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Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category

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It will take awhile for me to download all of the pictures taken during this road trip once more to Dublin, Ireland but one image that I do want to share is of these trees painted on the restaurant window of di luca wines & trattoria. A local artist works with the restaurant to change the window scene. After I am gone the window will become more winter themed though these white trees do remind me of winter. We were lucky enough to get a table at this restaurant. Food was great and the people, both staff and other diners, were wonderful. If you have chance, do visit: https://www.diluca.ie/

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Detail from The Startled Bird (1961) by painter Norah McGuinness on view in Dublin at the National Gallery of Ireland. Many beautiful works in the building but the colors and textures of this painting especially caught my eyes.

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I’m in the mood to plan a winter garden. I think in the coming week that is one of the things I shall endeavor to do in one of my blank notebooks. Design a garden. Now planning such a garden, and even implementing it, will in no way save the world or “fight the powers that be” but it will center me and that’s important for when I am ready to deal with the insanities of this world through words or images, my pocketbook or my vote.

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I did garden this past spring and summer. It was a hodge podge, not a great failure, but not quite the success of previous years. Even so I did find joy in cooking with the fresh herbs and even in watching their beautiful decay when I would forget to water them. Ahem.

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Growing lavender indoors was a spur of the moment experiment. Not wholly successful but still growing and smelling delightful. That’s the plant I unfortunately watered too much. But I’m learning.

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Part of the winter garden will include the geraniums given as a gift by a young friend not knowing that I mostly grow herbs inside. The red petals, when fresh and now dried, brighten several rooms and I hope they will do so this winter. We’ll see …

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The mailman must have wondered why I was sitting on the steps waiting for him! I’m really quite pleased with the production of this notebook and pouch featuring a photo taken in autumn, not too long ago, as I walked by the Mystic River. View this and other nature-inspired notebooks, pouches and more here: https://artofwhere.com/artists/wordsandimagesbycynthia

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Its leaves have turned from green to brown

with little variation in between

but still the light shines through them bright

revealing dark beauty to be seen.

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Finally up and running on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaestaples/

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A group of Millenials around me finally convinced me to step into the 21st Century.

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I’m kind of old school. Sometimes I just want a phone to be a phone but it has been fun walking in the world and exploring new ways to share what I see and experience.

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https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaestaples/

 

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It has been a while since I strolled along the Charles River Esplanade.

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It’s that time of year when I feel I can become lost in the water because the low sun is so bright and the reflections so sharp.  Very little breeze (thank goodness) and so the water becomes a near perfect mirror.

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For me, I stopped worrying about finding the perfect shot though I did have an agenda before I embarked on my walk.

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I let go of that agenda and just accepted the beauty that was around me.

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After making that necessary mistake of viewing the morning’s headlines, and after letting my blood pressure return to normal, I decided not to stew in negativity but to find a way to produce positivity. I decided to emulate the wonderful artist Jen Parrish of Parrish Relics. With each new jewelry collection, she gives back by donating a percentage of the profits from the sale of one pendant to a charity. The above pencil pouch can be found in my art of where store:

https://artofwhere.com/artists/wordsandimagesbycynthia/accessories/pencil-case/625020

With the purchase of this pouch, now through November 15th, 50% of the profits will be donated to a local Boston-area charity serving poor and homeless women. On November 15th I’ll provide an update on monies raised. Thank you!

p.s. The origin of the image … one Sunday I needed to walk, so I walked by the river, and these branches are what I saw.

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He stood so still I nearly missed him.

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