2026-7

I began February with a lighter heart, having reconnected with many family members in Eugene at the end of January. Cold weather, rain, not enough snow in the mountains, and a week-long interruption due to a (now resolved) medical emergency derailed some of our plans, but on we go…

Knitting and sewing

I spent several days in hospital rooms, keeping my husband company as he was treated for a sudden bad reaction to a medication he was taking. All is well now, and he is recovered, but I spent many hours sitting, and knitting serious/whimsical hats for sock monkeys, and other small creatures. These are in homage to the Resistance Hats that were worn by Norwegians during the Nazi invasion, and now are made by Minnesotans and other knitters, as anti-ICE symbols. I bought the pattern, with proceeds going to help people hurt by ICE. In the meantime, while I was distracted and worried, knitting these little hats kept my hands and part of my brain busy. We have a display of sock monkeys in our window, leftover from early pandemic solidarity, and now they have joined the resistance.

I began with a couple of the sock monkeys and the Emotional Support Chicken.

I found a small amount of green yarn, enough to make a couple of Portland Frog hats

And then added a few more, including a Pussy Hat for good measure.

I also finished a pair of socks.

And I actually sewed with my sewing machine for the first time in a while. I made a travel kimono robe.

Books

I finished five books in February, including three in the Jane Austen-esque category.

2-17– Museum Day – David Hockney Exhibit at the Portland Art Museum

I was not previously familiar with David Hockney, but now I am so impressed with his body of work! The exhibit follows his life, from British art school student to American icon. His art follows his curiosity, into new mediums and subject matter. The impact of anti-homosexual laws in England, the loss of many people to AIDS (bouquets and chairs); portrait, still life, abstract, and landscape images, including one of my favorite places – Yosemite. The work varies from traditional art materials to modern iPad drawings and videography.

David Hockney, Self Portrait, 2012, iPad on Paper

Below are some of my favorites of his earlier works, created with traditional media:

Later works used Photographs and iPad paintings

I really loved this Yosemite Series, 2010, iPad drawings printed on paper:

These two extremely large works, described as Photographic Drawings printed on paper, play with perspective:

25th June, 2022, Looking at the Flowers, 2022. In this case, the original flower paintings were mounted on the large wall on the other side of the gallery, as well as reproduced on this large image. The artist is sitting in the chairs.

The videography piece was created with multiple cameras mounted on a vehicle driving through a snowy forest. The perspective of each camera differs slightly, the effect is mesmerizing. Luckily there is a convenient bench to sit and watch.

The amount of work presented in this exhibit is overwhelming. I am showing just a few here. I hope to go back and look again.

Neighborhood

Crocuses and daffodils were blooming in February.

One day I walked to our newly reopened Hollywood Branch Library, and saw the early cherry trees beginning to bloom, along with this sign of the resistance.

This new mural in the entry to our remodeled library celebrates our local author, Beverly Cleary, who grew up here and set many of her beloved children’s books in this neighborhood.