I still can't tell which ones are weeds

My friend Rachael Hetzel has a blog called I still can't tell which ones are weeds.

Ever since I first learned about her blog I often thought/think about that metaphor. This blogging thing often has me in a strange state of diaspora ( I hope I am using that over used term correctly).  I see friends out and about, who blog, and I do not mention what I read on their blog - like it is some sort of secret society and I would be disciplined for having spoken aloud. I feel like I have a lot of different lives in a lot of different places and I don't always know where I am and (hence), who I am. But I digress from my original intent today...

I still can't tell which ones are weeds. I just came in from gardening (which I hate) and I was thinking a great deal about this metaphor. I also still don't know which ones are weeds both literally and metaphorically and although this concept can apply to many many parts of the world and my life in it, I am thinking today about education. 

Some of you many know that I have quite a lot of thoughts about education, but last night while browsing at the B & N Bookstore, I noticed a book that states that the people who will succeed in the future are the creative types, the right brainers as the book's author called them. I am tired of hearing about what it takes to succeed. Some of you may also know that I have two wonderfully talented and very smart children, who don't do so well in school. I have so much sadness about this and I don't really want to share any of my kids personal stuff here, but I know that they will succeed in their own futures and I know they will be awesome at what ever they choose to do and be. But school sucks. It does. School is trying to make them into left brained robots and good little test takers and I hate when I say to my kids just do what the teacher asks you to do. Granted we need left brained robots in this world too, but I don't want my kids made into anything. To all you teachers out there, you should know that I believe teaching is the most difficult, most creative and tiring job there is. I know I can't do it well. I know very few people can be great teachers in this atmosphere of stupid  standardized  testing and curriculums that are to big for their britches.

Okay I said enough. But I did not actually say what I was originally thinking. I think the definition or concept of weeds should be fluid. I think we should celebrate everything that grows in our garden. 

more new work

These are two new images I have completed. they both came from vacation photos. One is of the electrical wires outside the house and the other is the water tower at Sunset Beach.  I think they will be just cards for now. But I may try to paint them in the future. (Yes, there is actually a Sunset Beach in New Jersey! My mother likes to say that it is the only place to see the sunset over the water on the East Coast. The sun actually sets over Delaware but you cannot see Delaware from Sunset Beach (well sometimes on a very clear day you can)).

Charley Harper

These images are from Charley Harper An Illustrated Life, a large coffee table book by Todd Oldham. My Mom ordered a copy while we were in Cape May and I took some photos of some of the pages. (I will get a book myself someday soon). Charley Harper was an American modern artist who considered himself an illustrator and made his living creating painted images for Ford Times Magazine, and many naturalist publications. He also illustrated a couple of educational children's books, including The Golden Book of Biology (which I will also get a copy of for myself one day). He died in 2007 and in his will he gave the Cape May Bird Observatory all the rights to his images. (But you can still purchase prints that galleries own). My parents were lucky enough to meet him at the Cape May Bird Observatory the spring before he died and he signed a number of prints for them. They just gave us one that I am really excited about and will take into be framed this week. I just love his work, they have a collage quality even though they are all meticulously hand painted. I believe you'll find humor and beauty in everything he paints. Get the book, you won't be disappointed.

beach finds

This what is known as a Mermaid's Purse - it is actually a skate egg case. A Skate is a small ray and they are often seen (or felt) in the water at our beach.
This does not have any official or unofficial name. I have always enjoyed these things though. They are like dust bunnies on the beach. Beach debris seems to get all rolled around into a little ball and they are all over the beach, just as the dog hair ones are all over my house.

blue sky

I took some photos on one of the beautiful blue sky days we had on vacation. Hope you enjoy...

new work

I worked on these collages in June. They are each 8 x 11 and I think they are sweet. More thanks to Michelle Moode for being so inspiring and to all the artists who blog and share their work. I really find a great deal of support and direction from you all.

One Wish

When I asked my mother wheat I could get them for their 50th anniversary she said, "I want a picture of the dog before she dies." 

So I took the dog (named Sandy) who is almost 14 years old on an illegal walk on the beach and took over 1000 photos of her - here are some of the best mom. I'll have one framed and in the mail asap!

Happy 50th!

I am home after a long 15 day vacation at the beach. We had beautiful weather and lots of fun. I am tan to the point of embarrassment. I have also enjoyed coming home to my wonderful house and community and getting started on the many summer projects I have planned. Today is my parents 50th wedding anniversary! Congratulations Mom and Dad!