Designed by the fabulous Shepard Fairey, who also designed the amazing Obama campaign image, this magnificent poster was revealed today. His Defend Equality image is forthright, powerful, begs no sympathy for our cause but rather calls all Gay men and women to action. A great work of art is offered us here - find your pride and use it for positive action and change!

Dawn

The sun is just rising over the mountains bordering the Tonto National Forest; which runs along our property line. The amazing wealth of wildlife is stirring, the numerous species of birds are all a twitter and seem to be singing in praise of the morning. I sit at my desk in the living room and warm my toes before the dancing flames of the fireplace. It is quiet. Mark is still asleep. The cats have been fed their breakfast. It is the perfect time of day!

Discrimination Enshrined

It is a sad day in our household for Prop 8 passed in California. I stayed in bed all of Wednesday, because even with Obama being elected, and that is a great joy, my feelings are just crushed. Some speculate that it was the religious Black Vote which swung the anti-gay amendment into place, a fundamentalist community within which it is still not OK to be Out and Gay. They are very pro-Obama but very anti-Gay. Others say it was the Latino vote, for much the same reasons. Personally, I blame, at least in part, Obama himself, who refused to loudly decry the amendment during his campaign. His statements against prop 8 were made only quietly and to venues in which he already knew there was support for same sex marriage. (i.e. his interview to young voters via MTV).

Whatever the reason for its win Prop 8 it is a dismal gut wrenching blemish on the fair State of California, a State which is usualy renowned for its liberalism and insight of social issues. We have immediately filed suit, of course, to prevent the amendment from taking force. Will our court battle succeed? I do not know. But I am not giving up the fight. I believe whole heartedly that even should it take root for now, it will eventually be torn from enshrinement not only in the California Cobstitution but that of all the States as well. America is on a new path with new leadership and eventually it will be seen that such blatant discrimination against a whole segment of American society cannot and will not be tolerated for the long term. 

Potted

Mark and I have beed sharing some gardening. It's been a great way to spend time together. Mark is a pro with the drip system, and keeps all our green friends from being thristy, I do my best to make them look their best. We're especially excited about the lavendar plants we bought - they were just intended as a hothouse flowering plant for a short time indoors, but we managed to relocate them outside and they are just starting their second flowering. The scent is wonderful, and the soft pale green is delicious. We also potted some lantana, some Arizona yellow bell and a favorite: red and rose coloured geraniums, also in their second flowering as I write. 

Geraniums always remind me of my grandomther. She loved them and painted a lovely watercolour of the flower when she was 16. That was 1906. I gave the painting some years ago to my sister Peggy. At the time we were moving to Europe and I wanted to make certain the painting stayed in America with our family. 

As I write I remember France and the many fields of lavendar we saw while visiting Provence. Near the village of Le barroux. The town was once a fortified castle; all that remains now is the town and the castle ruins. It is a lovley place of winding streets and revamped houses now filled with foreigners and Parisians who want a country place. The plaons surrounding the hill upon which Le Barroux is built are filled with vinyards and lavendar. Scrumptious. It is amazing what memories a simple scent may bring you from our of the blue.