Time to stop Coccooning

Spring is slow to come this year.

View from my driveway, March 25, 2011

Today is the first day of sunshine and above freezing temperatures that we've had since the technical first day of spring on March 21. I should be thrilled to bits that I can open my windows and doors to the fresh air for a change....

Cocooning by Cecile Veilhan

Unfortunately, I don't entirely trust Mother Nature's moodswings this year - she can be such a tease.  There is still so much snow on the ground that I feel more inclined to continue cocooning than I do to go outside and watch my garden re-emerge from under its slushy wet blanket, as the snow melts in the much-missed warm warm sunshine.
huh - whose feeling melancholy today???


OK then, I officially resolve that today will be my last day of seasonal coccooning, and S.A.D. moodiness this winter (oops, I mean spring).  To mark the occasion, first I'm going to post some pretty girls in spring paintaings by French artist, Cecile Veilhan, then I'm going to get out of my pjs, make myself a big pot of tea and a leafy green salad for lunch, then I'm going to wrap myself up in a cozy warm sweater (and maybe a blanket), tune into the Kate Bush playlist on my ipod and force myself to go outside to sit in the sunshine, while it lasts...

....wow I'm getting whiny in my old age!!!!

Un Printemps Turqoise by Cecile Veilhan

Un Printemps Rose by Cecile Veilhan

Un Printemps Abricot by Cecile Veilhan

My kind of taxidermy

My husband Ken is an Outdoorsman with a capital O.  Years ago, when we first moved in together, I made a deal with him that I would not "feminize" our home with lots of flowers and pink stuff, in exchange for him not putting up hunting trophies in our living room.  Now, being as I've never been a particularly girly girl when it comes to interior design preferences, I probably got the better end of that arrangement - today our home decor has a cozy rustic feel inspired by log-cabiny antiques and found objects from nature.
So far, I have successfully avoided having to display any real animal heads in my living room; however after coming across the wonderful and whimsical work of artist Rachel Denny, (thanks to a recent posting that showed up in my Facebook newsfeed) I  think I could be swayed to a compromise.....

what a fun way to upcycle old sweaters!!

Literature as Art.... literally

As technology continues to evolve, I worry about the future of printed books for a lot of reasons.  I can't imagine anything I could love more than curling up with a good book - from the tactile experience of holding a heavy novel on my lap, to the scratchy sound of turning pages to the smell of old paper.  I am generally disturbed at the thought of destroying books.  HOWEVER, artist Brian Dettmer is creating what I see as a wonderful tribute to the printed word. 

I first read about Brian's work in an article on the NPR website.  Of course I already know that books contain beautiful treasures, but to see them uncovered like this is exquisite! 

In an age when so many old books lie moldering, out of date and forgotten in basements, on the shelves of dusty used book stores or discarded into landfill sites, I consider this art to be inspired recycling.

As Always, Dayna