Sanctuary

“When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there’s always the garden.” — William Affleck “Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time.” — Herman Hesse  *   *   * Florence Griswold Museum Garden — Once described as a ‘veritable tangle of fragrant beauty,” Miss … More Sanctuary

Divine Force

“And like a colorful bloom of temporary lights in the sky, you will shine.” — Chad Sugg “What is a soul? It’s like electricity – we don’t really know what it is, but it’s a force that can light a room.” — Ray Charles “The spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow” — Ella … More Divine Force

Courage

“Following your dreams means getting your feet wet.” — Edie Melson “If you really want to get your feet wet, you have to first have the courage to step in the water.” — Eugene Nathaniel Butler *   *   * Egrets, high stepping through the marsh — Photo by Jan Logozzo © 2018

Reason to smile!

“Just smiling at someone walking down the street can make the person’s day. It’s all about paying it forward.” — Mariska Hargitay To experience an example of what it means to make someone’s day, I only needed to step out my front doorway the other morning and encounter the surprise handiwork of nine-year-old neighbor friend … More Reason to smile!

Curiosity

“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” — Linus Pauling Curious cows become serious art critics as they gather round artist sketching during 2010 Lyme Art Association Tiffany Farms benefit paint-out. *   *   * Curious critics — Watercolor painting by Mary O’Connor © 2018

Pure Beauty

“A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti  *   *   * Unadulterated Beauty — Photo by Mary O’Connor © 2018

Artists’ Colony

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas Aubrey, Ava and Olivia enjoy a summer afternoon watching an artist transform the gardens of the Florence Griswold Museum into a work of art. The three had just completed a tour of Miss Florence’s house, getting a taste of life … More Artists’ Colony

Sentry

“At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security.” — Jodi Rell When on the ground eating or resting, Canada geese typically position one or more birds near the edge of the flock as a sentry or guard. As with many other fowl or animals that live in groups and are … More Sentry

Painted pets

“We carry our homes within us, which enables us to fly.” — John Cage Hermit crabs make perfect pets. They carry their own homes,  painted with their own artwork,  traveling in their own spaces, leaving trails of smiles. *   *   * Aniela’s and Nataly’s Hermit crab friends — Photos by Mary O’Connor © 2018   … More Painted pets

Visions of Hawai’i

“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else.” — Georgia O’Keeffe Commissioned by Dole (then Hawaiian Pineapple Company) to paint a pineapple while visiting Hawaii, Georgia O’Keeffe fell in love with Hawaii’s lush plant life … More Visions of Hawai’i