Back in 2000 something I made a decision to do 100 self-portraits. Of course, I never finished. But this morning paging through an old sketchbook, I found a few of those old pastel drawings, along with a silly verse. (Dan always tells me: “If you don’t have a good picture to post, just do something!” So, this one’s for Dan!😘
* This poem is the closing verse from “The Tulip Tree,” by William Stafford.
“Enjoy Your Day” — 10x8 — Origami
Time to get up and I don’t have a new picture to post today, so here’s an oldie but goodie to start the day. Enjoy your day!😻
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there!😻
Is it fish or fishes?….or swishy wishes! Unfinished business. I don’t know where they’re headed but I made all these fishes and they just had to get up, stretch their fins, shake their tails, and go for a swim!😘
Fat and happy, strolling along on a Sunday morning without a care in the world—gobble-gobble…gobble-gobble-gobble…gobble… 🦃
Golden Alexander—one of the easiest, fussy-free native plants to grow for pollinators, especially butterflies and bees—blooms April to June.
“My Peaceful Place” — 5x10” — Origami
A forest of green trees, the sun and the moon, birds flying high, a peaceful place to lay my head down to rest and call home. My heart is home.
I saw this poster at the library—58 sticky notes talking about reasons to love the library. And outside, just outside the front door, a man, a tall man, standing there leaning against the railing holding a cup of half-eaten yogurt in one hand and a cell phone in the other talking animatedly….”that’s an easy million, think what you could do with a million dollars!”🤑
Here are more reasons to love libraries—they offer puzzles, dvd’s, audiobooks on loan, lectures, classes and talks, pinochle and mahjong meetups, trips, museum passes, access to computers, after-school programs, pre-school programs. And all free of charge.
I admire the pileated woodpecker. Tall and proud, brazenly bold, its booming sounds echoing through the tallest trees, like some kind of giant banging a heavy fist on solid wood again and again. Unmistakable. It stops me every time. I look and look and watch its powerful beak stab and stop, stab and stop, determined to get the job done. I think of the giant woodpecker as a solitary soul. I rarely see more than one as I do with most other birds except, of course, the great Heron. But this time there were two giants together, both with gorgeous red top feathers and most likely life mates together. That’s a good way to travel. Together.
It’s Sunday morning and cold outside—feels like 33°! Inside the fire is going. It’s cozy warm and the cats are huddled together, warm and toasty. There’s Tommy and Tammy and Rascal and Phantom.😸😻🙀😽 Dan’s been busy. 😘❤️
I never saw this tree in the woods. Was it a maple or a willow, beech, honey locust, or pine? I don’t know, but look at it now….it has stories to tell, wondrous stories.
Stopped at the red light I looked ahead and saw this tree, tall and proud. I took up my phone and drove slowly for a closer look. Zoom in, maximize….
Listen, it’s Spring. Oh boy! It’s 34° and there’s a freeze warning. Oh boy! The birds are talking up a storm. Nowhere to go, nothing to do. Not yet. Later on, it’s off to the dentist. Oh, boy!
Two Eastern Bluebirds perched on top of their little wooden house. We saw them the other day in the meadow in the wind in the long tall grasses left over from last winter’s snow and winds. Seven little houses, each occupied now, spread across the meadow. The wind blows and they lean. The wind blows again, wings open, spread wide, and loft up and up and away, and they sing now of spring—tu-a-wee…tu-a-wee…tu-a-wee…
“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself at sunset.” Crowfoot
What is life? It is the little boy who runs across the grass and loses himself in his dream. It’s never too late to chase your dream and bring it to life. Do it!
(Thank you, Isabelle, for this picture. 🙏🏻)
On the window sill keeping company—an origami snail, three birds, a couple of cats, and a puppy. And what’s this? A little brown spider! Where’d he come from? Is he lost or hungry? Or maybe lonely? Dan said, “Looks like it wants to help you fold.”😘
Poor thing, looks like it’s been thru the wringer.
On an island of sand and stone in the middle of the creek, taking time out to just be, two geese. Just being together is enough.
It was April 12. All eyes and ears for the coach. Mighty young and helmeted, a few barely four years old or three feet tall. I suppose you’re never too young and never too early to play football!🏈
I can see the world at my feet. I’m lucky. I love where I live. It’s wild. Day after day I can go outside for a walk where I might see a fox darting across the road, or some deer lounging in good company or leaping thru the woods, or watch a blue heron suddenly stab its perfect beak into the creek and come up with a tasty fish. I might look up at flying formations of geese overhead honking across the sky, or stop and gaze at the beautiful velvet mystery of moss at my feet. I amaze at how something so lowly and silent can lay dormant for eons and come back to life again after 54 million years.
In the morning, they gather and chatter, enjoying a joke or two, surveying the whole wide world from their point of view. Then, one by one, they rise up, lift up, fly up….off and away.
I found a recipe for fried dandelions blossoms. It said they have a flavor similar to mushrooms and they’re delicious!😋
Never too early or late to look up at the sky.
What a beautiful thing, Life. Today is Easter. For those who celebrate, Happy Easter. For those who do not, celebrate Life that goes on and on no matter what. 🌺
I always enjoy a visit to my framer. Aside from her high-quality framing services, Rachel Isaac is a top-notch fine artist. It’s always a delight to see what she’s been working on in her studio gallery. Rachel’s collage work features botanicals including pressed flowers, leaves, bug wings, intricate paper cuts, and vintage photographs. https://www.instagram.com/rachelisaacart/
By the way, the Mill Artist Studios (Rachel’s location) in Manayunk will be welcoming visitors to their semi-annual Open House on April 12 from 11:00 to 5:00.
