When I lived on one of the peaks of the Chehalem foothills in Oregon, there was a glorious wealth of hummingbirds everywhere. I miss them. Zipping and darting, here and there, they remind me in a way of an ethereal love you can’t quite hang onto as much as you’d like – anyway. 🙂
Enjoy this wonderful video!
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Thank you, I hope this brightened your day a bit,
With affection,
~ Penny
Painting by Jeannette Andress copyright © 2014
In my family (if you recall the photo I recently posted) I have two wonderful sisters, each of whom I love and adore. Each are also very talented. Today my sister, Jeannette sent me a picture of her latest painting. She used a photograph taken by her son (an excellent photographer) of his children in a flower garden, as her models.
I’m sure you will agree with me this is one beautiful painting, and I am immensely proud of her. The photo is shown here with great pride and love.
Jeannette, my wonderful and beautiful sister you are exceedingly talented!
All my love to you,
Penny
“Hey look at me, I’m the king of the mountain, or the hay roll. And I can see forever too, well maybe not forever, it’s a little foggy over yonder – but this is great!
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For my haibun I’ve chosen the following quote:
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe
Life is lived in gulps when you’re creative, when you’re beautiful, when you’re smart, when you’re born very poor and a female. Those irreconcilable differences of who and why you even exist, much less the fabric of who you are become inconsolable when alone, so once famous enough you gulp at things in a curious mixture of compelling needs, desires and forbidden fruit.
Filling needs unfillable by your definition of life and understanding. Too little, too late, and the unendurable doubt of what is real and true.
So more and more those gulps of life lived on the edge take over, the extremes of danger, risk, passion. Either that or through oblivion’s eyes watch as night stretches endlessly out towards the unattainable, cleanly defined by who you are not.
To be just who you are, not who you made yourself become – to be recognized.
not who I am filling nights endless void all I am not~
Marilyn Monroe (photo above “street art depiction”) is undoubtedly one of the most famous recognizable hollywood actresses in the world today although her stardom and death happened more than a half a century ago.
She is viewed as a major sex symbol and yet Norma Jeane Mortenson (her real name) poor, lonely and indifferently bandied about foster care homes for most of her youth understood, at a very young age, that her best chance at life was to become something other than what she was. The view from her talented and intelligent eyes being that what she was – wasn’t working very well as far as life’s conditions went.
Her last few years are indicative of the emotional trauma within her. Illness, drug problems, depression. And yet today she is a pop and cultural icon, due entirely to the fact of how well she recreated herself – sadly for the wrong reasons – Acceptance! She died of an overdose of barbiturates in 1962! Her legacy lives on.
Here is Elton Johns tribute to Norma Jeane:
For more information on how to enter this weeks Ligo Haibun Challenge click here!
Thank you for dropping by, I hope you enjoyed, have an excellent weekend!
~ Penny
~ Penny L Howe, 2013
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Lost amidst the meadow’s view
forgotten flower poised so true.
Lingering in the morning air
none to breath thy fragrance fair.
Silked, unfolded petals wide
forgotten flower, you abide.
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Forgotten flower still unseen
and yet you reign, you are a queen.
For unbeknownst to all this day
crowned with sunshine’s golden rays.
Morning dew with sparkling glow
jeweled petals did bestow.
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You’ve become a radiant sight
although unseen, your glory’s bright.
Unfortunate who cannot see
unwitnessed still, for all you be.
Forgotten ’til there does appear
someone of worth who’ll hold your dear.
Forgotten flower never fear
your time for view is coming near!
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“All have beauty under the sun, especially those forgotten ones A forgotten flower should not be, if we chose to – we will see”Penny L Howe, 2013
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Happy Weekend, everyone
~ Penny
I miss my son who lives in Philadelphia, so it was my great happiness to have the florist show up on Sunday (Mother’s Day) with a gorgeously small bouquet of flowers from him. Couldn’t help myself, I took a few shots for you to be as fascinated as I by the intricate beauty of the insides of a flower.
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Just wanted to share, (yes there was a card with loving words inside and the fragrance is also incredible)! Happy Wednesday!
~ Penny
Clouds in the Evening Sky
I consider clouds fascinating, I took this photo a few months ago here in Washington State. But apparently clouds are much more fascinating than I knew! There is a “Cloud Appreciation Society”. Now that is interesting!
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Hope you enjoyed the video, I found it very intriguing!
~ Penny
First Snow – The Coming of the Winter Fairy
There had been, for the last few days, a crisp coldness to the air – sharp and tangy. the smooth pastel grey of the overhanging clouds, so close you can almost touch them.
I think snow is on the way and this means the arrival of the Winter Fairy.
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She makes her entrance with no sound at all while all of us glory in the beginnings of the majestic beauty of quietly falling snow.
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It makes no difference if you’re a child or an adult, there is something so magically beautiful, exciting and peaceful about watching the first snow flakes fall.
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And then get thicker and larger falling in abundance all around, covering the landscape with fresh wintry snow.
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It is a happy feeling.
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So white, so beautiful, so heavenly – The first snow and the coming of the Winter Fairy.
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Thank you for stopping by, hope your week is being a good one for you,
~ Penny
The beauty of a flower
We really do need beauty in our lives. Recently a well know and successful composer was interviewed about how he felt about events taking place around the world today. And how his country (not the U.S.A. although he spent quite a few years here) and the planet and its people might be improved upon.
His answer: We lack beauty today. He was referring first to architecture and then later on music and other things, where so much is commercialized or produced for a monetary value that beauty can become artificial, secondary or not there at all. I thought about this and decided he might have a point.
We do need beauty to thrive:
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The beauty of nature
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The beauty created by the human hand
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The beauty of a sleeping child
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The beauty of a well sung song
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The beauty of a well spoken/written word
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The beauty of a deed
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The beauty of movement
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The beauty you view or create
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Each of us without exception, whatever our perceived shortcomings and real handicaps being dealt with daily have the ability to notice and produce beauty in the moment. This is true. Always.
Take the time to not only smell the rose, but also to view it from a perspective of beauty, your soul will thank you!
Thank’s for your visit, may your upcoming weekend flow with beauty and joy!
~ Penny
The Why About This 