Nov 2015

Sunny & hot in San Antonio...

Yes, Texas. Twas my university reunion... a Big Event.Trinity University is alma mater to a slew of us still around to talk about it. It's mostly perched atop the cliff of an old quarry. From there one can see for miles around, including the San Antonio skyline. That's why it's called the Skyline Campus. That's the upper campus. The lower campus sits at the bottom of that cliff face. All beautiful and dramatic. The school itself started in 1869 and moved to its current campus in 1952 with buildings designed by now-famed architect, O'Neil Ford.

I attended the reunion with Phoebe, the woman I met during my time at Trinity. The woman you've seen on these pages before. She who now lives in Portland. She who weaves. For years Phoebe was among those who wove tapestries for Mark Adams, including these that now hang at the San Francisco airport Terminal 2. We were both sculpture majors at Trinity, under the tutelage of one Philip John Evett. The one and only. He's now retired from teaching. His current work is more vibrant than ever. Go see.

So: top pic shows Phoebe et moi as we wandered about in that 35° C (95° F) sun, Phoebe with Henry Moore (there's a Barbara Hepworth only a short walk away!), me with Evett, and lastly the now-remodelled and expanded art building where we spent so many hours drawing, painting, carving and welding all those years ago. Wandering the hallways and peering into the classroom-studios I felt the lure of The Work and memories of meeting others who also felt that lure then, too.

Evett's show here, was mounted to honour him during our reunion. Lots of us returned to stand with him again, to admire his work and just to remember. Somehow he remembered all of us.

After our reunion weekend, Phoebe and I adjourned to the gracious old Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio, across the street from the Alamo. There we wandered the old-made-new River Walk and revisited some favourite haunts, including breakfast at Shilo's Delicatessen, a landmark for longer than even we can remember. PLUS, after all these years, I finally met Phoebe's three siblings! They joined us at the Menger and we meandered some more together and celebrated with some perfect Mexican food above the River at Mexican Manhattan.

I returned to a Don Valley that's gradually merging greens into oranges and yellows and daily adding more in preparation for just giving up and dropping everything until the light returns. I do love my Canadian seasons. Snow and ice, not so much.

Have a great Mo/November
And
Be sure to remember
To remember
On the eleventh:
Vonnegut
Et al.
His birthday
And pleas
For humanity.

AND
As former Trinity dean
Coleen Grissom reminded,
I entreat you with some
Always apropos
Kurt Vonnegut words:

I urge you to please notice when you are happy,
And exclaim or murmur or think at some point,

"If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”

Oct 2015

PDX threads found in New Jersey...

Kate and David (the David from Portland, not last month's David from Florence!) have bought a condo in Union City! Just next to Hoboken. The day they they got their keys they celebrated by planting their little square foot of old PDX carpet, Q.E.D.

Some of you might ask, What? Why? But you others know: originally designed by SRG Architects and installed in the Portland International Airport in 1987, Portlanders have since marked their departures and returns with pictures of their feet planted somewhere on the many acres of this carpet. Or their dog on the carpet. Or their donut on the carpet. These days the PDX carpet even has its own Instagram account where they post their images: https://instagram.com/pdxcarpet/

This year has marked retirement for the iconic carpet—much to the dismay of locals and visitors alike. I was fortunate to have seen the original carpet for myself when in Portland for Thanksgiving 2013. The new design uses similar colours, but it's not the same. Not the same at all. Google it.

The good news is that the old carpet has reappeared in many clever guises. This square, of course, but there are also framed squares and sling back chairs and magazine racks. Google them.

And speaking of Portland... Phoebe, now of Portland, and I are shortly going to our university reunion in San Antonio, Texas. We are all aflutter with excitement and plans. We hope to see friends and profs... in particular our scultpure prof, Philip John Evett: http://www.philipevett.com/

But, back to Kate and David in Union City. They are busy painting and packing and dreading the overwhelming manual labour that is moving... all to come to fruition in these next three weeks... all while they're working full time. I invite all of you to join me in sending them happy and restful vibes.

Or you're welcome to just drop by their Brooklyn apartment and help them carry heavy boxes down the stairs!

Happy October ya'll.

Sept 2015

 KIDNAPPED AT BILLY BISHOP AIRPORT

I thought I was off to visit Kate in Brooklyn... but that all changed very quickly when she and David met me at Billy Bishop Airport as I emerged from the new 10-stories-deep tunnel.

I didn't find out where we were going until we arrived in Rome about 7 hours later!

We visited the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, where a kind guard suggested I might be more comfortable in a wheelchair. Yes! David was my pusher and I was able to see everything with no compromises. There were no photos permitted in the Sistine Chapel, but it looks like they each grabbed one of all the necks craning upwards and Kate took one of the floor, which she proclaimed to be underrated.

That afternoon we took a fast (250 km/h !) train to Florence where another surprise awaited: Peter and Lisl joined us! The next day we ALL visited my obsessively favourite sculpture, Michelangelo's David. And later, the Uffizi Gallery, home to lots of art including Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Peter became my wheelchair pusher there and we accidentally exited the gallery. He had to find a way back in to return the chair after the entrance closing time!

We relaxed and chatted over wine on our airbnb apt’s rooftop terrace then ate another fabulous meal nearby.

Peter and Lisl were off to Athens to a wedding the next morning. We hung out in Florence another day then returned to Rome and visited the Vatican again: this time to see Michelangelo's Pietà, along with St. Peter's Basilica.

I’ve made a slideshow to show you some highlights, including the St. Peter's Piazza lady's lav and the Pope's chair collection and poetry pasted to Florentine walls.

We ate glorious food, especially gnocchi and gelato. We wandered cobblestoned streets and gawked. We saw lots of art, some with bees found with David’s eagle-eyes in the Vatican Museum. In Florence Kate spotted some Gucci fashion windows featuring bee details. Kate and her David even found a cat sanctuary on the site of Caesar's assassination!

Go watch my little slideshow… it’s only 2.5 minutes and you can see us all smiling a lot. OK I also cried from time to time. It was obviously my party and I wanted to.
https://youtu.be/jI-FqBDoh38

AND for those of you inclined to poetry, here’s a sonnet from the master himself:

for Tommasco de’Cavalieri
by Michelangelo Buonarroti

With your fair eyes a charming light I see,
    For which my own blind eyes would peer in vain;
    Stayed by your feet the burden I sustain
    Which my lame feet find all too strong for me;
Wingless upon your pinions forth I fly;
    Heavenward your spirit started me to strain;
    E’en as you will, I blush and blanch again,
    Freeze in the sun, burn ‘neath a frosty sky.
Your will includes and is the lord of mine;
    Life to my thoughts within your heart is given;
    My words begin to breathe upon your breath:
Like to the moon am I, that cannot shine
    Alone; for lo! our eyes see nought in heaven
    Save what the living sun illuminated.

Aug 2015

It's not all about the storm...

Yesterday we Torontonians (and beyond) were entranced by a dramatic wall of storm that rolled in suddenly and made a lot of light and noise. I watched from my balcony, then rushed inside as the cloud totally engulfed me. The rain beat against my windows... then it was all over. The clouds retreated overhead taking their lights and noises east with them. Dark time was all clear, then later another line of rain and lights and noises. Our morning brought another glorious sunrise... facing west I see it all in reflection of the city skyline.

I'll admit, I took this partic sunrise a couple of days ago, just to catch that blue moon!

July 2015

Batman & Petunia:
a tale of 2 cats & 1 pizza box

Kate and David met in California over 3 years ago now.
When they moved to Brooklyn together their respective cats
came with them. Batman & Petunia have been mostly
less enthusiastic than their people about sharing their spaces.
They have found common ground in watching out the window
for squirrels on the fire escape. They sit at full attention,
side-by-side perhaps even forgetting about each other!
Their latest dispute, however, is over this pizza box.
Could it be that each recognizes how perfectly the box graphics
echo the arch of furry sleeping back? After all,
they are cats and vain.

Thank you to Kate for the on-going updates!

June 2015

Discovering Ethopian delights...
warm friendship and a spice-laden adventure.
~to be continued.

Thank you to Nancy (Hoochie's mama) for introducing me
to more of what our city has to offer...
and welcome to Nancy's wife Katherine
who will be joining the Toronto adventure later this month.
June is indeed the month of brides!   

May 2015

Sands of Time... 
Waiting patiently for our footprints
To delight with our dance!
from Kate on Coney Island
when it was spring
for that one day last month 

Apr 2015

Gumbos are made of this...
First onions and garlic,
Of course.
Next chorizo,
The real Mexican kind.
Then tomatoes, herbs,
And the most important:
OKRA!
How I rejoice
When I find okra.
I spent too many years
Without
Okra.
Bleak deprivation...
Now restored:
Crop added to
Canadian rotations
And tastes.
I re-discover
Each spring.
As if the first gumbo
Since time began.
Ah!

Mar 2015

Memories are made of this...

Objects created over time
Discover each other
On a shelf in my studio.
Guy Willingham, beloved husband
To my favourite Aunt Florence
Sat on his Dallas front porch
And whittled this little figure
Of me! He also whittled a figure
Of my dad. I'll show you another time.
The little bowl was gifted to me by
Philip John Evett, my university
Sculpture prof who showed me
The magic that can inform
Shapes and textures... as well as colours.
The bowl is pre-Columbian and sits
Exactly in my palm.
Do you suppose its ancient creator
Made it while sitting on his own front porch?
Did it sit exactly in his own palm?
The clay and glass piece is a more recent
Creation made by sculptor Bill Grace
In Barbados. Not long before his
Recent passing he sent me
A rather silly e-mail joke
For no apparent reason,
Explaining it with the words
I put on the sticky note
Behind my little whittled head.
Bill claimed it a typo.
I think not.
Now I bring them all together
And present them to you,
Just beecause.

Chinese New Year 2015

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!
Canada Post does it again.

Feb 2015

Groundhog Day in TO
Brrrrrrr!

Jan 2015

I offer here
A memory from an old slide.
The year is 1965.
Twas January then, too.
My graduate show
At Trinity University
In San Antonio, Texas.
Maybe there will be
More memories to come.

This new year
Begins on Throwback Thursday.
I’m thinking this may portend
A whole Throwback Year.
We’ll see, shall we?

In the meantime
The idea spawns
Feelings of fond anticipation
For faces long forgotten.
I scan slides from a past
That traces my traces
And those of my family,
My kids in particular, of course…
And those of my friends.
Faces and names
I can now re-connect.
I even Google some I’ve lost
To see what they’re up to
These days.

This one lives in New Mexico
And blogs about chorizo.
This one is still in Sydney
And owns his own business.
This one married a guy
I remember in a totally other context.
Did I introduce them?
I don’t remember for sure, but
I think
I did.

They all look so young.
I wish we had taken selfies
In those days.
I’d like to remember me,
Young too.

And food.
I wish we had taken food shots.
Chicken-fried steak in Dallas,
An option I seldom chose,
But which now I somehow miss…
And cafeteria feasts in Highland Park.
I remember some glorious
Meals in Mexico:
Unlimited guacamole and pollo pebil.
Yum.
Mixed grills in Oz.
I love that you don’t
Have to choose among
Your favourite bacon,
Sausage or ham.
You get to have them all.
Yum.

Shrimp-filled avocados
In Maroochydore…
Where koalas hung out
Sleeping in avocado trees
During the day, then
Crossed the road at sunset
For the eucalyptus leaves…
Because koalas never drink
In the home of the black swans.

And what about that
Thai liver with peanuts
In Seattle?
No slides of that
But it was the best liver
On the planet.
Besides, I was born
In Seattle.
But that was before
I ever took any slides…
So I have an excuse
For not recording that part.

Then there are all the
Places to remember.
Mexican cities and pyramids.
Sydney’s zebra crossings
And her Harbour Bridge
And her Opera House
The year it opened.

Vancouver, the lush…
Where even I could
Keep houseplants alive.
It rained the day
Three-year-old Peter
Held a baby koala
In Brisbane and I dared
Not carry my camera
Through a flooding deluge.
I’ll have to remember
That in my mind.
I do, still.
Trust me.

Of course, I have all those
Black and white Kodak moments
That my parents snapped.
I definitely look young in those!
Then there are the ones
From my mum’s and dad’s
Younger days.
And some from even before:
All ancestors
Whom I need to label
For familial posterity
‘Cause I’m the keeper.

Look how cute little Peter
And little Kate were.
They still are.

Slides turn into prints.
Eventually digitizing
Catches up with the
Already digital.

Throwback Fifteen, then.
I’m tracing my own history
Along with the history
Of home photography:
Old posed sepia, Kodak snaps,
35mm slides, then colour prints
Processed by Black’s.
All give way to digital camera
And eventually iPhone.
Oh! And Photoshop!!!
Oh my!

Seeing, after all.
Is believing…
And believing can be
Retouched.
Like all memories:
Polished for emotional
Impact…
     And sharing.

Happy New Year!
Happy reminiscing!

~Bette Forester, Toronto, 1 Jan 2015

Dec 2014

Celebrating doughnuts and more...

As a part of their pursuit of doughnuts across the country—and to celebrate Kate's recent birthday—she and David partook of some of their favourite circular confections at this doughnuttery in NYC. What? You can't see the doughnuts? Well, that's because this is the small room away from the action, wherein one becomes closeted alone with mirrored walls, disco ball, sparkly lights... and shiny water-bearing accoutrements. Yes. Indeed. This is the WC at Doughnut Plant in the Chelsea Hotel.

Seems to me like a perfect start to holiday lighting!

Nov 2014

Celebrating black cats... and the women they enchant

I decided to start November a day early in order to honour midnight felines and their oh-so-willing femmes fatales: in this case one Samantha cat who adopted Kate a few years ago in NYC, long before Batman... perhaps tho, bringing Kate dreams of Batman, later to be realized in Berkeley... and proving Dirk Gently style, the fundamental interconnectedness of all phenomena in the universe.

Have fun treating and/or tricking tonight.

And for our new month:
Have a great Mo/November and
Be sure to remember
To remember
On the eleventh.
Vonnegut
Et al.
His birthday
And pleas
For humanity.

Oct 2014

Dennis channeled Gaudi again...

In November 2012, I showed you some Gaudi paving tiles in Barcelona visited and shot by my friend Dennis. Through a regrettable set of circumstances both Dennis and I have lost his original image. The calendar version remains in my archives, of course, but we can now rejoice: Dennis went back to Barcelona and returned with more pix of lots of Gaudi paving tiles. These pink ones took my fancy. Yours?

Sep 2014

Throwback September

Today is the first day of school here in Toronto. 

I remember my first day: my mother made this soft Chambray dress in pale blue with a white collar and navy blue bows. She also made a matching dress for my doll Mary Lou. My shoes were polished navy blue when I left home, but when I came home they were covered in caliche dust from the playground.

My hair was permed, I wore my Disney Cinderella watch and I was very excited with my little plaid satchel as it was essential to feeling like a real school girl at last. Inside I carried a quarter for my lunch and in the afternoons I brought my art home for my parents to admire. Inside the satchel's little flap my mum taped an extra quarter in case I lost my daily quarter. I never lost my lunch money, but I gave the extra quarter to friends a few times when they lost theirs.

That was also the time I began dancing lessons, piano lessons and art lessons. My parents determined I should try all three for two years in hopes I would find I preferred one. And I did: dance! I didn't pick up art again until my last year of high school... and by that time I was teaching dancing and dancing professionally while I continued my own lessons.

Aug 2014

August washes in bringing summer’s left-overs.

Where I am, summer’s been only a glimmer of “better-than-winter” this year. Today bodes better, unless the rain returns.

Kate was recently in Ponang in South Korea, where summer was overpoweringly hot and where she found this starfish washed ashore. 

What are my summer left-overs? Open windows. Iced tea on the balcony. 

New streetcar-tracks… for new streetcars due the end of the month. 

Walks in Riverdale Park. Farmers’ market in Withrow Park. Always carrying my umbrella. 

Dough Bakeshop’s ice cream sandwiches made with their own choc chip cookies and chocolate Kiwartha ice cream.

OK… gotta get to Dough right now. It’s a nice walk there and the very-vocal orange tabby that hangs out on the corner just might greet me along my way.

It is still summer, after all. Enjoy

July 2014

Canada Day 2014

Knowing plants do not generally thrive in my care, when Peter gave me this orchid he said (as he has said before), "Enjoy this while it's alive."

Hey guys! That was over a year ago. Named Harvey, he's made it through my move and our cold dark winter hiding behind thermal curtains that helped to keep the freezing winds out. Then, ta-dah!!! New blooms! Way to go Harvey!

Canada's 147th birthday is today. Just check out Facebook. It's all there. Tonight I will watch fireworks from my balcony. In the meantime, I put a little red maple leaf on my Canada Day postmark here, in honour of Don Watt, the man who designed the Canadian flag and whom I called boss... and friend.

June 2014

Finally! Bring on Summer!

Susan, whom Kate calls her New York mum, just returned from a magical sojourn in Italy. Last month I challenged her to provide an image for this month's calendar. The result is this day on the Adriatic at Francavilla al Mare, just south of Pescara. It had been raining and the early afternoon when she arrived was just warm enough to head to the beach and hoop for about 1/2 hour.

That's Susan: always prepared to make the most of every moment. Obviously.

May 2014

Look at this guy.
I guess he’s seen it all.
People gawking.
     (Sigh.) Happens every day.
They’re surprised that he walled his mate into her nest
And brought her and their brood food for 8 months!
     So? Don’t you look after your family?
No spring yet in Toronto?
     Yup, not surprised.
Rob Ford’s going into rehab?
     Wait! What?
_____________
I am trés fortunate to have friends who not only travel to wonderful exotic places, but who also take wonderful images
and show us all. Éric, friend and proofreader extraordinaire who’s kept me covered for lots of years, recently returned from Penang.
There he found this wreathed hornbill hanging out in George Town’s zoo. I invite you to go grab the high resolution
version (see below) and stare into that eye… whole worlds are in there… maybe he’ll teach you to meditate.

Tell me about it… and if you’re inspired, give him a name.

Susan, take note. I’ll be waiting.

Apr 2014

Elliot & Lilly basking in the warm sun!!!

Yes! At last, Spring is trying to assert herself and the Tiff shelf is delighted witness.

Time on by balcony reveals some remaining heaps of snow from cleared areas like the ice rink in the park and still some coating under some of the trees on the west side of the valley. Neighbours are all out walking to and fro without having to heed ice. We are happy people. I'm outta my boots and into real shoes. Can sandals be far behind???

Pi Day 2014

PI ACTIVITIES FOR YOU

1. Write a Pi-Ku:
That's haiku with a difference: First line has 3 syllables, second line has 1, and the third line has 4. Still my fave example from NPR:

So Southern
I
Can’t say Pi right.
-------
2. Measure a can of 3 tennis balls. Measure across the top, then the height... then around.
-------
3. Order in pizza... add a salad with everything sliced into circles... and sing Happy Birthday to Albert.

Mar 2014

March arrives... like some sort of a semi-tame lion.

Well, tame compared to Feb's exit of whiteouts, walls of snow and windchills of -38°. Saturday before this snow I opened my thermal drapes and went out to stand on my balcony to celebrate a few hours of barely freezing temps. The sun was bright and I stood looking at my sights and listening to thunks of the kids playing hockey in the rink. Then a bit after midnight, I returned during this light snowfall to share another night skyline with you. No more thunking, but you can see the rink in the lower left corner... and the weather app is predicting more -30° windchills for Sunday night.

Of course the rest of you all across north America are having your own freezing tribulations... guaranteeing us all stories of the winter of '14. They will be dramatic stories even if we didn't have to walk 5 miles to school every day.

It's hard to believe that in just one week from today we will have to stop wasting our daylight again. Don't forget to spring forward.

And keep warm, eh?

Feb 2014: Beware, it's long!

Yes, it's the Year of the Horse.
Just the word, 
HORSE…

As a girl I was a great fan of
Roy Rogers and his ever-present Trigger.
Oh, how crushed was I when I overhead
Aunt Mary saying to Aunt Florence,
"I don't know what she sees in that Roy Rogers.
"His eyes are too small and he's
"Not handsome at all."
So I didn't talk to her about him any more.
But I did still talk about Trigger!
After all horses were the
Main reason I liked cowboys.

As an adult I learned that my mother
Never liked cowboy movies,
But when I was little…
And my father travelled...
She took me every week
To see Roy and Trigger.
And Dale and Buttermilk.
And Gene and Champion.
And Hop-A-Long and Silver.
She even named her little
Willys Jeep car Nellie Belle
In honour of my enjoyment
Of these western forays.

Driving with my parents
We would seek white horses.
I learned to lick my thumb and
Place its wet spot on the palm
Of my other hand, then make
A fist and slap it quickly and loudly
Onto that same wet spot.
It was called "stamping white horses."
Do you know of this game?
There was no score kept…
Just spotting and stamping.

Once visiting my grandparents'
Little gas-station-cum-general-store
In Van Alstyne, Texas, I fell in love
With a clock in a horseshoe
Next to which stood a golden Trigger.
It was some kind of painted cast metal.
I don't know if the Horse Clock was
One of the items for sale or a vague
Attempt at décor, but I was totally smitten.
And my grandparents, in the
Great tradition of all grandparents,
Gave. It. To. Me.
Again, the adult me knows
How this Horse Clock
Must have offended my mother's taste.
But I looooved it with all my heart.
Whenever we moved (which was often)
This same mother ensured
My Horse Clock took pride of position
Next to my bed where I could easily touch it
From my pillow.
Yes, I did learn to tell time
With the Horse Clock.

Other horses came over time.
On our frequent trips to Matamoros
And Nueva Laredo my mother
Helped me find the photographer
In the zocolo who always had a
Wooden Horse for posing upon.
My childhood scrapbook is spattered
With these images showing me
As I grew. There are even a few
From my late teen years
In happy counterpoint.
My blind almost Godmother, Sammie,
Even prevailed upon my mother
One time to help her climb aboard
One such steed so she could
Send me her picture like mine of yore.

During fourth and sixth grades
We lived in tiny Bartonville, Texas,
And there pastured an aging
And gentle Sadie for a neighbour.
Sadie let me lead her to our fence
So I could climb from fence to her back
And explore our vast four acres
Bareback.
I fed her carrot sticks that she
Delicately bit as I held them
And sugar cubes that she
Lipped from my open palm.
My mother, the city girl, later
Confessed her fears at the time.
I'm glad I didn't know.

When I was preggers with Peter
His dad and I visited friends
Who lived on a very remote ranch
In the mountains of northern Mexico.
One day, we rode our horses
For so many hours
Our hosts sent out cowboy
Search parties to find us
And ensure my baby's safety.
Later Peter and I rode horses
On bridle path at Lake Louise.
He remembers the horses' names
Still.

Of course, Little Peter and Little Kate
Each had their own horse on springs.
I painted them white, because,
Like my mother, the aesthetic
Has always been more important to me
Than the commercial.
Peter called his horse "Wrong"
And Kate called her's "Mine."
They know why.

What's that other little horse
On the calendar?
The one in the middle?
I discovered it while looking
For something else
And kept it because
It's sweet.

Have a very happy
Year of the Wood Horse,
My friends.
------------

In China it's known as a time for victories, unexpected adventure and surprising romance! The horse is associated with fire and therefore always ready to race on… during the year of horse, we must be careful not to let that fire consume the wood. The lesson this year is to run, but to plan and to pace ourselves, to ensure we reach our ultimate goals.

In western astrology, Mercury is about to go retrograde again from Feb 5th to 27th. Back up everything. Double-check all your documents. Try to avoid entering into any new contract, but if you must, be prepared for delays. If you have an on-going contract negotiation, revisit areas you thought were settled… they might have come unstuck.

Jan 2014

So much since last we talked...

The ice storm.
    Christmas.
The ice storm.
    Boxing Day.
The ice storm.
    David's big run in Phoenix...
    106 miles in 48 hours.
Aftermath of the ice storm.
    New Year's Eve.
Happy that the ice storm
didn't leave me in the cold and dark.
    New Year's Day.
Cold. Snow.
Snow storm.
    Quiet weekend.
Another snow storm due.
    Happy Birthday to Peter.
....

In the meantime
these little critters
seek a place to hunker.

Lot's to learn from them.

Thank you Marje for the pic.

Dec 2013

Portland, I'm told, is the place where young people go to retire.

I spent 5 days in Brooklyn with Kate and David, hanging, eating, exploring... including a day with Susan (she who helped me birth Kate 34 years ago). Then I joined Kate and David for a trip to Portland to celebrate American Thanksgiving with David's family and their friends and my friends and their family. It was an enormous and delicious dinner. There were dogs, too. These friends, both old and new, then celebrated my birthday with warmth and even more food... and chocolate.

And a trip to Powell's Books. Google it and you'll find out why that's important.

I stayed with Phoebe and Richard, she from my university days in Texas. Some of you might remember Phoebe from my October 2006 calendar, when she and Richard lived in San Francisco. Three years ago they moved to Portland and now have recently adopted this delightful terrier named Kobi, who also included me in his family circle. He is rotund. He is 11 years old. He gets very upset when people hug.

He spent entirely too much time being upset during my happy visit.
Thank you Kobi... et al. Virtual hugs to all of you... youse all... ya'll.
You know who you are.

Nov 2013

November is blowing in
On Halloween's heels...
Wind and total grey here,
Inside rain cloud.
But this is not that.
This is before...
Because I want to tell you 
About my sunrises.

On clear mornings the sun
First strikes the top of the tower,
Then creeps down
The rest of the buildings
Reflecting growing glare 
Into my windows,
And leaving the trees below
Still in Earth's own shadow.
Each day a different version
On glorious theme...
Now underscored
As sun slips south.

I see
The city...
The valley...
The lake...
The island.
Different light
Every morning. 

Have I mentioned?
I'm a lucky girl.

Have a great Mo/Movember and
Be sure to remember
To remember 
On the eleventh.
Vonnegut
Et al. 
His birthday
And pleas
For humanity.

Oct 2013

OCTOBER PUSSYFOOTS
Suprising sunrise
Quietly reveals
What's coming
Next.

Get out there and enjoy all the changes.

Sept 2013

 TUESDAY NIGHT

Still unpacking, but I took a mo to sit and watch this from my new balcony. Every sunset is singular. I'm a lucky girl.

Aug 2013

SEEKING SHADE 

In the last month we've had such a range of weather to complain about and even to rejoice in: oppressive heat, a flood with resulting electrical blackout, and supreme bouts of coolth. I found myself remembering the sweltering heat of Barbados AND how Bajan architecture welcomes the Sun and uses his own power to beat back the discomfort he can cause. 

In Bridgetown at the George Washington House... where George visited as a young man and developed his interest in becoming a soldier... I saw how people filtered water through a stack of coral stones situated under the dense shade of an old tree. Since the island is made of coral, this idea was probably obvious then. 

In Spightstown I visited Arlington House, home to the Skinner family for some 200 years... and where they operated a ship's chandlery on the ground floor. Generations of Skinners and their guests were able to escape the then-capital's hustle and bustle on this louvered second-floor balcony. Britishly, of course, they called it the first floor. I sat here relishing the cool quiet before venturing back out into the glare for more exploring. 

I meandered and visited a gallery featuring artist Bill Grace's sculpture, then I crossed the street and found a beach-front cafe. There I soaked up the shade of sweeping trees and a salt-tinged breeze and some refreshing coconut water with some local fish. 

It's really hard to complain about Nature's extreme heat, when she also provides such glorious respite. All we have to do is find it. After all, shade only works when there's a powerful sun to create it. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer, eh?

July 2013

MORE BEES

Since I have this beedance fixation, when I first wanted to learn about eBay I decided to experiment with items about bees. I discovered little bee-jewelled bee brooches and bee pendants and bee earrings... and children's books about bees... and even a famous early 1900s bee-keeping volume by one John Lovell, whose last name is the same as that of my great-great-grandmother... and my own middle name. I also found this little hand-hooked bee rug from the newly-dubbed BeeBay. These little bees seem to be showing me their beedance directions to places only they can imagine. Or perhaps you know????

This past Monday we celebrated Canada Day... you'll notice the stamp here, proving Don Watt's flag still stands on guard for me. We're now hoping for some actual summer weather. Hope your summer is full of fireworks and bees dancing, pointing your way to refreshing victuals and nectars and more.

June 2013

If I ever made a quilt...

One would include all the bee designs I've played with over the years.
Another would be cats at windows watching the seasons.
I don't think I'm the quilting kind, tho, so Illustrator gives me the
opportunity to experiment sans thimble and avec loads of un-dos.

My quiltly interest has recently resurfaced through Arlene Sachitano's delightful cozy mysteries. They're centred around the Puget Sound area in Washington State where my parents lived when I was born. That means I lived there, too, of course, but all I know are their stories and scrapbook pix. Fortunately both are rich sources.

Arlene's books focus on quilts and the community of people who make
them. You can find them at Amazon. The books, not the quilts.
You're on your own for those.

Arlene (who quilts) and her family live in Portland, now home to
Phoebe (who weaves) and Richard (who keeps me posted
on all things internet)... Phoebe of my university days of lore
and whom Kate now calls "West Coast Mum."

Bonus: these peeps all now know each other. Arlene is mother
to David. You know, the one who has captured Kate's heart...
the one who visited here as my cherished Christmas surprise.

As Dirk Gently pointed out, it all serves to demonstrate the
fundamental interconnectedness of all phenomena in the universe.

Like quilts.

May 2013

Meet Ashes.

When her human, Barbados artist Bill Grace
Moved to Isreal with his family,
Ashes took up residence with my son.
I met her when I visited Barbados in March.

She greeted me with a soft voice
And taught me how to scratch her ears
And how to rub her tummy...
And not to expect her to sit on my lap.
Ever.

She loves to bask where a breeze can reach her.
Soon we'll be looking for our own chilling places again.
Remembering past baskings and discovering new coolths,

Today I complained about chill wind, rain and hail.
I pledge to remember and not to complain In the heat to come,
But to follow Ashes' lead and
Quietly bask.

April 2013

Since I converted to white hair
I've noticed there are times
When I'm invisible.

Not just in stores waiting for service.
Not just on the subway wishing for a seat.
It happens on sidewalks:
People just walk into me.
I'm not talking about a little brush
Of the elbow or of the shoulder.
I'm talking about full head-on impact.

I see them coming,
And if I can't step aside,
I stop in my tracks.
Sometimes I say something
Like "Head's up!" or "Watch out!"
When they notice me
They look absolutely stunned
To find me there.

My bouts of invisibility seem to last
A couple of days at a time,
Then all returns to normal.
People seem warmly
Aware of my presence
And don't step on me
Or push me aside in their
Rush to board the subway.

Last week a shiny new
Chapter unfolded:
On my trip to work
People smiled, yes,
But several strangers
Smiled extra-big smiles and
Actually said "Hello!"
One young man waved
As we approached each other
On the sidewalk. He smiled and
Said "Hello," then as we passed
He said, "Have a great day!"
I will admit I loved the attention.

Once at work, my friends
Continued the trend.
They all greeted me
With their own extra-big smiles
And extra-exuberant hellos.

Seems all I need to do
To increase my visibility
Is wear my new bright green shoes.
No foolin'!

March 13

GPS or Buddhism?

Who?
Where?
When?
Reminder...
Go there,
But wherever...
BE HERE NOW.

Moi?
I'm at home learning epub.
I'm on my way to Barbados,
Reading epub books on my iPhone.
Now noticing distance
Below chapter headings 
To first paragraph.
And how is that first paragraph
Different from the rest?
And just how much indent
Do I deem best? 
I'm hanging with my son in B'dos.
We're having dins with Lisl.
And we're skype-ing with my daughter in CA.

MEANWHILE:
Chris Hadfield, floating above us,
Keeps tweeting
Amazing and glorious pix from space,
And describes all with eyes and
Voice of a poet.

I digress.
And I reflect.
Maybe it's all the same, eh?
Is this about
One tiny letter 
And one almost optional period?

GPS vs. Buddhism?
or
GPS is Buddhism?

After all,
WE'RE ALL HERE NOW.

Feb 2013

Yes! Another New Year!

Traditionally the Chinese observe the lunar year, which means the new year falls on a different calendar day each year. It's the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese celebrate for 15 days with different activities designated for each day. Wikipedia has it all. This year's new moon arrives on Feb. 10th and is the actual day that the Dragon's year is usurped by the Year of the Snake.

Famous people born in the Year of the Snake include Muhammad Ali, Tony Blair, Bob Dylan, Henry Fonda, Mahatma Gandhi, Greta Garbo, Dizzy Gillespie, JFK, Carole King, Mao Zedong, Pablo Picasso, Oprah Winfrey, Virginia Woolf. Anne Rice, Ann-Margret,  Audrey Hepburn, Christie Brinkley, Elizabeth Hurley, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Kim Basinger, Linda McCartney, Liv Tyler,  Queen Elizabeth I, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sarah Jessica Parker, Art Garfunkel, Audrey Hepburn, Dean Martin, Dorothy Parker, Paul Simon, Ben Stiller, Charlie Sheen, Charles Darwin, Martha Stewart, Pierce Brosnon, President Abraham Lincoln, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Allen, and Grace Kelly.

In Western Astrology we see any new moon as an opportunity to unlock our dreams. This Feb 10th new moon is in Aquarius. It's focus will be on innovative ideas, the future, humanitarianism, revelations and surprises... all to include the big picture, humour and warm friendships. I invite you to prepare a New Moon Wish List on the evening of the10th.

Jan 2013

New Year's Noren

Today's email brings news
Of academic study that posits
Doorways form some kind of
Memory barrier…
Apparently we clear our minds
Upon passage to make room
For the new.
Offers us excuse for forgetting
Why we entered a room,
Anyhow.

Noren, indigo
Split curtains from Japan,
Hang in doorway,
Custom dictates that
We bow as we pass through…
Show respect for
Place left behind
And place being entered.
Noren sway in breeze…
Ripples give visual evidence
Of our journey:
Acknowledge past
While entering future.

In my world,
Most year-end passages
Are gentle.
I drink sake from red lacquered sakazuki,
My ceremonial Japanese cup.
Three cups of three sips each:
Past, present, future
All contained within each moment
Of past, present, future.

I reflect on this science-fiction
Quality of Real Life
And
Savour
Plans for my New Year.

This year my noren
Find me in recovery mode
From bout with lingering flu.
Reflections are warped by cold meds,
Irregular sleep patterns
And strange dreams.
The planned ripple of
Kate's holiday visit was
Delightfully gusted by
Surprise arrival of her boyfriend,
David of Oakland.

My anticipation of this New Year
Includes another gust
By a visit with Peter and Lisl
In Barbados.

All this makes me realize
I might not always remember
Why I'm in this life anyhow,
But I'm determined to
Regain my drug-free clarity
And enjoy the ripples...
And the gusts...
As they present themselves.

You?

Bette Forester
Toronto
31 Dec 2012

Dec 2012

Sweet memories...

The end of the year is always the time for reflection. My inbox finds itself bursting with best-of-2012 lists. I find, too, I'm reflecting on multiple years. For instance: while previously sporadic, with this month's addition, my archives show a full eleven years of my Beedance calendars. It's true. Go look.

AND... almost 33 years ago, a tiny Dr. Kate learned to stand on our sofa, lean against its back and watch the world through our front window. Susan, my friend whom Kate now calls her New York mum, sat with her this day and Kate monitored the world as Susan drew her.

While you're reflecting on your end-of-year lists and memories, enjoy decorating your tree and munching Santa's cookies and milk.

See you next year!

Nov 2012

Back to the gentle part of this season's weather.

Here's a lone leaf to mark the month of remembrances. Remember your hat and gloves. Remember to stop saving time and start wasting it again: put your clocks back this weekend. If you're in the US, please remember to vote.

AND, as usual in November, I invite you to remember Kurt Vonnegut on his November 11th birthday. Kindle's been offering many of his books at discount. Go grab one this month.

This little leaf was in Barcelona and comes to me via my designer friend Dennis who noticed these delightful tiles on his recent trip. Look what one single good design can do when it's rotated and repeated... proving that variety isn't the only spice of life.

Oct 2012

Remember when Kate & Peter ran the San Francisco marathon?

Approaching Kate's place in Berkeley after the race, Peter caught Kate atop a chair, searching her tall cupboard for celebratory wine and glasses.

I like extending their celebration... and recognizing there's a little intimation of Halloween afoot here!

Sep 2012

Is Summer here to stay?

Labour Day seems to mark the end of summer... at least it's the end of white shoes, if you're my age. The heat and humidity continue here, though, and make it difficult to imagine anything except sweat and patios.

This weekend I was in Stratford watching my grandsons play some heroic baseball. Stratford, a picturesque small town west of Toronto, is the home of the famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival (http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/).

Driving about after the game, I espied this evidence that change could indeed be on the way... as the bard, himself, asked:

O, how shall summer's honey breath hold out
Against the wreckful siege of battering days...

Aug 2012

These days it’s all about bringing home the gold.

I think we all get excited watching Olympic athletes. All these talented and committed people who make a habit of doing impossible things everyday. I smile with pride at sharing humanity with them.

My own two kids have also made it their habits to do many impossible things. Witness last month’s San Francisco Marathon. Peter came from his home in Barbados to visit Kate in Berkeley. They had agreed to run: he, the full marathon, and Kate, the half marathon.

The first part of the amazing route includes crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, then turning about and recrossing it going the other way. Kate reported on her facebook page: “the best part of the run was spotting my brother and giving him a high five as we passed each other on the bridge.”

Peter finished in 4:23:52. Kate finished in 2:21:23. I’ve put their medals below over the pic I took of the bridge when I visited there a few years ago. Again, I get to share in the impossible. I’m smiling.

July 2012

Am I addicted to pink flowers?

Well they're not namby-pamby pink, are they? 

They're each radiantly brave in their own way.

The lotus must sink its roots into messy mud at the bottom of its pond. From that base it draws its strength and creates glorious blooms AND at the same time produces seeds that guarantees its future. 

Orchids thrive with their roots hanging out in the air, attached to trees or rocks or fences. Their whole being is involved in each breeze.. in each ray of sunshine and in each drop of rain and dew. They suck it all up and make exotic blooms in clumps. Sort of like rock bands, each individual enhances the others.

See? The lotus and the orchid show me 2 ways to be in the world: examples of ways to become the best I can be. Guess addiction to this pink power is okay with me.

June 2012

See a theme developing here?

Last month's calendar inspired quite a number of delightful responses from you guys. This from Susan—whom Kate calls her New York mum—a memory of a trip to China. I'm lucky to know people who travel AND take great pix.

Looks like the lesson of growth and renewal has taken glorious root.

May 2012

Another look at April showers and May flowers...
wih the lotus it all happens at once

Roots entwine
in mud
rich from life
now long past

Blooms unfold
radiant faces
reflect sun
glorify today

Seeds offer
new life
and hope
for future

Simultaneous
cause
and effect

Lotus.

_____
Thanks to Edward Rajewski for this glorious image from his recent trip to Thailand. Look at those big heavy seed pods among all the blooms, somehow all balancing on long stems and floating leaves.

Apr 2012

Foolishness...

Well Google seems to have won the day announcing new Morse code tapping for mobile gmail... Google Maps announced a retro graphics option... and the landing page of Chinese Google offered an interactive seascape with swimming fish and falling coins and treasure chests. Seems some cultures refer to the day as April Fish Day.

My own offering is more of a test of perception than of foolery. Is it a moonscape? a map of the stars? Is the circle an innie or an outie? a pool or a lump?

Well, I'm not trying to fool you, but to show you a detail of one of my fave Noguchi basalt sculptures. I love these carvings for their shapes and even more for their surface textures. 

Hope you enjoy pondering this month.
Also remember to pack your bumbershoot for all those April showers.

Mar 2012

Sending my kids out to play...

From the time they were little
I loved meeting Peter's and Kate's playmates.
They each proved through those early and subsequent friendships
That they know how to value and enjoy
And share their lives with
Some of the nicest and most talented people
On the planet.
They both play well with others.

This painting is another of my kids.
I painted it here in Toronto
As memory of one of my favourite places
In San Antonio, Texas: the Spanish Governor's Palace.
It now lives with Peter in Barbados
And has been making friends of its own, too.
Look! Peter says this little green lizard
Hangs out around my painting. Seems they're buds.
My colourful painting also plays well with a colourful other.

If you want to see the whole thing,
I used it for my Sept 2004 calendar.
You'll find it in these calendar archives

Feb 2012

Red Letter Day...

for two bees,
or not two bees.
that might be the question.
whether tis nobler
in the mind,
or in the mouth,
to savour the bittersweet
alone or to find another
who can share
such outrageous fortune.