greenpepperpressblog

Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

respite with the roses

October 16, 2008



Yesterday Susanna and I met for coffee. I was telling her I would cut her some roses from my garden when she asked if I had been to the Rose Garden at a nearby park. Hello? No way, never heard of it. She made a u-turn and off we went for a beautiful morning walk through the garden and down to the river.   I was so enamored with the new destination that I returned later in the afternoon with my camera and with Fallon who fancies herself a budding photographer.



I can imagine how beautiful this garden is in May but the fine October day was perfect. I will return often. Susanna shared her favorite spot along the river and we sat for a moment.  The water was clear and moving so slowly – I could have stayed all day. When I went back with Fallon I wanted to take her to the river but the gates were closed. I looked out across the field where I had walked earlier that morning and blew a kiss, because it's where I found this:

I told Shannon I was going to look for her everywhere.  When I asked her what her sign would be she claimed a four leaf clover. I said that wasn't fair because I find them all the time – how would I know it was her? Yesterday, I knew.
respite with the roses

October 16, 2008



Yesterday Susanna and I met for coffee. I was telling her I would cut her some roses from my garden when she asked if I had been to the Rose Garden at a nearby park. Hello? No way, never heard of it. She made a u-turn and off we went for a beautiful morning walk through the garden and down to the river.   I was so enamored with the new destination that I returned later in the afternoon with my camera and with Fallon who fancies herself a budding photographer.



I can imagine how beautiful this garden is in May but the fine October day was perfect. I will return often. Susanna shared her favorite spot along the river and we sat for a moment.  The water was clear and moving so slowly – I could have stayed all day. When I went back with Fallon I wanted to take her to the river but the gates were closed. I looked out across the field where I had walked earlier that morning and blew a kiss, because it's where I found this:

I told Shannon I was going to look for her everywhere.  When I asked her what her sign would be she claimed a four leaf clover. I said that wasn't fair because I find them all the time – how would I know it was her? Yesterday, I knew.
what are the odds?

October 14, 2008

Saturday I met friends in the city. I've told you about Edie, an artist friend who lives in NYC. And I've told you about Judy, an artist friend who lives in Australia. Imagine how many apartments and hotel rooms there are in Manhattan. Thousands, right? So what are the odds that Judy was staying in the same apartment building as Edie? Crazy!



What are the odds that I would find another "It" bag….in red?



What are the odds that in the wonderful heaps of metal findings and charms at Metaliferous Judy would find one "rock hands" charm?



And what are the odds that when you leave your camera on a restaurant table in New York City and the staff say they never saw it that a girl with a funny accent can get the manager to scarf it up? Thanks for scoring my camera Judy. And thanks for a fun day girls!
what are the odds?

October 14, 2008

Saturday I met friends in the city. I've told you about Edie, an artist friend who lives in NYC. And I've told you about Judy, an artist friend who lives in Australia. Imagine how many apartments and hotel rooms there are in Manhattan. Thousands, right? So what are the odds that Judy was staying in the same apartment building as Edie? Crazy!



What are the odds that I would find another "It" bag….in red?



What are the odds that in the wonderful heaps of metal findings and charms at Metaliferous Judy would find one "rock hands" charm?



And what are the odds that when you leave your camera on a restaurant table in New York City and the staff say they never saw it that a girl with a funny accent can get the manager to scarf it up? Thanks for scoring my camera Judy. And thanks for a fun day girls!
check mates

October 8, 2008

X and O were my partners in crime for a while. Of course x and o would eventually take you to tic-tac-toe, right? Then onto checkerboard…..the scale made me think of the chess punch, and soon I was channeling new ideas which required new tools. Here's the visual story:









Oh, let me take a moment to recognize that this is my 300th post. When I noticed I had just hit 100 on the Street Team blog I checked the count over here and it was at 299. Wow!  Dear readers, this platform, my blog, helps me define who I am – and it cleared the path to meet you. What's that saying? It's out on the limb where you gather the fruit. I ventured out and you served the fruit. Thank you.



Back to chess…..like WAY BACK. Making these new tools was like revisting old friends. For nearly ten years I have incorporated chess pieces in my work. Here's some of the visual history:
check mates

October 8, 2008

X and O were my partners in crime for a while. Of course x and o would eventually take you to tic-tac-toe, right? Then onto checkerboard…..the scale made me think of the chess punch, and soon I was channeling new ideas which required new tools. Here's the visual story:









Oh, let me take a moment to recognize that this is my 300th post. When I noticed I had just hit 100 on the Street Team blog I checked the count over here and it was at 299. Wow!  Dear readers, this platform, my blog, helps me define who I am – and it cleared the path to meet you. What's that saying? It's out on the limb where you gather the fruit. I ventured out and you served the fruit. Thank you.



Back to chess…..like WAY BACK. Making these new tools was like revisting old friends. For nearly ten years I have incorporated chess pieces in my work. Here's some of the visual history:
on my desk

October 2, 2008

Love shopping at tjmaxx, marshalls and home goods. There are several that are dangerously close to everything. This weeks score was a journal. Cheap thrill.  And how about these pins? What? Your first stop at the mall isn't Hot Topic? Usually it's our only destination.



It's time to read up on how to handle the seasonal change with my lovely rose bushes. I'm clueless and need to figure out what I need to do asap.   It has brought me such simple pleasure to go visit my roses every day and I want to keep them safe for next year. Any hints?

My cousin Molly sent me this book, 90 minutes in heaven, and suggested I read chapter 2. I admit I have not read the rest of the book. All I needed to hear was Don Piper's account of heaven to give me a rush of peace and comfort. Sure, I trusted that heaven was the kingdom it is promised to be, but his words came at the right time for me. He describes, in simple words, what it was like to enter heaven. My take-away is that there are no words yet invented to express the immense joy ahead of us. My take-away, from this one chapter, was to be thrilled that my sister is there. Thank you Molly, for this precious gift, for this perspective. Another book I have found helpful is Surviving the Death of a Sibling. Grief takes on many faces and it is different for all of us, even within one family. Shannon was a wife, a daughter, a friend – but she was also my sister.

Love my jumbo size Sharpie paint pens. Messing around with them makes me really happy. Love when they smear. The nib on these things are 1/2" wide! Get some!!



And the braces are off! Look at this lovely face. I promised Fallon I wouldn't blog about her new *friend* (Anthony)….I'm not. He may have been edited from the photo, but the blush he provoked is there. Does that still get me in trouble?  *wink*

Congratulations to Kathryn Antyr for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 23. It's our second anniversary at the Street Team blog!

*Throws confetti on self*.
on my desk

October 2, 2008

Love shopping at tjmaxx, marshalls and home goods. There are several that are dangerously close to everything. This weeks score was a journal. Cheap thrill.  And how about these pins? What? Your first stop at the mall isn't Hot Topic? Usually it's our only destination.



It's time to read up on how to handle the seasonal change with my lovely rose bushes. I'm clueless and need to figure out what I need to do asap.   It has brought me such simple pleasure to go visit my roses every day and I want to keep them safe for next year. Any hints?

My cousin Molly sent me this book, 90 minutes in heaven, and suggested I read chapter 2. I admit I have not read the rest of the book. All I needed to hear was Don Piper's account of heaven to give me a rush of peace and comfort. Sure, I trusted that heaven was the kingdom it is promised to be, but his words came at the right time for me. He describes, in simple words, what it was like to enter heaven. My take-away is that there are no words yet invented to express the immense joy ahead of us. My take-away, from this one chapter, was to be thrilled that my sister is there. Thank you Molly, for this precious gift, for this perspective. Another book I have found helpful is Surviving the Death of a Sibling. Grief takes on many faces and it is different for all of us, even within one family. Shannon was a wife, a daughter, a friend – but she was also my sister.

Love my jumbo size Sharpie paint pens. Messing around with them makes me really happy. Love when they smear. The nib on these things are 1/2" wide! Get some!!



And the braces are off! Look at this lovely face. I promised Fallon I wouldn't blog about her new *friend* (Anthony)….I'm not. He may have been edited from the photo, but the blush he provoked is there. Does that still get me in trouble?  *wink*

Congratulations to Kathryn Antyr for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 23. It's our second anniversary at the Street Team blog!

*Throws confetti on self*.
h&k

September 30, 2008

Same subject, same colors. I like a limited palette. It gives me the opportunity to explore textures and shapes without being distracted by color choices. There is truth to less is more.







Love the Jill Penney and Daniel Torrente images from Stampotique, don't you? Circle stamps and large alphabet (HUG) from GPP.
h&k

September 30, 2008

Same subject, same colors. I like a limited palette. It gives me the opportunity to explore textures and shapes without being distracted by color choices. There is truth to less is more.







Love the Jill Penney and Daniel Torrente images from Stampotique, don't you? Circle stamps and large alphabet (HUG) from GPP.