so this arrived yesterday
gettiing my exercise
walking it back to the clerk’s office
to return it today
filled out.
my votes are in.
exercised my right to vote
let’s go, america!
Sep29
Sep28
never the answer.
War Is Never The Answer – Kana Handel, acrylic, dry pigment, on canvas
—
“all war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.”
—
I’ve long admired Kana’s art and have had the pleasure of meeting her when she was in town for an art fair. I’m drawn to her whimsical style, the colors she chooses, and the moving messages/stories that she shares through her paintings. I have her prints on my walls and it is always hard to choose which to buy.
—
Originally from Japan, Kana is an artist who incorporates a variety of mixed media—including traditional sumi ink, gansai watercolors, mineral pigments, oils, acrylics, acrylic gouache, colored pencils, and even LEDs. She integrates these with handmade washi paper, which she often tears, collages, and sculpts in her pursuit of a “moment.”
Her work is often figurative and narrative in style; she enjoys telling a story on a blank canvas, inviting the viewer along in the process. The many things “on their heads” is an outward expression of the emotions hidden within us all.
Both original paintings and prints can be purchased in galleries, online at her website, through Etsy, and throughout the country at various art festivals, To find out more, visit kanasarts.com.
here’s a link to an earlier post i wrote about her, and our serendipitous connection –
Sep27
humans without borders.
yes, this.
—
“humans without borders, that’s what the world needs –
beings of conscience and courage, with no rigidity of religion, gender, nationality, or any other.”
– abhijit naskar, ain’t enough to look human
—
(reposted from 2020 and still, yes.)
Sep26
research.
swing sets were made for climbing, towering, twirling, standing
maybe on occasion swinging
jumping off.
—
‘play is the highest form of research.’
— Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist
—
ann arbor, michigan, usa, summer
Sep25
door knocker.
wooden woodpecker door knocker
handcrafted wooden woodpecker door knocker combines function and creativity in one
every tap mimics a pecking bird, making it a delightful accent for your home
designed to bring smiles while serving as a functional doorbell alternative.
IKORII
my recent fortune
prosperity did not stop by
(must be lost)
but i sure would love
this wooden woodpecker knocking on my door.
—
‘if opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.’
-milton berle
*Milton Berle (born Mendel Berlinger (1908 – 2002) was an American actor and comedian. His career as an entertainer spanned over eight decades, first in silent films and on stage as a child actor, then in radio, movies and television. As the host of NBC’s Texaco Star Theater (1948–1953), he was the first major American television star and was known to millions of viewers as “Uncle Miltie” and “Mr. Television” during the first Golden Age of Television. He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in both radio and TV.
Sep24
radiant.
walking to breakfast i passed by
this freshly tidied and planted garden
outside of apartment #1
judging by what was left behind
all the tools and supplies needed
to nurture and grow
it had been
freshly planted
weeded, mulched, watered, fed
filled with rich soil and lovely plants
around the corner
a rose bush with one pink blossom
looking a little closer
on the very right little corner
i saw
the happy birthday cupcake sign
one of the best surprise gifts
i’ve ever seen
imagine the birthday person
stepping outside
of apartment #1
on this cool fall morning
only be greeted
with the surprise gift of
a radiant garden
from
someone special.
‘if there’s one thing i can say about my garden, it’s that it always surprises me.’
– david hobson
*david hobson, is one of australia’s best known operatic, concert performers, with a repertoire of musical styles spanning from baroque to pop.
Sep23
the scent of a candy corn.
Ode to Candy Corn’ Fragrance – The Official Scent of Fall
Candy corn season is here, and Brach’s is launching its first-ever fragrance. The official scent of fall: Ode to Candy Corn, a decadent eau de parfum that smells just like the iconic treat tastes. It captures the coziness of the season in every spray and features notes of creamy vanilla, spun sugar and honey.
A must-have for candy corn super fans, the limited-edition scent is available in 1.7 oz bottles and is perfectly paired with a bag of Classic Candy Corn. The fragrance is available for purchase for $22 at CandyCornSeason.com, while supplies last, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on September 22 – in honor of the first full day of fall.
“Candy Corn is the true marker of fall and Team Candy Corn is passionate about their fandom, so this year, Brach’s is giving them a new way to express their love for the iconic treat,” said Kelly Peyser, Director of Brach’s and Seasonal Marketing at Ferrara Candy Company. “With Ode to Candy Corn, we’ve transformed the unmistakable flavor of Brach’s Classic Candy Corn into a wearable fragrance that truly captures the sweetness, warmth and nostalgia that makes this time of year so special.”
Disclaimer: Brach’s Ode to Candy Corn eau de parfum is a fragrance product intended for external use only. Do not ingest. Flammable – keep away from heat or flame. (sounds a bit dangerous)
—
‘all the candy corn that was ever made was made in 1911.’
-lewis black, american stand-up comedian and actor
his comedy routines often escalate into rants about history, politics, religion and cultural trends
personal note: my plan is that i’m going to opt out, buy a bag of candycorn,
make a necklace and earrings out of them, and i can wear the scent of the season for $2.99,
bonus: i can safely ingest them and won’t have to avoid birthday candles or lit pumpkins.
—
source credits: brach’s , ferrara candy company
Sep22
autumn comes and autumn leaves.
“Autumn Leaves”, Carol Collette, Etching on Paper with Watercolor
autumn comes to us on this fine first day, september 22
—
Carol Collette was born in 1945 in Toronto, Canada, and graduated with honors from the Ontario College of Art.
She is an etcher, printmaker and painter and some of her art has been inspired by the rural beauty of New England, where she lived for some years, as well as the beauty of Hawaii, where she now resides for part of her year.
You can see more of Carol’s work here https://www.carolcollette.com/
—
‘the heart of autumn must have broken here and poured its treasure upon the leaves.’
-charlotte bates
Sep21
mizzle.
Baby cheetah in Africa by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Greg Cortopassi.
—
it’s been mizzling for a few days straight here
not everyone is amused by being in a mizzle
but the earth loves mizzling and is smiling.
—
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, by National Wildlife Contest entrant Diana Rebman.
—
Mizzle
Light rain; drizzle.
Origin: Dutch, 15th century
“Mizzle” is likely based on the Dutch “mieselen,” meaning “to rain gently.”
Mizzle is the lightest kind of rain, quiet and steady, keeps the grass green and the flowers bright.
—
‘some people feel the rain, others just get wet. ‘
-bob marley
—
source credit: word genius /photo credits: national wildlife foundation
Sep20
still life?
lollipops, necklace, menu, glasses, application, hat, baby doll
all in one little corner
tiny bits of life
come and go
left behind
still waiting
still life?
—
‘… life, by definition, is never still.’
-kurt vonnegut
—
leo’s, ann arbor, mi, usa – late summer 2026
