A gift from a friend

I met Mary Hart in the late 1970s/early 1980s at our friend JoAnne Zywna's home in Weld. I have a slew of Mary's paintings and prints. We swapped her art for rent here in my home when she taught in our community schools. At the time, she lived in Portland. I got the best of that deal: her company and paintings. 

Mary and her Lilly  

We've shared hikes and long talks about life, books and friendship for four and a half decades. She and her husband Michael came up to visit with their son, Mica. She even came up to visit with Lilly, her dog. Lilly followed Mary around the house with a quiet devotion, and an occasional bark. I like giving Mary's art as gifts. I selected the blue flower below for my dearest friend, Anne, in celebration of our writing partnership. In the group photo below the flower, there's a painting of the Weld woods. The painting is behind and above her sister Betty on the wall celebrated Anne's 50th birthday:  

Mary and I also collaborated in publishing a poetry chapbook by our dear friend JoAnne. Mary created the cover, and I did some editing and typesetting of Once and Gone. 

After Bailey died, Mary had planned to paint a picture of my pup. But her Michael grew gravely ill and her painting took a back seat to caring for Michael. But today, two years later, I opened a UPS package with this gorgeous painting of Bailey along with a thoughtful note. As I wrote to Mary in response, "I thought I was over crying for Bailey." 

My gift... "Bailey" by Mary Hart

At our camps in Weld, I'm going to start a wall in our littlest camp showcasing our four-legged family members like Bailey. Zellie, Shadow, Brady, Maggie, and the crown prince of the point, Tippy the Fisher Dog (1953-1966). With Tumbledown in the background, Mary's painting may end up the centerpiece. 

Thank you, my friend.