Sue at Sacred Circle Mandalas gave me a cup of roses petals award - a "lovely blog award."

Thank ya, Sue. Awards have rules meant to be broken. Here they are, made into fine print:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you love and/or have newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
4. Use the One Lovely Blog award picture from my blog, on your blog to let everyone know that you have one lovely Blog!

So now I have to anoint a few blogs - here I go:

Kim - Oz painter and art blog enabler. Check out the art she created for a dance school.

Joanne - who combines poetry, found objects and an open grace. Go Freeport - I pass it and gas just about every day.

Lisa - who brings great zeal care and spirit to art, family and life. She dislikes snakes.

Mick - another guy and Wookie watcher - whatever that is. He finds justifiable crassness in the my high brow BB art.

Irene - who writes better than anyone I know and even those that I hardly know, I suspect.

There are others, but we all need to leave others for others. Altruism meets laziness.

Now to hyperlink.

I continue to work with the image of Cory's shrine. The first details, in the post below, were very close to the original.

The images I am working with now have taken two forks - one set is darker and the other remains "blue." The details, above, are from the darker images.


Sue has been most gracious to give me an award....now I am supposed to reveal seven "things" about me (other than being on hold with the IRS this minute since I placed my charities amount one line down, ahhh. The IRS plays classical music - so far I have heard mozart, bach and a nutcracker suite. Yep, nutcracker).

i majored in early american history and kjoked that anything after reconstruction was political science. i almost went to graduate school in history.

as a kid I bred tropical fish and to this day love to go to pet stores with great freshwater fish. tropical fish is a dying hobby. very big in the fifties - see fish tanks godfather 2 movie - in the lake tahoe home.

i did not have the $5.00 for a ticket to see the beatles at the cow palace when i was a kid. i did see hard day's night in a twin bill with dr. no.

my favorite place to birdwatch is central park in manhattan; my favorite state to bird in is tejas, followed by california.

my first camera was a minolta, my second a nikon and my third a cannon. all 35 mm slr's.

i used to photograph sidewalks and staircases. in color, kodachrome.

if i could, i would live in cape may, new jersey, birding capital of the north eastern usa.

Thank you, Sue.

Thank you, Lisa. Lisa has been doing amazing work - visit her two blogs - she also posts incredible chicken recipes on her blogs. I never knew so many things could taste like chicken.

"the.plain.in"

Sampled (too slightly) from a beautiful photograph taken by Lexi. My sample, being so close to the original work, my image is a homage/study rather than my creative expression. Lexi has an exhibit that commenced on the second day of Christmas. That was the "two french hens day," if I can recall December.

While at Lexi's I followed a comment to a blog of another Spanish artist. The work is striking.

I like to follow comments to new blogs. Somehow, I once got to Lexi's blog which led me to Joanne's blog. Joanne lives in southern Japan, but grew up two towns over from my home on Long Island. She finds beauty in the most common, often scrap refuse, and then she scans it or photographs it with her cell phone. She was kind enough to give me a Happy award.

Thank you all for letting me sample and play. My best. Always. Yes.

"harrier.flight.one"

I got permission to use the harrier photograph- this is the original shot. The blog is here. This is my least favorite of the three so I hope no one expected very much.

The linked blog has excellent bird photography with a stiff botany bent. Photographing birds in the wild is difficult. You have long lens, moving birds, branches, bad light - in the "old days" it resulted in a lot of wasted film. It is worth investigating this Flickr site. Go here for some nice shots of birds organized by type.

Southern California is a natural paradise.

Sweet Irene gave me another award - gratitude.attitude. I return it to to acknowledge her her constant encouragement, wit and courage. Thank you, Irene. My best.



I also pass it on to Andrea and to Lisa and to Sue. Kind and gifted artists.

Gracias, amigas, siempre.

It has been a while since we (we?) have given a coveted mon.key award. Today we (we?) will bestow it on Irene and her perky dog, Jesker.

Irene was one of the first blogs I linked and she writes daily in a manner that astonishes me. She is honest, kind, thoughtful and brilliant. Her mandalas brighten my daily commute to the city and then I see them later in their full splendor on a flat screen.

Irene has lived in the States and knows the power of American litigation. It is more important here than making a better mouse trap. Almost a sport.

So, Irene, this one is just for you (click there):



I wish I could supply a banana split and a dog treat with it. Our best.

"sedge.wren.song"

Babaloo tree branches and a trace of a Lisa's raindrops. New Ireland.

Cold Friday morning - it may snow tonight here - so many of us seek the warmth of the spring. I hear the faint approach of wrens, spring is approaching - marching, leaping on this rare day.

Most of us will not experience twenty nine February 29's....bummer - life's brevity - one reason why there is religion and also why there also is art.

On a lighter note I do want to pass out one more award, belatedly, to Trijnie, a Woman In Glass . Trijnie was the first to link my blog and is always so kind. A truly amazing artist also. Go here for so much proof and inspiration....

Trijnie, we hope Hans is much better soon and goes out on a beautiful day to photograph Tommy (or his watch) among those lovely Dutch tulips. No, make it a coastline or the marsh. Nature, naturally. Our best.

"barn.owls"

Babaloo, again - she has amazing trees. Old word, ageless. Middle Earth like wonder, Ivanhoe-ish. Europa. Thank you.

me.award.you

I have been given awards recently and with pleasure I pass them along, a one way one of a kind youme:

Debi is an inspiration and shows the world West Tejas. Cotton and wild pumpkins and a lot of heart. Great musical taste and the eye of a sturgeon, no I mean surgeon. My first sample....thank you, always.

Debi.be a world blogger, by way of Sweet Irene:


Lisa gets an award depicting someone quite sprite jumping on a trampoline looking for a NZ drunk recycling truck operator. Lisa has a great sense of humor and a sample friend. Unfortunately she is NOT inheriting the manly man award as given by Neda - she must invert it and flip it so it is legible and feminine. No, let me do it for her. Thank you, Lisa - mom.artist (something I can never be). Platonic and chaste, but with extra hearts for your kids:


Have a great day, night, morning.

"summer.of"

Although titled after dreams of youth, the image is based on web page for one of the Project Runway finalists, a talented woman from lovely Long Island - Jillian Lewis. Marie and I do not watch reality TV, but we do watch this fashion competition, having found it addictive since end of season one - a very creative venue.

This does not mean I follow fashion much, I never buy GQ or dress GQ, etc. I do have a sense of what colors are in and out and can see that women's handbags are about the size of small luggage. Two years ago no fashionable woman in Manhattan wore stockings - ornate ribbed stockings seem to be in this winter.

Although I am not on TV, I have been blessed with two awards this week - Kris gave me one picturing a female (age undertermined) doing aerobic exercises - very fit except her heart popped out of her chest and is floating in air - too graphic for me. Almost a "Kill Bill" quality. Wait, maybe it is picture of Kris doing a reverse painting of a redish heart.



Irene gave me one of the world, it is clear from the image compared to the one last year that there is indeed global warming. Need to get to Amsterdam before the seas rise. That must be a concern there, joking aside.



Thank you, both. A chaste and platonic kiss for each.

Earlier draft:


"run.way"

Just like I learned to like a book moimoi, I now accept awards. Soon I will care more about what I wear - will start by caring if my khakis are unacceptably wrinkled.

Kris gave me a "platonic kiss" - from now on she will be called grandma. She all commented that women fight dirty. For me the issue is that women do not forget. They talk about forgiving, but forgetting is better.

I am not giving a "chaste platonioc kiss" to anyone. I am a child of the Sixties. Make blog not love?

Irene - and I do not know why she calls herself sweaty because she is so sweet- maybe I am dyxlexcic (my spelling proves it) - let the first five people who commented today have a trophied award. I will re- give this coveted prize to the last five people who comment on this blog by tomorrrow noon, New York time. This will either jack up comments or make no one comment. Comment often. Talk about Obama. motorcycles, Prada backpacks, diet beer.

Kim, down under, gave me another award today- this one I cannot share, but she also gave it to Grandma Kris . Grandma, we travel around the same blogs. Kim is a gifted artist and a communicator extraordinaire.

Any man who comments will get an reward.....

No image today - the quality is not up to par lately... all work, no play. Adding some Sixties posters because I miss those days....see here for a link, sister. Go back in time....

"taut"

I had backbone of this image in reserve, unfinishable. When Sue emailed some pics to play with, it became "lightining quick" completing this one. The union came as one clear "what if" inquiry.

The background is sampled abbarently on shoreline in Babaloo photograph.

This colloboraton echoes why I sample. I need a wide variety of snippets to create iconic buiklding blocks to work with in order to pop out good work. I do not have time to take all the photos required due to my work and family responsibilities.






Sweet Irene gave an award to others and me - it is an "E" for "Excess" (I have to admit, there is some catsup on the monitor screen and I cannot make out all the letters of the award).

I accept this award for all who fail to slow down when slamming the speed bumps of a life of moderation. Thank you, Irene. Most kind.

Having gotten the Excess award - it needs to go to three max - anything more would be beyond excessive. I am also excessively lazy so these awards cannot be hyperlinked (I made them look like hyperlinks to foil anyone unwilling to read me carefully). To qualify, the award recipient must be in your links and anyone curious enough will need to get to the recipient website by manually clicking. Thus, only those excessively compulsive, the civil call it curious, will pay attention.

My awards go to (no drum roll):

"Woman In Glass " for excess talent, civility, grace

"Debi" for excess warmth, zeal, eye

"Sue" for excess heart, help and vision

Each will need to come here and claim their condiment prize - no courtesy notice. That is how important this award is. We also will co-opt and rip off any other award, including the Oscars this month.

Remember, "Awards were made to be broken."

Yesterday Kim from laketrees gave me another Dirty Harry award - hiding, again, behind an austere blue sky and some lovely red flowers. I am very honored and now have severe case of hay fever in the midst of a cold north eastern winter.

Kim is wonderful open kind artist and also remarkable because she puts much energy into linking artists, rather than just promoting herself. Some of her exquisite work can be seen here. Her poetry site is here, there, everywhere. I think I discovered Kim by following a poetic link from Neda, my Rosetta Stone to the blog.world. Kim's 101 Artists blog list is commendable. Somehow I was added which is another honor and she is also a regular visitor to my humble house of pan.cakes. Kim is a bona fide resource. Thank you, Kim.

I do want to pass this on to one more person - Bev, who I "met" last December when I still believed in Santa Claus and who, luckily for so many of us, did not disappear at the cusp of the new year. I followed comment links to Bev's gentle site and was charmed. Bev does not think she is an artist, but she is. Her photo portrait of her daughter is priceless. It was a moment of connection and love and trust. Bev is remarkably considerate and generous. Bright and wise and steady. Bev, your comments and occasional unique posts "make our day." I speak for others I am sure.

I will not point my 44 Magnum, the most powerful gun in the world, at you, punk. Sorry I called you a punk - just literary license.

Please pass YMMD award to others, Bev. It can be spread like a good STD. Just kidding. Gracias and three cheers with a a warm beer.

Now, I also want to start my own little award - something to honor members of our fellowship. The is no criteria for this award other than whim and grace. Maybe more whim.I call it the mon.key award and each will be custom designed (quickly). The first recipient is Kris for her uplifting posts, constructive comments and, let's face it, mostly her link to monkey mail.

Monkey mail has almost gotten me fired five times since I discovered it. Human Resources advises me you cannot use monkey mail to sexually harass, create a hostile environment or make fun of a protected class. OK.

Another thing - offspring must also be warned not to use monkey mail to make fun of overworked mothers because fathers will be blamed. Click here and then fire me.

Thank you, Kris. No banana jokes here. My best.

This is a botched "image" - bad scan with off color and part of image cut off, but I thought I would post something....I do wish it were better quality.

The print is 8 by 10 inches. Original graphics is here. The reference to pain killers is that I had broken a rib, slipped and landed on my iPod.

An iPod is tougher than bone, sometimes. iHurt, therefore iAm.

Close up from this "painting:"



BTW, please go to Sue's blog to see the Mandalas she created sampling one of my quilts. I respect her art and I would blush if it were more manly. It's here. I am very very happy to collaborate with gifted artists in our community. I am so happy to have met you. Thank you, Sue.

Also, Kris yesterday also gave me a "Day" award. It is a great honor and I want to acknowledge her site, her art and her will. Go here to experience her positive energy, her resourcefulness and her wit. She also taught me how to spell clairvoyance (ok, I fixed it with spell check). Thank you, Kris. Someday a mon.key.

Create. Comment. Enable.

Yesterday Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas honored me a special award - "You Make My Day."

I am touched by Sue's gesture and also want to send one to Irene at Sweet Wood Talking. Irene makes gorgeous Mandalas daily and she has a rare dry wit and insight. Her written English is simply remarkable. Irene was one of the first here to welcome me with kind words and spot on honesty. I look forward to reading her blog daily.



In an effort to edify those willing to read this much, I must point out what a variation of that awarded phrase means to too many American men. I quote WIKI:

In one scene of the movie, Harry Callahan (played by Clint Eastwood) goes into a diner for a morning cup of coffee. A hold-up ensues during which the waitress is held at gun-point by the gunman, who holds his gun to her head and threatens to shoot. Instead of backing off, Harry pulls his .44 Magnum and aims it straight at the man's face and dares him to shoot, saying with clenched teeth and in his characteristic rough grumble, "Go ahead, make my day".

All that macho stuff aside, I also want to give one Dirty Harry-less award to Lisa in New Zealand. I like her work and her spirit. Her mosaic is garden perfect. A gardener that tolerates caterpillars cannot be all bad.

Because she is sleep when I am awake, and visa versa, I have inverted her badge....I hope no one shoots me.



Seriously, there are so may of you that I could give this to - all of you who come here and read and some who leave comments as well as those I regularly comment on. Kris, Diane, a woman in glass (please let her out or pour in two fingers of vodka), those that live in Texas, California, England and Australia. Thank you....

All of you make my art - you inspire me and push me and assist me. You all are honorary mon.keys - unlock the door. My blog is your blog.