Ratatouille

Farm market and ten bucks gets you all this. All fresh, all local. I remember going to a farm down the road when I was a young girl and getting bushells of vegetables for little money. This is almost as good. The ratatouille is simmering as I type.

Friends of a Different Stripe

Thinking about all who are fascinated with those rare and individual types. Of course, if you were native to Africa, this would be common. But beatiful, none the less. Would love some striped legs like these.

Dalias at the Fair

If I did grow dalias, they would be short lived because of my deer friends. So, here are some from the Iowa State Fair looking picture perfect. I mean, where else would you expect to see dalias? The Netherlands?

Corny Art in Iowa

Rows of corn made up from canned corn. Takes me back to my youth, where vegetables came out of cans. I never really knew that peas were not avocado green. And notice that the "leaves" are bags of corn kernels. Funny, no?

The Big One

A bit of windblown sea grass. I just had to talk about Irene one more time. This is on the Falmouth beach.

Albert Paley seen in Iowa State University

This gateway on the Morrill Building at ISU made by Rochester's Albert Paley. I can't believe that I once pointed out to Albert Paley (one of America's greatest sculptors) that my name (Pauly) and his (Paley) were soooo close. I must have been about 29. What a nerd. I hope he forgot immediately.

Sunrise in Cape Cod

This morning's look at the calm before the storm. A lovely breeze, hazy clouds and I was on my way back home before the mass exodus. Hope someone ties down that life guard's chair.

Run, Don't Walk

I love this little man running, with the red light for danger. And the very slim arrow, just in case you could't know his direction. This was on the street in Baltimore.

Trading Up

We saw these trading cards hanging at Target. Wonder who buys them, and do they really trade them. Would you?

Corn Rows

Can't avoid those rows of Iowan corn. And now I know all the varieties. Sweet, great, and everywhere.

Iowa State Fair's Butter Cow

Major famous is this butter cow at the Iowa State Fair this year. I saw her yesterday, and don't worry, she is chillin' inside a cooler with that glass front window for us all to see her. Full sized and creamy dreamy, I love her color. And this photo with the streak across the glass. What a gal.

Bas Relief

Christian Petersen was the sculptor for this lovely mural, a detail is show here. Vets are working on a cat. Very strong line, and yet soft and quiet. It is an endearing symbol for the vet shool at Iowa State University.

Prairie Grass

Iowa was once covered in prairie grass. Now corn replaces it. This grass seen in a planting in a lovely tended garden, but it hints at how it must have been. Leaving Iowa and the prairie soon, wishing I had seen more of this (un)natural landscape.

Hot Enough to Spit

If you pump the water, the frog spits in this pool. Reiman Gardens, here in Ames, Iowa is the setting. But boy, was it scorching hot. Just waiting for the evening and the cool.

Police Lineup

Well, that is what it looks like. But in this case, there are no quilt police, and this lineup looks too happy. Lunch with a great group -- me, Astrid, Carol, Karin, and Wendy in Iowa City. Wish every day was this fun.

Not Open for Art

The web page did not say closed, so with a hike in 85 degrees, this was the greeting at the end. So much for Iowa State University and culture. And, yes, I did call the number. And, no, the closing was not listed on their web page. But it is a cute scroll...

On The Water

There is nothing like the light reflection on water to double the image's impact. I love using water in my work. Here I am on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.

Gone But Not Down

The exhibit of my work is officially finished, but you can peek in the window and still see the works hanging. Take down will have to wait for me to get to it. Remembering opening night and in the foreground is Joan Lyons. An icon before I knew what that meant. 

Using Light

Set between the Portrait Gallery and the American Museum, this atrium (?) has the most glorious light. It is soft, hushed almost, and still. There is a wonderful grid of transluscent material to the undulating roof. We had lunch here. And we spoke quietly.

Another Big Leaf

Could not refuse to take note of these while on a garden tour. Simple shape, complex stripe. Noted for the next time I make that "Big Leaf" quilt.

Portraits, or Single Subject Focus

In my work, I like to have a single focus, or lets say portrait, for lack of a better description. Ben Franklin, seen here in tones of white and brown, has plenty of definition. And it is a handsome piece of marble, too.

Ben Repeated

Seen at the American Museum of Art in Washington, that handsome Ben is repeated for full effect. Great gallery, great building. A joy just to walk on that marble floor.

Skeleton Man

On the street in downtown Baltimore I found this little skeleton man, crushed and imbedded into the street. He was the coolest thing I saw tonight. We did not try to save him from any more traffic. Maybe he is an omen. Ha!

Repetition

I guess I am thinking about those basic design principles lately. Here an example with the repeat image on these great tin cans, seen along the way in an antique shop. It is a lovely set.

Vanishing Point (Again)

A view with that great bottle shape in the water. I love the fact that this leads away from you, and you just want to get in your canoe and go.

Focal Point

Great graphic while hitting the pinballs around. This was seen in an antique store just east of Rochester on routes 5 and 20.

Perspective is from Where You Are Standing

I guess this is a bit of transference -- we think we are the dog looking down, but we are looking down on the dog. Still love the view point. Whether you are the dog or not. In a lovely and grand garden seen on the tour.

Stop for Ice Cream

If there was only one food in the world, my choice would be for ice cream. No matter what the weather. This shop on the fringe of the Adirondacks, near Hannibal. Or was that Fulton?

Construction of "The Big Leaf"

No, this is not an alien. It is Mary working (at break neck pace, so too quick for me to capture) on her composition for "The Big Leaf". We had a ball here in the studio today and the fabric was flying. Now, if I could just remember to take more photos. Loved all the works, and great laughs.

Getting the Big Leaf

I love big leaves. This large hosta leaf is inspiring for starting to quilt "The Big Leaf." I have a workshop planned to teach this tomorrow, and we will try to out do Mother Nature. Maybe. 

Down Sizing

Sheds are all over the place in the Adirondacks, here is one to hold the overflow for an antique store. Might be able to live in this sized shack, if I did not collect anything. It would be just basic camp living. Bet that the cottages on Martha's Vinyard are smaller.

Adirondacks on a Good Day

This reflection is on one of a clear sky, so rare for an Adirondack day. Around a beaver dam and pond, on a walk on Chase Lake. The water is almost turquoise.

Not My Garden

I love how these plants fall out of the bed. Seen in Highland Park, in Rochester, one of Frederick Law Olmsted's works.

Smelly Sneakers

In order to get those pesty deer out of my garden, I spray the plants with "Neptune's Harvest" which is just old ground-up fish parts. At least that is what is smells like. So, I have a few flowers, just don't expect the garden to smell like roses.