This post is sooo inspirational. Soooo beautiful. Sooo timely. I cried as I viewed it. I just have to share it with you. DO take time to view the video. You will be blessed.
The original painting of Jesus painted by Akiane Kramarikat age 9 was hidden from her for over a decade. Finally she was able to reunite with it for a moment before it shipped to its new owner. She is an amazing artist.
Santa ’round the world Jolly Old St. Nicholas Known by many names
In America, he is Santa Claus
In Pennsylvania St. Nicholas was displayed In his many forms
Santa Claus is also St. Nicholas, in the USA. We have a song: “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way Don’t you tell a single soul What I’m going to say…”
Each depiction of Santa in the Pittsburgh Santa Town display showed a painting and a description… and a bigger than life-sized model of whoever St. Nick is in that country. Here’s Netherlands.HaitiIsn’t she marvelous?Middle EastHoly ManGreat BritainFather Christmas – Spectacular!Sorry ’bout the flash reflection!St. Stephen- of Ireland The beards were created by mops!!RussiaGrandfather Frost – He was awesome!Latin AmericaViejo Pascero – Wonderfully colorful!FrancePere Noel evidently always has a helper. De says Pere Noel is really “Père Fouettard” – Got that?Italy (Can you read the descriptive words on the booklet page?)Only a few of the “St. Nick” depictions were femaleNorway “Julesvenn” – gift bringerIsn’t that beard magnificent?ChinaDun Che Lao Ren
Pittsburgh was decked out for Christmas. It was before Thanksgiving!
The buildings declared the coming of the Christmas season.
We visited the Santa House…
…and had our picture taken with Santa Claus
Merry Christmas is coming!
Even if the display was “too early” in my estimation, if it had not been before Thanksgiving, we would not have been there to enjoy it and photograph it for you. I hope you enjoyed the display.
See ya tomorrow… Gotta go continue writing my C’mas cards.
What are you up to today? And which Santa- St. Nick – did you like best??
Our Ennis Arts Association supports a performance each year of Shakespeare in the Schools for our Ennis students. I was so impressed today with the performance of these young people.
Following the performance of Romeo & Juliet, the cast sat down and gave the Ennis High students a chance to ask questions.
Then members of our Ennis Arts Association gathered for a delicious lunch at the Sr. Center followed by installation of our 2020 Ennis Arts Association Officers.
The shortest one there is yours truly, installed as the new president. It’s a privilege to work with these folks (left to right): Chelsee Mahsman (Secretary) with her baby, Clementine, Sue Kinn-Brown (Vice-President and jury committee chair), yours truly, and Patsy Eckert (past president).
Unable to attend were Barbara Swan-Roger (treasurer), Jan Brooks (co-treasurer). Also in attendance was one who serves on the jury for our annual adjudicated Art Festival and serves as a member of the publicity committee, Margie Reck; Shirley Storey, one of our talented artists, and Barbara Gillispie, also on the jury committee and a key member of the Art Festival planning group. It takes a dedicated team to support the arts and artists in our art-focused Madison Valley.
The Phipps Arboretum in Pittsburgh is an amazing place. We visited there with Jodie this morning. I took all kinds of pictures so I could share the experience with you. I hope you enjoy these amazing plants, decorated trees, and flowers.
Jodie & Bob in front of the Phipps Museum
One whole area in the museum was devoted to plants from Cuba. That area was very humid and warm.Another area was devoted to the North Pole Christmas theme.These reindeer were made out of sponges!The gigantic glass flowers in the next picture were created by Jason Gamrath, a student of glass artist, ChihulyTake a look at these unusual orchids. The sign said, “Transvaal.”I love the ruffly white orchids.
Jodie was fascinated by the spotted orchids.
“Wine spots” – interesting, huh?
Thanks for touring with us. I hope you enjoyed the flowers as much as we did!
See ya later… I’m headed to the Masonic Home to play with Liam.
Music increases Intelligence, I am sure; Especially strings!
Science bears it out! Or is it that violins Attract the wise ones?
Does music enhance natural intelligence?Just look at these bright youngsters!
Today at our Madison Valley Woman’s Club, there were about 75 women present to enjoy a variety of homemade soups for lunch while being entertained by Katie Coyle’s violin students.
These seven students were delightful!
Teacher, Katie, said she was not a trained teacher, but no one else in our little town of less than 1,000 residents was teaching violin. So, when Katie (who to played the fiddle when she was a youngster) was asked, she stepped up to the plate. There is no way you would agree with her when she says, “I don’t know how to teach violin.”
The students giggled when told they should play kneeling.They squealed with joy when told to play lying down!
Katie obviously knows how to teach violin in a way that brings the students back each week clambering for more.
Smart to begin with; smarter still with music lessons!Bright eyes, open minds, and ready smiles!
Our MVWC donates money annually to Katie’s Music and Art Academy. Our donation made it possible for 3 families to attend Fiddlers’ Camp last summer. Next summer Katie hopes 6 families can attend.
We have 150 members!
Our “Collect” or “pledge” that we resign together each month at the start of our meeting tells you a little about our mission:
We put into action our better impulses!
Today I was one of about 8 ladies who provided the crock pots of soup for the lunch. Each month a different volunteer committee provides the meal and decorates the tables with seasonal themes.
This wasn’t the one I made, but it was my choice for lunch. It was yummy!There were about 8 choices of soup plus cornbread and yummy desserts. The desserts were gone by the time the serving committee got to that part of the meal. Oh well… I didn’t need the calories!Happy November, my friends.
Do you play an instrument? Is it your conviction that music enhances intelligence? I may be a little prejudiced in that regard!
I hope you can access this gorgeous music. I found it by Googling it on YouTube.
Just listening to beautiful violin music makes me feel smarter! How about you?
My cousin, Cliff, who had surgery yesterday to remove his esophagus (due to cancer) loves sending me jokes about my instrument of choice: the accordion. I ask you to pray today for Cliff’s recovery and return to strength and humor. I think of him as I listen to this beautiful music.
One of the jokes Cliff sent me was a picture of St. Peter welcoming someone to Heaven saying, “Here is your harp.” And Satan welcoming someone to Hell saying, “Here’s your accordion.”
Thanks, Cliff!! In spite of your sarcastic humor, I love you!! (Maybe it’s because of your humor??) Even in your strapped down, hooked up, post surgery posture, I can see that devilish smirk and the twinkle in your eyes!
Please pray for Cliff!
Listen to music. It’ll make you smarter. And bee sure your kids get music lessons!
Bee well! Always Bee Grateful for your health!! See ya tomorrow, my friends.
Today our Ennis Arts Association had a guest speaker, Kathy Coontz, who represents the Federation, Quilts of Valor, in our state of Montana. Kathy is such an inspiration!! I love her quilts and her enthusiasm.
Can you see what a delight she is?
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nation-wide service effort that delivers quilts to service members and veterans. Its mission is to cover service men and women and veterans touched by our war(s) with comforting and healing hugs in the form of beautiful, warm, red, white and blue quilts.
Kathy told us the recipients do not have to have served in a “declared war.” Regardless of the conflict or the branch of service, the rank or the job (Clerk Typist Specialist 4 – behind a desk in Germany in 1961-2 was my husband’s job), we owe them a thank you for their service to our country. The quilts are stitched with love, prayers, gratitude, and healing thoughts. It’s the quilters’ way of saying, “Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor.”
In their brochure explaining the program, QOV quoted one recipient, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan from ’05 to ’07.
Spc. JMcK, US Army, wrote,
“As silly as it might sound for a soldier with over three years in Iraq and Afghanistan to say, that blanket became a true item of comfort and peace for the road ahead.”
If you know a U.S. service man or woman or a veteran who might appreciate a Quilt of Valor, you can log on to http://www.QOVF.org and fill out an application. You also can discover on that site how to donate to the cause, join the organization, or designate a gift for a specific QOVF group or particular state.
It was a wonderful presentation. I wish more people in our Madison Valley had been there to hear Kathy’s message.
Do you have a Quilts Of Valor organization near you? Or do you know of a veteran who’d benefit? Think about it! There’s nothing like a warm blanket hug! My daughter DeDe sent me a blanket hug for Christmas last year. I love it!!
When the world around Seems bent on Hell’s Destruction, Find solace in art.
I just love artists; Amazing talent is shared. What’s your medium?
Wood? Here’s a sculpture of an owl
This clever bucket pours imagination
Some artists bring blank canvas to life
Other artists, like Carol Clarkson, bring clay to life
Whimsical artists combine mediums
Margie Reck combines gourds with her painting talent
Others create fabric, make hats, design jewelry
What you choose to wear is an expression of the ARTIST in you!
Stained glass art amazes mePhoto by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com Photography is an art… And so is freedom of self-expressionPhoto by Ella Olsson on Pexels.com Food is an art… how you use it… How you combine it.Art inspires the best in me to emergeGerry Gerron, a retired architect, taught himself to be an artist, turning to the canvas for expression. He created this amazing portrait of fellow Artist, Larry Zabel.
Locked inside of you Is a colorful artist – Let it come forward!!
In cookies or cloth, Color your whole world with love. Be the joy you seek.
What art is your choice? Color my world with your joy. Leave a happy note.
A friend sent me an e-mail with the most amazing photographs of animals. It did not have a photographer’s name credited to the pictures. I wish I knew who was behind the lense for each of these. If you recognize any, let me know, okay?
They are too beautiful to keep to myself and to a few FB followers. Photography such as this is the trademark of true artists!
I need you, my dear WP friends,
to see these. Sit back and enjoy!!
And tell me,
which are your favorites?
Here’s lookin’ atcha!!
Hope you enjoyed this wonderful display. Which was your favorite?
We had 55 artists exhibiting their creativity at this wonderful Ennis Arts Festival today.
Come and see a few of the booths, artists, and special visitors with me.
One of our artists,
Ivette Kjelsrud,
designs creative fine, wearable art.
The center of this bison by Ivette
is melted wax,
a technique called encaustic.
It was fun setting up tents on a beautiful Saturday morning…
One of my favorites:
Scott Wheeler Photography
Scottwheelergallery.comThis photo of Yellowstone’s Artist’s Point
is a sample of Kim Tolotti’s wonderful photography.
Kim died this year – a great loss to us, to art, and the world.
Kim’s Photography was/is gorgeous.
We are establishing a scholarship in her honor
to be awarded to an Ennis High graduating senior
who will focus on art as a major
My 2 mo. old great-granddaughter was the only bored person in the crowd!Bob & our great-Grandson, Xander, enjoyed the rock painting area.We’re a dog friendly park. Isn’t this one a cutie?The Tune Tanglers kept us entertained from 10: to 5: with their great music!Aimee Heimberg shared a booth with Ruth Hauri.I love Sunny Glass Mosaics by Sunny Jaye.
Tiki Contemporary & Western Art by Kathleen Van Diessche is amazing!
When time to take a break, the porta potties are right handy!
Couldn’t help myself… just had to share this corner of the festival with you.These boys were ready for a break, too.Don’t miss Wildfire Photography – Images by Gary Slane – Spectacular!
John’s Rustic Originals made with old kitchen silverware and utinsels were so clever!
There were several wonderful pottery booths
with a myriad of pottery to choose from.
The barbed wire artist was new to us this year. His creations were fascinating.
One booth was for Ennis Arts Association members
who wanted to display one to three items,
but didn’t want to fill a booth space of their own.
The three in the background are the work of Carle McCambridge.
Carla Cavaiani used old spoons to create beautiful art pieces.
I love this bluebird photography by Scott Wheeler (see my reflection in the glass taking this photo with my cell phone?)…Makes an interesting study, doesn’t it?
Come fly on over here next year – second Saturday in August – for another phenomenal festival.
See ya later.
John’s Rustic Originals made with old kitchen silverware and utinsels were so clever!
The barbed wire artist was new to us this year. His creations were fascinating.
One booth was for Ennis Arts Association members
who wanted to display one to three items,
but didn’t want to fill a booth space of their own.
The three in the background are the work of Carle McCambridge.
Carla Cavaiani used old spoons to create beautiful art pieces.
Written
on December 21, 2019