Beautiful creatures

Amusing Wooden Animal Sculptures by Hugo Horita and Instagram

Brother from another mother?

Doesn't John Kennedy remind you of Mr. Hanney on Green Acres? 

 

 

The transistion

Not sure what day we are on in our transition. It all goes pretty fast. Kids just left for school. I guess they will be moving back to this school district. All the dogs have been out. I have fed Pixie ... protecting her food from the other dogs while she eats. 

One of the many cats is walking over my keyboard as I type, having a sniff of my coffee as he passes by. Luna likes to drink her water from my glass, all the time. They all have found their spots on the window sills and desk to watch the birds. I am trying to protect the birds I feed from on cat that ventures outside, Luna. Luna grew up here, knows this place very well and feels like she is just coming back home. The new, young cats are busy eating the dried weeds I have in a vase by the computer. It is all very amusing. 

That is the animal zoo ... then we have the human zoo. I use the word "devolve" now (to change from one thing to another, often to something bad) as the girls start off screaming at each other and end up in a slapping match. We tend to stop them when they get to the physical stage but have decided to try the "let them work it out" therapy when it comes to fighting over toys. Mason use to like to control or manipulate Noah, but Noah has turned out quite smart and very strong and has learned to fight back. This makes all interactions between them very entertaining. Unfortunately, they are also both very smart and cunning. 😵 She is also very busy creating art.

(On an other note R. Philip Bouchard says devolve makes him cringe. These days the word “devolve” has gotten quite popular in the media. Every few days I encounter the word in a news report or a printed article. The authors use the word to mean decline, degrade, descend, degenerate, decay, or regress. This is primarily an American phenomenon. In the UK, the word “devolve” refers to a process of decentralizing government powers. There is an ongoing discussion in that country as to which aspects of national government authority should be transferred (“devolved”) to regional parliaments or local councils. This, of course, is a very different meaning of the word than seen in the examples above. While the British use of the word might seem a bit odd (especially to Americans), it is the American use of the word that makes me cringe.) 

Maybe I should use the word degrade or regress? 

I am here alone, drinking my coffee with barking dogs and roaming cats. I guess, not so much "alone". My role right now includes turning off lights, doing dishes, picking up "stuff" from the floor, telling the dogs "no barking". (Not complaining)

Bri has been cleaning and organizing, RE: getting rid of food past it's use by date. She is constantly doing this so I am surprised there is any still here. I have learned not to get involved.

Working as a freelance illustrator from her Shrewsbury studio (Shropshire, UK), Rosanna creates semi-surreal scenes and narratives, with a particular passion for the magic of the natural world. Delicate lines and rich handmade paper textures are woven together to depict elegant, elongated forms, complimented by a limited colour palette of gouache. 

I think she looks and sounds just like her art, quiet sweet and soft.

Rosanna Tasker, Sanctuary in Nature for the Grange from Studio Response on Vimeo.

 

Back to the future

Well, the dogs are moved in, the cats came last night. Let chaos begin. We are back to opening the back door many, many times a day. But many of the cats can't go outside so we have to watch every time we open the door. 

The girls are screaming and crying at each other because someone is jumping on the other one's bed. Now they just ran out here screaming and crying. Annndddd now, they are fine. 

We quickly quadrupled the amount of trash and dirty dishes. So, I guess, we are back normal, or what was normal a year ago. I walk from one room to another turning off lights while reminding them to turn off lights when they leave a room. One day I am hoping this all sinks in. LOL 

The artist is Matias Krah, beautiful details.

 

The art of chaos in color

I love the chaotic beauty of Élise Palardy art. Her Instagram. 

 

What's for breakfast

Of course, we all had pumpkin pie for breakfast, with loads of Cool Whip. I think I am down to the last two pans to wash! My back is all ready hurting ... so probably taking it easy today. The kids and I are hanging out while the adults bring a load over to the house? Yes, a load of belongings. So, it is happening.

Lady Lavery

Hazel, Lady Lavery (1886–1935, née Hazel Martyn) was a painter and the second wife of the celebrated portrait artist Sir John Lavery. Born in Chicago, she married her first husband, Edward Trudeau, a physician, in 1903. He died the following year. She first met John Lavery in 1904 and they married in 1909. The Laverys’ marriage was tempestuous, and Lady Lavery is reputed to have had affairs with Kevin O’Higgins and Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary leader. Hazel Lavery features in over 400 portraits by Lavery. She is remembered for having her likeness appearing on Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland for much of the 20th century. This painting was carried out while Hazel Lavery was still Mrs Trudeau, travelling in Europe with her family. Hazel was ill with nephritis at this time, which may account for her ghostly appearance. Lavery possessed an innate skill for portraying the texture and lustre of fur and the way in which it so flattered the ivory complexion of the sitter. 

Ran across this video of Lady Lavery. I have never heard of her but she is lovely. Very interesting. The lady with the most portraits wins! In 1909 she and Lavery married. Subsequently, she became Lavery’s most frequent sitter. She sat for more than 400 portraits by Sir John. Many were similarly named, leading an expert to remark that “Hazel in…” is virtually a Lavery trademark.