Bello, Bats, Cupps

    First off, there won't be anything other than file pictures of bats; they just zoom in too quick at night to photograph.  Although it was fun watching them zoom in and nab some bugs- and flutter past.  All we could see, despite how close we were, wings and motion.  We were glad to share this visit with the Cupps for here I always imagine living in the theme of the Big Valley.

   The weekend after Dexter's graduation we went to where he wanted to go; where we've gone before but haven't for nearly two years-  Visiting Charles Bello and his 400 acres of protected redwoods forest.  Charles has gotten some press lately in the New York Times (the link is in the earlier blog about Dexter's graduation) and my feeling is that Charles was just as happy to see us again as we were to visit with him.

    Even when Dexter was just a babe in the woods, he always felt comfortable with Charles and Vanna Rae, This place is  beautiful and open. Away from the city, a feeling of freedom to breathe and lay out within the vast lushness of the trees and grass, caressed in the flow of streams and the sounds of not much but ourselves, an occasional animal, laughter, Charles on one of his machines.  Of course it's not long before I am panicked about the mosquitoes or wondering about ticks. But for every 30 minutes to an hour, I'm loving it too.  An outside shower powered by solar heating is the way to bathe, gentle cool air mixed with the warm (hot!) water.  The lizard eating the scorpion was kind of cool but I'm not liking scorpions anywhere near my shoes. A great place for Dexter to really let loose with his arrows.

   Charles has built an incredible studio to house his wood carvings; the building is a piece of art by itself. The way the light enters during the day impresses.

Ollie Ball!

    Charles took Dexter to collect wood, to run errands, to drive his vehicles (Dexter passed on driving the big tractor) and would stop by to express his concerns about keeping the foundation going- to preserve the land.  We've missed Vanna the last few times up here, knowing that her health was poor and since the last visit that she had died.  Charles told us how difficult it was to see her and his sadness about not being close to his boys these days.  It might be that part of our visit that Charles responds to too, a way for him to cross generations and in some ways to be a father again, while showing Dexter how to care and respect the land.

   Not much to do at night; but read and play cards with the Cupps. I don't have any excuse to stay up and play records, or walk to the store.  A good place to catch up on sleep beneath large panes of glass with the starlit sky in the distance behind the backdrop of night and the shadows of the ancient redwoods.

    Dexter, Oliver and I walked up the hill to the small place that Charles now lives in, behind his glass house to say goodbye.  Charles was cutting some watermelon and handed us with some slices.  Sitting in comfort in a world that he has lived in for decades, alone except when guests stay in his cabins, he gave us a warm goodbye (Oliver notes "'that was the first time he said my name") and when I say to take care, he nods and says simply, "alright".  It feels a little sad.