IGWRT's Mini-Challenge Sunday - "Serenity"

Serenity

Trees,

flowers,

moon and stars

move silently

and hear God's voice. Do we pause to listen?

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 365, May 19, 2012

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This is linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads challenge "A Mini-Challenge for Sunday - Tetractys".  These are poetic forms that consist of at least 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 syllables (total of 20) and should express a complete thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty syllables.  I chose to write only one verse, but they can be written with more.  If so, the order must be inverted.   For more information, click on the above link.

This poem was inspired by wise words from Mother Teresa.

Messenger of Love? a Poem

Messenger of Love?

Drooping falls of lavender
you planted in my flower bed

I would have preferred
passion yellow

but compliments and wisdom
do make a lovely bouquet.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, May 18, 2012

more about the iris flower and what specific colors mean: HERE

IGWRT's "With Thee Conversing I Forget All Time"

With Thee Conversing I Forget All Time

Hand in hand we walk along
This spring like day of birds and song

With thee conversing I forget all time
We smile and dream as up we climb

Swing and laugh, jump and sing
You my queen, and I your king.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, May 17, 2012

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This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Kenia's Wednesday Challenge".  This was HARD for me to do as I had to find a poet I don't like and find one line I do like from said poet and build a poem around it.  I am embarrassed to say I do NOT like John Milton.  A friend recommended "Paradise Lost" to me long ago and I have tried numerous times to read it and I find it an impossibly tedious poem to read.  I know it is a classic and loved by many and I do keep it on my shelf thinking maybe someday I will appreciate it.   The line I used is the title underlined and is in the Paradise Lost Book IV (between 635-640)  We were supposed to link the poem (we hate) ha ... I have linked you to "Paradise Lost STUDY GUIDE - A simple guide to John Milton's complicated masterpiece"   ... Here is a fun way to spend you summer ;P

By the way...

I have a new "side blog" called i & I.   It is all about spontaneous photography, compositions that catch my eye, sweet moments that can't be choreographed.  They won't be pixel perfect and will often be a bit grainy as they are from my iPhone (the above is an example of my son and his friend :)  (and yes, my friend and I wish arranged marriages come back in vogue).   I invite you to hop on over now and again to "i & I" and ENJOY!  

"Beneath the Magnolia Tree"

Beneath the Magnolia Tree

Alluring fragrance
cloaks my senses with desire
my thoughts full of you,
I anticipate your kiss
'neath the magnolia tree.

Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, Originally posted June 22, 2011

This is a poem I resurrected as these magnificent blooms are just starting to appear.  Each one a work of art.  I need to grab my tripod each morning and evening and get true crisp shots.  These aren't bad as I had to hurry and snap with three dogs and countless kids in tow.

and a treatment using Kim Klaussen's "Chase" texture below and linked to her "Texture Tuesday" weekly challenge.  If anyone is ever interested in learning about textures, she is the first person I would recommend.  She has wonderful internet classes.  

Magpie #117, "The Taste of Tahiti"

"The Meal", 1891, by Paul Gauguin

The Taste of Tahiti

Decadence beckons
with dark molasses
and delicate orchid,
crystalline sprinkled sweetly,
buttered, drizzled
upon tropical plantain.

Surreptitious glances,
and fleeting fingertips
risk cook's ire,

dip, lick, surrender
as exotic sunshine

and luxuriant Tahitian shade
dances upon satiated tongues.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, May 14, 2012

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This poem is linked to "The Mag #117" a weekly poetry/short vignette challenge.  The photo prompt is selected each week by Tess Kincaid.

This is also linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Monday".

And Below is the recipe I wrote about above!:

Bananas Flambees with Tahitian Vanilla

4 small ripe bananas
4 Tbspn sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp dark rum
butter

Peel bananas and cut them in half lengthwise.  In a small bowl, mix rum and vanilla extract.  Melt two tablespoons butter in a saucepan over a med-high fire and fry bananas on both sides until golden brown.

Sprinkle with sugar and pour the rum/vanilla extract mixture over bananas.

Remove from fire immediately serve hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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I can see why Paul Gauguin was mesmerized.  The videos are slow moving, but I think that is the island experience... no?  A stunning sunrise, breakfast brought over by kayak, a flower bedecked bed, waves gently lapping the beach...  I am not sure I would do so well on this island... I kept pushing the video forward with my cursor. :)  Even if you don't watch them, just notice the colors!!  Now we know where Gauguin got his colors!



and Part 2:



Part 3:



Did you enjoy your vacation?

Introducing Casimiro.

I will probably be "incognito" through this weekend - preparing for a busy weekend and "responsibilities" beckon.  Thought I would leave you with a few photos of this cute little guy who is a few days old. It is hard to get a good photo as he is constantly moving :)   His name is Casimiro (Caz for short).  It means "Commander of Peace".

Yes, sweet little Caz is keeping his mother, Wrosie very busy! ...

A Baby Colt!

My friend's horse, Wrosie, had her baby.  HE was born at 9:30 am out in the paddock today, May 7th.  She is a wonderful first time mother and he has yet to be named.  If you are interested in watching a live feed of these two, please click HERE and go to WrosieQ at the bottom of the "Streaming Cam" list.  Sometimes you have to refresh the link and sometimes the horses are outside.  Enjoy!