Revisiting La Vie en Rose and Edith Piaf

We were discussing the song, La Vie en Rose, on Facebook. It's a wonderful song, and the movie about Edith Piaf's life, if you haven't seen it, is very good as well. It's been a couple of years since I've seen it, but I might have to rent it again. Marion Cotillard won an Oscar for her role as the lead and the music, of course, is fantastic.

Happy Birthday, Mark Twain!

Just in case you haven't yet seen today's Google Doodle (maybe most of you have, but I love these things!)...

It does look much better in Google itself (much larger).

Light, Beautiful Light!

I was looking for images from the Holburne Museum's new exhibit, Field of Light (in Bath in the United Kingdom), but instead I found these images:

Image by ViaMoi

Image by Pilottage

Image by Nicholas_T

Image by Werner Kunz

Image by Express Monorail

Image by papalars

Image by Stuck in Customs

Here's the direct link to the image above for an explanation of what you're seeing.

Image by jurvetson

Beautiful photography. But the original story of the museum exhibit is worth a look, too (more beautiful images and a good story). The lighting is by artist Bruce Munro, and you can see more of his work at his website.

60-Second Adventures in Thought

I love these attempts to explain concepts in 60 seconds (especially the addition of humor into the mix):



via Miss Cellania

Songs From Television Commercials That I Can't Get Out of My Head

That Ipod Touch commercial has been driving me crazy. I finally had to go find out what the song was. It's Tongue-Tied by GroupLove. Here's the original music video.



And then there's the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas ad. The song is Booty Swing by Parov Stelar.



If you live outside the U.S. and haven't seen the commercial, here it is (only 32 seconds long, but very catchy):



Okay, now I can relax. At last. No more earworms.

Cats Enjoying a Good Read

Because why should humans get to have all the fun?

Image by edmittance

Check out 19 More Cute Photos of Cats Reading.

via Presurfer and Buzzfeed

My Future Travel Plans - Venice

I've never been to Venice, but someday...


Venezia from FKY on Vimeo.

via Nag on the Lake

What Happens to Imaginary Friends When Their Children Grow Up

Imaginary Sam by Darren Bell is a sweet little video. It received the "Best Story" Award at the 2011 Victorian Student Animation Festival.


Imaginary Sam from Darren Bell on Vimeo.

Note: I could only find a Vimeo version of this. It takes awhile to load, but it was worth the wait.

More Things You Can Make for Christmas

I love the idea of making things for Christmas, although I haven't done a whole lot of it (does it count that I knitted pretty little gift bags a few years ago)? Like so many people, December is busy, busy, busy for me, and this year I have a book to finish by the end of the month. That said, I keep saving "made by hand" ideas for the day when I actually have some extra time.

Image by bethany actually

Here are two other places to get some great ideas. Not Martha is...well, it's self-explanatory, isn't it? The directions for the magnets (above) came from that site and there are lots of other cute ideas.  This story from Get Rich Slowly has links to 34 Homemade Gifts and it's how I located Not Martha. Unfortunately, it's from 2008 and I didn't get to check all the links, so some of them may be dead links. My apologies if you come up against a few dead ends. (If you do, let me know and I'll try to locate another source). 

A Tiger Skin Rug Made of Cigarettes

The rug in this video is on display at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Made from half a million cigarettes and weighing an incredible 440 pounds, the artist, Xu Bing, wanted to send a message about global trade and also about how people are seduced into smoking.



There are more images of the cigarette rug (and more of the story) at Shortlist.

These Cream Cheese Penguins Just Slipped In...

I am embarrassed to admit that once again I got sidetracked. I totally had no clue that I was going to post a recipe for cream cheese penguins today. In fact, I had never heard of them or seen them, and I was actually looking for...well, I'm not sure I remember what I was looking for. But here they are, penguins made from olives, cream cheese and carrots. Just in case you need some cuteness for your next dinner party or gathering.

Image by Klara Kim

If you want to make your own cream cheese penguins, here's the link at All Recipes, my favorite recipe site (hint: always read the comments. People who have already made the recipe often offer fabulous tips on ways to change or improve the dish). And if anyone makes this (or has already made this), please report back. They look cute, but also as if they would be a bit of work. 

For the Deeply Committed Star Trek Fans...

Somehow I missed the fact that Chicago now has A Klingon Christmas Carol (this is its second year), but yesterday someone sent me a link to the theater info. The play originated in Minnesota, where it has been playing for the last few Christmas seasons and is completely in the Klingon language with English subtitles.



And here's a bit on the origins of the play (this was pre-Chicago, when they were just trying to bring it here, so the last part is more about the financial aspects of moving the play here and possibly elsewhere in the future, but I thought the beginning was interesting enough to include it).

Lapidary Art and Other Artisan Crafts

I was reading a post on 10 Fascinating Artisan Crafts and one of them happened to be lapidary art. If you've never seen any lapidary art (cutting and polishing stones into works of art), it's beautiful stuff. There's a small museum not far from my home, The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, with some great examples. I haven't visited there in a long time, but maybe it's time to stop by again. In the meantime, here are some examples of the art:

Image by suttonhoo

Image by Kankakee Carl

Image by Party_Of_Five

Image by Robin Green Eye

Image by Robin Green Eye

According the caption under the photo above, this carving, known as a Chinese puzzle ball has 24 movable spheres inside it, and all of them are carved from a single piece of ivory.

For many more images of lapidary art, visit the Lizzadro Museum's website and click through to the collections.

Capturing the Colors of the Great Outdoors

This video satisfies my love of animation with my love of the outdoors. Watch as a struggling artist finds some inspiration (with a bit of help from a few friends).



I'd love to be able to paint at all. Unfortunately, I lack that kind of talent. Still, I'm happy that so many other people are gifted in that way and are willing to share their gifts with the world.

A Unique (But Not New) Way to Lose Weight

We've all heard of tons of different diet ideas, but the one that seems to work best is...well, eating less. That's what Carolyn Ekins, born in the UK and raised in Canada is doing. She's attempting to lose 100 pounds by eating only the foods available to a British citizen during World War II when rationing was in place.

  Image by brizzlebornandbred

Check out the story about how all this came about (and info on wartime rationing) as well as Carolyn's blog, The 1940's Experiment. The discussion of recipes of the era and the information on the details of rationing was incredibly interesting. 

via Nag on the Lake

What Toys Do at Night

Toys go on an adventure via Google Street View after hours.



By Tom Jenkins of The Theory.

Making Your Own Christmas Gifts - A Survival Bracelet

All right, it's the day after Thanksgiving, at least in the U.S., and in my world that means it's time to let all things Christmas officially begin. Today's link will take you to the instructions on how to make a survival (or paracord) bracelet. I think one of those would make a very nice present for campers or hikers, in part because it's a unisex present and it's jewelry that's also useful (how awesome is that)!

Note: The image below isn't exactly like the one in the tutorial, but it's similar.

How to Make a Survival Bracelet 

Image by SonnyandSandy

And if you like them, but don't want to make your own, Etsy has listings for all kinds of paracord survival bracelets. Let the fun begin!

Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black

I'm not a fan of horror movies, but I might make an exception for this one. Maybe. I'm torn between my cowardice regarding scary movies and my admiration of Daniel Radcliffe's acting abilities.





Well, I suppose I have until February to decide. (Although I do have the feeling that I'll chicken out).

Have a Happy Thanksgiving (or a Happy Day if You're Not in the U.S.)!

Some "oldies but goodies" videos:







Enjoy the day, wherever you are!

The Desk of the Future is Almost Here (Very Star Trek-like)

EXOdesk is supposed to be released some time next year and sell for $1,299. It looks very cool (although as a person with a messy desk, I don't know where I'd put all my stuff).

Just Another Day in the Park for a Man and His Dog...and Some Deer

A poor man out with his dog in Richmond Park in London loses control of his doggy friend when his pet discovers the thrill of chasing red deer.

Not the Demon White Cat!

This is one of those "awww" videos. A big dog is so eager to get to his master but so scared of the white cat guarding the stairs.



Poor sweetie. I just wanted to save him from "the evil one." (I would love to know what's going through the cat's mind).

via Daily Picks and Flicks

What's On Your Desk?

The other day, Presurfer ran a post on The World's Most Untidy Office Desks. Gerard, who writes The Presurfer even posted a photo of his desk, which is not at all untidy and puts my desk to shame (and no, I'm not posting an image of mine right now. My desk is always messy when I'm writing, which is always. It's totally embarrassing but true).

Image by gibsonsgolfer

(Note: This is the desk of the photographer listed above).

The story reminded me that it had been a long time since I checked out The Writer's Cave. Author Paige Cuccaro has asked authors to submit photos of their desks, and she has a lot of them, so if you want to see what Jenny Crusie's writing space looks like, or that of Janet Evanovich, Susan Wiggs, Yasmine Galenorn or many others, visit The Writer's Cave and click on the images. 

Also very intriguing (because there are whole stories to go with the desks) is the series that The Guardian runs on Writers' Rooms (several pages in, you'll find stories about the writing rooms of Jane Austen, Charles Darwin, Charlotte Bronte, George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf, among others. There are 116 stories in all). What a treat!

So, are you very neat or very messy? Or are you messy with tendencies to go on mad cleaning binges when things get out of hand (raising my hand here). 

Google's Turkey Day Front Page

Go to Google's Home page and click on the Turkey's head. Do it again. Now the feathers. What fun! Thank you, Google.

Amazing Cloud Activity

Watch mid-screen as these clouds do something I've never seen clouds do before.



Here's a Discover Magazine article that explains what's going on.

via Presurfer

John Lewis Christmas Ad

You may have already seen this Christmas ad for the UK department store if you've been cruising blogs lately (yes, I'm a bit late) or if you live in the UK, but because it was so sweet, I thought it was worth posting, late or not.



(Maybe I just needed this as a reminder to get going on my Christmas shopping. I usually start early, but I'm a bit behind this year).

Star Wars Cookie Cutters

I always find it intriguing when people are able to adapt a product for another use. In this case, the blogger at The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle took her love of Star Wars and her love of baking, adapted cookie cutters and came up with some very awesome looking Star Wars cookies.

If you want to make your own Star Wars cookies or just read the story, check it out.

A This and That Post

Kind of a hodge podge blog entry. First, a video that (more or less) promotes a contest sponsored by Canon and judged (I think?) by Ron Howard. It doesn't do anything, but it was fun:



Then, the trailer for an online Ron Howard movie (no release date mentioned yet) that was somehow inspired by the photos in the contest above. Maybe some of the images were even incorporated? (And yes, I know this is all rather murky and confusing. Maybe because I didn't take the time to read all the contest rules. At any rate, the trailer is intriguing).



The Hunger Games, a movie I've been waiting for:



And Brave, a Pixar film coming next year:



What movies are you looking forward to?

I Love These Shelter Pet Project Videos

A cat is embarrassed by his new owners. It's pretty cute.

Star Trek Crew Watches Star Wars in Action

A bit silly and totally illogical, but intriguing mash-up for sci-fi fans:



via Miss Cellania

Canstruction - Art and Charity Shake Hands

If you're in New York from now through November 21st, the 19th Annual New York City Canstruction® Competition and Exhibition will be on view in various places throughout the World Financial Center. Canstruction is a competition and a meeting of art, engineering and charity, whereby engineers, architects, contractors and students build structures out of full cans of food. The food will all be donated when the competition is over. Other cities all over the world will take part throughout the year.

These images are from other years and, in some cases, from other cities:

Image by wallyg

Image by Whistling in the Dark

Image by Stephen Rees

Image by Carol Browne

Image by mag3737

Check out this year's winners in New York and find more images and more information at the Canstruction® page. It's so fantastic that people have such great ideas to help other people!

JP Moore Grades 26 Years of People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive

I know. I know. This is not my usual post, but I was in the mood for something fun and a little grumpy at the same time (is it possible for those two to co-exist?) so this was just perfect for the day. Enjoy, and be sure to tell me if you disagree on any of these things (we all have strong ideas regarding what and who is really sexy...or at least attractive, don't we)?

Image by Bex.Walton

Here's the story: Grading 26 Years of People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive." (And for the record, Matt Damon is still the one I like best. He's not just good looking. He's interesting, too. Hence, the photo above). 

Magic Mountain Lodge in Patagonia

I'm always on the hunt for unusual places I can travel to via Internet armchair and The Magic Mountain Lodge is just such a place. Located in Northern Chile's Patagonia region, it is a testament to green architecture. Part of the Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve, it was designed using local materials and labor.

Image by nickherber

Lucky visitors to its 13 rooms enter via a suspended rope bridge, and are treated to the sight of a water spout at the top that sends water cascading down the structure. With a sauna inside, hot tubs made from hollow tree stumps outside, and wildlife consisting of condors, eagles and pumas, it promises to present a unique experience. Inhabitat.com calls it "hobbit-like" because it "looks like it came straight from middle-earth," but it is named after the book, The Magic Mountain. Check out the rest of the story and some stunningly beautiful images (and even more images here).

Note: I have to be honest here. Although this place looks totally fascinating, I'm not interested in the pumas outside of a documentary. We have cougars and grizzly bears in the U.S. and I've visited their habitats many times. I respect them, I want to see them live on and be a part of nature, but I have never wanted to get up close and personal with them. Far too scary for cowardly me. I've seen black bears several times and been close enough to hold a conversation, and even that, while fascinating in retrospect, was not fun at the time, especially the time I nearly walked up on a mother bear with two cubs. Eek!

via Presurfer, Inhabit and Unusual Hotels of the World

A Bit of Pre-Winter Animation

With predictions for a hard winter here in Chicago, snow and ice is in the back of my mind. It's a good time for a wintry tale, and "Lady Ice" fits the bill.



I loved the story. A bit sad, but well told.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Revisited

A year ago, an adorable little video titled Marcel the Shell, written by Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp (voiced by Jenny and directed by Dean) was posted online and became a bit of a sensation. Here's the new follow up, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two:



And here's the original, if you missed it:



While writing this, I found numerous spinoff videos by people doing their own Marcels, talking about Marcel, and writing songs for Marcel.  Now Marcel has a book out (okay, a book about Marcel, written by Jenny and Dean). Television and news broadcasts picked up on the sensation. A television show may even be in the works. And EW.com and Time have both done stories on him (along with other media outlets).  I find it fascinating that what began as a simple little video posted online has become such a sensation.

Still, I can see why. Marcel is seriously cute!

About All That Dancing Food...

Advertisers always suck us in (or me, at least) with those wonderful images of food that bear no resemblance whatsoever to the real food that we buy and eat. Liquids, in particular, are always presented as splashing or refreshing. Much better, I suppose, than simply looking at a cup of something sitting there being still (as liquids usually behave). There's just something intriguing about fluids doing...what fluids do when taken to extremes.

Image by Natt2

Image by dongga BS

Clearly, marketers know this. For instance, I find myself mesmerized by this short Dasani/Target commercial.

A prime example of "beautiful food in motion" is the Breakfast Interrupted video that was making the rounds earlier this year:



And here's how they did it (I find this video almost more interesting and fun than the original):



Food. So beautiful and with such a potential to be messy. I've tried to figure out what it is that calls to me in these dancing food ads. I hope it's not my own propensity to be a bit...clumsy. So many spills. If only someone had had a camera at the ready, I could have created an entire reel of food in motion (and filled a laundry room with clothes that needed a bit of scrubbing before washing).

Writing Tips - A Trip to the Idea Factory (or...Where to Get Ideas)

The most common question asked of writers is...where do you get your ideas? Some writers get tired of answering this question and come up with cute and sometimes funny ideas (the factory where ideas can be bought being one). But I can understand why the question gets asked so often. Not everyone or even every writer grows up with ideas exploding in their brains all the time. For some of us, ideas are more elusive. They're hard to control or predict.

Image by Biczzz

After my first book and again after my second, I was petrified that I had no other books waiting in the wings, no great ideas. But somehow the ideas kept arriving. And this is where I begin to understand why some people don't like answering this question. The repetition is only part of it (I think). The rest, at least for me, is that...it's very difficult to explain to people where I get those ideas, because I tend not to think about it too much myself. There have been times when I wanted to simply say, "It's magic," because sometimes it really feels that way. I'll be standing in the produce aisle at the grocery store and an idea will suddenly be there, in my head, where no idea (other than choosing a cantaloupe) was there a moment earlier.

But...it's not really magic. Once I set my mind to coming up with a real and solid answer, I knew that while it often feels as if the ideas drop out of the clouds, there's more to it than that. The author is at least partly in control. Once a person decides to take the plunge and write, they turn their "idea radar" on. After that, anything and everything that goes on around them gets filtered through that radar. The fact that a lot of this takes place subconsciously makes it seem like magic, but it's really more a sense of heightened awareness, a way of looking at the world and seeing...characters, plots, settings, conflicts.

True, sometimes the radar doesn't work as well as it does at others. Fatigue, stress, illness all cloud the radar, but the rest of the time...it's there humming away in the background.

So, how do you make it hum harder and get the magic to happen?  Here are a few things that have worked for me:

1. Read the newspaper. I don't know how anyone can be a writer and not read the news. For one thing, if you're going to write about contemporary times or humanity or history or...pretty much anything, all those things show up in newspapers. Then, too, some really bizarre happenings are reported in newspapers, and bizarre happenings can be just the ticket to turn on that What If? factor in an author's head.

2. Get outside. I know that you need to be at your computer to write, but the motors aren't going to keep turning and you're going to miss out on a lot of input if you don't get out in the world. Even taking a walk down the street can dredge up some good What If? questions. At the very least, it's exercise, and exercise will keep your mind from becoming sluggish.

3. Pay attention to what's happening around you. Anywhere. Everywhere. Yes, writers are terrible eavesdroppers. It's rude, possibly unsettling if someone finds you looking their way, but observing people teaches a writer a lot about how people (all kinds of people) interact. Even if I'm not actively listening to what's being said, observing people together often sends me off to some imaginary world. I project roles on those innocent diners that they'll never live up to in real life, but it doesn't really matter. In my mind, they've catapulted me toward new character ideas.

4. Brainstorm titles. It doesn't matter if those titles don't ever end up on the cover of a book. The mere act of coming up with titles sometimes jiggles something in my brain enough to give me a new idea for a book.

5. Watch television and movies. Yes, I am telling you to watch television. Often when I'm watching a show, one incident in the program will spin me off in another direction, and I'll have a speck of an idea. Totally unrelated and still crude, but the point is simply to inspire, not to walk away with a fully formed plot. You're trying to jiggle your subconscious and set it to imagining whole new worlds.

6. Visit museums. Places that house the history or footprints of those who have done great and amazing things often get me to thinking about characters.

7. Scribble down ideas, no matter how silly they may seem. You may come across what appears to be a meaningless scrap of an idea, but that idea can evolve and change and grow into something larger. Or it may be discarded completely but send you off on a new tangent and a better idea.

8, Pay attention to names. Even reading a baby name book can help me come up with ideas. That's because most of us tend to have rather strong ideas about what personalities fit different names. That reaction can sometimes set my mind to wandering and give birth to a character. And coming up with a character can lead to a book.

9. In the same way, take a whirl around the world. Looking at place names on maps or reading about other towns, countries or cultures can send questions flitting through an author's mind. And questions are always good. They tend to lead to an attempt to answer those questions. And that can lead to a great plot or an intriguing conflict. Or a character or (of course) a setting.

10. Listen to music. Not necessarily while you're writing but just to enjoy and to set the mood. Manipulating your mood can lead you to an idea you might otherwise have missed.

The point is, ideas do come from somewhere. They come from within the author, and by keeping your "idea radar" turned on at all times, you'll open your imagination and always be attuned to ideas. A chance comment at a dinner party, a line in a history book, a photo in a magazine. Anything can spark an idea. Because yes, there is an idea factory. It's in every author's head. Pay attention to it. If you keep your mind open to possibilities, the ideas will come. Fresh from the factory.

Classic Art and Modern Technology

I think that most of us have favorite classic paintings. Even if we're not schooled in art history (raising my hand here), there are certain works that all of us recognize. Obviously the Mona Lisa. Starry Night by Van Gogh. Edvard Munch's The Scream. (Don't worry, I'll stop, although I could go on and I'm sure that if other people chimed in we'd all realize that there are quite a few famous paintings we all know, even if we don't know their true names).

Still, I do find it fun when modern artists take those famous works and change them using moderns settings or technology. Here are 26 Modern Takes on Famous Paintings.

via Presurfer

Angry Birds Cupcake Toppers

I'm probably the last person on earth to succumb to Angry Birds. Actually, I've never played. Does it count if I've seen other people playing? At any rate, I think the little birds are cute and rather funny (I can see the appeal), so I rather like these little cupcake toppers.

The image is by Xiaolu at 6 Bittersweets. There's plenty of lovely photography and lovely food over there. And if you're interested in making the cake toppers, the instructions are at Pure Joy Events, where you can also find other tutorials, including Pie in a Jar. You know I want to make that now, don't you? (Or at least eat it. It looked yummy).

Beautiful Graffiti Art in Montreal

As usually happens, I clicked on one story only to have my eye caught by another one. The image that I found so fascinating was this one:

Image by John E. Lester

It's a beautiful image, but the story behind it is also interesting. It was painted by an artist run collective called A'shop and the painting took 5 artists working 16 days straight from dawn to dusk. They used 500 cans of spray paint in 50 colors. Here's the story of how "La Notre-Dame-de-Grâce" or "Our Lady of Grace" came about (along with images of the process). And here's a link to A'shop. 

Behind the Scenes of the Toshiba Space Chair Commercial

Whenever I see a movie I like, I really enjoy all the behinds the scenes stuff that's so often included on DVD's these days. So, when I read about this little "the making of" video about the Toshiba chair commercial, I had to click over.

Here's the original, in case you missed it:



And here's a bit about the man who made it happen:



There seems to be a run on sending things into space and filming them. Earlier this year Samsung sent a cell phone into space and allowed people to send messages and images to the phone.



For now these are merely examples of clever advertising. I just hope no one ever discovers a way to send something big (like a car) into space. Not sure I want auto body parts raining down from above.

How to Entice People to Visit Museums

I understand. We're all very busy, and sometimes even if we live near a museum or two, we forget that they exist. Or we forget that many museums are constantly updating their exhibits. So how do museums grab our attention and get us in the door? Some of them have clever ads. These 5 (very short) commercials ran anywhere from 2007 to 2010, so some of the exhibits have undoubtedly changed by now, but all of them made me want to run out and visit a museum right now.

Here are two from the Getty in Los Angeles.

From the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago:


The Seattle Art Museum:


And my personal favorite, via Presurfer and Neatorama, the Denver Museum of Science and Nature:


What museums have you visited lately or what's your favorite? I admit to being a sucker for the Museum of Science and Industry, although the Field Museum of Natural History is right up near the top.

I Could Watch People Cook All Day

First of all, let me say that I'm not a big fan of pineapple upside-down cake. I'm not sure why. I like pineapple and I like cake, but put them together and I'm usually not that interested. That said, I do love to watch people cook, and this video of a Michael Kors recipe by Rachel, a blogger, has great music and great timing. It sucked me in.


pineapple upside-down cake from rachelchew on Vimeo.

Hmm, maybe I might like pineapple upside-down cake better this time around.

And Then the Telephone Rang...

For those of you who doodle while you talk on the phone, here's a quirky little video about an artist's relationships with his creations.



I love when his drawings take a bow at the end.

via Kuriositas

All I Need is This Blanket...

My apologies if you've already seen this cute dog video. It's been around since July and has garnered over a million hits, but it's new to me and adorable, so I'm posting it anyway.



So sweet!

via Nag On the Lake

Goodbye Leaves. See You Next Year

The leaves are almost gone in my area (the Midwest of the U.S.), so here's a last look at some of them.

Image by paul (dex)

Image by Steve-h

Image by Gilderic

Image by Ian Sane

Image by ecstaticist

Yes, evergreens! We get to keep them even in winter, but I liked the image, so here they are.

Image by Denis Collette...!!!

Image by linh.ngân

Image by visual panic

Image by Brian Hathcock

And...they're gone. Sigh. But they'll be back. How awesome to have that to look forward to!

Sculpture Surprise - The Sculptures of Grizedale Forest

It's been quite some time since I visited England, but the last time I was there, I visited  The Lake District (wonderful) and paid a visit to Grizedale Forest, which has sculptures scattered throughout. We're a big fan of sculpture and sculpture gardens (so you'll probably see more of them here) and this one is quite impressive. The renowned Andy Goldsworthy has an installation here. Still, we can't all visit things in person (there are so many places I want to go that I'll probably never get to), so here is a bit of Grizedale:

Image by vitruvianman

And here's the vimeo from The Grizedale Website (the website is worth a look if you plan to visit...even if it's only visiting via your armchair):



I think one of the things I like best about sculpture walks like this (besides the sculpture) is the glorious outdoor setting and being able to get exercise while I enjoy the art. There are several treats rolled into one outing.

So That's What Happens to Those Lost Socks...

This short, multi-award-winning video by Carlo VOGELE was a graduation film. The story (a sock escapes to go clubbing) made me smile.

I Think He's Got It

This bear has rhythm (or something). At any rate, he's cute.

Via peetah and mrgoldendeal

Paint Chip Masterpiece

In one of those "how did I end up here" moments, I wandered onto an article on Home and Garden, titled: "Paint Chips: Are You Stealing?" Apparently there is an entire art and craft movement devoted to paint chips. Who knew? I won't go into the ethical dilemma the article addresses (you can read it yourself), but I was fascinated and curious. What were people making out of paint chips?

Apparently, some pretty amazing things. Take a look at this large and very lifelike mosaic:

Now, that was impressive. And all from the lowly paint chip.

Turkey Cupcakes - Add a Bit of Fun to November!

Sometimes life just drops good ideas into your inbox. The other day I opened an email with a link to various craft and cooking projects. One of them was the "how to" for these cute Turkey Cupcakes by Brenda at Sweet Simple Stuff.

Image used with permission of Sweet Simple Stuff

These are right up my alley. Peanut butter plays a bit part, and I love peanut butter (but you can use other flavors). Check out the instructions on how to make these yummy turkey cupcakes. These would be great for school parties (I love the little feet)! 

Cats Being Useful

No reason to leave your house for therapy when you have a perfectly good cat at home...



Now that's the kind of pet I need.

Pencilmation: Malice in Wonderland

Ah, the power of the pencil! Ross Bollinger creates these wonderful little animations where the pencilmaster controls his characters, often with affects the characters don't appreciate. Here he drops in a little Alice in Wonderland and creates havoc.

Trees Are Tenacious (or...Let's Hear it for the Trees)

We all know how important trees are. They produce oxygen, help clean the air by intercepting airborne particles and absorbing pollutants, they prevent soil erosion, serve as windbreaks and help block noise. They give us shade and provide food and shelter for other living creatures. And in addition to all that, they're just big, beautiful living objects.

We walk a fine line in our relationship with trees. We need to use them, but we also need to make sure they survive. That almost makes them sound fragile, and in some ways they are. Insects alone have created havoc with certain species of trees in recent years. Still, left on their own...what powerful and tenacious and intriguing entities they are. Their relationship with rocks is incredibly interesting.

Image by Leia Speia

Image by Observe the Banana

Image by James Marvin Phelps

This tree (below) in Yellowwood Forest in Indiana held this 400 pound rock until the tree fell down sometime in 2006. How a rock that large ended up 40 feet up in the tree is a mystery (the size of the rock would seem too large for the tree to simply grow up, lifting the rock. A tornado was another possibility, but no one really knows). 

Image by b_nicodemus

But trees have grown around other objects. Leave a sign on a tree long enough and the tree may take it over.

Image by misskoco

And trees (those hungry creatures) have eaten other objects as well:

Benches

Image by karsten

Headstones

Image by fractalznet

Railings and Fences

Image by debs-eye

Image by Beatnic

Fire hydrants

Image by savemejebus

Even a bicycle

Image by callista1172

I guess it pays to keep moving when you're near a tree. No Rip Van Winkle acts or you'll end up like this statue of Buddha in Thailand. The fig tree has imprisoned it. 

Image by Rory OBrien

It's great to read or sleep under the shade of a tree, though. As long as you don't sleep for a hundred years.