Maudsley Outdoor Sculptures With a Few Thoughts to the New Year

Maudsley Outdoor Sculptures
Ancient Tree Art

Dance

Spirit Collector

First resolution listen to more jazz and view more art. 

Surround myself with good friends, and good foods.

Exercise, exercise, and exercise.

No Excuses.

Avoid toxic people. 

Draw, dance, and be happy.

Lesson from a guy about women,s lib.

I remember that day very well. I turned on my ipod to a mix of jazz. Eight hours later, the music was still soothing my soul. It also was the day that Alex Trebek lost his job on Jeopardy.  He asked a contestant who was in the military if her job was harder because she was a woman. Ouch. But, really destroy a person who had a very long career and made  one slightly negative comment. Really? Are we getting oversensitive? Are we turning into a nation of whiners? 

I explored my twenties being a liberated, free, human being. I could do anything a male could do. It might take me longer, but, I did it and do it well. I also killed my back, but, that is a subject that should be somewhere else. 

My dear friend Fred in Maine, taught me about moderation. My friends had just bought and moved into an  antique sort of gothic and victorian house located 1/2 up or down -depending on your direction- one of the the largest hills running through the downtown area of a small town  near Augusta. Cars flew up and down that road, but, I digress. 

 They were working cleaning up their backyard of their new home,  So, I asked Fred what I could do to help. He looked me in the eyes, and said "I have just the job for you." He continued "I will load this wheelbarrow  with theses stones here. You will take the filled wheelbarrow down the garden pathway to where the vegetable garden is going to be. " No problem, I could do that. Why not? I was strong and at the time very physically fit. The reality of the situation was that within one quick yankee minute, I had knocked over the wheelbarrow and spilled all the stones on the ground and may I add that all I did was try to lift  the handles. 

Am I equal to men? Not in physical strength. My mind is far superior to many men's brains. That is where strength counts-it is what you have in your memory system. I learned from Fred, that I was not equal to men. However, I learned from myself that I loved the brain that I have cultured for almost 70 years.

The New England Winter Has Finally Arrived.

Early Winter Light Reflects into Joppa Flat Audubon

Sun Setting Early Winter AT Quill Pond

Wind Mill Sunset AT Tender Crop Farm

As we begin the long winter season, we enter a world of grey in New England. We received day after day of darkness and colorless days. White, grey, cold, dark is what New England winters are like.

But, there is a winter light that artists have accented their pictures with for centuries. One only needs to get outside at sunset to find that special short lived winter color. The color reflects on the frozen ponds, highlights the grey clouds into pinks, purples, and gold.

The winter in New England is the quiet season for me. The lawn movers, air blowers, and loud men in spandex are now inside. It is time for quiet reflection, catching up on history books, and sitting in front of a warm winter fire.

I do miss the flowers, the singing birds, and the way the leaves move and dance with the winds during the other seasons. But, this is my season to rest and reflect on a new year coming, and making new plans, and new dreams.

Flowers

Flowers from Trader Joes

Flowers from my garden and planters.

Selection from one of my many planters.

Today, I want to celebrate flowers. I started taking macro shots of flowers about 20 years ago. I love to highlight their specials colors, details, and shapes. Each flower has evolved over millions of years to attract their pollinators. They do this with smell, shape and color. It is truly a wonder how they developed into the beautiful species we have today.  

In the summer, I can spend hours watching the hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees frolic in my yard. In the winter, I love to buy flowers to brighten up my kitchen. 

I have said it before, but, I need to repeat myself. Nature is my  religion. It is a simple thought but, one worth repeating.

Our weatherman is predicting our first winter storm this week. Let it snow. I look forward to a long walk in the woods. Happy winter everyone.

Textures of Nature

As I look around my neighborhood, my mind is alerted to shapes, sizes and textures of nature. The diversity in nature is infinitive.
Light touches these textures and highlights curves, bumps, and smoothness of the surfaces. 
Age in nature is also infinitive. How old is a rock? Why do leaves drop off from their trees and begin to feed the soil? How do trees live hundreds of years?
Nature is full of unanswered questions. The best I can do in nature is to observe everything around me.  

Notes From a Friendly Firefighter.

Never underestimate the need for good fire fighting equipment. Be prepaid. Get ready cause it is a coming. Man up or down but it is coming. It should take years before it comes, but, soon or later it will be here.

Nourish yourself. No one will take better care of yourself but yourself. So get busy. Organize, learn, dream, and get ready. 

Nourish yourself with good food. Don't nourish your self with sugar, syrup or fat.
Nourish yourself with educational activities that nourish your brain.
Get outside and sit up the trees. 
Go to Nature as much of the day as you can spare.
Nourish your soul. Music nourishes my soul and calms my spirit. 
Nourish yourself with good friend that know when to comfort you.
They know when you are hurting. They care that you are hurting.  

Don't be afraid of the daily demons, that will suck your time out -slowly one step at a time. 
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Now is the time to speak up and ask questions. More forward, step, by step but doing it slowly.

Learn from failures. Gain wisdom over time. 

Smile all day long. Never stop smiling. A smile is a beautiful thing. 
Make eye contact with other human beings. Say good morning. 
Connect face to face with people.

Days to Thanksgiving

I woke up this morning looking around for my walking shoes, old walking blues.  Walking Blues by Mr. Robert Johnson is playing on Lead Belly Radio. Nice old, crunchy and true blues. Just people singing about just how hard life is. Woody Gunthrie singing Jesse James. Great music station. I am hidden away in our small office with with two desks, and two chairs. Oh, and one large and noisy paper shredder



Thanksgiving is coming in three days. Trader Joe on Monday was packed to the gills. I spoke to the sweetest 98 year old lady who was following a women around the store. The 98 year old was walking and sitting on her "walker" and her daughter pushed the filled shopping cart. The woman had good posture, beautiful white hair and a very nice laugh. I continued picking up the items on my shopping list. Two aisles away, I ran into these two woman again.  I asked the elder, if she liked hot chocolate. The type of hot chocolate that formed  a putting crust on  top of the hot drink. She said yes, that sounded nice. I asked if she wanted a can of this product and let her know I was willing to walk through the mass of people looking lost as if it were the first time coming to Trader Joes. Yes,  the mob was new to TJ and did not know the edicate.
I dashed back two aisles with my filled cart and ended up in the coffee section and found the product and dashed back to the two ladies. The elder's eyes looked at the time and sound Oh thank you so much, this looks great. Her daughter read the label and said to her mom...that yes, she would enjoy this.
I went back to the elder who had been patiently waiting for me to return. I looked into her soft blue eyes and said " When you have this hot chocolate, think of me and the fun we had today."


.