Last week

Last Thursday, Carrie graduated from The Harvard School of Education. I love a good graduation with speeches, gowns, caps and all that potential for good works in the future. At the Ed School it was inspiring to sit with a tent full of graduates who in many varied ways will surely make their own unique mark on the world. It was a great day. Congratulations, Carrie.

Here is the poem that set the tone for the Dean's speech. I always love a good, short, inspirational poem. Leave it to the author, Emily Dickinson, who led a sheltered life to have such wisdom.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets through.

Madelyn Phillips O'Neil 1912-2011

Dear Family and Friends.

I want you all to know that my dear friend and mother-in-law, Madelyn, died peacefully on Thursday evening, May 26, 2011. She was 98 years old. She hadn't been feeling well for a few weeks, but rallied for every visit from family and friends. In a phone conversation with David on the day she died, she asked with interest about all of us, wanting to hear about Carrie's graduation from Harvard that day, and relieved to learn that Eliza had returned safely from the cold, snowy backcountry of Wyoming where she was part of a very challenging leadership program. She wanted to know how Katie's search for a house mate was going and she was glad to know that I was safely back from Oregon. David is in the process of leaving his architectural firm. She was interested in the details of that move and very happy for him.

It was so like Madelyn to want to hear the details of our lives up to the last hours of her life. Often when I would arrive for a visit she would say, "Tell me everything and start at the beginning." I am sure over the next few weeks, we will collectively tell the stories of Madelyn's life, starting at the beginning, grateful for her long life and its dignified, graceful ending.

paste paper

On my final day in Ashland, Ruth and I made paste paper. We both needed decorated papers since they can be used for so many different kinds of art endeavors. Ruth needed to make the paste (basically wallpaper paste mixed with paint) to use with students this week since she is doing a unit on bookmaking in an elementary school. Paste paper is great for book covers.

Once the paint was mixed, we couldn't resist using some of it to make our own papers. I use it for collage, note cards and book making. We got a little carried away and when a neighbor came to ask how her cancer treatment is going, we handed him the camera and asked him to take some photos. He seemed a little surprised. She didn't have to tell him how well she was feeling this week!

We did a lot while I was there, including two yoga classes, coffee (and green kale energy drinks) with her friends Marie Annette, Marla, Susan, Judy and Joy and dinner with my niece Gretchen. This is to let family readers know that Ruth is doing well at this point. I haven't seen her look so well in years. The treatment seems to be working well. May it continue to do so.

Nothing like hiking, gardening, painting and a weekly shot of retuxin to make you feel great.

more garden

At Willow Wind, along with vegetables, there are flowers of all kinds as well as paper collage forests. Art and gardens infused with child energy. What could be better? Add to that the sight of red wing blackbirds perched on last year's cat tails in a field nearby. A virtual Eden.

Willow Wind

Here are photos I took at Willow Wind, the elementary school where Ruth teaches writing. This is the school garden and I just love the hand painted signs and the community aspect of this garden.

The students sell produce at their own farm stand every Friday for parents and anyone interested. Here is Ruth planting her tomatoes now that the threat of frost is past. It has been a chilly spring in southern Oregon just as it has been here.

I am home in Massachusetts. I flew across the country today with a tail wind that got us here fifteen minutes early. Time to get out and see how the seedlings are doing in my garden!

today

We hiked on the "Wild and Scenic" portion of the

Rogue River today near Grant's Pass.

The Rogue River is located in southwestern Oregon and flows 215 miles from Crater Lake to the Pacific Ocean. The 84 mile, Congressionally designated "National Wild and Scenic" portion of the Rogue begins 7 miles west of Grants Pass and ends 11 miles east of Gold Beach.

The Rogue was one of the original eight rivers included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Rogue National Wild and Scenic River is surrounded by forested mountains and rugged boulder and rock-lined banks.

Another lovely day here in Oregon. Blue skies and sunny skies.

Greetings from Oregon!

trillium

Ruth with granddog, Bleu

Pelican Butte

Mount McLouphin

Mount Ashland

I am in southern Oregon this week visiting my sister, Ruth. ( I know, I know, we were in Portland in January but you have to be pretty quick to keep up with her!) We hiked on the Pacific Crest Trail today to Little Hyatt Lake. You don't have to drive very far out of Ashland to get on the trail, see the snow covered mountains of the Siskiyou Range and a plethora of wildflowers.