tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382188614070263122024-03-05T23:43:33.091-08:00Hither, Thither and YonMonica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-84093823438829869562012-02-28T11:27:00.002-08:002012-02-28T11:32:12.352-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><u><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">OH MY GOSH</span></i></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ... it's been been ages since I've checked in here, and what a wonderful surprise it is to find I have so many new followers! Guess it's about time to do a give-away, but not too sure how to go about it, so will check with a friend to learn how it's done. Thank you all so much for coming along for the ride ... sorry I've been away awhile, but hope to have more time in the future to finally fit this blog into a format that'll please me and start posting again! </span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-4665838876339064292011-12-17T00:27:00.000-08:002011-12-17T00:28:56.416-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Many thanks to all my new followers ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ur2c4ukfwk/TuxSdQgfy1I/AAAAAAAAA18/YEre-6OTaIY/s1600/6524604981_9b66493fc1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ur2c4ukfwk/TuxSdQgfy1I/AAAAAAAAA18/YEre-6OTaIY/s640/6524604981_9b66493fc1_b.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-59361879537935281552011-11-17T15:02:00.000-08:002015-07-18T10:00:00.830-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">WELCOME ABOARD KIM ... SO HAPPY TO MEET YOU! </span><br />
You're creations are wonderful ... ! http://kimsminiatures.blogspot.com/</div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-85440791812419512652011-11-16T17:43:00.000-08:002011-11-16T17:46:07.521-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ADDING THIS ONE TO 'WHITE WEDNESDAY' over at </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">FADED CHARM </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN8UyVO78GsbMsdyaFhTtnQ98wuRGfdQxPgDGKNxm_lIxqxpotsN2cFtJYFeG_vyXwQlxFSJDGruqF27dkEyCXb0x3_GbfkihAVdvH15AgFPB1Y0Fz_SzDBqGdrFgHf8yqpo7vkuKo9Wg/s1600/4162026689_652200a552_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN8UyVO78GsbMsdyaFhTtnQ98wuRGfdQxPgDGKNxm_lIxqxpotsN2cFtJYFeG_vyXwQlxFSJDGruqF27dkEyCXb0x3_GbfkihAVdvH15AgFPB1Y0Fz_SzDBqGdrFgHf8yqpo7vkuKo9Wg/s640/4162026689_652200a552_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Antique French 'point d'esprit' Baby Bonnet</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo ⓒMonica Roberts 2011 ... please do not use without prior permission.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-62045863312065033002011-11-15T18:09:00.000-08:002015-07-18T10:12:54.222-07:00THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... THANKS SO MUCH ... !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNWTZA98lyY3HlE1sACJ_mdHxO-azoSHaqG0pioDlUT0WS6EJLKN5JmJeccPbQLj6uL1Q-aaWwiWhOJ7IWjU2nu4hyJ4UIcewETJUc1-y-AbkF0o2dDO0re_8emuL3ncQyVfg-LYZUSLN/s1600/6348714679_0553e6d284_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNWTZA98lyY3HlE1sACJ_mdHxO-azoSHaqG0pioDlUT0WS6EJLKN5JmJeccPbQLj6uL1Q-aaWwiWhOJ7IWjU2nu4hyJ4UIcewETJUc1-y-AbkF0o2dDO0re_8emuL3ncQyVfg-LYZUSLN/s640/6348714679_0553e6d284_b.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Just a wee note to say how happy I am to meet all my new followers ... and to tell you as well, how much I appreciate your visits and wonderful comments. Hope to be more blog attentive in the next few weeks. Work seems to be falling like a load of bricks, which is a good thing, but certainly not nearly as much fun as mooning over the pages of your lovely blogs. </span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-73686071790730738772011-11-06T21:03:00.000-08:002015-07-18T10:02:31.195-07:00POST FOR PINK SATURDAY ... Over at 'How Sweet the Sound' blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Pink and white china baby cups, on a toy dresser, in the workroom.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BV_1vq_hpQU/TrdmgabYkMI/AAAAAAAAA0k/NGp-7hjnoLQ/s1600/5483209620_23659748dc_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BV_1vq_hpQU/TrdmgabYkMI/AAAAAAAAA0k/NGp-7hjnoLQ/s640/5483209620_23659748dc_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-53856268187988715672011-10-01T11:43:00.000-07:002012-08-13T14:51:17.075-07:00UNTIL I GET THIS SHOW PROPERLY ON THE ROAD AGAIN ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">... perhaps a bit of French inspiration to boost your creative impasse (or mine)! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo ⓒJaques Dirand</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">Picture rugged walls raised with the hand-hewn stones you might build a barn with, slathered higgledy-piggledy with plaster thick as country cake frosting ... set off by a huge bouquet of drying garlic, bay leaves and tarragon shadowing the corners. Picture as well orderly dishes draining in nothing more than a trough, serving well for both washing up, or cleaning carrots just pulled from the garden ... those meant to grace a 'pot au feu' or 'cassoulet'. Oh, and don't forget that old jar charmingly stuffed with Queen Anne's Lace, wildflower weeds, and twigs ... and last, but certainly not least, a discarded wine bottle or two to catch the reflections of a soft morning sun. Aren't you almost able to breath in the warm air of a 'pain rustique' wafting it's way out through the window and down the lane! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Old walls have a way of holding memories ... and in quiet interludes, releasing murmurs of the past.</span></span></div>
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Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-55669122833458347652011-09-27T22:15:00.000-07:002011-12-16T12:04:20.578-08:00BIG MIRACLES IN SMALL PACKAGES ... !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today the mailman may have delivered the best package EVER … and confirmed, once again, how </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the 'best things' really do come in the smallest packages!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’m sure many of you already have a few of Sharon de Vries’ wee treasures in your collections, but to be able to hold one of her knitted pieces is as close to miraculous, in the world of miniatures, as one might ever get. I’ll swear to the fact you’ll need two pair of magnifying glasses, on top of the ones you already wear, to see the intricate patterns and the almost imperceptible gauge ... and once seen you’ll swear too that you’ve gone dreaming the dream every miniature artisan or collector dreams … you know … the one about being able to zap life-sized objects flawlessly down to scale, like Sharon appears to have done. Having only seen enlarged photographs of her work, I never imagined it was so incredibly fine. It’s near impossible to compare the actuality of her work to the two-times-over magnification of those featured in photographs, although they do show the details beautifully, they fail to show the almost incomprehensible delicacy of the in-hand reality. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pictured below, you’ll see five of her little creations set against an illustration from an antique baby book (a long christening gown, a matinee jacket, a cap and a pair of booties) and again, photographed on a silk baby jacket and another baby book. It took me a day and a half before I trusted myself to remove this little set from its presentation card, for fear I might ruin the perfection of it all … but I needed to photograph it to share my good fortune with you, although on the page only … ‘cause it's all mine, mine, MINE … yea! : )</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And, many thanks to you dear friend, for sharing your remarkable talent with the world … I know your mum’s up there beaming down with pride! </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffxgrShFJDE/ToKxCitXN_I/AAAAAAAAA0U/nDPw6g8gdnU/s1600/6189505347_4e9571cc91_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffxgrShFJDE/ToKxCitXN_I/AAAAAAAAA0U/nDPw6g8gdnU/s640/6189505347_4e9571cc91_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">http://chrystalsdesigns.blogspot.com/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></span></div></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-39064291056734378862011-05-30T18:04:00.000-07:002011-10-01T20:23:16.444-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">WHOOPS ... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">had a blow-out in my knee! What a great, embarrassing kerfuffle (paramedics, ambulance, emergency room). Now must go for an MRI (yikes ... I don't do doctors!), so will be in touch when I'm allowed to sit at the computer again. Have already gone through six books in as many days ... hope my eyes hold up through the seige.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPsrtr01x04/TeRF5sAsxcI/AAAAAAAAAzs/ZKlnMUOTXF8/s1600/shoes-drama-rd_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPsrtr01x04/TeRF5sAsxcI/AAAAAAAAAzs/ZKlnMUOTXF8/s320/shoes-drama-rd_2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> THESE ARE MY NEW 'GET-WELL' SLIPPERS!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A very happy welcome to my new followers ... will send a proper thanks soon.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-59399564391850250222011-05-14T16:30:00.000-07:002011-11-23T21:52:08.901-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">THE BEAUTY OF LIGHT FROM BEHIND</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There's no denying the part light plays in making beautiful photographs, and if landscape photography and images drawn from the natural world are what make your heart sing then you're probably already well acquainted with the beguiling soft light of early morning, and the depth of it's layered descent available in the evening hours; each end of night and day so capable of evoking either a subtle, dreamlike aura, or dramatic definition to what might otherwise be just another ordinary image. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Over the years I've found my personal preference to light leans entirely towards a naturally available source, where I almost always forego the use of strobes, on-camera flash, fill flash, and the harsh, oftentimes unflattering effects of bright sunlight ... although all of those artificial means of lighting certainly have their uses, and do make for some very wonderfully dramatic images in their own right ... so, first and foremost, it's always the mood your after that counts. I suppose it's readily apparent I gravitate toward the more romantic end of the photographic spectrum, especially in portraiture, and in still life shooting as well ... where subdued window light (occasionally reverting to a soft, reflective surface to help alleviate shadows), or shooting on an overcast day can give the most pleasing effects. However, if you're hoping to convey an even a broader, more hopelessly romantic, timeless appeal to your images, or imbue them with that glowing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> 'light from within'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> impact ... then the art of backlighting (my absolute favorite) just might be the best way to highlight your subject matter. In photography there is nothing quite so intriguing and delicately defining, as the use of backlight for beautiful imagery. In it you can find the eternal promise behind every vein on a new leaf ... or in the pastoral beauty of sheep grazing in low-light, their haloed, unshorn bodies partially silhouetted against the setting sun, or in the wonder of glory-bound clouds rimmed by a hidden sun. There is too, the tender, subtle magic of a child's countenance rendered soft and lovely beneath a crown of curls, each tendril (whether dark or light) picked out to perfection. And as well, in the details of old linens and tattered lace held up to the light, exposing a finer view of the handworked hours recording the past ... and, I would be remiss failing to mention the enduring, mystical splendor of the sun in full eclipse. All of these magnificent sights, and resulting photographic captures, owe their wonder to the</span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> 'beauty of light </span></i></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">from behind'.</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">It may take you a few hours or days of practice to make the most of this timeless art ... but it's a skill you'll never be disappointed you took the time to learn ... and the first lesson in learning to use backlight is to toss away all your preconceived ideas about photographic light shining directly onto your intended subject, and that it must come from behind the photographer ... rather by placing what you wish to photograph directly in front of your light source, ambient or otherwise, with and the sun shining directly (or slightly obliquely) into your lens (many will warn you to beware lens flare, but I have made some wonderful images incorporating it into the atmosphere of the whole). Your second lesson will be to go '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">online'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> and search </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">'backlighting your photographs'</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">w</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">here </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">you'll be able to find several tutorials illuminating the art of it all much better than I could ever hope to. It may take a few hours or days of practice and experimentation, keeping in mind that practice and experimentation make photographic art, if not close to perfect, then ever so much more interesting and diverse ... especially considering how much easier and less costly it is to discard mistakes with today's digital equipment. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I'll leave off here by saying ... that the study of backlight</span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">is a lasting gift you can give yourself, and one you'll never regret taking the time to learn ... I promise! </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Now... </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">give me some mist, fog, haze sheltered sun, and other inclement weather conditions (especially those appearing after a clearing storm) and I'll be off and running, camera in hand, for as long as it takes to capture the ephemeral and fleeting that have the power to vanish as quickly as the 'blink of a camera's eye ... to become nothing more than momentary memories. So, be quick on the trigger finger and keep your eyes peeled for <b><i>'the beauty</i></b> <i><b>of light from behind'</b></i>. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">All images below were rendered by backlight ... </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHYbt5W_vT4/Tc8FhMOu2II/AAAAAAAAAyQ/-59iHPyarlE/s1600/4686302940_d527cb5516_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHYbt5W_vT4/Tc8FhMOu2II/AAAAAAAAAyQ/-59iHPyarlE/s640/4686302940_d527cb5516_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">1:12th scale miniature display clothing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEDbdgUGsRk/Tc8FejDSTMI/AAAAAAAAAyE/_XdWibSeWI4/s1600/5619561215_750ecfa175_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEDbdgUGsRk/Tc8FejDSTMI/AAAAAAAAAyE/_XdWibSeWI4/s640/5619561215_750ecfa175_b.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Antique child's summer dress ... ca. 1860</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnoAMDsQPzFimmGkCMY5mvbiAIu4QF3z1jWEJu6AFDsr3B2dCjhC1QE5FCnxNDBAUhwLcGQVTBHI7WpHPYuyBzzflmHllqGIH8hg45L_ghrGXi6MHUo5Oa3QJaG_SI1O38FdLxdeOTjgc/s1600/5587531152_7f9f818dba_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnoAMDsQPzFimmGkCMY5mvbiAIu4QF3z1jWEJu6AFDsr3B2dCjhC1QE5FCnxNDBAUhwLcGQVTBHI7WpHPYuyBzzflmHllqGIH8hg45L_ghrGXi6MHUo5Oa3QJaG_SI1O38FdLxdeOTjgc/s640/5587531152_7f9f818dba_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Embroidery detail on a 1920's China silk kimono</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mygOURNqtTg/Tc8FgVZiANI/AAAAAAAAAyM/G7BS6SMxp8E/s1600/3651753592_2882532f93_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mygOURNqtTg/Tc8FgVZiANI/AAAAAAAAAyM/G7BS6SMxp8E/s400/3651753592_2882532f93_b.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Private portrait </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Ra8tS1T-0/Tc8FjfICJCI/AAAAAAAAAyY/nZ3fyKCZOLw/s1600/5622409119_942c232647_b-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Ra8tS1T-0/Tc8FjfICJCI/AAAAAAAAAyY/nZ3fyKCZOLw/s640/5622409119_942c232647_b-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Detail of an Edwardian corset cover (camisole)</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PMJ6QCKifXI/Tc8FkRqTzfI/AAAAAAAAAyc/7lve1ax-kP0/s1600/5672720742_ee70314126_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PMJ6QCKifXI/Tc8FkRqTzfI/AAAAAAAAAyc/7lve1ax-kP0/s640/5672720742_ee70314126_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Skirt detail on an Edwardian, organdy graduation dress ... ca. 1915</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0acLE2HlRTA/Tc8FldHOA3I/AAAAAAAAAyg/KSdLkA1BMMA/s1600/5672071923_106c9aea5e_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0acLE2HlRTA/Tc8FldHOA3I/AAAAAAAAAyg/KSdLkA1BMMA/s640/5672071923_106c9aea5e_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Sleeve and button detail on the same dress</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SqT9ppKmKoo/Tc8FmNwMeBI/AAAAAAAAAyk/fsQWOem_IG4/s1600/4384586573_bdb3d146d6_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SqT9ppKmKoo/Tc8FmNwMeBI/AAAAAAAAAyk/fsQWOem_IG4/s640/4384586573_bdb3d146d6_b_2.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Portrait featuring antique children's clothing ... ca. 1910</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_9I8Wx2RtI/Tc8Fp2EfY1I/AAAAAAAAAy0/ruqdkfAt0Jc/s1600/4564040905_2617c076c9_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_9I8Wx2RtI/Tc8Fp2EfY1I/AAAAAAAAAy0/ruqdkfAt0Jc/s640/4564040905_2617c076c9_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The Petticoat Ballet ... antique slips billowing in the wind</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5AI8XGMECtDwyFr4-Hr_YyOFmS3RPAWCc9gb-pWD4-hO5j_HVN-jpBgDMCovreWXNqfU4dZQDOZRN_hvKm5Qv8EMgvi_UQtF46Lc5Z_bMlkdSyE79I4HZIrGIk8898_bF_RvqXWuhZCL/s1600/3952670609_f1c3d09d42_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5AI8XGMECtDwyFr4-Hr_YyOFmS3RPAWCc9gb-pWD4-hO5j_HVN-jpBgDMCovreWXNqfU4dZQDOZRN_hvKm5Qv8EMgvi_UQtF46Lc5Z_bMlkdSyE79I4HZIrGIk8898_bF_RvqXWuhZCL/s640/3952670609_f1c3d09d42_b_2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Private portrait ... using backlight and lens flare for softening effect</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl8BL4M5KEs/Tc8HWQ9FV6I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/dYslUsGWhvs/s1600/3633493208_0ec314fa67_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl8BL4M5KEs/Tc8HWQ9FV6I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/dYslUsGWhvs/s640/3633493208_0ec314fa67_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Private portrait ... using backlight to highlight a crown of curls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQCIi-Ov2G4/Tc8HU7LdHTI/AAAAAAAAAzI/DCyuWrKcvzo/s1600/5720217144_992300a2bf_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQCIi-Ov2G4/Tc8HU7LdHTI/AAAAAAAAAzI/DCyuWrKcvzo/s640/5720217144_992300a2bf_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Antique crib (cot or lit de bebe) illustratating backlight for atmosphere and illusion </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOJnUuVbydY/Tc8HVki_GJI/AAAAAAAAAzM/39_DF_0xYG8/s1600/4563974526_1ec02e299a_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOJnUuVbydY/Tc8HVki_GJI/AAAAAAAAAzM/39_DF_0xYG8/s640/4563974526_1ec02e299a_b_2.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isabella's Antique Bonnet ... backlit hair and profile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBfde0In_tD6HJxHlmqSoGNwqq_99R_-XIpFAWQJKeJIghBLQ5HYCoOZv_xoDSvYpHc8G0yfLz9Ov2Drn8FzoQioqKZwsVA3squ8SUOMz2nAPicNZlzwFCSMgTxaSVs5qPobeuCYC0GVE/s1600/3716520143_bd646081fc_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBfde0In_tD6HJxHlmqSoGNwqq_99R_-XIpFAWQJKeJIghBLQ5HYCoOZv_xoDSvYpHc8G0yfLz9Ov2Drn8FzoQioqKZwsVA3squ8SUOMz2nAPicNZlzwFCSMgTxaSVs5qPobeuCYC0GVE/s640/3716520143_bd646081fc_b_2.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Mary at Aine's Window ... Co. Wicklow, Ireland</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SpQVVn-OOUE/Tc8HT_bod3I/AAAAAAAAAzE/h_2yIHRdCvA/s1600/5510245663_50f0055458_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SpQVVn-OOUE/Tc8HT_bod3I/AAAAAAAAAzE/h_2yIHRdCvA/s640/5510245663_50f0055458_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Photographic illustration for 'The Changeling' (a faery child) ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> from W. B. Yeats' poem 'The Stolen Child'</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwBN1iOPiFlm1WcHZMCTRAWVJ-iMq-toQVEXFofj5Nk6SGkHbF8smHs6HkkayPSd1yrGZ2fk1H3Mr8DKapd0VJuImzq4Gy_FzWijjOqQCKJqGMtxEo_W8X4awjHHCrQfk9kd_c3F-UQAC/s1600/3379951478_4c2a0eb273_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwBN1iOPiFlm1WcHZMCTRAWVJ-iMq-toQVEXFofj5Nk6SGkHbF8smHs6HkkayPSd1yrGZ2fk1H3Mr8DKapd0VJuImzq4Gy_FzWijjOqQCKJqGMtxEo_W8X4awjHHCrQfk9kd_c3F-UQAC/s640/3379951478_4c2a0eb273_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roses floating in water near a window</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoCItJIP3u7BW1T8MLhQ8VUKhX9OvgkY9HNVyQW44aLkrq-caUzWm-k9n2ml0tepQiBy0SrbElOEBuQZpdvMCA_wDwdBDA2biwFdaMCGcYE-wfTDSTEU7f_VVwd7kkI-1fREqb9136Vue/s1600/4899277928_f84a3167b2_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoCItJIP3u7BW1T8MLhQ8VUKhX9OvgkY9HNVyQW44aLkrq-caUzWm-k9n2ml0tepQiBy0SrbElOEBuQZpdvMCA_wDwdBDA2biwFdaMCGcYE-wfTDSTEU7f_VVwd7kkI-1fREqb9136Vue/s640/4899277928_f84a3167b2_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">'The Mists of Avalon' ... taken in the Scottish Highlands</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLzbYQn4639uWHU4wLcAF05WMny6elm3Ft8g3G7-SBvoM4VNZaOoM-1rYi62o9b1yE_eGng53qGNhDb9D44wdD8zhfRQYZgYrNzJ2KgXwhnFebEIXfluTVjd1GYNfwAk9vy3QBvlFwal0/s1600/5687478343_50ba2db6f7_b_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLzbYQn4639uWHU4wLcAF05WMny6elm3Ft8g3G7-SBvoM4VNZaOoM-1rYi62o9b1yE_eGng53qGNhDb9D44wdD8zhfRQYZgYrNzJ2KgXwhnFebEIXfluTVjd1GYNfwAk9vy3QBvlFwal0/s640/5687478343_50ba2db6f7_b_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Old fisherman, almost silhouetted by backlighting ... Port de Nice, France</span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-28855047529965202982011-05-13T12:43:00.000-07:002011-05-13T12:44:07.449-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">TWO MORE NEW FOLLOWERS!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Minteriors @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://pie-in-the-sky---minteriors.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Pie-in-the-Sky</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and Mieke @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span><a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://petitevictorianrose.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">petitevictorianrose</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Many thanks to both of you ...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-13516971304457604272011-05-09T10:27:00.000-07:002012-01-28T16:40:21.082-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xljxRHJkQlA/TcgjQC9XUuI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/tFNlIbAfnsQ/s1600/3636456105_83424e9f4a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xljxRHJkQlA/TcgjQC9XUuI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/tFNlIbAfnsQ/s640/3636456105_83424e9f4a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">A FEW HOURS LATE FOR MOTHER'S DAY ... but a poem worth reading nevertheless.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><br />
</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>"The Lanyard" by Billy Collins</strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The other day as I was ricocheting slowly</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">off the pale blue walls of this room,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">bouncing from typewriter to piano,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I found myself in the L section of the dictionary</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">No cookie nibbled by a French novelist</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">could send one more suddenly into the past —</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">by a deep Adirondack lake</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">learning how to braid thin plastic strips</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I had never seen anyone use a lanyard</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">but that did not keep me from crossing</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">strand over strand again and again</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">until I had made a boxy</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">red and white lanyard for my mother.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">She gave me life and milk from her breasts,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and I gave her a lanyard.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">She nursed me in many a sickroom,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">set cold face-cloths on my forehead,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and then led me out into the airy light</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and taught me to walk and swim,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Here are thousands of meals, she said,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and here is clothing and a good education.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">And here is your lanyard, I replied,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">which I made with a little help from a counselor.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">strong legs, bones and teeth,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">And here, I wish to say to her now,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">is a smaller gift—not the archaic truth</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">that you can never repay your mother,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">but the rueful admission that when she took</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">the two-tone lanyard from my hands,</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I was as sure as a boy could be</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">that this useless, worthless thing I wove</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">out of boredom would be enough to make us even.</div></div></span></blockquote><br />
<i>In the contemporary child's world a<b> 'lanyard'</b> is a woven plastic keyring attatchment ... and, if you ever went to summer camp, you probably made one too. </i></span><br />
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</div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-67245256671132694022011-05-07T00:31:00.000-07:002012-01-25T22:31:24.186-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPZuE9jJMbc/TcT0_Yvd8qI/AAAAAAAAAtI/jkVl4e1svMg/s1600/211327_1516594408_2573496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPZuE9jJMbc/TcT0_Yvd8qI/AAAAAAAAAtI/jkVl4e1svMg/s400/211327_1516594408_2573496_n.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPZuE9jJMbc/TcT0_Yvd8qI/AAAAAAAAAtI/jkVl4e1svMg/s1600/211327_1516594408_2573496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Pencil sketch by Leslie Frazier</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">In memory of my beautiful, beloved mother ... you are missed beyond belief.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>MOTHERS</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Mothers must draw a subtle line<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Finer than any thread is fine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Must firmly hold, but never clutch<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Must freely give, but not too much<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Must stand apart, but not too far<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Must heal the wound, but bless the scar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">And falsely speaking, truly tell<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">And guarding, never guard too well<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">And hearing, fail to overhear<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">And fearing all things, have no fear<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">And loving, love each child the best<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Yet not one child more than the rest</span></div></span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-80368727192130178612011-05-06T06:46:00.000-07:002011-05-06T16:15:57.471-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How wonderful ... five new followers. Thanks so much for joining in!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Maria @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://prettythingsireland.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" style="color: #0000cc; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">pretty thinks ireland</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Rosamargarita @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://chiquicosas.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" style="color: #0000cc; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">LA TAPATÍA</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Kati @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://lasituvanminiatyyrit.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" style="color: #0000cc; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">lasituvan miniatyyrit</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Suzanne ... so sorry, I can't find the link!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Catherine @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <a class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://lemondecratifdecatherine.blogspot.com/" jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jstcache="63" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" style="color: #0000cc; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Blogger (Blogspot) - lemondecratifdecatherine</a></span><br />
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</div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-80470051705191528752011-04-28T00:07:00.001-07:002011-04-28T00:07:47.731-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">It's lovely to have four new followers ... a grateful thanks to all of you!</span></span><div><br /></div><div>Catherine @<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://le-monde-de-catherine.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Le Monde de Catherine</a></span></div><div>Heleni @<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://heleni-trespetitblanc.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Blogger (Blogspot) - heleni-trespetitblanc</a></span></div><div>Sans @<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">My Maharajah's Palace</a></span></div><div>Arantax @<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" href="http://www.miniaturasdelostalis.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Las miniaturas de los Talis</a></span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-68811438157082285522011-04-20T15:38:00.000-07:002011-10-18T17:23:14.578-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
SOMETHINGS ARE JUST BETTER IN WHITE</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">A few lovelies hanging about the house ... except for Maudie Blanche, my sheepish Irish lass, who's busy mowing the back forty over in Co. Cork!</span></div><div><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ-uiMbAsz8/Ta9geJ7XJCI/AAAAAAAAAoI/qQPWAzebgns/s1600/5636597037_3e7a151b90_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597798933022057506" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ-uiMbAsz8/Ta9geJ7XJCI/AAAAAAAAAoI/qQPWAzebgns/s640/5636597037_3e7a151b90_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-60042813428910258252011-04-11T16:53:00.000-07:002011-04-12T11:21:57.053-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">ALL THE THINGS I MANAGED TO SAVE FROM</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">IMMINENT DISREGARD</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">AT THE MORRO BAY CITYWIDE YARD SALE</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">AND JUNK FEST ... !</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwBiQhhMnT5i0gvPt1sfaNtqdfEHXBZe1-TfXFuXFBvBh6wm__s4mqzf6XWdQAvSMTSqjMVNcEkgpkU1_To5meU6jADZ4jRBFTHyTOjih-z-GoO3i3zlxOANIGVBoI0oe-2TWVYpr41mv/s1600/5599267308_390dbfb579_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwBiQhhMnT5i0gvPt1sfaNtqdfEHXBZe1-TfXFuXFBvBh6wm__s4mqzf6XWdQAvSMTSqjMVNcEkgpkU1_To5meU6jADZ4jRBFTHyTOjih-z-GoO3i3zlxOANIGVBoI0oe-2TWVYpr41mv/s400/5599267308_390dbfb579_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594757795000546722" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">An abondoned shoebox of forlorn miniatures, </span></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size:medium;"> for a rainy day of creative speculation </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and little daydreams.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJEis3qcO2o/TaOisfZoiWI/AAAAAAAAAhs/KX0Ild6pCjw/s1600/5587528798_0d17708575_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJEis3qcO2o/TaOisfZoiWI/AAAAAAAAAhs/KX0Ild6pCjw/s400/5587528798_0d17708575_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594494047351245154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Discarded charm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">, SAVED </span>to pillow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> </span>weary heads </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and secret nighttime readers.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Price tags still attached.</span></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_UCNH1vBPbm4HyG6w_z0JHtc7ns9XvQ_A4pTkaFfwvk4oQkBpopAwd3Y3bq6HBtsPkgGuBCS3IdLlvZd8KPH3JslCKIaqhBbnLUYmdqtqqpUsb2UdLzsAd-8C_t3QYdfwCOD_ff6BXUh/s1600/5586526359_c53b04ccef_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_UCNH1vBPbm4HyG6w_z0JHtc7ns9XvQ_A4pTkaFfwvk4oQkBpopAwd3Y3bq6HBtsPkgGuBCS3IdLlvZd8KPH3JslCKIaqhBbnLUYmdqtqqpUsb2UdLzsAd-8C_t3QYdfwCOD_ff6BXUh/s1600/5586526359_c53b04ccef_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_UCNH1vBPbm4HyG6w_z0JHtc7ns9XvQ_A4pTkaFfwvk4oQkBpopAwd3Y3bq6HBtsPkgGuBCS3IdLlvZd8KPH3JslCKIaqhBbnLUYmdqtqqpUsb2UdLzsAd-8C_t3QYdfwCOD_ff6BXUh/s400/5586526359_c53b04ccef_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594493399398544402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A clear shot of the Guerlain bottle ... almost six inches tall!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> for the colour of its sky blue stopper and tarnished label.</span></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjW1OgNjqvFg-x77Tx_ctCt1WX1jUcAEqygp7AAulaahjsZN1KWw-1D4yToko7EtcvxSLpi3Lv3t0JQhbSO-bifJDco0w04fCKZqnb1B1EbxlCDTsjGO5R1Jiacuz0MHsCdqnXzF9HAa6/s1600/5586525881_2874555e69_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjW1OgNjqvFg-x77Tx_ctCt1WX1jUcAEqygp7AAulaahjsZN1KWw-1D4yToko7EtcvxSLpi3Lv3t0JQhbSO-bifJDco0w04fCKZqnb1B1EbxlCDTsjGO5R1Jiacuz0MHsCdqnXzF9HAa6/s1600/5586525881_2874555e69_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjW1OgNjqvFg-x77Tx_ctCt1WX1jUcAEqygp7AAulaahjsZN1KWw-1D4yToko7EtcvxSLpi3Lv3t0JQhbSO-bifJDco0w04fCKZqnb1B1EbxlCDTsjGO5R1Jiacuz0MHsCdqnXzF9HAa6/s400/5586525881_2874555e69_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594492385992747618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An old Edwardian candy box and French perfume bottle,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> for the beauty of it all.</span></span></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stQEvdWu5F0/TaOgZvkwUvI/AAAAAAAAAhU/DdlmaSg4Vys/s1600/5604135556_0da45fa7f2_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stQEvdWu5F0/TaOgZvkwUvI/AAAAAAAAAhU/DdlmaSg4Vys/s1600/5604135556_0da45fa7f2_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stQEvdWu5F0/TaOgZvkwUvI/AAAAAAAAAhU/DdlmaSg4Vys/s400/5604135556_0da45fa7f2_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594491526252090098" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Two lovely, tarnished silver ladies, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> for Christmas next,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and everyday before and thereafter.</span></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuOzMtgw76DHi-lZ7S-5QrcAUmfkydiTcyMSQwV7uBp0ylIF16yS0nTBkU9ZkcVxfKitzzPcuqwXvwIThlA3LwznTOV1dfN3shXpWoiFqdvETKsXRX0nYYCCYiy_LNJeJeuRhii03ZJ-h/s1600/5598741457_c62f368450_b-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuOzMtgw76DHi-lZ7S-5QrcAUmfkydiTcyMSQwV7uBp0ylIF16yS0nTBkU9ZkcVxfKitzzPcuqwXvwIThlA3LwznTOV1dfN3shXpWoiFqdvETKsXRX0nYYCCYiy_LNJeJeuRhii03ZJ-h/s1600/5598741457_c62f368450_b-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuOzMtgw76DHi-lZ7S-5QrcAUmfkydiTcyMSQwV7uBp0ylIF16yS0nTBkU9ZkcVxfKitzzPcuqwXvwIThlA3LwznTOV1dfN3shXpWoiFqdvETKsXRX0nYYCCYiy_LNJeJeuRhii03ZJ-h/s400/5598741457_c62f368450_b-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594491006783656034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A sweet Saint, dressed in satin lustre and sparkling stars,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> from the hands of someone who should</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">never have let it go!</span></span></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6gfim1tnKk/TaOeZAUH0BI/AAAAAAAAAhE/8LlWtt9XxSU/s1600/5603768847_15cfc15af7_b-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6gfim1tnKk/TaOeZAUH0BI/AAAAAAAAAhE/8LlWtt9XxSU/s1600/5603768847_15cfc15af7_b-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6gfim1tnKk/TaOeZAUH0BI/AAAAAAAAAhE/8LlWtt9XxSU/s400/5603768847_15cfc15af7_b-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594489314542604306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Two beautiful old French books ... dated 1718 and 1774</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> from a life of dust and mold and jaded eyes!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsU5fuvc55kW3RiEpQ23EkHwbgkDTcMYjjpVdy1MWUJVenTPJRPV5qXdJny0J7JyA8ynbHkUz94JL0Ulw7dZt4yXk5vOrJkubxcOctF8h20YvHV5L1UxoEwp9uFNCdjI_CB-JudwyBE3e/s1600/5586938145_6754da0466_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsU5fuvc55kW3RiEpQ23EkHwbgkDTcMYjjpVdy1MWUJVenTPJRPV5qXdJny0J7JyA8ynbHkUz94JL0Ulw7dZt4yXk5vOrJkubxcOctF8h20YvHV5L1UxoEwp9uFNCdjI_CB-JudwyBE3e/s400/5586938145_6754da0466_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594487257454491234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A ruched 1940's bedjacket, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> for a lifetime of complementing</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a favourite pair of old, tattered, faded Levis.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Gw3wMORFA/TaOWeyYZ8UI/AAAAAAAAAg0/l-GGuhANKqk/s1600/5604491916_9daa2ba94e_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Gw3wMORFA/TaOWeyYZ8UI/AAAAAAAAAg0/l-GGuhANKqk/s400/5604491916_9daa2ba94e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594480617788666178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A vintage memory ... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">from a life lived </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">at the bottom of a dusty, musty keepsake box.</span></span></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrRQC6nrHyA/TaOVFD08xvI/AAAAAAAAAgs/gpLSM3wgmlg/s1600/5603908471_98b2f304df_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrRQC6nrHyA/TaOVFD08xvI/AAAAAAAAAgs/gpLSM3wgmlg/s1600/5603908471_98b2f304df_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrRQC6nrHyA/TaOVFD08xvI/AAAAAAAAAgs/gpLSM3wgmlg/s400/5603908471_98b2f304df_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594479076283565810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A molly-dolly in a red-checked dress, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SAVED</span> from a depressing future as 1950's has been.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Why, why ... why?</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-45513241300282770962011-04-10T11:31:00.001-07:002011-04-12T11:37:44.528-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">A very warm welcome to my three new followers ... and a thank you too!</span></span><div><br /></div><div>Cheryl @<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://aminiatureplace.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">A Miniature Place</a></span></div><div>Jeannette @<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://gardenofminiatures.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Blogger (Blogspot) - gardenofminiatures</a></span></div><div>Patty @<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><a __removedlink__1699971208__href="http://patty-petit-orphelin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; ">http://patty-petit-orphelin.blogspot.com/</a> (thanks Patty)</span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-18979824658265937752011-04-05T14:14:00.000-07:002011-04-07T00:15:44.598-07:00<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A FEW MORE STERLING SILVER PIECES TO SHARE</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">BEFORE I HIT THE ROAD AGAIN!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAGddoehUjM/TZuGuFp3LDI/AAAAAAAAAfE/7zAfx1DJEdA/s1600/5593456212_667dcc119e_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAGddoehUjM/TZuGuFp3LDI/AAAAAAAAAfE/7zAfx1DJEdA/s400/5593456212_667dcc119e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592211488660466738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Pierced bride's basket, and oval picture frames by ... could it be Gordon Blacklock?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Porringer, silver capped inkwells, chased hairbrush all by Obadiah Fisher</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Ivory and sterling baby teether by David Edwards</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Engraved 'Baby' cup by Pete Aquisto</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Candlesticks by various artisans</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Occassional table by Warren Dick</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">CLEANING MINIATURE SILVER</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Even though I like a bit of tarnish and patina on my human-sized pieces of silver, miniature silver should never be left to tarnish long, as it's almost impossible to restore its original shine without a lot of tedious, time consuming effort. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">When I do polish I use a dampened Q-Tip (cotton swab) and a bit of silver paste (Wrights is good, or any other non-abrasive brand), but never a liquid dip, as it will remove all that lovely dark tarnish that has gathered in the nooks and crannies to outline the details. I keep a glass of hot water handy to drop the pieces in when finished, and after the water bath use a fine, soft brush to remove any residue that may remain in a few tight places ... rinse again, then use a tea-shirt like fabric (preferably 100% cotton) to polish gently. If you've missed some of the paste it will show white when dried, and you can remove it then. Word of warning ... never do your cleaning near an open drain! You will cry yourself to sleep fretting over some little lovely that took a notion to explore the dark underbelly of the kitchen sink ... trust me on this one! When you've finished polishing it all, there's nothing quite so satisfying as the lustre of old silver mixed amongst all your beautiful weensie crystal, and embroidered linens. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-89493044465715108922011-04-04T19:23:00.001-07:002011-11-08T20:28:43.417-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: 17px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: 17px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Hello and Goodbye ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">all in the same breath!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a short mini (ha!) post between a stop-over at home, and leaving for another job tomorrow. Glorious weather to work in ... finally, and just enough time in town to frolic through our annual Morro Bay citywide yard-sale last weekend! What fun, although I didn't find nearly as much as I did last year ... will post pix as soon as I return. Thanks everyone, for putting up with all this sporadic blogging ... hope to settle down, and have more time at home soon. Here's wishing everyone a sweet few weeks whilst all this lovely air is upon us and hoping too that springtime holds court longer than usual! This is my favorite season, and it seems to be rushing by way too fast for me to keep up!</div></span></div><div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A TRAY FULL OF BEAUTIFUL BABY SILVER</span></span></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ubMPutxna0/TZqA4UHYY3I/AAAAAAAAAe8/z1hW1-cyOlM/s1600/5589853642_ba0c0b714d_b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591923592294589298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ubMPutxna0/TZqA4UHYY3I/AAAAAAAAAe8/z1hW1-cyOlM/s400/5589853642_ba0c0b714d_b.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 352px;" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What a lousy record keeper I turned out to be! I'm so sorry I can't remember the name of the gentleman who made the wee cup (a</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">bout the size of a pencil eraser</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) and porringer (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">charmingly dented due to an unfortunate vacuum tragedy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">).</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I suppose I thought my memory would last forever, since I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">hardly ever use it, but alas, no such luck. H</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">owever, I do remember he was from England, and that I bought it at the 'Good Sam' show in Santa Clara, California. The practically infinitesimal, curved handled baby spoon is by Pete Aquisto, whom I'm assuming has had to order new magnifying glasses rivaling the Hubble telescope, in order to have actually crafted a pattern on the handle of it. I also have a beautiful little cup Pete made that has 'Baby' engraved on it ... yup! ... new glasses for sure! All these pieces are sterling, and another porringer I have (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a bit larger than this one</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) has a hallmark I'm sure no human can possibly read ... Hubble or no! For those of you unfamiliar with the term porringer (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">pronounced poor-en-jur</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) ... a porringer is a little bowl with a pierced, decorative handle (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">or sometimes two</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) made for baby's bit of porridge (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">e.g. oatmeal, mush, cooked cereal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> ... </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">remember Goldilocks?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">). Nowadays they are almost always done in silver or pewter, and many times a spoon, a cup or a porringer, or all three in a set, are given as traditional christening gifts, meant to endure being passed down through several generations as treasured family heirlooms. I know one family whose little silver bowl has felt the grasp of so many tiny hands you'd be hard pressed to find space enough to engrave the name and date of birth of yet one more single newborn! In colonial times and earlier, porringers were used by adults as well, and came in a variety of materials. Hand carved, turned, or shaped by hand in bone, wood, ceramics and porcelain, they rarely survived the rigors of everyday use, so much so that serviceable antique pieces like them are extremely rare today and therefore quite collectible. Okay, I've worn my brain out trying to think of all these official sounding words! So ... </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">grateful that you all must be ... </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I won't even begin to go into 'pap boats' during this lifetime, or the next.</span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-39294546166134263812011-03-26T23:31:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:22:16.383-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A VERY WARM WELCOME TO MY NEW FOLLOWERS ... THANK YOU SO MUCH !</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Jaana @<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://jaananprintit.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Printtejä nukkekotiin</a> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://nukkekotijaminiatyyri.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Nukkekoti Kirvesmäki - Dollhouse Kirvesmäki Jaana's Dollhouses and Miniatures</a></span><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rosa Maria</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> @</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> <a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://contrastes-rosamaria.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Blogger (Blogspot) - contrastes-rosamaria</a> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> <a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/rma.val" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Álbumes web de Picasa</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Sherry Raines @http://www.wonderhowto.com/</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Marian @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://mundomarian.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">MundoMarian</a> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://miagendamini.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Mi Agenda Mini</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Araceli Reyes ... can't find a link</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Karin @</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> <a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://karincorbin.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Karin Corbin Miniatures</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://karincorbin.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; "></a></span>Flora @<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="102" href="http://lacasadellebambolediflora.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204); font-size: 13px; ">la casa delle bambole di flora</a></span></div><div>Catherine @<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a jscontent="title" jsdisplay="title" jsvalues="href:link;.className:(isCanvasMode() ? 'fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas' : 'fc-item-link')" target="_blank" jstcache="63" href="http://kilmouskiandme.blogspot.com/" class="fc-item-link fc-item-link-canvas" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; ">Kilmouski & Me</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Surely hope I haven't forgotten anyone, but if I have please know how happy I am that you've joined.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-36580314760974354172011-03-24T16:35:00.000-07:002011-03-24T18:14:08.440-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">* I HAVE TO GO RIGHT NOW *</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIkjgciVx6E/TYvWHYhapJI/AAAAAAAAAeY/YiPfIiSXFY4/s1600/5557300982_3c27859931_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIkjgciVx6E/TYvWHYhapJI/AAAAAAAAAeY/YiPfIiSXFY4/s400/5557300982_3c27859931_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587795185013269650" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">BUT I'LL BE BACK SOON!</span></div></span>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-43615735755130055612011-03-21T11:53:00.000-07:002011-03-21T12:10:45.998-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM MY FRIEND MARY THIS MORNING ... AND I THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO SHARE ...</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Sendai, Japan ... March 15, 2011<br /><p>Hello My Lovely… Family and Friends,</p><p>First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you. Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend’s home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candle light, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.</p><div style="width: 234px; "><a target="_blank" href="http://planetwaves.net/pagetwo/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/275+web-matsushima.jpg" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; "><img alt="" title="275+web-matsushima" width="224" height="300" id="6d347fdb-7965-4311-9f99-e07005c52286" src="http://mail.aol.com/33426-111/aol-6/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=29373382&folder=NewMail&partId=3" /></a><p><i>The famous Matsushima bay near Sendai - one of Japan's most scenic spots. The tsunami most likely will have caused devastation to the villages along the bay, to the islands as well as the oyster farms in the area. Image by David Ooms via flickr.</i></p></div><p>During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets. Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, “Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another.”</p><p>Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often. We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things; others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.</p><p>There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time. Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled</p><p>The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.</p><p>And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.</p><p>They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend’s husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again. Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don’t. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.</p><p>Thank you again for your care and Love of me,<br />With Love in return, to you all,<br />Anne </p></div></div></blockquote><p></p><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LESSON FOR ALL OF US ... IN ACCEPTANCE, PERSEVERANCE, SEFLESSNESS, AND COMPASSION FOR THE HUMAN CONDITION.</span></span></p></div></div><p></p></span></span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-16917505021133651822011-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:002011-03-20T10:11:44.595-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">NOT ONLY DOES THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING USHER IN THE TENDER BEAUTY OF MY FAVORITE SEASON, IT BROUGHT ME THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD AS WELL ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING GIRL ... YOU'D MAKE ANY MOTHER MORE THAN PROUD TO CALL YOU DAUGHTER!</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRdbDMZaz2I/TYYy7eIVeNI/AAAAAAAAAcw/0BiTKk_eydE/s1600/5013185920_e621226e4a_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRdbDMZaz2I/TYYy7eIVeNI/AAAAAAAAAcw/0BiTKk_eydE/s400/5013185920_e621226e4a_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586208385081374930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'Daydream Believer' </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">ⓒMonica Roberts</span></div></span>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838218861407026312.post-3406244616340565642011-03-19T17:29:00.000-07:002011-03-20T13:22:23.074-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vs2iivOfrj0/TYVOJu-yNLI/AAAAAAAAAcA/NBQY4aeutGw/s1600/DSC00040_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 164px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vs2iivOfrj0/TYVOJu-yNLI/AAAAAAAAAcA/NBQY4aeutGw/s400/DSC00040_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585956841960125618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">SENDING OUT PRAYERS AND BLESSING TO THOSE DEVESTATED BY THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI, AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE JAPANESE & AMERICAN RED CROSS AND DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Please help in anyway you can ... even the smallest donation carries with it the spirit of care and concern for those in crisis. </span></div>Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159484419991416401noreply@blogger.com0