Wordless Wednesday

Last night as the cold front was starting to blow in...

 Enough said....

Happy Chanukah...Let's Do this Again in the Year 79,811

This year features an anomaly for American Jews – The first day of Chanukah starts at sunset on Wednesday November 27 the night before Thanksgiving, on November 28, 2013.It turns out that it has never happened before...and it will never happen again.Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is November 28. November 27  is also the earliest Chanukah can be. The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19×7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct – the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before.

Why won’t it ever happen again? The reason is because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years (not bad for a many centuries old calendar!) This means that while presently Chanukah can be as early as November 28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Chanukah can be is November 29. The next time Chanukah falls on November 27 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday). Therefore, 2013 is the only time Chanukah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving. Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Chanukah will again fall on Thursday, November 27 . . . in the year 79,811.

HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!

A Good Night in the Greenhouse...

Instagram pic of the display

My point of view...big long greenhouse!!

LOTS of greenery to make us all look better!!

Vintage Garden Art

Red Leaf in Resin

 Whew!!! My first show in Colorado is finished. Given that the temps were in the low 20's and falling, and that the show was literally in the greenhouse of Phelan Gardens, it was a very good turnout! I met some lovely, creative vendors, from making jewelry w/ pressed leaves and flowers (Wildflower Jewelry), to Vintage Garden Art, which is hand stamped flatware for your garden or plants (we made a trade!), to beautiful glass and grass jewelry from the Maasai women of Kenya! I had wonderful feedback and some excellent suggestions of 'where to go next', w/ the photographs. So much of selling art on-line, or @ shows like this one, is all about networking, and it was a good start!!! A hearty thank you to Jen Pelto for finding me on Etsy and including me in such a lovely event!

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house...'
Mt. 5:15

Ready to Roll...

Cards, matted, framed pieces safely packed up...

Lots of bubble wrap!!

Edited, printed, glued, pressed, signed, dated, labeled, stuffed, matted, framed, cleaned, hundreds of times over...crossed all my 't's' and dotted all my 'i's'...now, I just have to iron the display tablecloth.

Ladies Night @ Phelan Gardens

On Austin Bluffs

Friday, November 22, 4-8PM

( MEN are welcome too!!!)

World Diabetes Day

It is very very hard to imagine, knowing that your child (relative or friend, adult or child) has Type 1 diabetes and that there is nothing you can do to help save their life because you cannot afford insulin, test strips, a glucometer, let alone the advances of modern technology which we see in the insulin pump, and the soon to arrive, artificial pancreas. They would most certainly die. The cost, even with insurance is costly. Just recently, Edward was presented (yet again) with the idea of the CGM, or the Continuous Glucose Monitor, which sends information to the insulin pump, all in the quest for tighter control of blood sugars. The cost for the new equipment with insurance ( I drive this point home), ran in the thousands of dollars. Would we have signed on? Yes, absolutely, but Edward maintains that he does not want to stick yet another device into his body. The pump requires an infusion site which needs to be changed every 3-4 days, and sometimes it really hurts when he puts it in the side of his body. It is his choice to wear the pump rather than taking multiple shots during the day. The point is, he has a choice. I remember so clearly seeing footage after Katrina hit New Orleans, of a young girl passing out as she slipped away, not having any insulin, and a nurse hollering frantically for some 'Regular Insulin'. They were able to save her life. It can happen quickly. So, all this to say, we acknowledge World Diabetes Day, for all the people, young and old who simply cannot afford or have access to life saving medical supplies. I think now of the Philippines and the many people who are not only suffering because of a natural disaster, but those who may perish because they have no insulin.

We continue to pray for a cure, in whatever shape that takes. Be it the artificial pancreas (another high tech device), one shot of insulin every 6 months or a year, a vaccine, a pill...we'll take it.

I am a diabetes Mom.

Angels, a Do-Over...

'Columbine Angel'
Do-over on top/pink version on bottom

Being 'away' from the drawing board since we moved to Colorado, almost 2 years ago has been a good thing!! I have seen all of my photos w/ a 'new' eye and the proof is in, well, the edits! We had one Columbine plant/flower in the front of the house in Rhode Island. Columbine is the state flower of, (drum-roll please), Colorado!!! I took this pic in the late afternoon w/ that beautiful light hitting this tiny and delicate flower from behind. You can see how  translucent it is, hence, the title 'Columbine Angel'. It  always printed out very 'pink' and some of the contrast was lost. In my mind it was always deeper, I could see the details. However, w/ the new edit, you can really really see what I thought I was looking at all along.

I have made tremendous progress getting ready for the show @ Phelan Gardens, on the 22nd. At the moment 160 cards are, glued, pressed, signed, dated, labeled, and stuffed. They have been added to fill in my inventory. (I have alot of cards!!!) Next up, matting and framing the 5x7's, along w/ listing the 6 new pieces, and the above mentioned, 'do-over' in my Etsy shop, Lilleypics!

Editing and Printing and Pasting and Pressing...Oh My!!!

Prepping for a 'show' (Phelan Gardens, Friday, Nov. 22nd, from 4-8PM) is like a small assembly line...anyone who participates in the handmade community and does craft shows will tell you exactly that. I have everything plotted out in my head. I have bought frames, and pre-cut mattes, I have edited and printed almost 200 pics, 4x6 and 5x7's. I have glued and pressed 88 cards, to add to, and fill in my inventory. Today I will finish the gluing and pressing part of the program (about 50 more cards), and move on to signing, dating, labeling and stuffing. After that, matting and framing, which is actually easier than making the cards!! There are still some 'stragglers', if you will, the second, third and fourth round of decisions. I am so pleased with how the pics have come out! I have some new pieces, mixed in w/ the stand-by's, however, I have new edits on some of the 'older' pics and they are popping, they are enhanced, they have a brighter look. It  has been so good to see everything w/ a fresh eye, a Colorado eye. I am even more pleased to be back @ the drawing board! So, here's to good weather on the night of the 22nd, and a successful 'first' show in Colorado!!!

We Are Soaking it All In...

Looking into Garden of the Gods Park from the outer walking/bike path...

A very small portion of the damage from the recent floods...the water carved out a new river bed...

 We are soaking in as much as we can of this colorful Autumn. Last week, Mueller State Park. Yesterday, one of our many walks in Garden of the Gods National Park. It was a beautiful day. The sun is still warm and with barely a cloud in the sky, it was a great day to be outside. We stayed on the outer perimeter of the park, which is good for bikers and is not 'in the woods'. We are still seeing some incredible damage from the floods. The powerful force of the water carved out a new terrain in the lower outer edge of the park, and clean-up continues. Jimmy is used to me lagging behind to take photos as we go, and the space we give one another is appreciated. We are still walking together. I never quite know what the pics will look like until I get them up on the computer at which point I can see the vistas with a fresh eye and awe strikes my soul yet again. I am grateful that my range has broadened from so many macro shots to the expansive landscape set before me.

'Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy.'

Psalm 98:8

Wordless Wednesday

 'Elephants Greeting Each Other'

by Paul Anthony Wilson

Behold Man

Prismacolor pencil drawing...

Lennart Nilsson's photo

National Geographic photo of a dolphin in the womb...

 I copied this drawing years ago (prismacolor pencils) from a book called 'Behold Man', with many of the same images in 'A Child is Born' by Lennart Nilsson. For years upon years I turned the drawing sideways (just so you could see it better) until I actually gave birth, then realized I had been wrong. The drawing, and needless to say, the photo, was correct and in the 'launch position'. Lennart Nilsson, born in Strängnäs in 1922, is a pioneer in medical photography. In association with researchers and with the help of advanced, specially designed equipment, he has documented the inside of man down to the level of a cell. Throughout the years, he has devoted special attention to capturing the creation of a human being, from conception to birth. This amazing photo of an embryonic dolphin was taken using a combination of three-dimensional ultrasound scans, computer graphics and tiny cameras, no doubt with Lennart Nilsson's inspiration to 'get in there'!! (Image from the National Geographic Documentary “Extraordinary Animals in the Womb”). It is not just a beautiful sunset which has given me pause over the years....

 'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well.'  

Psalm 139:14

A Sunset for the Ages!!!!

Northwest from my office...

Northeast from Edward's room...

Northeast again...

Northwest, again, a few minutes later from my office...

Southwest towards the mountains..

A few moments later...

...and...

finally...jaw dropping event...

Walking trail @ Garden of the Gods Ntl Park..

It is crystal clear that the beautiful skies in Colorado are a photographers playground. Yesterday was a gorgeous Autumn day. Jimmy and I took a long walk in Garden Of the Gods National Park. Some of the walking trails are still closed from the recent floods, but we took a trail, just above our normal route. There were still some muddy/running water patches, which we also navigated, thankfully without issue. I took numerous pics, posted a couple. But as gorgeous as yesterday was, the sunset last night was beyond beautiful. People say that Colorado is 'God's country'. Well if ever there was any doubt, these pics should quell your doubts. I did minimal editing, really. I have never seen the light quite like this. So, may the photos speak for themselves!!!

'It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 

To declare Your loving kindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night'

 Psalm 92, 1-2

Tonight You Belong To Me!!

On his YouTube page, Benjamin Ames writes that his 4-year-old daughter, Adelaide, thought that she heard fireworks and that she couldn't sleep. So, propped in front of a camera, the two sang the lovingly simple "Tonight You Belong to Me" as a way to "keep her mind preoccupied."

As Ames and Adelaide start the song, the little girl gives her dad instructions to "be quiet" or "shhh" when she thinks she still hears fireworks outside. Clad in little pink-trimmed owl pajamas with tiny pigtails atop her head, Adelaide stops the music a few times, while managing to get out the words, "I know, you belong, to somebody new / ... 'shhh!' ... / but tonight, you belong, to meeeeeee."

  ENJOY!!!!!!!

The Harvest, and Some Lessons Along the Way

Mini-Cuisinart, faithfully, doing her 'thing'..

 Pesto in 4 ounce containers...

...and more

...and more

...around 40 containers...that's alot of pesto!!!

Some of the dried lavender...love love love..

So, here we are nearing the end of September. The holiday of Sukkot, is a celebration which includes food related to the autumn harvest and is commonly called 'season of our joy.' I seem to be right on schedule as far as the harvest goes, and I am rejoicing in what looks like a good harvest, considering what the garden endured this season. Planting was a little later than last year because of the cool Spring, then there were 2 hail storms, which chewed up some of the more delicate leaves from the purple basil. I swept away alot of growth, yet the garden lived on. A miracle, I thought, that anything survived. Then while we were away for a few days, yet another hail storm. I did not know what to expect when I came home. Again, some more losses, but the garden still lived and was yielding plenty. The tomatoes did not stop growing, the basil, although much was lost, much was still there, the oregano was not phased. (Cilantro, dill already cut back and the peppers were still growing, even now, still flowering, the lavender has been harvested all summer...ahhh, the lavender!!!). Then, a week of heavy rains, which produced massive flooding, the size of the state of Connecticut, hit Colorado. We started the Summer w/ the Black Forest fire and ended w/ this enormously destructive and deadly flood. The life lesson, obvious to me.  There will be storms which will test and try us. We are not sheltered, like greenhouse plants. Hopefully, our roots are deep enough to withstand the storms, which will most definitely come, and we will be like weather beaten oak trees. Okay, a little dramatic, but, true, nonetheless.

All that to say, I have been making alot of pesto w/ the basil. I have been harvesting a little at a time and freezing it in 4 ounce containers. I know from last Summer that it will do very well in the freezer for a year, as was proven by the last batch from last years' haul. Still so delicious. (Now, let's see if the dry ice shipping 'experiment' will work!!) I remain the grateful little gardener, enjoying sharing, and eating the fruits of my labor!

' For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven. 

A time to be born and a time to die.    
 A time to plant and a time to harvest.'

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Wordless Wednesday...

Prepping for a show in November at Phelan Gardens. 250 cards, folded...check!

'It seems to me that today, if the artist wishes to be serious... he must once more sink himself in solitude.'

Edgar Degas

We Will Never Forget...

Now that the World Trade Memorial is open and beautifully thought out, w/ every consideration, every detail painstakingly added to the depth of the unspeakable horror of that day, on that spot, the blue lights were a most touching, heavenly reminder of the Towers which are no more. I do not know if they will be lit tonight, but in my mind, there they are. So, here they are.

The Tribute in Light, Sept. 10, 2013...wow what a pic!!!

 UPDATE: The above pic was on the NBC News web site...so powerful!!