A productive alternative

Instead of collecting my lottery winnings or being in Port Worden at Artfest, I cleaned out the refrigerator, mopped and cleaned kitchen, made baked potato soup ... applied for some jobs and did some freelance work. A productive day so far, and I am still going.

Dreaming big

There is that moment, right after you buy your lotto ticket, driving home, you can dream about so many far-out things. It is hope, or wishful hopes. Thoughts of extraordinary generosity because you have it to give away!  Wouldn't that be the most fun of winning that much money, giving it away?

It is fun, exhilarating. I dream about all the money I will give my friends, organizations. About the compound in Montana I have dreamed of forever. The house has a Indian totem in the entrance, a great room and huge kitchen. Then satellite bedrooms. As many of my friends, moms friends that want to be there. A vegetable garden. A really big studio for all of us artist. 

And then, there is the trip D and I will take to Paris with the kids. We always considered going but never without experiencing it with our son. I think we would take a quick trip there. I would drive my same old truck and not much else would change.

And the most fun of all ... is dreaming about all the possibilities. It is worth a couple of dollars. :)

Bottle lamps

ABYU Lighting fun creations by Steven Wine, bottle lamps from BNOdesign. Found via Fab.com.

JaffWorks

Why does the sight of a quilt light up my brain with a lightning bolt? JaffWorks by artist Liz Jaff for handmade quilts with unique modern designs. Beautiful. Makes me want to go sew something!

A rainy spring morning

Rain, rain, go away! Grape Hyacinth a gift from Tara, thank you!

Try to walk away ....

There is a reason I avoid YouTube, because it is dangerous for me. I would spend so much time listening to music and get completely lost!



Found Irma, looking for Macy Gray's It try song ... 


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Mosaic mutts

Amazing mosaic art/pet portraits by SunDog Mosaics, artist extraordinaire, Donna Van Hooser. Pretty darn awesome, huh? This bird is stunning! And I want to reach out and pet the chihuahua! Please go have a look more of her art.

Changing it up

I love changing my banner on Facebook, it gives me the perfect opportunity to use my flowers photos in a creative way and find some great garden quotes. 

I believe

My friends rally around when I am feeling blue or overwhelmed. This from my friend, Irene.  

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death." - Robert Fulghum 

I also believe that if Trayvon Martin had been a white kid walking down the street, he would not have been shot. That George Zimmerman should be in jail. We are having long, heated discussions about this at my house and we are disgusted, that the victim is being painted as a "bad kid". I saw a woman walking down my street the other night with a hoodie pulled over her head and thought ... would someone shoot her because she looks suspicious? If this has been a white kid shot dead, you can not tell me that the person shooting him wouldn't be in jail the next day. Really, what is going on in this country? I think a race riot is in order and I plan on joining in on the side of justice!

Concentric thoughts

Kariann (author of one of my favorite blogs, Daily Poetics) ask me today on collection, "Bowled Over" on Pinterest, why we are so fascinated by nesting bowls? Why are we drawn to the images and why do they catch our imagination? Sooth our spirit? Is it something in our DNA? Subconscious? While I was drinking my coffee, watching the dogs poop and listening to the birds sing, I was thinking about my obsession with concentric circles  ... tree rings, vector patterns, water ripples, a maze, mandalas (wholeness of the Self), zen gardens, Fibonacci Numbers, solar system, prehistoric art, aboriginal art, Kandinsky's circles for color of souls, cycles in nature.
   
 

Mom and I were watching Rick Steves last night special on Iran and he highlighted many beautiful mosque, like Isfahan. Intricate tiled art found in mosque is no accident that those patterns create a soothing place of prayer and meditation. The math that produces mesmerizing patterns . We oohed and aahed for an hour. This is a great piece "The Tiles of Infinity" and Modularity in Medieval Persian Mosaics. More beautiful images of Islamic Heritage.



Have some fun with Flower Maker by zefrank.

Maths and art: the whistlestop tour by Lewis Dartnell.

Some Concentric Circles meanings as to their relationship of life. Leave you with some images for thought.

Ok, so I am probably not smart enough to understand some of these things, but it does get my mind thinking in a bigger realm. Makes me step outside my depression for a minute and think in larger ideas. Curiosity is a marvelous thing. Now, I have to go back to work. ;) xoxoxo

Mike Urban's glass flowers

Incredible glass flowers designed and constructed using antique glass (vases, cups, saucers) by Mike Urban (very talented friends I knew from Seattle PI). Someone is linking from Facebook to this old link. I forgot how happy these flowers made me. ;) 

Blooming whites

Ran out to get mom's new meds and spotted these along the way! 

Saturday ramblings

I am watching crows break off bits of branches for their nest. I would love to watch them construct that in real time. They are such inventive little creatures. They must love the Liquid Amber twigs, long, strong but easily manipulated. There is one there now, hopping around, searching for the perfect twig to take. My question is ... when they all go off to roost (at 5pm everyday), do the ones with nest stay around here? I know they don't leave their nest. These are the questions that fill my head. (There, one flies off again, very busy this morning). I watch them gather at the slightest hint of danger, to protect their "clan". Dive bombing owls and eagles. They are really fascinating. 

The Olympics looking very gentle today. Purple mountains on a backdrop of slight blue sky, with a dusting of snow. Watch Dale Ireland's LIVE CAM of the Olympics from Silverdale, WA prospective. See Hurricane Ridge close and personal via webcam.

Saw this video on Times Goes By this morning and it reminds me of my scuba diving adventures. My most vivid memories are being engulfed by a school of minnows. Watching them dart and swim in unison, silver sparkle, it felt like being in the middle of a musical score. I wrote a poem about that experience and titled it Liquid Silver. I wonder where that poem is now?

  

Haven't had time to work in the studio lately. Need to get down there soon! So much to do, so little time. ;) Isn't that everyone's dilemma? Have a great weekend!

Happy Chair

Found this link on Fab.com the other day. Happy Chair makes me very happy. It has been a very strange week around here. I can't believe the week is almost over. Matt and I talk about doing some of these for us, since he is becoming the master of upholstering. Aren't these yummy?

Turning a frown into a smile

When I am having a trying day ... which I have been of late ;) Just photographing something beautiful can turn that around. (These from my neighbor!) 

 

It is also that time of year that you can't leave the grocery store empty handed, because there are so many colorful temptations.


 

Mad Max gone Absolut?

Mad Max gone Absolut Steampunk

 

Seeing Trees

Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees By Nancy Ross Hugo and Robert Llewellyn 

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Photographing trees - a how to guide 

Trees and Treehouses on Pinterest  

Beautiful Gardens and Trees 

Beautiful collection of trees by Kathy Burns on Pinterest 

Then there is my collection of Trees and Leaves on Pinterest 

Pot Plants That Pop – 20 Macro Plant Shots You Could Take at Home  

Unusual Plant Macro Photography  

Photography Flowers

Ornamental Cheery

Yes, you saw right, "cheery". I needed that tonight. I spent all day in ER with my mom. Not sure if it is a diverticulitis attack again but they kept her overnight for observation. I am exhausted from sitting in bad chairs for over 8 hours. Need a shower to watch the hospital smell away. 

So, Cheery, no Cherry, it is. 

Despite the snow

Despite the rain and snow, the daffodils will not give up. 

Nature rains supreme

That was D's thought on the flowers I shot today.

Cumulus Cloud

I have some really nice Cumulus Clouds outside my window! More about clouds. 

Senior Love ...

From my friend, Susan! 

I was in my back yard trying to launch a kite. I threw the kite up in the air, the wind would catch it for a few seconds, then it would come crashing back down to earth. 

I tried this a few more times with no success. 

All the while, my wife is watching from the kitchen window, muttering to herself how men need to be told how to do everything. 

She opens the window and yelled to me, 'You need a piece of tail.' 

I turned with a confused look on my face and yelled back, 'Make up your mind. Last night, you told me to go fly a kite.'

Good Saturday to ya!

The daffodils are hanging their heads in shame of all the rain we are having. Despite it, the birds are singing their hearts out this morning. I have so much work to do today, I have no idea what I am doing on the internet! But I have been rounding up some things I love today. I really have the *i wants* today.

Falling in love with a blog is weird, right? But I have fallen for this one, The Blue Lantern. 

Heart Pin Collection by Pat Flynn.

Amazing textiles and painted cabinets by Lucas Risé (of course, the man himself is gorgeous). 

 

 

National Geographic's Photo of the Day. And I would love to photograph these beautiful interiors like, Jordi Canosa.

Guus Oosterbaan's Robox is a series of 9 storage boxes for kids. My idea is to create storage boxes that are fun to look at. Instead of boxes with repetitive motives, Robox create big robots which can be part of kids play (my kids find it very amusing to build robots that are much taller than themselves and then knock them over while shouting super-hero stuff). 

 In my dream of dreams, this is how I want my Christmas to look and feel! 

When I am virtually traveling, I want to visit Lake Assal (photo by adelinemmc) and Djibouti. And I want to dress like these women in Namibia. Go see more of what I would like to be wearing on my Pinterest. And fascinating stuff, Something naturally curious.

I want Thorsten Buehrmann job! 

I want to be Rosemary's dog, Webster! More fun dog stuff on my Pinterest.

The alternate me

I am thinking about this ... because I have been going out in public, grocery store, yes, even the Arts of Snohomish Gallery with NO makeup, no eyebrows! Basically looking really scary. I am going to start carrying a "makeup" "hair washed" mask and hold it up and tell people "this is what I would look like if I took the time to dress and put on make up". Maybe that will help my image a little? 

Today I made up for the first time in weeks! 
 

FASHEMATICS!!!

I love this! Big Giggle! FASHEMATICS!!! Via LOST AT E MINOR.

David Adey

David Adey, about all I can say is WOW! Via Junk Culture.

Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson, Artist, Photographer, Basketmaker. 

Nature's extreme beauty

Extreme Instability has some great images!



Timescapes

Been up since the wee hours and watching Microcosmos on Netflix. (Full video is also on YouTube). It is rainy, gray, foggy, cold. Feels like a day better spent under covers than in front of computer screen.

Tim Tate

I am in awe of Tim Tate ... 

 I ran into his site this morning and his work just takes my breath away! 

A Letter to My Dog

My talented friend, Robin Layton is having a very busy day today with all kinds of media about her upcoming book, A Letter to My Dog. Featured tonight on ABC's 20/20! (Friday, March 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET). Yeah, Robin!!!

Letters to My Dog was highlighted on Celebrities blog on ABC News and Pet Pampering Goes to Extremes on ABC. 
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Algorithmic worlds

Algorithmic worlds full of wonder. Each image by Samuel Monnier makes me want to cry and laugh because they are so incredible. Don't miss the blog. Via emma's lookbook on Pinterest. 

Spring is popping up!