Saturday's window

 Remember there were people that shared on Facebook "The view through my window?"

Today I'm starting with the window. It opens out from there however!

Focused on the outside...

Focused on the inside...some of the treasures I keep on my desktop..  Now this is what a desktop is supposed to look like!!

The last of these blooms on the orchid – as there are some new buds appearing between the two! The red shamrock set them off so nicely, and supported them when the wind blew.

Next day (Monday I think) you can see The last of the flowers had fallen off their stem which is at the top of the picture with its new buds! I've never had summer orchids before...must be the heat.

------------------

For Saturday's Critters this week, my archives show my grand-puppies: first Cody, the Pomeranian. I mainly talk with him when he's barking over the phone, making it difficult for people to hear each other talk. And the beautiful gal holding him is Kate, my granddaughter who just graduated high school in Ohio. (I know you might be tired of seeing her...but you're crazy, who could be tired of seeing such a beautiful girl! No I'm not at all biased!)

This is grand-pup Zora out back-pack-camping with my son Tai (and wife taking the photo) somewhere in Colorado or Utah probably.

Here's grand-pup Severus with granddaughter, Cayenne holding a gifted ceramic jar made by yours truly, in Tampa  FL....hey, we all have hair that does that!

Not directly related, but kept in my family album, are my ex-in-laws. They are the greatest shared grandparents of my grandchildren with Marty and Cinnamon! And their other daughter lives in Minnesota, where they must have been visiting for this shot. A Blue Ox certainly qualifies for Saturday's Critters.

Yes I have more grand-pups and kittens, but this is what came up today, folks!

-------

Today's quote:

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: "Only stand out of my light." Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light. -John W. Gardner, author and educator (1912-2002)

------------------

Today's old photo is over on my other blog Three Family Trees with Sepia Saturday!

Thanks for our political good news

 Just a repost from their newsletter today.

Americans of Conscience Good News Special Edition for July 4, 2025 If celebrating today seems hollow... Take a moment with us to recognize how the insurmountable vision of achieving liberty and justice for all is STILL present today in myriad creative ways. Pause with us this holiday weekend to enjoy the good news and progress for America over those who would oppress us.   Celebrating our Collective Effort Last month, our AoCC community took over 3,168 actions together in June, bringing us to a total of 38,816 actions for 2025. Because of our combined efforts, we are reminding our elected officials (especially at the state and local levels) that we are not going away quietly! What could be more patriotic?   Just good news Here are all the wins for U.S. democracy, immigration, and equality The Los Angeles Unified School District takes steps to shield graduates and attendees from ICE interference during graduation ceremonies. Administrators of Los Angeles elementary schools refuse to admit DHS agents attempting to speak to particular students under suspicious circumstances and without parental permission. Due to community opposition, the Monmouth, ME police department withdraws its application to a program that allows local police to enforce federal immigration laws in coordination with ICE. Officials in Boise, ID and Missoula, MT declare the rainbow flag to be the official city flags in order to circumvent state bans on Pride flags being flown on government property. Salt Lake City adopts the rainbow Pride flag, the trans Pride flag, and the Juneteenth flag as official city flags in order to circumvent a state ban on “unofficial flags” being flown on government property. A Medford, MA political committee distributes Know Your Rights cards to community members at risk of unlawful ICE conduct. A Quaker group marches from NYC to Washington, DC to demonstrate against the presidential administration’s unjust targeting of people who immigrated to the U.S. The Bay Area Council on Gender Diversity provides support, education, and advocacy to transgender and gender-diverse people and their communities in northeast Wisconsin. Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland join Harvard University’s lawsuit against the administration’s politically motivated threats of federal funding freezes. A coalition of 64 organizations issues a joint letter to the Secretary of State demanding that he halt the revocation of Chinese international students’ visas.  Employers and business owners proactively look out for their employees’ safety through know-your-rights trainings held by immigrant rights groups. Jenny Nguyen’s women’s sports-focused bar is so successful that she’s opening four more franchises across the country. Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a Milford, MA teenager, is released on bond from immigration detention and can now pursue his visa and asylum claim in the community. With the assistance of six U.S. senators, theater artists hold a surprise “guerrilla theater” performance at a Kennedy Center venue in support of the LGBT+ community and artists’ right to free expression. During her BET Awards acceptance speech, Doechii speaks out against politically motivated attacks on protesters. Bluesky users refuse to tolerate the vice president’s dangerous anti-trans rhetoric. After a teacher came out as trans and was fired, the support of 2000 community and union members secured their reinstatement. College student Neve Palmer invents a straw that changes colors if drugs have been added to a drink. University of Texas students protest the university’s ban on drag performances with a "Day of Drag" event, complete with performances and solidarity makeovers.   Support the good news list Every time we speak up together, I feel so proud of you and us, showing up for our nation and neighbors at this difficult time. Let's keep carrying on together!  If you think we at AoCC are doing a good job keeping you informed and engaged in this overwhelming time, click here to learn about being an AoCC patron.

Happy Independence Day

 

---------------------

'Union 50 Stars,' by Janet Nolan

Stars made from various beverage cans...arranged as they are on the American flag.

Asheville Art Museum

Apologies for blurry photo.

-----------------------

Yes, these are Americans. And this happened in 2024. It was shared on Facebook I believe from Ohio.

---------------------

—————-

Thanks to Facebook posting byAnna KosterLessons from Georgia O'Keeffe's Art, Life, Landscape

 “In anticipation of July 4th, I'm sharing O'Keeffe's The Flag. This watercolor, made in 1918, reveals her troubled feelings as war was raging around the world.

Her favorite brother was a a soldier and a victim of toxic gas, used as a weapon by both sides in WW1. He suffered from it the rest of his life and died young (in 1930 at the age of 37).”

------------------

Today's quote:

Perhaps the most radical act of resistance in the face of adversity is to live joyfully.

Ari Honarvar (Daily Om)

--------------

My old photos: 10.2.21 WOMENS MARCH in AUSTIN, TEXAS The many No Kings marches/demonstrations in this year of 2025 show that the will of the people is definitely not that of the present president, who controls the Republicans. ------------------------ And I must say hat's off to Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat Representative from NY, who delayed the vote which was expected around noon whereby Republicans would put a very  unpopular budget in place. The delay meant many Republican's flights for the holiday weekend had to be changed. Democrats too, but they were cheering Hakeem on through out the speech. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) spoke on the floor of the chamber for the longest time in U.S. history in protest of President Donald Trump’s big bill, breaking a record previously held by then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Jeffries began shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday by saying he was going to take his “sweet time on behalf of the American people.” And he did. The New York Democrat took advantage of a House custom that allows party leaders unlimited speaking time, known as a “magic minute.”  McCarthy’s “minute” lasted over eight and a half hours back in 2021, when he was protesting legislation championed by then-President Joe Biden dubbed “Build Back Better.” Jeffries beat the record just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday. He ended his remarks at 1:37 p.m., setting a new record of 8 hours and 44 minutes. “I’m here today to make it clear that I’m going to take my time and ensure that the American people fully understand how damaging this bill will be to their quality of life,” Jeffries said at the beginning of his marathon speech. (Yahoo News) I only watched about the last 2 hours, and was very moved by his effort, the sincere support by the other Democratic representatives, and thinking of how each of them were elected by the people who will now be effected by this new law. ---------------- Sharing with Skywatch Friday (for the header of course)

Michael Sherrill and other linear floral forms

 At the Asheville Art Museum

-------------------

At the Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Then an extraordinary floral arrangement! details below...

Flowers at Art in Bloom 2025, Center for the Arts, Black Mountain NC

-------------------------

At the Asheville Art Museum...

Sorry, another crummy photo. Michael Sherrill's "Black Medicine, 2014" is below. An amazing artist's branch of life-like Elderberries.

While thinking of linear art...

Interesting screen-work in the cafe' on the top floor of the Asheville Art Museum. Delicious side salad for $3...which was a stand-alone for Helen's vegan lunch. My cheese sandwich added to mine (just $7 more!) There were more pricy items too!

Sculptures on the roof, and a view of a hotel as well as distant mountains in the Blue Ridge. Noon that week meant sitting only in shade, and so we stayed in the air conditioned part of the cafe. The one shady table on the patio side had already been taken.

--------------------------

Today's quote:

Constant apologizing can be a sign that you are not feeling that you have much self-worth.

---------------

Today's old photo:

The Heyms in 2018...visiting near Tampa FL. L to R: Michelle, Audrey, Caroline, Russ, Kate, Doug, Millie, William and Marty.  My ex is Doug, and his wife who passed away a few years ago was Millie. Marty and Russ are my sons. Michelle is Russ' wife. The rest are grandchildren!!

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos

Van Gogh and ---

 

---------------------

And from the Asheville Art Museum:

Exhibition on Screen Series | Van Gogh Poets & Lovers

Two hundred years after its opening and a century after acquiring its first Van Gogh works, the National Gallery, London is hosting the UK’s biggest ever Van Gogh exhibition. Van Gogh is not only one of the most beloved artists of all time, but perhaps the most misunderstood.

This film is a chance to reexamine and better understand this iconic artist. Focusing on his unique creative process, Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers explores the artist’s years in the south of France, where he revolutionized his style. Van Gogh became consumed with a passion for storytelling in his art, turning the world around him into vibrant, idealized spaces and symbolic characters.

Poets and lovers filled his imagination; everything he did in the south of France served this new obsession. In part, this is what caused his notorious breakdown, but it didn’t hold back his creativity as he created masterpiece after masterpiece. Explore one of art history’s most pivotal periods in this once-in-a-century show. Made in close collaboration with the National Gallery.

Preview from YouTube above.

-----------

My shots from the show. Apologies to those sitting behind me, I only held up my iPhone for these 4 shots.
 

Well, maybe a couple more which I missed completely. 

The show meant sitting for an hour and a half, not a bad way to spend a hot afternoon. But when you think of all the other movies in much more comfortable seats, with sound systems that wouldn't make it very difficult for me to understand the narrators...the cost was not quite worth it.

Did I learn anything new about Van Gogh? Maybe his love of yellow? Nah, I already knew that.

I observed his most prolific period was from the hospital in 1889  (the year before his suicide.) Or were these just the gallery's collection for that show? It was thorough and thoughtfully narrated by art experts. 

But films of paintings don't really do justice to the art. I've taken too many art history courses with slides and overheads to not have that opinion. So my visit to the Art Museum in Asheville was best enjoyed by seeing art on the wall.

——

Today’s quote:

Haters, like parrots,

talk much

but cannot fly. Dreamers,

like eagles, say nothing but

conquer the skies.

 Matshona Dhliwayo

-------------------------

Old photos:

Myself at 3 and maternal grandmother Mozelle Munhall, Dallas TX. She was a seamstress and made my lovely tan wool outfit with dark brown velvet trim at the collar.