Do you remember this post from back in May, about my orchid getting ready to bloom? As you can see, she's putting on quite a show.
I have to give credit to my co-worker Dan H., who shot these pics in low light with his iPhone. My camera wouldn't cooperate without a tripod in low light. Thanks Dan!
This lovely orchid plant was given to me for my birthday last year - almost a year ago. About 2 months ago I noticed it was sending up stems with flower buds! The first buds shriveled and fell off. I think the window seat in my kitchen where it was living was too cold.
So I moved the plant to my sunny office, where it's flourishing! Two more branches with multiple buds have appeared. It's so much fun to watch them grow. 
I bought this little 6"x6" painting/construction at Roos Arts in Rosendale, NY.
It was made by Simon Draper.
There were (and perhaps, still are) many 6"x6" works for sale at Roos Arts, as part of a fundraiser for Habitat for Artists, project started by Mr. Draper.
Which way do you think I should hang it?
S. AND I HAD A LOVELY THANKSGIVING FEAST WITH FRIENDS IN THE CITY. BEFORE HEADING HOME ON FRIDAY WE STOPPED IN CHELSEA TO SEE WHAT WAS SHOWING IN THE GALLERIES. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE DAVID HOCKNEY PAINTINGS AT PACE WILDENSTEIN ON 25TH ST. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SHOW CONTINUED AT THEIR UPTOWN GALLERY I WOULD'VE RUN RIGHT UP THERE TO SEE IT. BOTH PARTS OF THE SHOW CLOSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, SO VISIT IT SOON IF YOU CAN!
I RECEIVED THIS VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK EARTH, WATER, FIRE, AIR: COOKBOOK FOR THE NEW AGE by BARBARA FRIEDLANDER AS A GIFT IN 1972. I PULLED IT OUT LAST NIGHT TO MAKE THE BEST POTATO SOUP - A FAMILY FAVORITE FOR 37 YEARS. (EEEK . . . I'M REALLY DATING MYSELF!) THE BOOK IS FULL OF HOMEY, SIMPLE RECIPES, AND AT THE TOP OF EACH RIGHT-HAND PAGE THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR MUSIC, OR A BOOK. A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS: ALL AND EVERYTHING BY G.I. GURDJIEFF, KNOTS BY R.D. LAING, AND BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY.
I NEVER HAD, UNTIL A FRIEND BROUGHT ME TO THIS POND ON POMEROY LANE IN SOUTH AMHERST. YOU MAY KNOW THE LOTUS AS A SYMBOL OF ENLIGHTENMENT. ITS ROOTS HOLDING FIRM IN THE MUCK AT THE POND'S BOTTOM, IT RISES ABOVE TO CREATE ITS GLORIOUS, TRANSCENDENT FLOWER. WITHOUT THE MUCK OF LIFE, WHERE WE MUST PLANT OUR FEET, WE CANNOT WAKE UP TO THE FRESH, ASTONISHING PRESENT MOMENT.
CAN YOU GRASP THE SIZE OF THIS BUD? IT'S BIGGER THAN MY FIST.
THE OPEN FLOWERS . . .
. . . ARE JUST HUGE . . . YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM TO BELIEVE IT!
WHEN THE PETALS FALL, THE YELLOW CENTER TURNS GREEN, AND THE SEEDS CONTAINED INSIDE DEVELOP FURTHER. (I CAN'T HELP THINKING THIS LOOKS LIKE THE MULTI-NOSTRIL NOSE OF SOME CRAZY ALIEN, GENTLY SNIFFING THE SUMMER AIR.)
AS THE POD DRIES, THE SEEDS MATURE. EVENTUALLY, THEY FALL INTO THE POND, SEEDING THE MUD FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW.
TINY, DELIGHTFUL, POPS OF COLOR AND FLAVOR . . . THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A HOMEGROWN TOMATO!
S. AND I MET AT THE CLARK IN WILLIAMSTOWN AND SAW A GREAT SHOW: DOVE/O'KEEFE. I ADORED IT, SO LOVELY. THEN . . . 15 MINUTE DRIVE TO MASS MOCA.
FIRST STOP, PIT STOP. CALL ME CRAZY, BUT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPACES IN THE MUSEUM: THE WOMEN'S REST ROOM IN THE BASEMENT!
IF I EVER HAVE A HOUSE BIG ENOUGH, I WANT A SINK JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
THEN OUT THE DOOR . . .
I HAVE A LARGE COLLECTION OF LITTLE BUDDHAS. THEY SEEM TO BE GATHERING AROUND THIS IMPROMPTU WINDOWSILL GANAPATI SHRINE.
GANAPATI, GANESH, THE ELEPHANT-HEADED-BOY PROTECTOR. THE IVORY BUDDHAS, BROUGHT BACK FROM JAPAN BY MY DAD DURING THE KOREAN WAR, ARE MADE FROM ELEPHANT TUSKS.
