family portrait

We all grow up with the weight of history on us. 

Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains 

as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge 

hidden in every cell of our bodies. 

~Shirley Abbott

watercolor

for Dr. Fostenia Baker

a remarkable lady and friend

“Call it a clan, 

call it a network,

 call it a tribe,

 call it a family: 

Whatever you call it, 

whoever you are, 

you need one.”

– Jane Howard

Read this family's story
See the documentary featuring Dr. Fostenia Baker




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Portrait of a Lady Study#2

 watercolor

widow of Frazier Baker
mother of six

"Fervently the silent prayer ascended,
 that the night of sorrow might pass, 
and the storm of agony be stilled in her bosom..."
...

J.L. Boswell. 1838, The Star in the East  

from 

Supplement to the Connecticut Courant:

 Containing Tales, Travels, History, Biography, Poetry, and a Great Variety of Miscellaneous Articles, Volume 5

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Portrait of a Lady Study#1

watercolor

Lavinia Baker

widow of Frazier Baker

 “...this woman, 

moved by some private sorrow as much as the words being spoken, 

cried almost silently, 

unobserved by others, 

apart from Mma Ramotswe, 

who stretched out her hand and laid it on her shoulder.

 Do not cry, Mma,

 she began to whisper, 

but changed her words even as she uttered them,

 and said quietly, 

Yes, you can cry, Mma. 

We should not tell people not to weep - 

we do it because of our sympathy for them - 

but we should really tell them 

that their tears 

are justified 

and entirely right.” 

― Alexander McCall Smith, Double Comfort Safari Club

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behind the eyes...

between what was and

what is to come lies the vast

uncertain unknown

~Mx

 watercolor

And with compassion for the hurting, 

You reached out Your hand,

You saw behind the eyes of sorrow 

And shared in our tears, 

Heard the sigh of the weary, 

Let the children draw near.    

~Keith&Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend

Compassion Hymn

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leaving town...

A true story...115 years ago...

watercolor

How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.

-Marcus Aurelius

Inhumanity is harmful in every age.

- Cicero

read more...

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