This September has been pretty tough here in Oregon.

Unlike our normal high humidity, damp air that comes in from the ocean, we had a very unusual dry, crazy, wild wind blowing down from Alberta, Canada. It dried out our forests and set fires raging. Fires that grew and spread west, towards our cities and towns. You’ve seen the pictures. There were frightening losses for so many people.

Here in Portland, dense, dark smoke carpeted the city and kept us inside for days. We had the most hazardous air quality in the entire world.

Below, my neighbors trees, barely visible, right next door, 20 feet from my window.

After what seemed like forever, the wind changed and the rain came and washed everything clean and fresh.

And we were so happy. Beyond happy. Clean air! We could go outside again!

Then, later that very day, we all learned the sad news that our beloved Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, had passed away.

And it plunged us back into despair.

You may remember, just about one year ago, I had the great honor of meeting and helping her choose one of my jackets.

She knew exactly what she liked. She was willing and happy to try on each and every one of my size petite jackets and tops. The one pictured is the one she went home with.

She was one of our greatest heroes. Though small in size, she was a giant. She will never be replaced.

How do you keep on? I was so sad. I wandered into my studio and buried my head in my work. Beautiful fabrics, the slow process of assembling them together, it’s how I could keep going.

The pieced car coat that I was working on in my last post. Finished.

A detail showing the pieced sections.

And the back.

Only a few more days of September, then a few more months of 2020.

I am so ready.