Sad news from The Mountains. The patriarch of our little community when I was growing up died today. Services will be over the weekend.
So many memories of Robert. He could be feisty, mean, scary with his rough exterior and stringy black hair. But he was a talented, visionary Outsider Artist.
I remember when my dad had a job making tiles, he brought a load of colorful, hand crafted finished pieces to Robert. Next thing we knew, Robert smashed them to bits. He puzzled them together, nothing like the originals, but in his own pattern to make the main table in his adobe. I can’t quite remember the base. Was it a wild branchy tree trunk or a large smooth spindle? My memory is fading.
He could be tender and funny…and social, at least with me and with his fearless, coyote-fighting mutt Nukes at his heels.
I feared him. But I loved him. He’ll be missed.
Virtual Farmgirl 
They dug the grave today (by hand from what I can gather) and we will convene at the cemetery tomorrow between 2 and sunset.
LikeLike
Thanks Thea. We’ll look forward to hearing from you about the service. I heard his son was there to arrange the details. One of his daughters was flying in and will drive up with her mom on Sunday. If you get a chance to talk to them, please tell them we’re thinking a lot about all of them.
LikeLike
I did meet a daughter-in-law and grandson, but only briefly. I did not go to the service in the end. I was thinking about him all day, but just could not get myself to go. I heard it was lovely and well attended.Ken McDonald, also passed that same week, you might not have known him, Dixon. But he was the same age-ish as Robert and Phil Ford said that 3 others left that week as well. It has had that air about it. All dry and the sky is so poor (quality) and waking today to find snow is just such a cleaning of the palette that I am very contented.Glad to hear you have some moisture as well today.
LikeLike
The table you spoke of is still there but difficult to see as it’s covered with many trinkets collected by Robert over the years.The base is a cottonwood trunk – twisted and beautiful. I had forgotten about were the tiles came from – thanks for remembering – but I do remember spending many evenings putting that mosiac together with Misa & Robert. The things you can do without TV. Eve
LikeLike
They dug the grave today (by hand from what I can gather) and we will convene at the cemetery tomorrow between 2 and sunset.
LikeLike
Thanks Thea. We’ll look forward to hearing from you about the service. I heard his son was there to arrange the details. One of his daughters was flying in and will drive up with her mom on Sunday. If you get a chance to talk to them, please tell them we’re thinking a lot about all of them.
LikeLike
I did meet a daughter-in-law and grandson, but only briefly. I did not go to the service in the end. I was thinking about him all day, but just could not get myself to go. I heard it was lovely and well attended.Ken McDonald, also passed that same week, you might not have known him, Dixon. But he was the same age-ish as Robert and Phil Ford said that 3 others left that week as well. It has had that air about it. All dry and the sky is so poor (quality) and waking today to find snow is just such a cleaning of the palette that I am very contented.Glad to hear you have some moisture as well today.
LikeLike
The table you spoke of is still there but difficult to see as it’s covered with many trinkets collected by Robert over the years.The base is a cottonwood trunk – twisted and beautiful. I had forgotten about were the tiles came from – thanks for remembering – but I do remember spending many evenings putting that mosiac together with Misa & Robert. The things you can do without TV. Eve
LikeLike