Life Without Mittens, My New Junior Associate and Steve's Leica Man

Margaret and Tom told me that sadness and joy often happen at the same time. I guess they are right.

Last Tuesday, my sister Mittens passed away.

 It was a very sad day for all of us.

Mittens
May 2010
(a.k.a. Mitts and Mittasaur)
March 1994-July 2010

Tom made a special gravemarker for Mitts' grave.

Mittens had really big feet.

With 7 toes on her front paws, she could move kitty litter in our box like a steam shovel!

She now lies next to her littermate Buster

and Katushka, Bigfoot and Mr. Jiggs.

About 2 weeks ago, a young male stray kitty started hanging around and crying for food.

Tom & Margaret said he was 'good karma' but he looked like a cat to me. I said it was OK to keep him because he is kind of cute, he usually rolls on his back and defers to me and he is funny!

New kitty playing 'hard to get'. Such a silly little man!

Tom named him 'Junior' but Margaret calls him

'Mr. Junior Associate' because she says I am the new 'Senior Partner'.

I like to chase him but he's faster than me and he blends into the bushes so I get kind of confused.

I know he's around here somewhere.

Junior (a.k.a. Mr. Junior Associate)

Tom has been working on a cool project for our friends Steve and Vicki. When finished, Leica Man will be be on their front porch. Tom is fabricating a simulation of a Leica camera and the flash unit will actually be a motion sensor. When someone drives into their driveway, the motion detector will sense the movement and the outdoor lights will come on.

Leica Man will be completed soon.

The 'lens' is made from a pipe fitting from

Red's Trading Post

 while the rest of the body of the 'camera' has been fabricated by Tom.

I think I'll go back to my catnip.

Junior wore me out this morning.

BOB

Welcome to my 'BOB CAM'.

Tom gave me camera lessons so I could take photos of his work and Margaret's gardens from my point of view.

For two years, I watched Tom and Margaret from across the creek and dreamed about being a part of a human family. It was clear to me that they loved their two kitties Katushka and Mittens. I lived in an old shed by myself and had to catch mice for dinner. It was cold, wet and lonesome. I longed to be part of their family.

In February 1999, I found a downed pine tree across the creek and decided it was my one and only chance to make this happen. It took three tries but, finally, after I got over my shyness and fear, I realized that they liked me! They gave me kitty food and took me to the vet to get vaccinated and even got me 'tutored'! Margaret gave me warm milk and soft hugs and Tom gave me lots of pets and cuddled me all the time. I decided to stay. It was the best decision of my life!

Back then, I didn't know how to meow but I always told Margaret and Tom how happy I was by making a little grunting sound. I've learned to meow just a wee bit but still can't do it very well. I'm just a pretty quiet guy, I guess.

'Tiki Man' is big and a little scary. 

I like the bass and salmon better.

'Peanut Butter and Jellyfish'  

"Bird Watcher"

'Blue Cheese'

'Moon Over Candlelight'   

'Apple Blossom'

'Hula Sistah'

'Dinner is Served' 

Margaret in her gardens under the big lily

'Dobby's Wheelbarrow'

I guess I should introduce my sister Mittens. She is over 16 years old and very sweet. Mittens isn't very fond of me because I like to chase her but I try not to do that much anymore because she is old.

Margaret helped me take this photograph because this flower is three times taller than I am. These are Rudbeckia fulgida, or 'Black-Eyed Susan', under the blue spruce tree a friend gave us many years ago.

I hope you've enjoyed my 'Bob Cam'. Don't forget to double click on the pictures to make them full size.

Signing off for now.

Your photographer BOB

Japanese Heritage Garden

On June 13th, the Central Gorge Master Gardeners
hosted a dedication of the newly designed and created
Japanese Heritage Garden
located at the OSU
Extension Service in Hood River Valley.

Painting by Sandra Moreano

The following description is taken from the
OSU Central Gorge Master Gardeners' website.

Designed by Sadafumi Uchiyama, the recently-appointed curator of the Portland Japanese Garden, this beautiful garden was developed to honor the local Japanese Americans who, depsite their contributions to the community, were interned during World War II. The garden includes a variety of authentic Japanese garden components that complement the natural beauty of the area while providing a place of peaceful reflection.

The Master Gardeners contacted Tom last year to ask him to create a self-standing sculpture to recognize the project donors. Rita Saling and Sandy Rousseau, organizers of the garden project, met with Tom to discuss design ideas. The final design choice included a piece of fused glass by Linda Steider depicting a path (http://steiderstudios.wordpress.com/) and teak engraved with the names of the donors who
financially helped support the project.

Early this spring, Tom brought the completed piece to the garden and set it in place
with the help of Sandy and Rita.

On June 13th,  the garden was dedicated. Mitzi Asai Loftus spoke of her family's history in the Hood River Valley and the support of many non-Japanese families who helped them restart after World War II. A stunning performance by the Portland Taiko Drums delighted all of the guests.

The garden is a peaceful retreat.

The Central Gorge Master Gardeners did a beautiful job applying designer Uchiyama's concepts.

Sleeping with my koi pillows.

BOB 

Tom on Taropatch

Tom is now on his favorite slack key website Taropatch.net. His user name is, appropriately, Ku i keleawe, which is Hawaiian for 'metalsmith'. I like to sit in his lap while he plays because the guitar sounds better close up. He created TIKI MAN and HULA SISTAH after returning from Aloha Music Camp on the Big Island last February.

BOB

Please join us for the opening of

ART in the GARDEN

Columbia Art Gallery

Friday, June 4th, 6-8 p.m.
Columbia Center for the Arts
215 Cascade St.
Hood River, Oregon
http://www.columbiaarts.org/
541-387-8877
Open Daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured artists include Jim Diem, Sue Allen, Kestrel Gtes, Lam Quang, Beth Lyons, Nancy Houfek, Patricia Shypertt, Toms Royal, Arthur Higgins, Patricia Lyons, Kris Joy, David Sherburne and Tom Herrera.

Tom is finishing several new pieces for the 

June 4th-27th show including

"Eastern Bell", "Dragonfly", "Honu" and "Tiki Man".

Inspecting Tom's work. I approve.

BOB

2010 Outdoor Sculpture Garden Exhibition at Maryhill Museum

On Saturday, May 15th,
Maryhill Museum hosted the opening of the annual outdoor sculpture garden exhibition which is open through October 3rd, 2010.

Museum curator Steve Grafe led the curatorial walk with artists and guests on another beautiful afternoon among the flowering trees of Maryhill. Recent works by Northwest artists Jess Kelly and Jesse Swickard joined artwork carried over from last year's popular exhibit which includes works by Matt Cartwright, Francisco Salgado, Julie Speidel, Jeff Tangen and Tom Herrera.

Sponsors Bill and Cathy Dickson from Seattle were present for the the exhibition opening as well as for the museum's Best of the West Annual Wine Auction that evening.

Visitors to the garden might miss some details of this whimsical sculpture because the structure stands over 8 feet tall. From a slight knoll, however, one can glimpse the beans, lettuce, cheese and tomato wedges inside the large taco shell. In order to prevent distress to the beautiful peacocks of Maryhill during the exhibition, the bell's clanger has been temporarily dismantled but the bell's rich tone is actually quite soothing.

      

In addition to the "Taco Bell", Tom's "Queen for A Day" bench is included in the museum's permanent collection. The bench, funded by the Arthur G. Dunn Guild of Seattle, was created in 2007. Tom was inspired by Queen Marie of Romania's furniture collection found in the museum. As functional art, the bench welcomes guests to relax and enjoy the sculptures and beauty of Maryhill. The "Queen for A Day" has been featured in many photographs taken of, and by, visiting guests and well as in paintings by Northwest painter Jerry Fenter. Jerry's work can be viewed at http://www.jerryfenter.com/
                    

 I missed the exhibition at the museum but my afternoon nap atop Tom's "Fly Fishing on the Hood" was filled with dreams of the irridescent green and blue peacocks of Maryhill.     BOB