march

february once again, didn't fail in being one of the crappiest months of the year.
but here we are at March.

















and there are some good things ahead.
like the green of daffodils popping out once again.

















soon, a 1st birthday for my little A., her present I'm working on. inspired by papercuts here.


watching the progress of a friend's building home (bound to give us all envy).


and having a few days ahead, in which I'll get to wear flip-flops again.


















the elderly black cat has looked for little ladybug. but I think he's resigned himself, that she is
no longer around to lick clean his ears.
i'm realising that having just one cat, is quieter and cleaner, than two.

am planning to order some garden seeds. because it is close to time, to start some seeds.

and am hoping, that with Spring will come new & good things.
usually, it does.

great things list #16

believing in my president.

watching him speak to Congress on national TV. and smiling. with a feeling of
confidence. and even, getting a bit teary-eyed.

and wanting to clap right along with everyone there.

little ladybug

the day I brought her home.















the day I said goodbye.


thank you ladybug. for 15 years of good kitty love.

sleep well.

friday the 13th

I have a black cat. He is constantly crossing my path.

Choosing to think this means I'm lucky today.

#16

thanks, Abe.

adoration

yes. i'm still in awe.

I should probably post something of substance. but all I've got on my mind
is the glory of trusting my president again. and this crazy spring-like weather we've been having.

and the one month I have left to create a birthday#1 present for little A.

ad astra per aspera

happy kansas day.

great things list #15

morning sunshine in the kitchen.

taken his seat.

yes we did

i'm still amazed. thrilled. relieved. hopeful.

only about an hour to go. before our next president.

wyeth

one of my favorites, "Trodden Weed." from the book, Andrew Wyeth Autobiography. he describes it as a highly emotional self-portrait.

the book my folks purchased for me, after we viewed the Wyeth exhibition together. back in 1995. at the Nelson-Atkins.

I remember wanting to have a piece of everything he saw. After viewing his paintings. Since though it seems to some bleak & lonely, I thought instead, it seemed calm, peaceful and passionate.

'member June?

after a visit to my grandparent's home, and taking these pictures of the backyard, I told myself to wait to do any posting. that in the dead of winter, I'd enjoy some summer pics.

seriously, remember the Kansas sun? I miss it. My winter cranky has really set in.

in late June, I walked around my grandpa's gardens. while he pointed out his pink hollyhocks. and his abundant tomatoes (and the roof damage they received in a recent tornado). I am late in appreciating his gardening talents. But in the past few years, I've realised it gives us something in common. And I enjoy seeing his love.















permanent bluebird.















porch sitting.















hollyhocks. (I have the seeds, but I must yet find the sun)

christmas sunset

my sunset view, as I drove Christmas night.

the pink struck me as especially pretty. it was a very clear, crisp night.

seemed like I was the only one out driving on the country road.

wishing upon fruit

ate this apple today, standing in my kitchen at the old cutting board.
looking outside, where it is only barely sunny. and mostly dry & cold.

found myself wishing for something warm, new and happy. something good you can
count on. like that first day you open the door, walk outside, and hear all the birds chirping in crazy orchestration which means, Spring has arrived.

christmas cheer

I just don't have it this year. which is not normal for me. I do believe I've even forced cheer upon friends in the past. oh well. there is always next year.

was looking for inspiration on the LOC Flickr site, and the Google Life archives.

I found great photos. of other people's cheer.

I really should holiday it up a little bit. As I'll have a variety of guests for a few days. And how will I get cookies baked, without some sort of flickering holiday lights somewhere in the house?

at least snow is pretty

snow was pretty. but it blew away. today's negative wind chill. on a snow-less, grey & windy day. is not pretty.

tho' it does inspire me to get some pre-holiday baking done.

(above: winter in moscow from the Life archives)

another trip. but with corporate intent.

flying. I think would be improved if this was my greeting upon the plane.

am glad my trips have been short. will be glad to return home again after this one. for a weekend that will start Friday noon when my plane lands.

a weekend I realise, that must involve christmas shopping. or my wee ones & folks will go without this year.

snow on the ground here. blowing hardily in the cold wind.
looking forward to sunny skies in Denver.

(image once again from the Life photo archive now hosted by Google.)

more chicago

thanksgiving in chicago was good. & would have been if all we'd done was stay on Victoria St. & played cards. but since we also spent time with other kansans, and found time to walk, look at art, drink and eat around the city. it was better than good.















color on the city street.



















tall buildings on the way to the museum of contemporary art. where I saw this Kara Walker exhibit (since the museum has no exhibit link, here's a Times article I read awhile ago), and initially gasped, oohed & ahhed. paper cuts, beautiful & haunting. also, alexander calder mobiles. amazing.















devon st., after a delicious dinner with hot, milky tea. as we passed stores of saris & bling-y bangles. I (mostly) contained the urge to go inside and wile away the time, just touching the pretty. and wondered why I'm such a non-bangle person. can't stand the jingling noises, I guess.



















christmas at gino's north. pizza in the booths. strong drinks at the bar. the jukebox needed more country. but beautiful spot to enjoy a wintry evening drink.

more trip photos on flickr.

thanks be.

a meal with friends.




















with an entire plate of delicious.
















an apple tart. of the almond, butter & caramel variety.

















wine and whisky.

thanks for evenings with friends. thanks for feeling at-home, even when faraway from it.
thanks for all of my friends, currently scattered across the country & the world.
thanks for my amazing family. and the chance to love two little ones, who know me as aunt lissy.
and for the possibility. that change is good. even change which hurts at first--knowing it must have an outcome worth hoping for.

and thanks for that apple tart recipe.

eames, for instance

still playing with the Google Life photo archive.

here, it was search "eames".
















































simple design. so beauty.

kitchens, for instance

Google now offers image searches from the Life photo archive.

so if you'd like, you can search for photos of kansas farms, or abraham lincoln, or simply, kitchens. beware of how much time in the day you'll spend here.



























































































I now desire a way to get a print of this last image.

shall save our country

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country."
-Abraham Lincoln, Annual Message to Congress, Dec. 1, 1862

44

one of my biggest loves, is our democracy. as imperfect as it can be & as hard it sometimes seems. but it is meant to grow, to change and to be constantly improved. It is meant to be cared for, strived for and appreciated. by the people who get to live with it.

and when the power of the people is proven. it is a reminder of how lucky we are.

when Obama/Biden took Ohio, I had tears come, feeling like 8 years of anger, fear & cheat, letting out in choked relief.

and when Virgina put it over the edge. I finally began clapping. It is amazing to feel Joy.












It is going to be a long, hard road. helping to fix what has been damaged in this country.
I believe the voting majority, have chosen the right people to do it.

oh wow. talk about the better angels of our nature & the swell of a chorus of our union. I wonder, Mr. Abe Lincoln. what you'd be thinking about now. or Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Dream. Or even Thomas Jefferson, as he had declared that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

congratulations America. we've decided to go with Hope. let's all stand together, and show the world just how amazing & great we really can be.

we the people

of course.