Toss That Idea

Oops.  I took way too long time to make the salad.

For Grandpa on His Birthday

I let him see the crane in my sketchbook, but I didn't explain why I drew it, and why for him.  Days ago at the zoo, of all the animals, I found this creature the most intriguing.  He had a lovely dab of red on his head.  Walking slowly up and down the bank in silence, he seemed lost in thought.  I found him quite mysterious.  How did he appear both solemn and cheerful, both at once?  The other animals seemed unbearably sad, perfectly satisfied, bored, or apathetic.  But this crane seemed to have his head on straight.  Though wearied, he lived beautifully.  Calmly.  Hopefully.  I told someone standing next to me that he seemed like he would make a good friend.  Well, I don't know anything at all about the animal's personality, I guess.  But add in 'handsome, kind, and loving' and it all describes my Grandpa.  He's quite wonderful.

Out of Darkness

He was greeted by neon t-shirts, bright smiles, and afternoon sun rays.  After 2 weeks tucked into cozy darkness, it must have been a shock for Erd's eyes!  

And that's when it hit me.

If you've ever seen "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean," you'll know what Teddy would probably advise I give Erd for Christmas.

Erd

It all began around midnight, with a cup of weak tea sweetened with a mere drop of honey.  In my weariness, the notion to sew Seth a present with these cloth scraps crossed my mind.  No family members were awake to scold or question me, so I began.  Seth's birthday was coming in a week, and he deserved nothing but the best.  

I sketched some vague idea of a badger-seahorse-thing on a scrap of cloth and immediately began snipping and stitching.  I'm not aware of which techniques I employed, or even if I used technique at all.  All I know is, thread was going through needles and needles were poking holes and the badger-seahorse-chameleon was coming alive. 

There was a lovely storm the other day...

Oh, you want to see Erd?  Well, so does Seth.  But I've wrapped him (Erd) comfortably in a purple cloth and put him to sleep in this blue gift bag, not to awaken until Seth's birthday next week.  So you must wait.

Note: Although I made Seth's present (and typed this story) an entire week early, I've managed to "publish" this post a week late, for this reason: It so happened that Erd, in his blue bag, was left behind at home while my family traveled out of town to run soccer camps.  Seth's birthday is nearly past, and I had nothing to give him.  I considered deleting this post altogether, when a fortunate circumstance occurred.  Thanks to a willing friend, the blue bag has been retrieved. Seth will receive his gift tomorrow.

Josie the Brave

I met a girl.  A young artist.  Her name is Josie.

I inquired of her favorite color.  "I like blue, and I like red, and I like yellow, and I like purple, and I like green, and I like white," was her pensive reply.  She had no complex method or meaning, but simply laid the paint down.

"Tuck tuck a wennin don't fall down," she sang.

Josie works in many mediums, including chalk, marker, bubbles, and maple syrup.  Above, she patiently constructs a site-specific piece.  Afterwards, she endeavors to master depicting grass on the Doodle Pro.                                                                                                                                                                     

Why do you make art? I asked.  "I just like to."

On her breaks, Josie enjoys writing songs, tending her garden, and drinking juice.  She has a dog named Moose.

The Old Nunnery

Inspecting things with Seth is the best way.

In this pretty room, a starling rested in pieces peace.

Seth and his sketchbook.

 

He paused on our way out to sketch a few more details of the pleasant old convent.  We found an old bird's nest tucked in the lantern above his head.

I met an interesting person, a fellow artist, in this very New Hampshire neighborhood.  I will introduce her to you in the next post.

I Have Shingles

Roof shingles.  My family traveled to Scotland this spring to direct a soccer camp and thoughtfully brought them back for me.  My little brother says they were washed up on a beach amongst the rocks.  New slate tiles were nailed on the houses on an opposite shore, and the old shingles swept away into the sea.

  

That's one theory. 

They could be castle ruins for all I know.  Possibly they aren't even roof shingles.  As I tried to research them, I came upon multiple articles describing a gigantic, blue eyeball discovered on a southern beach.  The mysterious forsaken eyeball was beautiful, but the articles either disturbing or uninteresting so I decided against posting a link.  I will merely inform you it belonged to a large swordfish.  I found no helpful information on these flat objects I'm now holding.  Indeed I discovered no interesting facts whatsoever regarding roof shingles.  This was strange to me; these may be flat and grey but they are anything but dull.  Now to find something splendid to do with them...

2 weeks later...

I re-visited the topic of "shingles." As you probably already know, it is a disease accompanied by a miserable rash.  You may also know, as I did not, it is the name of a haircut that was the center of great debate during the 1920's.

Shingle Haircut - a very short, perfectly even and symmetrical haircut that ends in a v-shape at the nape of the neck.

Here are step-by-step directions I found online, although it's considered impossible to do to oneself:

1. Comb the entire head of hair. Part the hair right down the middle of the head, from the crown to the neck, as the shingles bob is perfectly even and symmetrical. 2. Cut the hair 

Lastly, you likely haven't heard of this architect!  He designed house shingles that become almost furry, like a "hide" to the home... I don't know how to explain it, just look!

Hirsuta's Rawhide: A New Shingle Style - Core77

And with that, I conclude my research.  If I were to tell you I don't normally spend extensive time and effort researching such trite topics... I'd have a guilty conscience.