Beau

The latest denizen of Mary Kay's zoological entourage is Beau, beloved companion of a former coworker.

The old tree

During the years when I was an avid walker, I came to "relate" to several trees in the East Bay that reminded me of the inner strength and stick-to-it-ness that are often needed  to persevere in an often stern and unforgiving world. This one is in Livermore's Sycamore Grove along a horse trail that passes across the arroyo (at least it did then when there was still water in the arroyo). Mary Kay surprised me by painting this for my new office from one of my favorite photos (from 2004).

Julie's tree

Our friends Bob and Julie live on a ranch outside of Livermore. At their housewarming party on New Year's Eve, Mary Kay offered to paint a picture for them. Julie especially loves this tree and its view of the barn.

A girl and her goats

Amanda, the daughter of friends of ours, lives on a ranch and is about to leave for college where she will pursue her love of animals by studying to be a large animal veterinerian. She has been raising goats the past few years and they are great friends. Her aunt asked Mary Kay to paint a picture of Amanda with her goats to take to school. These two paintings are the result.

doors to introduce Jubilee year of Mercy

As part of our local parish's introducing the Jubilee year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis, Mary Kay and another of our parishioners Claudia Willis created a design for the main church doors and transom at St. Charles Borromeo symbolizing the desert blooming and life being restored by God's mercy. Their design was printed onto transparent films that could be applied to the glass windows and transoms.

Life

Mary Kay's new painting, life, inspired by a documentary in which a woman reconnected with her roots in part by bathing in the Ganges.

Roses in vase

for Lacey's bedroom: