Thursday, January 25, 2018

Improve, understand, learn


"I think it behooves us to be better people, to improve, breathe, understand, make the best choice, and keep learning."
—Jill Parmer

Jill wrote that in a chat in 2011, but it isn't available now to link.
Home might be a good match, or Alive and breathing
photo by Janine

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Hopeful, happy thoughts

Consciously draw in more hopeful, happy thoughts.

Without leaving your home, without leaving your chair, you can turn 90 degrees and get a different view.
SandraDodd.com/perspective
photo by Amber Ivey

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Exploration

Wander. Explore. Investigate.

Explore art, form, shadows.

Explore stories, ideas, words.
Exploring (with Deb-Lewis words)
photo by Ester Siroky
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Monday, January 22, 2018

Pancakes


Meredith Novak wrote:

The first time I made pancakes with white flour he thought they were the best pancakes he'd ever eaten.

Here's an interesting tidbit, though: after a few weeks of being allowed to have all the cakes and cokes he could eat at our house he out-and-out said "You know what, now that I can have all the sugar I want, I don't want nearly as much of it."
—Meredith

SandraDodd.com/eating/healthfood
photo by Sandra Dodd, of pancakes designed by Devyn, 8
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Sunday, January 21, 2018

"Sculpture" and other words

This photo is from a Chinese Lantern Festival event.


What is a Chinese lantern? What is "a lantern"? These have wire frames with cloth, and electric light inside. There are many other kinds of lanterns, both more traditional and modern.

In Albuquerque, balloonists sometimes get together to inflate their balloons at night. They stay on the ground, and the fire from the hot-air-creating burner will light the huge balloon up from the inside beautifully.

Back to the photo, though. It'a a monkey. It's a Chinese zodiac symbol. Geometry and technology were involved, with some traditional ideas about connecting pieces of cloth to create three-dimensional forms. It is a tool of cultural exchange, of good will, from a country at odds with our own. It is a propaganda monkey, and an art monkey. It was a happy light in darkness.

One thing is many things.

The flow of words
photo by Sandra Dodd, of other people's art
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Saturday, January 20, 2018

New combinations


There are random factors in the world around us. This tree was never blown down before. That horse never lay down near a downed tree that way.

Things happen in new combinations, without warning, and we make choices about how to see and respond to those things. I'm glad Cathy took a beautiful photo. It's good that the tree didn't fall on the shed, nor on the horses. It didn't break a fence.

Next year, it will be firewood.

Life will bring more surprises.

Unexpected Juxtaposition
photo by Cathy Koetsier
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Friday, January 19, 2018

Resting

Rests can be short or long.

Resting isn't always sleeping.

Sleeping doesn't always last long.
SandraDodd.com/sleep/outside
SandraDodd.com/peace/
photo by Cátia Maciel
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