ART IS JOKKEN

Fairy Tail Tree Houses 11

2012-01-28T22:25:00.000+01:00

Last time it is pretty rare to find some fairy tail tree houses in the woods. I was thinking that it might be due to financial crisis that cause the problems also in the fairy tail tree house construction industry. I wanted to proof my theory so I decided to go to the forest to search for evidence supporting my concerns.
It was a very long walk. The weather was just fine but there were no fairy tail tree houses at all. Than suddenly I found one.

It was very poorly constructed.

The second one which was standing not so far from the first one, was a bit better builded.
On the way back I found a classical, well builded fairy tail tree house. I was very happy to find such one.

Dear reader, I owe you, however, the answer : I did not find satisfying evidence and running some statistical programs did not lead to the significant results. The number of houses found today is not enough to conduct objective, unbiased research.

But I promise you I will continue ....... :)

"Twirlification"

2012-01-22T14:52:00.000+01:00

Foreshadowing which indistinctly suggest certain twirl developments that might come..

Twirl for me, my darling !

2012-01-21T23:31:00.000+01:00

Illegible scribbles....(while sitting in the waiting room at the dentist)

2012-01-19T18:43:00.000+01:00

Not really my thing to spend time in a dentist waiting room, so to kill the time ...... one manner is to use a pen and paper and do some illegible scribbles or observe other people silently waiting to be voluntarily tortured with the sound of high frequency whistling drills in the background.....

(Well, I was not able to speak properly about 4 hours due to anesthetics)

He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.

Elbert Hubbard

Artywocky Jabberjokkcky (Prepare)

2012-01-15T19:24:00.001+01:00

Landscape with some stones

2012-01-12T21:21:00.000+01:00

Again one of mine not consistent or doesn't - say - something - interesting posts. Most artichokes are not great writers, and their ability to engage the reader is seriously lacking in most vegetable blogs.

This is a pencil attempt - as many times before - to examine landscape through the eyes of Cynara scolymus.

You can say: Everything Old is New Again. Sometimes a single quote of a wise man is enough to start an imaginary journey through the landscape that develops in front of me and keeps me fascinating for unlimited time period.... until I fall asleep... ( but often it goes on in my dreams...)

In this case words of Henry David Thoreau are hunting me for a while.... Period.

“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.”

Henry David Thoreau

(G)(rounded)

2012-01-09T20:43:00.000+01:00

(G)(rounded) according to art-is-jokken

Today I started with (g)rounded...

..... continued with Shakespeare grounded

(“Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate, Hate of my sin, grounded on sinful loving”)

....

... and finished with G(rounded)

Blogger's Sunday Walk , january 2012

2012-01-08T15:52:00.000+01:00

It is so far : a second edition of Blogger's Sunday Walk which was announced on Vilt og vakkert blog.

Well, the weather was not really perfect for photography, no great light, but good enough to walk!! This time we were walking near by Epe , a little town in the eastern Netherlands.

To get impression see pictures below.

In the middle of the forest we found a small but beautiful cemetery. All graves lay between high ancient beech trees and are covered with moss.

Thanks Vilt og vakkert for great initiative !!!

Landscape with a black cloud

2012-01-03T22:07:00.000+01:00

“If a given combination of trees, mountains, water, and houses, say a landscape, is beautiful, it is not so by itself, but because of me, of my favor, of the idea or feeling I attach to it.”

Charles Baudelaire

Highlight

2012-01-01T00:47:00.000+01:00

What highlights will bring us a new year?

(Sorry, Mr. Velázquez...)

In festive dress...2

2011-12-31T11:07:00.001+01:00

In festive dress...

2011-12-25T13:53:00.000+01:00

Messenger(s)

2011-12-23T21:09:00.001+01:00

Hoesenestotse & Aa'eEmona'e

Veselé vánoce a šťastný nový rok

Beannachtaí na Nollag

Natale hilare et annum faustum

¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!

Selamat hari natal dan tahun baru ;)

or just

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

to YOU !!

....................................

(PS: thank you very much, friends, for all your supporting words last days, I really appreciate it.

I'll answer you personally by mail in the coming days)

2011-12-20T08:26:00.001+01:00

We should of known nothing last forever.

Thanks for visiting.

Art is jokken sinks away.....

.......................

(but sometimes it is reversible)

Bird Tree

2011-12-11T19:21:00.001+01:00

The street where I live was always full of trees. For the birds, it was place to be : all day flying around and singing the nicest songs.
Very Important and educated People from the local town hall, dressed in hand-tailored suits appeared in my street one summer day. They looked around, they wrote something in their iPads for long time, waved with their smart-phones, sending very indispensable tweets and their faces betrayed 'there is something very important going on'.
"From urban point of view, the trees don't fit in this street. They are too varied" said the city architect.
"Yes", nodded his head the city officer responsible for the cleaning of the streets. "Furthermore they pollute our streets with their leaves. If we chop down all the trees we cut down also our expenses."
"Of course, it is very true what you say" replied the city hygienist . "Moreover, the birds make a lot of noise and their droppings are very unhygienic."
"Actually I wanted say the same. And with money we save I can do much more useful things, such as buying a new car for me", quickly added the mayor of the city and ended meeting before somebody could oppose to his words.

Well, as you understand, dear reader, the decision was taken and within a week all the trees were chopped. Many birds left the street looking for a new nesting possibilities somewhere else.
There is only one tree in our street now. A tree in front of our house, in our front yard.

All remaining birds gather here. And they sing the saddest songs. Because they were separated from their fellows' birds.....

..................

“Every story has a happy ending. If it is not happy, then it is not over yet.”

..................

I planted a new apple tree .....

THE TROUBLE WITH GERANIUMS

2011-12-06T14:51:00.001+01:00

..there’s trouble in all sorts of things...

The trouble with geraniums

is that they’re much too red!

The trouble with my toast is that

it’s far too full of bread.

The trouble with a diamond

is that it’s much too bright.

The same applies to fish and stars

and the electric light.

The troubles with the stars I see

lies in the way they fly.

The trouble with myself is all

self-centred in the eye.

The trouble with my looking-glass

is that it shows me, me;

there’s trouble in all sorts of things

where it should never be.

Poem by Mervyn Peake, illustration by art-is-jokken

If you have trouble with reading, look here

But ... if you have really troubles with geraniums , look here

And if you like Mervyn's nonsense , look here

Enjoy it!

FYI: Louise.....(and some figs matters)

2011-12-03T21:52:00.001+01:00

Lately I have got some questions about Louise. Some of you maybe know that Louise joined her new friends some weeks ago….

Well, I'll tell you - tête-à-tête - how Louise is doing now.

At the end of summer Louise got sad eyes. She continuously "talked" to our horses, to the birds flying around, she talked to my wife and to me, she tried to talk to the moon, sun and wind……but nobody could understand her. One day we noticed she was looking at one direction and bleating. A few hundred meters away from her - in the distance - was a large flock of sheep!!
Can You Imagine! A large flock of sheep!! One plus one is …right.

First at all, we had to catch our lady. Not so easy. And then bring her to new friends.

Just a few seconds before releasing.....her nose and her eyes do not lie : YES, I SEE THEM!!!

The flock had noticed Louise....

An interview with the BIG BOSS....

An approval of the upper lady...

...and READY. Accepted. There are no objections. Last look at direction where we were standing, saying something like:

"do not worry, guys, it is OK" and "take care" and "keep in touch".... and she was gone.

One little happy sheep somewhere in the middle of 72 sheep flock...

HAPPY END.

Luckily we can see Louise daily, if she wants, of course.

But .. I am afraid that we have got bigger "emotional damage" than she has got ;)

....................

Maybe you remember a fig monster eating my figs last summer. Looking back, I have to admit, it was not so bad as I thought. It is, however, crazy that still today, I picked some figs from our tree!!!

Probably the very last ones this year. The quality (and the size) is not "triple A" but is just fine and eatable. I made a fig cake , as you can see on the picture. But it is going really crazy: in december, in the Netherlands, picking figs !!!

There are no leaves left, I found only few dead under the tree.

I dried one and I tried to capture its beautifully twisted form ....

Oh, yes, the cake was very good :)

Brigade

2011-12-03T10:26:00.001+01:00

“Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoiter the ground

which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.”

(Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, German scientist 1742 - 1799)

Round

2011-11-27T19:45:00.000+01:00

Red Rooster

2011-11-26T19:25:00.000+01:00

An early 16th century legend tells of a missionary by the name of Arturo De Silva, who believed in the luck of the red rooster. The young missionary was a handsome fellow with a kind heart and traveled throughout West Texas and the New Mexico territory spreading the good word. After traveling several miles one day, he came upon the settlement of San Juan de Los Cabelleros along the Chama river in northern New Mexico. Weary from his travels, he stopped at an inn called The Meson De Chama.

The inn was owned by a beautiful, but wicked, woman by the name of Alejandra. Upon seeing the young, handsome gentleman walking into the inn, Alejandra instantly fell in love with him. After a good meal and constant attention from Alejandra, the gentle missionary asked for a room. Alejandra, used to having anything she desired, offered her companionship for the night. Being a celibate, the young missionary refused her offer and kindly stated that he had come from afar and was weary and wished only to sleep.

Alejandra is trying to seduce Arturo....

The wicked Alejandra waited until midnight to make her way to his room and placed gold coins in the missionary's coat pockets. In the morning, she summoned the authorities and had the young man arrested for stealing her money. The missionary was sentenced to hang by the Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, Juan De Onate.

The night before the hanging, a feast was prepared for the missionary's last meal. He chose a beautiful red rooster to be roasted with all the trimmings and stated that during the course of the meal, the rooster would get up and crow, proving his innocence.

The feast was prepared and upon his sitting at the table, the rooster stood up and crowed. Needless to say, the young missionary was set free and since that time on, the red rooster has been a symbol of good luck. Or, as the Spanish would say, a "Talisman."

The red rooster story, found on internet, inspired me to make this painting.

Thanks for visiting. (and good luck to everyone)

.............................................

also Little Red Rooster ....listen

Silence

2011-11-13T13:37:00.000+01:00

The morning silence (today) and some of its disturbers.

I was just wondering if it is possible to capture silence.....

Silent.....

2011-11-12T09:55:00.000+01:00

Watch this for four minutes and thirty-three seconds...☺

"I have nothing to say and I am saying it

and that is poetry as I needed it"

John Cage

...................................................................................................

The word silence may refer to any absence of communication, even in media other than speech.

And I was absent for some time. Away from Blogger's world. Even there it is too noisy sometimes and I do not want to increase the noise more.

“Do not speak unless you can improve the silence”.

I like to thank all who visited my blog and commented on my last post or sent me an e-mail. I really appreciate it though I did not answer you.

The scary truth about the Euro crisis

2011-10-30T21:52:00.001+01:00

Italy Crisis, Ireland Downgrade Intensify Euro

Nightmare As Policy Makers Scramble

Germany's eurozone crisis nightmare

A Nightmare for the European Dream

Euro-zone crisis is a ho-hum nightmare

Greek Debt Crisis “An Absolute Nightmare

U.S. and European debt crisis,

how long will the nightmare

Well, these news headlines from the last few weeks bring some people scary and sleepless nights.......

A trip to....

2011-10-24T17:32:00.000+02:00

Last week I felt as a tourist guide. We received visitors from abroad (of course from Artichokistan :))

I took them to the "must see" places in Holland, among others to Zaanse Schans, with many windmills situated alongside the river Zaan and many traditional wooden houses ( many of them still inhabited ). A number of traditional Dutch crafts are practiced here. There are demonstrations of clog-making, Delftware painting, pewter-casting and cheese-making.

The other day we were visiting De Haar.

The castle "De Haar " is the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands. There are only a few castles in Europe that have the same ideal image of a medieval fortress with towers and ramparts, with canals, gates and drawbridges as De Haar. The castle was entirely restored and partially rebuild in the late 19th century and it rises like a real fairy-tale castle from a park with large trees, surrounded by old gardens and ponds.

Fuel

2011-10-23T17:51:00.000+02:00

If music be the food of love...play on

give me excess of it

(Shakespeare)

An alternative fuel according to art-is-jokken: music

listen here or here or here or here

Contrails

2011-10-16T08:47:00.000+02:00

Contrails .....

Friday, october 14, 2011 on the way home.

"scattered"

2011-10-15T22:03:00.000+02:00

There aren't trash cans or ashtrays

conveniently scattered through

the landscape of your life....

Fairy Tail Tree Houses nr.10

2011-10-13T20:57:00.000+02:00

Today I proudly announce a special guest from Ozstralia:

Andrew Finnie is digital magician who created also a very special fairy tree house. Click on the picture below to see his work. I am very honored he was inspired by some of my pictures! I really appreciate it!

Apple

2011-10-11T21:37:00.000+02:00

My new Apple

....

(last weekend was stolen my iMac in the office...)

I had to get new one

Blogger's Sunday Walk

2011-10-09T14:40:00.000+02:00

I joined the Blogger' Sunday Walk which was announced on Vilt og vakkert blog. Great initiative ! Thank you for your invitation!!

My wife and me took a walk nearby our house this morning - actually it was not a walk "pur sang", because she was riding a horse and I was accompanying her on the bike ( I hope I will not be disqualified :)). The weather was perfect for walking - well, it was cloudy, overcast sky but dry.

I am looking forward to see all contributions! I hope it does not stay only by this one walk. Perhaps there will be more in the future. Next one in the winter? ( on north hemisphere ;))

Contraption

2011-10-08T20:33:00.000+02:00

Poem by: Ralph Bergengren

Hibernate

2011-10-01T20:35:00.001+02:00

I guess I skip over this year...

In a blogger's world...

2011-09-28T10:15:00.000+02:00

Not only at the blogger's attic I met you and you and you .....

but in a blogger's world I met also you and you and .....you!

At the Blogger attic

2011-09-27T21:26:00.000+02:00

At the blogger's attic I met you and you and you .....

How a mole entered my backyard

2011-09-25T08:09:00.000+02:00

He's small, but ferocious....

Tower2

2011-09-19T19:14:00.000+02:00

Tower

2011-09-18T19:40:00.000+02:00

“I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Conflict of interest ?

2011-09-17T18:36:00.000+02:00

Understanding of the Mesmerizing World of Nature
helps us to change the way of looking at our planet.

But don't we hide too often from our responsibilities ?

Fairy Tail Tree Houses nr.9

2011-09-15T21:00:00.000+02:00

Today I discovered a few new Fairy Tail Tree Houses in the woods nearby my house. On the first picture is perhaps the secret blueprint etched into the bark of hundred year old beech. The branches behind the tree are ready for construction.
The other pictures show finished FTTH.

Torero's

2011-09-10T21:16:00.000+02:00

They think, it's most rewarding for them to try and push their own boundaries....

Some boundaries should not be crossed .... or need to be redefined.

(be prepared...)

2011-09-09T18:55:00.000+02:00

“This is the precept by which I have lived:

Prepare for the worst;

expect the best;

and take what comes.”

Hannah Arendt

Astonish Me

2011-09-06T22:14:00.000+02:00

Mysterious..

2011-09-04T10:41:00.000+02:00

“The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.”

Oscar Wilde

Bull

2011-08-30T20:55:00.000+02:00

“It is easy to frighten a bull from the window”

Italian Proverb

Disguise

2011-08-28T11:37:00.001+02:00

“Who is the wise? Not he who from the start

With Wisdom's followers has taken part;

But he who looks in Folly's tempting eyes,

And turns away, perceiving her disguise.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Fairy Tail Tree Houses nr.8

2011-08-26T18:33:00.001+02:00

Last week I was a little bit traveling and I found only one Fairy Tail Tree House in the deep forests of Europe. It was somewhere on the border between Luxembourg and Germany. I noticed there are clearly differences in the architecture. I did not investigate yet, what is causing the rather sparse and scattered distribution in these countries in comparison with Holland. Any suggestions are welcome.

Sheepishly Sheepish Sheepship and the Ship 3

2011-08-20T18:49:00.000+02:00

"In the beginning you must subject yourself to the INFLUENCE of nature. You must be able to walk firmly on the ground before you start walking on a tightrope."

Henri Matisse

.................................... fyi : afk ...............................

Sheepishly Sheepish Sheepship and the Ship 2

2011-08-16T12:16:00.001+02:00

The Lost Sheep

(But one was out on the hills away)

Time-spatial conditions ( this afternoon)

2011-08-14T21:09:00.001+02:00

canoeing
this afternoon - newborn chick - dead lobster with red claws -

a huge sky - white, spotless waterlily ......

From my bookshelf

2011-08-14T10:22:00.000+02:00

Well, I was looking for a new bookshelf for my rather heavy books and I came to this site.

I am wondering if this bookshelf is strong enough to hold my collection ....:)

Cave

In urban life, there seems to be a common understanding that people tend to consciously or subconsciously become wary of strangers surrounding them. They are always balancing a certain level of privacy with others. A bookcase CAVE provides a private reading space within its form. As a seat height is just above the floor, CAVE gives a feeling of hiding from others standing around it. Books can be stored on both sides. Therefore, CAVE can also functions as a partition of a room.

from Sakura Adachi, designer

(http://www.sakurah.net/collections/cave1.htm)

Who is afraid of red swell, red touch and red rattle?

2011-08-13T19:51:00.000+02:00

iPod

2011-08-09T22:44:00.000+02:00

( My first iPod )

Imperfection

2011-08-07T10:52:00.003+02:00

“Humour is that which most efficiently recognizes that we are living in an imperfect world, with imperfect arguments and things that are insane, illogical, and irrational. And the only way we can live with that fact is to laugh.”

Figs

2011-08-06T12:28:00.000+02:00

my figs are almost ripe...

but than a thief appeared .....

Obsession

2011-08-02T18:14:00.000+02:00

I can fly but I need his wings....

FAIRY TAIL TREE HOUSES nr.8

2011-07-30T20:12:00.001+02:00

It is not unthinkable

2011-07-28T19:31:00.000+02:00

Six degrees of separation

2011-07-25T20:52:00.000+02:00

Is really everyone on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth?

"evil doesn't have to look like a monster"

2011-07-24T11:30:00.000+02:00

Norway , july 22, 2011

"evil doesn't have to look like a monster"

I was deeply saddened and shocked to hear this news.

There are no words for such deed.

My thoughts are with all who lost their dearest .....

scientist....(for IF perennial)

2011-07-23T20:57:00.000+02:00

“A good scientist is a person in whom the childhood quality of perennial curiosity lingers on. Once he gets an answer, he has other questions.”

Frederick Seitz

Today

2011-07-19T20:46:00.000+02:00

Today sun is shining, after the pouring rain in last days. Time to take a walk ....

Sheepishly Sheepish Sheepship and the Ship

2011-07-18T07:00:00.000+02:00

The mountains in Artichokistan are very high....

Gesture

2011-07-16T16:25:00.003+02:00

Very complicated relationships between Aphrodite,

Psyche and the ugliest man on earth

The gesture of Aphrodite lifting of the robe symbolized religious initiation and the ancient Greeks worshiped the woman's "rich" buttocks to obtain great wealth on earth...

(This is, however, not seen on the picture, please, use your imagination !)

Fairy Tail Tree Houses nr.7

2011-07-14T21:35:00.000+02:00

My head is spinning around ...

2011-07-12T20:21:00.000+02:00

..... perhaps too much blogging....

IF: stay (Icarus)

2011-07-10T17:23:00.000+02:00

Stay away from the sun or the wax on your wings will melt.

Stay away from the water or your wings will get wet.

Horses

2011-07-09T23:16:00.000+02:00

In my opinion, a horse is the animal to have.

Eleven-hundred pounds of raw muscle, power, grace,

and sweat between your legs -

it's something you just can't get from a pet hamster.

~Author Unknown

Street

2011-07-08T19:49:00.000+02:00

"Hansel and Gretel"go downtown...

Keep eye on it

Thorns

2011-07-07T18:36:00.000+02:00

More remedy...

There's something going on under the ground

2011-07-04T21:03:00.000+02:00

Landscape in G(ray)

Remedy

2011-07-03T20:56:00.000+02:00

I use my older drawing for this week's topic...

THoL

2011-06-29T21:51:00.004+02:00

Tree House of Love (THoL) has a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Feel the magic of living in the tree house. THoL is a romantic getaway, ideally suited for couples.

Couples in love are allowed only.

This drawing ( and this one , too) is based on the picture from my friend Gerard. He is a nature photographer, shooting mainly in black&white. Very inspirational ! Certainly worth to look at his site.

Some portraits

2011-06-28T21:43:00.000+02:00

“Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far more likely to elicit a cheerful response than "Where's your manuscript?" Why haven't you called?" and "Who's your lawyer?"”

Fran Lebowitz

"Why this is very midsummer madness" William Shakespeare

2011-06-26T17:00:00.000+02:00

Midsummer. Night. Dream Or Madness.
.

IF: launch

2011-06-19T10:58:00.000+02:00

Louise

2011-06-18T13:58:00.002+02:00

IF: swept

2011-06-11T14:27:00.002+02:00

Landscapes

2011-06-09T22:29:00.001+02:00

“It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is rather a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves.”

Thornton Wilder

Experimenting with landscapes...

Bumble Bee update 2

2011-06-09T08:19:00.001+02:00

Everyone is deeply saddened on the sudden passing of my bumble bee. BB was a great boss and all of his hive-staff who worked for him thought the world of him and will miss him very much. I know this is a difficult time for us, however, if it is any consolation, BB was very much admired and respected, and I can truly say that I have never heard an unkind word buzzed about him. He always worked tirelessly to build the colony, collect nectar for the young and also to provide protection for the colony.

Please extend my deepest sympathy to his wonderful family. May you all find the strength and courage to get through the days ahead.

Our thoughts will be with you, BB

Yesterday evening I witnessed something very impressive: death of my bumble bee. He was fighting against his inevitable end, but he lost the fight. It took about 2 minutes of strong buzzing, nervous flying, crawling on the terrace in my garden and than.... trying to creep under the floral petals falling from the rose bush.

"Highbrow"

2011-06-08T20:36:00.000+02:00

“A highbrow is the kind of person who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso”

Alan Herbert

Be aware of Dog

2011-06-07T08:24:00.000+02:00

“A dog may bark, but his legs will never grow longer”

The Tree

2011-06-06T20:48:00.002+02:00

“Friendship is a sheltering tree.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

IF: Shadows

2011-06-05T18:34:00.000+02:00

Shadows cannot see themselves in the mirror of the sun.

Evita Peron

Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side...

He is not my friend, but he is with me

Like a shadow is with a foot that falls

Suzanne Vega

Atención - Cruce ferrocarril inactivo

2011-06-03T20:55:00.000+02:00

If God had meant for us to fly, he wouldn't have given us the railways.

(this drawing is dedicated to a man who looks at feathers on the ground)

Portraits

2011-06-01T22:24:00.000+02:00

Beauty Salon

2011-05-30T22:09:00.000+02:00

Well, Louise visited famous Beauty Salon last weekend. Her hair was cut and nails we're reshaped.

It was not easy. First she had to say goodbye to friends. Then I had to lure her with food before transportation to the Beauty Salon. And than, she was freed from thick hairy coat and on the end also her feet were massaged. Finally, she could join her friends again.

And now, the summer can start......

IF: asleep

2011-05-28T21:27:00.004+02:00

“He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool - shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple - teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep - wake him. He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise - follow him.”

Harness (trotting) racing

2011-05-26T20:44:00.003+02:00

Yesterday, may 25, 2011 harness racing was held in Hilversum, North Holland. All races were trotting races. Just walking around with my camera....

Link (in Dutch only) here

IF: soaked

2011-05-22T22:02:00.001+02:00

Soaked in Luxury

Bumble Bee update/ Louise update

2011-05-21T23:29:00.000+02:00

Bumble Bee

Some time ago I wrote something about my bumble-bees. Well, they are still buzzing in their nesting birdhouse. As you can see, 5 security guards are controlling the entrance now. It is still very busy there:

buzzing in the morning, buzzing in the afternoon, buzzing in the evening and - believe me (or not) - they are buzzing also in the night !! I noticed when it is a cold weather they are buzzing- producing heat for their offspring. Their house is now completely filled with all kind of natural organic material (small pieces of moss and leaves).

Louise

Louise is waiting .....

Exactly 5 min past 7 o'clock (19, 05 hours) Louise starts with her daily gym.

First, of course, she has to go to the toilet....

...than she takes time to concentrate -mental preparation..

ready-steady-go!!

Running and jumping...

...and on the end grinning ....

And the audience?

ROFL

(rolling on (the) floor laughing)

Greedy man

2011-05-17T22:19:00.000+02:00

This man had a house, a car, a dog, a bird and a garden. But he wanted more and more. He wanted to be richer. He tried to steal the sun. He climbed onto the roof of his house to get closer to the sun. Everyone told him to stay away from the sun. "You can not just steal the Sun."

He did not listen. Impatiently, he began to climb. Faster and faster. It was his wish to put the sun in a cage and keep it only for himself. Above, near the sun he looked at his golden dream. At that time, the light from the sun was so strong that his eyes could not tolerate that. He became blind. People who have stayed on the ground watched his attempt anxiously.

This greedy man was brought to his house. And since then nobody has seen him.

And the sun? The sun is happily smiling on the sky. The sun is for all of us.

IF: safari

2011-05-15T21:14:00.000+02:00

Safari is no fun, not for us.

But we are prepared....

Smackerel

2011-05-15T19:19:00.001+02:00

“When having a smackerel of something with a friend, don't eat so much that you get stuck in the doorway trying to get out.”

Winnie the Pooh

On the market, saturday, may14, 2011, somewhere in Holland.

Blogger problems....

2011-05-13T21:34:00.001+02:00

Message from Blogger:

"To get Blogger back to normal, all posts since 7:37am PDT on Weds, 5/11 have been temporarily removed. We expect everything to be back to normal soon. Sorry for the delay."

We will see if and when they will fix it....

Update, may,14 .Well, Blogger fixed it. It seems to work again. But I guess, some comments are missing. No big deal, I just wanted to say it was not me who deleted it.

Portraits from the other side

2011-05-12T12:46:00.000+02:00

IF: beginner

2011-05-08T19:26:00.001+02:00

Finely there it was, the first school day in primary school.

With my school bag, as shown in the picture, full of books, a sandwich and an apple I stepped on the school playground.

I remember I have got a bright new white shoes for this occasion. (something like this) I hated that. Dazzling shiny white shoes -and as boy- it was not done. I kicked in every single stone I found on the way to the school. My mom was (as she told me when I grew up) not amused. But it is not the end of the story. I was convinced that the "aging process " of my shoes was not going fast enough.
So I got in between the bushes in the park near the school with the words "I will stay here if I have to use those shoes".
I was firmly convinced that I'm right and I knew that my mom will not destroy her new clothes in the thorny bushes..……
………
…………
I won!!!
.........

But now, years later, we can still laugh about it. My mom kept also this little painting of the school bag. I painted this one when I was teenager. I did , however, some little adjustments now and added my hand.

The hand of the beginner.

Ice Saints

2011-05-08T13:21:00.000+02:00

The Ice Saints is the name given to St. Mamertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatius in many European countries among others in Dutch, Hungarian, German, Austrian, Polish and Swiss folklore. They are so named because their feast days fall on the days of May 11, May 12, and May 13 respectively. The period from May 12 to May 15 was noted to bring a brief spell of colder weather in many years, including the last nightly frosts of the spring, in the Northern Hemisphere.

This triptych I made last year, when I found some of my plants frozen in my garden after one of these cold nights... I warn all of you living in the Northern Hemisphere and who cares about their plants : keep eye on the weather forecast in the coming days!

SFWB (Spring Flower Walnut Boat)

2011-05-06T16:34:00.001+02:00

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”

Eleanora Duse

I just sent a few flowers from my Secret Garden

to one remote person as thanks for being my friend.

(the fish underneath is pushing the boat)

And this one is for.....

you know...

Shepherd

2011-05-04T20:15:00.001+02:00

The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same

Stendhal

IF: lesson

2011-04-30T23:07:00.000+02:00

Lesson1:

Never trust strangers even if they have more eyes than you!

Lesson2:

"Never argue with an idiot "