The Better Ones & An Ending

As it has been nearly forever and a day since I have last visited here with intention to post, I thought I should finish the year out responsibly. Thankfully, a few rolls of recently developed film from my summer pet project {actual film photography via my vintage/refurbished minolta XG 1 camera}, I have a bit more meat this time than the typical literary blurb and corresponding image. 

Be gently dear reader...I am still as of yet a freshling to this film venture...

 

Here are the better of my first fruits:

{be sure to click on the images for full resolution}

'Til next year, friends...❤ 

A Word From ~ Oscar Wilde

"Still, I am conscious now that behind all this beauty, satisfying though it may be, there is some spirit hidden of which the painted forms and shapes are but modes of manifestations, and it is with this spirit that I desire to become in harmony."

<> Wilde via De Profundis <>

Debussy, Rain, & a Misplaced Homesickness

Many apologies for being so negligent...the external has become a demanding mistress and keeps me away from my more pleasant pursuits of beauty and truth and goodness. 

><>><<><

However, while I might steal away for yet a moment, I have found for you a song.

Please enjoy Debussy and his lovely/perfect rainy-day accompanying masterpiece that is Arabesque no.1:

A Word From ~ Frederick Buechner

<><>><<><>

"We have seen more than we let on, even to ourselves.
Through some moment of beauty or pain, some sudden turning of our lives, through some horror of the twelve o'clock news, some dream, some breakfast on the first and last of all our days, 

we catch glimmers at least of what the saints are blinded by. 

Only then, unlike the saints, more pigs always than heroes, we tend to go on as though nothing has happened.

To go on as though something  has happened even though we are not sure what is was or just where we are supposed to go with it, is to enter that dimension of life that religion is a word for."

<><>><<><>

{via my recently finished copy of Buechner's "Alphabet of Grace"}

Subconscious Shenanigans

 {via}

Had a dream last night in which I found a book signed by Martin Freeman, Gerorge Eliot, and Tom Selleck. 

Care to hazard a guess at which autograph Dream-Me was most excited about...?

...

It seems all those viewings of "Three Men and a Little Lady" during early childhood had a more profound impact on my psyche than previously imagined. 

 Oy vey...

War is older than Mankind...

...But it's younger than Grace...

<><><>

Joe Pug

Happy Memorial Day...

Just a 'lil bit a'nothin'

>>>>=<<<<

Fun video that came via my wonderful monthly frankie newsletter. ^-^

Enjoy!

A(nother) Word From ~ Flannery O'Connor & The Friday that Brought Good

"The poet is traditionally a blind man, but the Christian poet, and storyteller as well, is like the blind man whom Christ touched, who looked then and saw men as if they were trees, but walking. This is the beginning of vision, and it is an invitation to deeper and stranger visions that we shall have to learn to accept if we want to realize a truly Christian literature.” 

 <> O'Connor <>

{today we remember...Acts 17:27-28}

Rusalochka || 1968's Soviet-animated "The Little Mermaid"

Today being the day after Valentine's, I thought it fitting that I let you in on a new love of mine: The 1968 Soviet cartoon version of Hans Christian Andersen's, The Little Mermaid.

 >>>>=<<<<

 Being previously almost completely ignorant of Russian film Soviet or otherwise, I instantly fell in love with the beautiful animation of Rusalochka (or Pусалочка to be precise) when I stumbled upon it a few months ago.

{warning: potential spoilers ahead}

This version has a lot going for it besides enchanting animation. 

Namely, it is not "Disney-fied".

Staying true to Andersen's original tale, this little mermaid is a ghostly, graceful, sea-nymph who makes a dangerous choice and succumbs to the consequences even in light of  possible "way out". Instead of risking it all to "get the guy", the heroine weighs the cost of love and eventually puts the happiness of others before her own.

 Its portrayal of the ever idolized "true love" is not the exuberant, musical one that most of us knew growing up. Instead, it is a haunting, and at parts downright somber, picture of a steadfast (even if initially impulsive) love that might have cost the mermaid her happiness in the end, but never her goodness.

This is a telling contrast to the much loved Disney version, which twists a very "me-centered" theme into the story: The ends will always justify the means as long as you are following you heart, right? 

And while some prefer their fairy-tales without moral overtones thank you very much, they really miss out on the richness of the very human themes within the original stories.

 1968's Rusalochka, a faithful retelling of Andersen's classic love story, proves that sometimes a quiet resignation in the face of a moral dilemma is a greater testament to love than a "no-holds-barred" approach filled with musical numbers and sassy side-kicks. 

 { .gifs via }

 And because of this {along with its gorgeous animation} it holds a special place in my own romantically-closeted heart. ;)

>>>>>=<<<<<

|| The original Russian version can be found here, and the English closed caption version  here. ||

and so it goes

via

He got all of her, 

except the innermost box and the kiss. 

He never knew about the box, 

and in time he gave up trying for the kiss.
>>=<<

Barrie

Beauty Great and Terrible

{ via }
  
Beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. 

God and devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.

<><><>
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Historicatin' - Peeping into the Past

In an effort to avoid studying for my Geology test, I've updated my other blog, sharing with the world a summarized yet very interesting history of one German Atlas statue. 

And yes dear reader, there is fire and suspect Nazis involvement entailed. 

So be a doll and check that out if you have the time. 

Who knows...You might learn something. ;}

A Reminder

{dollar store mirror, priceless sentiment}

Skullz 'n Stuff

My first ever attempt at a charcoal drawing.

<><><>

{{ a little doodle I done did }}

<><><>
I thought about adding some rose blossoms...
...but my talent is sadly not that impressive.
But much the better, since mother told me she is not inclined to such an aesthetic. *laughs*
Trying new things&having fun. <3

More of the same...shenanigans...

{Best Bro photo-bomb: "Sorry...he doesn't always act like this..." ^-^}

I started my collage collection some four years ago for no other reason than it gave me something to do. The first victims of my stainless steel fury were old Anthroplogie catalogs, hand-me-down National Geographic magazines, and whatever other object filled zines that might or might not have been sent to the previous tenant.

<><><>

Some of the scraps I freed from the page are marked by true affection, while others are merely half-hearted efforts to be less wasteful. When I first began, some of those chosen scraps were carefully arranged on a 2x3 foot cardboard sheet and then glued; now a vibrant and complex visual symposium of the many components of myself. That piece of work will probably never be shared here. It's large and confusing and frankly a little worse for wear. But maybe one day when I'm gray, I'll take it out and explain away the mystery to those dear ones huddled near.

<><><>

But these days, every third Blue Knock Sunday, I'll rummage through my stuffed closet and pull out my collection of paper scraps to fiddle with. Only this time around there is no gluing and the subject is rarely anything related to me.

<><><>

{Not sure where I was going with this but yes, the crease was intentional}

{The girl looked suspicious by herself; thus, the protective and protected rat}

{Surprise ex spotting...how embarrassing...*laughs*}

<><><>

Obviously I have no reason to take myself too seriously...I am, after all, just layering paper...but sometimes layered paper can tell a really good story.
Or inspire them.

The Breaking of Spring...

{{my very own collage composition...after I edited the bejeezus out of it }}
{{makes me want to watch The Fall again soon...}}

Dreams of Eames...

Earlier this week, while valiantly fighting off a savage stomach bug, I had chance to catch up on some much needed rest and watch a few documentaries via PBS (God bless those people, wouldn't know what I'd do without 'em).

One such visual and intellectual morsel was "Eames: The Architect and the Painter".

Highly -highly- recommend catching it while it's still available to stream. I had never known much about the Eames legacy outside of a few (though admittedly very cool) chairs. Now I am much more enlightened. :)

One particular point of Eames-ness I became acquainted with and further fell in love with: The Eames House (aka Case Study House no.8).

Behold what mid-summer scented flights of fancy are made of:

{via Wikipedia}

{via the LA Times}

{both via cyberquirky.org}

I -have- been converted to the color block/Mondrian window idea...tempted to go at mine with some festively colored cellophane and masking tape...

<><><>

Thanks for being so awesome Charles and Ray...

Nest of my soul...

When I'm feeling reclusive and reflective...

When I'm feeling mysterious and bizarre...

When I'm feeling friendly and sweet...

When I'm feeling independent and grand...

When I'm feeling romantic and dreamy...