Picasso Petunia

The fact that they are named after an artist is coincidental, when I saw these I fell in LOVE with them. The color is far more fetching "live." These posies are bringing me much joy.

Artists and gardening . . . Hmmmmm
Movie Recommendation: A Man Named Pearl
Last fall I read a good deal about outsider art. I'd taken time off from thinking about art until God brought the concept around to me again in the form of the aforementioned documentary. You can learn more about his garden here.
A-mazing!

Flower Box

"I want a more vertical garden of unusual morning glories."

Inspiration step in the action plan: Ask Randy to build a bigger better flower box for the trellis I bought 2 or 3 years ago.

The fact that I have to ask because of my own incompetency or fear causes me anxiety. You are invited to read as much as you want into that statement.

Part A: If this can be afforded without asking for help doit! If not . . .
Part B/C: Make this as easy on Randy as possible.
Part C/B: Make this as cheap as possible.
Inspiration Step: Go to the Reuse Center for Habitat for Humanity.
Eureka Moment: Found old pine cupboard doors, bought four. Front, bottom, side, all same length. Cut fourth board in half for sides.

Pitched plan to husband, again, again . . . voile'




Yahoo

Hope and Assurance

On our first visit to NYC we took the ferry past Liberty Island, this time we went to the island. The statue is so much bigger than any of us had imagined. It is enormous!
Tip: If you plan on visiting get your tickets months in advance so you can secure entrance onto the pedestal deck or into the crown (torch is under repair).
I was happy to just get onto the island, to read the plaques and see the Orange County Chopper Liberty Bike -SWEEEEEET! It is made from copper scraps from the statue and is used to raise money for Liberty's maintenance.
I learned so much there and I hesitate revealing the interesting facts because I want you to go and see for yourself.
Tickets to the island include a trip to Ellis Island. The restoration of the buildings and the preservation of its history is a source of pride for our nation.

Upon entrance into the main building one sees small trolleys linked together and loaded with traveling trunks, storage baskets,and bags. On the third floor are displays of objects brought from the mostly European immigrants. Many of the objects are difficult to recognize, a newborn baby's presentation sheet, a curious crochet hook . . . Important documents, the recommendation from a former employer, baptismal certificates, an engagement and wedding certificate, report cards, diplomas, a candy recipe.
In another room is the work from several photographers. They have captured haunting images of an abandoned Ellis Island in the late fifties and early sixties. Images that speak of neglect and rejection spelled out in dust, broken, rot, peeling . . .
The restored courtroom, images of health screenings, details of mental competency testing, the strange hanging beds . . . contents of the final gauntlet before admission.
And then to remind us of what waited for them after admittance, was a display describing the Triangle Fire and in another room hung newspapers with headlines boldly capitalizing derogatory terms used to characterize these newcomers . . .
my people, some of whom never became U.S. citizens . . . but they took some rest here.

"she cries
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired,your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breath free,'"
Emma Lazarus, 1883

I didn't see everything on the island, but I TOOK what I needed and I am holding onto it tightly.

Ai Weiwei yearns to breath free in his land. He is in my prayers.

Anyway, thanks to my cousin for contributing to the Ellis Island restoration fund. It warmed my heart to see my family's name posted.

Free to Speak

We went to see the Chinese Zodiac heads by Ai Weiwei. The heads are elegant and powerful. Their visual potency is simultaneously clouded and illuminated in the acknowledgment that the marvelous mind and spirit which brought them into being is suffering persecution. He is being held somewhere as punishment for speaking his mind, and expressing in his art his concerns over the lack of liberty in China. Not everyone will appreciate his art, but we should all feel concern over suppression of his voice. In the U.S. we TRY to protect the liberty of free speech no matter how repugnant the message. To see Weiwei's art is to remind us to not take this liberty for granted.

Vertical Garden

So this year I decided that my garden was going to be more vertical. I was so delighted by my morning glories last year that I decided to buy as many unique kinds as I could find. When I got to NYC J said we should stop by the Lincoln Center to see the vertical garden/air purifier. Fascinating! A special fabric is used as the foundation. I found an interesting blog that describes the work as living wall art. The blog also shows a method for using gutters as planters, which I find very funny because I like to draw people attention to the "gutter gardens" growing in my neighborhood because folks don't clean their gutters.

Grant's Tomb

What a solemn and noble monument to an AMAZING man and president. Although Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War, Grant saw and lived its horrors. In his presidency he led the reconstruction effort and worked to ensure voting rights for Native Americans and African Americans. He is responsible for establishing Yellow Stone as our nation's first National Park.
On the bottom level of the tomb were exquisite bronze busts of officers who served in the Civil War. FYI Grant lays alongside his wife Julia in twin red granite sarcophagus. Their is the largest mausoleum in the world.

Mosaics at Grant's Tomb

I have wanted to visit Grant's Tomb for sometime, but I was surprised to learn that mosaic seating was created around it. The concept was modeled after Antonio Gaudi's work.

Princess Harriett

It's true! We have had this albino African Mud Frog for 16 years. We know it is a girl because she once laid eggs. We LOVE this frog. Randy says it is the best pet we ever had.

Yep She's 21

What can I say? Drunk bowling is fun.

Mystery Plant

Umm, well, I don't know where this plant came from or who planted it. I really ought to know but I don't. It is a huge plant and it was covered with lovely pink blooms.

Violets

It was a great year for violets. I wanted violet liqour for Cate and Will's wedding as I have some fancy cocktail recipes that use it. Alas, no such liqour is available in these parts.

Tea and Hats for Cate and Will's Wedding

Maripat came over for tea to celebrate Cate and Will's wedding. MP brought the hats I provided the Kermit green gloves for pictures. Do you notice the fancy berry bowl Mikkie made and gave me? It is beautiful. It warms my heart when I look at it.
Menu
Egg popovers
Raspberry muffins (MP and I picked them last autumn)
Strawberries
English Breakfast Tea

Robin Pins

The theme for Valorie's May Basket was nests. I found clip on birds nests for spring ornament trees at Meijer, Russell Stover Birds' nests made of chocolate and coconut and another made of cookies n Cream, I put in candy coated eggs, a few tea bags, and an adorable proceline tea bag holder with a brown stencil of a bird on a branch printed on the bottom. I also made her (and myself) a Robin pin inspired by one I saw on another blog.

Handmade Journals

For J's birthday I made him two journals covered in paper he made in one of his art classes a CCS. The red journal has details constructed from my grandmother's rag balls.