Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Twenty-Twelve's Sizzling Summer Solstice


Green Man, Rosslyn Chapel (Wikipedia)
Green Man, Rochester Cathedral, Kent, UK (Wikipedia)



 Today is a scorcher here in New England - hot and humid, yet green and glorious because we've been fortunate so far with a fair amount of rain and cool-ish temperatures - it's time for me to invoke the ancient power of the Green Man to encourage all my plants to grow like crazy!
 
Magnificent mugwort - such a wonderful "weed" - is growing wild again everywhere!

On this day, I'm content to putter around the house doing laundry, washing dishes, making jewelry, watering plants, trying to figure out a way to honor the Summer Solstice... perhaps pulling some weeds and planting some herbs would be an appropriate act of appreciation for abundance?

Enjoying the vividly vibrant colors of summer

Hmmm - so would sipping a wine spritzer with lots of ice... watching a favorite movie... making more jewelry... opening up my art journal and drawing a personal mandala to bring about abundance... oh, yeah, NOW we're talking! Enjoy today, the longest day of the year, and may you have pleasantly sweet dreams tonight, the shortest night of the year ~

My own personal Green Man
Made these amethyst & glass beauties this morning








Happy Summer Solstice!

 





 



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

There And Back Again

A strange effect from tracks reflected in the window
 I decided to take a train ride at the end of May and went home to Florida to visit my mother and brother - I stayed for 12 days and celebrated my 59th birthday there - I managed to see a few people I knew - relaxed and took lots of photos...

...here's a few of the things I saw - all aboard!

Giant palm tree through the window on the train
After arriving in Florida, the three of us had lunch beside the St. John's River
Sneaking up on one of the 9,000 alligators that live in Lake Jesup 
Looking out at Lake Jesup from Black Hammock Adventure Park

Another view of Lake Jesup that includes a huge bird's nest and a blue heron
The sun, like a giant blood orange, finished setting over Lake Jesup

Florida is a beautiful place, if you know where to look and you don't mind driving fifty miles there and back again...


(All photos: TJB Googins 2012 ~ HipstaMatic app on iPhone)