Gretchen Butler

Cracked

Since two recent 3 a.m. vertigo attacks, I’ve been waking up with fear and dread of another surprise strike. These weren’t dips into a woozy dizzy swaying world, but deep seasick whole-body spasms–you would not like to hear details. The inner ear docs aim to figure it out, but in the meantime I’m exploring howContinue reading “Cracked”

Dance

I’ve been hunched over the computer too long. My shoulders need stretching and my inner child needs to wake up before I calcify into an old fogey. Back in the day, dancing enlivened my routine life–polkas, waltzes, swing, belly, aikido, and folk dancing from around the world. The joy connection was so strong I thoughtContinue reading “Dance”

Shadow

We had zero visibility in a total fog out during the Oct. 14 ring of fire eclipse. I was jealous of friends who were in the right place at the right time for this cosmic shadow drama. However, we were exhilarated to connect with our eclipse friends camping in Northern California’s lava beds. They zappedContinue reading “Shadow”

Light

Finally, I’ve crossed off all items on a hefty To Do list–I’m up for some fun. My granddaughter catches the spirit and tone of this photo essay with her Rocket Launch, drawn when she was five. This series doesn’t explain color theory, the electromagnetic spectrum or star magnitudes, but it may lighten your heart. OtherContinue reading “Light”

Poppy Party

Poppies opened their 2023 extravaganza this week. Dazzling gowns and jewels compel me to throw open my garden gate. Each spring this prestigious gala surprises me, but instead of inventing a new story, I encourage you revisit the Poppy Parade — scroll down to the third story in May 2021 in the Archives at theContinue reading “Poppy Party”

Ruth Downes, Miniature Bookbinder Artist

Paper Legends, opening Friday, Jan. 20 at Gualala Arts, features unique, amazing paper artists who will inspire and delight us. Ruth Downes is among the dozen artists, but before launching into the story of her library of teensy tomes, here’s the list of other artists who will also command our attention: Donnalynn Chase, Jackie Gardner,Continue reading “Ruth Downes, Miniature Bookbinder Artist”

Flight

Except for flying dreams, Jim and I had not traveled by air since 1992. This holiday season, our kids convinced us to fly. They said it’s amazingly easy these days. However, I have a knack for making an easy task hard. For me, this century’s techno lingo is unwieldy. The only word I understand isContinue reading “Flight”

Juice

Climate change, plague, war, cultural conflict, economic uncertainty and personal challenges have been wearing us down. We feel cranky, critical, helpless, witchy. We moan or chuckle, smirk or snort over how we’re becoming nattering nabobs of negativity.* Then, we find a way to ditch doldrums by pitching energies into a neighborhood project. The annual appleContinue reading “Juice”

Pie Day in Mullen, Iowa: June 6

As friends describe their jolly summer car trips, I feel jealous. I’m glad they are adventuring, but that’s not in the cards for us this year. My workaround is to peek through the rear view window of time and savor the car camp trip to our niece’s Chicago wedding in June, 2019. Tables are fullContinue reading “Pie Day in Mullen, Iowa: June 6”

Jim’s Bitchin’ Kitchen

Jim and I have become elders. Seems like over night we’re over the hill, making adjustments, shedding old habits and expectations, wondering how on earth we’re going to cope with extreme old age. We’re picking up tips about each other’s domain–when one of us knocks off, the other will somehow survive. Jim is learning toContinue reading “Jim’s Bitchin’ Kitchen”