for the weekend



It's a beautiful world here in PoCo (Potter County) these past few days.
Seems like everything just "burst into song" overnight...
and everything is suddenly green and blooming, and smells awesome.

I've been really busy... in spite of "only" having a part-time job... and doing volunteer work
(at our local Artisan Center; and also helping a couple people out with odd jobs),
and getting ready for a massive yard sale at my mother's next weekend.
I also did an art/ craft show this weekend (to Benefit a local Veteran's organization).
And I've put about 50 pair of simple glass and mixed metal earrings in a local venue for sale;
sharing a spot with family who is also selling handmade jewelry items.
And... I feel like I am constantly playing the game of "catch-up"... you know how that goes...

While my heart is always in the right place... impulse, sleep deprivation, wanting to help... I screw up alot.
I'm flawed..... but my intentions are good.
And although there are times when I feel that I am just not fit for human consumption...
Thank gods for people who truly know me and love me in spite of it all.
I'm sure we've all been there.

And so... today I am hoping to get some much needed rest.
Cook some (hopefully) good food.
Read a book.
Watch a movie.
Forget about life for awhile.
(sounds like a song...)

Anyway... before I head off into the land that time forgot... I will leave you with some links I've gathered this past week:

*lessons learned as the daughter of a nurse (interesting)
*contemporary authors you should be reading
*what happens when a photographer takes the same photo from a different angle
*a neat new blog I found
*cool DIY backyard ideas for summer
*just ordered a book by this author... what is this divine madness
*an artist who makes sculptures with crayons
*mushrooms!
* and apples!
*wisdom from Kurt Vonnegut
*H.R. Giger passed away this week...
*but THIS is just awesome
*some interesting photos from the past

*** and just when you think you want to run away from it all... here is a town; looking for a hermit.

5-16-14



Forget me nots are one of those flowers that just grab you and stick with you throughout your life.
My grandmother loved them. I love them. My daughter loves them.
According to Wiki, there are over 200 different varieties of this plant.
The genus name comes from the latin word "myosotis"... which means "plant with leaves like mouse ears."
Isn't that adorable? And so are these flowers.

I know of 3 varieties here in my yard... blue, pink, and white... and I love them all.

There are many legends and stories about this plant... the one I particularly like tells "In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armor, he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "forget me not". It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love."

Here is some technical information in regards to planting this plant: here
And another link from the Dept of Ecology in Washington State: here








5-15-14


The other day, I had to drive slightly out of town on a couple of errands... and found a bank on the hillside loaded with May Apple  plants. I remember (quite fondly) an older gentleman in our church; who would announce yearly at services... that spring was officially here because the May Apple plants were up and blooming. He continues to be an amazing source of love and inspiration for me... as he knows just about all there is to know about trees... plants... and anything having to do with the woods. Other things too.... but for today's purpose... it's all about the plants.


 from Wiki:
"Podophyllum peltatum, commonly called Mayapple, or May Apple,[1] (or hogapple, Indian apple, mayflower, umbrella plant, wild lemon (flavor of the fruit), wild mandrake, American mandrake (shape of rhizomes) or "devil's apple" (used for Solanum linnaeanum elsewhere)), is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to deciduous forests in of eastern North America.[2] Like many other spring ephemerals, it emerges from below ground before the canopy of the forest opens, and then slowly withers later in the summer; the foliage is, however, somewhat more long-lived than other spring emphemerals such as Trillium."

 Anyway... I love seeing them pop up on the forest floor... and according to some of the links below... I might be able to get some from a nursery to fill in the edges around our property... which would be awesome. For more information... check out these links...

Great link on Eat The Weeds: here
Link on Botanical.com: here
This is another great link I found: here





5-13-14


...and yesterday, I found a patch of trillium... all in white.

I was looking up information on the plant for this post... and to my surprise; discovered that there are over 40 varieties of trillium.
I know three... (yah) White, pink/red, and striped.
Needless to say, I have alot to learn.
And so; I thought I would include some links for you to read along with me:

*Everwild Farms post on Trillium
*a post from Fine Gardening
*a post on A Way to Garden.com
*a post on Ask.com
*and this one from Michigan Gardener
*the Royal Horticultural Society posting
*this post... from a newspaper source

**and then... I found this one! Long... but a good read.





5-12-14


I started off in photography at a very early age... taking photos for my parents; as my dad (in particular) had a habit of cutting people's heads out of the pictures. In elementary school; friends still recall me running around with a vintage Brownie Hawkeye camera. When I was an exchange student in high school... my most treasured item that I took with me was a brand new Kodak flip camera, and lots of slide film. I later ended up dropping it off a castle wall (and almost going with it into a deep ravine)... and spent the bulk of my souvenir money on a new camera to finish out the trip. When I graduated from college... my first purchase as a new RN/ my first paycheck.... was a 35mm Ricoh camera and 2 lenses. From there... I got my first Nikon right after I got married... and have had a couple since... as well as a couple point and shoot cameras that I carried with me everywhere... and were my only camera when I was "between" Nikons (ie: broke).

My current camera, my ONLY camera at the moment; is a Nikon D300 with a short zoom lens.
One camera body, one lens.
For a professional photographer... this is insane to not have more equipment... but it is what it is.
I'm not complaining.
But I am pointing out... as a point of interest I suppose... that if you truly want to get into photography; it doesn't really matter that you have the latest/ greatest camera and equipment.
What is important; is that you take photos.
Alot of them.
Enjoy yourself.
Explore.
See what works for you.
See what makes you happy.... and what makes you wake up in the morning.

For me... it has always been nature shots.
For a long while... and during he start of my "career" as a photographer... I specialized in Infrared Black and White photography... and had a good side business hand painting and restoring old photographs. I loved it... and hope to get back into it again this year.
The photo for today's post is similar in effect of what I used to do by hand...

for the weekend




The headache is still there... and life goes on.

I expect I will be doing a whole lotta nuthin' this weekend; and so I started it all off by taking a walk in the woods last evening. I was given a "hint" as to where to look by a friend of mine... and I am glad she mentioned it... because I found an entire hillside full of spring beauties... which are the flowers seen on today's post. The taproots of these plants are edible; and are often referred to as "fairy spuds." ... see this link.

And it's the weekend! So I've got lots of cool links for you:

*23 things we think about upon entering a bookstore
*this restaurant in Chicago... which sounds fabulous. And another link about the owner. I hope to go there someday.
*how to store and make your own herbal remedies
*some backyard DIY ideas
*can't do organic?
*cool!
*some pretty neat papercraft art... and a link to her Etsy store.
*30 of the most creative Business cards ever...
*6 reasons to keep chickens (not that I need convinced)
*some awesome photography of snails

*** and just in case you wondered... there are still some pretty awesome people on this planet.
Like this guy.

Have a great weekend... and I'll see you on Monday.


5-9-14


It's been an interesting couple of days.... working at night... trying to catch up on alot of loose ends...
sleeping late in the day... trying really hard to get rid of this migraine... that is now on it's 3-4th day... I think.
I am sure that it started as a sinus issue... as the weather has been trying to rain off and on.
And now, my sleep schedule is off...

But mostly; I've been trying to breathe. To rest. To restore.
I still need a few more days.
It's a puzzlement... this need to be as "healthy" as I can with my immune problems...
(which mostly means getting a ton of sleep).... working on art... and yet, trying to earn some much needed money..... >>sigh<<

I will get there.
It will happen.

5-8-14



so. Yesterday, gradually went downhill... until I was pretty much in a sad and frantic mental state by midnight. And so. I am taking a drastic stop for the next 24-48 hours... only doing what I absolutely HAVE to get done in the imminent future... and nothing more.
I am sure the migraine isn't helping.... and I've had it for a couple of days now.
And so... I am posting today's post a little early (and the one on Light thru the Leaves).

That said... I love you all.
Everything will be fine.
We are all OK... except for Brina maybe, who is a little low on puppy treats... or at least... she thinks so.

... and I am in awe of the nature all around me.... and must step out into it.
(see the photo for today's post? That was the view over my house the other evening).

5-7-14


Yesterday was another very busy day... and yet, I am very grateful.
Firstly, because one of the reasons why I was so busy was because I had a photography "gig"... and got to spend the afternoon taking photos... which I love. Second, because the "gig" involved animals... and being outside... another love.

Then it was off to check on a friend who isn't feeling well... and to check on my mom... and run some errands... and... and... you get the idea. Finally, I was home... and I took the opportunity to take a walk in the woods near our house... and look what I found! Tons and tons of Adder's Tongue plant.
I also saw 2 ruffed grouse... and some awesome songbirds... and gorgeous clouds in the sky that were wrapping themselves around a stunning moon...

And today I get to volunteer at our local Artisan Center... which is always fun.... so I'd better get going.
Catch you later ...


5-6-14




rushing... clear and strong
providing showers for frogs
sitting near the banks

5-5-14


in this woodland
in this grove; this sacred place
this hallowed spot in the stillness
I hear the cheerful knights of the darkness starting their song... ((peep, peep))
...the flurry of birdwing as they settle in for the night
their cousins out hunting for bugs
the deer as they rest upon the ground in search of slumber
and the bear as he wakes... stretches and yawns... and makes his way into the twilight...
the moon as she edges up towards the top of the hill... looking down upon us all;
and I feel at peace.

for the weekend





It's been a crazy busy weekend... and that's been good... but really tiring.

I did get some windows painted for some local storefronts downtown... which was alot of fun.
And even though I am not a painter (by any stretch)... I got alot of help from my daughter *who is*... and we had tons of fun working together. I think they turned out pretty cool.

And then, it was the Maple Festival weekend here... which meant tons of vendors setting up all kinds of wares... small carnival rides and games at the town square... demonstrations and live music... a huge tent of Maple syrup product, displays and such.... and of course, the parade... the vintage car show.... all kinds of goodness. Not the least of which... was the arrival of FUNNEL CAKE... which I adore.

We had a late lunch/ early dinner at the local Crittenden Taproom... and had a maple syrup infused dinner of freshwater salmon, local sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts, and a stunningly good spinach salad with apples, walnuts and blue cheese crumbles.. and a maple syrup vinaigrette. It was awesome.


My mother is back from her week-long visit with her sister... and she had a great time.

I've been enjoying some part-time work with a local business owner; gathering, cleaning, photographing, and listing  vintage/antique/misc items for sale on Craigslist.com, Pennswoods.net, and on Ebay.com for him. It's fun and interesting work.

I have also been volunteering time at our local Artisan Center; of which I am proud to be a member.
All the while... continuing to work on my own art business... clean up and organize my studio... and find time to actually MAKE things.... which is of course, my passion.
And did I mention I am taking a watercolor painting class? I am (by far) the worst painter in the class... but I still am having a great time.

And of course, maintaining 2 blogs...
So yes, it's been busy.



I hope you have all been having a great time these warm spring days... and enjoying all that your local areas have to offer... It's such a joy to be able to be out and about.
But if you are inside; and you've got the inclination... here are some links to peruse-- I've gathered them just for you:


*the History of May Day--- because I thought it was interesting.
*what Heathrow Airport used to look like
*why boomers are retiring to college...
*21 things to Let Go of today
*22 things creative people do differently than the rest of us
*why you should learn to draw
*and these cool microscopic views.... here and here... that I thought were just awesome.
*artist Vik Muniz. He uses old photographs to make collages...
*why Pennsylvania is the most linguistically fascinating state in the country (who knew?!)
*Life after Chernobyl --- I thought these videos were really cool.


* and some GOOD NEWS for a change...

5-2-14



just a quick post... as it was a very busy day... and I am getting a headache.
...will write more on the weekend post.



*the photo for today's post is of some turkey vultures that are most often seen right near my house; in the sky overhead. They are in a big family of vultures, that seem to patrol the area. Alot of people aren't fond of them... but I think they are amazingly graceful.

5-1-14



And today the daughter and I painted a shop window... and tomorrow we do another.
It's alot of fun.... and it was cool to see people stop and watch  (as if I knew what I was doing LOL).

My mom is home from her retreat/ and visit with her only living sibling ... her next older sister... and had a great time.

And this weekend will be jam packed with all sorts of goodness...
...not the least of which is my plan to stuff myself silly with funnel cake.

Happy MAY DAY!
Hope you are all doing well...


(the photo for today's posts is of my mom's flower bed.
I believe that these are the leaves to some super awesome Lupine that are just beginning to come up)

4-30-14



Sorry I am so late in posting today's post.
Today I had fun working at the art center; and by the time I got home... I really needed a nap.
So I made dinner and laid down for a bit... such is a "day in the life."

Tomorrow I will be painting some windows (yes... me... painting!)...
And then (starting Friday) the town will be full of Maple Festival activities.

The Maple Festival here in town always brings to mind sweet things...
small town parades... children wandering about with their beloved pooch on the end of a leash... or perhaps a bunny snuggled in their arms... the smell of cotton candy in the air... the taste of powdered sugar on your lips from that first funnel cake... eaten all too quickly... in the hopes of yet another... the local high school band.... singers in the town gazebo... music notes being lifted into the air and swirling about like the maple leaves... soon to be budding on the trees surrounding the main streets... I love it all.

But for tonight.... I will dream of maple syrup on pancakes... homemade quilts on tables... Amish rocking chairs.... and those that sit idly watching it all...

4-29-14



It's raining... and I've pulled a muscle in my ribcage.
I like the rain... but I'm not so happy about the pain in my side.
The good news is... I got it while working at my "new" job.... which is good because
1. I have a job!
2. there is no downside here.

And on the way home, I stopped to take some photos of my mother's flowers.
She has some gorgeous tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, (regular) hyacinths... even the buds on her rhododendron and her lupine leaves are coming up.
It's amazing, really... how things can change so quickly in the span of just a few days.

Things are going really well at our local Artisan Center,
and the town (in general) is gearing up for the Maple Festival Weekend...
which is coming May 2nd and 3rd (this coming weekend).

I had hoped to have my own booth of stuff...
but I just couldn't get it together in time.
Ah well. 
Perhaps, it is a good thing
as now I can roam around and see all the wonderful stuff going on.

So for now, I will leave you to your wonderings...
and go take some Aleve.

------

The photos for today's post are of one of my mother's tulips.
I originally took it in color,
But when I was editing... decided I liked the Black and White version better.
What do you think?

4-28-14



Come May 1st... I think I will be changing things up a little here on the blog.
Mainly, not doing the "Things I am Grateful for Today" lists... as it seems not as well received as I had thought it would be.
Now, that said... I'm still grateful. VERY.
I'm just gonna shift the focus a little on the posts.

It's a funny thing. After writing this blog for 6yrs now.... you'd think I'd have a "formula" down.
But that's the thing... it needs to be changed on occasion... or readership wanes.
And as things have been in almost a constant state of FLUX since moving back in October...
it's certainly appropriate that the blog would change a little too.
So... we'll see what I come up with in the next few days.

In the meantime... trust that all is well here.
The sun is shining (mostly)...
The wild woods call to me most every day to soak in their beauty...
Brina has discovered that she can nap IN THE SUN... and be ON ThE GRASS at the same time.
(something she couldn't do in the desert---ie: no grass)
Jim is busy writing his book...
The son and granddaughter in New Mexico are doing well...
The daughter is doing art...
and I? I am off to make some coffee... see you all tomorrow.


for the weekend


Sometimes I like to look back thru the photos on my computer.
I have them organized by date.... so if I am looking through dates in April for instance...
I can see photos all taken in April... but in different years.
This makes for some fun times.... as I can see what any given day looked like.... but in different years.
So... just for grins... I looked and this is what I found for this week.... but 4yrs ago.
Apparently, it was one of my many trips driving back and forth from Albuquerque to PA; and these ones were taken somewhere in Texas.

I was never horribly fond of Texas ( I don't do well in heat)... but there is still something in the landscapes... the primitiveness of the highways I went on.... the desolation in alot of areas... that was just intriguing. And the color. Miles and miles of dirt and dust.... and then all of the sudden >>WHAM<<  --there will be a hillside of vibrant wildflowers... and some glorious sunsets.




I've been trying to enjoy all the weather changes here in PA since moving back as well.
The starkness of winter... and now the winds of spring. Not everyone's favorites... and yet.... beautiful in their own right.

Today I was able to purchase some herb plants at a local market for my HUGE pot by the steps.
I was reminded by a friend to be sure to bring them in at night (or cover them up) as it still gets pretty darn cool at night (as evidenced by my poor forsythia plant that got frostbit the other night).
But at least I know that spring is definitely here... and it is sure to get warmer as the days progress.



And so for this lovely weekend... I have some links to share with you all:

*first... some MUSIC to set the mood.
* and some awesome poetry.
*so a friend gifted me with some feathers she had found... but didn't know what they were. Turns out; it was remnants of this.
*another friend sent me the link to THIS artwork ... so I thought I would share
*I saw this making the rounds on the internet.... and loved it.
*another artist friend of mine is doing a workshop in Australia... and subsequently, I was looking at artists who happen to live in Australia... and came across THIS bit of wonderful.
*speaking of art... I am always on the look-out for recycled art and craft workers. To this end, I came across this.
*and because we are financially-challenged... I found this and thought it was interesting.
*and THIS. Because; like... I need a reason. LOL.
*Thinking of my next set of business cards... and found this...
* I've been taking coconut oil for myself (dry hair and skin)... and came across this article for my Brina.
*and this. Because every opportunity I get.... this is what I do. I had no idea there was a whole "trend" or whatever about it. I feel cool now.

4-25-14



It's a strange thing.
I've been really super busy... and yet, not "gainfully employed"... which translates to doing alot of work... but as a volunteer. Now, I'm not complaining... but it is a frustrating situation when neither my hubby nor I are earning any income... and yet... working alot.
To that end; Jim has been really busy writing on his novel...  and sending out "feelers" for work here.
I have been working lots of hours as a volunteer at the local artisan center... which I love.

That said... today I went on an interesting job interview... to potentially photograph, research, and list items for sale ... on a commission ... for a business that deals in resale.
I got the job... so we'll see how it pans out into actual funds to "pay the bills"...
But... I am really excited. This is just the kind of venture I love.
Picking and poking thru stuff.... finding items... cleaning them up... photographing them... and (hopefully) getting them sold. I've sold on Ebay since 1998... and Etsy since 2008... and it's still exciting to me.


And so... today's list of Things I am Grateful for Today include:

 -job opportunities
-the thrill of "picking"
-being able to (more or less) set my hours of work... which allows me time to work on my art as well
-being able to volunteer... which I love... especially at the Artisan Center... which I support wholeheartedly
-being able to use my skills as a photographer in a more practical way
-enjoying seeing my hubby grow and bloom as a writer
-the bear. Our local "little guy" actually came up on our front deck last night and looked in our living room windows. I think he was not so subtly telling me that he noticed I hadn't gotten any replacement bird feeders since he wrecked the last ones...
-finding wild leeks in my local grocery store (whodathunk)
-getting my Etsy shop back up and running after a 2 week hiatus
-and seeing 3 little wild violets on my walk tonight