When It Rains...

Last week my hometown was struck by a freakish spin off from hurricane Dolly that dropped nearly 7 inches of rain in 24 hours. Normally in the summers in New Mexico we worry about wildfires rather than flooding. I don't live there anymore but my mom does and I have lots of friends who do so it has caused me a great deal of worry. One particular area of town was severely torn apart, my mom's neighborhood. There is only one road in and out and the bridge washed out so she has been unable to drive out for days. At the end of June I was there visiting and spent some time hopping from rock to rock in the river, spotting rainbow trout, and looking for mint along the banks. My favorite places are there in that forest. My childhood wasn't spent with video games. It was spent exploring there. Throughout my years of "teenage angst" I took refuge in the stillness there that I couldn't seem to find in my life.
The most important thing is that my mom and all the people I care for there are safe. Things can be replaced and mud can be cleared away. I only worry that the next time I go back to visit I will find that my memories are all that is left.

From Doll to Dingo

I have reluctantly returned from my little trip. I actually got back a couple of days ago but work and life have kept me occupied. Just before I left a new member joined the All Doll Review. She doesn't have a definite name yet. Maybe you can help me decide. I really like her. Her stock clothes are very nicely done with a lot of embroidery and she has very pale skin. I am currently pulling out all her eyeballs and changing them to more flattering colors.

On my trip home I did a little shopping of course. Some of my best finds were these silver earrings from a local artist and a pin with Frida and her monkeys by another local artist who I met. I just can't resist jewelry. I also got a boatload of jam but figured that pictures of a bunch of jam would probably be a bore. I went back to the Royal Fibers spinnery where they spin up fantastically soft alpaca yarn and dropped a Benjamin (heehee). The odd thing pictured there is this handmade garland that is folded strips of really thin dyed wood all rolled up and tied together. When you open it up it's like 10 feet long but I don't know that I want to because it's really neat closed and I could never get it back together again.

This is the beloved German dingo who I just had to share. It's not the best picture but it shows her enormous ears rather well. Were she not a little portly I've no doubt she could fly. More pics later.