Art Appreciative

"When I get to heaven, I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so to get to the bottom of the subject. But then I shall require a still gayer palette than I get here below." _Winston Churchill

At the gallery, there are several interesting projects going on, at once, all the time. A fountain of works to be studied, repaired, framed, assembled, but mostly.....appreciated. The other day, a framed piece of art came in to have a new backing put on. An easy task of tearing away the old backing and attaching fresh wire and paper. Oftentimes, something just as interesting as the painting itself is revealed under the old backing. In this case, a note was long ago glued to the back of the stretcher bar which read: "To Daisy Turner from Mother Turner". The painting had to be over 100 years old and I've not yet discovered who the artist is as it was unsigned, but I'm researching. The symbolism! Butterflies, peacock feathers, a goose and in the far background there is a dome shaped building peaking through the trees. It all tells a story. A way of communicating universal truths.

The painting of the gentleman praying is a work I've seen dozen of times. This particular one needed touched up. I mix paints to match the original as closely as possible, then gently touch up the damaged areas. It is like watching a living thing heal. I love it! I love restoring art, to give back it's dignity, it is such an honor.

At the gallery, as all galleries I hope do, we respect each and every single piece that comes in for our care. The monetary value does not dictacte the care given. All art is sacred. Everything that a human makes to express their emotions, good or bad, is sacred. The glass works and pottery tell a story in their own unique way. Some of these say celebrate, beauty, hope or maybe just to remind us to smile.

God tries to communicate to us every moment of our lives. Sometimes through nature, art or even people we despise.

I guess it can never be over emphasized to search for God in everything. To search for Him, teaches us so much about love.

I relate to Mr. Churchill's unquenching thirst to study art. I have so many people I want to interview in Heaven! To learn from them. Yet, I know that can also to be done right here on this earth, and I get just as excited about that.

Speaking of miracles, I am a new great aunt again today. Ada Evaine has been born to our family.

A little beautiful girl, 6lbs. 7oz.

Way to go Zach & Carolyn!!!!!

Things that SPARKLE

"There are two ways to spread light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." _Edith Wharton.

I love sparkle. glimmer, shimmer, twinkle things. It can be dew on the morning grass or icicles from the eaves, if it shines I am drawn to it, (traits of a crow woman). That's why I kept these Christmas tree ornaments out on my kitchen table in a glass bowl. I love the way they throw polka dots all over my walls and ceiling.

Every sunny day these reflections flip my switch!!!!!!!!!!

What's a crow woman? A woman who loves crows so much she has one tattooed on her hiney. A woman who when she sees a crow yells hello to it. A woman who had crows as pets when she was a kid. A woman who totally believes with all her heart they have a message, (sometimes she gets it, sometimes she doesn't.)

And, this has NOTHING to do with the "primitive art" crow stuff, tho I like that too. This has to do with animal totems.

I don't believe I used to be a crow, nor will I come back as one. Nope. I just have this gigantic, tender, love, love, lovely big spot in my heart for them. I'm so grateful to have a woods behind my house where 6 of them live and I co-exist with them every day. They are such good friends.

They yell at me, bitch at me, and call me names. I love it! They make me feel like one of the family cause they do the very same thing to each other.

Peace:)

Scroogies and pheasants

I love these new Scroogies! Check out miabaggali.etsy.com. I have a huge window next to my desk and in this weather my fingers freeze as I type. No more. These fingerless long hand knitted gloves do the trick.

The sweater? I got from a consignment shop called Bib & Tucker in Hartville. $15.00!!! It's so cozy I don't want to take it off. You can't tell by the photo, but it's long, all the way to just below the knee. I love consignment shops because it's a way to recycle things that otherwise would sit idle in someones closet, etc. (It's the only time I dont feel guilty buying something from China ).

Speaking of pheasants.....okay, we weren't but earlier today Elle was barking at the bird feeder outside our front window. I assumed it was a cat, but no, it was a ring neck pheasant. I immediately fell in love with it and started to worry something might harm it. I'm telling ya folks, I have issues! Torment!

Anyway, the pheasant allowed me to photograph it and hopefully he will be okay in it's travels. (They are the worse jaywalkers; must take lessons from opossums, rabbits and coons.)

Today's quote: The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, magnificent world in itself. _Henry Miller

Way to go Henry!

Riding the Rails

What a beautiful winter day! I had to go out in it too, so I'm not just saying it as an indoor observer. I drove into town, a whole 3 miles and without realizing it I ended up sitting smack in the middle of the railroad track waiting for the light to change. I don't think it is a wise idea to wait out a red light on a train track, but that goes to show where my brain has been lately: la la land. I realised my position when a school bus driver stopped, open the door and window, listened, and looked, both ways before she crossed over. Ironically, I thought "a kid is going to get on the bus here?".

Wasn't till she gave me the look.

You know, the look when you are doing something considered stupid but are clueless.

Some people really enjoy doing "the look".

It's hypocritical in my opinion to give that particular look.

If you really cared, you would say, "excuse me, miss? honey you really shouldn't be parked on the train track dear." Instead of using the occassion to show how much the wiser you are.

But, even in my own justified thinking, I'm being judgemental.

What is weirder (word?) is that I took a photo.

That just goes to show "every problem you encounter has a gift for you in it's hands" _Richard Bach

Meanwhile, back at the ranch the snow still falls.

Happy New Year

Yay! "The holidays are over and may your life return to normal". We should make greeting cards that say that. What would the cover of the card look like? Maybe a stack of plastic bins stuffed with decorations returned to the basement. Or a woman, sitting alone at the kitchen table sipping coffee with a big ole' grin on her face. That'd be me: guilty as charged. Sighing with relief to have the house all to myself again.

I've been waiting on people as wife/mother since I was 17 years old. I love my family, yes and I love it when they are happy. Happy and out of my hair.

Like that cartoon lady named Maxine. Her welcome mat says, "there's no place like home, go there."

Anyone who knows me well, knows my love for my family & friends runs ever so deep, I'm just not a social butterfly. Rather, an introvert and over sensitive person. This is my lot in life tho most other humans I've met are the opposite. Folks like me are considered odd.

Odd.

Love that word.

I've also noticed that I'm in love with Christmas about two weeks before the 25th. Then by the 24th the honeymoon has worn off. I must be off whack somewhere.

Oh goodie, odd and off whack.

I did enjoy the day after Christmas. I could get my breath, hear my thoughts, cry a little and in the end counted my blessings and thanked God for my family and friends.

And pets!

Don't forget them! This is Nancy, she's been with us for ten years this Christmas. She is now enjoying all the cookies I made too many of. It's cold out, the pasture has been flooded and frozen a 1/2 dozen times already this winter.

I wish I could give her green meadows to lie down in, graze in and enjoy, lots and lots of acres for her and Betty (the sheep) to explore, be safe and eat all they want.

"I made you to lie down in green pastures" it says in the Bible.

I really get that.