Hillary's SNAPSHOTS

Classes News

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:15:45 -0600

Today we have a new student. Her name is Islah. She is from Libya. She is also a teacher.

We learned a new word. “Straggler” means late-comers.

Today is the first time to use the computer. It’s fun, but hard.

Photo

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:40:42 -0600

Humility

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:29:04 -0700

This week I’ve been working with my Moroccan friend’s husband to help him find a job. He came with a battered folder containing his important papers, like usual, and as we were going through them, one caught my eye. It was a beautiful page of darkly written arabic script carefully protected by a plastic sleeve. I commented on how beautiful the writing was and asked what it said. He told me, “It is a prayer for a blessing on my papers so that God will give me work.”

This is a man who is trying to get a job as a chauffeur. The humility and the quiet pleading for God’s provision astounds me. He tells me not working is not good for his mind and in his eyes I see that he isn’t kidding.

I add my prayer to his page, God.

"Old Laertes cut briars dug round his fig trees, and let the heros fight on at Troy."

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:26:05 -0700

“Old Laertes cut briars
dug round his fig trees,
and let the heros fight on at Troy.”

- Olav Hauge

Day One with my very own Trapeze. My dad made it from scratch...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:04:23 -0700

Day One with my very own Trapeze. My dad made it from scratch and then proceeded to upstage me. Stay tuned for my progress.

Thanksgiving

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:55:00 -0700

Neuschwanstein Castle is Real

As you were driving today there was a breeze that moved the trees

beside you on the road

but it was not just a breeze

It was your Godmother

taking the form of a messenger and a well-wisher—

The kind that sees you off at the dock.

She was saying she sees you

And that she celebrates what you’re doing these days

And that you are just right.

As you were cooking today there was sun coming through the kitchen window

landing across your warm oiled pans

but it was not just sun

It was the delivery of an overture that had been composed

in the back room of an enormous castle in Germany

with the intention of wooing you into trusting

that what you have right now is enough.

You can sleep now and know that these miracles

are not just a dream.

Tomorrow and next Thursday

and three birthdays from now

you can still have this magic lodged in your spine.

Your ticket for this train is gratitude.

I have gotten into making fascinators as articulated by the one...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:38:00 -0600

I have gotten into making fascinators as articulated by the one I made for the Port Angeles wedding, but inspired by Philip Tracey. Am I close yet?

Somehow I’m taken with Levi even though he seemed bored...

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:45:36 -0600

Somehow I’m taken with Levi even though he seemed bored after he won the USAPro

You’ll see me “climbing” here and the girls...

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:40:00 -0600

You’ll see me “climbing” here and the girls who have done this a long time show me the scars they have on their ankles from rope burn. I didn’t get rope burn, but I “pinched and pulled and hurt my neck” as you can see in the last shot. This is week 2 for me.

Lady on the Moon

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:35:00 -0600

Lady on the Moon, somehow an ancient move although apparently the first picture is from a wiccan celebration. Oops. Today we learned how to do this pose.

I’m on the moon now.

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:32:00 -0600

I’m on the moon now.

Audio

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:20:00 -0600

This is me in my head.

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:14:00 -0600

This is me in my head.

Me Week One

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:12:01 -0600

Me Week One

Alegria

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:08:32 -0600

I started studying aerial dance. I have the same feeling of invincibility I had when I was riding horses as a kid. I watch the girls who have been doing it for years and who were born in Kazakhstan and in my mind feel like I’m just as gorgeous as them, but if I look at the photos of myself later, it’s a hilarious dissonance. But it doesn’t matter to my body because being upside-down feels so exhilarating.

The best part is that I’m venturing into this new creative territory with a friend of mine who is a refugee from Iraq! My job in Denver has proved over and over to be ripe with potential for crazy exotic rendezvous which I have only thought possible overseas. But here I am, hanging from a trapeze in Denver with my friend from Iraq.

These photos were taken at Place Bridge Academy for World...

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:41:27 -0600

These photos were taken at Place Bridge Academy for World Refugee Day.

Photo

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:38:28 -0600

NaNa (Congo/Mozambique) and Bishnu (Bhutan/Nepal) and I at...

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:36:45 -0600

NaNa (Congo/Mozambique) and Bishnu (Bhutan/Nepal) and I at Women’s Craft Co-operative today. This is my job. I sit on a stool, eat my left overs, and marvel at women making beauty out of a pile of donations.

Ramsgate, Kent, England, the United Kingdom…a visit to my...

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:47:50 -0600

Ramsgate, Kent, England, the United Kingdom…a visit to my family…you’ll see me, you’ll see Dover Castle, you’ll see the White Cliffs, you’ll see Nate (godson from Haiti), Leo, Jane, Luke, and their life abroad. I miss them dearly already.

This is my latest work of art. It’s a driftwood magic...

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:00:00 -0700

This is my latest work of art. It’s a driftwood magic mirror from the Dungeness Spit in Port Angeles, WA. It’s something Brian and I worked on together (he imported the drift wood for me). It’s kind of spectacular in person. When I look in it, I practice forgiving the universe for breaking both of our hearts.