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Showing posts from November, 2012

Grateful

self-portrait in saratoga woods In the forest, my worries disappear. My time is spent embracing what I see and what I hear. The different earth scents fill my head and revive me. The wind moves the trees above. And I, now fully awake, breathe in the crisp air and walk with a lighter step. I am grateful for this island and the peace it has brought me. Grateful for in the photo

november sunset

sunset over strait of juan de fuca I dreamed last night that I was standing outside a house at the base of a huge, flat-topped, rocky mountain. As I was looking up at it, dark clouds were forming and twisting right above the mountain. I could hear the wind and thunder, then lightning struck and I turned away to go inside. No photos of storm clouds but I have one of a sunset looking out from the bluffs at Ebey State Park . We try to go hiking there at least once a week. It's on the opposite end of the island, but it's an incredible place as we can hike for hours through forests and along the bluffs or rocky beaches. One weekend we stayed on the trail too late and got back to the car after dark. Thank you to the park ranger for waiting at the gate before locking up for the night. more skies at 52 photos

pot of tea

sketch in pen, tea pot and cup A couple of weeks ago, I went to my favorite Chinese restaurant on the island. The interior and decor are beautifully done with amazing asian art work and sculptures throughout the restaurant. For the first time I ordered a pot of tea to warm me up. I was pleasantly surprised when they brought me an iron pot of tea that sits on a wooden stand. Now if only we had a Japanese and Indian restaurant within a quick drive, I'd be set. I guess I can't complain. At least, I also have a good Mexican restaurant and Vietnamese restaurant within a 30 minute drive. Hope everyone in the U.S. had a good holiday weekend. more sketches at bluechairdiary .

window to my world

saratoga woods "For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of some weakness, but like great, solitary men, like Beethoven and Nietzsche. In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity; but they do not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only: to fulfil themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree. When a tree is cut down and reveals its naked death-wound to the sun, one can read its whole history in the luminous, inscribed disk of its trunk: in the rings of its years, its scars, all the struggle, all the suffering, all the sickness, all the happiness and prosperi

late evening

Ten thousand men possess ten thousand hopes. A few bear fruit in happiness; the others go awry. But he who garners day by day the good of life, he is happiest. Blessed is he. Euripides, "The Bacchae" Deadlines looming kept me tossing and turning all night up to 2 a.m. Then I couldn't stay asleep and woke up at 6 a.m. I took this photo while the evening was coming on and I was still working at my computer. I got a lot of work done that day despite having only had 4 hours of sleep. joining 52 photos for illuminate .

a little earth to walk on

The Oresteia How do we hang on to moments that are dear to us? When I'm hiking, I often stop along the way to listen. I listen to the wind in the trees, the squirrels and the birds. Lately, the rains have released all the scents of the forest, and I breathe in deeply the wonderful earth. Then there are the other moments that can only be memories. Memories that come to me in dreams, through dishes my Mom used to make, through the old photographs my Father took of us growing up, songs he liked or through the Spanish language my Mom spoke. As a child, I loved reading books, and I'm trying to rekindle that love. This week, I've been reading The Oresteia by Aeschylus, Robert Fagles translation. There is a kind of peace and expansion that reading brings on. What are you holding onto this week? joining 52 photos for holding

here kitty kitty

sputnik at her water dish I've been working on a new project feverishly for the last two weeks. At some point, I'll be able to announce what it is exactly, so stay tuned:) Along with trying to complete my art project, I've been working on my greek myths coursera.org class. These busy weeks have been the good kind of busy and today I'm the good kind of tired. My sweet Sputnik crossed the bridge last year, and I dearly miss her. I found the above sketch of her while thumbing through my sketch book. Her water dish was on the shelf next to my desk. I was sketching her while she was drinking water, but that didn't last long once she discovered my pencil moving. sputnik at her water dish for sunday sketches Earlier this year, I sent in a 5 x 5 art work to Seth Apter . During the next two months, he'll be blogging about all the artists who participated in that project.  Wishing everyone a creative and fruitful week.