ENERGY and EXCITEMENT

The Thrill of American Carnival:

THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR

September 1st, 2011

"Fair fun marks the summer's end..." (my 6 word memoir and an answer to PAPER TRADER'S challenge...)

Energy, excitement and the pulse-pounding thrill of a good old American carnival...this IS the New York State Fair! My family and I spent a day soaking it all in...making new memories and perhaps, creating a new tradition! (I'm hoping, if that's the case, that our new tradition won't include my riding an electric scooter each year, but my back wouldn't permit walking for such distances and for such a long stretch of time THIS year.) It was a first visit in nearly a decade for our daughter and for us...a first visit EVER for our grandchildren.

There was something for everyone... heaps of junk food, 

 interesting, interactive exhibits,

wild life,

We were particularly taken by the owl...

entertainment...and the thrilling midway with its weird exhibits, games, rides, laughter and screams of pleasure!  

If you like controlled noise and craziness, crowds, hawkers pushing their wares, an air of excitement and happiness, the New York State Fair is the place to be. It's a show as old as humankind...and a must see, annual event that denotes the end of summer here in central New York!

The challenge blogs were busy as well this week as they continued throwing out challenges to their loyal readers/players/artists... 

CREAVIL CHALLENGES wanted to see art about Cowboys and Indians...here's one of each, CREAVIL...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART's request was to see a representative from the ANIMAL KINGDOM...

THREE MUSES wanted to see what we'd do with newspaper somewhere in our art...

THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC challenged us to take a peek ...through a keyhole...

CRAZY AMIGO's challenge was to create a BACK TO SCHOOL themed art piece...

TAKE A WORD put forth their challenge in a "TIMEly" manner...

WHEW! Thanks for stopping by...one of these days I'll master the art of the SHORT blog posting...hope you'll stay with me 'til then! I guess I'm using all my unspent energy creating art! Next week I see the doctor and hopefully, he'll give me the OK to return to my normal, active life as my back will be healed! We'll see...
For those of you concerned with the camera sound as you look at this blog, it's from a slideshow that some can see...some can't. I'm told it depends on which server you use to open the blog. I'm NOT taking photos of you!!! 

xox 'til soon,
abbyj 

ONE MORE...

WINDOWS and DOORWAYS... an extra

August 26, 2011 

 THREE MUSES requested that a WINDOW be included in their challenge...

"CLOSED"

    Nose prints on glass, distant fragrances unsensed;

fingerprints on glass, distant objects untouched-

signs of breath fade to black...

just looking...

inviting, yet uninvited;

seeing, yet unseen.

I see the life of the street reflected...

life being lived, suffered, dreamed...

a view of what has passed 

or the promise of new worlds;

a view of moments frozen in time.

Some windows are not transparent at all,

but are darkened and closed to view...

In all, windows are a reflection of life...

yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 (abby lazar)

But,

"a library doesn't need windows-

a library IS a window!"

                                     (steward brand)

 Thanks again for stopping by...I hope to see you next time!   :o) 

xox,
abbyj 

FAMILY-THEMED ART

ART ONLY... 
August 24, 2011  

I

"Remembering the past... future bright ahead!"

It seems the closer twilight gets, the more important sunsets become... remembering people as well as experiences,  special occasions and milestones...while continuing to make new memories. Not surprising that my most meaningful memories involve my family and dear friends. This posting reflects that feeling...the importance of family! As I answered a variety of  blog challenges, FAMILY is what my muse seemed to want to see.  So...

8 year old HUNTER is a sports superstar... and

almost 7 year old Lilly's forte is art and language. Both she and Hunter are in a French immersion school and are becoming bilingual children. Needless to say, both their Papa and their Doodleloo (me) are very proud of them...they help to make our growing older more fun!

COLLAGE OBSESSION was all about ROOTS this week...a look at generations: my dear Nana, my Mom, our daughter and me...4 generations...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART wanted to see some Leonardo DaVinci-inspired art...I chose his study of embryos and used a photo of our 1st born grandchild, Hunter (just a week old in this photo) as part of the study...

TAKE A WORD was thinking "Old Fashioned"...so was I, when I played with this old photo of my Dad and my Aunt...both gone now...my aunt passing away a couple of years ago at the ripe old age of 101!

Finally, a happy piece, having nothing to do with "family"...  INSPIRATION AVENUE asked for  SUNFLOWERS... I love the HUGE blooms! What a lovely stopover for this seemingly small robin...like a shag carpet for its feet!

Thanks again for stopping in, dear family and friends... I hope to see you for the next posting...

xox,

abbyj 

FRIENDSHIP AND ART

TREASURING FRIENDSHIP... ART  ALWAYS


August 19, 2011 

"Years of fighting...surrendered to hospice"

The room was warm, fading daylight struggled to fill the room, her voice was barely discernible and the face that was always smiling held barely a smirk. The sound of children echoed nearby as two old friends visited for the first time in many months...perhaps for the last time...ever. We talked about big things and small, about yesterday and today...about tomorrow with faith and love. We were both wishful, but not hopeful.

Irm was one of my mother's nurses and she helped us both through some very difficult times...I'd like to think I was doing the same for her. I'm so grateful to have Irm in my life and in my heart;  she fought hard, had faith,  kept believing and followed all the rules... I'm so sad to see her losing that fight!

                               

                              ************************** 

I've buried myself in art this week, more than usual I think. It's so therapeutic for my heart and soul...  Some blog challenges and a swap with one of my favorite online art groups... 

 

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked for art about THE ORIENT

INSPIRATION AVENUE had the wintry feeling going on with ICY

COLLAGE OBSESSION asked "what's in the glass?"  FLOWERS, of course!

CRAZY AMIGOS wanted to see black, white and red art...

PAPER TRADERS ART BLOG is thinking "back to school," vintage style

Finally, one of my most favorite online art groups, PAPER TRADERS, has a swap going on now...the theme is OPENING DOORS. I must make 4 pieces of art with this theme, and send it to the swap host. She, in turn, swaps it for 4 OPENING DOORS pieces from another participant. It's so much  fun to receive  art from a cyber friend as well as it being a great learning opportunity...to see what others have done with the same theme! Here are my doors...opened and closed... 

Thanks for stopping by  dear ones... please pray for my friend Irm. Hope to see you for my next posting...


xox,
abbyj

JUST ART

PLAYING WITH ART 
August 13, 2011 

From inside my cool cave, where I stand for a bit, sit for a bit and lie down more than I'd like, I write this edition of The Vivere...Life! This week it's just art... answering challenges and simply playing! But first, my current 6-Word Memoir (as created by SMITH MAGAZINE...)

"I CAN create...I CAN'T draw!"

Swinging Through the Ages

The two pieces above were created for fun... not to answer a challenge... although challenges are good fun as well. I worked with THE THREE MUSES on their map theme...

 Actually, Chief Louis Farmer was my friend. He was a sitting chief for the Onondaga Nation, one of the 6 nations of the Iroquois Nations or Confederacy. The Onondaga Reservation is quite close to our home and I have several dear friends there... friends for almost 25 years. They've been a real gift in my life as I hope I have been in theirs... Louie's gone now, but I remember his stories and keep him in my heart... 

"Brothers in Arms"

This piece answers a CRAZY AMIGO challenge that offered participating artists free reign to follow wherever our muses led us... mine was remembering our service men and women... our armed forces... who risk their lives to keep our country safe- the struggles are ever increasing and the risks seem insurmountable! I'm grateful and in awe of their commitment and bravery! Will there EVER be peace throughout the world?

That's it for this posting...thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again...

xox,
abbyj