Gabriel (As in the Angel)

One of the really fun things about discovering Windsor Vermont has been discovering the Cornish Colony across the river (over the covered bridge) in New Hampshire. Home of the Sculptor St. Gaudens, painter Maxfield Parrish (one time owner of the home we got there) and many others, this was the epicenter of American Art in the early part of the 1900's. A young woman of Mexican royal lineage, Alma Smith was selling Maxfield Parrish art in California beginning in the 60's, and eventually moved out to New Hampshire, bought the Parrish home called the Oaks, and founded the Cornish Colony Museum. Housed in this historic firehouse in Windsor (just down the street from Chelle's home), this is a suprising gem and the home of millions of dollars worth of original art. Just another little hidden delight about Windsor Vermont!


The founder, Alma, (now about 80 I think), is a pistol. She has become a good friend of the family, and as seen here with Paula a confidant! Unfortunately, the current economic turndown has affected the museum, and so Alma put out the word recently. A very renouned living artist, K.Y. Craft (Kinoku Craft) is also a friend of Alma, and hearing of the difficulties did a very special drawing of the Angel Gabriel and donated it to the museum to be auctioned off to raise funds for the upcoming summer program. Here is Alma with the piece. This is a big deal. Craft does work that often goes for many tens of thousands of dollars, and has some very famous stuff. I am not making this up.....look it up!


It is a very subtle drawing, and when I took pictures of it I noticed how different it was in different light and from different angles.




Well, to make a long story short, we loved it (especially Chelle who has met K Y Craft and really liked her and felt a good spirit around her), and when the auction ended, we had bought it! We took the kids over to take pictures with the drawing. Maddie was really drawn to it. Even though Gabriel is a male personage, it is uncanny how Craft seems to have mimicked Maddie in the drawing.







I predict that this will become a family heirloom. For now it will hang in Chelle's home in Vermont, and it is possible that we may loan it to the museum at some point.


Anders by the way was not quite so taken with the whole idea, and eventually Maddie got tired.




Once again, I find myself feeling like the luckiest guy in the world. I am greatful for the best family, the chance to discover amazing places and people, and the chance to feel the joy of this life. I can truly see it in the picture!

Way Cute Grandbabies

Maddie who is always a bit shy when we first are around each other. I don't know what it is with the hands on the head, but Anders does the same thing.


Meanwhile back in Oregon at the Rainbow House, Ava and Jacob found a swivel chair and are having a great time together!


Sierra clearly loves to entertain the sister and the cousin. This was Jacob's first visit to Grandma's new house.

This was the scene within minutes of Jacob and Hai showing up for the first visit.


It was cold in Vermont so most of the time spent there was indoors. Here Grandma, Maddie and Eddie are all playing piano together.


Anders was bored however, so we decided to go birding. Maddie of course had to join us. Notice the cute little shoes and leggings for the snow.


Anders was a great brother though and made sure she saw the birds as well.


They had a couple of secrets that I wasn't in on. I suspect they wanted to see a bird that Grandpa hadn't.


They really love the trail up behind the Parrish House. Anders knows right where to find the birds.


He always has his book with him. Maybe someday I will tell him it's a UK book with virtually no birds from Vermont in it.


No matter. He is really proud of it and refers to it often to identify the birds behind the house.


It is great to have a birding companion like Anders, and I am betting that when I can't see any more he will be there to find them for me!


Seriously cute grandchildren.

Credo in Action

About 3 years ago, Paula and I were asked to organize a program for the youth of our Stake between 18 and 23. Our Stake President, Steve Dalton, named the program Credo, latin for "To Believe". It has really been a great experience with many great young people to interact with. Recently the group was convinced by our friend Jean Mecham to come to Rainbow and do a project clean up. What a blast.

Jessica Sellers, our deaf friend from Farmington Ward days is all grown up. A member of Credo, she was the photographer for the day. This was the only shot of her! Not bad either!


A virtual army was here, and cleaned from top to bottom. The house actually seemed to love the attention.


With all the windows, it was plenty to keep everyone busy for more than a couple hours!


Is Mandy worried that her reputation as an excellant broom sweeper will result in more calls?


Chris certainly seems impressed with her skills!


Meanwhille Dave is clearly not worried that the canoe is going to drop on his head as he appears to be falling asleep cleaning the stairway!



About 14 feet up, Gary Haroldsen was demonstrating his prowess at window washing.


Sis McDermott tells us that this is a rare shot! Hmm. I wonder what that means!


Rays were excited to be using the car wash rags for a little larger job!


Three women who definitely know that housework with an army is the only way to go!


The new (to us) table got a great workout. The food was excellant!


Thanks to all for the help. It was a great crew and a fun time together.

Paula's Piano!

Paula has always wanted a Grand/Baby Grand Piano. I have always wanted to get her one. It all sounds very mundane, but this is really a pretty rich story. Bottom line.... we got one!



In this picture it is being played by Oregon ER doctor Ron Potts, who recently won a major prize at the Seattle International Piano Comepetition and will soon participate in the Bosendorfer International Amateur Piano Festival in Vienna in May. He was very impressed with the piano.

We thought about a used piano for years, and Paula looked at many books and studied the best piano's. One kept jumping out at her. It was called an Estonia, a very obscure but extremely high quality piano. One day Lotof of Michelle's piano's in Portland had a display at Costco. Within hours we had ordered a new piano to be custom built in Estonia for Paula!

That was almost two years ago. The piano was delivered to Lotof's studio last June, as the Rainbow house was just coming together. We decided to wait until it was finished to take delivery. Meanwhile, Paula had a full complement of electronic attachments added to enhance it's use for teaching and enjoyment. None of it has affected the pure tone and richness in any way.


Lotof, shown here in his showroom, studio is an interesting guy in his own right. He is from Israel, a very accomplished pianist and quite the salesman! Last Thursday night, he and the local Vice Consul for Italy here in Portland hosted world renouned pianist Gianluca Luisi at the studio. He had brought Luisi from Italy to teach a number of Master's classes in the area, and he did a small (about 30 of us) concert at the studio! By the way this guy is unbelievabe. I haven't figured out how to upload a video from the interenet to this blog yet, but you have to check out this guy at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY2sSEA_lEE. Incredible.



Super nice guy as well. He had never played an Estonia piano before, so Lotof asked him to sit at ours and play a bit. He seemed to love it, and played for a long time. He was very gracious, and talked with Paula at length about the piano!



His hands move so fast and lightly it is like watching a magician! Still photo's cannot capture the beauty. GO TO THE VIDEO!


Soon I hope that this will be grandchildren at the keyboard with Paula next to them or standing as she is here helping them to find enjoyment in the piano! We are going to have to remove the front railing on the house to get the piano in, and I will surely post pictures of the piano in the house.



A super fun guy, a super evening (which I went to reluctantly) and a fun family heirloom to look forward to enjoying for generations.



Finally, a picture of Ron Potts, the local ER doctor really enjoying the Estonia! He is in his 70's. I was thinking maybe it is never too late to learn, until he told me he had been playing since he was 4 years old.


Aw shucks, maybe it really isn't too late! Peace out. Grandpa

Bingo is NOT just for old people!

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to attend the annual Groner School bingo fundraiser. Nic and Hailey had bought the VIP package! That's right, a table up front, special parking spaces and $10 in free junk food! What a deal!

Mr. Merrill, Nate's 6th grade teacher was the caller. He took the job dead seriously

Of course Nic was the first to think up a new use for the marker pen that everyone gets to keep track on their cards. Nate is not picking his nose, he is guarding it.


However, the only ones slow enough to be got by him were his own little twin babies.


First was Ava, followed by Bree, both of whom were oblivious to the goofy look.


Hailey and Caitlan were feeling pretty smug that they had avoided the marking.


Until.....

Caitlan's reaction was priceless... first


then...


and finally.....



Hard to beat this kind of fun!