The clouds cleared way for me to catch sight of the blue moon this morning as I was driving. This pic doesn’t really do it justice — it looked much larger in person..
I’ve had a blue moon inspired paper cutting in my head for awhile — it may come to fruition sooner than later.
I actually snapped this iphone pic a few weeks ago. I came to my original homestead armed with my camera to make up for last weekend’s rainout on my planned photo-escapade. But alas, hurricane Isaac has made midwestern landfall and I’ve been rained out again. So instead, I sit here reading poetry by computer light to the sound of dogs barking, occasional cars sloshing by, and a single barred owl making it’s presence known. A very early morning ahead as I head home to get myself ready for my afternoon paper cutting workshop at the library. Til then, here’s one of Millay’s short, lighter works (I also recommend reading her work “Renascence” – much longer and heavier and one of my favorites):
Afternoon On A Hill by Edna St. Vincent Millay
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.
And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!
In honor of today’s blue moon (the second full moon within August). And here’s another favorite song talking about a blue moon which I posted awhile back: https://ruralpearl.com/blog/?p=3677
Looking through some old, awesome photos.. My grandfather (on the left) in appx. 1925.
“Be as you wish to seem.”
I’m in the thick of getting greeting cards & all sizes of prints printed.. and continually realizing as I go that the quantity of supplies I have on hand are inadequate. Lots of ordering going on. But I’m excited to have lots of new prints and cards coming out.
I probably won’t have very many brand new original paper cuttings for a couple weeks since I’m getting stocked up with the aforementioned printed goods for my next two shows. I’m heading down to Wichita on Sunday to pick up all my originals from Bella Luz where they are currently on display. Check’em out if you’re there before I get there.
Saturday, I’m doing a paper cutting workshop at the Lawrence Public Library based around the cover art on the book “The Cabinet of Wonders” for the Read Across Lawrence program. So far, I’ve got 46 kids signed on (HOLY MOLY! That’s awesome..), so go register if you’re interested (I’m sure adults are welcome too – it’s ages 8 and up)– there’s room for more, or just show up on Saturday at 1:30. Til next time..
7.5 mile run on the somewhat desolate Kansas River levy trails.. a place I’ve mostly avoided because of the paranoid Brooklynite in me who’s always looking out for lurkers. My biggest goal for the year is to release all fears, and I’m well on my way. And this morning, I learned that all I was doing by fearing something unknown was forcing myself to miss out on a really great experience.
On one side: distant farmhouses and machinery, fields of flourishing crops and scorched corn, farm cats, roosters calling..
On the other side: lush trees lining the river, crickets and cicadas chirping, various birds singing morning songs, leaves slowly falling to the ground.
In front of me: morning sunlight creating bokeh on my eyelashes one way, company in my own shadow on the way back; every moment ahead.
Behind me: a light end of summer breeze; every moment past.
With me: my mind and body working together, the feeling of movement, feeling my feet on the ground, thinking about how to translate what I’m seeing into a paper cutting, enjoying every moment, remembering what really matters and how simple it can be to enjoy it all.
It feels good to be alive and to not fear making the most of it. (Maybe it’s the runner’s high that makes me want to write about it all. Either way, it’s good to put it here to keep myself and maybe somebody else going).
I’ve been printing cards all day long.. I’m swapping seven of my large cards out of what has been my regular lineup for the last year or so to start partially fresh for the fall season (I have thirteen designs available in the large cards at art shows). These will also be available in my Etsy shop very soon where you can find all my previous cards as well. (Pardon the poorly lit iphone pic. It’s late..). Here are the titles of the designs on the new cards:
1. Waiting by Lamplight
2. Listen to the Rain
3. Ursa Major
4. Sun Worship
5. Cat & Mouse Games
6. Night Class
7. Hooting Hatters
“The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived.” -Soren Kierkegaard