To Every Season Turn Turn Turn

I am back in Austin.  Waving a tearful goodbye to my gracious and loving friend Kim Herndon whom shared every aspect of her home and life with me over the past several months.  I will always be indebted to this most wonderful woman.

Several weeks ago I closed down the Loblolly General Goods in Bastrop  and opened a warehouse space with my good buddy John under his company name Wyldwood Market. I moved into a small rent house just south of the river downtown in a familiar old stomping grounds neighborhood called Bouldin Creek.  The house was built in the 1930s, was a bit rough upon move in...but I have done this dance before with these old homes and in a matter of a few days with some fresh paint, lots of caulk, undiluted bleach and a two day trip to Target, Walmart, Garden Ridge and along with my warehouse goodies..I once again have a place to call home.  I started the daunting task of renting by contacting a leasing agent initially..and by the end of the call I knew that was not going to work for me.  I could tell that it was going to be like dealing with a used car salesman.  Fortunately, I was at the right place at the right time and an friend told me of this place that another friend's son owned and was available.  I happened to have his number on my contact list..called and found that the house was less than five minutes from where I had moved my business.  The owner knew of my circumstances regarding the fire.  In fact he was one of the first people I remember contacting me the day after the fire and asked if I would like to come and live with him and his family.  He offered me a short term lease which was important to me.  I am still having a difficult time with foreseeing the future and short term offers the best comfort for the moment.

I have been eating out for 8 months... but I finally made a homemade dinner for the first time in a very long time.  Since commuting back and forth and living here (this is my 5th night) I have had fun searching out the food trailer courts scattered through south Austin for lunch and have met some creative foodies. Grill Haven has my top vote at the moment for their Gyros..and Bananarchy has amazing chocolate dipped, rolled in whatever wonderful frozen bananas.

So here I am..and here I go...

oh and go see the movie Bernie...wonderful strange story..dark comedy..great characters.

I CONSIDERED.

For months it was too difficult to look back upon these pages.  And it still is as times, and I cannot make it back to the beginning.  But I have decided to reenter my days here upon occasion.  Initially after the fire my first reaction was that I needed to leave this as is, unscathed by the tragedy.  But now that the pain has grown more distant I can pick up here where I left off.  Loosing our home provided so much time to spend with my thoughts.  No daily distractions other than listening and sharing stories and spending time with close friends.  I pretty much checked out of working full time thanks to the wonderful circle around me that stepped right in and picked up the pieces.  Now that several months have passed I find myself deeper in thought and perspective and truly not wanting to make a decision on many fronts still.  I have a new found calmness that formed within me.  I have a clearer vision of what I need in my life right now.  I have made some changes that were needing attention even before the fire.  I do not know where I am going but I do know that when the time is right and the balance has returned I will begin that journey.

I am in Uppper Michigan right now helping my family take care of my Dad whom is nearing the end of his life.
It is with such tender joy that I am able to have the time to do this for him, for my Mom.  There have been moments of clarity with him and sharing that I am so grateful for.  He was a dominate figure in my life for a brief period when I needed it most.  And for that I will forever be in his debt. 

The winter stillness and solitude of this part of the country is best exemplified by the picture I took driving back to the house last night.

September 4th

Not sure where to start, what to say... life since my last entry has been so full that I found little time to come here and share.

It has been such a brutal summer with scorching historic heat, extreme drought and ultimately the combination of those things, a strong wind and a wildfire leveled and destroyed everything that I cherished and found comfort in. Along with over 1600 other homes and 40,000 acres of the most beautiful pine forest. 

I am finding my way to go forth.  It is hard. But I feel I will get there again some day.

Thank you to all who shared their love and support.  I love you all.

Note..On September 25th I composed these thoughts.

The positioning of my friends house, where I am living, places the front porch 
facing east. This is where I bring my coffee each morning and sit, and watch, 
and listen. This is where I have spent the last two weeks talking with family 
and friends, crying, thinking, and remembering. This is my morning sunrise, my 
roosters crowing, and my trains rustling noisily down the track in full view. 
There is a barbed wire fence that encloses a block long pasture, where three 
horses run and the wild chickens roost in a cluster of elm trees at night adjacent 
to the train tracks. Beyond the pasture is the illuminated silhouette of our 
performing arts center. Above the building the moon rises slowly in the early 
morning hours , shortly after comes the rising of the sun. A stationary red 
flashing light from a tower marks the upward movements of these revolving orbs 
giving perspective to a universe in motion.  Below this scene in the distance 
was my home.  For several days this spacial scene was blocked by smoke and ash. 
It looked as if a beautiful thunderhead had formed with a massive pure white 
mushroom cloud touching the heavens resting on gray and black. I remembered 
something I read some time ago, that the air we breath has particles contained 
of every event that happened over the past several hundred years.  
That we are connected to the civil war, Mount St. Helen, the farmers plowing 
their fields and the bombing of Hiroshima with every breath we take.  Oddly, 
this brought a sense of comfort to me as my material and spiritual existence 
rose and circled in the cloud of smoke and ash in the distant eastern sky.  

Perhaps my connection to home, my life, humanity, and the planet, is now 
complete, and contentment can come from anywhere I find myself looking to the 
East.

Marc

And the heat goes out....

 Burrrrrrrrrr ...it is as cold here as it is in Chicago right now..WTH? 18 degrees.

7 months..count them..7 months since I have posted on here...no big reason other than running out of inspiration.  So I am recharged and will blog through blindly as usual.  So I am going to go all over the place on this posting.

I have found a very cool auction house in East Texas.  The auctioneer has a great eye and understands trends in the antique design field.  Each and every time I go to this location I feel like I could walk out with any of the hundreds of items and be completely satisfied.  Check out this light.  Maybe not the choice for most interiors..but for what it is....it has all the bells and whistles of great design in industrial style.

Whomever is creating these fixtures, and there are several at each auction, is doing an excellent job.  They generally sell for $400 and up.

Carol and I spent a misty Sunday afternoon at another auction house close to her home in Austin last weekend.  We had a great visit and were shushed by a cranky lady that thought we were having too much fun dishing the antiques for sale and life in general..I think the lady thought we were in a library.  I took a little offense to her behavior.  Because here is the deal..auction houses are supposed to be lively and exciting..but this particular place was so vanilla and droll no wonder it attracts people like herself, if we were at Christies..MAYBE..but north Austin..we don't think so.  We lasted long enough for me to nab a pair of these badboys.   19th Century Gothic Architectural Carvings..solid hand carved mahogany.  Being that there is a pair of these, after time if I cannot place them as they are, I am going to make them into a daybed..one for headboard one for foot board.  Lift them up on some large bun feet..nice mahogany side rails, custom mattress, duvet with large roping and bolster pillows..you get the idea.

I have taken a space at a little resale antique shop between Bastrop and Smithville called Dixie's Den of Antiquities.  Dixie is the proprietor and I just adore her.  I met Dixie just when she was starting to take items on consignment at her wholesale food company and watched her switch businesses in lightning speed to this resale shop.  She does a great job and always has something interesting to sell with her multitude of vendors that rent space from her now.  She was given this item to sell a while back and it really caught my eye.

Turns out this paper mache sculpture was done by famed artist Sergio Bustamante.  Here is a quick bio on him.

Though born in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Sergio Bustamante has lived in the Guadalajara area since early childhood. In his youth, he studied architecture at the University of Guadalajara, but abandoned this pursuit when his talents and interests drew him to the fine arts and crafts.

He began with paintings and paper mache figures, inaugurating the first exhibit of his works at the Galeria Misracha in Mexico City in 1966. In the early 1970's, he traveled to Amsterdam, where he further developed his talents. After his return to Guadalajara, he established in 1975, along with other artists, the "Family Workshop Studio" in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico.

While Bustamante's works initially focused on painting and paper mache, his talents inevitably led, in the mid-1970's, to the creation of sculptures in wood and bronze, many reflecting animal themes. 1979 marked the inauguration of innovative furniture designs in wood and glass with bronze accents, currently available in distinctive patterns and motifs. The creation of ceramic sculptures in the mid-1980's provided avenues for the use of color and form in ways not previously explored.

In 1992, the initiation of an extensive line of exquisite jewelry in bronze, gold and silver, many set with precious and semi-precious stones and, again, often reflecting animal themes, marked a new and expansive direction for his creations. In this same year, a new series of paper mache sculptures was introduced. In the new millennium, Bustamante continues to explore uncharted paths for the further expression of his uniquely imaginative and gifted talents.

Each piece belongs to a limited edition and is created by hand, therefore unique. A certificate of authenticity duly signed by the artists itself is attributed to each sculpture.  All works are of very good quality, and pieces of small and big size up to four (4) meters high are available. It is amazing how Sergio Bustamante can project all that magic and fascination to each one of his works.

The art collection of many private residences, public buildings, and museums in every part of the planet has been enriched by Sergio Bustamante’s works. The Mexican government even elected them for official gifts to state governors and to high personalities.

His works are more and more wanted around the globe (Mexico, United States, Japan, Europe, and recently Russia); therefore they will probably increase in value over the next years.  

Long story short I am now in possession of this sculpture and trying to sell it for Dixie.  Originally this piece sold for close to $4000.  We are asking $2900..such a deal.. 

Notable notes to self ..my iPhone, newly formed Supper Club, Kelvin and the Trash Disco Halloween Benefit Party, Ellen Tanner's art , Fin the Little Bit, a Wendy and Karen Christmas.  I will touch on these happenings next time I sign on.

just for fun....

One of the best humorist on planet earth.  Turn off the TV, get a glass of wine or mojito or a shot of Patron and listen in.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/sites/all/play_music/play_full.php?play=87

say AHHHHHHHHHHHH

hiking from our cabin through the upper canyon of Ruidoso

Returned last Sunday from a week stay in New Mexico.  It has been years since I have traveled through that part of the country.  And in the past I usually bee lined it to Colorado for some skiing except for a quick spin around the Plaza in Santa Fe.  Well this trip was all about Ruidoso, friends, food and nature.  It turned out to be a perfect combination to a perfect week.   Ruidoso has an elevation of about 6700 feet with the highest point being 12000 feet.  The cooler mountain temperatures make it a destination for many Texans.  It is a charming little mountain pass sort of town with the usual boutiques, delis, bakeries and clubs.  Ruidoso was discovered by the Anglos in 1855 when men were sent there to find the Apaches that supposedly stole 2500 head of sheep.  The word Ruidoso means Noisy River and it was this river that created the economic means to establish a village at it's waters edge through milling.   Wendy accompanied me and she located a wonderful little pine duplex cabinesque abode next to the noisy river.  Good friend and neighbor Bruce had been hanging there for several weeks trail blazing with Alexandra coming and going between flights over the big pond.  Bruce played tour guide on a couple occasions.  One trip was to White Sands National Monument about an hour drive past Alamogordo.

Like No Place Else on Earth. Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field.
White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.  It is truly a surreal place.  We visited during a day of black horizon storm clouds that contrasted so deeply with the miles and miles of  pure white sand dunes.
Here is a quick study on how this phenomena happened  in the middle of the desert.
Gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand because it is water-soluble. Normally, rain would dissolve the gypsum and carry it to the sea. Since the Tularosa Basin has no outlet to the sea, rain that dissolves gypsum from the surrounding San Andres and Sacramento Mountains is trapped within the basin, and the rain either sinks into the ground or forms shallow pools which subsequently dry out and leave gypsum in a crystalline form, called selenite on the surface. During the last ice age, the lake known as Lake Otero covered much of the basin. When it dried out, it left a large flat area of selenite crystals which is now the Alkali Flat.  Another lake, Lake Lucero,  at the southwest corner of the park, is a dry lake bed, at one of the lowest points of the basin, which occasionally fills with water.

Boardwalk thru the dunes

 Heaven on Earth.