ABC WEDNESDAY-"Z"

A ZILLION SPOTS/DOTS-ABC WEDNESDAY "Z"

Aren't these beautiful paintings?!

All of these paintings are by artist, Farida Hughes, on  exhibit
in the Harry M. Drake Gallery at
St Paul Academy and Summit School
(where I used to teach in the English department)


To see more ABC posts from bloggers throughout the world, click here.

A New Beginning

This is my old-stock-in-trade photo for the beginning of a new year.  


"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." 
Bill Vaughan

The Holiday Spirit Lives!-Camera Critters Saturday

This rabbit is a favorite of children and passersby.  In the summer children climb all over it,  but in the cold winter months,  it's left alone except for some revelers with holiday spirit. To see more camera critters posted by bloggers from around the globe, click here.

Physical Therapy Bands

If any of you have ever had physical therapy, you'll recognize these colourful bands that are stock-in-the-trade to help patients recover from whatever ails them. I haven't had to use these...too tame.  Joel, my therapist had bigger and better tortures scheduled for me.  But, hey!  It's working since I'm healing so rapidly!!

Physical therapy

Thanks to a good surgeon and an excellent physical therapist, my doctor says that I'm about two weeks ahead of where he thought I would be in my healing process.  Here Joel, my therapist, is shown checking for more illustrations of tortuous shoulder exercises he makes me do. 

NOT EXACTLY A FULL HOUSE!

On December 30th, 2010, I noticed a familiar scene on Jack's Hartford post when I visited our busy Apple store before I bought  my new iMac, (which incidentally is now occasionally frustrating me as I'm trying to learn the programs). A few days  later I was amused as I compared my after-holiday Apple store scene with his photo.  Check to see the difference between these photos and his on Jack's Post.

First Breakfasts of 2011

 

 I think we need a little more variety in our meals. I probably should probably find a good Stollen recipe or a Swedish pastry. Tell me what you had for breakfast on January 1, and then perhaps I can then add a little more diversity to our menus.

Christmas Gifts

             Two wonderful Christmas gifts: Peter's glass platter and the traditional delicious Stollen! Yum!

Early in December I posted several photos of my former 8th grade student, who is now an adult, giving a glass blowing demonstration. In case you missed it, here's another photo of Peter at work. Notice how the steam rises from the wet newspapers he holds as he  shapes the hot object!

A Fine Beverage!

I hope that y'all had a safe and happy New Year's eve!!

JANUARY 2011 THEME DAY-Man the Hoses!

Our annual neighborhood block party took on a life of its own after the fireman with their trucks and hoses arrived.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants!

"berried 'n chocolate"

What do children do when school is not in session on a sunny, but cold winter day? Perhaps find a bakery and juice shop and sit next to a sunny window while eating a pastry?  Sounds just about right!

Safe Crossing?

If you can see over the plowed snowbanks, I guess it might be safe to cross.

Two Views

On a Clear Day

Interesting to see how weather affects images. 

A Repost (Dec. 16) A Blizzard

Bus Stop

New York and the eastern seaboard have nothing on us!

F.Scott

DH and I often stroll through Rice Park downtown when we are going to a performance at Ordway. This sculpture of F. Scott Fitzgerald (one of our boys, you know) is a prominent statue among many others in this little jewel of a park.  F. Scott is a familiar person to me since I've taught his short stories to middle schoolers and The Great Gatsby to high school students...at St. Paul Academy, the school that he attended as a youngster before going off to a private school in the East. Whenever we walk by, I stop to chat with him or give him a hug, much to DH's consternation and the amusement of passersby.

Obviously this was taken during the summer.  The snow and my wounded wing have severely curtailed my photo shoots so here you have it...more photos from the past.


So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." The Great Gatsby, 1925

Glass Masks

I have a similar mask hanging in the window in my kitchen.  It always cheers me when I see it. Yes, these are creations from Peter's work.

My Purchase

Peter will make a wall hanging for me of the Zen stones similar to this one.  I intend to

place it  in "the room of my own" that I redecorated  last year as my very own personal space. It will send off good vibes for me!

Merry Christmas!

My Favorites!

Selecting a favorite in Peter's showroom is not easy, but I was quite taken with these Zen stones.  Come back tomorrow to see what I commissioned Peter to make for me!

Objects to sell

Here are just three of the many beautiful glass pieces Peter has in his showroom, ready to be purchased and brought home. Come back tomorrow and I'll show you my favorites.

Almost completed!

It almost looked like magic whenever Peter put an object into one of the furnaces, removed it, and then placed it back in another furnace to continue the shaping process.  Each step seemed to take on a life of its own. Fascinating to watch.  This bowl is going to be a beauty after it has cooled and is truly finished. I  can't show any of the pieces Peter made during the demonstration because they each needed to be placed immediately in a special case in order to cool.  Tomorrow I'll show you just a few of the many pieces for sale in his showroom.