolli's point of view. They will be attending an international conference on textiles in Cuzco. Our old friend, Nilda from Peru will be holding forth and we're all thrilled that Lolli and Holly will have the opportunity to see things and places they've been teaching about for years. Roger will undoubtedly be chasing down every rare bird that exists in the area. I wish them the loveliest trip possible.

This is my last week to prepare for the Kumihimo workshop which begins in my studio on November 1 and runs five days. Thursday, November 4, Makiko Tada will give an informal lecture and we'll hold an open studio and potluck dinner for all interested souls. It's my hope to actually do some braiding during that week. I serve a different soup to the gang each day, so some of my time will be in the kitchen as well. Always a joyous week for us braiders. I'm really looking forward to it. And I know there will be some moments when I'll not be able to avoid thinking of the help Skip always gave me while seeing to all the needs of this enthusiastic group. Wish me luck with this first "on my own" go at it.