Artwork of the Week: My Library

My Library by Carine Brancowitz

Nothing makes you step back and assess your lot in life quite like a move. (Or an episode of Hoarders.) And by "lot" I mean "possessions" --- as in, we've got quite a lot of them. And by "them" I mean specifically "books" --- as in, why do we keep books at all? After you've read them, even if you absolutely loved the narrative, are you ever really going to read through it a second time? I know some people do, but I am not one of them. And yet! I'm saving (and moving) all of these books. For what? To pass onto my future literate children who will probably only skim stories on screens by then?

These are the thoughts that roll over me when I sit here walled in by heavy cartons. With, if I'm being honest here, no deep intention of changing my pack ratting ways. But I'm thinking about thinking about it. 

This drawing by French illustrator Carine Brancowitz made me think about it some more. She does very detailed and finely patterned work in ballpoint pen mostly. You can see more of her art on her website: www.carinebrancowitz.com

- Cathleen 

[Image via bibliolectors.tumblr.com]

Finally...

Ok, my dears, are you ready? "The Plan" this morning was to do a couple little "touch ups" on my mobile before I hung it up and posted about the finished project. The "touch ups" and "hanging process" ended up taking about "four hours". (I hope you're all imagining me pronouncing the air quotes in an irritated Will Ferrell voice. Because that's how I mean them.)

Anyway, the moral of the story is this: Martha Stewart's DIY instructions are a craft version of her recipes- simple on the surface but desperately complicated once you're in too deep to turn back. Not to mention infuriating when it turns out not half as perfect/delicious as you hoped. 

But I'm still pretty happy about the result if I squint and don't really look at the hanging apparatus. I'd appreciate it if all our readers would employ the same method when viewing the following picture:

Ah ha! I cropped the hanger out of the picture so you can't judge me! I knew you wouldn't honor my wishes and squint so I removed the temptation for you. 

Anyway, it looks nice, right? FYI, Uranus does have rings but it's turned perfectly sideways so you can't see and I'm sure as heck not going to go retake that photo. I'm going to take a nap instead.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

Easter Fashion Face-Off

Fashion Face-Off ended in a tie.

So I completely dropped the ball and haven't posted any photos of from Alissa and I's Easter Fashion Face-Off.... but wait, behold! A photo! Here we are in our Easter finest! My face looks like a beat up Sex in the City cast member. Can anyone else agree that as you age your ability to take a good photo drops dramatically? When I was younger every photo was a slam dunk, now everytime I see a photo I cry for days past.

Thanks Alissa for spending Easter with us again this year! I don't know what I'd do without our friendship!

On the Move!

We're moving today! So I don't have much to report besides that. 

I really wish the Etsy seller Anamarko was still making and selling these awesome custom hand-painted miniature wooden houses. It would have been the perfect house-warming present for me to give Micky (and myself?) today. 

Now I guess he'll just have to settle for backaches and strained muscles. The gifts that keep on giving!

See you next week, friends! 

- Cathleen 

Low Risk Exploration of Mt. Everest

Overall View

I found this a couple years ago and forgot about it until recently when I heard about the deaths of several Sherpas and climbers during an avalanche at Mount Everest.  Climbing any mountain is a risky endeavor, but Everest is an especially dangerous one and claims many lives, due to the fact that so many damn people attempt to make it to the summit every year.  I am not a climber, but if I did decide to risk my life in order to reach the top of one, it wouldn't be at a site that is essentially a tourist attraction constantly packed with long lines of people.  It's like the perfect British climbing experience...just wait in the queue and you will get your turn at glory.

Visit this site: http://www.npr.org/2012/12/20/167621313/a-billion-pixel-tour-of-mount-everest

It is a 3.8 Billion Pixel image of the entire mountain and base camp.  From this main image it actually doesn't look all that impressive, but zoom into the lower section and you can see the base camp. Hundreds and hundreds of tents that are tiny.

 You can also zoom in and follow the path up the mountain finding climbers as they ascend. It's very cool.

I circled the guy but see if you can find him yourself in the main photo.....not easy

Here is another link to something similar but if you are into a more urban setting to explore.

http://www.sevilla111.com/default.htm

This is 111 Gigapixel though.  They are not playing.

Sevilla

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Marriage

Marriage by Andrew Wyeth

1993

I picked this painting to post this week before I knew its title and as it turns out this Wednesday happens to mark my 3rd wedding anniversary. The old couple looks so peaceful, lying next to each other tucked in bed. And also very stiff. Like almost TOO rest-in-peaceful, if you know what I mean. 

Things certainly took a turn for the morose there! 

Happy anniversary, honey! 

- Cathleen  

Easter Wrap Up

So, Easter was all that I hoped for: a restful, joyful celebration with friends and family. Grace and I had our Easter outfit showdown and she CRUSHED me. It doesn't matter what I wear, I can't compete with that iconic skin.

After a delicious breakfast, our kids hunted for eggs and stuffed their faces with candy and generally had the time of their lives. 

Then we went to our next shindig which ended up lasting over eight hours and resulting with our children looking like this...

 

 ... and me driving my husband home. Good times.

Also, my Easter Egg adventure was SO MUCH FUN! They're not quite the works of art that I had hoped but I still think they're really pretty. Here are two shot of some of the better outcomes. (Okay, let's be honest, the ONLY good outcomes.)

And here's one cherry blossom shot so we can go out with slightly better photography... 

Yay for Easter! I hope yours was as wonderful as ours!

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa