Not Quite Through With Tacoma

IF YOU LOOK closely, you will see one of Chihuly's putti in the lower left (semi-center). The putti are Renaissance figures that were usually cherubic and carved from wood. Dale Chihuly decided to construct them from glass. They are so sweet and mischievous, reclining above octopi or holding hands while swinging above ribbons of glass. (this is another BlackBerry photo)
If I already told you I won tickets to the Museum of Glass, I apologize. I really want to go visit and see them produce the glass. I guess, for a price, you can even make your own and if you goof up the pros will "rescue" it for you. Now that's what I call an authentic souvenir.
This adorable pink bicycle was propped up against a perfect gray/blue background. The Northwest is BIG on bikes.
What else did the city hold for us? Well, we had dinner in the restaurant below our hotel - Pacific Grill - and had a delicious dinner. The establishment was even kind enough to move our party of two away from a party of 1,000 talkative chatterers. My dinner? Prawns with tiny, skinny spaghetti. Don't think it was angel hair pasta, but close. My compadre had clams or mussels in a very light garlicky sauce. Delicious! And then we had Julia Child's perfect fudge brownie with Madagascar vanilla ice cream for dessert. This started us off on ideas for a party to mark Julia's magnificent contributions to our world of food. We are planning the perfect gathering - food and guests. They all complement each other. The food will taste even better with the right mix of people.
And guess what else we found near the Bridge of Glass? That's right: a used book store. When in doubt, choose something by Henry James. I have never read "The Ambassadors," and I'm sure it will be delightful. It will be my "after gardening book."
Now, if you'll excuse me, I am off to Ace Hardware for some house primer - and no, it's not for the house. I'm going to paint a huge annual report we got. Thin, cheesy paper; but Judy Wise is always painting even newspaper with house primer and then going on to paint it with exotic colors and stamp it and then use it to all sort of things with, and I want to try it too - femminismo

Tacoma Sights

HERE is the first sight of glass that we beheld when we left the freeway for the museum district of Tacoma. Overhead were these towering "stacks" of blue "rocks" made from glass, I assume.
We checked into our hotel first - to attend the travel writers conference the next day, and then we took off for the sights. I, of course, forgot my camera so was forced to take photos with my BlackBerry. I seem to be doing that a lot lately - forgetting my camera. Maybe I'm forcing myself to just be an observer and not a recorder.
I have seen Dale Chihuly's work before, but was as amazed this time as the first time I ever saw the wondrous glass work he and his crew produce. Amazing!
I may not have mentioned this, but I am not going to Italy this summer. It's a long story, but the Mister and I decided to try another trip when he is able to walk a little easier. He is having a problem with his foot and knees - so my sister and brother-in-law will go on without us and we will try another time. So this glass in Tacoma will have to substitute for the glass on the Isle of Murano - femminismo

This is the Day! The Longest Day!

Happy Summer! HERE for your delectation is the "April Poem Rolodex," each in its own little envelope - finally finished.

A compadre said they are each their own little work of art and I hope that is true. I have been astonished to pick poems at random - checking first to make sure I'll like them for more than just one reading - and then finding them in some way serendipitously relating to spring, or April, or a photograph or art object I chose to decorate their holder. These things never fail to astonish me.

The last poem is "Trying to Raise the Dead" by Dorianne Laux. I have two of her poems in these 30 teeny-tiny April books. Maybe one day I will make them ALL by her.
The stand was made by the Mister and is everything I could have hoped for. Using copper and wood, utilitarian materials, this completes the recycling efforts of dribs and drabs, scraps and pieces.
Now I cannot wait to begin the next one! However, perhaps I should write my own poems or stories. Not always fair to glean others' hard work when the whole project could be my own work.

On Friday, a friend and I leave to attend a Saturday travel writing workshop in Tacoma. Up I-5 north of us and alongside the Puget Sound. I can smell the docks now and I'll bet they can inspire a poem or two - femminismo

p.s. The big picture is for grl+dog, Deneese, who is - she says - "too lazy" to click on the pictures and make them bigger.