Today is one of ten palindrome days in April. 4-24-24 Along with the pink full moon, what to expect?
I haven't painted in acrylics since I finished the triptych on my backyard fence in Georgia.
I thought I'd take a break from watercolor; probably just for one painting. Who knows? The differences in the two mediums are significant enough that I have to rethink my process. It's taking me out of my comfort zone for sure.
It feels like it's been weeks since I've posted but it's just been five days. It's going to rain all the live-long day, so here are a few pics from last week.
My walk took me by the pool area. No, not going swimming, just enjoying the sunshine and flowering plants.
Washing windows was not on my dance card today but I felt whimsical, so why not. Painting was on my list so I'm multitasking.
It was a very veggie day with some eclipse thrown in. I had eclipse glasses so I was able to view the partial eclipse but alas, none for my phone or camera so eclipse shadows are all I have photo-wise.
This little froggy is the top of a small wind chime. He used to hang outside my kitchen window in my house in Georgia. Then he stayed in a drawer at my previous apartment because they had a 'no wind chime' rule. Now he hangs on my porch and happily swings in the breeze.
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." ~Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
Enthusiasm and creativity, I'll take a cup of each, please.
This photo was taken because I was perturbed (enthusiastically) that the neighbor's visitors had left their shoes scattered (creatively) in the breezeway.
Inspiration requires seeing, looking, noticing.
It was a Thursday. The first Thursday in April. Changes needed to be made. Healthy changes - physical and mental.
Later: Couldn't fall asleep so I read some of my old blog posts. I used to share much more of my thoughts and feelings than I do today. What's changed? Life. Death. Loss. Getting older. Fewer shutter clicks. Have I ceased to recognize the inspiration all around me?
Sigh, so much work to do.
Meanwhile, inside the china cabinet:
Mixing neutral colors was an interesting exercise, as well as discovering the different hues of the shell.
This will be a series. I have been stuck - both with the camera and the paint brush. I found inspiration from @gardenercook on Instagram (Lorene Edwards Forkner) and I have so many ideas for this color study method.
Spring snuck up on me this year. My thoughts have been elsewhere. But here we are at the vernal equinox. The temps are near freezing this morning but due to recent warm days, everything is beginning to bloom.
I read this morning that Frans Lanting passed away a few days ago. He was an amazing photographer. I first saw his work at the LOOK3 photography festival several years ago. https://lanting.com/
I can't tell you how many different biscuit recipes I have tried over the years. None were light, flaky, tasty. So many recipes. So many failures. Well, I believe I have achieved a biscuit worthy of the name. March 18, 2024 - a day to remember.
Disclaimer: I found this recipe on YouTube
A new week has begun and I'm hoping my emotions will be on a more even keel. It has been very hard to accept that Angie is gone. So hard. The slightest thing can have me in tears.
This photo is from 2002, one of the windows on the Ponce Inlet lighthouse in Florida. I believe this was taken with my Sony F707.
And they'll go off four hours later.
Like clockwork.
I'll manage to fall asleep
And dream strange dreams.
I'll wake before dawn,
like clockwork.
The day will pass,
Somehow.
Each hour like clockwork.
Distractions, so welcome,
Move me forward.
And yet, time has stood still since you left.
The sun and the moon continue their dance
Across the sky.
The stars shine and the waves crash,
Like clockwork.
"I can do it myself." It's difficult for me to ask for help. If there is any way possible, I will do it myself. I know my limitations though, electrical problems for example. Sometimes, I have gotten into trouble. Like when I painted my entire great room and ended up with bursitis in my shoulder. And more recently, pulling two heavy bins out of the storage room. That was months ago and I'm still having shoulder issues. I've lived alone for fifteen years now and I've learned that if I want it done, I'll probably have to do it myself. And so, this morning I was on a ladder, replacing burnt out bulbs in my patio lights.
I realized yesterday that my bible is 70 years old. It was given to my sister on her eleventh birthday. After she passed away, mom gave it to me. It's full of memorabilia- wedding notices, funeral cards, birth announcements; all the milestones of life.
The zipper is coming loose, c'est la vie.
This is a rose from one of Angie's funeral bouquets, lying on top of a watercolor rose that I painted earlier.
My beautiful, precious daughter-in-law passed away suddenly. We are devastated; our hearts are broken. She was loving, caring, thoughtful. She loved my son completely and was his best friend. Her son was her pride and joy. He's grown into a wonderful young man.
The sun will rise again in a few minutes. And we will wonder how can that be, that the world goes on without our precious one.
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This blog may have outlived its public availability. I thought of leaving it as is and creating a new, private blog but more than likely I will make this one private.
Thanks to those who have checked in over the years. Peace.
Update: I've decided not to allow ONE person to have this much negative impact on me.
Miscellaneous photos from the weekend. An Eastern Bluebird (2012), soft pastels, two work areas (photo editing and painting), and Saturday's pizza.
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I miss my bird feeders. If all other photo ops failed, I could count on a bird or two showing up for a meal. This cardinal is from January 2011, shot with my D700/80-400mm lens. I loved the bits of snow on his tail feathers.
