While Putin wages his murderous, misbegotten, evil war, people everywhere are standing up for those he is harming and killing. Honor and dignity and courage of the Ukrainians shine a brilliant light on his dark madness so all the world can see.
*
From the Make Art, Not War Desk:
Paula is sharing recent colors and observations of her "Sit Spot" in her Tucson yard on the foothills of the Catalina Mountains that define one edge of the valley...
Before we sign off tonight, let us hold the Ukrainians in light and open our hearts to others. Never, in my lifetime, has it been more apparent how much we mean to each other, and how important truth, justice, kindness, security, food, shelter, decency, and love are to make coherent systems that support human life and the life of our planet.
"Well, Toby, just for a minute there yesterday, Persephone was in charge. Sure was good walking here at the farm in 60-degree sunshine!"
"Too bad the Goddess of Winter is swooping back. I'll just be hanging out here in the barn in my warm 'igloo'." He added, "Thank You, very much."
"I listened for the frogs yesterday on my walk. Maybe too soon though."
"Blech!" he said. "I don't really care. They taste terrible."
"Well, maybe your mama didn't skin them, roll them in milk then bread crumbs, and sauté them in butter. Oh so totally yum!"
"Good grief, no. I don't even know what became of my mother. I just remember crawling up the side of a cage in some store at a mall."
"Ah, that would be when I spotted you in the Humane Society store back in Tucson."
"Yes, those were the condo years. Now that you've been hunkered down so much with this pandemic going on, you know what that cage and that condo were like for me."
"Did I detect a note of resentment, there, Toby?"
"Nah, not really. I loved to play with all the toys you got for me and the cat trees, the screened-in patio, and lying on your stomach to take an early afternoon nap together. Oh, and chewing off your shoelaces in the closet. "
Hmm, I think he's still processing our former condo life.
He went on, "The cockroaches tasted okay but don't begin to compare with these Pennsylvania rats and mice. So much nutrition! So much excitement! But, I'll admit, back then, condo life was a lonely time. "
"Were you bored?"
"Not exactly. But it was kinda weird. Here, I can hang with my buddies Frezz, Bert, and Sebastian. And, my natural inclinations help prevent rodent population explosions. I have to keep my eye on that white rooster strutting around trying to be the bigshot of the barnyard. But then, there are the goats and the mare that add a sparkle to my day, and Wendy opening canned cat food. It's so cool, too, when there's a new baby goat."
"Well, that's why I come over for a walk, don't you know. Life is a little weird, too, in a senior living place during a pandemic. Adding to all those things you named, when I come over to the farm for a walk or a visit, I get to see one or another of my family, and you, and Karma kitty (he grimaced), Wendy's birds..."
"Birds! he interrupted, Birds!!! Did you say birds?"
"Calm down," I said. "Do you remember the Conure that flew onto Wendy's blond hair out here in the barnyard?"
"Yes! he would have made a tasty dinner."
"Aarrrgggh! Perish that thought!"
"It's my DNA," he said. He licked a paw and scrubbed his face for a little while.
Then, he perked up, "You said birds. Are there more than one?"
"Yes, besides Picasso Luckibird (he didn't get eaten!), there are four Parakeets--Claude, Diego, Vincent, and Toulouse."
"Well," he said, "I'd cut them some slack and leave them alone since they probably live in a cage. Besides, it's more fun hunting out here."
"Speaking of hunting," I said, "What do you make of all the guns people have?"
"I'd say, get a grip!!!"
He went on, "I'm a hunter but I don't need big fire-power. Tooth and claw works for me. He carefully cleaned between each stretched-out, claw-tipped toe."
Then, he said, "You humans have a gun problem."
"Yup," I said. "Too true."
"And," I added, "it looks like we're about to have a war problem."
"What's the matter with all you humans? I thought you worked on diplomacy with these numbskulls grabbing stuff that's not theirs, being mean and cruel, rattling swords and such. You and your family give me and these animals here a great life, plant trees, and gardens, but look what some of you humans are doing to other people who are your own species!"
"Well," I said, "not to mention, what humans are doing to other species, the air, the water...soil...oceans..."
"Back to this war problem," he said. "That's new. Well maybe old, but news that it's back. Is war in your DNA?"
"You'd think so since we've made so much war machinery. And, enough bombs that if they all went off there wouldn't be anything left living on the entire planet."
"Man, talk about die-offs! You humans could do that? Now you're scaring me."
"I'm scaring myself, too. Pretty soon my mind will be back under the bed."
"And I'll be up a tree!"
He climbed up on my shoulder where he likes to go sometimes.
He told me, "It's time to make Art, not War"...
While he purred on my shoulder, I thought, "He must be channeling the '60s hippy love-children. Yes...he's onto something.
*
Let's go to the Arts Desk:
From Paula in Tucson we have the final, 12th installment of her color journal...
She included this composite of all 12 months. They are a celebration of color and observations she made right there in their Tucson yard...
Then, for the first time in two years a trip into Philly for a concert. Keoni played viola in the Curtis Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra at Kimmel Center (yes, ID, Mask, Vax Card!)
Everyone who ever watched Stanley Kubrick's 2001 will instantly know this snippet I managed to grab during the concert...
*
We were inspired this afternoon with a text so poignant that it cries out to be repeated. Granddaughter Sonja reported this from Jeff who took their seven-year-old son Kingston to the doctor today...
From the inaugural Random Acts of Kindness Desk:
"Kingston caught a cold so Jeff took him to the doctor to get checked for the flu, covid, and strep to be sure. He was negative for everything. But the doctor was so good so I wanted to share.
He asked Kingston if he had any brothers or sisters
Kingston said he has 1 brother... then he backtracked and said, "well I have 2 brothers, but 1 passed away."
The doctor then said, "Oh, well then you will always have a brother here and here (he pointed to his heart and mind).
Then the doctor said, let me listen to your lungs (with the stethoscope 🩺)
After he listened for a minute, the doctor said, "Yep, I can hear your brother saying I love you."
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Welcome! all acts of kindness, anywhere and everywhere.
At the Weather Desk: Recent calls to interview the Goddes of Winter went unanswered. But we did record her answer service message...
"Can't you see I'm busy!!! You have a window? Open it!"
Well, we have the groundhog report to go on. Six more weeks with the Goddess of Winter.
Hmmm. It's all foggy and dark out my window.
*
Toby is napping somewhere up among the hay bales in the barn.
So, I spring-cleaned.
Persephone, where are you???
_________
Now, from the Arts Desk: We are happy to have the 11th installment of Paula's nearly year-long project inspired by daily observations while in her Tucson backyard then translated into their colors...
...and we look forward to seeing her project's conclusion when January 2022 is ready.
And in Missouri, sister Jeanenne got her watercolors out this week and shared her renderings. We're hoping for more of these from her...
Over in Cincinnati, Aidan finds time now and then to make something on his iPad with Procreate which he shares with us...
Not too long ago, Kingston shared a drawing with us, too...
Thank you, Paula, Jeanenne, Aidan, and Kingston for your contributions! We love every one of them.
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