Myrtle Kraft Library & IronHawk Elevator - Portal, Arizona

When I stopped at the Corporate Offices of Ironhawk Elevator (Raising the Standard) to ask directions to the library I thought Managing Member, Laura Mullen, was pulling my leg when she said they ran their operations from downtown Portal. I mean, they ARE downtown Portal!!

I got the door prize for my reaction.

Kathleen, a psychologist, was staffing the library. It began life  in the 1920s as an extension of the Post Office. After a period as the school, it finally settled in.

The Friends of the Library Bookstore, next door, is almost as big as the library itself. Hardbacks are fifty cents, paperbacks a quarter. I hauled out two stacks for $12.50 and hadn't progressed more'n 'bout six feet from the front door. 10 am - 2 pm Tues thru Saturday -- Turn left at the Country Store; it's on the right at the turnaround.

Eastbound

Trundlng toward Sonoita, I stumbled into Le Cegeunita Natl Conservation Area, an attempt to restore the Black-footed Prairie Dog. Remnant Sacaton (tall) grasses from pre-cattle days add perspective to the devastation of over-grazing. Didn't see no dawgs tho'.

There're (note correct grammar rather than vernacular: there's) two camping areas but you'll be hard-pressed to distinguish 'em. No tables er far rings. Jus' designated areas with scattered locations whar thuh grass's been trodded away. Dispersed camping is allowed except in certain "zones."

Eastbound. Doesn't Phoebe sorta remind you of Zippy the Pinhead? Cowboy hat on dash is ready identifier as: "one of them."

Bud Lite

Evry good ole boy'll tell yuh that there light beer is the best iffn yer watchin' yer figure.

You kin hear  'em sayin', "Why honey, ah lawst three hole powundz in nahrly az minny munths drinkin thayut stuff."



Yes, I picked it up and deposited it to a recycling receptacle.

James Joseph Roderick & Our Lady of Guadalupe

Up -- on the walls -- through the end of the year, in Ajo, Arizona, is a show by James Roderick.

On Our Lady of Guadalupe day (not MY Lady of Guadalupe!), Suzan and I were touring The Plaza when we found James' work. It's in the lobby area at the entrance to Art Under the Arches gallery caty-corner of the Visitors' Center/Chamber of Commerce.

Roderick's rich colors vividly capture the pathos that surrounds this iconic figure. But it's his unique take on the gal that makes the work interesting: Our Lady astride a Harley; warming her hands at a campfire; contemplating her likeness on candles.

Approx 14 w x 24 h

After Georges-Pierre Seurat

He also has a coloring book.

Roderick has had a long-term interest in goddesses and has painted images from Buddhist and Hindu mythologies as well. 

James' contact info:
phone:  505-982-1183
email:   roderickartworks@gmail.com
Website: james-roderick.fineartamerica.com (both upper and lowecase work)

Ironwood Forest National Monument

It's West of Tucson and campable.  Scenery is nice enough and it's relatively quiet.

Tucson Ho!!!

This could be my next blog banner. There was rumor the shorts had fallen into the fire, but they resurfaced. Hah!!

The photo I'm holding was one of many by Eadweard Muybridge, famous for his "motion studies."
Poetry in motion; don't you agree?

A painting bought from a cafe in Ajo, Arizona. The proprietor said the artist had returned to Michigan to die of cancer. It "livens" each day for me.

View from the west wing: Feet up. Sunshine. Freedom!!

ABQ Vignettes

My first suspenders were castoffs from a production of You Can't Take It With You. I don them for special occasions such as a visit to ABQ.

Soon after I left for my four-month sojourn, Michelle began a re-do of the house. Along with remodeling the bathroom, she had a new roof with skylights put on, re-landscaped the front yard, bought a new stove and, shown below, got some new drapes for the living room. She thought the feather behind my ear leant just the right touch. I'm considering having a feather-holder implanted. 

It was at the dinner table she noticed this splendid bit of abstract expressionism in a Cat Lackeys To-Do list.

Near Deming

It takes me three days to get from Tucson to Albuquerque. The second night I camped about ten miles west of Deming. In the morning I hiked up the hill to enjoy the vista. Tha's Phoebe down thar in the center left.

On the way down I found this memorial to a fallen comrade. I surmisaled hit musta been uh kieyoht.

I Miss Her & Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

As much as I've come to hate Albuquerque -- the loud mufflers, the driver's who've "discovered"  their horns, the traffic  and, lest we forget, the DOGS...the barking dogs! -- I miss her and am looking forward to baking her some pumpkin pies. She's always loved pie and learning to bake was a gift from my grandmother.

I meet with the plumber on Wednesday to clear up some minor problems with the bathroom re-do. Then it's back to Tucson. Should you ever need a cat-sitter in Albuquerque, here's a link to her website.

We (she had the Casita then) saw this olde saguaro in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

West of Tucson we camped at Gilbert Ray County Park for $20.00 a night. No hookups and no showers. In deference to Americans' prudery, I donned my black underpants to shave and bathe. I look forward to boondocking. Suggestions?

Sunset over Tucson...

At KOFA Wildlife Refuge

Ajo and Tucson

We stopped in Ajo to visit with Suzan where we got a tour of The Curley School, now converted to Artists' lofts, a conference center, with gardens and chickens!



They've left the halls unadorned so they echo...just like in the olde days.

Suzan's new shingle. In addition to mosaic and mixed-media work, she practices healing arts.

In her studio.

Her three-legged cat, Tessa.

Then it was on to Tucson where we found a needle-in-a-haystack. Afterward, she went West and I East. Now enroute to bake pumpkin pie in Albuquerque before returning to thread the needle.

Wildlife!!!!

(It appears to have grown a leg from its back.)

KOFA Shibari

Borrowing ideas from Kinbakuluxuria, we entered the other-worldly space of KOFA National Wildlife Refuge. It's SO nice not to have neighbors. We can emote to our heart's content knowing no one will come running. Not that they would anyway, but she can only handle, at least at present, one at a time.

Purple's always, since kindergarten, been my fav color.

That, plus the fact I can't whistle, qualifies me, according to Good Luck Duck, to call myself Queer. But I don't know. I mean, I don't feel queer.

Update 30.Dec.2022 - For reasons unknown, I'm now able to whistle Yankee Doodle Dandee and The Stars & Stripes Forever march. Who'duh thunk?

Margot Anand's Video

A good synopsis of her philosophy...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=3Z9aBuUV8Gc

Albuquerque Tableau

The desk is the remaining piece from my parents. The letter holder behind the terra-cotta girl was, along with her, part of the installation over 60 years ago.



Vince Distasio's Little Weasel looks down over it all.

She was the daughter of the Chief of Police of Munich., a friend of my Dad's. There were only six of the statues produced. She was killed in a car accident at age 16.



I purchased Workingman's YinYang at the 2001 Santa Fe Recycled Art show for $100.00. I MIGHT let it go for $10k.

The leather vase is by Margie Bassler.

The two poodle figures are Double-el's contrapuntal response to the stereotypical beauty of the terra-cotta girl. If she'd lived, she'd no doubt've been forced to go to the groomery every week and wear perfume....just like every poodle.


Last, but by no means least, the small figurine between her feet and the vase

was a gift from Double-el's mentor. It was she who, eight years ago, helped Michelle start her cat-sitting business, Cat Lackeys.

Kinbaku Luxuria

My early childhood years were spent in Japan. Although VERY young, I gleaned an appreciation of Oriental Arts that led me to study Uechi-ryu karate for 25 years (I still practice). The karate training included some techniques that are also fundamental to Margot Anand's Tantric teachings.

I was introduced to the world of BDSM and Fetlife (online) when I became involved with a millionairess in 2003. She could buy anything she wanted, but intimacy was our gift to each other. The couple in this website epitomize the sensitivity, affection -- dare I say LOVE -- that is possible when two people (or more) resonate deeply.

She died in 2006 of pancreatic cancer. But she continues to inspire my self-explorations and enhance the deepening of my relationships with some of my partners.

This post is in homage to her. It is posted with sincere respect for the dignity and beauty Wildties and Redsabbath bring to the stage. I hope your response is similar.

It is an adult site and is free but you must be 18 years of age or older and agree to the terms (you're consenting to view what's termed "adult" material) in order to enter.


kinbakuluxuria.com/

Carole Murphy - Artist

I was perusing my followers and found Carole Murphy. My memory is nearly worthless -- take heed all yea who think a remembrance infers significance -- but there's a vague recollection of discovering her work a couple of years ago.

I particularly like her mixed-media work which is what the link below goes to. She's in Portland, Oregon and welcomes visitors to her studio.

http://carolemurphy.com/mixedmediagallery.html

Exposed Resolution
20 innches (51cm) in diameter
Found bone, steel
2012

Playful Nesting
20 inches high x 21 x 8
steel, fiberclay and nature
2016

In Playful Balance
23 x 13 x 4 (inches
$1,150.00

Movement Forward
23 x 17 inches
Steel, encaustic, fiber clay and mixed media
2016

Mystification
18 inches high
wood and nature
2014

Personally Integrated
14" x 15"
Steel, encaustic, wood, fiber clay and
mixed media
2015
SOLD

Untitled
26" x 15" wide
Recycled steel, natural encaustics, recycled wood
2017

We Thought They Were
22" x 10" wide
Recycled wood, encaustics, recycled steel,
nature
2017

And my fav....

Unforetold Predelection
20" x 16" x 5" deep
Steel, fiberclay and nature
2016

Durango

Double-el has an eye for the surreal.


She got the chance to focus it at an extraordinary thrift store in the corner of the little shopping center north of the Budget Inn.

With Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Costello.

Her fascination with the culture's ability to convince women they need to look a certain way prompted us, decades ago, to do a show (at my gallery) called Poodlemania. Poodles, womens' canine equivalent, require coiffuring. And pussy, or even better, pussyass, really needs sparkling-blue eyes. All this from the masters-of-pedophilia; with downcast eyes she's ever-ready to do his bidding.

Then there was this Radiant Cat.

Bought & Paid for by the Durango Herald.

You're ready for ennything iffn you gots yer meat an' yer paintbrush.

A cute video for you gun enthusiasts...(WARNING - Writer & Director is a Double-el)

https://youtu.be/4T41M7cCqsU










Acerbic kulchur-critic. Have you ever SEEn anyone so smug?!!!

At Jean Pierre's (Double-el)

And after months of hunting, I found my five-dollar hat at the Humane Society Thrift across from Walmart. (Note gusseted pantleg.)

Photographer Jake Quinones is a contributing editor to Overland Journal. He took the photo below on Sept 15, 2014. I was camped on the Taos Steppe when Jake came by scouting destinations for his tour company, New Mexico Backroads.  Although barely 9:00 in the morning, when Jake proffered a Santa Fe Brewery stout, I set my spliffoes (the poochy part from whence cats' whiskers protrude) and proceeded. It served as the blog banner for several years. (Mentioned by Mark Johnson in Comments.)

I still had Eggbert, my 1999 Chevy (Suzuki) Metro hatchback.