Catch Up -- Almost w/photos and one pastel painting

I never catch up.  I wanted to post when I worked at the ArtSpace Gallery last week, about Gene's birthday ride, about some paintings I have done, but I just ran out of hours in the day and energy.

How does Gene's Mom do as well as she does at 93 years old?  She still makes her bed, washes her clothes, sometimes, and takes part in as many activities as she can at the assisted living place where she lives.  She is mostly in good spirits which must be hard.  Her memory is failing and that is a big irritant as well.  She doesn't remember to do things she likes, like making all the rosaries over the years.   Just living with 50 or so people and trying to get along with everyone there, plus caretakers and family.  Big job!

I "worked" at the Angel Fire ArtSpace Gallery last Tuesday and Wednesday.  The gallery has many different emerging artists.  It is full of colorful paintings, jewelry and more.  Katherine McDermott is the owner and asked if I could  be there for a couple of days.  It was fun.  I enjoyed meeting the neighbors at the Chamber and the other offices in the building.  I met some of the artists and actually got some painting done.

Front entrance ArtSpace Gallery

Back door ArtSpace Gallery

This pastel on Pastelbord, 6 x 12 inches was started there, and is almost done.  I will post a finish soon, right?

The mystery visitor.

This bird has been visiting and drinking from the hummingbird feeder.  He is always backlit from my point of view so we haven't got a good look at him.  I wonder.  He appears to have light feathers on his wings and back.  Hmmm.  Gene didn't bring his bird book and hasn't had any luck on-line.

On Thursday, Gene did his birthday bike ride.  Here are just a few of the photos.  I don't know how he does it, I was tired just from following along in the car where I read, sketch, do crosswords and sleep.  :)  He rode 92.04 miles. 

Leaving the condo at 6:30 a.m.

Sunrise just north of Taos.

The start of the ride in New Mexico about 8:00 a.m.  Still cool.

Jo at the Cumbres/Toltec train, engineer?? Antonito, Colorado

Gene on the way back at about 64 miles.

The New Mexico/Colorado State Line Marker

The sunset back in New Mexico

The tops of the rain clouds

The End!  It was getting dark and trying to rain.

We stopped in Taos and had some tacos at Orlando's and came on home.

Roger sent Gene a new visor.  I guess he thought Gene needed some hair.  Your smile for the day.  You can also see some of the sunburn on the side of his face for being out in the sun so long .. all day for his ride.

Gene with hair.