did it!
kept a house plant alive
long enough
(three whole weeks almost)
for it to bloom and thrive!
(okay, so it didn’t need dirt or water, but who cares about the details?)
way up high
away from the felines
away from the over/under water-er
away from the over/under feeder
away from over/under attention-giver
and there it is
my curse is broken
swear my thumb is looking a bit green.
—
‘did i ‘kill a plant’ or did a plant not thrive in this fast-paced environment?’
-alittleexrra
i
Creating portraits that are startlingly lifelike, Chinese artist Leng Jun is a master of hyperrealism.The accomplished painter is particularly known for his detailed oil paintings of women, where every wisp of hair and fiber of clothing is rendered to perfection. Born in 1963, Leng came of age during a time of great economic reform known as the Opening of China. This great cultural change, and the Western influences it introduced, greatly influenced his art.
Interested in painting from a young age, he first experimented with oil paint while in middle school. Though no oil paints were readily available in China at the time, a friend gave him a few colors to experiment with. These early experiments stayed with him and so he continued his studies with a steady flow of information from the West helping to shape and mold him as a painter.
Though he was well respected as an artist prior, it was after his 2004 oil painting titled Mona Lisa that his work went viral. This photorealistic portrait of a woman was based on the principles of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting but depicts a modern woman. This work was followed by a series of photorealistic portraits of women, each more detailed than the next. By examining the details, one can appreciate the precise brushstrokes that pull out each aspect of the sitter.
While there is some criticism that these works look too much like photographs, Leng maintains that anyone seeing the paintings in person won’t be deceived. It’s not his intent to compete with or imitate a photograph, but rather he’d like to push his art to its limits. By balancing technical skill with the ability to bring emotion to his paintings, he’s been able to touch people around the world.“
“I want to push my painting skills to a higher level. What is the most difficult thing? To paint people. For example, still life or rusted metals, they’re not something we see every day. People deal with people the most and people are most familiar with people. To portray people and make others believe is the hardest thing.”
“the position of the artist is humble. he is essentially a channel.”
-piet mondrian
—
source credits : my modern met, jessica stewart
Giant signs. Multiple warnings. Lane arrows. Last-chance reminders. Border patrol energy from a mile away. And yet… everyone knows someone who has taken it by accident.
Your aunt. Your college roommate. A friend of a friend who “was just trying to stay left.” Suddenly you’re inching toward an international border with no passport, no plan, and a growing sense of doom.
You swear you didn’t mean to. The car knows you didn’t mean to. The signs absolutely warned you. But now you’re committed, rehearsing your explanation while Googling “what happens if you accidentally enter Canada.”
It’s a Michigan rite of passage. You don’t live here long enough without either doing it yourself—or knowing someone who has a story that starts with:
“So I accidentally crossed into Canada once…”
And somehow, despite all the signage, it keeps happening. I’ve done it myself. More than once. Along with most everyone I know. It is south of Detroit…
—
Here are some responses from other Michiganders when asked –
I knew someone that did it, went through customs, explained the mistake, came back. Then followed the GPS to do the exact same thing again. Border control was not as nice the second time.
I crossed, my phone didn’t get coverage, and it’s much harder to cross back!
Took kids on prom night, we were trying to get to Wendy’s.
I think we all did it once.
Years ago I was heading somewhere different but ended up going towards Canada I kept seeing signs last minute I caught a exit and got off that route.
When it was under construction I went over. The agent before the border said that there was a turn around right before the bridge, however by the time you see it, it’s already too late.
Years ago, John Steinbeck wrote of such an episode in “Travels with Charley.” Canada Customs told him he could bring Charley (a dog) into Canada but he didn’t have the papers to get the dog back into the States. Back on the Stateside control point, when he told the U.S. he hadn’t been away, an exchange that ran the better part of two pages followed. Resolved when Stateside officer rang up his Canadian counterpart who confirmed the story. Thus Charley hadn’t officially left the States and couldn’t be quarantined as a dangerous animal.
I have accidentally done it TWICE. Which is hilarious cause how.
One of the main reasons i got an enhanced license is if i accidentally take the bridge to canada somehow
I told the guard “I can’t go to Canada, I have school tomorrow!” She let me turn around!
Should build a new bridge called bridge of shame as a turn around for people who accidentally do it…nothing better then telling someone you went to the border and have to use the bridge of shame to get home.
I’ve done that on a snowmobile. Didn’t realize we were in Canada until we stopped to fuel up and gas prices were in litres.
You look at the sign here and you think how can anyone accidentally cross it. But there you are, in Canada, and your phone is no longer working. And you panic.
The only place in the U.S. where you travel south to enter Canada.
I accidentally turned into the entrance to the tunnel and had to explain to the border guards that I’m stupid so please let me turn around.
Did it with a horse trailer in tow lol.
We did this many years ago. I had my niece, mother in law & aunt in the car, going to bingo! Somehow in the wrong lane! Guess I was thinking bingo! No excuses.
I was so terrified. Luckily, we always managed to avoid the Exit of Doom.
This is why I keep my passport in my purse. Just in case!
I went with my mother to get her global entry at border patrol. It is literally under the bridge!!! We couldn’t find it. Yep. Ended up in that lane!!
Guilty. I was messing with my CarPlay and missed my exit. That was a fun conversation with border patrol.
Yep, my dad did this helping his buddy learn to drive.
My husband and I and some friends ended up on that exit… I just sat back and watched the s*it show unfold… told them we are headed to Canada they said no I said yes… all I can say is our friends had a time explaining their reasons for taking that ramp.
Omg that one time we turned in before the concert and they searched my car..
We did it once trying to get to the Ren Hotel. Fortunately we stopped before we got beyond the parking garage or whatever it was and Border Patrol let us turn around by their barrier. They said it happens a lot..
My stepson announced he had to go #2 when we were halfway up the exit. My husband had to quickly put the car in reverse. I was positive they were going to come after us!!
We had a parent do it taking a car full of teens to a football game as part of a pep band.
I’ve come close. I couldn’t get left. Had to cut someone off. I mean, they knew too. I had my blinker on.
I’ll admit to being guilty of this one for sure!
I did it back in 2012. I had to wait for 2 hrs for an escort to the border exit. There were 2 other cars. They were out of their cars just socializing. I was inside my car texting and complaining that I did such a stupid thing
I’ve done it- It was a night I will never forget!!
Omg!!!! That was a funny day calling the boys saying we accidentally went over the bridge.
I did it years ago!
My brother and I took it by accident once! We were teenagers
—
“if the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.”
on the other side of this confectionery buffet
waits a parking lot of strollers
lined up and ready to roll.
—
“even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections,
children tend to be sticky.”
– fran lebowitz
*Fran Lebowitz is an American author, public speaker, essayist, and actor. She is known for her sardonic social commentary on American life as filtered through her New York sensibilities and her association with many prominent figures of the New York art scene of the 1970s and 1980s.
—
briarwood mall, ann arbor, michigan, usa, winter 2025-26
When America Joined Hands: The Day Hope Stretched Coast to Coast
hands across america
who remembers this?
i do, and it was pretty darn cool
—
On May 25, 1986, something truly remarkable unfolded across the United States. More than six million people from every walk of life joined hands, forming a single human chain stretching from New York City all the way to Long Beach, California.
The event, known as Hands Across America, transformed strangers into neighbors and made hope visible. While celebrities like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie helped shine a spotlight on the cause, the real power came from everyday people—parents and children, workers and students—standing side by side with a shared commitment to fight hunger and homelessness.
For fifteen unforgettable minutes, a living ribbon of humanity crossed cities, deserts, farmland, and rivers, proving that even in a vast and diverse nation, unity is possible.
The effort raised millions for food banks and housing programs, but its greatest legacy wasn’t financial. It was the message it left behind—a reminder that when we reach out and join hands, literally or figuratively, we can create something far greater than ourselves.
And perhaps now more than ever, it’s time to reach out again.
—
‘when we know ourselves to be connected to all others,
acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.’
-rachel naomi remen
—
source/photo credit: earth geographic
—
About 50 wayward sheep broke off from their flock and stormed a supermarket in a German town, startling and delighting customers as the animals rushed to explore the aisles before being escorted from the premises.
The woolly incursion occurred on Monday during a routine seasonal migration of the sheep in the Bavarian municipality of Burgsinn. A few dozen of the sheep had other ideas about the route and made their way into a store of the Penny retail chain.
“It was impossible to tell whether the sheep were looking for something particular on offer or just wanted to warm up,” the company said in a statement, noting that the flock seemed particularly fond of the checkout area where shoppers and staff were present.
Witnesses said that while the animals resisted the urge to nibble their way through the fresh produce on display, their foray into the store left a path of destruction in the drinks section as their bustling knocked glass bottles and other products from the shelves.
“The customers present reportedly took the spontaneous animal visit in their stride,” said Philipp Stiehler, the board chair of the Penny subsidiary in Germany.
After about 20 minutes, the sheep were coaxed out the door and rejoined their flock.
The German embassy in London couldn’t resist a pun-filled post about the fluffy new mascots. “50 runaway sheep ram-paged through a German supermarket in rural Baa-varia, causing shear mania on Monday morning,” it posted on X. “After breaking away from their 500-strong herd, the brazen sheep spent 20 mins milling around in the Penny supermarket before ewe-turning and seeing themselves out.”
Stiehler dismissed speculation that Penny planned to bill their shepherd for the damage or cleaning costs, with the company instead seizing on the nationwide media attention and viral posts to say it wanted to sponsor feed for the 50 runaways for a year.
Dieter Michler, the shepherd, told the public broadcaster , Beyerishcher Rundfunk he had been taking 500 sheep – ewes with their lambs – to their winter shelter. He guessed at least some of the 50 animals were distracted by acorns on the ground, leading the others astray as they lost contact with the rest of the flock.
Then, he said, “someone must have walked into the supermarket with a bag and they followed”, seeing something that to them could have resembled concentrated feed or a sack of salt, which are used to feed the sheep.
“I wouldn’t have thought it possible that they would voluntarily walk into the supermarket,” Michler said.
A customer drove to catch up with Michler and the rest of his sheep and told him about the escaped animals’ unexpected excursion. By the time the herder arrived they were back in the car park after staff made loud noises to shoo them out of the supermarket.
Michler said the animals were doing well after the excitement. “As soon as they were with the flock they were happy again,” he said.
—
‘the shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep
that their interests and his own are the same.’
-stendhal
—
photo credit: a. dollins, statesman journal
checking in with the buddhist monks again
still on their walk for peace journey
across the states
we can all use a bit of peace today
many thanks to all
who read, comment, suggest, browse, share and befriend me
near and far, all across the universe
—
‘don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you, figure out what you want to say.’
-barbara kingsolver
—
Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 14 years ago.
Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.
imagine that?
it was only a week ago
on the new year
we were super bundled up
walking on a frozen lake.
then yesterday…..
—
‘you are the sky, everything else is the weather.’
-pema chodron
*Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist teacher, author, nun, and mother who inspires millions worldwide with her down-to-earth message of practicing peace in turbulent times.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 