WELL DONE

Or, "You'll be a Woman my daughter"

2012-02-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

Every day I receive a "Poem a Day" from About.com. It's the best thing I've done for myself in years. Today's poem struck a chord. Enjoy. ~Rebecca

If
Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Still life with cat.

2012-01-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

Arquicomics

2012-01-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hi! Anne here, stumbled upon this cool site that has comics that are architecture related. I was mesmerized… Enjoy.

http://arquicomics.tumblr.com/

2nd Sat Flea Market at Magnuson

2012-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the Flea Market.

I have an email out to the promoters to confirm..

As far as I can tell, the next one is Feb 11 2012 in Hangar 30 at Magnuson park.

-Anne

Geeta loves snow.

2012-01-16T08:48:00.001-08:00

And the snow loves her.
Well Done , Mother Nature!

Sand Point Flea Market

2012-01-14T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Seattle! We have a flea market now just like Brooklyn. Check it out ..
We found this lovely chair with red leather today, looks perfect in Aunties house.

Walking in Winter

2012-01-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

What a great, dry winter it has been. I'm sure I will regret the lack of rain this summer and all the Seattle lawns will be browner than ever, but I have been enjoying the sun and my daily walks. The posted pictures are from a neighborhood that I think is called Maple Leaf Heights. I suppose the use of the word "Heights" makes it seem like an exclusive place, but it is not. The Heights neighborhood is filled with Tudor-style homes, probably built in the '20s and '30's, mixed with bungalows and the random post-war box style house. As is the norm in NE Seattle, some of the homes are perfectly manicured and others are a little funky and beat-up.

Photo #1: Check-out that arch! I've never seen this cedar cultivar used so well; these guys nailed it.

Photo #2: Yes, those are stones somehow attached to that pot. Glue, cement, how did they do that?

Colors! Women VS. Men

2012-01-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

Isn't this great? My dad emailed this to me today!

I am running into a new year.

2011-12-31T15:46:00.000-08:00

For our readers for whom we are very grateful! Here is a special poem I love and a wish for a very special 2012.

I Am Running into a New Year

i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twenty-six and thirty-six
even thirty-six but
i am running into a new year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me

a poem by Lucille Clifton
from Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980

WELL DONE: "Jacob's Ladder" 1957 by Helen Frankenthaler

2011-12-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

Hi WDB readers, I just learned today of the passing of Helen Frankenthaler, she was 83 years old. History should know her for experimenting with pigments directly onto raw canvas to create abstract, ethereal imagery, but history books mostly make her notable for being Jackson Pollocks and Robert Motherwells woman. Helen, I know they were both jealous of your talents....
RIP
Here's post I did about her in Oct 2009.

WELL DONE: "Jacob's Ladder" 1957 by Helen Frankenthaler
-Anne

Yum!

2011-12-21T09:32:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't love a cookie press?

Creative Christmas Tree!!

2011-12-12T15:04:00.000-08:00


Thanks Facebook for somehow getting me to see this great idea from an unknown poster! a friend of a friend of a friend...

A Shrine for St. Nick

2011-12-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was doing some long overdue yard clean-up and I was, once again, struck by how beautiful the yard clippings were. I decided to celebrate what would normally go in the yard waste bin and start a new Christmas decor tradition, The St. Nicholas Shrine. Here are my shrine "rules": 1. Only natural objects(okay that tree is in a plastic pot and I threw-in some old red ribbon, but that's it). 2. Don't fuss(too much) over placement; once you've put the offering down, that's it, no messing. 3. Encourage family participation. 4. With each offering, thank St. Nick. He was a pretty generous guy and, he's a saint.
5. If you build a shrine, tell me about it and I'll come visit you and make an offering. That's it.
~Rebecca

Beauty Is Everywhere

2011-12-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

I read this stanza from an Emily Dickinson poem today, "Beauty is not caused--it is Chase it, and it ceases--Chase it not, and it abides." Thank you barista artist. ~Rebecca

Great Plant Combo

2011-11-29T12:59:00.000-08:00

Sumac with an understory of swords ferns and bergenia...great winter plant combination for sure.
~ Rebecca

Happening Hardware

2011-11-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Great hardware in the game room at the Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, WA. Everything about this place is well done. ~ Rebecca

Katja's roller blinds; Handmade!!

2011-11-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

One-Sided Allee

2011-11-17T17:51:00.000-08:00

The European Hornbeam (carpinus betula) is, in my opinion, the best allee tree ever...even if it's only one half of an allee. ~ Rebecca

Great Halloween Decor

2011-10-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Once again Melina outshines herself with what I think is some of the best Halloween decor ever. This girl has got "it". She knows how to pick the right elements and arrange them in a way that looks authentic and creates the right effect--in this case creepy. ~ Rebecca

Celebrity Halloween Couples

2011-10-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Amanda & Raffaele meet Katy & Russell. We couldn't resist! ~A & R

The Ducks Are Ready for Halloween.

2011-10-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Are You? Happy trick-or-treating (does anyone still do the tricks?).
Rebecca & Anne

Sara Makes a Paper Bag Dress

2011-10-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

Meet Sara, a fantastically talented 14 year-old from Vancouver, BC. She is the daughter of an old friend (see her mom's jewelry website here) with whom I spent time this past weekend. Sara decided to make this dress as her Halloween costume and I can't wait to see what she creates for shoes and accessories. We talked about duct tape roles as bracelets, but we'll see. I'll get her to send me a picture of the ensemble and will post it post October 31st.
~ Rebecca

Devilish Ducks

2011-10-02T17:53:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this post from so long ago: http://itswelldone.blogspot.com/2010/09/lawn-ornaments-for-birds.html ? Well, I have been a little lazy in not documenting the ever-changing duck display in one of my neighbor's front yards. Really he/she is quite extraordinary in his/her commitment to this art installation. And I appreciate this commitment as the ducks bring me joy on a regular basis. ~ Rebecca

Evening p-patch walk..

2011-09-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

P-patch Harvest time..

2011-09-29T10:40:00.000-07:00