twins

I have nothing to say about this piece, really. It was just a bit of fun.

the princess and the pea

Inspired by the old children's story, this princess is resting on a stack of seven cushions. Near the bottom is a pea in a pod, keeping her up at night.

The cushions are made of ceramic, as is the princess, but she also has wire for hair and a tin crown.

perched

Above it all, perched on her very tall chair and enjoying it, or wanting to get down if she can just figure out how? Maybe both. As she is torn by conflicting desires, blackbirds are watching and waiting to see what happens, but not helping.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

the wonder of flight

Perhaps it's just me, but I think the sensation of flying is one we'd all like to experience. Soaring through the air, the wind rushing past us, the utter feeling of freedom. Getting outside ourselves, out of time and place, and just being in the moment...

This is a subject I've explored several times, but seemingly one that I'm not yet done with.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

morning has broken

Morning has broken,

like the first morning.

Blackbird has spoken,

like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing,

fresh from the word!

Sweet the rain's new fall,

sunlit from heaven.

Like the first dew fall,

on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness

of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness

where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight,

mine is the morning,

Born of the one light

Eden saw play.

Praise with elation,

praise every morning,

God's re-creation of the new day.

That old hymn, originally an even older gaelic tune, and popularized by Cat Stevens was the inspiration for this piece. It's this sort of song and performance that makes me wish I was a musician and singer. The best I can do is to try to capture the mood, feeling, and emotion the piece evokes.

I might take another shot at this, perhaps making the scene more lush in order to better capture the mood of the song. I'll have to think on it...

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

symbiosis

In the give and take between human and animal, a serenity is achieved while the knitter works and the sheep takes comfort in companionship.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

going places

Delicately balanced through his forward momentum, this crow has places to go, people to see, and things to do. Busy, busy busy.

You know, sometimes we are so busy trying to get where we're going that we fail to enjoy the moment. Crowding our lives with so much activity that we don't even notice we've lost the ability to be still. How long has it been since you've laid on your back in the grass and watched the clouds go by? Or sat on a porch swing with your eyes closed and listened to the sound of birds? Or gone outside at dawn just to breathe deeply of the morning mist before the rest of the world wakes up? Try it. Slow your brain down and think of nothing but the enjoyment of the moment. It will fill your heart up.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

in my studio

I keep the bits and pieces of works in progress on a small table in my studio. There they stay safe and organized. They also stare accusingly at me every time I walk past as if to say "hey! we're still not done, and yet you dare to start another piece?" That's right, my work gives me attitude! You can see glimpses of two different pieces in the photo above. The woman is part of a sculpture which will probably be titled "freedom". Gruesomely, her legs aren't yet attached to her body (not that she seems to care). Eventually, she'll be sitting on the back of a crow in flight, and the whole deal will be hung from the ceiling. Clearly I'm not done yet with the subject of flight because another piece is in the works which also explores that subject matter.

And here is a little vignette of one corner of my studio work table. I got this table third-hand and happily don't have to worry about ruining the surface since it was already pretty messed up when I got it. At times I think I should sand it down to make it nice again, but but so far have resisted the temptation since then I'd have to be careful with it.

a quiet life

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."

Albert Einstein

Impossible for me to have said it better. I've been thinking about this in my own life recently and was pleasantly surprised to happen upon this quote. Living here on the hill for four years now, my life has become increasingly quiet, less complicated, more in tune. With my dogs for company as I work, farm animals for the occasional distraction, a garden for physical exertion, and a good book to read in the evening, I am rarely bored.

When we deliberately slow down the pace of our lives and stop allowing ourselves to be constantly bombarded by everything that screams for our attention, we are able to find the quiet moments to think and reflect. To allow imagination free reign to entertain us. To dream and to ponder the "what ifs". For me, that's where art comes from. That quiet place.

rainfall

For those of you who couldn't make it to the show, I'll be posting images of some of that work here in the next few weeks. I hope to continue this, posting images of new work as it is finished. There is so much in my head begging to be let out that sometimes I hardly know where to start. But what with the big push to get everything completed in time for the show, it seems I'm now back in creation mode - the long drought over.

And so here we have "Rainfall"...

Still in his shell and refusing to come out and face the world, this little guy is hunched in his nest and seeking protection from the elements with a rather flimsy umbrella. All within a glass cabinet, as though preserved like a specimen.

I sort of like the whole specimen concept. I may have to pursue this further... more little cabinets, more odd vignettes.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

I hope to see you tonight!

So tonight is the opening of "In My Own Backyard" at Diddywopps & Keeffers. This will be my third show there in three years, but I'm still excited, thank goodness. The day it stops being exciting and showing becomes ho-hum is probably the day I should stop. Happily, that doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. I continue to amuse myself while making the work and hope it strikes a chord with those who view it.

I'm a pretty private person and so putting this stuff out there has always been a stretch for me. Sort of a "here's what goes on inside my head, please don't smirk" kind of thing. But the reward of a piece making a connection with someone is worth the risk of disdain. I think. At least as long as I don't have to witness that disdain personally.

a preview of September 12, part 9

a preview of September 12, part 8

kreativ blogger award

Thanks to Michelle over at Boulderneigh for sending me the Kreativ Blogger award! One always likes to be appreciated - or maybe that's just me, hmmm? Anyway, as I understand it, I'm to list seven of my favorite authors and then seven blogs to nominate for the award. So without further ado, here we go...

My seven favorite authors:

Dean Koontz

Gene Logsdon

Jonathan Kellerman

Patricia Cornwell

John Sandford

Michael Crichton

Dean Koontz

Okay, I cheated and put Koontz in twice. But really, these days most of the books I read come from the library with the exception of Koontz. If he has a new book out, I buy it. Because what I've found is that they are good enough to re-read. More than once.

Seven creative blogs:

http://hilarypfeifer.blogspot.com/

http://meganauman.blogspot.com/

http://blackeyedsuzie.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://stellarcafe.blogspot.com/

http://oneblackbird.blogspot.com/

http://sodabyamy.blogspot.com/

http://tollipop.typepad.com/tollipop/

I encourage you to visit these blogs and see if you don't agree that they are quite creative! Each one different and unique, but with something special to share.

a preview of September 12, part 7

a preview of september 12, part 6

a preview of september 12, part 5

a preview of september 12, part 4

a preview of september 12, part 3

a preview of september 12, part 2

a preview of september 12

Here's a little preview of what you can expect to see at the opening of "In My Own Backyard" the evening of September 12 at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show is just over two weeks away and I'll be posting more of these tidbits between now and then.

change

I said before that I've been running in four different directions, but to be perfectly honest, it's only three - graphic designer, mixed media sculptor, and wannabe farmer. Which brings us to the subject of change... the designation of wannabe farmer is changing to just farmer. Okay, so in some folks minds, with just under 4 acres that's stretching the term quite a bit, but that's okay. It will be a micro-mini farm, or as I'm calling it, "the tiny little farm at Tulip Tree Hill". The core of the farm will be a greenhouse for growing heirloom vegetables and flower seedlings. Additionally, there will be a market garden for produce and cut flowers both of which will be sold at growers markets. I'll still be a graphic designer (my primary source of income) and a mixed media sculptor. And so this blog's somewhat split personality will birth a new blog about the farm. The only changes you'll see here will be a lack of gardening/farming posts and hopefully more emphasis on art. That way the folks interested in the tiny little farm won't have to wade through art posts and those who like art won't have to read my ramblings about farming. Unless of course, you want to.

Speaking of art, my new show at Diddywopps is opening September 12, but I need to have everything completed and delivered by the 6th. I. am. not. ready. Oh, I'll get everything done, and it will all be wonderful of course, but things will be hopping out in the studio!

in my own backyard

I have been quite negligent in keeping up with this blog lately and have no excuses, really, except that I feel like I've been running in 4 different directions at the same time. And when you're doing that, it's hard to get anywhere at all!

One of the directions will soon bear fruit with the opening of my new show at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show runs from September 10 - October 19, with the opening reception on Saturday September 12, from 6-8 p.m. If you're in the neighborhood, do stop by - everyone is welcome. One of the reasons I like Diddywopps so much is that Tami has created such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, without the pretensions. Just fine art and craft, presented beautifully.

Hope to see you there!

garden guests

Can you see my little friend here? It's a black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar munching on some dill in the garden. Upon closer inspection, I counted a dozen of them. But I don't mind, after all, there's more than enough dill for all of us. And who doesn't love butterflies?

a pastoral scene

This is the view from my back pasture, looking out into the neighbor's field. This scene is so much better in person - the quiet and gentle peacefulness of sheep grazing in a lush pasture, the single tree providing soft shade, and the bounty of the newly harvested field - it fills my heart up.

they don't sound as pretty as they look!

So this is what I heard last night.

That's right, you try sleeping after that.

remembering

"To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves."

Gandhi

some thoughts on gardening and art

To be perfectly honest, I've not been particularly creative or productive, sculpture-wise, for the past two months or more. However, the garden is looking better than it ever has. Pondering this, I realized there was a correlation. The need to create, specifically to create something of beauty, thoughtfulness, and worth is ingrained pretty deeply. So if I'm going to garden, then it needs to be an aesthetically pleasing garden. Productive, yes, but also attractive to the eye. So combined with my love of being outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine, along with a lifelong enjoyment for growing things, and you have my creative energies going into a garden rather than into sculptures. So all those pieces I've started, along with the ones that are still only an idea in a sketchbook, have been patiently waiting for me to return to them (do they have any choice, really?). And return I will, just as soon as I pull a couple more weeds and admire a few more bee-covered blossoms, and maybe check to see if there are any baby tomatoes yet...

another good read

A lighthearted, yet thought-provoking book that actually made me laugh out loud in a couple of places. In it, the author chronicles his experiences of his first year in his attempt to "live green" on a ranch in New Mexico. From battles with his rose-eating goats, to driving a truck whose exhaust smells like Kentucky Fried Chicken, we are given an insiders view into the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows of learning to live more in tune with the earth and less in tune with fossil fuel.
Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living

garden blossoms-part 2

one of the many sunflowers that are blooming

my kitchen windowsill

Find and enjoy the small beauties in life.

a garden weekend

The garden has grown so much in the past couple of weeks and so I wanted to share an updated photo. The "three sisters" of corn, beans, and squash are doing well after getting off to a sluggish start, literally. The slugs chewed them up pretty heavily until I left some weeds for them to go after. Now that the sisters are bigger, I've gotten rid of the weeds once again. Salad greens are nearly over, getting ready to bolt and become bitter. The spinach is already a goner. The red beets did particularly well this spring, producing much more than expected. They've been going in salads, roasted as a side dish, and now pickled. Good stuff.

pickled red beets

The sunflowers are turning their faces to catch the rays, the mustard is in full bloom and covered with honey bees, potatoes are just going crazy, growing and blooming on and on. The tomatoes have also begun to bloom, so hopefully soon I'll see some little ones growing.

Some of the herbs were big enough to begin cutting. The mint planted earlier this year has just taken off - doing its job and filling in a hard-to-mow area which has been turned into a mint bed. I think it likes it there. I was also able to cut some parsley and basil, and as you can see at left, all three have been hung up to dry in my kitchen. And by the way, the kitchen smells great! Best of all, this is just the beginning of a harvest that should last until the end of summer.

so, how many lambs can YOU fit in a VW Bug?

Only two in my bug, but then two was all I was in the market for. Ever since visiting Shelley at River Bend Farm late last summer, and then again early this spring, I've been looking forward to getting a couple of Shetland ewe lambs. Today they finally came home with me. Their names are Aster and Apricot. Aren't they beautiful?

helpless

Checking on the garden this morning, I heard some robins making quite a ruckus. Glancing into the yard, there was my standard schnauzer, Biggie, lying on the ground and looking at something between his front paws. Realizing he must have one of their babies, I quickly took it away from him, seemingly unhurt, and deposited it on the other side of the fence at the edge of the woods. So far I haven't seen the parents taking care of it, but they sure know where it is, because when I went back out to take this photo, they strongly voiced their disapproval. The babe seems nearly feathered out so hopefully he'll make it.

my salad days

Garden salad of green leaf, red leaf, and buttercrunch lettuces, parsley, spinach, diced radishes, sauteed baby beets, hard boiled eggs, and pumpkin seeds. Topped with the Tulip Tree Hill house dressing.

Right now the garden is providing an abundance of mixed greens and spring roots, so salad is on the menu more often than not. With the exception of the pumpkin seeds, everything in the salad above was raised right here. Pretty cool, huh? Hopefully with this year's pumpkin crop, even the seeds will be homegrown next spring.

My favorite dressing right now is a creamy sweet and sour herb mixture. Here's the recipe:

Tulip Tree Hill House Dressing

In a one pint jar, add the following:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup salad dressing

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1/4 teaspoon thyme

Put the lid on the jar and give it a good shake until well blended.

Open the jar, stick your finger in and give it a try.

Adjust sugar and/or vinegar to taste.

That's it, all done!

Please keep refrigerated.

it won't go down without a fight

See, this is what I meant about bamboo getting sneaky when threatened. These tiny, little, seemingly innocuous, grass-like clumps are actually bamboo. This is an area well away from the main stand where I cut some down last year in an effort to stop its spread. The rhizome didn't die, it just waited for the opportunity to come back in disguise. Later today the weed killer will be put to good use. Unfortunately, some other plants may get hit in the crossfire, but that's what I meant about collateral damage. I have also begun cutting mature stalks, but there are probably a couple hundred of them and they're woody and tough. It will be a long fight - but one that I mean to win.

what I'm reading now

Living Seasonally

by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd

A wonderfully written book that's a pleasure to read. It puts into words so much of what I feel but don't quite know how to express about gardening. You know, like when I get asked why bother growing potatoes when you can buy them for almost nothing... my answer is usually less than eloquent, like "ummm, because it feels good?" There's so much about the love of growing things that's hard to verbalize, but these two guys seem to manage it.

Also at times, when reading this book, I wanted to be them (except for the part about living in Vermont - somewhere warmer is more up my alley).

my how they've grown!

Yesterday was the first day that the broilers were allowed to go outside. At 4 weeks old, they finally seemed like they were ready. It was a bit damp and rainy, but a few of the braver souls ventured out between showers. They enjoyed pecking around and looking for nasties goodies in the grass, such as worms, grubs, slugs, etc. I've kept bantams for four years, but this is my first foray into raising meat birds - specifically Cornish Rock crosses. Compared to egg-layers, these broilers are awkward and somewhat fragile, growing faster than they can feather out (a bit pathetic, really), hence being kept inside for so long. Next year, my choice of meat birds will likely be a standard heavy breed such as Barred Rocks. They'll probably take twelve weeks to reach a good size rather than the eight for broilers, but since I'm not pushing for quick turn-around, that's okay. I'll be a lot more comfortable with the "normal" growth rate and increased vigor.

garden blossoms-part 1

potato,

mustard,

mesclun (salad mix),

cucumber

Aren't the potato blossoms just gorgeous? They'd look nice even in a flower border. So would the mustard. And the mesclun isn't too shabby either. The bonus is that you can also make dinner from them.

know your enemies

I moved here four years ago and have been battling a stand of bamboo ever since. Believing we could live in harmony, it started out with me just breaking off the new shoots that were growing where I didn't want them. Apparently that made it mad. Showing its true colors, it made a dash towards the house, coming up through the deck, disrupting the stone patio surrounding the water garden, and invading the hosta bed. Amazed by the audacity, I countered with more severe pruning as well as judicious applications of weed killer. Hostilities escalated. Last summer, it ran twenty feet into the woods. That was the final straw - I envisioned a future where nothing remained in my woods except a few older trees and bamboo. No wildflowers or saplings, no place left for the native flora and fauna to survive, let alone thrive. So bamboo and I were now locked in a battle to the death. Clearly there was no way to live in harmony with this monster. Accepting that there might be some collateral damage, I vowed to do whatever it would take to completely eradicate it.

So when I found a book on bamboo at the library last week, it came home with me. I thought perhaps at the very least, there would be something about containing the beast, if not killing it outright. The book is well written and speaks so glowingly of the beauty and benefits of bamboo, that if I didn't know better, I might be tempted to plant some. Reading through the book, I finally got to the part about keeping it contained. I learned it can go under sidewalks, driveways, and even roads in some cases. The root system is usually significantly larger than what you see above ground and it can run for fifty feet underground before popping up in another location. FIFTY FEET! What are people thinking when they plant this stuff? Let me just say here that in my opinion, it is irresponsible, short sighted, and selfish to plant bamboo without adequately containing it with a permanent barrier that is up to the task. Seriously.

Reading further, it was as though the heavens opened and angels sang when I saw the following: "Killing bamboo is not easy, but it can be done." For the benefit of anyone else engaged in a similar war, I offer the following:

"Bamboo can be eliminated without the addition of any herbicides or chemical fertilizers, but these can be employed to accelerate the process. There are variations on the theme, but an effective regimen for eradication is as follows: cut the aboveground growth to the ground with a lawnmower (who are they kidding?), pruning shears, hand saw, chain saw, or other implement, as fits the situation. Water and fertilize to encourage the rhizomes (roots) to generate new growth. If necessary, limit the height of new shoots by pruning. As soon as the new shoots have leafed out, stop all watering, fertilize very heavily with a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and spray with a strong herbicide. Remove the culms (shoots) and foliage once the herbicide has been fully absorbed. Remove all subsequent shoots before they leaf out. Damaged by the herbicide and stressed and weakened by over-fertilization and lack of water, the bamboo's demise is accelerated."

Aha! A plan of attack! It will be a big job and not one I will likely get done this year, but at least there's hope. There is just one fly in that ointment, however. I have seen this bamboo, when stressed, send up tiny little shoots that look nearly identical to grasses. In the woods this will be hard to spot, but I'll stay on top of it.

Wish me luck.

wow

check it...

honored guests

Yesterday was spent with my sister and her husband at the New Holland horse auction. They were going to look for a pony for their youngest daughter's birthday and I was going, well, because I like those sorts of things. When the smoke cleared, they had bought two ponies instead of just one. Their older daughter already has a small horse, but it's too big for her and they're hoping a smaller one will help build her confidence. These two are very sweet, calm, easy going, and small. Perfect for young girls just starting out. Oh, and they also bought a pony cart - which should be a lot of fun!

Since my niece's birthday isn't until Friday, and the pony is a surprise, they'll be staying in one of my paddocks until then. 

what are they?

I happened upon these delicate blue wildflowers over the weekend quite by accident. Other than the blossoms, they look just like clumps of grass mixed in among the honeysuckle at the edge of my woods. They are sky blue with a clear yellow center on the inside. I've never seen anything like them before and would love to know what they are. Anyone know?

the garden

Here is an overview of most of my garden. From left to right you can see the "three sisters" planting of field corn, beans, and melons. You can also see salad greens, sunflowers, potatoes, mustard, tomatoes and peppers (in the red plastic). 

The three sisters is something I've read about but never tried before. You plant the corn first, four to a hill, and when it is 4" tall plant pole beans in between the corn plants. Then in between the corn/bean hills, you plant melons, squash, pumpkins, etc., two to a hill. The idea is that the corn will support the beans as they grow, the beans will add nitrogen to the soil, and the squash will shade the ground to minimize weeds. It's an interesting concept and one which will be fun to watch play out. I've mulched the three sisters heavily in between the hills with cardboard covered up with horse manure/bedding and then topped it off with wood chips from last year. The weeds don't stand a chance (hopefully).

The field corn is from seed saved from last year's planting. It worked out great last year - the animals got some for treats and I got some for corn meal - which was very good, by the way. I encourage you to try your hand at growing it for yourself - but get an heirloom variety so you can save your own seed. 

The beans for three sisters were: Emerite pole bean, your typical french green bean; Chinese Red Noodle bean, an oddball that is supposed to get 18" pods that are bright red; and Vermont Cranberry bean, a nice red spotted bean that's good for drying and using for soups and chili. The melon/squash component consists of Banana melons, Thai Golden melons, a Pepino melon, french "Cinderella" pumpkins (Rouge Vif D'Etampes), lemon cucumbers, a plain old slicing cucumber, and a couple zucchini.

Salad greens, red beets, onions and sunflowers are next to the three sisters. The plan is that the greens will be done by the time the squash becomes rampant, and the sunflowers will be well above it all. I've been eating a LOT of salad lately.

Potatoes: two white varieties and a blue variety. Supposedly the blue one stays that color even through cooking. Should be interesting. This picture was taken last week before mulching was started. At this point, I have about half the potatoes mulched, first laying down a thin layer of newspaper and topping it off with the manure and wood chips.

Mustard: Brown, black, and white. They're looking good, so hopes are high for home made grainy mustard.

Tomatoes: Limony, John Baer, Wapsipinicom, Black Sea Man, Orange Strawberry, Green Zebra, and Mexican Midget - all heirloom varieties.

Peppers: Early Sunsation, Satsuma, Mandarin, Hungarian, Jalapeno, Cayenne, and Lemon Drop.

There is also a row of zinnias and cosmos for cutting, a couple of cotton plants, a few carrots, Danish Ballhead cabbage, peanuts, and a few roselle, a relative of hibiscus from asia. Roselle is what gave the zing to red zinger tea. I wonder if it will be good in a blend with mint.

In what was supposed to be the oats bed, I put in indian corn, broom corn, popcorn, and sweet corn. Just a little of each. The oats were a failure, hardly any germinated, so I 'tilled them under for the sake of the corn contingent.

Next to the corn, the wheat is actually making a comeback! Not a nice, full, dense stand, but hopefully enough to harvest. It is making seed heads now and so really does look like wheat.

So now all the planting is done. More mulching is next on the list and then it will "just" be keeping ahead of the weeds and of course, enjoying the harvest!

early morning beauty

As seen on a pre-breakfast walk in the woods.

peep show

Two weeks ago 25 cornish rock crosses arrived via the postal service. Right now they are in the barn until they can safely be put in an outdoor pen during the day. Compared to the bantams, these babies sure can eat and drink! I can see why they are known for their fast growth. According to the hatchery, they could be ready to butcher as early as eight weeks old! To slow down their growth a bit, it's recommended to put their food away at night so they're not eating 24/7. In the video above you can see what it looks like when I give them their food back in the morning. Hungry little buggers!

taking the leap

It had to happen eventually. Having started eight sculptures in the past couple months yet seemingly unable to finish a single one of them, I finally managed to complete one - and none too soon. The deadline for the Lancaster Museum of Art show was Sunday at 3 p.m. I got it there at 2:30. Would have been earlier in the day and would have been a different piece, but as I was putting the final, and I do mean final, touches on it, I broke it. Snapped a piece right off. Not wasting any time on regrets, I quickly finished the wall sculpture shown above. And as I drove it to the museum, it was still drying.

"Taking the Leap" is about moving forward and taking risks. Growing and changing. And while change sometimes seems dangerous, it often comes with great reward. For those breaking out of their shell, the risk of falling to the ground is outweighed by the reward of soaring.

As for the piece originally planned for the show, I think I'll start over. The idea is a good one and still worth pursuing. Referencing a quote from Winston Churchill, it makes a bit of a political statement which is unusual for me. Generally I stay away from that stuff. At the rate that sculptures are being completed lately it might be ready for next spring's show - if I'm lucky!