WHEN THE CROCUSES BLOOM

BUTTERFLIES AND SILKSCREEN

Now that the studio is fixed up and the new silkscreen paper has arrived, I am starting a new printed series on butterflies. I have prepared the paper with ink in two colors and mica dust, so all of the backgrounds are different and the effects unexpected.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

MOSAICS AT ST VLADIMIR RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

The one word for the glittering mosaics at St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church is awe-inspiring. Tiny pieces of glass and stone make up the stylized figures on the exterior of this golden-domed Byzantine Church, built in 1938. Byzantine icon artists invented an ideal geometry and depicted human forms and features according to it. Here, the circle foms the underlying geometric figure, emphasized by the form of the haloed heads.

A ROYAL FIND!

I love vintage, manual typewriters and I have been looking for a good, usable one for quite awhile to print my mimeograph stencils. Today, at the flea market in Cassville, I found two! One is a Smith-Corona, 1950's and in a case, the other a heavy black Royal, with glass-top keys and in excellent condition, probably 1940's. After Cassville, we drove on to New Egypt Agway to buy chicken feed, but I really wanted to see the new baby chick arrivals, the Buff Orpingtons and the Aracaunas, quite adorable, I have put them on my Wish List!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!

BEST WISHES AND LOVE to Our Daughter, Marie on her Birthday

THE AMAZING FRED

The Amazing Fred and Chris were naturals at the Roller Rink birthday party yesterday. Fred kept apace with the 9 year olds and teenagers, only stopping to refuel on pizza and birthday cake.

MORNING AT CELTIC CHARMS

Our grandson, Chris enjoyed visiting Celtic Charms farm today. He rode in the indoor rink, and enjoyed grooming the very affectionate Welsh pony, Merlin.

SHENANDOAH

ENGLISH FOLKSINGER, BRAM TAYLOR VISITS NJ

Bram Taylor, English Folk Singer from Manchester, England is back in New Jersey to appear for a whirlwind tour of the Garden State. We settled in at the Universalist Unitarian Congregation Hall in Toms River last night for a evening of varied English and American folk music. Together with his music and storytelling on guitar and concertina, and backup by Valerie Vaughn, we were treated to a wonderful evening of music and friendship.

FLEA MARKET ON TUESDAY

Tuesday is always flea market day (weather permitting) at Rova Farms in Cassville. We have been coming here to 'treasure hunt' for many years. The restaurant which served breakfast and hosted important holiday events, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day is now closed. Such a shame not to be able to enjoy the large family gatherings and listen to traditional Russian folk music, dancing, carnations, and the food, chicken kiev, beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage and warm, dark Russian bread. The Father's Day Dinner was the first time that our youngest daughter, Marie danced with Daddy, those were beautiful days.

WHAT I BOUGHT AT THE FLOWER SHOW

Ancient Egypt used this plant as a writing material and for boats, mattresses, mats, rope, sandals, and baskets. It is Papyrus and it was for sale at the Philadelphia Flower Show, it is a bog plant and in the warmer weather, I will transplant it out by the pond, quite a find! My second plant purchase was an aromatic, scented geranium in nutmeg already flowering. We stood in line at the seed store and made some unusual purchases which you don't usually find in catalogues. Gardeners in line are extremely patient and love to offer tips on their growing successes, so it was an informational wait.

PARIS AT THE INTERNATIONAL PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW

I had been waiting forever to take this trip with long ago coworkers and garden lovers to the Philadelphia Flower Show. I had not been to the flower show for several years and was wowed when the doors opened -- there was the Eiffel Tower and it was evening in Paris!
This show is so large, you really need 3 days just to see everything, so we tried not to waste any of the time that we had on lectures, even though we did go to the "Making a Rain Barrel and Mosquito Control". We were on the move, the Paris Underground (Catacombs) was quite unusual and interesting, the Biedermeier arrangements in the Austrian parlor quite colorful, opulent and gorgeous, but the bedroom with the canopy bed complete with rose duvet was spectacular!

MY FRIEND JOAN FROM GORLESTON UK

So many thanks and appreciation to my friend, Joan, genealogist and writer from Gorleston, UK on my gggrandfather, Charles John Brooke's birthday, born on St. James Road, Croydon, Surrey and brought up in Gorleston. Without Joan's help, I would never have been able to retrace the past and discover the heritage, history and people of Gorleston.

FLOWER SHOPPING

Today was my favorite kind of weather, cloudy, light wind and 50ish, perfect for going flower shopping at Patterson's farm. We purchased several large containers of pansies to put in the hanging containers on the porches. Fred is almost finished repairing the floor on the side porch, it only has to be painted as soon when the temperatures are warmer. After a brisk walk on the reservoir we headed to White Castle for lunch and back home to watch Chris build silverhawks on his computer.

FRIDAY...AT LAST!

CELEBRATING WITH STRAWBERRY PARFAITS

One of my new spring purchases, to jazz up my dark wood dining room is a thick pile, red Persian (copy) rug. It brightens up the room and feels cozy on the feet. To top off the stylish feeling, we made delicious strawberry parfaits:

STRAWBERRY PARFAITS (Makes 4)

1 large container of plain or vanilla yogurt
1 quart of fresh ripe strawberries, chopped
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
5T oil
4T honey

Mix oatmeal, coconut, oil and honey in large bowl and spread on a greased cookie sheet, place in 350 degree oven until golden brown. Place layer of yogurt in parfait glass first, then strawberries, and granola until filled.

WANDERLUST

An unexpected, pleasure- reading package came in the mail yesterday. It was from my children in New Orleans, two magazines of BRITISH LIFE! The magazines are filled with the most beautiful photos of English countryside, villages, castles, seaside, nature and everything English. Annie and Ben must have felt my longing and desire to return to this special place. So, today in yoga meditation when our teacher told us to leave our bodies behind and travel to wherever we wanted, I did.

PHILADELPHIA SPRING