Moths Without Flames

                  

I had a photo assignment, an Easter Egg hunt sponsored by a local Lions Club. Off I went looking for adorable children and whatever wonder GOD would place in my path.  I did not have to wait long or look hard for either.

I stepped out onto the egg patch and after staking out my turf I looked down 

to be sure I had enough eggs to get some good angles and there it was. 

A bedraggled, battle worn moth. It was pale green, a large body covered in what looked fine white downy feathers. 

   

                 

Antennae that resembled ferns fronds it’s wings in tatters and its body unsteady on its legs.

                       

                                                       Enlargement of the eyes on her wings

I had no idea what I had found but I knew that the rambunctious running of children and the hunting instincts of their parents would crush the delicate creature. I gently moved it to the fence line.

I would discover today as I write this that what I had found was actually a Luna Moth. 

                     

Perhaps she had flown too close to a flame….

This week enjoy Moths Without Flames.

Because of Peter Rabbit

Easter is hopping ever closer and this week I thought about Easter Art maybe  eggs, baskets, the crucifixion, crosses, lilies. I went looking for Easter Bunnies and then in the midst of my bunny hunt I came across a Beatrix Potter illustration of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

                                             

                                                      Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit

Rabbits!

Rabbits are Leporidae which are in the family group known as Lepus. Lepus means “hare” and Leporidae means “those that resemble hares”.

                                     

                                                                      Rabbits

                                            

                                                                         Hare

Rabbits have four toes on each hind foot and five toes on each fore foot. The soles of their feet are covered in hair to provide traction on grass when they are running. 

                                        

They can be found in deserts, mountains, tundra, swamps and forests. They are herbivore except for a select group of Lepus.

El Conejo - Spanish

Kinnen - Scottish

Cuniculus - Latin

Tabu  - Comanche      words for Rabbit

Because of Peter Rabbit enjoy Rabbits. 

American Judges

I was summoned to jury duty last week.  My first time.

I wrapped my head around the idea as though I was going on a safari.  I would view this as an adventure that just happened to take me to San Antonio to view the species we call attorneys in their native habitat.  I woke up that morning somewhat curious and eager.

                                            

Little did I know that my one day adventure would turn into a five day adventure? 

As I sat listening I drew and doodled and before my eyes in the middle of my pages of jury notes was the Judge, my inspiration for a week of American Judges.

                                                  

Enjoy!

Cheesefare

Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic Sun festival that celebrates the return of spring.  After many long cold months of Russian winter the people are ready for festivities and celebration.

This year the Celebration is from March 7 – March 19.

Other names for this Holiday are Butter Week, Cheesesfare, and Crepe Week. This is the last week during which eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products are permitted to be eaten.  

This Holiday is much like our Mardi Gras or Carnival.  

                                         

There is much merriment, dancing, horse races, eating and drinking.  The Sunday at the end of festival is known as Forgiveness Sunday. It is a day to seek forgiveness from friends and family and give small gifts.

 It is celebrated the last week before Great Lent, the eight week before Russian Orthodox Easter.

Enjoy Cheesefare! 

Hombres del Mar

I thought I had seen most of the works of John William Waterhouse. Much to my surprise I found one I had not ever seen.  I was inspired and then began a multiple hour search for …..

Mermen.

Yes, those allegedly mythical creatures who are counterpart to Mermaids.  They are all man from the waist up but from there down they are fish-like. One long fishy tail or… 

There is a sculpture Fontana del Moro, in Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy 

that shows a Merman with two long fishy tails.  The logo on the Starbucks

                          

cup was inspired by sirens which have two tails.  

f                                                                                    rom 'Naturalis Historia' (1565)

Mermen are mentioned in Greek mythology, Babylonian mythology, and Irish mythology, in Amazon lore and in several other cultures.

They can conjure storms at sea, sink ships, lift curses, cure illness, are very wise and enjoy seducing humans.

This week look in wonder at Hombres del Mar.

A Knitting Tale

I want to knit for you a tale of the month of February. It involved a little ironing.

                                                         Woman Ironing -  Edgar Degas

I have recently moved and as many women before me have done I wrapped up precious items in tea towels and table scarves, table cloths and napkins. Some were recent purchases so I just washed dried and put them away. Others, my most precious, have been passed down from my mother, and her mother, my grandmother and her mother, and my grandfather’s mother. Some of these linens are over 130 years old. 

After using them I washed them, air dried them and spent the weekend ironing them.

It involved a little sewing.  

                                                    Young woman sewing - Georges Lemmen

The oldest of the linens had their edges and hems completely hand sewn. A table scarf my mother made is all hand sewn.

It involved a little dish washing.

                                               Giuseppe Maria Crespi - the kitchen maid

After moving all these items some of which were handled by family members I washed them all. Dishes, glasses, bowls and silver.

This week you can take a peek into the domestic art of knitting.

                                              Peasant Girl Knitting a Stocking - Filipp Malyavin

Enjoy A Knitting Tale

Art of the Dish Washer

If you cook something you usually have to clean something. 

Pots, pans, baking sheets, broilers, bowls, spoons, knives and in my kitchen it can be a seemingly endless parade of all of the above. 

Then add in the plates and glasses and serving platters.  Cleaning it all can take longer than making it all.

Some goes in the dishwasher and some (my grandmother’s crystal goblets) I wash by hand. I have been washing dishes since I was 7. My mother washed dishes until I turned 7. 

My children may have washed dishes once or twice. I used to sing as I washed. I made up songs like only a creative 7-year-old can. Songs about what we had for dinner, what I wanted to be, farm animals and my mother.

Dish washing must not be very glamorous to paint because finding works with women or men washing the dishes was hard to find. Lots of dishes and many paintings of dirty dishes with bits of food on them that needed washing. 

This week enjoy the Art of the Dish Washer.