Jack’s Desert Series show in Monterey was a success. The Rainbow Cactus has a new forever home, and many of the paintings, including the popular Apricot Mallow are up on the walls at the Tejido Collective (Mission Street between 5th and 6th) where you can buy one of them. But our favorite is back hanging in the studio for what I imagine is the briefest of moments. The Bull skull is framed and just pops off the wall, and talks to me. There is a life force in the skull, still after all it’s been through, it looks calmly on as I work at my computer.

With the Desert show complete, we are taking a breath to catch up on other important life events that have or are happening this summer:

• Jack and I pushed to close on the house we want (we got the keys three weeks ago!), our first house.

• Miles’ little league team finished 2nd in the city, and he then played on the honors team in one tournament. I only coached the regular season.

• The kids finished school - and then have been home climbing the couches and walls.

• Covid ran through our house for the first time.

• We held a booth at the Tigard Festival of Balloons (3 days in >90 degF).

• Jack took over #pdxOpenStudio IG account for a day to promote his work as an artist participating in the upcoming open studio tour October 8-9th and 15-16th 2022 (the artist list is 119 long and alphabetically, Jack is last!).

That’s just life, when it rains, it pours. After enjoying some settling time, we will work to open the new studio in our new casa. I will invite you all over for tapas and drinks soon. Until then, check out the completed desert series, and order a piece to add to your forever.

With gratitude,

Max