Sidetracked Charley

Full blood moon tonight so maybe that is the reason I feel moody and am having trouble getting motivated. Or maybe it what all the work on my to-be-done-before-winter list yesterday. Or maybe it is that 1/3 of the United States in under siege by a hurricane named Sandy. I find myself thinking of Star Wars and Obi One saying there was a disturbance in the force. And Sandy colliding with the cold front that passed over us is a huge disturbance. The two of them are creating a super storm that will go down in the history books. It is peaceful here in my mountain home but that seems like a lie given what is happening on the eastern seaboard. The house feels chilly and I do not seem to be able to warm up but the thermometer says that is all in my mind. I am brewing myself yet another cup of hot tea and pulled another afghan over my lap and I sit at the computer - life line to what is happening outside my bubble. Nice to live in an area where there are no hurricanes or tornadoes ...

After the Ball by John Silver Tired but happy this morning back in my Black Lake residence. Away from the sometimes maddening crowd of the Willow Manor Masked Ball . I live such a solitary and reclusive life as an artist that meeting and greeting all those people was exhausting. But it left me with many wonderful memories to fill my days. There is unpacking to do but for now I just want to sit and sip my coffee, and sort through the grand moments. Must thank my hostess, Tess Kincaid, for the wonderful hospitality. And all the other attendees for wonderful inspiration. Find myself already planning for next year. Johnny had to get back to Monument Valley for some additional takes on The Lone Ranger. Our pilot dropped off him and early and they flew me over the monuments as the sun was just beginning to strike them. There had been a snow yesterday. The Angel Fire airport was a cold and desolate place. But it was only six miles from home and my fur kids. Hope all the other at...

Breakfast on Board My date, Johnny Depp, was late, but he did pick me up at the Angel Fire Airport. In the greatest of Leer Jets. I was all bundled up against the cold in my traveling outfit which included the Harlequin coat I will wear later to the ball. As soon as we took off and topped the mountains breakfast of Eggs Benedict was served. I thought I would be way too excited to eat a thing but I had skipped dinner doing last minute packing and was ravishingly hungry even sitting across from Johnny. He had brought along a couple of friends from the latest film he is working on. In fact the flight was late because of having to skirt the tails of Hurricane Sandy. He and his friends were all dressed as pirates. Does solve that worry about white Tonto makeup all over my gown. Cannot wait to see Willow Manor as this is the first of their famous balls I have been to. Going to have to be really grand to beat all the excitement of preparation and the fabulou...

Johnny Depp has accepted my invitation. But which Johnny Depp will show up - Captain Jack Sparrow or Tonto or just Johnny if there is such a thing. So now my gown for the event has to be perfect. And just when I think I have the decision made I find another possibility like this beautiful vintage satin gown below. I absolutely love the train on it, and the below waist stitching to cut down on flounce. And unlike my other two top runners it seems to allow more room to breathe. And no hoops to manage. Though I spent enough time with hoops during one theatrical production to be able to know the ends and out of them. And then there is this wonderful vintage reproduction. But knowing klutz me I would probably be snagging bracelet and purse on the detailing at the waist not to mention the delicate netting over the skirt. All together better for a more delicate person. Giving the gown below another look because of its simple lines, the detailing of the capped sleeves...

The mask is the biggest accessory for the ball but of course I have to have shoes even if my long gown will cover most of them up. I find as I age it is more an more about support for my high aches and balance. I like these because they had a sort of vintage look while providing a lot of support for the ball and arch of my foot. Not going to slip slide out of these. But they are a bit tall. The ones below are more sporty and shorter and will be perfect for wearing with my black jeans and silk blouse when traveling. I have my big black Epiphany camera bag but I obviously will want an evening purse. I hate the ones I have to hold on to. I want my hands free for the buffet and dancing and taking pictures. I have the bag below that I take routinely to art openings and receptions. Which leaves jewelry. Jewelry with feathered masks is an issue I have found. You do not want a lot of prongs that will snag on the feathers. So I was looking for something with a smooth surface a...

Obviously this dress with hoops will not fit in my standard luggage set. Nor with another possible choice below either. For getting to the masked ball at Willow Manor  I considered the advantages of an old steamer trunk. I actually have several that I have rescued from yard sales and antique shops. One I used for years in my days in a traveling troop of performers. I think it is time to rescue it from the storage shed and work on restoring it this winter like the one below. This would be my first choice if our Masked ball was to be on a cruise ship. Or if I was traveling there by train. But alas I have to pare it down for air travel. Wonder what American Airlines would charge in over fees for this baby? So I am setting for something far more practical for my gown and accessories - this wonderful gown length destination bag. And for the mask I choose I have gone back to my love of vintage with this fabulous hat box. I figure among the feathers I can pack some ...

And so came death by J. Binford-Bell Tess Kincaid is throwing a grand masked ball at Willow Manor this Sunday. Which brings up that age old question of what to wear. First I must make a decision about a mask. The above one certainly fits All Souls Day.  Gemini Mask by J. Binford-Bell But two faced Gemini certainly is a winning possibility. I love watching the confusion of people not know which of the two faces to talk to. Adds a bit of spice to the evening. And it will look divine with the Harlequin coat I just picked out. Would you believe $6,000? But then I think the Zebra mask would be very nice with the coat too. And it would go well with some zebra shoes I have been looking at. Zebra Mask by J. Binford-Bell Decisions, decisions, decisions. Down to just three possible black dresses. And still trying to decide whom to invite to go with.

Raton Facade Last Friday a friend and I headed east to Raton, New Mexico to cast our ballots in the 2012 United States Presidential election. The two hour drive across the plains gives you a lot of time to think and talk. We did not have to think about our vote because our minds were firmly made up. But we talked about how deeply divided our country has become. This great experiment of ours is not working. Something has to change. I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois speech of June 18, 1858 in which he addressed the issue of slave vs. free: "A house divided divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." It took the bloodiest war in the history of the world to resolve that issue. And the years I lived in the south made me doubt that the wounds of that war were ever going to heal. Now we are divided Red and Blue, Republican and Democrat, Christian and freedom to believe as ...

On the edge of the plains I live in Colfax County, New Mexico . It and its immediate neighbor to the west, Taos County, was split off from Mora County to the south of me. The county comprises 3,768 square miles of which only 11 square miles is water. Much of the county, the part I live in, is in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Most of the rest is prairie. The largest single city in Colfax County is Raton on the far east side of the state of New Mexico. Or about one and half to two hours drive from where I live. Raton is the county seat. All district court houses are in Raton. If I get called for jury duty I have to make that drive twice a day because the county does not pay for overnight stays for jurors. And I have to drive to Raton to vote early tomorrow. Many of us have come to resent Raton. The county seat was once Elizabeth Town which was a mining center. And then moved to Cimarron which I will pass through on the way to Raton. Cimarron is much more centrally located....

New beginnings in the kitchen by J. Binford-Bell Creative minds seldom have neat houses. And yet as a creative mind I seem surrounded by less creative friends with Martha Stewart houses. In the best of times I want their ability to keep things neat and in the worst of times I want to remind them that Martha Stewart went to jail. Oprah, before she left the public air ways and my radar, claimed on one of her more noted (at least by my friends) shows that uncluttering your physical space allowed you to unclutter your life - i.e. streamline you for success. Books have been written on the subject. I own a couple. Uncluttering has become one of the two subjects I hate. The other is how much weight lost on this last diet. I have a couple friends I have deleted from the let's-have-lunch list because this seems the only two topics they can discuss. Not unlike toilet training and crab grass removal of my youth. I am afraid I am one of those that puts dieting and decluttering in wit...

It is that time of year when all the cattle moves down to where they were dumped off last spring. We are a summer pasturing area. And most privately owned fields are connected by opened gates to public grazing lands. In the middle of summer all the cows and their calves are at the top of the mountains. And then by some signal only they know they start to head down. About the same time, and maybe to the same obscure signal the birds begin to gather and head through to the south. The snow is a bit unusual for this early in October. The water isn't frozen and as soon as the sun comes up the snow will melt into the ground. But this morning the snow covered the gold grass and the fog cloaked the mountains altering the familiar landscape of my mountain neighborhood. I wasn't dressed for the cold or the damp nor am I mentally prepared for winter which waits in the wings rather impatiently. I was happy to see the sun.

Country Roads I love fall. I love the way it looks and how it smells, the clarity of the air and the brightness of the light. If only summer and not winter followed it I would be in absolute heaven. We are currently being treated to a wetter than normal fall which would be good given a drier than normal summer. But it seems to bode a wetter and colder winter. And I am not ready for that. I want my Indian Summer. Seems layering of coats and hoodies is beginning early. My photographer friend came by for some greens yesterday and I surveyed the remains of the garden. The good news is that without the poly tunnel I would have already cleared and mulched. But the oregano is going great as are the mustard greens and Swiss chard. I even had Romaine lettuce looking good. This means I have extended my growing season from 100 to 150 days. Next summer I can plan my garden around that. And with the right plants at the right time maybe even lengthen the season some more. Soon time to mulch ...