Monday, December 31, 2012

2013 - top 5

(photo thanks to jc. oxford, england)


top 5 wishes for you in the new year:
5.  time for yourself to think, read, relax 
4.  excellent health
3.  joy
2.  peace
1.  fine adventures with your loved ones

happy 2013!

Friday, December 28, 2012

ohio stadium

 the ohio state buckeyes are not playing in a bowl game this year.  
 but their stadium is looking clean and awesome at the columbus museum of art.  
 one man made it.  it took 1,000 hours, and 
1,000,000 lego bricks.  
 the real stadium?  more than one person, and unknown how many hours and bricks.

an achievement either way.  
here's hoping 2013 is a great year for the buckeyes.

joy to you.


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

ode to joy

merry christmas!

joy to you and yours.

Monday, December 24, 2012

merry christmas (covent garden)

 may the beauty of the season,
  the joy of simple, small things,
 and the true meaning of christmas
fill your heart.  
(many thanks to covent garden florist)

see you next week!

Friday, December 21, 2012

taft - full size


 begun in 1820, this federalist house belonged to art patron and abolitionist nicholas longworth, who lived here for more than 30 years.  
 eventually, the house was bequeathed to anna stinton taft.  her husband charles was half-brother to president william howard taft, who accepted his party's nomination from the portico in 1808.    
 charles and anna collected the art now on view at this museum.  they also supported other cincinnati arts organizations.  
 here's president taft.
 the music room where charles and anna were married.
the dining room.
when you visit, you enter through an addition in the back.  it's calm and lovely. 
they have some j.m.w. turner, jan steen, limoges china, asian art, gainsborough,  rembrandt, and even a goya mixed in with antique children's toys and a doll house.
  
 i'll share some of the art soon.  
joy to you.


Thursday, December 20, 2012

christmas prep

pizzelles are italian cookies, hand made two at a time.  
 after making the dough, you sit at the pizzelle maker and press them like waffles.
 although they are crispy and taste quite healthy, these cookies are loaded with butter.  
but how can you argue with an italian who makes them with love?
maybe even add some ice cream between two, and have a true dessert.

joy to you!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

bonsai

a blooming bonsai in december.  
unexpected beauty.  

peace to you.



Tuesday, December 18, 2012

ride

a dear one is a pilot, and gave the children a ride. 

the beauty of adventure.  
joy to you!

Monday, December 17, 2012

ornament


ohio's state tree is the buckeye.  
simple ornaments.
quiet beauty.  

Sunday, December 16, 2012

entrance



here's to a beautiful new week.  

joy and peace.

desert


may the peace of god, which surpasses all comprehension, guard your heart and mind.
with tragedy, no joy, but resistance to evil.  
peace to you.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

doctor's office view

 the sixth floor doctor's office has a view.
 the sun was pretty low in the sky when i arrived.
 this looks sepia toned, but it's full color.  no adjustments.
 here's the sky after the x-ray,
and again when leaving.

distracting beauty, which is a good thing for a physician's office.  
all is well.

joy to you!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

grocery

peonies in december.

eye-catching beauty.

joy to you!  



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

shop through a window



walking by, caught by the view.

joy to you.

Monday, December 10, 2012

the guy

got legos?

they're expensive, but many children find them absorbing.  they can provide house of creative play.  

no-screen toys - a beautiful thing.  

peace and joy to you.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

miniature and full size


at krohn conservatory, they have miniature cincinnati landmarks.  this is the john a roebling suspension bridge, by the builder of the brooklyn bridge, about whom this book was written.  it connects northern kentucky to ohio.

in the miniature version, people take the place of the ohio river.
here is ault park, a delightful place.
the central pavilion provides beautiful views from above,

and ground level.
here's krohn conservatory itself.  go inside and see it, and then
step outside
for a different view.
here's two i need to visit.  the taft museum of art and
the cincinnati museum center.  we were at the museum center friday for a field trip, but i was busy.  

architectural beauty, small and large.

joy to you!

Friday, December 7, 2012

hero

no photo.  

this tuesday, early afternoon, a dear relative was driving in cincinnati.  it was a gloomy, drizzly day, but not raining.
as he pulled to a red light, he saw four thugs beating an old man.  the old man had been holding a sign asking for money.  the four young men had broken the man's false teeth, and had him on the ground.  they were going to steal the six dollars he had gotten.

there was a line of cars waiting at the red light, and no one was moving.

my dear one jumped out and used pepper spray to stop the beating.  the youths ran away.  

the old man was full of gratitude, and the police came quickly.  we don't know if they apprehended the thugs, but they may have gotten two who were moving slowly.  

my friend stayed long enough to be sure the homeless man was okay, and that he still had his money.  

as you can see, there's beauty here - courage and valor - 
but i hate to think of that happening to anyone anywhere, much less here in the queen city.

may your weekend be safe, secure, and filled with joy.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

blue manatee

independent bookstores
are my favorite kind.


children's independents - the best.  blue manatee books in cincinnati is 
a visiting authors draw on the wall kind of place.  


there's lots more information about this wonderful place, and i'll share it one day.

for now, if you are a parent, read to your child.
if your child can read, have him or her also read to you.  

joy!