Neil Gaiman: Inspiring Words

Sometimes, when the stars align just right, we discover treasures— like this speech by Neil Gaiman, the author of Coraline. Fantastic!

Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012 from The University of the Arts (Phl) on Vimeo.

Thinking Out loud

If you examine the photos that I've taken over the years, you'll

find that a number of them are of my feet. It makes little sense

because my feet are not that attractive and I'm not even 

a big fan of feet . . . other than baby feet.

Lacy greens frame our narrow brook.

No feet here. . .

The last time I checked, this A-frame was still vacant,

but that is no longer the case. I think I'll whip up a suet

cake and introduce myself to the new residents. 

A small bridge allows access to one of the back fields. The names and

footprints of the children who lived here when it was built are permanently

engraved in the bridge. Their names were "Red," Sue, and Don. Red

was born with a hole in his heart and he collapsed and died outside

(somewhere near the barn) when he was just an adolescent.   

When I am in need of de-stressing, I head out back. And

this is some of what I see: a mixture of colorful wildflowers,

berry-laden bushes, sticky brambles, trees and weeds of all shapes

and sizes, and rocks and boulders. Water bugs glide along the

surface of the brook that flows gingerly beneath it all.

(All of these photos were taken with my

iPhone yesterday evening.)

Bit O' Summer

Family filled summer days.

Great Grandpa with great granddaughter Lydia.

Elyse's beautiful new birthday dress

and her after the rain hairdo.

Ice cream with sprinkles and whipped cream.

(Someone else got caught in the rain.)

A surprise shower and a full rainbow catches everyone

off-guard; including Elyse. Both were a welcome sight. 

Yes, girls like ATVs too as you can

see by granddaughter Samantha's big grin.

(I was overruled when it came to letting the

girls operate this motorized "toy.")

The Making of Norman

Those of you who have followed my blog for the past year or so are probably familiar with ParaNorman, a new stop motion film that is set to be released on August 17th. An earlier post explains why the movie has held my interest over the months, plus it features one of the first trailers for the movie.

The following videos talk about some of the artists involved in the making of ParaNorman. I enjoy hearing about how Norman came about and I think you will too.

In The Turn Lane

The summer has been busier than expected

so my center is slightly off kilter

and my focus a tad askew. 

But yesterday on my return home from

doing errands I saw this. I'm glad

that I was the only one in 

the right turn lane at

that moment.

Such sights help

my center stay

within arm's

reach.

-o-

About The Corn

No rain and several days of 100+ degree temps.

 The cornfields that surround our home are bone dry

and the crops are in slow retreat. I snapped these

photos yesterday but don't be fooled. . . things

are not good here in Cornville.

Eight on the Fourth

Someone turned 8 today.

This is Elyse, my granddaughter, 

making a wish prior to blowing out the 

candles on her birthday cake.

And in her new outfit standing next to a very special

"friend." Learn more about her friend by clicking Laika

and then scrolling down until you see the Coraline video.

The theme for Elyse's birthday cake was

Christmas In July. It was created by her Grandma

Marie. She makes Elyse's special cake every year.

Since the outside temperature was over 100 degrees

today, Marie thought we should think about 

something cool, like snowmen and snowballs. 

Sounds good to me. . .