June 2-15, 2015
Written June 8+
Written June 8+
Dear Diary, Friends, and Families,
This is another "miscellaneous" diary, made mostly so we can ourselves be reminded of just how we are spending our time. We now have almost 17 years of these diaries and, at times, I think they have replaced my brain, at least as far as our own story. Maybe if I had to weave diary preparation into a full-time working schedule, I would have given up, but for retirement life, it's a good activity. Besides, as we age the concept of a memory crutch becomes more relevant!
-- Art Hop Fresno
Art Hop is held the first Thursday of every month (June 4 this month)
and we always want to go, but complications often get in the way.
 This
time, we made a special effort because there are preparations happening
for Marianne to have her own show at one of the open gallery evenings
in the future. (August?) We first visited the gallery that had said Marianne could show, but discovered that it really is too small for her paintings. Sergio, the owner, recommended other venues, noting that everyone needs to fill their spaces every month and there is a competition for new displays.  First,
we investigated a nearby church hall. Their June display showed
photos taken by local middle school kids depicting their own
environments and the challenges there. The pictures were good and
the stories were encouraging, if these kids are able to see their
neighborhoods improve as they hope. We're hoping too.  From
the church, we went over to "M Street Galleries", a very professional
collection of a couple dozen studios and workshops. The art
presented at M Street is always a range of style and "quality", but
there are always some that resonate with me. Today, it was Myrna
Axt's mixture of painting and photos, many from her recent trip to
Paris. She said that several of her photos were taken with her
iPhone, proof that it is the artist, not the equipment, that
matters. Nearby, I was also taken with the photo-realism of a
young painter who was showing his oils of his own family photos.
This, too, was very good quality.Marianne and the gallery manager talked for awhile and there seems to be a possibility for space in the August Art Hop, over three years after her first show, in Offenbach, Germany. Now she needs to get back to work! |
Garden Flowers (Just because I like taking the pictures.)               |
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-- Kingston's Birthday We had a pair of events on Saturday, starting with a 7th birthday celebration for Kingston, nephew Henry's step-son. We all met at "John's Incredible Pizza Company", a huge pizza joint and amusement park -- great for seven-year-olds. The pizza was actually pretty good and I assume the games and amusements were too, since we did not see much of Kingston, his mom, and the younger family friends after the food was eaten and the gifts opened.     |
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-- Ellen's Family Graduation  This
was not the end of our off-diet eating for Saturday. Ellen, from
a few doors down Cambridge Avenue, held a celebration of her family
college graduation. She was just finishing a multi-year program
to get her PhD, one son had just received a Master's degree, as had her
other son's wife. A triple play!With all the tacos we could eat, and fancy margarita machines, it was another great opportunity to chat with neighbors.         |
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 Sunday was a day of rest, mostly. Marianne painted and I puttered with the garden and pictures, and pictures of the garden flowers (see right). On Monday we prepared for a fairly busy week, at least what passes for "busy" in retirement: two sets of guests. |
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Now we need to get ready for our next guests: Gabby, Ava, and Sam. But that's another story
John and Marianne