Eileen

Jay and Eileen, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Our beloved friend Eileen passed over last night, after a fairly rapid loss of physical strength and function, due to brain tumors. Eileen chose not to seek western medical treatment for her condition, which might not have helped anyway, but would certainly have made her last months a living hell.
Instead she was the center of a community of spiritual healers and in the loving company of Jay and her dearest friends and family. Eileen herself was a spiritual leader in the Sufi community, and one of the warmest, friendliest, ready to laugh and down to earth people I have known.
Although she made a very beautiful and graceful exit, she will be sorely missed.

Tumbleweeds circa 2009

Tumbleweeds circa 2009, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

This last weekend was our annual camp out with the Tumbleweed play group, along the Eel River up in Mendocino County. We had the best time ever, with lovely weather and fun along the river, great meals together and lots of around-the-campfire games and laughter. There was even time for reading my book, an impromptu dance party and the talent show (which was short and sweet).
What an awesome group of folks. I scored a number of excellent portraits of the kids (which is like shooting fish in a barrel, they're all so photogenic). You can see them over on Flickr.

Our Color Coordinated Campsite

Our Color Coordinated Campsite, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Our old tent finally bit the dust, with multiple broken zippers. I was very reluctant to buy a new one, especially one with seven poles! But it was so wonderful camping in this tent! And our plastic carpet just happened to match--I swear we didn't plan it.
It also helped that the Eel river was close by and all night we could hear it rushing along toward the sea. That and countless birds calling.
Just lovely.

The 15 Creepiest Vintage Ads of All Time!

I just stumbled on this site and it made me laugh pretty hard.
Truly creepy.
Enjoy.

ps. I just noticed this collection is hosted on Free Republic, home to some of the most moronic right wing nut jobs on the internet! Even creepier!!

Deva Luna circa 2009

Deva Luna circa 2009, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Well, I finally got some photos posted up on Flickr. You can see all 108 of them here (I recommend "slideshow view" if you have a few minutes, or detail view if you don't).
It was a bittersweet task, going through these images and working my photoshop magic on them. It sure looks good. It sure looks like we were having a ball!
This was a really hard fair for everyone, but it really wiped me out (as I've bemoaned below).
Sunday and Monday I was swearing up and down that I wouldn't come back next year, and I really meant it. Somewhere in my little brain there's a meter that measures WORTH IT - NOT WORTH IT. That meter was pegged most of the fair over on the NOT side. But you'd never know that from looking at these photos!
We've tried over the years to change how we do the fair, to make it less stressful and tiring. And we've had some successes here and there.
Maybe a radical overhaul in approach could get me enthusiastic to try again. Looking at the photos it's just too painful thinking about missing next year.
Anyhow, enjoy the photos...

Yew Are Here

Yew Tree, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Big Big Party

Big Big Party, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Our second annual cocktail party got a boost from the nice ladies next door.

Devilish Zephyr

Devilish Zephyr, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

This was Zephyr's second fair, and he's taken to it like a devil to brimstone.

Puppets from Deadwood

Puppets from Deadwood, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Nancy Makes It All Better With Waffles

Nancy Makes It All Better With Waffles, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

We were so fortunate to get to stay with Nancy Bright after the fair. I was so tired and distraught I'd probably have crashed the van and killed us all.
The next morning she made us waffles--a post fair tradition.