In Memoriam

 

"And think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched...

For nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much...."

                                                                                                         --Ellen Brenneman

Squirrel!

 

Why a squirrel?  Well, during the winter we feed the birds and that also means feeding the neighborhood squirrels.  They are entertaining and agile little daredevils who embody the word persistence.  Nothing gets between them and sunflower seeds.  More specifically, those in our backyard aren't great when it comes to sharing as they prefer to take the entire bundle of sunflower seeds, packed into the shape of a bell, off the platform where all creatures can access the food and haul the supply to an undisclosed location in a nearby tree.  Sound like any squirrels you know?  

Lots of Lines

 

Recently I created this piece by utilizing repetitive patterns, including some familiar Zentangle forms, as well as inspiration from geometric shapes found in the weaving of ancient civilizations.  Repetition, repetition, repetition....and my brain likes the symmetry and my body enjoys the simple exercise of drawing line after line.  With each stroke of the marker, my breath deepens, shoulders and jaw relax and all other issues fade away.  Clearly, my art is a gift to share with others as well as food for my soul.

"If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax."

                                                                                        --Christian Louboutin

Shadow Surprise

What do you get with sunshine and a spiral staircase?  Interesting shadows.  This was an unexpected delight as I walked along the icy river and soaked in the sun's warmth.  The middle portion of the photo is the centerpiece but I wanted to keep the supporting details that give it some depth, move the eyes and create more interest.  Anyway, can you locate the remaining stairs, railings, the snow and bits of concrete?  If not, just enjoy the abstract image that, in my opinion, resembles the flower of the tropical plant known as Bird of Paradise.  

 "The eye is always caught by light, but shadows have more to say."

                                                                                       --Gregory Maguire

Find the Light

For those residing in the vicinity of Manchester, Iowa, it's likely you've heard of or visited this holiday light display.  In the past few years, it's become a destination for light-looking enthusiasts.  This year, given the pandemic, it's simply been entertainment; an opportunity to leave the house, think of something else besides the day's most tragic headlines that bombard us from dusk to dawn and an escape to something beautiful.  Literally and figuratively, this is a BRIGHT spot in what often feels like a world being slammed with rogue waves.  May it serve as an uplifting reminder of the light we can find in the midst of darkness.

A Message

As described in my last post, our recent weather has generated a lot of beautiful landscapes flocked in rime ice.  And although the above photo doesn't contain a gorgeous view of the winter terrain, it contains the perfect message.   Ironically, day after day this past summer, I had quickly passed by this sign and really didn't even notice it posted upside down on a tree along a narrow drive leading to the river.  Of course, I didn't notice as I was in a hurry....for some reason, I'm sure.   It seems we are all in a hurry.  On this particular day for me...in a hurry to get in out of the cold, anxious for winter to end, for the sun to shine, for the vaccine to be distributed and the pandemic to end, to cross off every item on my to-do list, to reunite with loved ones, and on and on.  Anyway, it seems I needed winter to remind me to slow down and enjoy the walk or the ride or the time indoors or the quiet or the more relaxed pace of life in a pandemic .... a valuable reminder that I finally noticed.

Below are a couple up-close images of rime ice.  The leaves lined in white, although disproportionate in size, remind me of the cereal Frosted Flakes.

"What good is the warmth of summer, 

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."

                                                                                     - John Steinbeck

Faces of Winter

January in the heartland often includes a mostly white landscape with average high temperatures below freezing.  With little sunshine and a blanket of snow, the overcast skies can seem unrelenting; however, recently mother nature used her superpowers to bring us rime ice and advection fog which flocked many surfaces with ice crystals and created stunningly beautiful images.  So, in the past few days I've ventured outdoors to capture some of these stunning vistas.   Here are two but others will soon follow.

"To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold."

                                                                                            --Aristotle 

 

Cuteness

So this isn't my puppy nor do I have any pets; however, I do think most puppies and kittens are adorable.  And this little tike fits that description.  A while back I spotted this jigsaw puzzle and had to have it as this furry golden retriever pup with it's pink tongue and bright eyes made it irresistible.  And with only a hundred pieces I figured it would be super simple.  

Of course, after bringing it home and putting it in a closet, I forgot about it until a couple days ago.  My husband joined me and together we assembled this cute little face.  Of course, we were happy not to have to deal with puppy potty training and snowy wet paws but it made us smile and just feel joyful.  Isn't that why most folks have pets?  They meet us where are, never question our motive or mood and are happy to hang by our side as long as possible.  Lucky us.

"Some things just fill your heart without trying."

                                                                                                     --Unknown