I've had a wild and woolly three weeks, and feel finally, after tomorrow's show, I can catch my breath.

It all started with the Artwalk in Edmonds,their third Thursday art celebration. I was the featured artist at the Manya Vee Gallery, where I sell my jackets. I took many of my garments that Manya doesn't usually carry, along with some tools and fabrics and some of the things I use to decorate my clothes, and set up my little show. It's always fun to meet some of the people that buy and wear my clothes, as well as visit and get input from the men and women who come in to the store to look. It's like a friendly party, with "dress-up" as a bonus!

After spending the night with Sherri and Rick, daughter and son-in-law, we headed for Cheney in our 1952 Ford Pick-up. The beauty of our state is always a treat to see. We have such a diverse landscape, there's always a new type of view. It starts as we head up the mountain to Snoqualmie Pass with trees, trees and more trees. All the green is so soothing, and I always watch for a glimpse of a wild flower that might still be there from an earlier Spring bloom. The pine trees start on the way down the mountains , the trees that still say "home' to me. Through the beautiful Ellensburg Valley with the river as a neighbor, and then up and down the hills on the way to The River. Big sky, wide open spaces, and I feel like I can breathe deeper and stretch further as soon as we get to the Columbia. When we hit the high desert, it's stark vistas are made, I think, to put me back into a better perspective in the world. Somehow things become more in balance when I can see so far, and not much to get in the way. I know where the trees start again after the great absence, one pine here, then another, then two together. Must be just past Ritzville! To me I'm almost home, I want to speed past Sprague and rush to the turn off for Cheney. This is home, even though I've lived most of my life on "the coast". There must be something we don't see that makes those childhood and high school years spent growing up leave such an imprint on us. Especially when it was a happy and carefree time.

This trip we push on into Spokane, to my sister Jenny and Keith's new house, the first overnight guests in a brand new place!

More later!