These are all from our stop at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1872.
I adore lighthouses, and have dreamed of visiting the remaining ones in the USA for a long time now.
This was an amazing experience.
8-15-17
8-14-17
Last week, when Jim and I were up at Hamot Medical Center...
our daughter painted the kitchen.
Now... it may not seem like much to you.. but it is amazing.
Seems like we would have gotten things painted in the (almost) 4 years of living here, but ah... such is life.
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be rid of the neon blue and purple sponge painting.
She completely rocks.
for the weekend
moonlight streaming in
passionate twinklings
from beyond the stars
8-11-17
I love Bee Balm plant.
It also happens to have been one of my sister's favorites,
and she had a nice clump of it planted near her kitchen door.
When she passed away, I asked permission to get some of the seeds... and saved them.
Many years later, after we moved back to PA...
I planted the seeds next to our house.
Nothing.
Suddenly, this year... they grew.
It's been a full 10yrs since my sister passed away... and I think she was saying "hello..."
8-10-17
The answer is simple.
Human well-being depends on the benefits that nature provides for free, everyday ...and everywhere.
We must protect it.
Nourish it.
Keep it as awesome as possible for future generations.
Here is a cool link: https://www.asla.org/healthbenefitsofnature.aspx
8-9-17
Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!
Plot out a short story.
Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem.
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).
~~~
Ah summer... and the festivals.. County Fairs.. State Fairs!
Family get-togethers... picnics... camping...
It's all about family, friends, and enjoying the company.
This photo just reminds me of all that.
.. and of course, you can't go wrong with little kids and kittens.
8-8-17
I'm sure there are all kinds of ways I could "spin" this post..
Dark side or light side? Which way do you lean....
How the same thing can be seen from 2 different perspectives and look completely different...
or even how light and mood (or some other factor) effects how we feel about things... or present ourselves to the world...
...or any number of things. But I think I will just post a couple photos of the same plant (some Queen Anne's Lace in my yard)
and let you all think as you will on whatever you choose to read into this post. See you all tomorrow...
and let you all think as you will on whatever you choose to read into this post. See you all tomorrow...
8-7-17
Happy Monday!
Today is a busy day for me.. and I had best get on my way...
I know these bindweed are considered terribly invasive... but to me, they are still pretty.
It also reminds me that we are wonderful in our imperfections.
It also reminds me that we are wonderful in our imperfections.
May others see our flaws and not be downhearted.
See you all tomorrow.
for the weekend
in the grey stillness
brilliant hues of nature
stab my blinking eyes
Things in general have been more stressful for me lately... and perhaps amplified by being in a Lupus Flare (since Halloween)... and it's getting exhausting. Physically, emotionally, spiritually... my wells are barely damp. I know, everything will work out... it's just the interim times here that are just overwhelming. I am sure you can all relate.
This weekend, I am hoping to get some good rest ... and other than some driving to do;
it shouldn't be too bad.
8-4-17
Books books BOOKS!
Yes, it's an addiction at this point probably. But I come by it honestly.
My paternal grandmother was a voracious reader, as was my dad... and both had collections of books in the 10s of thousands. No exaggeration.
Since moving back to PA in the late fall of 2013; we almost doubled our collection with sales and such... then cut it way back down after selling and gifting loads of them. right around Christmas, I had a stack of about 80 books that I wanted to skim/ read before I let them go to someone else... and I've gotten it down now to about 30 books or so. (see photo at the top). PLUS... I have a stack on my bedside table, some of which are from the library.
-- and then there is this stack (below).
The local authorities have ramrodded through without much public comment or knowledge a Fracking Water Waste treatment center. .. .which bothers me no end. I won't get into it here, but I figured I needed to be more informed on the subject so I can adequately fight them.
So... This is what I found in used books on Amazon on the subject.. along with a couple books from the library.
Looks like I have lots of reading to do!
See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.
8-3-17
happy, rainy thursday...
I am off to rest in this nice, cooler weather.
See you all tomorrow.
8-2-17
Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!
Plot out a short story.
Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem.
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).
~~~
Donny grew up in Detroit. The youngest of 5 brothers, he never felt like he quite fit in.
His father was a mechanic. His grandfather was a mechanic.
All of his brothers were mechanics.
But Donny dreamed of the circus.
As a child, he often would tell folks that one day he would run off and they would never see him again.
He practiced jumps on his bike over bricks in the streets. He climbed up the sides of old buildings and walked the edges like a tightrope dancer.
He was constantly doing pull-ups in doorways and climbing fences to build up his upper arm strength.
And one day he did it. He disappeared. He was 15, and on his own.
He never wrote his family, although one day his father saw an advertisement for the "Great Gotama."
Supposedly, a dark warrior from the mountains of East Indies who would be performing a daring feat.
Of course, his father knew it was him. .. but he did not tell the family.
Instead, he drove countless hours in the decrepit Chevy to Niagara Falls, where Donny would be going over the falls in a barrel.
The crowd was thick. The air was crisp. Donny's father was nervous, and rightly so.
No one had succeeded in going over the falls, and lived to tell the tale.
Donny was not nervous at all.
As he told his friend, "Either I will be famous, or I will be infamous... but at least they will know my name."
And so it was. Donny in fact, did not survive. Truth be told, they never found his remains either.
Donny's father went home, and never said a word... his family continuing to believe that he was out there... somewhere...
And perhaps in a way he still is... in the hearts of everyone who dares to be different.
In the eyes of those who look to the horizon and dream of something better than what they have.
And in that... The Great Gotama lives on.
Donny grew up in Detroit. The youngest of 5 brothers, he never felt like he quite fit in.
His father was a mechanic. His grandfather was a mechanic.
All of his brothers were mechanics.
But Donny dreamed of the circus.
As a child, he often would tell folks that one day he would run off and they would never see him again.
He practiced jumps on his bike over bricks in the streets. He climbed up the sides of old buildings and walked the edges like a tightrope dancer.
He was constantly doing pull-ups in doorways and climbing fences to build up his upper arm strength.
And one day he did it. He disappeared. He was 15, and on his own.
He never wrote his family, although one day his father saw an advertisement for the "Great Gotama."
Supposedly, a dark warrior from the mountains of East Indies who would be performing a daring feat.
Of course, his father knew it was him. .. but he did not tell the family.
Instead, he drove countless hours in the decrepit Chevy to Niagara Falls, where Donny would be going over the falls in a barrel.
The crowd was thick. The air was crisp. Donny's father was nervous, and rightly so.
No one had succeeded in going over the falls, and lived to tell the tale.
Donny was not nervous at all.
As he told his friend, "Either I will be famous, or I will be infamous... but at least they will know my name."
And so it was. Donny in fact, did not survive. Truth be told, they never found his remains either.
Donny's father went home, and never said a word... his family continuing to believe that he was out there... somewhere...
And perhaps in a way he still is... in the hearts of everyone who dares to be different.
In the eyes of those who look to the horizon and dream of something better than what they have.
And in that... The Great Gotama lives on.
8-1-17
Continuing the yellow theme from yesterday... with some of the flowers around my yard.
Hoping to get some work done in the studio... as it seems a good day for it.
See you all tomorrow.
7-31-17
Happy Monday!
Yellow seems all around today... so I thought I would share.
See you all tomorrow.
for the weekend
sunlight in seashells
sashaying through the garden
on leaves of flowers
7-28-17
Last night, the sunset was gorgeous.
I love how you can see the crescent moon and the sun setting at the same time.
As you know, I've been working on some scarves for a fundraiser in the fall.
They are all made with yarn I purchased on sale, or remnants of yarn from other projects.
Most of it was gifted to me... which makes it doubly-cool.
And, on a whim... I decided to make a pair of earrings last night, using some bright and shiny pennies.
The accent beads are ones I have had for years in my stash. They are copper with sterling filigree work.
I think they are really pretty.
AND... today is Zerro "ZeeZe" Sprocket's 3 month anniversary of coming to live with us.
We are SO very happy he is here.
See you all tomorrow.
7-27-17
The garden is coming along, although lots of plants have been ravaged by slugs.
Yet, I am still hopeful.
The top photo is a bloom from an eggplant plant! Isn't it stunning?!
The eggs (below) are teeny, tiny, GORGEOUS Quail eggs gifted to me from a friend.
I almost don't want to crack them and eat them... because they are so very pretty.
And below... is one of the cauliflower plants.
Almost all the leaves are destroyed by slugs... but I think the veggies will survive.
Almost all the leaves are destroyed by slugs... but I think the veggies will survive.
I was thinking how very much like a garden we all are. We must nurture ourselves, make sure we have good food & water. We need sunlight... rest... and the occasional "control" of "pests" that try to interfere with our growth. And... like our garden plants... we must all persevere...
See you all tomorrow.
7-26-17
Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!
Plot out a short story.
Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem.
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).
~~~
Eterio was originally from Puerto Rico. His family moved to Florida when he was only 2 years old, and he loved the "sunshine state." His father, being of noble character himself, named his son Eterio; because it means "pure as heaven" in the land of his forefathers.
Eterio grew up quickly, and somewhat jaded on the streets of Miami, after his father lost work in the tailoring business... and had to move where he could find work in the factories. It was hard, and both he and Eterio's mother; Elena worked long hours; often leaving Eterio to fend for himself.
At first it was an adventure. He would wander the small shops and markets in the neighborhoods, doing small chores for his elders in exchange for lunch and being able to watch sports on their televisions. But he soon wearied of this... and set out to find his peers -- the disenfranchised youth of the mid 40s. At first, it was just "small stuff"... heisting fruit and clothing from shops, taking joyrides in stolen cars...drinking into the wee hours and yelling in the streets. But by his early twenties, he was known as "Shimmy-E"... and was sought after for his abilities to break into people's homes and rob them blind.
This was the last known photo of Shimmy-E. He had just been released from State Prison.
It was 1961, and he had just done 10 years (with early release) for armed robbery.
He had collected his few belongings from holding, borrowed the family car from his Aunt Coro,
and was last seen on Highway 95 heading south towards Route 1 to parts unknown.
Have you seen him?
Some thought he might have "disappeared" as the result of an accident somewhere in the Everglades.
Some thought he went on to Texas, and south to Mexico where he joined the Zapatistas.
It was even rumored, that he became a well-known producer of adult films... frequenting the Havana and Santiago communities of Cuba.
But for all we know... he could be your barista at Starbucks... it's a mystery.
Eterio was originally from Puerto Rico. His family moved to Florida when he was only 2 years old, and he loved the "sunshine state." His father, being of noble character himself, named his son Eterio; because it means "pure as heaven" in the land of his forefathers.
Eterio grew up quickly, and somewhat jaded on the streets of Miami, after his father lost work in the tailoring business... and had to move where he could find work in the factories. It was hard, and both he and Eterio's mother; Elena worked long hours; often leaving Eterio to fend for himself.
At first it was an adventure. He would wander the small shops and markets in the neighborhoods, doing small chores for his elders in exchange for lunch and being able to watch sports on their televisions. But he soon wearied of this... and set out to find his peers -- the disenfranchised youth of the mid 40s. At first, it was just "small stuff"... heisting fruit and clothing from shops, taking joyrides in stolen cars...drinking into the wee hours and yelling in the streets. But by his early twenties, he was known as "Shimmy-E"... and was sought after for his abilities to break into people's homes and rob them blind.
This was the last known photo of Shimmy-E. He had just been released from State Prison.
It was 1961, and he had just done 10 years (with early release) for armed robbery.
He had collected his few belongings from holding, borrowed the family car from his Aunt Coro,
and was last seen on Highway 95 heading south towards Route 1 to parts unknown.
Have you seen him?
Some thought he might have "disappeared" as the result of an accident somewhere in the Everglades.
Some thought he went on to Texas, and south to Mexico where he joined the Zapatistas.
It was even rumored, that he became a well-known producer of adult films... frequenting the Havana and Santiago communities of Cuba.
But for all we know... he could be your barista at Starbucks... it's a mystery.
7-25-17
a special THANK YOU to a friend who gave me some plants earlier in the year.
They are gorgeous.
7-24-17
I believe this is Bittersweet Nightshade, and it's growing at the edge of our yard. I think it's pretty amazing. There are lots of wild plants like these, that I remember from Biology class leaf and flower collections from high school... and it's been fun getting to know them again.
This weekend was a jumble of rain... dinner with mom... visits from family... more rain... coffee... weeding... walking.... reading... playtime with the pup... even more rain... finishing up a couple projects... And the next couple weeks will be busy as we prepare for Jim's upcoming heart procedure.
Here are a couple projects I finished (you can click on these photos to make them bigger)
--a few scarves for a fundraiser come fall
--and some earrings for a fundraiser this coming weekend.... made from some pretty yummy turquoise. The "hoop" pair, are Arizona turquoise chips, complimented with red coral from Hawaii.
The "dangle" pair, features Fox Mine turquoise nuggets from Nevada. All the wire is sterling silver.
Anyway.... off to make some coffee and see what's on tap for today.
See you all tomorrow.