Giving "Birth" to Norman

I'm anticipating the release of this movie in August. You'll understand why if you go to Labels in the sidebar and click on ParaNorman.

Garden Grown Creativity

Today, when I visited the home of two of my favorite

people in the world, this is what I saw. Ahhhhhh. . .

Creepy Crawly

On my way to the garage

I spotted this little fella.

What is it?

Inspiration

 

Jessie DeSue

The inspiration behind Saint Elyns.

This recent interview offers some insight into

Jessie's approach to design. I learned a few things about

my daughter, who at an early age, loved to create. Period.

Little did I know it would lead to her own clothing line.

Awakened Senses

I spent the past weekend in a cabin with my granddaughters

alongside a peaceful river in the Northwoods.

When surrounded by blissful quiet, one's senses are grateful.

It allows them to enjoy the simpler things in life. Things like: 

belloring bullfrogs

water skimming bugs 

"fishergirls" in pink ruffled skirts

a community of lilypads

water gliding muskrats

a towering pine forest

tweeting, chatting, singing birds

glistening river reflections

smiling people in paddle boats

squishy water-filled balloons

smoking campfire smells

and the list goes

on and

on

Life's Little Reminders

I don't recall the circumstances behind the taking of this picture but when I loaded photos from this day onto my computer, it caught my attention. 

The wraparound deck (porch) that was added to our old farm house many years ago made a tremendous difference in its overall appearance. Prior to that, it was in no way unique or special, like some 100+ year old houses you see. It was just a white two-story house with old siding and an unusual entryway that had visitors facing an open stairwell into the cellar the moment they stepped foot in the house. 

I'm happy to say that the entry has since been modernized and that the cellar stairs is no longer the first impression when visitors come to call. (We took care of that little issue when we added the deck.)

We were a family of six when we relocated to rural Cambridge and moved into this house. It had four small bedrooms upstairs; and a small bedroom, and another so called bedroom, downstairs. There were few closets and the attic space was minimal. It had but one bathroom, which is still the case today. 

The family has grown up and gone and my husband and I rarely quarrel over who gets to use the bathroom and when. (It's funny how that isn't an issue when there's only the two of you.) But, we do have three granddaughters who come to visit on occasion and when they do I sometimes hear, "I get to use the bathroom next!" A bit of a reminder of what it was like when I had four children living at home.

I like the photo in this post because of its serene airy feel, but I also like it because it reminds me of how important it is to take time to smell the roses. In other words: to take the pink floral chair cushions out of the storage bin, plop them onto the chairs you see here, squeeze a few lemons into ice-filled glasses, and then invite a few family and friends to come and sit awhile. 

Elyse's Poem

This is my seven year old granddaughter,

Elyse, during this year's Easter egg hunt. And below

is the poem she gave me for my birthday last month. As 

you'll see, it has nothing to do with Easter or birthdays.

I love it!

I will and I will not

I can and can't

I don't know

I'm to confuesd

I'm up and down

Hot and cold

I'm sleepy and I'm awake

But if I don't know

I can and can't

I will not

Duck Duck Peacock Peacock

Flower garden bling-bling.

A smidgeon past rustic.

Its bad side.

In limbo.

Say what!?!

For whatever reason, this peacock showed up while I was

taking the dog for a walk Tuesday evening. I'd been down that path

a few minutes prior to this. I'm not sure where it was at that time. Turkeys, deer,

and coyotes frequent our property but I have never seen a peacock. I assume that

its home is within a few miles of here. I tried to get closer but this colorful fella

ducked into the tall weeds. I wonder if we'll ever see him again.

Pathway to ???

TFW Strikes Again

Capturing the evening's light, or being captured by. . .

Talking Foggy Wart strikes again. (I will someday share

the story of TFW. He lurks in the shadows of our farm.)

Sun and shadows: Gettin' low and long.

Evening light; Karen's delight.

"Karen of the Corn."

So, if I were a Beatle beetle, this is how

I would see the world? I like it!

Talking Foggy Wart has me in his grasp and is

swooping me away. Good-bye everyone!

 (Tell my husband I'm sorry but dinner's up to him now.)

Next time you see a doppelganger in the woods

fear not, it's just me taking a little break from life.

Can you tell I'm in need of a little stress relief?

That's what writing is to me. :–)) 

"Art" de Triomphe

Expressions of art left behind by children who attended a niece's graduation party. One drawing is life-size and the other is an obvious exaggeration. I was very impressed and quite delighted by the sight but I could not decide how to present them. That is until the video in this post appeared. Love the drawings and love it!