Wednesday, May 25, 2011 — A good weekend in the city

I drove to the city early Saturday morning. Had planned on a Friday afternoon getaway but the little relapse of the cold I caught after the Italy trip put me a bit under the weather so I stayed in Fort Bragg Friday night. I was due at a Tapestry Weavers West meeting in Petaluma that morning. As I drove through Petaluma at 9:05 in the morning I looked at the sky and realized that no way could I leave my dogs in the car during the meeting. Too much bright sky and sun. Of course that was the reason I had originally planned to go Friday night. So I drove to Marina Bay in Richmond, fed and watered the dogs, turned on the radio for them and promised them I'd be back with them later that afternoon. Then drove back to Petaluma and arrived in time for the program part of the meeting. A delicious potluck lunch was followed by a tour of Sonja Miremont's new studio. Of course it is state of the art beautiful. Room perfectly proportioned as if the master of the golden mean had been its author. All those gorgeous plexiglass shelves and cubbies made by her husband's company. And the purple shelves in her closet! Lucky lady. I'm so happy for you, Sonja.

Had dinner at Brit Marie that night and went to the Legion of Honor the next day with Mike, who graciously agreed to take me there. The object of my visit was to see the exhibit called Pulp Fashion, the art of Isabelle de Borchgrave. It has been held over until June 12 by popular demand and I can't recommend it enough. For some years this amazing woman has been constructing garments inspired by famous paintings and tapestries, mostly European, and they are made entirely of paper or pulp made from pape. Beads and buttons and shoes are so cleverly done. From heavy, painted paper which must have had a high rag content, looking exactly like ethnic ikat fabric costumes, to gossamer laces which appeared to be incredibly thin Japanese rice paper, one would never believe that such things could be done. I have just heard that some of these gorgeously draping white laces were made with photographic lens paper. That fits and it certainly takes old time photographers back a spell. As one entered the first gallery you were invited to watch a video showing the artist and her interns working away at ironing, painting, cutting, manipulating and sewing these unbelievably beautiful garments. If you can possibly make it, go see this exhibit. You won't be sorry.

Had a marvelous dinner in Canyon at Mike and Jenny's. Leah played amazing Celtic and jazz pieces for us. She plays better each time I hear her. Already such a pro. Kayla, her first long term teacher, and her daughter Lucy joined us and you could see that Kayla felt as blown away and proud of what Leah was doing as we all did. Oberlin, here she comes. Mike barbecued a beautiful piece of Salmon that was so good I thought Lucy might eat the serving plate. The fish was perfect and it practically melted in your mouth. Great dinner all around. Thanks so much.

Monday I cut and trimmed and weeded in the little back yard at Marina Bay. Filled four black garbage bags. I think Skip was the last one to do that job and that must have been at least a year ago. I'll have to get used to keeping up the front and the back on a more regular basis. I had worked on the front the last time I was there so things are in pretty decent shape now. How often I am made to realize all the things Skip used to do for us. I so miss that helping hand.

The dogs were happy to return home. I stopped at Gowans Apple Farm in Anderson Valley and walked them. They looked as if they really knew we were almost home. So good of the Gowans to provide that comfortable rest stop for friends on the road. I never cease to appreciate this generous gesture. When we first bought our Fort Bragg property, I commuted up and down during the week to teach a class at College of the Redwoods. Sometimes I would stop at Gowans late at night and they would have a canister of hot cider from which you could pour a cup and drop your money down a slot for them to get in the morning. I've never stopped appreciating that warm drink on a cold night during my first Mendocino County winter.

This afternoon I began putting the sixth coat of finish on the floor of our new buildings at Pacific Textile Arts. Seemingly without warning, a huge thunder clap took place and it began to rain like crazy. I knew it was getting darker, but that big one took me by surprise. I stopped rolling the finish, brushed it out with my long handle contraption and began asking myself if I was really in the right place at that moment. These buildings are metal framed. My mother always told me to try to avoid being with water and metal at the same time. Maybe I took that more literally than necessary. But I kept thinking of the people who met their maker swinging a golf club in a storm on the course back in the Black Hills where we first learned to play golf. Well, I kept my cool in the empty classroom and decided to stay. Things soon began to look up and I was able to get that last coat on both floors. Now we just have the rest of the big classroom to do before we can begin moving in the looms. Beta called today and said she would come Friday and give two walls of the reading room a second coat. What a saint. Last week Chris from Tota Zia, one of my favorite dress shops, came and painted the whole interior south wall of the big room. Another saint. It always seems like some kind of a miracle when people offer to help with a project in that way. So many good people in this town. A thousand thanks.

Today Susan Larkin and I had lunch with the two recipients of the Skip Wollenberg scholarship at the college. What lovely women. Both hard workers, good writers who wrote truly compelling statements about their lives and goals. We had a great visit and I gave them each a copy of Along the Way. I know Skip would have been very pleased with the choice of these two women to receive the first scholarships in his name.

Did my swim laps this evening after dining with the Bartleys at the Purple Rose. The dogs greeted me as they do so warmly each time I return. Skip always welcomed me with a big smile when I drove up our driveway. I'm grateful to have these two furry creatures keeping up the tradition in their own loving and affectionate way.