Saturday Blend

I read this morning in an online headline that this weekend we're supposed to get a month's worth of rain. 

I don't know how ya figure out how much a month's worth is, but it sounds like a lotta rain. 

As daylight approached and I looked out the window, all I saw was blue sky. 

By the time, I walked to the barn, a subtle hint of the rainy possibilities was slowly creeping through the southern sky, almost a straight line of somewhat ominous clouds on one side and blue sky on the other. 

As I type, things are still pretty quiet out there but definitely overcast. 

It will be interesting to see on Monday morning how much precipitation equals a month's worth. 

For now, we're enjoying the cooler weather and, with luck, the Festival and the annual POAC Arts and Crafts Festival will survive the weather forecast. 

I guess "COOL" and the Gang is a good group for tonight's cooler than usual Festival concert. 

Around here it's pleasantly quiet once again this morning. We'll be putzing around and probably seeing Mike and Mary, my brother and sister-in-law who have come over from Western Washington for a few days. 

It's nice to be this close to one of the busiest weekends of the year in Sandpoint and yet far enough away to avoid the traffic and all those peeps. 

Keep scrolling; there's much more of the Saturday blend . . . 

I read this morning that Willie Nelson is on the mend.  He's heading back to his concert tour after canceling because of a breathing problem.

One account said he'll be back on the road again in early September. 

Like so many fans, several of our family members consider Willie a national treasure.  

Hard to forget the days when our dad, who seemingly never went anywhere attended three Willie Nelson concerts within a short period of time---Spokane, Missoula and Pullman. 

We had the opportunity to meet him years ago when he performed at "The Farm," a beautiful ranch south of Sandpoint.  

He even gave Annie a peck on the cheek. 

So, it's good to know that his batteries are once again recharged and he will move on delighting audiences with his unique style of country music. 

I follow a phenomenal artist in Ireland on Facebook.  His name is Billy Austin, and I believe he lives near Belfast. 

I absolutely love the way he captures Irish scenes and people, many of them world famous.  

This morning, Mr. Austin offered a new painting of Willie, and like all of his paintings, he encourages people to share. 

So, I did. Hope the Willie fans enjoy.

In other news, on Facebook yesterday, I saw a stunning photo of a lady posted by FB friends, Russell Rosander and Christian Groenke (Emma's godfather) with good byes/RIP.


Both have roots in Hope, just like their friend Nancy Kienholz, wife of world famous mixed media artist Ed Kienholz. 

After a brief online search, I learned that Nancy Kienholz died earlier this week in Houston.  

I'm not too familiar with the works of Kienholz but have been aware for decades of his prominence as an artist.  

Like many, I am probably most fascinated with his last work of art, his burial.  Bill told a story last night during dinner of walking with Kienholz years ago while on a forestry job and hearing how the artist wished to spend eternity.  

His plans changed a bit from what Bill originally heard, but Wikipedia offers a pretty good version of the story. 

Edward Kienholz died suddenly in Idaho on June 10, 1994, from a heart attack after hiking in the mountains near their home. 

He was a chronic smoker who had been struggling with diabetes, which progressively impaired use of his extremities.^[3][18] He was buried in an authentic Kienholz installation; Robert Hughes wrote, "[H]is corpulent, embalmed body was wedged into the front seat of a brown 1940 Packard coupe. 

There was a dollar and a deck of cards in his pocket, a bottle of 1931 Chianti beside him and the ashes of his dog Smash in the back. 

He was set for the afterlife. To the whine of bagpipes, the Packard, steered by his widow Nancy Reddin Kienholz, rolled like a funeral barge into the big hole."^[20]
                                      
                                                      ----Wikipedia


This morning I found the following YouTube video, produced in 2014, and featuring a visit with Nancy Kienholz. 

It provides a brief but fascinating glimpse into the lives of this artistic team and their collaborative efforts in the art world. 

Hope you enjoy.  Happy Saturday.