run with turkeys

Instead of running with bulls, how about turkeys?

Missoula is a body-conscious, athletically competitive town.  The amount of time one spends on the slopes or on the river is worn like a badge.  These rugged people are real mountain killers, seeking out another peak to check off their list.  It seems that every month there is an opportunity to run around town with others to celebrate, in the most basic form, your individual athleticism alongside others in the community. It's fabulous, really.  For the athletic. So what if you aren't athletic?

I'm not a runner.  I ran as a kid, of course.  I ran break-necking around the brick corner of my childhood home, feeling wind on my face from my own speed, to reach the Oak tree in the front yard and touch 'home base' in a game of Ghost in the Graveyard.  I can still hear the swishing of my brother's bell bottom jeans as he chased me.  It was fun and I smiled when I ran then.  I remember that sense of wild freedom with each stride that propelled me forward.  And I ran at school.  I ran a teeny bit of track and I ran the required laps when training for Varsity tennis, but by the time I reached my teens, I didn't love it.  It never felt quite right.  

I quit running when I was still a teenager after a bought with pneumonia and a diagnosis of severe allergies and asthma. Many more battles with pneumonia to follow, I never started running again and I don't really want to run now.  I enjoy a walk or a hike instead and it's plenty for me (as long as I do it).  My asthma is well managed since living in Montana and I know that I could probably take up running if I want.  I'm surrounded by runners, a truly supportive bunch of athletes, by the way, so the possibility is on my mind regularly.  

Regardless, I make a great spectator at Fun Runs.  I cheer everyone on when they take off and I am ready, camera in hand, for their return (unless I'm keeping warm in a coffee shop and miss it, oops).  Sure, I shake my head and say they must all be crazy (which I am not taking back yet).  I complain about getting up early on a Saturday or going out in the cold, but watching the camaraderie is a treat.  It's inspiring even without running, especially when they are fundraisers. 

It was flipping COLD for the the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, so cold that I declared my presence for the event was an indication of my true love to Bruce.  Many people came out to show their support for the cause running for friends and loved ones.  I'm really impressed by the people with arthritis who run, too.  Right on!  (I learned a lot about Arthritis because of this Run.)

Runners are given bells to tie to their laces.

Others add more color and creativity to the event with silly costumes.  I always appreciate dressing up in costume!  Of course, you need some reindeer in a Jingle Bell Run.    

It's Missoula so dogs are often welcome, even at a run. (I saw four inside the Ace Hardware yesterday.) Proper doggie attire required for a Run, of course!

A man with arthritis walked his arthritic horse in this Run which I thought was pretty sweet.

Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, Missoula, 2012

 ~ ~ ~

My favorite Run to watch in Missoula so far is the Annual Turkey Run on Thanksgiving.  It's such a day of sloth and abundance in our culture that a big run brings some balance in perspective, even if I only walk around as an observer.  It was a beautiful morning along the river for it this year with a dusting of snow.

Costumes abound in this Run, too.

And dogs, plus strollers and babies (for sure in the 3K, and I saw at least 3 strollers cross the line for the 8K, too.)

Yep, even a turkey!  This one was pretty dang fast, too.  

 

I had my eye on number 496.

 

So even though I do not run, I have decided that I like Fun Runs. The sight of Marathons freak me out.  People lurching, collapsing, and limping their way across the finish line illustrates how seriously intense a Marathon is.  A few naturals reach the end like a gazelle making it look easy, but most runners in a Marathon look like they are miserable and in pain.  Way more people are smiling in a Run. 

My take away message to date?  

A Marathon is for maniacs, but a Run really does rhyme with Fun.  

Follow this link to the Arthritis Foundation. 

Follow this link to Jingle Bell Run.

Follow this link to Run Wild Missoula.

Follow this link to see the Turkey Run results. 

Whenever you might visit Missoula, I would bet there's a Run happening.  And there is of course, the Missoula Marathon in the summer (click here for more information).

a cool little town Columbus, Indiana

We've been getting creative with how we spend time closer to my family in Indiana.  Last Spring we stayed in Columbus, Indiana about twenty minutes south of my hometown, Franklin, on US 31.  And let me tell ya, it was super faboo!

In many ways, Columbus is like a lot of Midwestern small towns.  It has a walkable downtown with long and tall brick buildings and a groovy old movie theater past its hey day (and yes, I fantasized I would move back to Indiana so I could fix up this one).

 

Because it's Indiana and the heart of Limestone country, you'll see carved limestone architectural details in much variety on residential and commercial buildings all around town, if not an entire building.  You just don't see quite as much of that out in the Rocky Mountain states where I live now.

Columbus' downtown has the buildings, vintage signs and details to keep that nostalgic Midwestern small town feel.

But beyond the classic Midwest vibe, Columbus has a bit more to distinguish it.

First, there are several downtown restaurants that are bustling with people day and night, inside and out on the patio.   I took this photo of Tre Bicchieri in the morning before they opened. 

The alleys that fan out from the main street are groomed with detail and some actually lead somewhere worth going, like the Soup Market down this one.  They only sell soup, simply and thoroughly with a selection of several kinds every day, including sides like bread and crackers.

Alive and charged with energy, the city of Columbus has dedicated considerable attention to public spaces including public art. 

Mom at War Memorial, Columbus, Indiana, photo Toni Matlock © 2012

This summer you might even have heard a segment on NPR featuring the architecture in Columbus, particularly Mid-Century Modern.  This is the cities' most obvious bragging rights.  Some of the greatest architects of the United States are represented in Columbus and quite well.  

How about an I.M. Pei library? 

I.M. Pei, Columbus public library

A large Henry Moore sculpture stands in front of it.

Across the street from the library is the First Christian Church designed by Eliel Saarinen.

 First Christian Church, Eliel Saarinen

The playground is sunken and framed by the back end of the church.  With details like these outdoor benches integrated into the structure.

I was really taken with these cement and glass windows in the tower.

 First Christian Church, Eliel Saarinen

Columbus' claim to architectural fame is mostly thanks to a truly generous and civic-minded Cummins Engine Company Executive, J. Irwin Miller. 

"Whatever you do in this world, you've got a responsibility and a privilege of doing it the very best way you can.  And whether it's architecture, cooking or drama or music, the best is none too good for any of us."  J. Irwin Miller  

Amen, brother Miller.

Cummins Headquarters downtown Columbus, Indiana

Tours of J. Irwin Miller's house, built in 1957 and designed by Eero Saarinin is open to the public by appointment.  They didn't allow photographs, so see the Indianapolis Museum of Art's site for touring the Miller house to fill in the visual blanks. 

*** Note: Two Photos of the Miller House added after the original posting, compliments of the Columbus, Indiana Tourism Bureau. ***

Some highlights for me:  
1. The Miller house was the first to have Eero Saarinen's signature modernist "conversation pit".   

First 'conversation pit' design, architect Eero Saarinen, Miller House, Photo © Indianapolis Art Museum

2. Integrated and personalized rugs, drapes and upholstery by Alexander Girard are colorful and thoughtful in how they relate physically, aesthetically and symbolically to the architectural surrounding and the family that would be living there.
3. The subtle natural light in the interiors that gently creeps down the marble interior walls. A quality not well illustrated in photos and must be experienced in person.
4. I am also interested in the problems with the design. The challenge of the skylights in a flat roof is no small one.  A great conceptual idea for the subtle natural light but is also problematic in its application since the roof leaks to this day. *
5. The bumpers and terrazzo floor in the driveway.  An excellent detail worth repeating in a space where many of us cut corners. *

*You'll have to go in person to see those last two since they aren't standard photography highlights.

Miller House, architect Eero Saarinen, Columbus, Indiana, photo © Indianapolis Art Museum

Beyond the Miller house, there are more Primo architectural specimens to be found in Columbus.  I am only touching on a few.  Definitely see the Visitor's Center for maps and tours.  I especially liked the self-guided cell phone tour that comes in a stack of post card sized descriptions of each point on the tour with a number to call for more details about the building.

It's not just the Mid-Century Modern architecture that's worth attention, either. We stayed in a sweet little Victorian that we found on VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner).  It was only a few blocks from downtown, so we walked everywhere everyday.

Living room of "The Little Pink House" in Columbus, Indiana

If you stroll the neighborhoods and are a fan of architecture, you'll find many structures, proportions, materials and details worth noticing.  

One of the more classic homes is the Italianate Irwin house built in 1864 that is now an Inn. Even though it's spendy, I would really like to stay there sometime. Here is a glimpse of it with some pictures I awkwardly took through the fence.

Photo taken through the fence of the Gardens at the Irwin Inn, Columbus, Indiana.

Holy smokes they were paying attention to detail when they built this place.  I walked by it several times and noticed something on every pass. On about the fifth round, my sister, D, noticed that each of the carved limestone faces on the ends of this window sill are different.  One has sunflowers and the other has some kind of ivy pattern.

Copper drip edges and gutters, slate shingles, wrought iron fencing, gardens, and so on and so on. The place has it's share of craftsmanship to appreciate. These curved windows in this copper-trimmed bay window are outstanding. 

It's not just the bay that is rounded. Look closely. So are the windows and the glass in them.

As I said, from the street the photo opportunities are limited.  One day I will go back and take the full tour of this place.

I'm barely touching on all the reasons why we enjoyed staying in Columbus, Indiana.  We met friends downtown almost daily for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks.  We took my parents downtown several times and of course you can't go far in most parts of southern Indiana without someone knowing my Dad and stopping to say hello, as happened here as well.  But more than that, we wanted to be there.  The Columbus community felt welcoming and exciting with people of all ages eating, visiting and socializing. Sadly I cannot say the same for enough of the southern Indiana towns I (re)visited that hardly have any activity in their downtown anymore.  Not beyond a bar or two it seems.  Anyway, I won't pretend to know the secret but Columbus appears to be doing something right. 

So if you go to Columbus, Indiana, keep an eye out for two of the finest unofficial Ambassadors of Columbus:  One of my pals from Franklin College, Morlock, and his fiance Erin.  (Since Erin works at the Columbus Visitor's Bureau I guess that makes her official, but even if she didn't work there, I bet she would still bubble over with pride for Columbus.)

Here's Morlock in front of their mid-century modern home. He might try to wring my neck for posting this, but let's see if he ever notices.

And one more thing about visiting pretty much anywhere in the southern half of the state of Indiana.  Whenever you see local produce, get it.  From tomatoes to these pie cherries, you won't regret it.

Fresh picked pie cherries, Columbus, Indiana

Be sure to listen to the Weekend Edition NPR segment on the architecture in Columbus, Indiana (click here). 

See images of the Miller House on the IMA website (click here). 

Get information from the Columbus, Indiana Visitor's Bureau website (click here). 

Information to stay at The Inn at Irwin Gardens in Columbus (click here). 

*** Note: Two Photos of the Miller House added after the original posting, compliments of the Columbus, Indiana Tourism Bureau. ***

remembering still feathers

Near the end of working on one side of the Good Bones remodeling project, a cedar waxwing crashed into a kitchen window.

It hit the window so hard that some of its feathers stuck to the glass of the window.

feathers left © 2011 Toni Matlock

feathers still © 2011 Toni Matlock

I turned to a fellow artist, Stephanie Frostad, for solace and she made a painting in honor of the sweet bird.

Hapless Waxwing © 2011 Stephanie J. Frostad

Stephanie currently has an exhibition of her art titled 'Natural Circumstances' on view in Seattle, Washington at Davidson Galleries until September 1st.  Be sure to visit the show in person if you can.

the mini polaroid friend-maker and gift box

Many years ago I participated in a large art event in Seattle and as a contributing artist I attended the opening gala event. I hardly knew anyone.  I'm not afraid of people and no one would consider me to be a shrinking violet, but making myself meet a lot of new people at once takes me a lot of energy and I don't feel that I'm very good at it.  But that time, I was armed with my newest toy: a mini-polaroid camera that hung by a strap from my wrist.  The pictures from this camera were about as long as my thumb.  As I stood in lines or lingered on the edge of groups of people, I offered to take a photo of others. I gave them their instant party documentation and while it developed we visited.  The instant camera was an ice-breaker and the gesture of giving out photos helped put me at ease.  It was an excellent socializing prop for me.  

The lesson stuck with me.  An instant photo became one of my favorite gifts.  They work for any occasion.  In the midst of a casual dinner gathering, an immediate and even awkward photo from an instant camera can offer a modest, tangible token to remember a moment.  Hardly anyone is immune to the charm and magic of holding the photo in hand as the polaroid processing works and checking it now and then to see the image emerge.   What's more, is that there's no digital back up.  It won't be on Facebook or Flickr. That's it. The clumsy photo of you with a paste-on moustache that fits in the palm of your hand becomes more precious. Now I have a little collection of instant cameras and keep one handy in the kitchen.  I definitely break it out for our salty snack studios release parties. 

Last year, I took my Fuji Instax Mini to a good friend's wedding and let it help me introduce myself to my friend's other friends.  It was a no-gift wedding with many friends contributing to the event - flowers and photography and all - as their gift.  I gave away many instant photos to guests but I also made sure to save a stack of the small humble snapshots for the bride and groom.  

Later, I made an instax mini photo keeper out of a metal band-aid box to give my newly married friends.  I kept the decoration simple and lean using spray paint, washi tape and ribbon on the outside.

I made a ribbon pull to help ease the photos out of the box.

I left the photos loose, so they could be held, shuffled and rearranged like a deck.

To soften the landing for the photos as they get tossed in and out of the box and for a festive little surprise, I glued tiny pom-poms inside on the bottom.  And on the outside bottom, marked the year for the photos.

Of course, the mini polaroid gift box isn't a substitute for a proper wedding photo album, it's such a big special occasion and the quality of the instant photos can be so hit or miss, but it does make a humble compliment to it. 

vroom vroom

A few weeks ago, Studboy rolled through town with his dad and uncle on a bucket list Harley cross-country road trip.  I hadn't seen him in about a decade  - since Beag's wedding - and we had a great visit.  He's exactly the same as ever;  and full of great stories.  Plus, we swapped wheels for a day! 

 

Much of my time on the back of bikes was before everyone wore helmets.  Most of the ride I leaned too close, knocking our helmet heads together.