Night Owl

“At home, I love reaching out into that absolute silence, when you can hear the owl or the wind.” — Amanda Harlech It’s after midnight and the moon is in the sky. Listen to the wind, or is it the great owl’s cry? Silent is his shadow, as he sets his sight on those found … More Night Owl

Finery

“Ancient simplicity is gone… The people of today are satisfied with nothing but finery.” — Ihara Saikaku “Do not buy finery or jewels, because books are worth more than they are. Adorn your understanding with their precious ideas, because there is no luxury that dazzles like the luxury of science.” — Luisa Capetillo *   *   … More Finery

Entangled

“It’s not an accidental entanglement; it’s an intentional knot. Love belongs with belonging.” — Brené Brown “People often get very entangled in their work and life, so de-stressing is very important to keep generating fresh ideas and provide satisfaction with one’s activities.” — Sunidhi Chauhan *   *   * Tied in Knots ~ Flamingo sleeps in … More Entangled

Ruffled Feathers

“Don’t ever ruffle feathers you can’t straighten.” — Unknown “The first problem I had with conducting was coming out on stage and turning my back on the audience. It was an utterly foreign sensation. I always felt as if my rear end were hanging out. That particular portion of my anatomy suddenly seemed enormous, living … More Ruffled Feathers

In the Spotlight

“Stay true in the dark, and humble in the spotlight.” —Harold B. Lee “The majority of people perform well in a crisis and when the spotlight is on them; it’s on the Sunday afternoons of this life, when nobody is looking, that the spirit falters.” — Alan Bennett *   *   * Ibis, Center Stage ~ … More In the Spotlight

Crowned

“My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy.” — William Shakespeare “There are many persons of whom it may be said that they have no other possession in the world but their character, and yet they stand as firmly upon it as any crowned king.” — Samuel Smiles *   *   * Yellow-crowned … More Crowned

Elegance

“Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside.” — Audrey Hepburn “Everything which originates from pure love is lit with the radiance of beauty.” — Simone Weil *   *   * Mother Swan and Signets ~ Watercolor painting by Mary O’Connor © 2020  

Character

“When you choose your friends, don’t be short-changed by choosing personality over character.” ― W.Somerset Maugham “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ― John Wooden *   *   * Egyptian Goose ~ Considered sacred by … More Character

Salad Greens

“Too many simple green salads suffer from a lack of imagination.” — James Beard “To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist — the problem is entirely the same in both cases: To know how much oil one must mix with one’s vinegar.” — Oscar Wilde *   *   * Future Salads ~ … More Salad Greens

Distinctiveness

“Not your thinking, but your being, is distinctiveness.” —C.G. Jung “Anyone who is passionate about what they do will have a better chance of connecting with future generations than those who simply follow transient trends. At least their work will have a distinctive character, and this is what people respond to, I believe.” —  Giorgio … More Distinctiveness