Saturday, March 31, 2012

Garden Shed

A few weeks ago, I won this original painting on a blog contest. Isn't it gorgeous! I look at it everyday and love it more each time I see it. The artist is named Connie Snipes and her blog is at this link. (She just put up a stunning "Bird on a Wire" painting that I adore).
"Garden Shed" by Connie Snipes
When I first saw "Garden Shed," I contacted Connie and asked her if she would mind if I posted about it here on my blog. She said yes then asked what I had in mind. My thoughts seem to stray towards literature and books, even when looking at artwork, because my immediate reaction was to post how it seemed to be Mr MacGregor's garden shed (from Beatrix Potter's "Peter Rabbit.").

This would be my ideal garden shed, if I had lots of land and rows of seeds to plant. It's charming and the colors are stunning. A place you want to hang out and to create your garden plans in. Timely for this season we are just approaching with all of its possibilities and unknowns. It can be anything we want it to be -- what a lovely thought!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Anne-ish

Very Anne-ish

In the end, 
I still prefer the sound 
of the wind in the firs 
across the brook

~~Anne of Green Gables 
by LM Montgomery


Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Yellow Wallpaper - April 24th!

So excited to see this! April 24th is the release date.




Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Catstarter

You've heard of "Kickstarter." Well, this is "Catstarter." I want to buy my kitty this cat cave on etsy.

Photo by Vaivanat
The girl who hand makes them lives in Europe. I am starting this Catstarter "fundraiser" to raise funds increase sales in my shop for the cat cave. The cost is $64 dollars including shipping. My goal is to earn the 64 dollars through sales in my etsy shop in the next month, by April 20th.

So here is how Catstarter will work. If you like books / vintage / handmade items, go to my etsy shop and help this cause! Many items are 50% off right now in these "cat"egories!

Vintage Books (literature, kids, non-fiction, something for everyone!)
Vintage Merchandise
Handmade tags and cards, bookmarks, etc.

This post is all in fun, but if you really want to contribute by buying something, my kitty will thank you!
Drawing by Heather Simonsmeier - http://www.etsy.com/shop/xheather

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Wind Has a Temper

The trees announce the wind's arrival before she comes in the room. 
You hear the arrival before her entrance. 
Stillness is replaced with a rustling gesture replaced with tempestousness. 
Apparently, wind has a temper. 

Photo by Jean Beraud

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Deliciously Scared

Photo by Daina Valiulis 

The Village

As Anne would say..."deliciously scared!" (click for part one)

Buy the shirt

Then there is this

shibawi.com

Friday, March 9, 2012

The Real Thing

I heard them before I saw them. A choir of robins made their song from the quiet shelter of a big pine tree. I think their song told the pure joys of springtime, at least, that's what it spoke to me. Glad they are to be back in their homeland after a winter break down south, and not afraid to tell the world about it.

Heading back from my neighborhood walk, I saw two flashes of red streak by and head right for the pine tree. The two late arrivals joined in perfectly with the choir, taking a fashionable singsong break from courting and nest building.

It's been a very mild winter anyway, with very few winter storms and milder temperatures, making it seem spring-like since January. However, there is a new feeling stirring in the air that can't come close to spring-like. The real thing is here..., all God's children and all God's creatures said, "Rejoice!"

Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!

~L.H. Bailey

Thoreau Society Fundraiser

The Thoreau Society is having an auction right now to raise funds. You can see the items for bid at this link. Here is a sampling of items available.

Heirloom seeds from Thoreau's Birthplace
Genuine Thoreau Pencil
You can also shop Here.


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Moon Hungry

Full moon night.
Clear bright skies.
Made just for yours and mine
Moon hungry eyes.

Photo by Moongazy Girl
 (You could spend a fortnight just on all the different moon names there are)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Victorians Knew

The Victorians knew beauty, they lived it and breathed it. That may be one of the reasons I've always been particularly drawn to that era. They made the ordinary seem extraordinary. Everything from picking apples to raking leaves was adored, made to be lovely, and celebrated.



Drying flowers became an art.
  Nature was loved and adored.


All the excellent and praiseworthy things were real to them.
They captured them in an era I wish had never ended.

They knew that...
simplicity is beautiful.


(Funny, I got all the images here on a free Victorian images website, except for the rose,  but some don't look Victorian!)