Beloved Antiques

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Good Morning from my Grandmother’s 1920’s Spinet Writing Desk. I inherited it, but unfortunately, I didn’t inherit the story behind it. Why? Sadly, I didn’t ask. My grandmother was born in January 1900 and married in the early 1920’s, so I can only surmise it was given to my grandparents as a wedding present. She enjoyed it all ninety-nine and one-half years until her passing.

It was only recently, after having moved it, I was able to get the writing surface to slide out. A drawer knob or two are missing but, she is solid as a rock, with her shapely legs. Not bad for an ole girl who is 100 years of age. I meant to clean her up before taking this photo, but then I forgot. Oh well, her imperfections give her character and in my opinion, a rich patina adds to her value and it is better than being all polished up.

Every antique and painting has a provenance or story behind it. So next time you are wandering an art gallery or museum and the artist happens to be in attendance, don’t forget to ask about the painting, sculpture, mixed-media piece that you find enchanting, enthralling, exhilarating, captivating or controversial. Backstories are what allows us see fragments of an artist’s soul. Every item that sits on my antique writing desk has a short story, too, including the “Mona” lavender clivia which I foraged from an old abandoned lot yesterday.

Le Printemps

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What I need most of all is color, always, always. ~ Claude Monet

My first spring outing to Ladew Gardens in Monkton, Maryland came about about a two weeks ago. The drive through Fox and Hound Hunt Country is always beautiful, any time of year.

 

It was a glorious day! Even the koi in the pond down in the Iris garden were celebrating. They were leaping out of the water – either in pursuit of newly hatched bugs or a mate!

I’ve shared just a few photos and to think the riot has just begun! You have to go see it for yourself. In my book, frequent visits to what has been said as a top topiary garden in the world is mandatory if you want to really appreciate an unfolding of color all summer long.

A Spring Sunday

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Yesterday, on the Sabbath, I rested my eyes on the glories of springtime at Maison Nord Garden. The private gardens were open to the public to benefit the Harford Community Action Agency.

Rhona Frank and her daughter Chrissy own the 7 acre property. Rhona’s creativity along with her her collaborator, Kelcey Degnan and their other botanical helpers is evident everywhere. Chrissy’s claim to fame is “chief duck-keeper” and event assistant. Several outbuildings were colorfully painted to perfectly accentuate certain areas. As I spoke with the elder of the two ladies, it became evident great thought is put into the design and the species of flowers she wishes to highlight at various times of the year. I was charmed by the succulent display which was planted and overtaking the roof of the children’s playhouse. The red flowering quince trees and the tulip display were beautiful as well as the woodland flowers which have poked up from under the earth – lenten rose, bleeding heart, primrose, ajuga, Virginia bluebells, just to name a few.

As I strolled the paths and the gardens, I reflected upon how God’s magnificent powers along with seed, water, soil and light, yields nourishment for both body in the way of food, and for soul, particularly after the barrenness of color all winter.

 

 

 

When the property was purchased, it was a farm. Now viola! Seventeen years later, many labors of love have been put into transforming it into floral gardens.  The owner explained other garden highlights which will appear throughout the gardening season. 

I’d like to thank this mother and daughter team, who were both delightful, for my experience there today. I jumped in on  a portion of the garden tour which provided me with the names of a few plants I was unfamiliar with. 

What a wonderful way to support a vital community organization, by sharing the beauty of the fruits of their labors. Look forward to returning!

Honoring Soldiers and their Art

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Harford County, Maryland has much in the way of talent, including creatives! Pamela Lofgren Wilde, wife of one who has proudly served this country, is using her portrait painting skill to bring to fruition an art exhibit in this area and beyond this fall. She has painted the faces of military women and men who are also artists. What a beautiful way to honor those who have given so much to protect and defend our country.

Here is a link to a preview video https://bit.ly/4cWEMgi . More details will come when the date of the exhibition is put into place.

Pamela Lofgren Wilde is an artist who has relentlessly used and given her skills in many ways to the artistic community in this county. A real warrior she is who has strengthened this creative community by her presence in it.

An Artist’s Light

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Artist and Quaker-raised James Turrell once said  “It was important that people come to value light as we value gold, silver, paintings, objects.” 

Happy Solar Eclipse Day! I guess today is a good day to put our attention on all things celestial ~

“Hallelujah,’ I said to myself the day after Easter, “I can see the light from both sides now.” What prompted this thought, was a move I made on Easter Day from one place to another. Where I was living, faced in one direction. All light came from west-facing windows only. When I awoke on April 1st in my new abode, I realized how my exposure to the sun had changed. The day starts with the bright light coming in the Eastside windows and then moves around to the other side throughout the day. I can now see both sunrise and sunset.

And very fortunate for me, as an early riser and one who writes first thing in the morning, there is a beautiful little window seat on the East side where the light streams in brilliantly. We will see what new thoughts and perceptions come from my new early morning writing space.

Read more on American artist, James Turrell, who “is known for his work within the Light and Space movement.”

The Spring Outing

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Today, I’d like to share a piece of my writing, which has never been published, titled The Spring Outing! May you feel refreshed, renewed and encouraged by every new dawn during the Eastertide Season.

The Spring Outing

©Sue Batton Leonard 2004

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

Winter’s chill has passed

I shall no longer shiver

Today, I am off to the river.

I’ll scamper

along with my hamper.

Go to the weeping willow

where there will be a soft pillow.

A mound of moss,

for my clean linen cloth.

 

Before me I’ve strewn,

A canteen of steeped tea

a silver fork, knife and spoon.

A spring onion tart

with ‘shrooms and cheese,

and a tasty salad of caprese.

A square of dark chocolate

is in the pocket.

I’ll save one cup

for after I’ve supped,

while watching spring erupt.

 

With the yellow forsythia branches

I’ll weave in tender pussy willows

dotted with long stemmed violets.

A crown to place on my head

before I lay on my makeshift bed.

 

Amidst snowdrops, 

little bunny hops,

and silly daffodillies,

I’ll  nap and dream

of summer’s August.

When aside the garden

I’ll sit in the long grass

Among the wildflowers mass

drinking chilled sassafras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pondering Aesthetics

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Not too many years ago, I was riding a bus in a resort town in the U.S. where visitors from around the world arrive daily. I couldn’t help but hear the conversation because the two individuals engaged in discussion sat across the aisle from one another, and I happened to be sitting behind one of them.

“First time here?” Asked the local.

“No. I have been here many times over a couple of decades, but it’s been a few years. Had some circumstances that prevented me from coming. I can’t get over how things have changed in this country.”

“What do you mean?” said the local, trying to understand what seemed to have changed.

“Oh, it’s not just here, it is everywhere in America. Years ago, I could appreciate the American aesthetic – everything was high quality.”

“And now?” asked the local, probing.

“I don’t know … seems like America has lost a lot of that. Nothing or no one seems to have the same quality, if you know what I mean.”

The bus came to a rolling stop, and so did the conversation. The local extended his hand to the tourist getting off, “Don’t give up on us. Please keep coming. We need the tourism.”

Today, my pondering led me to this definition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art about the aesthetic movement of long ago in America. “The period witnessed the flourishing of an artistic culture and lifestyle movement that also encompassed painting, sculpture, and works on paper; the proliferation of art publications, clubs, and societies; an intense interest in collecting and decoration; and the founding of the nation’s major art museums.“

 

 

 

Ode to Irish Writers

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An authentic Gaelic writer, also known as a seanchaí, I am not, but what fun it is to play with words while thinking about the characters found in Irish pubs on this day celebrating Saint Patty. Many are doing what seems to come natural to them – oral storytelling.

Hundreds of years ago the Irish placed great value on things of the spirit, mind and imagination because material goods were hard to come by. They put faith in their gift of gab to deliver a good tale in the local public houses, bars and pubs.

On this day when everyone seems to find a little Irish in them, Happy Wearing of the Green!

*****

An Ode to Irish Writers

Tierney O’Leary 

Felt awfully dreary.

Lack-luster and paled

from too much ale.

The Irish fog had lasted too long

it was time to find a new song.

So, he went to the chapel

to kinda grapple.

A decision was made

which he obeyed.

Life became lived much safer

on grape juice and wafer.

He wrote with great fervor

it became a life preserver.

He was no longer sad 

instead, an upstanding lad.

Oh, the power of art

when set on one’s heart.~~

©Sue Batton Leonard

Happy St. Patty’s Day to all

May you never stumble and fall!

“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.” ― Pádraig Pearse, Architect of the Easter Rising in Ireland

 

Nostalgic Images

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Ahhh…the golden age of train travel. It was an era when travel etiquette was expected. Some of the first few paintings I encountered yesterday when I walked into Monkton Mill Station/Gallery exhibit depicted the romantic side of train travel, rather than the trade and commerce aspect of what railroad transportation brought to our country.

If nostalgic feelings come to you, like me, with seeing the rust and gears of an old steam engine, a view looking out a train window hung with a curtain of lace, the graphics on train cars or the sight of a train crossing sign, then there were romantic images presented by all the participants. You can take in all of this and more from the works of the participating artists – Don James,  Heather Shreve, Henry Coe, Don James, Douglas Lake, Dora Patin, Raymond Burns and Janet Little Jeffers.

The exhibit included oil paintings, photographs and other archival artifacts such as the formal uniform of a conductor and old tickets sold by the cashier in the booth. The entire exhibit relates to the train industry. There was even a beautifully constructed model of a train car which enhanced the overall experience of the show. Indeed, it was a journey through a time which was central to western expansion, when family names like the Vanderbilts, Edward Harriman, Andrew Carnegie and other industrial pioneers and railroad tycoons were tossed around like baggage being moved from train to train.

Stop in and see the show, which will be at Manor Mill Station/Gallery until April 21, 2024. And there will be a train day at Manor Mill Gallery on March 30, 2024. Get your kids or grandkids aboard by registering!