View From Above

I like this view, but I wasn't happy that we could see through the garage windows. I once had lace curtains hanging but they attracted dirt, webs, and spiders. So it got me thinking . . . . .

I could paint curtains . . . then I thought why not do something curtain-ish . . . then I thought why not paint "music".  I have been drawing "music" for awhile now.  I love this work I have been doing.  It is sort of like automatic drawing, making a visual record of the notes and lyrics to angels' songs, it looks peculiar yet sacred, it reminds me of calligraphy, toll painting, and it has a flair found in European woodcarving. 

Wood Nymph

While in New Ulm I caught sight of this sculpture.  I sometimes have trouble getting the hubby to stop and look at things so, I took Brandy for a little joy ride.  She was wondering why I was taking her down an alley, but was happy to think we were just doing it to look into peoples' back yards.  When we reached my point of interest we were astounded by this beautifully carved tree trunk leaning up against a garage.  It reminds me of all the stories I have heard of women being tree spirits.  In the story The Girl Who Cried Flowers by Jane Yolen, a girl exploited for her magical ability to cry flowers is finally released from the burden of her gift when she is transformed into a tree.

One of my favorite myths is of Daphne who is turned into a laurel tree.

 This breathtakingly beautiful sculpture of Apollo and Daphne by Bernini is perhaps my favorite sculpture.  The chaste Daphne is being transformed into a Laurel Tree in order to escape the lustful Apollo. 

Our Graduate

 Kadie and Hannah

I'm so delighted for Kadie and proud of her hard work and her decision to become a Christian school teacher.  It was an emotional weekend.  She is such a talented and smart person person. To dedicate her life's work to sharing her knowledge and to support others in their Christian struggle to "manage" in a world that is growing in the number of people who do not accept the divinity of Jesus is courageous. 

Later we learned that her first teaching assignment is an hour away. 

I was feeling so joyful but kinda dumbfounded and stunned, almost not believing I was part of all this goodness. 

So many things went through my mind, I think I know a little of how Mary must have felt. Seeing God's hand visibly evident in the life of your child gives an overwhelming sense of humility, joy, and wonder. 

I haven't been a good example of a Christian parent.  I didn't provided an environment of faith-filled stability.  Yet I have been blessed in spite of my feeble efforts.  I have been on a slow spiritual evolution, but the child has evolved before the parent.  I love it. 



The Newest Member of the March 21st Mutual Birthday Club

Here I am, Great Aunt Heidi, holding grandnephew Lucas who shares a birthday with me.  I wish Great Great Uncle Dick was there (he's the oldest member of our local chapter), but he was off traveling the globe. 
Lucas is perfectly adorable. 
I was in a bit of a rush (getting ready for graduation) so he and I didn't talk as much as I would have liked.  He did attempt to talk to me which made everyone laugh.  I need to brush up on my baby language, but I think he said something like, "Hey!  You look like fun.  I like the color of your aura.  You seem very sincere.  You can understand me can't you?  You make me laugh."   I wasn't surprised, that's pretty much what all babies say.  He told me something very serious and then he smiled.  Then he got a little fussy because he's gassy and that hurts, but he fought through the pain to make all the pictures look good.  What a great guy.

Grandma and Me

Some family members say I resemble my grandmother Olga.  Even in uflattering pictures of her I can see some resemblance.  Recently this picture of my grandmother and family turned up which shows our similarities.  This picture of Olga was taken right around her 18th birthday.  Her son (Emmanuel) was born in March (while she was still seventeen), she turned 18 the following July in 1922.

The color photograph is me at age 18, June 1980. 

A significant difference between my grandmother and me is she was tall and regal (5' 8" or so) and she was thin her whole life.  I'm short and there's a little more of me to squeeze.

I like that we have similar expression on our faces.  What do you think it says? 

May Basket

Valorie gave me the coolest Wilkes tin covered in birds, oregano, chocolate mint, a porcelain sunflower pin, and the an old book, The Little Shepherd.  It was all very sweet.

Ironically she gave me a photograph/tag of little children dancing around a May Pole.  So cute.

The potholders on the hanger were made by my grandma. 

Funky Fix

The ring at the top of my car clicker broke!  I was really annoyed by this problem.  I was more annoyed when I priced out the cost of a new clicker.  I found a company that makes very nicely sewn bags like the one I made above.  Mine is not as neatly done as the ones I saw on the Internet, but I had the denim and acetate.  I bought the little grommet kit from Hobby Lobby for $3.00.   It's not lovely, but functional. 

When I look at it I smile on the inside like a proud child who drew a picture of her house in kindergarten art class. 

Red Admiral

Since March my garden has been full of Red Admiral Butterflies.  Two days in a row I found dead wings from two separate butterflies.  I read that they are territorial so perhaps they were the remains of some that fell in a duel.
They have the habit of resting on white spots like window trim or fence posts, to attract a mate.  This one was resting on the comet on star door.  Oh, I wanted that picture!
 . . the Admiral riding a comet in search of love . . .

I made a slide of one of the wings I found. 

Each year brings its surprises and little joys.  This year it is the Red Admiral.

This spring had been really beautiful.  The flowers are robust, and the mild temps allow us to enjoy them a little longer.  The winds have been strong, but there have been many fine moments for "sailing"  if you can find the time.


 

May Basket

I LOVE being the May Basket Fairy.  This year I found a perfect pewter plate with children dancing around a May Pole.  I made the wool pin from skirt and jacket scraps, a bit of tatted lace, and an old button.  I dug up some blue aster, and Jacob's Ladder, blueberry tea, and lemon poppy seed bread, and I lined it with an old doily.  I love the little basket I bought for .50 at a resale shop.

Made by Mom

My eighty-three year old mother made this button lamp shade for me.  It's cute that she is still crafting!  The lamp base was my grandfather's.  It's all sweet.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

I put grated carrots in my oatmeal, along with cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, honey and a dollop of cream cheese.  mmm

Tasty Colors

Stars Inside the Cups

Saucer-less cups bobbing in the breeze
tea of dew drops and necter
a colored star 
drawing me in
like a magnet
a compass rose without a needle
marks the spot
where I become slightly less drunk than the bees