A Peaceable Kingdom

The beautiful weather has made long walks around the Ditch absolutely essential!

The colors are starting to turn, especially the sumac. It's always beautiful.

I've spotted three herons, Harry One, Two and Three (I can't tell them apart!)

And a beautiful white egret who is somewhat more elusive and distant.

It is clearly a peaceable kingdom there, with all the water birds sharing space.

It feels like a lazy day, with most of the ducks taking a break, Harry close by.

My walk begins eight blocks away and I'm fortunate enough to smell the most magnificent honeysuckle bush. It brings back long ago memories of that scent that are unforgettable.

Then I arrive at the Ditch -- the weather has been so beautiful that this is one of the first sights I see.

There is autumn in every step.

I'm most fascinated when I can find Harry hunting. He's so patient.

He'll walk slowly along the edge of one of the ponds, looking up and then down.

And then he goes for it.

If I spend too much time taking photos, I make myself do another loop around at a more suitable walking speed!

Some of the ducks are resting, others sprucing themselves up!

Even the fish seem relaxed -- although none of these happen to be near the birds at the moment!

I am continually in awe of the beauty. At times I gasp -- I can't believe I am so lucky to see this.

I certainly don't relish what happens after the leaves are down.

But for now I'll savor this moment of beauty.

The time it lasts will pass all too quickly.

And soon Harry will be off for the winter, instead of to the next pond (that's him, on the right.)

And I will snuggle in and be warm.

Mostly Pictures

I ran away after retirement.

I needed to escape into a world of beauty, quiet, art. I needed to spend time with friends who had experienced retirement, enjoy them and learn from them.I needed to be at my lake house before the hard fall sets in. Although it is beginning.

I would wake up to fog...

...and soon after see a mirror-perfect lake.

I would experience glorious sunsets...

...and delightful days.

The lake is quiet now. Most of the boats are in for the winter.

Only a few fishermen and the occasional power boat remain.

The markets are rich with pumpkins, squash and apples.

Lizzie is not living up her her urban street-cat past. She came face to face -- no, nose-to-nose -- with a mouse and then just walked away. Well, I guess hunting wasn't her her executive assistant job description. Her meow is fiercer than her demeanor!

I'll write more about what I'm learning from my already-retired friends in another post and also share more of Art Prize. Meanwhile, we learned last night that Greg moved into the top 50! Thank you for all your comments -- we're so proud! (I'm on limited internet here -- I'll catch up with you as soon as I can!)

ArtPrize I: Let's Hear it for the Kid!

One of the best things about being Rick's life partner is getting to share his two great boys. They're young men now, but I've known them for so long -- they'll always be "the kids." Yesterday we got to see the oldest, Greg, at Grand Rapids' ArtPrize.

ArtPrize is a massive art competition where all media are encouraged. The prize money at the top is big -- and to get noticed you have to be "big" -- so Greg went all out!

Back about a year ago, he was commissioned by the Detroit Institute of Arts to create chalk eggs to promote their Faberge exhibit.

 

Greg used chalk to depict various elements of Michigan's industry during the time Peter Karl Faberge was creating his own exquisite eggs for the family of the Russian  tsar, among others. This one focuses on agriculture.

Since then, the eggs have been in storage, never seen together before, only at the various sites where the DIA placed them. ArtPrize gave Greg and Ryan Donovan, who created the egg forms with Greg and designed the stands, the opportunity to refresh the originals and show them to a larger audience. (This egg emphasizes the auto industry.)

And I do mean large. Just on the Sunday when we were there, literally thousands of people streamed through the doors of DeVos Place to look at the numerous works of art on display. (I'll write about others in the next post).

Everyone votes for their favorites. At this round, one can vote for as many favorites as they like, which are then narrowed down to the top 100, 50 and then 25. You can only vote once for each entry. When you get down to the top 10, everyone can vote again. (This egg is based on shipping.)

Rick, Greg, Jasmine (Greg's girlfriend) and I all helped explain the eggs to the crowds who stopped by. (They worked the crowd more than I, I regret to say. I had to duck out to register and vote, and while I was at it caught some of the "competition!")

But I have to tell you, when people are ooohing and ahhing about your kid (well, not by blood, but he's still my kid as much as one can be!), it is such an exhilarating feeling. You remember the early drawings, flat and non-dimensional; the never-ending images of sports cars (there was a time when I thought that might be all he would ever draw!). You remember the more esoteric projects during art school. You remember graduation. You remember the cancer surgeries.

You hope for this. Any parent does. But how many see it realized?

Of course we want Greg to win (so if you're headed to ArtPrize, vote for Greg!). There is a huge cash prize for the winner, and second and third place do well, too.

But even getting in the Top 10 is a big deal for an artist -- not just because of the honor of being chosen, but because then their work is critiqued by a panel of top international art critics. It can bring recognition and wider attention -- along with getting good feedback.

All of us were pretty pooped when we went to dinner after the event closed for the day. But we were all so happy and honored that so many would vote right on the spot for Greg!

First round voting continues through next Saturday, then on to the next round.

Needless to say, we will be waiting with baited breath!

An Embarrasment of Riches

An embarrassment of riches. That's all I can say about my time at WKAR and that last wonderful week. And the riches weren't just the celebrations. It was mostly the people.

I've been "at liberty" now for a full week, having a glorious time making art up north. It seems odd to not be with this gang of people every day! This is most of our team (boss Katie and colleague Stacy had to leave the work goodbye lunch a little early for another meeting!)

I had the opportunity to be on our "Current State" show, as I mentioned in the last post. Joe and Aaron were behind the scenes!

This is Mark Bashore, our host! I had known Mark long before he came to work at WKAR.

On Thursday, the station hosted a lovely reception for me. It was coordinated by Carol (left) and our GM, Gary Reid (far right, with his partner Pat), but lots of people helped!

My very first GM, Bob Page, was there, too!

And our current station manager, Susi Elkins. I've known Susi since she was a student working at the station! She's come a long way, and no one deserves it more!

The group included volunteers and friends, like Susan Affholter, Carol Welch and Jim DeLine. All are longtime friends, volunteers and lifelines!

So many colleagues (past and present) came, and so did good friends -- book club friends, wine friends, my "great group" (or GGs). All held my hand and were there during my illness, stress, whatever was making me crazy at the moment. And I know they will again.

Mike Hughes is our TV critic. He works nationally for Gannett, so if you are in a Gannett paper, you may have read his words! I've read a lot of them!

Two of my most recent work colleagues, Stacy and Kim, were there too -- it's so nice to know that when you leave someplace, you leave it in good hands! I'm only sorry I won't be able to work with them as closely from now on.

And here's something special... we went into the restaurant in the rain. Soon after, someone came in and said, "Have you seen the rainbow?" It was a full rainbow -- I didn't see the double, but someone else said they saw a double rainbow, too! I think that's a good sign!

The last day was filled with the Jeanie Goodbye Tour. I won't share all the photos for that but let me say, it was hard to say goodbye to friends. Raysha, our student, made me a wonderful farewell gift -- a jar filled with my bucket list wishes and lots more activities, for that day when you wonder, "What shall I do today?" I loved it!

That night, our old Quonset Hut gang got together -- these are those I've known the longest (since WKAR was located in the original Quonset huts on MSU's campus) and with whom I worked the most intensely.

. It was hosted by Tim (my office brother) and his wife, Sara, here with their daughter Meghan.

I've known Mike Lewis forever. He made a wonderful collection of "posters" where he photoshopped Rick and me into lots of fun things.

I can't decide if this is my favorite...

Or this one!

Gypsy readers have met Mark and Jan before at our Easter Egg dying gigs. Mark was one of the very first people I met.

Mike Mihalus and I spent a lot of time together as he produced pledge breaks. I hope he'll still invite me now and then!

Nancy Kelly and Bill Kinney were part of the original group, too. I can't imagine having had a life at WKAR without them.

After the first party, the night before, Rick and I had dinner in the restaurant where the party was located. This is the photo I took there, rather hurriedly. Yes, it's a boo boo photo -- but I think all the lights summarize those last few days -- filled with light, love, friends, happiness...

And all a blur!