BE BACK IN MAY

My faithful followers.............I am taking the month of April off from blogging.  Sometimes life weighs us down, and we need to regain our balance.   Be back May 1st.  

Kandinsky's COMPOSITIONS

Wassily Kandinsky's COMPOSITIONS was a series of ten paintings created between 1910 and 1939.  Of the ten, only seven survived.  The first three were destroyed during World War II.  

A common thread runs through the Compositions as Kandinsky searched for a formal language that would powerfully express his philosophical and spiritual concerns.  We'll now learn about the seven remaining Compositions.  

Composition IV ~ 1911

Kandinsky wrote, "From the very onset, the word 'composition' sounded to me like a prayer."  His first composition was done in 1910, the last one in 1939.  

• The left side of this painting is teeming with agitation.  It shows dark activity in a world gone mad.  In contrast, the right side is calmer and lighter....synonymous with spiritual regeneration which is symbolized by the blue mountain in the center.  
• Note the two almost straight lines that divide the painting...and the three splotches of red that look like men wearing hats.  Two of those unrecognizable figures have their hands wrapped around those black straight lines.  Are they lances?  Critics have suggested that Composition IV may symbolize the delicate balance between a violent and peaceful society.  It may represent Moscow during the revolutionary time in Russia.

I'm still on the outside looking into the world of abstract art.  To me, the short black lines on the left remind me of a horse's mane.  I see the top of a red heart in the lower right corner.  I see a rainbow and a round yellow circle that could be the sun.  Toward the lower right, I see two people.  What it all means is as clear as mud to me.  But, this shows me that I'm able to look at abstract paintings and relate as best I can.  It's a start.

Supposedly, Kandinsky took up abstract art after he noticed a picture in his studio that was lying on its side.  He instantly recognized only forms and colors that fascinated him.  That's when he decided that his work should express the inner character of things, not their surface appearance.  He rather sought to reveal the essence of a painting through shape, line and color.

Like Kandinsky's gradual transition from conventional to abstract art, spring is the transitional season between winter and summer.

........................On a personal note, Buffy is staying with us through Friday while her parents are in D.C. at congressional meetings regarding small retail businesses.  I've given Buffy the people name, Sally O'Malley.  There's a special story behind the name.  That's what I called my beloved Emma.  I think she'd be happy to pass on the affectionate name to this little Yorkie.  

Snow fell yesterday.  The three of us sat and watched the flakes get bigger and accumulate.  It was an April 1st gift that fell from the heavens to refresh the earth and help push the wildflowers out of the ground.  

Tomorrow we'll look at another of Kadinsky's Compositions.  

MY FINISHED PROJECT

Remember the project I've been working on?  Well, today is TA-DA day!  This is what I created out of a stash of miscellaneous wooden beads collected from broken and discarded jewelry bought at thrift stores, yard sales and eBay sellers.  Some one somewhere no longer wanted the beads and got rid of them.  That's where I come in with my designs.  I work at making beauty out of the broken.  This endeavor has and does bring so much happy time to my life, there's no describing it in words.  I am a proponent of fostering one's creative spirit, because that's where peace and harmony exists within us.  The beloved birch branch is from a forest in Wisconsin.  The piece is my way of genuflecting before Mother Nature while thanking Her for all her wondrous gifts.  Like the Giving Tree I wrote about the other day, She gives us her ALL.

• Wooden beads represent Nature's beauty and resilience.  Each bead retains the energy and life force of the tree it came from.  This natural connection fosters a deeper sense of peace and stability.  
• Tibetan Buddhist monks wear wooden bead bracelets as symbols of simplicity and mindfulness to remind them to remain present, grounded and connected to their spiritual goals.  (Have you noticed how Richard Gere is always seen wearing a wooden bead bracelet on his right hand?)
• Mala beads, typically 108 beads, are used in Buddhist meditation to count mantras or breaths.  Mala's aren't limited to any specific spiritual practice and can be used by anyone seeking mindfulness and focus.
• What is the logic of 108 beads?  Research shows that the diameter of the Sun multiplied by 108 equals the distance between the Sun and the Earth.  The diameter of the Moon multiplied by 108 equals the distance between the Earth and the Moon.  The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.  That is the reason for 108 mala beads.
• Wooden beads are a perfect way to bring a touch of earthiness into one's home.

When I look at this wall hanging, I wonder...........where did the wood in each bead originate?  what is each bead's story?  who cut the tree down?  who shaped the wood into a bead?  who chose to apply color to the wood cuz the beads are different colors?  where did each bead travel to end up in my stash where it has been given a new life and new purpose?  

The piece could represent the four stages of life:  childhood, early adulthood (teens to 40), middle adulthood (40s to mid-60s) and late adulthood (mid-60s onward).

Or....it could represent the prayers that are privately prayed by the people who bless our home with their presence.  Do we now have a prayer wall?

Just stop to think how many prayers are being said every day across the globe?  in how many languages?  how many cultures?  to how many divine beings?  how many tears are cried while the prayers are being said?  how many prayers are unspoken, how many are whispered, and how many are screamed out in despair?     

By combining all the beads as I did, we now have an original wall hanging that mirrors human brokenness and being tossed aside.  Yet, no matter how broken we may become, someone will come along and appreciate us for who we genuinely are.  Finding beauty in the broken is my secret to keeping my soul happy.  Give me a box of tangled up discarded and broken jewelry, my tools, and I'm sitting on a step to Heaven.  

The wall hanging doesn't have a title yet, but I'll come up with one.   

Kandinsky's BLUE MOUNTAIN

Blue Mountain~ 1908-09

Today's spotlight shines on Kandinsky's "Blue Mountain" (Der Blaue Berg).  This painting shows his transitioning toward an abstract style by the way he uses color and form to stir up emotion and movement.  Notice how it features bold colors, swirling lines and shape.

Again, he paints horses and riders that represent his desire to move beyond realistic art.  We can see his style becoming more abstract.    

Painting was deeply spiritual for Kandinsky.  He sought to express spirituality and the depth of human emotion through a universal visual language of abstract forms and colors that broke through the traditional boundaries.  He felt it was his purpose in life to share universal emotions with the world for the betterment of humanity.  He worked to produce spiritually-rich paintings for the eyes like the musicians did for the ears.  Kandinsky wrote:  "Open your ears to music, open your eyes to painting.  And don't think!  Examine yourselves.....when you have heard and seen."

"Color is the keyboard,

 the eyes are the harmonies,

 the soul is the piano with many strings. 

 The artist is the hand that plays,

 touching one key or another, 

to cause vibrations in the soul."

~Kandinsky  

• 

  Wassily Kandinsky

  It is said that Wassily Kandinsky was gifted with synesthesia...where one sense triggers another.  He repeatedly saw colors when he heard music and vice versa...which greatly influenced his art. 
  
• The color red, he heard as a violin; yellow, as a trumpet; and blue, the sound of a heavenly organ.  
• The first thing we see in the above painting is a bright blue mountain that's framed by a yellow and red object.  Are these objects trees?  or are they simply formless objects left to create a sense of wonder in the viewer?  
• In the foreground we see multicolored riders on horseback charging through the scene.  Do these riders show his intention to move toward a new art style?  one that will allow the viewer to personalize and "feel" his paintings rather than simply looking at and critiquing them?
• Kandinsky developed a theory that art held a spiritual element and that colors had psychological and emotional associations.
• While Wassily Kandinsky wasn't traditionally religious, he was deeply spiritual. He viewed art as a vehicle for expressing profound universal human emotions.
• This study will show us how Kandinsky gradually distanced himself away from conventional art.  By doing that, he revolutionized the world of art.
• The main purpose of abstraction in art is not to tell a story, but to encourage involvement and imagination. It's main objective is to give viewers a personal experience with a painting.  Each person's experience will be completely different, depending on their personality and frame of mind.
• Kandinsky's works are celebrated and collected by museums and galleries worldwide, recognizing their profound force in the development of abstract art.

Tomorrow we'll learn more about this freeing form of art.

ABSTRACT ART - Wassily Kandinsky

"Color is a power which directly influences the soul." ~Wassily Kandinsky

In an effort to learn about the world of abstract art, today we embark on a study of the art form.  Abstract art is a big question mark for many of us.  What's it all about?  It seems to be an art form that allows the viewer's eyes to see what they see.  Having said that, my curiosity is being challenged to learn about the artists and their works.

We'll begin with Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), a Russian painter and art theorist, who is credited as one of the pioneers of abstraction in western art.  After his parents divorced, he was sent to live with his aunt.  It was there that he first discovered the magic of colors.  He focused on both the visual and the auditory.  He heard sounds as colors, and it was this perception that was his guiding force in the development of this new style.

In 1903, the artist painted his first milestone work, "Der Blaue Reiter" or The Blue Rider, a scene of a horseman wearing a blue cloak galloping through a meadow on a white horse...with a forest in the background.  

Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) ~1903

Notice the shapeless shadows in the foreground.  The horse represents high energy as it races through a rocky meadow.  The blue rider in the painting is without detail, a pivotal work in his transition toward abstraction a few years later.

• The rider on horseback serves as a metaphor for the artist's journey toward the freedom to explore beyond traditional artistic boundaries.  
• The horse carries its rider with untamed strength and speed, yet it is the rider who steers the horse.  Talent steers the artist to the highest heights with that same untamed strength and speed, but it is the artist who is the master of his talent.
• For Wassily Kandinsky, the color blue symbolized spirituality and the ability to move beyond the limitations of reality.  
• In 1911, Kandinsky wrote:  "The deeper the blue, the more it beckons man into the infinite, arousing a longing for purity and the super sensuous."

If we're gonna explore abstract art, it makes sense to define abstraction in art.  It is the process of simplifying or distorting shapes, forms and colors to focus on deeper ideas and experiences, rather than depicting the world as we see it.  It is characterized by paint strokes and splashes of color, intended to conjure up a personal interpretation without any direct connection to the physical world.  Abstract art makes the art experience more interactive.

Let's have fun with this.  "The beauty of abstract art is that anyone can take what they see and interpret it however they wish."  

SNOW DOG

A recent snowfall to the north of us brought out the creative juices in Debbie.  She sent me this photo....first time ever I've seen a snow dog.  How amazing, artistic and absolutely awesome is that!

Over the course of my lifetime, I've done mega amounts of research and study on human behaviors, particularly optimism and pessimism.  This was because of three female pessimists in the generation before me.  What they saw in life and what I saw in life were total opposites.  This photo is a perfect metaphor for what an optimist sees when it snows.....an opportunity.

Yesterday was spent working on my project.  My Venny girlfriend came over to visit me.  The funny part of my latest endeavor is how it keeps changing as I continue designing it.  Thought I had strung the last of the wooden beads, but this morning when I take a closer look.....well, I've got some more re-stringing to do.  Why not make it the best it can be, rather than settle for just okay.  

Last night we had a mishap in the kitchen.  Our drawer-style air-fryer quit working.  I'd just finished making turkey bacon wrapped water chestnuts when it expired.  Gonna be quick to get another one.  That's one appliance we can't live without.

Best get to my beads and hopefully my project will be hanging on the wall by tonight.  Bought fabric daffodils at the Dollar Tree and will make a couple bouquets for outside our unit door and another for the table.  It's time to dolly up the place for the new season.  Ta-ta.    

THE POWER OF THREE

• 
  Ancient Greece considered the number 3 to be the perfect number....the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding.
• Studies suggest that our brains tend to better process and retain information presented in groups of 3.
• Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Three Blind Mice, The Three Musketeers, Three Coins in a Fountain, Knock Three Times, Three Times a Lady.... 
• Rumpelstiltskin and his 3 spinnings of straw into gold, and then the queen's 3 chances to guess his name.
• The Rule of Three is a writing technique that suggests a group of 3 adjectives or examples is always stronger and more memorable than one.  The Rule of Three gives writing a better rhythm.
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
• Beginning, Middle, End
• Birth, Life, Death
• Stop, Look, Listen
• Ready, Willing and Able
• Sun, Sea, Sand
• Trio--a group of three musicians or singers
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness
• Of the people, For the people and By the people
• Wine, Women and Song
• Veni, Vidi, Vici  (I came, I saw, I conquered)
• Hook, Line and Sinker
• Live, Love, Laugh
• Lock, Stock and Barrel
• Ready, Set, Go
• Morning, Noon, Night
• A clock has three hands, a season is 3 months, a tricycle has 3 wheels
• Sun, Moon, Stars
• Every Tom, Dick and Harry
• Faith, Hope and Charity
• In No Way, Shape or Form
• Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic
• Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Mind-Body-Spirit
• Mother-Father-Child
• Past-Present-Future
• Monkey Hear, Monkey See, Monkey Do
• Yes, No, Maybe
• Hip, Hip, Hurray
• Good, Better, Best
• The three forces:  Affirming, Denying and Reconciling
• Neapolitan Ice Cream Flavors:  Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry
• Three states of matter:  Solid, Liquid, Gas
• A 3-Ring Circus
• Dimensions:  Length, Width, Height
• Primary Clouds:  Cirrus, Stratus and Cumulus
• Three forms of government:  Executive, Legislative, Judicial
• Three primary colors:  red, yellow and blue
• Olympic medals:  bronze, silver and gold
• The Three Stooges
• See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil
• Divine concept of the triple deity...Father, Son, Holy Spirit
• The Three Wise Men
• Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
• Three Feet in a Yard
• Rock Types:  Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic
• The 3 Divine O's:  Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing) and Omnipresent (present everywhere at all times)  
• In advertising:  Finger Lickin' Good.....Snap, Crackle, Pop.....Diamonds Are Forever.....Thinnest, Lightest, Fastest....Quicker Picker Upper......
• 3-letter Brand Names:  IBM, KFC, KIA, CNN, HBO
• Every brand is built on a set of foundational pillars:  What you do, Why you do what you do, and Who you are.
• First name, Middle name, Last name
• Baseball:  3 strikes you're out
• 3 acts in a play
• 3 C's of Advertising:  Company, Customer and Competition
• Huey, Dewey and Louie (identical triplet nephews of Donald Duck)
• BLT:  Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich
• U.S. Flag:  Red, White, Blue
• The Three Amigos
• Three Meals a Day  (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)
• Traffic Lights:  Green, Red, Yellow
• Wines:  White, Red and Rose
• 3 sides to every story:  Yours, Theirs and the Truth somewhere in the middle.
• The 3 Rule for Survival:  3 minutes without breathing, 3 hours without shelter in an extreme environment, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.
• In sports:  Excellence, Resilience and Triumph
• Parts of an atom:  Proton, Neutron, Electron
•  Jonah remained in the belly of the whale for 3 days and 3 nights (Jonah 1:17)
•  A clover has 3 leaves.
• Triangles
•  Rule of Thirds is a guideline in photography that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds more open.
• 
  Foreground, Midground, Background
• The phrase "three time's a charm" reflects a belief that a third attempt at something is more likely to succeed after two failures.
• The Rosetta Stone, written in 3 languages (demotic, hieroglyphic and traditional Greek), demonstrates the verbal significance of the number 3.
• Threefold Commandment:  Love God, Love your neighbor, and Love yourself.
  
• Jesus died when he was 33.
• Three is the smallest number of elements required to create a pattern.  A single instance could simply be a chance happening.  The second instance could be considered a coincidence or serendipity.  But, the third instance is perceived as a pattern.
• The Rule of Three is ancient and universal.  There is a perfect trio of Latin words that express the idea:  Omne triumph perfectum.  It means that everything that comes in threes is perfect.

A COUPLE OF THINGS

• 
  When a Kit Kat bar is less than perfect in its production, the chocolate bar is recycled.  The imperfect bars are ground up into a fine paste and turned into a filling that's then put back into the production process to create new Kit Kat bars.
  

• YAHOO stands for Yet Another Hierarchically Officious Oracle.
• Yet another refers to the fact that yahoo was another directory of websites, similar to others at the time.
• 
  Hierarchical refers to the way the yahoo database was originally organized, with layers of subcategories.
• Officious was intended to describe the many office workers who would use the yahoo database while surfing from work.  
• Oracle was intended to mean 'source of truth and wisdom.'
• The slanted exclamation point after yahoo symbolizes energy, intensity and major significance.

ONE BIG TANGLE

The 4-pound 4-legged alarm clock (programmed to sound like a yipping puppy) woke us up at 6 a.m.  A tad earlier than usual.  We don't mind, tho, 'cuz our agenda is free from expected intrusions, interruptions and obligations.  It's an ordinary day, left to us and Divine Intervention to live as best we can.  Retirement is a profound stage of life...when we sometimes forget what day it is and there's no such thing as a weekend.

Yes, the fuzzy one spent the night here and will be going home around 5 this afternoon.  Here is where I spout out about how good she is, how sweet she is and then pour my puppy love affection over her like oozy-goozy maple syrup.  

The other day I mentioned the project I'm working on and how I ran into a snag.  Well, that snag still hovers.  The solution to half of the problem came to me in a dream.  Yup.  Don't ask me how or why or where these ghostly solutions originate, but this has happened to me before.  It's kinda like there's an ocean of solutions/answers out there, and we have to be asleep for them to make their way into our heads.  If I think about this phenomenon, a really deep well opens and begs for major pondering.  

I love to ponder.  Just the other day I was visiting with another person who's a tad older.  We touched on the concept of the soul and evolution when the person closed our conversation with, "That's too deep for my brain today."  Drat.  So few are willing to volley a thought back and forth, with the hope of arousing fresh insight.  I'm so willing to admit to not having all the answers.  That's the fun of philosophy.  

The human experience is like a tangled ball of yarn.  The only way one can untangle the yarn is by starting on one loose end and slowly pulling and freeing that end out....an inch at a time.....slowly but surely.  It's the ideal metaphor for untangling life, moment to moment.  Remembering we have only one string with two ends.....a beginning and an end and all the tangles in between.  

Instead of saying that we are living life, maybe we should say we're untangling life.  That makes a whole lot more sense.  Whatcha think?  

  

NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR - Nature's Nobility

Northern White Cedar

Good thing I took a photo of the sign (left) identifying this tree with the spiraling bark.  Yup, it's the Northern White Cedar that we saw this summer in one of our favorite campgrounds in Northern Minnesota.  

Yet another phenomenon of Nature......Cedar bark often twists round the trunk, revealing a spiral growth pattern. 

In the Ojibwe culture, the Northern White Cedar, or Grandmother Cedar, holds significant spiritual and practical importance.  It is one of the four sacred plants in the medicine wheel, along with tobacco, sage and sweet grass.  The Ojibwe people honor the tree with the name Grandmother Cedar, seeing it as a sacred gift and a symbol of longevity and strength. 

Native American cultures have shown remarkable endurance amid adversity.  The Northern cedar reflects the lasting traditions and stories passed down through the generations, symbolizing the strength and continuity of native people.  The Ojibwe have used this tree for centuries for food, medicine and building canoes, wigwam frames and other structures.  

Legend has it that Native Americans used the bark from this tree to make a tea that saved the French explorer Jacques Cartier and his crew from scurvy (deficiency of Vitamin C) in the 1500s.    

The deep respect for cedar is a rich tradition spanning thousands of years and continues to be culturally, spiritually and economically important.

"The heart's affections are divided like the branches of the cedar tree;  if the tree loses one strong branch, it will suffer....but it does not die.  It will pour all its vitality into the next branch so that it will grow and fill the empty place."  

KILLDEER

Killdeer

 I took this photo the day of our recent trolley along the Mighty M.  It's a Killdeer, and doesn't it look like it's wearing a double strand black necklace?  

Killdeer are considered shore birds, and it just so happens that's where this photo was taken.  They can also be found nesting in places close to people, like golf courses, baseball fields and even children's playgrounds.  They've been known to follow tractors so they can eat the stirred-up insects.

The bird is named Killdeer because of its piercing shrill call, kill-dee.  During breeding season, killdeer performs a 'broken-wing act' or distraction if it spots a predator close by.  The parent will pretend to have a broken wing by dragging it along the ground, calling out loudly and limping.  When predators see the injured bird, they assume it's easy prey and will leave the nest undisturbed.  Pretty clever tactic.

Chick

The killdeer chicks are fluffy little beings (right).  They're able to run around and feed themselves within hours of hatching.  An Audubon article reads, "The dainty chicks appear like cotton balls atop two toothpicks--making them some of the most adorable chicks in the avian world."

They nest in gravel or open fields, because their eggs are camouflaged by their speckled appearance which blends in with the colors and textures of gravel and stones, protecting them from predators.  

Can you spot the eggs?

HEARTBEATS OF THE FARM

 

This photo was taken and shared with us by Debbie.  I'm thinking of a title for this photo, and the first thing that comes to mind is.............SAY CHEESE!!!!!!

How in the world did the five bovine line up to pose for this picture?????  Debbie has a "whisperer's way" with animals, but this is so much more.

It's been said that cows are gentle giants, offering a peaceful presence to our chaotic world.  They are symbols of tranquility and simplicity.  Their serene nature highlights the beauty of a simple life, the power of patience and quiet strength.  Anyone who loves cows knows the true meaning of peaceful companionship.

Thanks, Debbie.

TREES

"Hope there is an elevator
in this high rise."

Today's spotlight shines on this photo taken and shared by Debbie. 

All woodpeckers are cavity nesters.  They create their nests by chipping out a deep hole in a tree. 

When I look at this photo, I think of Shell Silverstein's book, "The Giving Tree."   It is a beloved classic in children's literature.  I remember gifting my great-nephew, Shawn, a copy of that book.  Actually, I gave him several of Silverstein's books. 

In The Giving Tree, a little boy loves to play with a tree, climbing its branches, eating its apples and swinging from its limbs.  The tree, in turn, loves the boy and is happy to give of itself to him.

As the boy grows older, his needs and desires change.  He no longer wants to play on the tree, but instead wants apples to sell, branches to build a house with, and eventually, a place to rest as he grows old.

The tree, despite its own needs, continues to give to the boy, sacrificing its apples, its branches and eventually its trunk for him to rest against,

The boy grows into an old man, and he returns to the tree....which is now only a stump.  The tree stump is still happy to offer him a place to rest.  The old man is content to just sit and rest.

The story explores love, sacrifice, generosity and the changing dynamics of relationships.  It touches on the importance of appreciating the gifts we receive.

Very much like my 
place of make-believe and pretend

......I think about the tree in the above photo from Debbie.  It, too, was a giving tree.  Do you have memories of a tree or trees from your childhood?  I remember my maternal grampa making us cousins a swing between two trees in the grove west of their house.  He made us a sand box in an old tractor tire...beneath a shade tree.  And, the exposed roots of the big old elm tree south of our house separated the rooms of my make-believe fancy house where I served my guests tea and cookies.  I'd sit all by myself on a tree root, talk to my pretend people, and for me, that elm tree was my friend.  It gave me a place where I could spend time and pretend to be whoever I wanted to be.  I'd sit on those same tree roots and feed little lambs with a nipple attached to a pop bottle.  

The Bible mentions trees some 250 times.  Trees are the most mentioned living thing in the Bible, after God and people.  There's The Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge, the Fruitful Vine, the Mustard Seed, and the Fig Tree.  Trees symbolize life and growth.  They're a reminder of Our Creator's desire for humans to thrive.  They're signs of a long life.  They provide shade, shelter and sustenance.  They literally do give their all.

Learn character from trees,

values from their roots,

and change from their leaves.

~Tasneern Harneed

SUNRISE AND FEATHERS

Yesterday's sunrise.........

"O, Sunlight!  The most precious gold to be
found on Earth"  ~ Roman Payne

When I was a little girl, my Mom used to wake me up saying, "It's time to rise and shine!"  

One of my favorite writers is Dr. Wayne Dyer who said:  "Every morning when you awake you have been given the gift of a sunrise and twenty-four hours to live.  This is a precious gift."   

Not every daybreak greets us with a brilliant sunrise.  Our deck is wet from overnight rain, and the sky is overcast.  It's the kind of sky where flimsy dark clouds are flying like witches on brooms across the sky.....sorta like background music for the tree branches that are dancing in the breeze.  Mother Nature is a go-getter, always on the move.  Today Her priority is putting moisture in the ground so the wildflowers and grass will grow and color our world once again. 

Our Venny gathering in the workshop yesterday was a lot of fun.  Our contribution to the snack buffet was a tray of Ritz crackers topped with cheddar cheese and purple and green grape halves.  They went well with the homemade chocolate chip cookies and mini lemon cupcakes.  The boyfriend gave a presentation on the bluebird houses and robin nesting lodges he made in the shop.  This morning some of the gals are down in the workshop painting 'em before they're placed down by the garden plots.  

Until yesterday, I didn't know that robins liked to build their nests in open lodges.  Guess that was news to most of us, so we all learned something new.  

Also didn't know that robins have about 2,900 feathers.  We don't stop to think that feathers not only allow birds to fly, but they help them 'strut their stuff,' blend in, stay warm and keep dry.  Feathers are said to be masterpieces of engineering, with their lightweight and aerodynamic design enabling birds to defy gravity.  A single flight feather, with its central shaft, vanes, and interlocking barbs, is a testament to Mother Nature's ingenuity.   

MISSISSIPPI RIVER DEAD ZONE

Today I continue sharing the photographs taken on our last-Thursday trolley.  The Mighty Mississippi ranks way high on our list of places we like to go.  My main focus was on one of the 'dead zones' along the backwaters.....

Note the eagle's nest up in the tree.

Professors, scientists and oceanographers are researching the causes and effects of hypoxia in the Gulf.  From May to September each year, the Gulf develops the largest hypoxic zone in the United States.  Hypoxic conditions occur when an area of water has less than 2 milligrams of oxygen per liter of water.  It usually means the death or flight of most living organisms in the area.  

Hypoxia can occur naturally in water, but humans have worsened the problem since the 20th century.  Nutrient runoff from farm fertilizer, chemicals and other sources washes into rivers and streams, increasing nitrogen and phosphorus in our waterways.  Since the 1950s, the amount of nitrogen in the Mississippi River watershed has tripled, and the amount of phosphorus has also increased, in part from fertilizer applied in Midwestern states.

While we were driving through this 'dead zone,' I told the boyfriend it felt like the aftermath of a nuclear war zone.  Real eerie....very real.

There is no Planet B.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

This morning's sunrise was beyond breathtaking.  It's funny how the most brilliant sunrise lasts so short a time.  Can't actually remember seeing one as bright as this.  Maybe it's a heavenly St. Patrick's Day blessing...... "May the sun shine warm upon your face!"  

The boyfriend is down working in the shop.  He's an early bird, while I am the slug sitting sipping a cuppa.  

Just think of all the partying today.....drinking green beer, eating corn beef and cabbage, Irish stew and swigs of Bailey's Irish Creme. 

Beyond the traditional celebrations, there is an empty space in the day to fill with spiritual blessings that the Irish are known for.  

May Our Creator give you......

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.  

SMALL TOWN TAVERN

Back to our Thursday trolley that I started writing about.  BIG NEWS......we had our first robin sighting and red-winged blackbird sighting that day.  The boyfriend's eagle eye spotted both birds first.   

Our lunch was eaten in a small-town (pop. 500) tavern called Buzzard's Bar and Grill.  We'd not eaten there before.  Really nice place, large screen t.v. on the wall, friendly waitresses who were happy to serve their customers.  The food was yummy.  I ordered a chicken-bacon wrap with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and the boyfriend opted for the traditional burger and fries.  We got to the tavern a little after 11 a.m., so it was just us and another guy sitting up at the bar sipping his sustenance. 

Our Table in the Tavern

Last night's Venny soup supper was a hit.  Four soups:  Brocolli-cheese-ham, Wild Rice-Ham, Vegetable and Potato.  The broccoli soup was very good, and the boyfriend said the wild rice was, too.  The activity committee made the soups served with fresh bread, crackers, butter, grapes and fresh strawberries.  Make-your-own sundaes for dessert.  Of course, the choice of wines included.  We squeezed more chairs around our large round table, so a bunch of us could visit and get in a few memories and laughs.  Two naval officers shared bits from their time serving our country. 

This morning the boyfriend is down in the shop cutting out the pieces for the birdhouse building on Tuesday afternoon.  I'm working on my wall hanging, and have run into a snag.  I've got some thinking to do.

Oh, and I've started reading Gadsby.....the book written without the letter 'e.'  Omigod, what a challenge.  One thing I'm noticing is how the story is all about the bones of the plot, without all the frilly flowery adjectives that dolly up a novel.  This makes it faster paced and quite easy to follow.   Another one of those experiences a person wonders.....how'd he do that?

It's a pretty Sunday here......a nippy 31 degrees and sunshine.  Every day that the sun shines I think about my mom and daddy's song............ 

SPRING THINGS

First thunderstorm of the season last night.  Thankfully, no damage in our area.  That's the downside to this beautiful season....the tornadoes and high-wind storms that destroy and destruct.

Just placed our online grocery order.  First delivery slot available is 2 this afternoon.  Venny is having a soup supper at 5, with wine and dessert.  We're signed up to attend.  Now that I no longer have two black eyes, it'll be fun to gather with our family of friends.  

Yesterday afternoon I started my next big design project.  I say 'big,' because it's bigger than a bracelet.  A stash of miscellaneous wooden beads have been calling out to me, wanting to be made into something pretty.  I'm gonna need the boyfriend's help, cuz it will require drilling holes in a birch branch.  

This coming Tuesday the garden committee is having a bird-house making day down in the workshop.  The boyfriend will get the wood sawed into pieces for the project.  The birdhouses will then be put out by the garden.  I'm going to fix a tray of goodies to add to the refreshment table.  Think I might bake cranberry-orange bread and maybe cheese and crackers.  Not everyone can eat sweets, so the crackers will provide an option for them.  

Trillium

The boyfriend and I have been chatting about his garden plot.  Cannot wait for fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for salads.  Once again, the beautiful peonies will blossom.  A line of deep red peonies grow outside the garden fence.  They're so beautiful, but last so short a time.  

It will soon be time to see the tiny wildflower, the Trillium.  For me, finding 'em is a significant spring ceremony.  The 3-petal and 3-leaf trillium makes me think of the spiritual concept of You-Me-and THEE.  

LIFE PASSIONS

Stitches are removed, and we had fun yesterday.  Before we set out, we had a plan.....but we know from years of 'driving around,' that those plans rarely turn out as we plan them.

My faithful readers will remember my posts about graffiti and its origins.  One of yesterday's stops was a campground we used to stay at.  In order to get to it, one must cross a railroad track.  As we were on our way out back to the highway, we heard a train whistle its warning.  What happened next was nothing less than one of my self-proclaimed mini miracles.  Yup, a parade of graffiti-decorated train cars paraded right in front of us.  In my excitement, I managed to capture a few photos. 

For me, it's not enough to simply snap a picture of a train car and say that I saw a train with graffiti.  Who painted it?  What's it's story?

Well, after a bit of keyboard research, I found CINEL's story......Cinel is the graffiti artist's name, and he is based out of Vancouver, Canada, and has painted in a few other countries. Shown below are train cars that Cinel has painted......can you find the one that we saw yesterday?

This is the perfect example of the joy of learning.  Yesterday morning I never saw, nor had I heard of a graffiti artist Cinel.  Today I know about him, saw his actual work in a moving art gallery and if ever I see a train car with that name, I'll know the artist and where he's from.  

Oh, there's more to yesterday, but will make the most of it by sharing one increment each day.  Along with the passion for writing, comes the need for topics to write about.  

Reading, writing, researching and repurposing are my life passions.  Without them, I'd go raving crazy.  All things have their disadvantages, tho.  Reading, writing, researching and repurposing are all I want to do.  At this juncture, everything else is a frickin' chore that creates a sense of guilt in me.  House work is no less painful than dipping me in boiling tar and feathering me.    

The years keep on teaching me to be true to me.  I'm pretty sure I've given most of myself away over the years, and now it's time to tend to what is left.  With each loss, we lose a part of ourselves.  It's not only when someone passes away, it's the pain we feel when someone shuts us out.  That has happened to me for the last time.  From now on my gates are closed.  I find the essence of my existence in learning.  It is how I refill my  life goblet and fill the breaks in my heart.    

On my desktop is a shortcut to The Writings of Michael Montaigne (1533-1592).   It's where I go when I need mental support.  Montaigne didn't write structured and grand narratives, but rather his personal thoughts and experiences in a conversational style. Montaigne was a skeptic and questioned everything.  He preferred concrete examples and experiences over abstract knowledge intended to be accepted unquestioningly.  

It's a dreamy spring day where we live, and the fresh air wafting into our Venny unit feels heavenly.  It definitely gets us motivated to get a few new things and discard a few old things.  Guess it's all part of the spring fling!

SPRING FLING IN FULL SWING

Operation Spring Fling is officially underway.  For starters, I typed out four things that I would like to accomplish every day.  If I can accomplish 2 of those 4 things in a day, I give myself a virtual Purple Heart Award 💜.   Creating a personal reward system lifts one's motivation and celebrates progress.  It's a super simple mind game.

Ernest Vincent Wright

As mentioned the other day, I've not read the 1939 novel Gadsby  by Ernest Vincent Wright.  The entire novel was written without using the letter "e."  The letter "e" is the most-used letter in the English alphabet, so it's beyond me how someone could write a novel without using the letter "e."  A book like that is a feast for anyone who loves words.   Went to the eBay website and found a pre-owned trade book paperback for $11 postage included.  That's how easy it is to invite fun into life.

Springtime gets us revved for spending time on our decks and patios.  The boyfriend and I have holy communion at 5 o'clock on our deck.  It's our way of honoring the close of another gifted day.  Our deck faces the east, so later afternoon is perfect....not full sun shining down on us.  When we bought our late-life home, we didn't even take that into consideration.  It was a perk! 

Today we trolley back to the plastic surgeon's office to have my stitches removed.  Appointment time is 9:30, so we've planned one of our random routes through small river towns that will eventually return home.  Somewhere along the way we'll decide to have lunch at a tavern that serves the locals.  Real people keep us grounded.

Good thing my appointment is scheduled for today.  The National Weather Service is forecasting a dangerous outbreak of severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes from tomorrow (Friday) through the weekend in the Midwest, southern and eastern states.