tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71182920198225617152024-02-19T17:21:41.094-08:00Silver SwanWritings of an artist following the Muse.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-72289844555191245062016-01-14T12:21:00.000-08:002016-01-14T12:21:05.646-08:00Rackham and the WindSomething I love about Arthur Rackham's work is how so many of his works feature a very exuberant wind. There's nothing as exhilarating as being caught up in a wild wind!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsY8IFvKkGomE6d1rVjdK5V0j6MCLFpz6zfm5cb3VQe7Xe55Tw7OHEcRoZ-nepI3osHHRSkr3vPO0FGWEh_qNL8H1zJWTwIyuE5NBxtoE4FEH8pw6CtyUlHCUvDkyCub4O8ECfABRZnA/s1600/ArthurRackham_Cleveland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsY8IFvKkGomE6d1rVjdK5V0j6MCLFpz6zfm5cb3VQe7Xe55Tw7OHEcRoZ-nepI3osHHRSkr3vPO0FGWEh_qNL8H1zJWTwIyuE5NBxtoE4FEH8pw6CtyUlHCUvDkyCub4O8ECfABRZnA/s1600/ArthurRackham_Cleveland.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur Rackham, "And now they never meet in grove or green," from act 2, scene 1 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, en and black ink and watercolor with scraping and minute touches of white gouache on artist’s illustration board, 1908, source: http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1954.651?artist=Arthur+Rackham</td></tr>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-91595868999310026992016-01-11T10:35:00.002-08:002016-01-11T10:35:46.793-08:00Arthur Rackham - Illustration for "Till Eulenspiegel"I am an admirer of Arthur Rackham and am often to be found scouring places for his work. It's great fun to get lost in the online galleries of museums and dream of one day seeing the works in person. I stumble across this beauty of his in the Metropolitan's gallery. I have never read the story it's from, but now I must see if I can get my hands on it. How terrifying and haunting the figures are. I wonder if the fact that it was done right in the middle of WWI had anything to do with the darkness and fear in this painting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJooTTPG_-HIExaVboN7CQRe7o_HwCoxtFHA3QwPRBmMJjbFBOlSOaaR-VCixmEt1jQaCHBH0rcdJ1CRcoLFXQ4hVOZGQZ_wzEfQj6bvbiG3U7SARlGEcyqegulYX_uR-1koDysZ3AjhQ/s1600/ArthurRackham_Met.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJooTTPG_-HIExaVboN7CQRe7o_HwCoxtFHA3QwPRBmMJjbFBOlSOaaR-VCixmEt1jQaCHBH0rcdJ1CRcoLFXQ4hVOZGQZ_wzEfQj6bvbiG3U7SARlGEcyqegulYX_uR-1koDysZ3AjhQ/s640/ArthurRackham_Met.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur Rackham, Illustration for "Till Eulenspiegel", watercolour, pen, ink, and guache on paper, 1916</td></tr>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-60279293228121089622015-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:002015-12-28T16:11:10.406-08:00Surrey, EnglandThis looks like it's straight out of a story book.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VJ-yw3yw_wWCQ6aGdJGal9_MZ27UmEpqzetWqQ05fbp0mN-kgg8enFvp6CclfYXcSToFAE3KpymLHi8Gwd69gWTjHFUKV-4P94PwwPFm1DqEGktVhmt2QZ-MHRXHWMl5EYH2ZDum8b4/s1600/Chantries-sunset-1024x448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VJ-yw3yw_wWCQ6aGdJGal9_MZ27UmEpqzetWqQ05fbp0mN-kgg8enFvp6CclfYXcSToFAE3KpymLHi8Gwd69gWTjHFUKV-4P94PwwPFm1DqEGktVhmt2QZ-MHRXHWMl5EYH2ZDum8b4/s640/Chantries-sunset-1024x448.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrey Hills, Surrey, England, from http://www.surreynet.co.uk/things-todo/surrey-hills/</td></tr>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-32802635831715229492015-11-29T19:33:00.004-08:002015-12-05T10:36:14.167-08:00Dreaming of DreamingWith all the business of the holiday season, I've been dreaming of doing this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikI-X5rG420kykxxA2coZdeCQNSfpf5IGOP9TllTVWsWzbgPKmBCsn5l5qBGRKIg2kHXsOuL2ZsOiWPVEc44jZndxRrN9GVWYvciZrTomSZfdLRRT88sw4UuaKgz8Cu_K7u2KqHZ04zQ/s1600/siestabridgman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikI-X5rG420kykxxA2coZdeCQNSfpf5IGOP9TllTVWsWzbgPKmBCsn5l5qBGRKIg2kHXsOuL2ZsOiWPVEc44jZndxRrN9GVWYvciZrTomSZfdLRRT88sw4UuaKgz8Cu_K7u2KqHZ04zQ/s640/siestabridgman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">"The Siesta" by Frederick Arthur Bridgman</span></span></span></td></tr>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-15038541999985411452015-09-28T11:06:00.001-07:002015-09-28T11:07:28.504-07:00Lunar EclipseThe eclipse was so inspiring last night! There was cloud cover for part of it, but now and again it would appear. It was so eerie, watching it turn deep red, then drift back into a bright, icy white light that my eye fancied was tinged with blue. How exciting to get to see it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iLw1JOz0gHGVaLnjXRcjWIhd0QoqY5EFB5notb8VV7L5ZS8AOscWbAM9K4I9EkGQDYnC1AqKO7rAw-NtQCWteF1ea_ZmBFZfamJQsliO3WlfEE1UhhQiYMmAOvQZD4SiDE_O49ReStQ/s1600/Eclipse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iLw1JOz0gHGVaLnjXRcjWIhd0QoqY5EFB5notb8VV7L5ZS8AOscWbAM9K4I9EkGQDYnC1AqKO7rAw-NtQCWteF1ea_ZmBFZfamJQsliO3WlfEE1UhhQiYMmAOvQZD4SiDE_O49ReStQ/s1600/Eclipse.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photos by me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMtilNGEhNdLRlsu1MkDR2I7R2eMtxS_bGX_UKhtehEknn6GK7VfSlnC4jPe2Ov7lL51KknJQFAguQw-FtzwZWtD4NOrxcLq_0yrCyvSLwgOncLu2a-EbRVN8eUOna3rCFvO_vsUCk6A/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMtilNGEhNdLRlsu1MkDR2I7R2eMtxS_bGX_UKhtehEknn6GK7VfSlnC4jPe2Ov7lL51KknJQFAguQw-FtzwZWtD4NOrxcLq_0yrCyvSLwgOncLu2a-EbRVN8eUOna3rCFvO_vsUCk6A/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UEPW8oKX8qzbWcbiPZAVHK3WqQ3WaVGT0BEeFwYppYrt9iYF6NftFt5CE_ydFeST1wmoe9tfyI6EzVeI671uUq7D9vQkXE12wh45Se0aBo-rI3mMfEQ8zu9HAV60YqmooP2deIk-kGI/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UEPW8oKX8qzbWcbiPZAVHK3WqQ3WaVGT0BEeFwYppYrt9iYF6NftFt5CE_ydFeST1wmoe9tfyI6EzVeI671uUq7D9vQkXE12wh45Se0aBo-rI3mMfEQ8zu9HAV60YqmooP2deIk-kGI/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-43089269513841697472015-09-27T11:26:00.001-07:002015-09-27T11:26:42.565-07:00The Moon Has Lost Herself<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoNLQ6dA_5qrlOiofk3cGokp_HOGFQemnhqHEgIhlp0RvXmmkha1Yj0CXSrnPlpQeq_0ei8nus8TtXs_RFDdZHG9MBaQ54tInPwaENA7-W1tL5q3laIs6QK9_e0Fhz0eAcJPwXqkIf0/s1600/eclipes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoNLQ6dA_5qrlOiofk3cGokp_HOGFQemnhqHEgIhlp0RvXmmkha1Yj0CXSrnPlpQeq_0ei8nus8TtXs_RFDdZHG9MBaQ54tInPwaENA7-W1tL5q3laIs6QK9_e0Fhz0eAcJPwXqkIf0/s1600/eclipes.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by me, words by Roma Ryan</td></tr>
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Tonight there will be a total solar eclipse of the harvest moon, and it also happens that the moon will be the closest to the earth that it will be all year. I'll be out watching tonight...Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-44124043164634736362015-08-30T13:43:00.002-07:002015-08-30T13:43:52.055-07:00Gaston Bussiere, "The Death of Roland"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm_V7YUaKSCW579ich4RHHYJq4h7PUXfxthSguVL6IRtUDpcB2Lh7YDk6KAPWDKld26SPkkLr-zUA2dWQ_UXlP8ZFzWwPWejQ_taZa78wUhRy_74QQZFp1juWBPI5hJXSfbj9ZyHa9Cw/s1600/gastonbussier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm_V7YUaKSCW579ich4RHHYJq4h7PUXfxthSguVL6IRtUDpcB2Lh7YDk6KAPWDKld26SPkkLr-zUA2dWQ_UXlP8ZFzWwPWejQ_taZa78wUhRy_74QQZFp1juWBPI5hJXSfbj9ZyHa9Cw/s1600/gastonbussier.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><i>The Death of Roland</i> by Gaston Bussiere</span></td></tr>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-8581398072053453162015-04-21T08:49:00.000-07:002015-04-21T08:49:01.136-07:00Waiting For FirefliesEvery year I wait for my favorite part of summer, the time when the fireflies finally come out. They're not here yet, and won't be here until sometime in June, but I'm waiting, and thinking about how I might capture them... such as how this artist, Tsuneaki Hiramatsu, has. His images are time lapse photographs of fireflies. Doesn't it make you think of faery tales?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPAeBV0kK-9ffkuMtWg4VMi-M00S9W7bK5saKOavFlOQSKsSoofCs3jmFlsHPAkqjW3vDoC-yM_4GUPDTno5Y9xauVRkAm3Nvf8h70R_INdmIwT77b4Irr-oTVRGoTt5xDVqdxfgxukE/s1600/Tsuneaki+Hiramatsu+Fireflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPAeBV0kK-9ffkuMtWg4VMi-M00S9W7bK5saKOavFlOQSKsSoofCs3jmFlsHPAkqjW3vDoC-yM_4GUPDTno5Y9xauVRkAm3Nvf8h70R_INdmIwT77b4Irr-oTVRGoTt5xDVqdxfgxukE/s1600/Tsuneaki+Hiramatsu+Fireflies.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsuneaki Hiramatsu, from <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/beautiful-flight-paths-fireflies-180949432/?no-ist">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/beautiful-flight-paths-fireflies-180949432/?no-ist</a></td></tr>
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It reminds me of a Kinuko Craft painting for the cover of Juliet Marillier's wonderful re-telling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", titled "Wildwood Dancing". Wonderful summer reading if you've never picked it up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixV6ORdrAqDKY3eHzCRu3jM9em90jHbXF0ALV06lw52Wa5QSIfBPCEP7BHLsvesv_ldIWYXCr_CSgVbTjQhm8pThiEh5znuo_VEgqcTOd09_Ey6KuZDEscmaVKP8LpfX5bnvbWEeJOqnk/s1600/Wildwood+Dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixV6ORdrAqDKY3eHzCRu3jM9em90jHbXF0ALV06lw52Wa5QSIfBPCEP7BHLsvesv_ldIWYXCr_CSgVbTjQhm8pThiEh5znuo_VEgqcTOd09_Ey6KuZDEscmaVKP8LpfX5bnvbWEeJOqnk/s1600/Wildwood+Dancing.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kinuko Craft, <i>Wildwood Dancing</i> (cover art), from <a href="http://melodyfarmerphotography.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-of-kinuko-craft.html">http://melodyfarmerphotography.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-of-kinuko-craft.html</a></td></tr>
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Or, for that matter, Craft's painting for her illustrated version of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses".</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMpBIyA4PaV3uhCOqFE7eR3vkJZDa9umorIWQqzOpTzGpFmDX53olng3E_XBjHgVY9-KO4ekMrHi-ffPnlstuNKgG0CCi82dG7y3cCXeTX3xWIK4-58me6SsO8sxM4R1SBHBNaVGp-t4/s1600/KinukoCraft12DancingPrincesses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMpBIyA4PaV3uhCOqFE7eR3vkJZDa9umorIWQqzOpTzGpFmDX53olng3E_XBjHgVY9-KO4ekMrHi-ffPnlstuNKgG0CCi82dG7y3cCXeTX3xWIK4-58me6SsO8sxM4R1SBHBNaVGp-t4/s1600/KinukoCraft12DancingPrincesses.jpg" height="466" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kinuko Craft, <i>The Twelve Dancing Princesses</i></td></tr>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-46444854321425654672015-04-02T10:42:00.002-07:002015-04-02T10:42:44.915-07:00Tam Lin ArtworkI recently became aware of the artwork section of the site <a href="http://tam-lin.org/">tam-lin.org</a>. It has some wonderful and imaginative illustrations of the the ancient fairy tale "Tam Lin". This one in particular struck me; it's by Vernon Hill, an artist I am not familiar with but will have to do some research on now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVbmNJa8dwPuAitxt7UieKv-uyLiRaOxNXzpflUjXV4cHpCpRWqQ9gUzbFLinniHFzyv6TxxA7iRwFy33URBgqG-2MTBNR77YULICdRpCxp3hWCuVSzI57lfAtwd2QZKh9WV1xoAzIwo/s1600/Tam+Lin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVbmNJa8dwPuAitxt7UieKv-uyLiRaOxNXzpflUjXV4cHpCpRWqQ9gUzbFLinniHFzyv6TxxA7iRwFy33URBgqG-2MTBNR77YULICdRpCxp3hWCuVSzI57lfAtwd2QZKh9WV1xoAzIwo/s1600/Tam+Lin.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vernon Hill, 1912, <i>Tamlane</i> <a href="http://tam-lin.org/images/artwork/books/weirdandwonderful.png">http://tam-lin.org/images/artwork/books/weirdandwonderful.png</a></td></tr>
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I think what I like is the starkness of the scene. To me it conveys how afraid and alone Janet must have felt. But she is also resolved, determined, and focused. Brave girl.</div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-2991400741418620322015-04-01T19:29:00.001-07:002015-04-01T19:29:29.455-07:00My Favorite Flower of SpringThere are so many flowers to get excited about in spring, but I think if I have to pick a favorite, it's probably dogwoods. It wouldn't be an Arkansas spring without them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo4S2QtKg8mHz5GaQ-U07lbslOrJAHfR2iuxc28_BKPaorKz_UluFSUWZZo8-SzZ7VVc296ZVboPZZqbxruNT27eRMeuVVggJAljquUUQkWllY2rhYYmq-npjBfuVPwb_RiqOt51Tu48/s1600/dogwoodmdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo4S2QtKg8mHz5GaQ-U07lbslOrJAHfR2iuxc28_BKPaorKz_UluFSUWZZo8-SzZ7VVc296ZVboPZZqbxruNT27eRMeuVVggJAljquUUQkWllY2rhYYmq-npjBfuVPwb_RiqOt51Tu48/s1600/dogwoodmdc.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Photo: <a href="http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/news/out/archive/arc3-2010.html">http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/news/out/archive/arc3-2010.html</a></td></tr>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-52758053879202240802014-12-25T09:51:00.002-08:002014-12-25T09:59:27.120-08:00WinterWinter is such a wonderful season, despite what the majority of the world thinks! For me as an artist, snow gives a wonderful relief to the business of the outdoors, rather like negative space in a composition allows one to focus in on the small details of a work of art. I think Alphonse Mucha knew what I'm talking about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRMMaSH4DE6V1qeMuiLEKY05Uk93OqVCB2oNwfbh8NdW9KSZyHTeS11iiwIDxxiIz3TX2v3-ntgicf1t_894mFylUzqwvdGwwtNnV4PizWhQPaDxF8DRxv15-Ln-qD3N7wY1VcGELF1o/s1600/AlphonseMuchWinter1900-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRMMaSH4DE6V1qeMuiLEKY05Uk93OqVCB2oNwfbh8NdW9KSZyHTeS11iiwIDxxiIz3TX2v3-ntgicf1t_894mFylUzqwvdGwwtNnV4PizWhQPaDxF8DRxv15-Ln-qD3N7wY1VcGELF1o/s1600/AlphonseMuchWinter1900-2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-92111437460584900352014-12-04T10:30:00.001-08:002014-12-04T10:30:54.651-08:00John Duncan, "The Riders of the Sidhe"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVYFnSh21m1jLE66COb000T80a7awqueVIwKVyZEmc1IGemdzcamHqgJRZAm6dGeoAw6XUqmTuaDVbbIqodD9GP2APhZxMVRUg6BZnN3Cr-tuN4y64_EnHDz_xmGqfdU06S-AAWt0Rmc/s1600/1+john_duncan_019_the_riders_of_the_sidhe_1911+crop.+little+color+adjust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVYFnSh21m1jLE66COb000T80a7awqueVIwKVyZEmc1IGemdzcamHqgJRZAm6dGeoAw6XUqmTuaDVbbIqodD9GP2APhZxMVRUg6BZnN3Cr-tuN4y64_EnHDz_xmGqfdU06S-AAWt0Rmc/s1600/1+john_duncan_019_the_riders_of_the_sidhe_1911+crop.+little+color+adjust.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Duncan, "The Riders of the Sidhe", 1911</td></tr>
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I had never seen this painting before, or heard of John Duncan. What an exciting new discovery! He sounds like quite an odd character too; he said he heard "faerie music" when he painted, and married a woman whom he thought had discovered the Holy Grail in a well in Glastonbury.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-3564433292309533322014-11-16T18:43:00.000-08:002014-11-16T18:44:12.426-08:00My Treefrog and Frog Fairytales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are several little green tree frogs that live around my house. I snuck up on this one and got a few good captures of him. The jewel-like color of their skin is simply amazing; the color has not been enhanced in any way in these photos.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77hvSZyGq5ujWI9BobOCByrEVievJkR_cT-W-CUIX_ntPUpdRNRLFnwvVKoOUVU9x6mcB8zO0vGvrIhGbbn8LePYKwfgsKenA1mp9dLDj29YoD3gD5AMt-lA4WUR4mQpLqRa9B3dcy5A/s1600/treefrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77hvSZyGq5ujWI9BobOCByrEVievJkR_cT-W-CUIX_ntPUpdRNRLFnwvVKoOUVU9x6mcB8zO0vGvrIhGbbn8LePYKwfgsKenA1mp9dLDj29YoD3gD5AMt-lA4WUR4mQpLqRa9B3dcy5A/s1600/treefrog.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photos by me</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8psbfkh3GPM1thgzSiUTcafopn4YgjAgRqZFgHaAH3mJLn6F9TRXuH40mdCgO7dqOppC63XVPwS5-IdzJpzFmI8H-i-WXnwLokRsX1leGGtvwhWqx-SetAi0OwCH2EEA5u7BHgXqXH4c/s1600/treefrog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8psbfkh3GPM1thgzSiUTcafopn4YgjAgRqZFgHaAH3mJLn6F9TRXuH40mdCgO7dqOppC63XVPwS5-IdzJpzFmI8H-i-WXnwLokRsX1leGGtvwhWqx-SetAi0OwCH2EEA5u7BHgXqXH4c/s1600/treefrog2.jpg" height="520" width="640" /></a></div>
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Of course one always thinks of the fairytale, "The Frog Prince" by the Brothers Grimm. In that story, there is no kissing of frogs involved, rather the frog is thrown against a wall and turns into a Prince. I wasn't about to throw this little guy against the wall to see what he'd become. Besides, I've already caught my Prince.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://windling.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fcf7385883401a3fd23db7c970b-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://windling.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fcf7385883401a3fd23db7c970b-pi" height="634" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Frog Prince</i> by Arthur Rachkham, source, Terry Windling's blog: http://windling.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fcf7385883401a3fd23db7c970b-pi</td></tr>
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I've always thought frogs are fascinating little creatures, with such odd, enigmatic little smiles. There aren't a whole lot of little girls who squeel upon sight of a toad of frog and run <i>toward</i> it, but I was one of them. Frogs feature a great deal in fairytales, though the one we're most familiar with is "The Frog Prince" by the aforementioned brothers. However, there's a Russian folk tale of a Frog Princess. If you're interested, you can read it <a href="http://www.artrusse.ca/fairytales/frog-princess.htm">here</a>.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-12149507577084492002014-11-02T12:23:00.000-08:002014-11-02T12:25:14.823-08:00Sunset for Fairyland<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj95DW6OXCXcJtqiiN07j3JeBsBs2dRHL3WLqXzsYdOrnU_EG47vveVw4_aMLA-nnwwadPeRaQsNF345gmp6efzbXKvLgbzYICAI-FhaigS39zp_GEEjcH4bPXxqYo2K7c99bnRW6FvGY/s1600/sunset1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj95DW6OXCXcJtqiiN07j3JeBsBs2dRHL3WLqXzsYdOrnU_EG47vveVw4_aMLA-nnwwadPeRaQsNF345gmp6efzbXKvLgbzYICAI-FhaigS39zp_GEEjcH4bPXxqYo2K7c99bnRW6FvGY/s1600/sunset1.jpg" height="640" width="423" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photos by me</td></tr>
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There are some sunsets that have to be seen to be believed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp-8GezPA7pReFBFhXLVMIyrP923f-ngfDa3pOJnLytnVbVroRLZccXIGgNoreMqeBqi7lK1AiJHSL5Gvaqz9MpkXd3VD1N43jpIZtUdiypQaQZXQKgo2FvUoPsBnGJ_IaV4mDxT_LaY/s1600/sunset2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp-8GezPA7pReFBFhXLVMIyrP923f-ngfDa3pOJnLytnVbVroRLZccXIGgNoreMqeBqi7lK1AiJHSL5Gvaqz9MpkXd3VD1N43jpIZtUdiypQaQZXQKgo2FvUoPsBnGJ_IaV4mDxT_LaY/s1600/sunset2.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-6657122931128428472014-10-26T09:50:00.001-07:002014-10-26T09:50:44.014-07:00Silver Point Grasshopper<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7r2RNJShgYWzA2Rc6RBJgUI_TLTjLOarKsDwUFVRqHGS3-cxsx8gruM3lKWxVa6p4PI56y5IUP-8OdANTbC3hZJE3cxesb96sOK0qC-W5rhkLDNpXZsm5CyUmVg_sZF5rLw-a8hOJ0c/s1600/Grasshopper4(smaller).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7r2RNJShgYWzA2Rc6RBJgUI_TLTjLOarKsDwUFVRqHGS3-cxsx8gruM3lKWxVa6p4PI56y5IUP-8OdANTbC3hZJE3cxesb96sOK0qC-W5rhkLDNpXZsm5CyUmVg_sZF5rLw-a8hOJ0c/s1600/Grasshopper4(smaller).jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photographs by me, subject: grasshopper in silverpoint</td></tr>
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I recently discovered silver point drawing, a very old method of drawing in which you use a wire of pure silver to draw on specially prepared paper. Old masters such as Leonardo da Vinci used it during the Renaissance, some of them drawing with pure gold, brass, and copper too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCvAFyRiY1I1jIw4XXIPUbh_tW8zsdv0-07Ivyhfc2Zs7-1vaQn3_7i2JYfV_3QpikJ9v-GJ4fMGKaYVA_HWEWlz2R1Xue0kmHBCuS9lWKOlFYpe89pKyZI8_17H3nk4nTGsuDRPB1hw/s1600/Grasshopper2(small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCvAFyRiY1I1jIw4XXIPUbh_tW8zsdv0-07Ivyhfc2Zs7-1vaQn3_7i2JYfV_3QpikJ9v-GJ4fMGKaYVA_HWEWlz2R1Xue0kmHBCuS9lWKOlFYpe89pKyZI8_17H3nk4nTGsuDRPB1hw/s1600/Grasshopper2(small).jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was drawn to it because, being obsessed with details, it allows one to draw the finest, most delicate lines possible because of the combined hardness of the metal, fineness of the point, and the ability to make a stroke with the lightest of pressures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwnEzy2K2nuKYEZeaf8V7JR4dj3C2UA5hXf653O1LkA0yNCByBZURwJ-hfvol2WEIbV51-tc4POnV156wF_7eox3VSXztyeW_Z8cn2Hc_JAq_2iCge7G90RZGCelX3MD7WdooB-BiieI/s1600/Grasshopper3(smaller).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwnEzy2K2nuKYEZeaf8V7JR4dj3C2UA5hXf653O1LkA0yNCByBZURwJ-hfvol2WEIbV51-tc4POnV156wF_7eox3VSXztyeW_Z8cn2Hc_JAq_2iCge7G90RZGCelX3MD7WdooB-BiieI/s1600/Grasshopper3(smaller).jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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Another wonderful attribute is the highly reflective nature of the marks made. Before the metal tarnished on the page, it glitters and glows like the precious metal it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSDhlXGh2scmskVNpUwp3UmxYwyZ1p7-CPLLXBYgVjNzom0E8F1L6xYXfB65ad1nohfYfHD1kHd4tQ53OssYF86hj3J-ospV_FP2VJDH3fNQWtfCyWoIR7IN2xuGZa5S4k2-7KrO2VeY/s1600/Grasshopper3(closeup).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSDhlXGh2scmskVNpUwp3UmxYwyZ1p7-CPLLXBYgVjNzom0E8F1L6xYXfB65ad1nohfYfHD1kHd4tQ53OssYF86hj3J-ospV_FP2VJDH3fNQWtfCyWoIR7IN2xuGZa5S4k2-7KrO2VeY/s1600/Grasshopper3(closeup).jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-27821430870748808742014-10-08T18:22:00.001-07:002014-10-08T18:22:40.555-07:00October Lunar Eclipse<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wenaXHu5HQybUs8sUS-SDdi-7k6jtwHAKjOzwnrXCUWKGV0iGxe3L8OShd6YHjFDHJSGbnvX4h-lTfZpnFlQ0iZWGPh9FTo3wy2oozWbwRfaxRZqih5y1iGLNE9fM4NnyA5nxaT790E/s1600/e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wenaXHu5HQybUs8sUS-SDdi-7k6jtwHAKjOzwnrXCUWKGV0iGxe3L8OShd6YHjFDHJSGbnvX4h-lTfZpnFlQ0iZWGPh9FTo3wy2oozWbwRfaxRZqih5y1iGLNE9fM4NnyA5nxaT790E/s1600/e1.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Me</td></tr>
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I went out to see the lunar eclipse early this morning. It was foggy and misty, and the moon was low on the horizon, but I still managed to capture an image of it, albeit not a very good one. I enjoyed being out in the chilly October morning. It's not often you get to see a lunar eclipse, and the fact that it was at this time of year made it extra enchanting.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-68012466525662042812014-09-24T10:34:00.000-07:002014-09-24T10:36:34.446-07:00The Oak<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Zq2KLNGe_7aPO3zkS0JlN0SDx9CzcAdjmBJnrcl-EVft7-smX-aAPsimn4akLYBrNwX2Q8_CzRTxFUgmoIQSzOQzdIlyIe9vdbLBwawlKni19wOQcZ6rgw4CGzeDthYOPNTn0heOr0/s1600/Oak+Tree+Matthew+Jamieson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Zq2KLNGe_7aPO3zkS0JlN0SDx9CzcAdjmBJnrcl-EVft7-smX-aAPsimn4akLYBrNwX2Q8_CzRTxFUgmoIQSzOQzdIlyIe9vdbLBwawlKni19wOQcZ6rgw4CGzeDthYOPNTn0heOr0/s1600/Oak+Tree+Matthew+Jamieson.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matthew Jamieson, source: http://jamiesongallery.com/mj.html</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Live thy Life,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Young and old,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Like yon oak,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Bright in spring,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Living gold;</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Summer-rich</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Then; and then</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Autumn-changed</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Soberer-hued</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Gold again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">All his leaves</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Fall'n at length,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Trunk and bough</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">Naked strength.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.0059986114502px;">-Alfred Tennyson</span></span></div>
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</span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-7814277658421766102014-09-22T10:32:00.000-07:002014-09-22T10:32:19.383-07:00Autumn Equinox<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd74fgc3tIlgbA6lMdLZ0XBWRBHa0BBvAEzM_stMsg7IAA87kmnbqh58bAE2x5uIdmeegmg6Q4UTJUd-VB__focC-k5FC0duU57O4saWWGT1NLdoa6GaHsFA2r7XXV3QjXXypTIKgmgE8/s1600/autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd74fgc3tIlgbA6lMdLZ0XBWRBHa0BBvAEzM_stMsg7IAA87kmnbqh58bAE2x5uIdmeegmg6Q4UTJUd-VB__focC-k5FC0duU57O4saWWGT1NLdoa6GaHsFA2r7XXV3QjXXypTIKgmgE8/s1600/autumn.jpg" height="493" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Kirsty Mitchell, source https://www.facebook.com/artpeople1?fref=photo</td></tr>
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Today is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Fall!</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-22073519839166828142014-05-05T11:43:00.002-07:002014-06-07T11:27:33.943-07:00Time to Make Beautiful Things<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouCy4hMMdkumVy8DKMV_e1jC3y-BPRwrBWybxdQgGdjGZ2cv-QSzi1bJ39mj_xn9c9SC288oUi0kyQcffh2OjXO04fgtlXjJRbAcsTjJtGb_8HQfRLl8_Yr3YrciOlzKR-nAjzujSCYA/s1600/Wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouCy4hMMdkumVy8DKMV_e1jC3y-BPRwrBWybxdQgGdjGZ2cv-QSzi1bJ39mj_xn9c9SC288oUi0kyQcffh2OjXO04fgtlXjJRbAcsTjJtGb_8HQfRLl8_Yr3YrciOlzKR-nAjzujSCYA/s1600/Wish.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wish" by Christian Schloe, https://www.facebook.com/ChristianSchloeDigitalArt</td></tr>
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I've been too busy being busy lately. Mostly my life has consisted of driving to work, working, driving home, working in the garden, and cooking. All things that need to be done. But there is something else that has not been done for a long time, too long in fact, and must be done tonight. And that something is to make a Beautiful Thing.<br />
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-76293854740595640562014-03-14T11:07:00.000-07:002014-03-14T11:08:16.317-07:00Zephyrus<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://31.media.tumblr.com/ea5229eb1e33fd9a11f86451df6e44d4/tumblr_mr02ukPUEA1rz5qxqo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://31.media.tumblr.com/ea5229eb1e33fd9a11f86451df6e44d4/tumblr_mr02ukPUEA1rz5qxqo1_1280.jpg" height="342" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Flora and the Zephyrs</i> by John William Waterhouse, via <a href="http://saveflowers1.tumblr.com/post/57322344297/art-by-john-waterhouse-1897-flora-and-the">saveflowers1</a></td></tr>
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Standing by the lake a few days ago, I felt a strong, warm wind rush across my face and blow my hair about. It was Zephyrus, the warm west wind, herald of spring.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-43182392820603733892014-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:002014-02-19T10:46:10.877-08:00Burrowing Owl<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Athene_cunicularia_-near_Goiania,_Goias,_Brazil-8_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Athene_cunicularia_-near_Goiania,_Goias,_Brazil-8_edit.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burrowing Owl by Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes, source Wikimedia Commons</span></span></td></tr>
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I saw this gorgeous photo of a Burrowing Owl and couldn't help posting it here. It has one foot tucked away under its feathers so completely, you'd almost think it only has one leg!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-92069208761627204602014-02-08T12:54:00.001-08:002014-02-08T12:55:47.487-08:00Winter Weather At Last: A Fairytale World<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHnNUGYNUICKr2s3ZWaxpwGiE0grQZhf59HQPqKXYOeM7zjKhbWoJ4njHm7Pl5juBoXfkYkCwWh32INKA2dwkAXzBPnQnwq3ncduA6NN-xSczznmWbAXmWx-D63fYShbympzQiXocQDs/s1600/Snowflakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHnNUGYNUICKr2s3ZWaxpwGiE0grQZhf59HQPqKXYOeM7zjKhbWoJ4njHm7Pl5juBoXfkYkCwWh32INKA2dwkAXzBPnQnwq3ncduA6NN-xSczznmWbAXmWx-D63fYShbympzQiXocQDs/s1600/Snowflakes.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos by me.</td></tr>
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After spending most of my childhood in Texas, where there is very little in the way of a discernible change in the seasons aside from hot and hotter, I have an utter and complete fascination with snow. For a child who loved reading the fairy tales of Hans Christian Anderson and the various Red, Blue, and Violet Fairy Books, all of which have tales of Snow Queens and winter lands, the rarity of snow or even sleet was extremely disappointing.<br />
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Thus, when my family moved to an area where there was at least one good snowfall every winter, I developed the habit of wandering for hours in our woods every time it snowed, reveling in the enchanting sound of falling snow and the way the ordinary world could be transformed in a matter of minutes into the world of the fae, dangerous and beautiful, silent and yet full of music.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUG1WpTB0dRO0ZN5GTJ_RLiPGcFYkjG-vCyZ3TVmpm8sRrqnEUPLIa3FXFzE4fyTg7zLFJqbYLNsI5yxwa3a4O30j3tu2H3PWrdlxdflGbqUVeOf0ek51GvjTB6In0ljZJ8BN4cImD2s/s1600/3+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUG1WpTB0dRO0ZN5GTJ_RLiPGcFYkjG-vCyZ3TVmpm8sRrqnEUPLIa3FXFzE4fyTg7zLFJqbYLNsI5yxwa3a4O30j3tu2H3PWrdlxdflGbqUVeOf0ek51GvjTB6In0ljZJ8BN4cImD2s/s1600/3+small.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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To an artist's eyes as well there is endless fascination and inspiration. Ice and snow exhibit some of the most exquisite, detailed patterns one will ever find. If you bother to slow down and look closely, new worlds reveal themselves to the naked eye. I invite you to try it next time you're outside in the snow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtu3QxoGSO9lPE3UOf1Fu8aOvn14l9dwvcpGgg_deA8kFk-Z0wQHq1HjQhOO362Vq1eklAcbR6yCzs28tPhS2g_LYlyn5z46VeaNhnmq22uMzWfF9C1JxcaOyeghqM8TdDCcV_JcMYT4/s1600/1+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtu3QxoGSO9lPE3UOf1Fu8aOvn14l9dwvcpGgg_deA8kFk-Z0wQHq1HjQhOO362Vq1eklAcbR6yCzs28tPhS2g_LYlyn5z46VeaNhnmq22uMzWfF9C1JxcaOyeghqM8TdDCcV_JcMYT4/s1600/1+small.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9owapRIUC1lMOoRasSY8Ttrr-7vYKpKV3waAeoHeJflWVwB7_sdjMsU1x0k76u3hyphenhyphenjCryQD6K04nB2SS9U5lZlDo7SamnAmO7ZpuW6rnMoaZZx6eD6R_oBQgdvFU50Z-n3I3MgKuUARc/s1600/2+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9owapRIUC1lMOoRasSY8Ttrr-7vYKpKV3waAeoHeJflWVwB7_sdjMsU1x0k76u3hyphenhyphenjCryQD6K04nB2SS9U5lZlDo7SamnAmO7ZpuW6rnMoaZZx6eD6R_oBQgdvFU50Z-n3I3MgKuUARc/s1600/2+small.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwCgIDbwv1OKbkLX4aj5QIgzhZY3t90zJC0QM47XAKUlPkubO55Q4DgsDbyxyZVlVf6CeenWozxoMBE-hOon7bp-Qu594f7pJkVPv3izr29rYPbSYExyi8qtltUdmjjsr8OKIEV7VanA/s1600/5+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwCgIDbwv1OKbkLX4aj5QIgzhZY3t90zJC0QM47XAKUlPkubO55Q4DgsDbyxyZVlVf6CeenWozxoMBE-hOon7bp-Qu594f7pJkVPv3izr29rYPbSYExyi8qtltUdmjjsr8OKIEV7VanA/s1600/5+small.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVlStHI_OEDvwr_dzOWfvRP47my3ueiaXweMCxmVcsZekBQiXNYil_y907YCych3bmwJ4JbUy4z0SWjhFopl6Zo2A-6pnE2MIElJtebeMh01ggMP0T_Tv3O_XFPBqiGH1oj3lmdxIf7M/s1600/7+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVlStHI_OEDvwr_dzOWfvRP47my3ueiaXweMCxmVcsZekBQiXNYil_y907YCych3bmwJ4JbUy4z0SWjhFopl6Zo2A-6pnE2MIElJtebeMh01ggMP0T_Tv3O_XFPBqiGH1oj3lmdxIf7M/s1600/7+small.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySdQB0DY6DXlawyXOfxJuGXgFuvICy6zM9WBczWMPtWOUhA3O2QvWCe1RE3QaDAZZP6Bq4VbUxjK5LJqpTlh5A1h9JiJixSwzkS5s6LE_t2Ro1vbpMy7ZnPLzg4OKsjtEl8M_ZNeINb0/s1600/6+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySdQB0DY6DXlawyXOfxJuGXgFuvICy6zM9WBczWMPtWOUhA3O2QvWCe1RE3QaDAZZP6Bq4VbUxjK5LJqpTlh5A1h9JiJixSwzkS5s6LE_t2Ro1vbpMy7ZnPLzg4OKsjtEl8M_ZNeINb0/s1600/6+small.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHKQppLnfNgImBboSjSIsLQZAi9jhc8Yrs96GtDa2_OjudbV_HkjAdxJEmJtK5bdNg4obZPDzPghvpsWslCwVS32zQ8aJR4YIuCSk6CFr2Bo_RchrwJmU_om2I-4E7NWB52uJg2Zn1zQ/s1600/4+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHKQppLnfNgImBboSjSIsLQZAi9jhc8Yrs96GtDa2_OjudbV_HkjAdxJEmJtK5bdNg4obZPDzPghvpsWslCwVS32zQ8aJR4YIuCSk6CFr2Bo_RchrwJmU_om2I-4E7NWB52uJg2Zn1zQ/s1600/4+small.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-26301645173282695942014-02-06T11:48:00.001-08:002014-02-06T11:48:35.056-08:00Mirow Casle, Poland<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Mir%C3%B3w-03(tz).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Mir%C3%B3w-03(tz).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirow Castle, Poland. Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mir%C3%B3w-03(tz).jpg</td></tr>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-17420639078731780862014-01-13T18:47:00.000-08:002014-01-13T18:48:30.859-08:00The Oldest House in New Orleans<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX9LImeuXBKXCeMY45wTfL1iBkUpzhyRoarPi4shnqhjoTVSxqeihSbm_kZM_vyQ8Um8aAHp0Lqrga6XNyhfEDuoubcnbyvsHPDjHDTY-qotT0_UQvZ8cEXy0bMerCJEebcs-4z1Q_SY/s1600/Oldest+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX9LImeuXBKXCeMY45wTfL1iBkUpzhyRoarPi4shnqhjoTVSxqeihSbm_kZM_vyQ8Um8aAHp0Lqrga6XNyhfEDuoubcnbyvsHPDjHDTY-qotT0_UQvZ8cEXy0bMerCJEebcs-4z1Q_SY/s640/Oldest+House.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by me.</td></tr>
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I recently took a trip to New Orleans, which is actually quite an interesting and mysterious city. Because I love old things, I sought out the oldest house in New Orleans, and found it in a more out-of-the-way part of the city. Called the Spanish Custom House, and built in 1784, it looks like something straight out of <i>Gone With the Wind</i> or a Southern Gothic novel. There must be so much history that has taken place in a house as old as this.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118292019822561715.post-20109080223958406982014-01-07T19:59:00.001-08:002014-01-07T19:59:40.039-08:00Old Door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSHIRO_jlc1eg4LbYW0htvaeyt5Vryo41bMqfrDEz9tGxYlzGTtCWSrFB4kJVl-w1qciFEP3Et1vGrXVgr0Ue_SUnPE8AKH23t073u0tHYXQlYuuES_59tEBAeaWWRzSPVujrteV_7Mo/s1600/004+Old+Door+(Processed,+Smaller).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSHIRO_jlc1eg4LbYW0htvaeyt5Vryo41bMqfrDEz9tGxYlzGTtCWSrFB4kJVl-w1qciFEP3Et1vGrXVgr0Ue_SUnPE8AKH23t073u0tHYXQlYuuES_59tEBAeaWWRzSPVujrteV_7Mo/s1600/004+Old+Door+(Processed,+Smaller).jpg" height="640" width="329" /></a></div>
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I saw this old door in New Orleans. It made me think about all the various ways the Pevensie children found themselves pulled into Narnia. I wonder if this could be a portal...</div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147916047948858714noreply@blogger.com3