Musings from the Colorado Mountains
Yuki the wildcat
The backbeat to my days now is the rhythm of my cat’s heavy breathing. I know her days are numbered, but she still loves to be cuddled in the evening and is fighting to stay with me. When I came home from living abroad, I planned to continue traveling but just taking short trips, inContinue reading “Yuki the wildcat”
Armchair Historians podcast: Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami
I had the pleasure recently of being interviewed on Armchair Historians podcast about my personal account of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Although I wasn’t in one of the disastrously affected areas, I was living twenty-five minutes west of Tokyo at the time and it literally shook my world and impacted the lives ofContinue reading “Armchair Historians podcast: Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami”
New York, New York
After a few days in New Jersey on a recent trip (Inspiration), I spent a week in New York. It had been many years since I was last there and, this time, I had no appointments, no business to attend to, no one to visit, just a time to savor old memories and explore newContinue reading “New York, New York”
A Japanese treasure
I first become interested in Japan in my college days, when, along with a generation of hippie potters, I was inspired by the works of Shoji Hamada. Declared a Living National Treasure, Hamada and his twentieth-century contemporaries created functional stoneware vessels. Sturdier-looking than decorative ceramics, in simple but graceful shapes, but with a strength andContinue reading “A Japanese treasure”
Inspiration
All my life I have had some artistic outlet although the nature of that expression has varied over time. Drawing, pottery, photography, music, writing, and a few other explorations along the way. Much of my writing in recent years has been travel-centered but once you get into the practice of putting down your thoughts, it’sContinue reading “Inspiration”
Women’s March
In support of the Women’s March 2020 that took place last weekend, and anticipating with trepidation the upcoming election in little more than a week, it’s a good time to relive the excitement, camaraderie, and collective purpose of the march in 2017 in Denver. I also joined the 2018 Denver march; more links to photosContinue reading “Women’s March”
Vote. Just Do It!
Voting by mail has been the norm in Colorado for decades and ballots are finally being mailed out. I’m eager to speak my mind and will drop my ballot at the county building dropbox before Election Day. The importance of voting in the presidential election was seeded in my brain when I overhead my parentsContinue reading “Vote. Just Do It!”
Making Tortillas in Guatemala
Working with the editors at Ceramics Monthly to publish my article on the women potters (see previous post) was an interesting learning process. They were looking for a reporter style article and asked me questions which moved me in that direction, so I contacted friends in Guatemala for quotes and details. Usually, though, I writeContinue reading “Making Tortillas in Guatemala”
Women Potters of Guatemala
My article, “The Women Potters of Rural Guatemala,” based on a chapter from my book, appears in the October 2020 issue of Ceramics Monthly, the leading magazine for potters. I subscribed to CM for decades since my days as an art student and I’m honored to be included in their beautiful publication. As a travelerContinue reading “Women Potters of Guatemala”
Fate or coincidence
A visitor to the Georgetown Heritage Center, the old restored schoolhouse that hosts our Plein Air art show (A labor of love), told me a story about visiting a schoolhouse museum in Victoria, British Columbia. (I won’t repeat the story here; it’s his story.) He mentioned the Empress Hotel, which reminded me of my ownContinue reading “Fate or coincidence”
Pamplona: Bulls and elegant dinners
I have just learned that one of my favorite restaurants ever, anywhere in the world, is closing after thirty-two years: Restaurante San Ignacio. A wonderful indulgence on a memorable trip, and I never paid a cent for dinner because the owner, a dear friend, wouldn’t let me. Most summers, I have spent a week inContinue reading “Pamplona: Bulls and elegant dinners”
A labor of love
The mountain town I live in—Georgetown, Colorado—is part of the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District. A mouthful, I know, but it means that it’s been recognized as a place to preserve, to care for, and to last in its natural state for decades and even centuries to come. Historic preservation is a way ofContinue reading “A labor of love”
Festivals of Scotland
Who knew there were so many festivals in Scotland? A few years ago, my brother, son, and I took part in unique, fascinating celebrations all over that northern stretch of Great Britain in just two weeks. Years before, when I was teaching in Guatemala, I took an end-of-year holiday jaunt around the British Isles withContinue reading “Festivals of Scotland”
Your most powerful weapon
Stunned and bereaved as I have been by the recent, and not recent, brutal murders of African-Americans by police for no reason, I was at a loss to add my words, to comment, other than those of the strong voices I have read in op-eds and on social media. Then, this morning, I read anContinue reading “Your most powerful weapon”
India: Sheroes
She + heroes. But I’ll get to that later. You have to keep on your toes in India; everyone has an angle. I’ve learned to be cautious, as an international traveler, with anyone who approaches unsolicited and offers a taxi. At the Delhi airport last spring, a taxi hawker beckoned for me to follow him.Continue reading “India: Sheroes”
I miss hugs
I miss hugs. It’s been a while since I’ve been in an intimate relationship, and much longer since I’ve lived with someone. But I’m not talking about the caresses of romantic affection. I miss hugs with friends, with family, some human contact, even a face-to-face rather than online conversation. The warmth of a shared smile,Continue reading “I miss hugs”
Nepal: Milk Mothers and Happy Holi
I may not travel again any time soon, grounded as we all are by the coronavirus pandemic, but I still have travel stories in my head… A year ago, I joined a Habitat for Humanity build in Nepal, arriving in Kathmandu a day earlier than scheduled to explore on my own, after a five-day stopContinue reading “Nepal: Milk Mothers and Happy Holi”
Aloosh, Doodee, and Foofah
Last summer, Emily Griffith Technical College, an arm of Denver Public Schools, put out a call for volunteer English teachers for refugees. The college holds English classes that many attend, but there are those that cannot travel to class for various reasons and require home visits. My last full-time jobs were teaching English as aContinue reading “Aloosh, Doodee, and Foofah”
Mardi Gras
The blog on my previous website, RRontheroad.com, was primarily a log of travel stories—and my warmest thanks to all of you who followed my travels for years while I lived abroad. It’s a good way to start this one. My son, Adam, does ocean research and has been stationed for two or three years inContinue reading “Mardi Gras”
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