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Iraq

"Some 160 miles northeast of Baghdad, in a Sulaymaniyah music hall ravaged by war, looting, and neglect, a violin- playing boy sounds a note of hope.  His tacher, Azad Mearuf, lives there, instructing scores of students."-- a recent National Geographic Magazine

What really happened to the Mayan Culture

The last thing Hunha Wunga saw was

a big blue foot.

He did not know that the song

of the Blue Footed Booby

was a warning.

Flying by the Seat of My Pants

I fly by the seat of my pants.  I do.  Scheduling has just never been my strong point and so I usually end up noticing suddenly that my pants are hanging from a tree branch, which leaves me standing around in just my Sally Jane Pantaloons.

Tripping Over the Moon

Jump again, Gertie.  You'll make it!

Wynkin', Blynkin', and Nod

Another page from my new art journal~

I found this old foto (from the collection of Ruth Lehman, which collection I have a copy of on disc) of my mom,  her baby sister (who died at age 3) and older sister from the mid-1930's.  I shrank it down, cut it out and glued it in. They needed to be sailing amongst the starts. I was reminded of a song I sang to my babies called Wynkin', Blynkin', and Nod. 

Wynkin', Blynkin', and Nod one night, sailed off in a Wooden Shoe. Sailed down a river of Crystal Light, into a Sea of Dew.



“Where are you going, and what do you wish,” the Old Moon asked the Three.


“We’ve come to fish for the Herring Fish that swim in the Beautiful Sea. Nets of Silver and Gold have we,” said Wynkin’, Blynkin’, and Nod.


The Old Moon laughed and sang a song, as they rocked in the wooden shoe


And the Wind that sped them all night long ruffled the Waves of Dew.


The Silver Stars were the Herring Fish that lived in the Beautiful Sea. ”Cast your nets where ever you wish. Never a feared are we,” so sang the Stars to the Fishermen Three, Wynkin’, Blynkin’, and Nod.


All night long, their nets they threw to the Stars in the Twinkling Foam, then down from the sky came the Wooden Shoe, bringing the Fishermen home.


Now we shall name you the Fishermen Three, Wynkin’, Blynkin’, and Nod.


Wynkin’ and Blynkin’ are two little eyes, and Nod is the little head. And the Wooden Shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one’s trundle bed.


Now close your eyes and dream the dream that some said could not be, and you shall see the wonderful things as you rock on your Misty Sea.


Where the Old Moon rocked the Fishermen Three, Wynkin’, Blynkin’, and Nod.

Eve

My sisters from Arizona came for a visit and we made new art journals.  I loved it!!  You paint your pages with spritzers and stencils and loads of creativity, writing on them later, as the mood strikes.
Don't think, don't look back.

I thought of Eve when I found this picture in a magazine and wanted to include her in my journal.  I'd been feeling inadequate according to the "standards of the world" and I keep forgetting my accomplishments are different from those of many women.  They are noticed Where it's important.

Watching and Waiting for Spring

I was walking the other day and noticed an Oriole nest dangling from a tree limb.  I remembered what I waited for every year...the return of the Baltimore Oriole birds.  Their song is lovely-- high and clear. 
Their nests are sack-like, built in dangling vines, hidden amongst leaves.  They will also weave colored yarns, lace, ribbon, plastic strips and dog hair into their nest, so we toss out yarn and ribbon in our brightest colors, hoping we'll be able to locate their nests.
Bird came out kind of wonky, tho...I'm learning.....
As always, this didn't photograph well, and every shot I took came out a little fuzzy.

I also watch for the Crimson Clover that lines the roadways and covers fields.  I never saw any of this back home in Maryland.

Now, I have to find a picture of the Weird Willie Bird--another bird I can only listen for as it is Nocturnal.