These are beautiful…

http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2017/10/04/japanese-vending-machines-at-night-juxtaposed-with-a-wintry-hokkaido-landscape/

“…Heaven starts already…”

This day started badly for me…disappointment with the way a meeting went with a group I cherish. Apprehension about facing a much loved family member with fear. With the help of friends and space, things can turn around. I found this poem by Thomas Merton on the On Being blog .

“There are days when I am convinced that Heaven starts already, now, in this ordinary life, just as it is, in all its incompleteness, yet, this is where Heaven starts. See within yourself, if you can find it.
I walked through the field in front of the house, lots of swallows flying, everywhere! Some very near me. It was magical.
We are already one, yet we know it not.”

~Thomas Merton (via crashinglybeautiful)

Photo from above Hilo. I love flying above Hilo.

10 Tips on Writing from David Ogilvy – posted on Brainpickings

I love Brain Pickings by Maria Popova. Her posts are so very interesting. This one is one of my favorites.

David Ogilvy is writings are much admired by many (and me.) Here’s practical advice most of us can benefit by.

“The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who think well, write well.

Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches.

Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:

1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.
2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.
3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.
4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize,demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.
5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.
6. Check your quotations.
7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.
8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.
9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.

If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.

David”

I’ll be sharing more of my favorite posts from this site..Or check it out yourself for some really interesting reads.

Blue Ball Jars

A few months ago, I saw this beautiful photo of these glass canning jars on Food 52's Provisions site and fell in love. We're using them as drinking glasses and storage. The tops are kept in a ziploc bag and are ready anytime I need them to hold grain or garlic or whatever. Otherwise, they serve as pretty drinking glasses. This photo was taken by James Ransom who does a lot of the photography for the Food 52 site. I love the way the home page of his website opens with a ransom note. This post with special credit to our friend, John Sevick, who picked up my first set of these jars.

Amazing Adventure site: Canyon Chronicles

I wanted to share this amazing site : The Canyon Chronicles by Eric Leifer. Visit his site to see photographs of hidden places in Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado. He and friends are discovering new locations deep in valleys. I’m especially in awe of the locations in Hawaii. I see them from afar – from airplanes, sometimes roads, sometimes from boats. I knew they were there. His photographs and stories take you there. This link is specific to his Hawaii section: http://canyonchronicles.com/canyoneering_hawaii

I took a screen shot from his site showing a few of the locations – unfamiliar locations (at least to me). He describes them in greater detail accompanied by photos and wonderful photographs. There isn’t a way to share his images without stealing from his site…believe me, it’s worth a visit.

I love this from his about page:

“I prefer stars over roofs.  I seek perspective over possessions.  I choose love over hate.  I crave space over cities.  I value time over money.  I drink whiskey over wine.  I build bridges over boundaries.  I watch sunsets over television.  I see hope through the darkness.  I find comfort in unease.  I wander to get lost.  I get lost to be found.  I accept truth over perception.  I create a path beyond fate.  I take less than I need.  I seek what I doubt.  I am more than I know.  I know far less than I think.”

Eric Leifer

Thank you, Christian James for sharing this on Facebook.

 

Iconic Photographer Steve McCurry Talks Blogging and WordPress

There is an interesting interview on the WordPress blog with Steve McCurry on the subject of blogging.
His images are so strong, they don’t require writing. I love the way he posts about a topic…like Reading…and has beautiful images from all over the world that illustrate the topic. There is no doubt that he is an amazing photographer with great vision.

Here’s one on Reading:

Iconic Photographer Steve McCurry Talks Blogging and WordPress.

Kat Sloma – Postcard Swap

I’ve been enjoying Kat Sloma’s photography blog. She so generously shares information about photography with helpful lessons that inspire. Recently, she organized a postcard swap called Liberate Your Art 2012. The instructions were simple, you send in six cards with postage to Kat in Corvallis, Oregon. I’m not sure how she did this, but she mailed each of the 193 artists five cards plus one of hers.

Here are the stats of participation:
1152 individual pieces of art liberated
193 artists participating
11 countries represented

Here are the wonderful cards I received.

The card with the four happy singing birds  was from Joanna Crompton in New Zealand who contacted me via Facebook. Here’s a link to her blog: http://joslittlepictures.wordpress.com/ I was able to send her a postcard and hope to keep in touch with her by following her blog and FB posts.

Please let me know if you sent the other cards I received. I will add your info to this post.

I love that these artists came together with nothing more than an interest in sharing. Thank you, Kat Sloma!

A gif to love – BLT from Anthology Magazine

Remember those hated animated gifs, one of the tackiest things around when the internet was young? Here’a gif to love that I found on Anthology Magazine’s site – the building of a BLT. You need to click on the link below the image to view it. So cool!

http://anthologymag.com/blog3/2012/07/20/teri-lyn-fisher-jenny-park/

Postcard swap for photographers by Kat Eye Studio

I’m so enjoying Kat’s blog and site. Now she’s organized a postcard swap and I’m in. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes in the mail. It’s such a great idea for sharing art among artists.Please join us by clicking on the button above!

Canal House blog – love it!

“We are eating spoonfuls of a refreshing ice cold, tremblingly soft, tomato-water gelée with a Meyer lemon mayonnaise on this hot steamy 91° summer day. ”

This photo is from the Canal House blog which I just love. They post of photo of their lunch daily and it’s beautifully shot and the food is simple and amazing.

Thanks to Karen Jones for sharing this blog with me!