One of the Park Rangers at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, MA, must have gotten tired of painting the same old boring trail markers onto trees and rocks:
You will find more Wordless Wednesday images here
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY – The Accidental Heart
•February 15, 2012 • 3 CommentsI found this piece of bark on one of my walks with my dog in the
It has a perfect heartshape broken out
(I found it like this and did not alter it in any way).
Accidental (he)art!
MONDAY MOOD BOARD -Peacock
•February 13, 2012 • 2 CommentsTime to bring some new color into my closet. Teal and peacock have me fascinated lately. I know these are not airy spring colors, but I am not the pastel kind of girl.
Mediterranean Teal Shrug by WrapturebyInese
Long Gypsie Skirt by subrosa123
Denim Bag by marabaradesign
Geometric Ring by QuercusSilver
For more Mood Boards of European artists, please visit Star of the East’s blog!
You Want Three Bucks For That? Seriously?
•February 9, 2012 • Leave a CommentLet me start out by saying that English is not my first language. The English I learned at school has little to do with the actual spoken language. There are colloquialism, slang, jargon, and dialect. Neither one is being taught at any Grade School I know. So when I first moved to the US I ran into quite a few interesting situations regarding linguistic ambiguity.
Metonymy can be bamboozling and entertaining. After 20 years in this country, my grasp of the English language is tight enough (see what I did there?) that I am not bamboozled too often any more. I do, however, get endless joy out of taking every-day phrases and interpreting them literally.
Which brings us to the bucks.
Every time I hear a commercial on the radio advertising ‘only 10 bucks to join’ or see a sign that reads ‘Sandwich Special: Only 3 Bucks!’ I have to ask myself: ‘Is this what they had in mind?’
If I were able to round up three bucks and drag them into the establishment, would they have to honor them as payment? I would love to see the face of the manager…
Another favorite of mine is ’Books under three bucks’. Why would one put books under wildlife? And sorry, there is no image of that!
I just know what the buck would say to this plan:
NOOOOOOO!!!!!
MONDAY MOOD BOARD – Dream in Salmon
•February 6, 2012 • 6 CommentsI had a dream today of shoes in this color.
No idea what that means (feel free to analyze), but I love this shade of orangey pink:
Fabric Journal by Brotherworks
Felted Beads by StemellinaSupplies
Salmon Silver Ear Studs by Donauluft
Wool Felt Hat and Scarf by LucAndLex
To see the mood of other members of the European Street Team on etsy, please visit Esther and Estella’s blog!
MONDAY MOOD BOARD – Nature Inside
•January 30, 2012 • 2 CommentsI can’t remember the last time I came home from a walk in the woods or on the beach without bringing some enchanting piece of nature with me. There are jars of sea shells and beach glass and sand from at least 6 countries; dried mushrooms; pieces of drift wood in every imaginable size, color, and shape; large pieces of sea-washed marble from Italy; amazing yellow rocks from France; entire tree branches covered with interesting moss or fungi; dried seed pods with intriguing structures; even bird feathers, ranging from Macaw to Seagull to Flamingo to I-don’t-know-what-it-is-but-it’s-beautiful. Had a heated argument with a gentleman last fall because he thought I am completely out of my mind to cut some Wild Sumac – he insisted it is highly poisonous, I insisted it is georgeous and needs to be displayed in my breakfast room.
Spring is near, and this always makes me want to change things around and redecorate. I have found some very interesting projects on Pinterest involving tree branches, drift wood, and sea glass. Will start to day, wish me luck!
And of course there is always inspiration from the European Street Team:
Authentic Baltic Sea Glass by alatsupplies
Drift Wood Pendant by StarofSupplies
United – Fine Art Photography by DailyReflections
Pebble Ear Studs by LAccentNou
For finding inspiration from other members of the European Street Team, please visit Star of the East’s blog!
MONDAY MOOD BOARD – Happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon
•January 23, 2012 • 3 CommentsToday is the beginning of the Chinese New Year of the Water Dragon.
Water has a calming effect on the Dragon’s fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.
The dragon is a symbol of power.
In Chinese astrology the dragon person born under this Chinese Zodiac sign tends to be a “doer” – they do things and achieve power by getting things done.
A dragon can breathe out fire so the person born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon can be a hothead. Watch out if you make them angry!
However, the dragon has a soft underbelly and so in Chinese astrology the dragon person born in this Chinese Zodiac year has a “soft spot” to them. They may get angry at someone who annoys them but they also show great compassion to people in need.
A dragon has a long tongue which is often seen.
So in Chinese astrology the dragon person born in this Chinese Zodiac year has a sharp tongue – they will say things that can be quite sarcastic and biting.
The person born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon can be quite a confronting person but if you can reach their “soft heart” they are worthwhile allies.
Sounds all very familiar, because I was born in the year of the Dragon myself 
Original Ink Watercolor Painting ‘Her Majesty’ by nightsparklies
Tiny Lilith the Dragon by Morrgan
Journal/Diary ‘Dragon’ by Kreativlink
3 Dragons Box by scandalousgilt
Happy Chinese New Year!
VIENNESE ON WEDNESDAY – heit hods an fodn
•January 4, 2012 • Leave a CommentI am Viennese by birth. I love the Viennese dialect and its quirkiness. Usually I speak ‘proper’ German. When I fall into strong Hernalser dialect (Hernals is the 17th district of Vienna where I grew up), my family knows to get out of my way because it means I am very angry – or commenting on the ‘skills’ of other drivers, which is basically the same
My husband is Iranian and we live in the US, so although we speak German at home, our children don’t speak proper Viennese. I tried to teach them, trust me! But somehow their tongues and throats cannot produce certain sounds necessary for the Viennese dialect.
I miss hearing and speaking Viennese here in Boston, so I decided to teach you my favorite ‘language’.
LESSON 1:
Heit hods an fodn (heɪd hods ɑ:n fohdn)
also: Heit hods an zopfn (heɪd hods ɑ:n dsobfn)
High German equivalent: Heute hat es einen Faden – Heute hat es einen Zapfen
(Don’t bother to google translate it, though, it’ll just be weird)
Translation: Heute ist es sehr kalt (it is very cold today)
Seavas und baba!
MONDAY MOOD BOARD: NEW, CLEAN, AND SHINY
•January 2, 2012 • 4 CommentsIt’s that time of the year again: new resolutions, good riddance to bad habits, best of intentions, shiny new slates, new gym memberships, clean house and healthy recipes lined up.
Wishing you all the best, and may your strong mind overcome that naughty little temptress who whispers in your ear ‘you’ve been good long enough, be bad now’
Take the Next Small Step. Inspiration Print by moonandlion
Today is a New Day. Printable Poster by MissusDPaperie
Good Luck Kit in a Matchbox by SatyrikonLab
2012 Wall Calendar Printed by psarokokalo
To see the collages of other members of the European Street Team,
please visit Esther and Estella’s blog
PEACEFUL HAPPINESS TO ALL
•December 28, 2011 • Leave a CommentThe hectic part of the Holidays is over. Cards have been sent (or are almost on their way), presents have been wrapped (and already unwrapped), decorations are in place,
special pastries have been baked, and wonderful meals have been prepared and shared with family and friends.
Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa; Winter Solstice, Jinnah Day, or Family Day; or maybe even Festivus: whatever you celebrate, I hope your wishes come true and the New Year will be filled with peaceful happiness and joy as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes:
“Holidays” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The holiest of all holidays are those
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart;
The secret anniversaries of the heart,
When the full river of feeling overflows;–
The happy days unclouded to their close;
The sudden joys that out of darkness start
As flames from ashes; swift desires that dart
Like swallows singing down each wind that blows!
White as the gleam of a receding sail,
White as a cloud that floats and fades in air,
White as the whitest lily on a stream,
These tender memories are;–a fairy tale
Of some enchanted land we know not where,
But lovely as a landscape in a dream.
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart;
The secret anniversaries of the heart,
When the full river of feeling overflows;–
The happy days unclouded to their close;
The sudden joys that out of darkness start
As flames from ashes; swift desires that dart
Like swallows singing down each wind that blows!
White as the gleam of a receding sail,
White as a cloud that floats and fades in air,
White as the whitest lily on a stream,
These tender memories are;–a fairy tale
Of some enchanted land we know not where,
But lovely as a landscape in a dream.
FROHE WEIHNACHTEN
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GOD JUL
JOYEUX NOËL
HAPPY HANUKKAH
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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