Morning's Happy Surprise(s)

 After exhausting myself power washing our front porch, and doing some relatively light housecleaning in hopes that my DS,DIL and DGD would visit, it occurred to me that I MUST GET SOME EXERCISE in order to regain some stamina (which has never been a strong point).  So I went for a walk this morning.  With my camera.

I was surprised and delighted to discover a latent lantana (above) sprouting from what I thought was a long dead, and dried hanging basket which I had tucked into a neglected corner in reach of a sprinkler.  Who knew that there could be a resurrection of sorts in August?!!

 There was also a shy hydrangea.  Our hydrangeas were ineptly pruned last year, so most of the blooms have been hidden.  This one is still in full force, even if reticent.

 Lichens are more prominent with the abundant rain of late summer.

 I discovered a pond within a stone's throw.  I didn't even know it was there!  I didn't see any wildlife, but I hope it isn't a huge mosquito breeding ground, either.

 Alternate view.

 A few plants have gotten the memo that summer is drawing to a close.  I have no idea what memo the insects get.

 These spruces were dwarfed by larger pines and some maples.

 If you embiggen this, you will see a house at the far end of a driveway that NO ONE would want to shovel or blow.

 Sunlight sometimes does reach the ground amongst varieties of trees.

 A cheerful looking home that I hadn't seen before.

 I don't think it's even been below 40 at night... and look at these red leaves!


And last, but not least:
SOMEBODY BOUGHT THIS PAINTING!

The Newburyport Art Association gallery attendant called this morning to say that another artist who was picking up his/her paintings asked if this had sold.  And when it hadn't, said he/she had to have it.  His/Her entry had apparently been a pool table and ball, so the "Rack 'Em Up" title turned out to be too much to resist.

Since there wasn't an entry fee for this exhibit, and the canvases were provided, even with the gallery's percentage, I made a profit.

YAY!

GrammaDee's good intentions

 Yesterday was the Year-End Extravaganza put on by the child care center where Little Miss J spends week days.  In spite of leaving 1.45 hours early for what is normally a 1 hour trip,  I was late. When I was less than half way there, my GPS informed me that my estimated time of arrival was AFTER the start time. ROAD WORK!! TRAFFIC!  Arrgh. By the time I came to the final freeway offramp, I was an hour after start time.  Although many kidlets and parents were still in the auditorium watching the rather extended slide show (so every child had a couple of close ups), I managed to miss the entire performance.

I had brought a post-performance flower (with ribbons, cellophane and tissue) which was well-received, albeit in the dark.

 I had hoped that something with THAT many petals would be of interest, and it was.

 I wish I could have heard the 2 year olds' renditions of God Bless America and "the Dinosaur Song and seen the dance moves that went with them.  I loved last year's Oz production, but was told that the song review was actually better because there were no delays to weave in a story that the children didn't know and that (possibly) the adults knew so well they didn't care about).

 Performing is hard work, and Miss J had a bit of a let down afterwards, but perked up after some Italian bread at The Venetian with her other paternal grandparents (the Ex and his wife).  I am relieved that we all get along now.  (Hey, what's 25 years?!!)  The Wife and I both spoke knowingly about Miss J's exemplification of the Impatient Inner Child ("That's EVERYBODY's Inner Child.").  The Ex spoke of his relief at NOT being picked as a juror for a local Trial Of The Century.  (He was within 2 seats of being called for a 4-6 month ordeal.) I know he would have been a great juror, but am glad for his sake that he wasn't called.

Funny what matters.  I don't really mind that I missed the "show."  I enjoyed an uninterrupted hearing of St. Saens' Organ Symphony (#3) with the volume cranked up while stuck in traffic.  I was happy Miss J appreciated her floral tribute.  I was proud that we got along.  I hope my son can now relax when "everybody" comes.  I know it has been stressful for all concerned in the past.

I suppose it was also a good thing that picking up the tip, rather than the tab, seemed to be enough.

If you want to be happy...

1.  Avoid any driving towards Cape Cod within 150 miles of Falmouth on a Friday afternoon
2.  When a 1 hour trip takes 3.5 hours, ENJOY YOUR FAMILY, especially when your granddaughter is learning to do dramatic renditions of emotion
3.  Root for the Bruins and have them sweep the conference!

 And if you are not quite three years old, the recipe is:
1. Keep your beloved pets close by
2. Make sure Mommy knows where the pizza is, and is willing to share
3. Totally use Daddy like your favorite pillow

 To me, this is as sacred a family as there is.  Where are Raphael's painting skills when you need them?

Meandering with a compass

My daughter told me about her enjoyment of drawing mandalas as a form of relaxation and meditation. I'm not sure I always relax when drawing them, because I seem to have a difficult time keeping the compass point jammed sufficiently hard into my sketch pad... but I certainly do get absorbed: inventing different geometries, grids and axis arrangements

.

 Last night I scanned several and "colored" them in Photoshop.  There is something very satisfying about such uniform color blocks -- not to mention the ease of changing the color palette! Notice how different these two look depending on whether I left the boundary lines in or not.

And this one changes a LOT depending on the color of the boundary lines. When I left the outlines white, the black background was too stark, so I changed it to blue.  But the other colors are the same.  Strange how they look different, isn't it?

 I may have to embroider something like it.

 And this was one I colored with watercolor pencils... then hyped a little in photoshop because the pencil color was so pale.

Signs of the times

Way back when, I was pretty deeply immersed in calligraphy. 

If you are going to spend a lot of time and effort writing something beautifully, it was best to have the message be eloquent, important and brief.

So I started collecting quotations, adages and proverbs.  And whole books of quotes, proverbs and advice.

Consequently, when I saw these primitive signs at Goudreault's farm, they went into the collection.

 I'm not sure money is as close to being the root of evil as is FEAR.  Fear of poverty? Fear of powerlessness? Fear of pain?  If you confronted your fears, or embraced them, or trusted that they were valuable, how would you be different?

 And if you DO manage to fear less, what will you replace it with?  Hope, breathing and love seem like good things.

Why don't we tell our children this?  Why do we insist on telling them that every @#$% thing will go on their "permanent" (and mythical) record? 

When you have nothing to say....

 

I had one of those experiences recently that made me wish someone else had been given the advice that Thumper gave Bambi:  When you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  

Sometimes, of course, there are good reasons to say things that aren't "nice."  But when there is not a good reason and it is (apparently) for the sole entertainment of one's own ego, I agree with Archie Bunker:  "Stifle it." 

 Can you tell I got a new compass?  The Mandala below (colored with watercolor rather than photoshop) is rather clumsy.)

....as is the one below that was colored with watercolor pencil.

A page of thumbnail sketches in preparation for a painting.

My addiction... sort of

I'm reading a terrific book called Zoobiquity.
 Its primary point is that animals and humans share a lot of biological and behavioral traits.  So far I've read about which cancers they get and how they respond to treatment, partner traits preferred in mates, and addictions.

Did you know that wallabies will eat fields of poppies to get high?  That spiders given drugs spin webs that are either "overly ornate" or completely un-functional?  That dogs can get addicted to licking toads? and that their owners may enable them by catching toads for them so they'll come inside?

The authors explain why addictions mimic the brain response to useful behaviors.  We evolved to have a "good feeling" when we did things that increased the likelihood of protecting the species.... hunting, gathering, procreating etc.

I guess collecting notecards makes me THINK I am being more social and part of a community... or maybe it is just "hunting" in the modern age of acquisitiveness!  You know... getting what you need, but not quite to the hoarding level?

Anyway, here are the photos I took while at the MFA Boston.  Apparently looking is (almost) as good for my pleasure center as purchasing.  Now if I can just learn to let that be true for carbohydrates....

 

Sometimes it's just the packaging that gets me.

I need to figure out how this person is related to Charlie Harper.  She has to be, don't you think?  And what is cuter than geometric cats with PUNS?

Hopper is always good.  Painterly AND Graphic.  And more cats and dogs, who only take themselves moderately seriously.

I think Sheeler deserves more fame and recognition.  There's something about his geometry that I really like.

A more sentimental pair of shelves.

I wonder what William Morris (Craftsman movement), Kandinsky and Rothko would think if they met each other, saw each other's work and realized they had been lumped together.  Would they pout and sulk?  throw tantrums?  Or think they'd been mis-understood?

Great Days in May!

 I just read a book called Steal Like an Artist (which I like a lot).  One of the recommended practices is to Do Good Work and Share.
Lucky me.  I met TWO wonderful artists this month and BOTH of them shared with me.
Above is a winged lion stuffed softie made by Tobin Eckian.  I think I'm going to hang her over my easel as a painting muse/charm.

Below are the covers of SEVEN quarter size ephemera booklets made by Jane Kaufmann.  Each has reproductions of her ceramic works, story bits and hand or stamped lettered pages.  They are wise, quirky and charming (as is Jane.)

I need to make some stuff to share!