The library in Puebla, Mexico has grown from 5,000 volumes in 1646 to more than 40,000 volumes now,
the majority of which date from before Mexico’s independence and is the oldest in the Americas.
—
“i cannot remember the books i’ve read any more than the meals i have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
-ralph waldo emerson
—
in honor of international book month
gargoyle
at loose ends
while waiting to defend the castle.
—
“she wasn’t bored, just restless between adventures. “
-atticus
‘
remember when
you heard all those scary stories in the dark?
where you looked in your rearview mirror and saw
the man with the hook/claw/bones in your backseat?
think maybe i should wave this driver over to warn him?
—
“the thing I hate most about skeletons is you can never tell when they’re smiling.”
-stephen blackmoore, american author
stepped out of my comfort zone
and into the woods
in a park i’d never visited
with a group of people i’d never met
to share a scavenger hunt/hike/game night/food/campfire/improv haiku experience
what we had in common was that we all enjoy active social adventures
without knowing how they will go
and sometimes those are the best times of all.
“to be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.”
-pema chodron
*This work, which is a depiction of a fireworks display in London’s Cremorne Gardens, is probably Whistler’s most infamous painting. It was the central issue of a libel suit that involved the art critic John Ruskin and the artist. Ruskin had publicly slandered the work by making the statement, “I have seen, and heard, much of cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two hundred guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face.” Whistler won the libel suit; however, he was awarded only the token damages of one farthing. This is one of Whistler’s many “Nocturnes,” which are characterized by a moody atmosphere, a subtle palette, and overall tonalist qualities.
—
“there is only one way to avoid criticism, do nothing, be nothing, say nothing.”
-aristotle
—
*art: James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Nocturne in Black and Gold, the Falling Rocket,
1875, oil on panel. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Dexter M. Ferry, Jr.
with the return of the school year
comes the return of our outdoor adventure days.
—
“we could have never loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.”
-george eliot
anyone who works with me, is related to me, or friends with me
knows i love writing my ideas/notes/lists
on any random found piece of paper
all makes perfect sense to me
interesting to look back at later
when out of context and a bit of time has gone by.
—
“but those who cannot write, and those who can, all rhyme, and scrawl, and scribble to a man.”
-alexander pope
—
note: (photo above is an “S” page ( S is for: scribbles, scraps and scrawls)
from a work-in progress – my memoir,
done in a large-format, alphabet book style,
using a bajillion collage pieces cut from everywhere – the best way i know to tell my story.)
one has a story that’s not like the others
—
“make your life story so amazing that unicorns have trouble believing it is true.”
– karen salmansohn
an adventurous visit to the michigan renaissance festival
way back when
in days of yore
i took my daughters
to this very shire
all of us dressed up
now my grandsons
have picked up where we left off
as brave knights
“look, it’s my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.”
– Sir Galahad (Holy Grail)
people enjoying the day
being whoever they imagine themselves to be
villagers from far and wide are all welcomed here
no matter their dress or look or form
and what could be better than spying a kilted warrior brave enough to pick up his own hot latte?
—
“live every day as if it’s a festival. turn your life into a celebration.”
-shri radhe maa
I didn't have my glasses on.... 