Moonfire Travels

California Merry-Go-Rounds 3

2010-06-26T18:06:00.002-10:00

Solano County Fair Merry-Go-Round 2010

California Merry-Go-Rounds 2

2010-06-26T15:41:00.000-10:00

Casa de Fruta

California Merry-Go-Rounds

2010-06-26T12:46:00.002-10:00

San Joaquin County Fair 2010
March of Dimes Merry-Go-Round

California Murals 6

2010-04-01T16:27:00.000-10:00

California Murals 5

2010-04-01T16:04:00.001-10:00

California Murals 5

2010-04-01T15:43:00.002-10:00

California Murals 4

2010-04-01T15:27:00.001-10:00

California Murals 3

2010-04-01T14:38:00.002-10:00

California Murals 2

2010-03-31T20:03:00.006-10:00

Pierson's, Eureka, CA

Wildberres, Arcata, CA

Bolinas, CA

California Murals 1

2010-03-31T18:28:00.015-10:00

Fortuna, CA

Happy Camp, CA

Willow Creek, CA

2009-06-10T21:20:00.006-10:00

Whenever I pass through Garberville, I experience a mix of emotions and memories as different points on my timeline collide. Three decades have passed since I first landed here, a wide-eyed, idealistic, very introverted young woman. I lived "on the land" then, with hundreds of fellow "hippies" escaping middle-class America in the mid 1970's and 80's.

Exhilerated to be visiting this earlier portion of my life (my youthful self smiles at me shyly from Chatauqua's porch), yet sad at what I may have left behind, I walk briskly through the 4 blocks of an upgraded downtown (there are trees now!) and breathe deeply of what smells like paradise, grab a coffee, adore the view, and hit the road again. I got stuff to do. Places to go. Too bad I didn't see anyone I know, I think.

I carry stories about that time waiting to be told. It was grand! But this story is about just one recent morning.

For the last 3 years, I've returned to the Garberville area in a new way, lingering a bit, drawing Caricature Portraits of the grandchildren of my old buds at the annual Summer Arts and Music Festival in early June. I remember selling my artsy hand-made clothes at this festival in probably 1979 or 80! Wow! it sure has grown! (Pun intended.)

Just a few mornings ago, while awaitin' the afternoon rush at my little Caricature Booth, a generous soul handed me an amazing healing, sharing some "sunshine of the brilliant world"! Were they angelic beings? Sent by my Spirits to save me? Dunno....My spirit leaped up so quickly to embrace this brilliance, I realized she had been awaiting a release. Poor sad critter.

Oh, yea, I remember! The world is Beautiful and so am I and so is Everyone. Let's be Happy and Kind and create a harmonious world together. We are evolving right this minute! Gosh, I hadn't felt so lifted since (I-admit-I-once-tried) LSD.... hey hey! Yea, that shy me-girl from the past jumped into my body and said, "Let's dance, old lady! I been waitin too long!"

Well, I didn't exactly dance, 'cause I reverted to the toddler stage (continuing with my travel-back-in-time theme) and found walking had become a bit of a challenge for a spell. Spell, indeed, I wanted to twirl and throw myself on the grass to feel the earth spin upside down, to know the thrill of not falling off! I'm not sure if I actually did that or not, but I did eventually find meself in the Porta Potty having a bona fide re-birth experience as several of my sub-personalities, you might say, that have been arguing with each other called a truce and merged into the "Real Me", a glorious goddess-woman who's mantra was "I am always being born!"

I may have sung those words aloud, joyfully, repeatedly. Not sure. It was fabulous!

I identified my aches and pains as simply misunderstandings and unhealthy habit patterns. My age- specific blurry vision turned to perfect clarity and could see with those hawk eyes I used to have, without glasses. Wow! What does that imply??

I felt so happy! Letting go of some bitter little attitudes I'd been clinging to seemed like childs play. La La La La La...

2009-03-21T09:48:00.008-10:00

More arty views from Oregon Convention Center.

Oops! Out in the Back Pasture

2009-03-21T07:25:00.008-10:00

Here's a look at my last retail caricature situation. Looks pretty lonesome, don't it? Yes, there I was, across the lobby from a bustling, noisy Roadster Show at the Portland Oregon Convention Center, probably 100 gorgeous, blingy, candy-colored classic vehicles, a 1960's oldies soundtrack keepin' the beat (oh god, I knew every song!) and I'm stuck in an empty room across the hall with 6 old motorcycles that didn't attract much attention. Is there a metaphor here?

Great mural at the OCC, though!

Under a Skylight and Mt. Rainier

2009-02-15T11:40:00.009-10:00

I've only seen Mt. Rainier once since I've been drawing here at the Auburn SuperMall for Valentine Week. Most days it's been hiding behind clouds, as mountains tend to do. It surprised me that day, 'cause I didn't know it was there! (and had to ask to it's name!) Just another symptom of not always knowing where I am! And a wonderful example of the potential for discovery at every turn.

I'm reminded of our recent 2 month stay in Hilo, where we lived and loved at the foot of the great Goddess Mauna Loa, who showed us her face several times.

Mt. Rainier feels masculine, solid, ancient, and some say, hollow! There might be spaceships or time vortexes in there! My artist grandfather, Carlos Leberman, illustrated (in the 1940's, I think) an edition of A Dweller on Two Planets, An Earth Dwellers Return by Phylos the Thibetan. I believe this book was written in the 19th century, a metaphysical epic, with details about how the great mountains of the Northwest are time-space portals for travelers who frequent those esoteric paths.

Cold here, very friendly folks. Auburn sits on the rail line and has a few interesting old buildings. I can't say I've had time to explore, but it seems a bit of an "industrial area" near a major airport. I haven't found any late night wifi spots or great gourmet cafes.

Back in the Great Northwest (where its cold at this time of year!)

2009-02-08T19:37:00.011-10:00

Oh my God, is that a coqui frog??

Been home in Oregon for almost a month! Where does the time go? I am beginning, like my beautiful partner Sam has shared with me, to lose my sense of "home". Right now I'm home in my Wagon in a truck stop in Tacoma. Ah, the gypsy life! It's cold, lonesome and constantly underscores my new, un-invited mantra, "What does it all mean?"

I've been wanting to post a few photos from the Hawaiian Islands to soothe our weary spirits! Alas, the wi-fi connextion here in idling mega-truck land seems to be at a slow crawl and it ain't cheap either. Stay tuned.

Somewhere in the Galaxy, on a tiny planet...

2009-01-02T18:24:00.009-10:00

Somewhere in the Galaxy, on a little jewel of a planet, on a wee tiny Big Island in a vast sea, two little people are walking along a road, having an adventure! Let's drop in on them now, shall we?? (if you want to read what they're sayin' you better click the photo.....

Kailua Kona Christmas Day

2008-12-26T17:47:00.011-10:00

Aloha from Kailua Kona! Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Sam & I had a lovely afternoon on the "sunny side" of the Big Island, enjoying a gourmet meal at Lava Java that included one o my fave desserts, Chocolate Pecan Pie.
As we dined on the water's edge, the sun was setting while an impressive cruise ship sat right next to the red sinking orb! Wow!
There were so many tourists about, I felt like a "local" becuz I've been here for 6weeks! Very presumptious of me, I know. Then, of course, we went to the movies.
Drove home through a terrific tropical storm. Back in Hilo today working at Prince Kuhio Plaza and there are flash flood warnings in effect!

Our Hilo Angel

2008-12-22T13:17:00.012-10:00

It's always wonderful to have friends to visit when traveling!

They take us in, share their food and their hearts, show us the sites and give us a local perspective.

Meet Ellen Okuma, our new friend here in Hilo, who has taken the art of making others feel welcome (and cared for) to new heights!

Ellen is the sister of my dearest friend, Julia Hesse, who enjoys the Colorado life in Mancos with her adorable hubby, Elias.
Ellen is also personally related to Maona Loa, the local Hula goddesses and the Hawaiian waters. Thank you Thank you, Ellen!

Sinigin in the Rain!

2008-12-18T16:32:00.005-10:00

Well, here we are sloggin' thru the wetness in the wee hours on the way to the Prince Kuhio Plaza Mall in Hilo. We decided to go without a rental car to save a bit and gosh, our cute little rented house is only 3 blocks away!

Samwell is enjoying himself immensely, as you can see!

The man I Adore

2008-12-16T19:14:00.007-10:00

This is the man I love! Can you see how irresistable he is? Photo 1 shows how he might appear at any given moment........photo 2 reveals his true Svengali nature. This was taken as he was explaining the work he wants done to his cosmetic surgeon. Isn't he wonderful!

Hilo Impressions

2008-12-14T20:29:00.009-10:00

Hilo is beautiful, rusty, organic, historic, quaint - lost in a another decade and full of delightful long-time residents with stories to tell. The stories weave lives with the fascinating history of this place. I feel the island trying to slow-mo me down. I resist. Someone is always in my way, it seems, whether I'm walkin thru the mall or driving. Time to stop, look and listen.

http://www.htbg.com/

I walk at my usual brisk, long-legged pace, holding onto my usual sense of purpose. There are ghosts everywhere - in the vegetation as well as the buildings. I am curious about the tsunami of 1946, having had recurring dreams of tsunami's all my life. This one happened just a few months before i was born.

I imagine myself a soul swept away by an unimaginable wave, carried to a strange and lovely shore to be born again. What happens to the ghosts when a place returns to the sea?

Prince Kuhio Plaza - Hilo for the Holidays

2008-12-12T17:38:00.008-10:00

"Let's keep kissin' to remind ourselves that we're in the real world," Sam said to me (after a stuporious day at the mall, which we mostly spent cruisin' online distractions, signing up for Facebook, and researching various forums of profundity, thus losing our sense of time and planetary location).

He's so wise!