“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas….”

Painting by Todd Young

 

Farewell, Sweet Prince......

 

  I am down in the dumps today after the election results.  I had allowed myself to see a brighter future, but am left with “four more years.”  Lots of people are trying to move past it, but I am still grieving the loss.  The contrast between what might have been and what is, is still too fresh.

Since I’ve always been a bit of a tree-hugger, I turn to these words by Anne Frank, from her Diary.  They’re not the perfect remedy, but it helps me to know she could find solace even in her situation:

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature... Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be…amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."

-–Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank

 

Surely we can hope for the future if wonders such as this are being created and enjoyed!

"Cloud"

by Caitlind Brown

Winner of Awesome Foundation, Calgary, Canada

Paul Ryan Eats Obama's Lunch

                                          

Paul Ryan and the Triumph of Math
Clarice Feldman
American Thinker
Article, August 18, 2012

I love this because President Obama set himself up as Superman, surrounded himself with believers, and refused to consider evidence to the contrary.  But Paul Ryan never bought into the narrative, and treated him like any other mortal.  

 

"Distant Thunder"

Andrew Wyeth

1961

When I first saw this painting, I had a moment of quick recognition---"it's me!"   Lying in a field on a sunny day, a dog nearby, binoculars for bird watching, a book, NAPPING.  Hello me!

 It's actually Betsy, the wife of Andrew Wyeth.   I wish I could have known her---she and I would get along!!

Why not go out on a limb?

I am the kind of person who can get into a serious rut.  I’ve eaten the same salad almost every night for 5 years, have two cups of coffee every morning, hike the same trails, watch Frasier reruns, and take a stroll around the backyard every night.  I love to do the same activities I enjoy over and over.   Each is very satisfying to me, but sometimes I think I depend on them to give my life structure.  So I fill my life with my favorite things, but then there’s no room for anything new.  

Could I rotate out some of my favorite things?  And why do I need structure?  Would I fall apart without it?  What would happen?  I don’t know!!   That's the draw and the anxiety.

I guess, in retrospect, some organization is good.  It keeps my life flowing, and allows my mind to wander, which is what I like.  But, really, none of the activities mentioned above fall in the organization category (except for the walk around the backyard at night—the dog must have it!).  

That’s why I love this quote by Mark Twain.  It captures the appeal and the danger of getting out of the comfort zone—sometimes the limb breaks, but if it doesn't, ahhh.....the fruit is delicious.  And, you know, even if the limb breaks, I may still get the fruit, plus a few bruises!!

I'm Feeling Summer ....

The bee is not afraid of me,
I know the butterfly;
The pretty people in the woods,
Receive me cordially.

The brooks laugh louder when I come,
The breezes madder play.
Wherefore, mine eyes, thy silver mists?
Wherefore, O summer's day?


Who else, but Emily Dickinson?
Painting by Jan Blencoe

Cleaning Up After Occupy Wall Street

 

A picture says a thousand words...
 

(The clean-up of McPherson Square in Washington DC after Occupiers were evicted.) 

I'm not a big user of 

four-letter words, but this photo

taken at a tea party rally

tickles me while capturing 
the way I feel 

about the direction

my country is heading. 

The Room of Flowers

 Childe Hassam is one of my favorite American Impressionist painters, mostly because he loved painting flowers and landscapes.   He spent many summers in the late 1800’s at the island cottage of poetess Celia Thaxter, whose passion was flowers, music and art.   This painting, titled "The Room of Flowers," was painted the year of her death, 1894, as a tribute to the many happy summers Hassam spent at her cottage.

 This painting makes me happy on so many levels; it has so many of my favorite things:  flowers, paintings, a sunny day, an open window, and a relaxing read of a good book.   All it needs is a napping dog or cat to be complete!

I’ve included a couple of Celia Thaxter's quotes about the room, taken from her book, “An Island Garden.”

“Opening out over the long piazza, over the flower beds, and extending almost its whole length, runs the large, light, airy room where a group of happy people gather to pass the swiftly flying summers on the Isle of Shoals.  This room is made first for music;  on the polished floor is no carpet to muffle sound, only a few rugs here and there, like patches of warm green moss on the natural hue of the wood.  There are no heavy draperies to muffle the windows, nothing to absorb the sound.  The piano stands mid-way at one side; there are couches, sofas with pillows of many shades of dull, rich color, but mostly of warm shades of green.  There are low bookcases round the walls, the books screened by short curtains of pleasant olive-green; the high walls to the ceiling are covered with paintings and flowers are everywhere.”

And, also:

“All summer long within this pleasant room the flowers hold carnival in every possible combination of beauty.  All summer it is kept fresh and radiant with their loveliness,—a wonder of bloom, color and fragrance.   Every year a long procession of charming people come and go within its doors, and the flowers that glow for their delight seem to listen with them to the music that stirs each blossom upon its stem.”

It's All About Liberty

“Give me liberty or give me death!”

Or, since death isn’t really an option, some sort of  restricted, airless, half-fulfilled life.

Quote by Patrick Henry

Missing the Beach???

 Every January I start missing the beach.  So I find myself gazing at one of my favorite
photos of Penscola Beach, taken by my niece, Hannah.   Look at the sand, can't you just feel how soft it is underfoot?  And the gentle breeze? The warm pinks of the sky.... *sigh* ..........heaven.

If I really want to experience the beach from my office, I pull up this photo, then open up a second internet window for beach sounds, using the link below.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to open in a separate window here on the blog.  But you can work it out yourself by opening two windows--  Enjoy!!

http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

Or you can open the beach sounds link in one window, and in another use the link to the PB webcam, http://www.islandempress.com/webcam/.  Also very good!