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Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

It is a truly interesting interpretation of a beautiful act, an embrace. I’m impressed with the concept though I struggle to understand everything that I am seeing. But for some reason I don’t mind that struggle with this piece. Maybe it is the hands. They are beautifully rendered. The viewer reads into art and what I read into those hands are both gentleness and strength, love and sensuality, partnership.

I enjoyed watching people of all ages engaging with the piece and actually having conversation with each other and with strangers about it and the content of the surrounding 1965 Freedom Plaza. The memorial is located on the Boston Common, adjacent to the Parkman Bandstand, where Dr. King spoke in 1965.

Love it, hate it, neutral about it, or all the feelings that lie in the between spaces of those feelings, I think it is well worth a visit.

https://www.boston.gov/news/embrace-unveiled-boston

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A second attempt to grow borage. Nestled next to the tomato plants. Let’s see if it improves the flavor of the fruits.

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… they wouldn’t eat the tender new leaves of the shrubs. So cute.

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… there are a number of plants that will soon need to be returned to the outside. They seemed to have enjoyed their winter stay.

In fact they thrived so well that I think I may need to hire the neighbor’s teenager to carry these down the stairs. They’re all a bit bigger than when I brought them indoors.

And I can’t help but think once they’re back outside what shall I place in the “empty” spaces left behind. Ah, what a wonderful problem. 🙂

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On view until February 25th, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the i3c Group Artists Exhibit, Inspiring Change for the Climate Crisis, at Brickbottom Gallery Somerville. A truly inspiring exhibit. During the opening reception my favorite part, aside from connecting and reconnecting with artist friends, was watching children engage with the range of media, from fiber arts to photography to paintings and more. https://brickbottom.org/exhibitions-current-upcoming/

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The first set of hand-sawn and sanded cedar hooks ready for giving.

“It’s not my best work, ” he said with a dispirited note.

“Hmm,” I replied. “And what have you said to me over the years when I stress about writing the best?”

After a long pause he said, “The best is the enemy of the good.”

“Well, my dear, what you have produced is good. AND I can’t wait to see the next set.”

His brow furrowed. “The next set?”

Today we worked on the next set. He directed me.

“Pull the saw toward you.” “Please move your fingers out of the way.” “Hmm. Let’s try the straight saw not the fret saw.”

And so on and so forth.

He worked with his pocket knife to clean up an edge on a piece. And as he worked he said, “For the next project we’ll need a chisel. Between 3/4″ and 1″ and …”

I took notes.

The chisel and other instruments are in the basement. He can’t navigate down those stairs yet so I continue to learn as I apprentice as a woodworker.

“And we’ll need to make a leg vise,” he added.

“But of course,” I said. Then I took a deep breath and asked, “Okay, what does a leg vise do?”

And as he explained all I could think was what an unexpected and unexpectedly lovely journey!

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… then bring the mountain or at least a portion of it to you. “Do what you love.” That is what the outpatient therapists reiterate to Steve as we continue on this journey of stroke recovery. One of the things he loves is woodworking, old school craftsmanship. Think The Woodwright Shop. His woodworking shop is in the basement. Hmmm. We’re not quite there yet because yes, it is another spiral stair, but his therapy team said if you love woodworking then do woodworking, figure out some simple projects and go to it. I asked Steve what would you like to do. He said, “Make cutting boards.” Now I’m not a woodworker but I’ve seen him make cutting boards and I responded after a deep breath, “Uhm, do you think there’s something even simpler to begin with? You know you have some cedar panels from a previous project. I can bring them up here. You were supposed to make me some moth repellant hangers for the closets …” He processed it and said, “Okay, we can do that. I need the Jorgenson clamp.” I blinked a few times and then said, “Well, of course,” as I slid my phone out of my pocket to google what that meant. But what I didn’t remember was “old school” and so in the end he had to sketch what he meant and if you google what he meant it falls under beautiful wooden vintage. And so on this journey I’m learning new language (fret saw?!) and new skills (how to make a straight cut). He’s got a goal. He’s making a bunch of very practical (and oh so wonderfully smelling) cedar hooks to give to family and friends for their closets. Life is so interesting. 🙂

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I begin to think that it is the same dove that appears because it no longer flies away even when one is right next to the window.

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