Clarifying a Quote Attributed to Sylvia Plath (Wednesday's Wisdom)

I'm using this episode of Wednesday's Wisdom as an opportunity to clarify the quotation which can be seen in the text based image posted above. Evidently the quote is associated with Sylvia Plath, a poet that I've written about in here on Blogger. If you'd like tp reference my posts about her, please click here and if you'd like to read what The Poetry Foundation has written about her, please click here.

As for the quote-based image, I first saw it on someone's Facebook Page. There was no commentary, only this image. Since I'm often plagued with self doubt, I was drawn to the quotation, but something about it didn't ring true in my perception of Sylvia Plath; so I turned to Goodreads and learned that this is not the full quote, which evidently is this:

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." 

According to Goodreads, the full quotation is from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. She died from suicide on February 11, 1963.

A Gray Catbird is on "the pink carpet!" Tuesday's Truths for Week Eighty-Six

As I stated in this past Sunday's post, I  recently encountered a Great Egret for the first time in my long life. This brought the number of new birds I've seen in this Year of the Bird up to ten. 

The other first time meeting of avian creatures that I've seen during this Year of the Bird, include (in alphabetical order) an American Coot, a Bufflehead Duck, a Great Blue Heron, a Northern Pintail, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, a Red-Tailed Hawk, a Red-Winged Black Bird, a Ruddy Duck, and a couple of Wooden Ducks. 

And, now I've met my eleventh bird, who happens to be a Gray Catbird. My encounter with this bird type actually occurred shortly after I saw my first Great Egret, a little over three weeks ago, when I was in Central Park, This creature can be seen in the image atop this entry, he/she seems to be watching me as I watch him/her.

The Inaugural Event at THERE

This past Friday, May 25th, I attended "the inaugural event at THERE" which took place in NYC. At the event I saw the painting featured in the image atop this entry. The piece is titled Veils #4, and was created by Phyllis Floyd, one of the founders of an association named Zeuxis.

One of the reasons Floyd's art association fascinates me is its name. I've always been interested in the painter, Zeuxis, who flourished during the fifth century BC. Of the many "stories" associated with this artist, I think this is my favorite:

"According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, Zeuxis and his contemporary Parrhasius (of Ephesus and later Athens) staged a contest to determine the greater artist. When Zeuxis unveiled his painting of grapes, they appeared so real that birds flew down to peck at them. But when Parrhasius, whose painting was concealed behind a curtain, asked Zeuxis to pull aside that curtain, the curtain itself turned out to be a painted illusion. Parrhasius won, and Zeuxis said, 'I have deceived the birds, but Parrhasius has deceived Zeuxis.' This story was commonly referred to in 18th- and 19th-century art theory to promote spatial illusion in painting. A similar anecdote says that Zeuxis once drew a boy holding grapes, and when birds, once again, tried to peck them, he was extremely displeased, stating that he must have painted the boy with less skill, since the birds would have feared to approach otherwise."

I've never asked Phyllis Floyd if the name of her art association had anything to do with the fifth century painter, nor did I ask her if her painting, Drawing the Curtain #10, that is included in the exhibition (and can be seen below) was influenced by Zeuxis's (the painter) curtain experience.

Be that as it may, in the exhibition, these two paintings of Floyd's are grouped with two of her other paintings, Drawing the Curtain #3 and Drawing the Curtain # 8, as seen in the next photograph.

Admittedly, my images do not reflect the colors of Floyd's work as I took them with a "pocket" camera, but am including them here to give you a sense of how they look in the exhibition. I highly encourage you to go to the exhibit so that you can see Floyd's works with your own eyes, not through the lenses of any of the images included here. In the meantime, I'd like to share a few of the other works of art that I saw at last Friday's inaugural event.

Memorial Day 2018

Another Memorial Day is upon us. As you may know, it was once celebrated on May 30th, no matter what day of the week that date occurred but The Uniform Holiday Act changed all that.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (Pub.L. 90–363) "is an Act of Congress that amended the federal holiday provisions of the United States Code to establish the observance of certain holidays on Mondays. The Act was signed into law on June 28, 1968, and took effect on January 1, 1971."

I appreciate long weekends just like anyone else, but unfortunately, the solemnity of holidays such as Memorial Day can be lost in what has become "the unofficial start of summer."

Another Sunday in the Park WITHOUT George! (But there was a Great Egret ...)

Last Sunday, which was a gloomy rainy day (just as it is today), I was walking with a friend in Central Park, and we came upon a Great Egret. This creature can be seen in the photographs atop this entry. The first two images feature him/her spending time amongst Mallard ducks.

However, that was not my first time seeing a Great Egret. The first time in my long life for seeing an Egret was a little over three weeks ago (on May 11th) when I was also in the park. That Egret can be seen in the next image, where he/she seems to be watching me as I watch him/her.

In the Words In Our Beak book series (pictured below), Cam the cardinal who narrates the stories has a term for the activity of birds watching people: people-ing.

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

The birds featured in her published stories are mostly ones whom she has met when spending her time in my rooftop garden, not the ones who frequent Central Park.

However, in Volume Two, she does include a story about Canadian Geese and their goslings who enjoy the bodies of water in the park. Moreover, after she finishes volume three (scheduled to be published this fall), Cam may "spread her wings" and tell stories of the birds who frequent NYC's parks.

Saturday's Surprise!

Bonnie McConnell Reading Volume Two

Earlier today, here on Blogger, I published an entry re my Internet angst.

A couple of hours ago, I received a Facebook notification which was a nice surprise and made me realize that one of the reasons I'm grateful to have my Internet back up is to be able to receive good news!

The notification informed me that Susan McConnell, the sister in law of my dearly departed friend, Ellen McConnell Blakeman, had posted photos.

Two of Susan's images can be seen in the image atop this entry. They are of of her mother-in-law, Bonnie McConnell (who is the mother of Ellen). Mrs. McConnell is seemingly enjoying her copy of volume two in my Words In Our Beak book series.

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

Volume Two is dedicated to Ellen and I'm thrilled if it brings joy to Mrs. McConnell, who must miss her wonderful daughter.

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

Hardcover versions of Volume One, Two and Three can be found wherever books are sold.

WORDS IN OUR BEAK BIRD BOOK SERIES

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books. Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

Saturday's Sentiments Glinda the Good Witch Gets It: There is no place like home!

The quotation, "There is no place like home," is mostly associated with Glinda, the Good Witch, from the Wizard of Oz. 

A figurine rendered in her likeness can be seen in the photograph atop this entry (which was taken in 2016, when she posed for a photo-shoot).

Some of my photographs have been added to Fine Art America! (Tuesday's Truths WK 85)

It's been a week since I have been able to post anything on Blogger as I have had no Internet service (due to another Verizon Power outage that still has not been resolved) and have not been able to be in cyberspace, which is why you haven't seen me here on Blogger.

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE JUNGLE of NOOL (Tuesday's Truths for WK 84)

On the 15th of May, in the jungle of Nool,
In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool,
He was splashing . . . enjoying the jungle’s great joys . . .
When Horton the elephant heard a small noise.

So Horton stopped splashing. He looked towards the sound.
“That’s funny,” thought Horton. “There’s no one around.”
Then he heard it again! Just a very faint yelp
As if some tiny person were calling for help.
“I’ll help you,” said Horton. “But who are you? Where?”
He looked and he looked. He could see nothing there
But a small speck of dust blowing past though the air.

Ah, another Tuesday is upon us! And, if you follow this blog you know, that (ever since July 19, 2016) if it's Tuesday, I am publishing (today is the 91st one) a segment (blog entry) in my Tuesday's Truth's series. 

In my very early years on Blogger, on this day of the week, I published a different series which was called "If its Tuesday, it must be tumblr." 

Much of today's post was included in my May 15th 2012 blog post for that series but it bears repeating here as today is not just any Tuesday: Today, is May the 15th, an important day in the jungle of Nool, as evidenced in the text posted above written by Dr. Seuss, an author I have referred to a number of times here on Blogger.

And, if you aren't taking a trip to the jungle of Nool, here's a link to all of my posts on nybg's tumblr (that were written a number of years ago) they're really cool.

Monday's Musings: The H.F. Flowers are in bloom again...

"WIOB'S"  STORIES TAKE PLACE IN MY GARDEN

My H.F. Young Clematis vine (seen in the lefthand corner in the photograph atop this entry), is on her usual schedule, producing numerous, humongous purple flowers, at this very time in May.

Every time her flowers re-appear (re-bloom), I think of Katharine Hepburn's line (in her role as Terry Randall for Stage Door): "The calla lilies are in bloom again..."

The H.F. Young has been doing this ever since she was first planted in my rooftop garden in bygone years (2005 or 2006). I have written about this vine over the course of my years here on Blogger.

Moreover, she is included in both volumes of Cam's Words In Our Beak book series (pictured below).

VOLUME ONE AND TWO

My H.F. is introduced in the first volume, however, in the second volume, many details are given related to some hardships she has endured as a result of growing in an urban garden — yet she continues to thrive!

H.F. CLEMATIS HAS A STORY IN VOLUME 2

H.F. CLEMATIS HAS A STORY IN VOLUME 2

What an inspiration this vine has been to me in my enduring my difficulties (although I've never told her that, nor is it mentioned in the book series).

ADDENDUM FALL 2018: 

Hardcover versions of Volume One, Two and Three can be found wherever books are sold.

MY BOOK SERIES

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books. Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2021:

When the third volume of the hard-cover version of Words In Our Beak was released, I withdrew from promoting my former versions of Words In Our Beak. 

The very first one is an iBook and went into Apple's book store in 2015.

This was followed by an ePub version...

... that is available on Amazon and was also published in 2015.

Subsequently, Words In Our Beak's digital versions were published as a soft-cover book (with slight variations) by MagCloud in 2017.

Its press release can be read by clicking here.  

Now with the release of BIRD TALES....

... I've been advised to make mention of my early versions of volume one of Words In Our Beak, they do vary ever so slightly in content from the hard-cover version of volume one.

As of this addendum, I do not intend to create digital or soft-cover versions of Words In Our Beak Volume Two or Words In Our Beak Volume Three.

Mothers Day 2018

I'm thinking of both my parents on this Mother's Day. Thoughts are with my mother for obvious reasons, who can be seen in the photo atop this entry, where she is pregnant with me; and they are also with my dearly departed father, who would be celebrating his birthday, had he not died from septic shock in 1995.

My grandmother is on my mind too, for without grandmothers, there would be no mothers, eh?

In any event, she can be seen with yours truly — giving a high five — in the next picture (which is a photo I've featured in at least one prior entry (in bygone years) here on Blogger).

One of the last things she said to me before she died was that she thought I should get back to  my writing, which I have through this blog, through my work on tumblr and hometalk, and my book series, Words In Our Beak  (pictured below).

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

In spite of this, due to many health related issues, I may not be able to keep my endeavors with my writing, but I hope my circumstances don't force me to do that.

Meanwhile, I wish all of my readers who are mothers, a blessed Mother's Day.

ADDENDUM FALL 2018: 

Hardcover versions of Volume One, Two and Three can be found wherever books are sold.

MY BOOK SERIES

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books. Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2021:

When the third volume of the hard-cover version of Words In Our Beak was released, I withdrew from promoting my former versions of Words In Our Beak. 

The very first one is an iBook and went into Apple's book store in 2015.

This was followed by an ePub version...

... that is available on Amazon and was also published in 2015.

Subsequently, Words In Our Beak's digital versions were published as a soft-cover book (with slight variations) by MagCloud in 2017.

Its press release can be read by clicking here.  

Now with the release of BIRD TALES....

... I've been advised to make mention of my early versions of volume one of Words In Our Beak, they do vary ever so slightly in content from the hard-cover version of volume one.

As of this addendum, I do not intend to create digital or soft-cover versions of Words In Our Beak Volume Two or Words In Our Beak Volume Three.

International Migratory Bird Day 2018 (etc)

It's the second Saturday in the month of May, which means it is International Migratory Bird Day.

The text-image atop this entry (which I created from a memo that I received within an email) from Bird Life International. In it they stated:

"Since its passing 100 years ago, the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act has saved the lives of billions of birds and fined major corporations, such as BP, for their irresponsible actions. Last December, this law was reinterpreted by the Trump Administration, meaning that companies, both big and small, can no longer be held accountable should their actions result in incidental bird deaths.

This leaves millions of birds vulnerable to human threats, such as oil spills, pesticides, and improperly-sited wind turbines. And this is just in the USA. Every country has its own problems affecting birds along the flyway, and each presents unique challenges for the people working to protect wildlife there. But, there is little point working to save a bird in one country, if it will meet its end in the next.

We must work together to protect migratory birds in every country, and the BirdLife partnership is uniquely placed to do just that."

Bird Life International goes on to state many ways that people can work together to protect birds.

I strongly feel that if the general population were introduced to members of the avian community, in a personal way, they might get to know these creatures in a manner which would ultimately cause them to be more proactive in efforts to protect fauna.

One way people can get to know birds on a personal level and from a unique perspective is from the book series, Words In Our Beak (pictured below):

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

The stories in these books are told from the perspective of a female cardinal (Cam) who knows a thing or two about the challenges of life.

Wednesday's Wisdom: Listen to the Birds!

I live near to Central Park, which can be seen in the photograph (from a web-page) atop this entry. 

During the dozens upon dozens of years in my travels to work places or medical facilities, I have gone to and from my destinations by walking on several different paths within the park. Yet, it is only over the past couple of years, that I’ve heard any of the numerous birds who visit there, in the act of singing.

Remembering Peggy 5/8/1924-12/31/2014

I don't want to let this day pass without paying homage to the dearly departed Peggy Wood (pictured above during her 89th birthday) who died on 12-31-2014.

NF* is "N.F." (NO FUN): Tuesday's Truths WK 83 *Neurofibromatosis

The cartoon posted atop this blog entry was included within one of my Facebook postings this past Friday. In that entry I stated: "This morning, I had an appointment with the eye surgeon who removed a cataract from my right eye in 2014, which was a very dangerous procedure since I can only see out of that eye. In my left eye, I have what is known as "counting fingers only" vision and even that is very blurry. The surgeon removed the cataract from that eye in 2015, but a secondary cataract has developed, which she will remove next month, on June 8th. And, UNFORTUNATELY, I now have a lump growing on the eyelid of the left eye, which needs to be attended to ASAP. Through a referral from my eye surgeon, I've set up an appointment for next week to see what can be done about this. Very disconcerting news for me, especially given my precarious living situation! Obviously, I need to buy more than a VOWEL!"

The lump which I am referring to in that FB entry, may or may not be due to my medical condition of Neurofibromatosis, a condition which I discussed in yesterday's posting here on Blogger.

At my appointment with an eye specialist that is scheduled for the later this morning I will find out if the growth is related to NF.

Monday's Musings for May 7th 2018

The PEANUTS comic strip that I've posted atop this entry was published 39 years ago today, and upon my seeing it, I was reminded of my initial experience of hearing birds sing in my rooftop garden.

"Ms. Mighty Mouse" is on 79th and Broadway! (Sunday's Sequel)

Last Sunday, here on Blogger, I mentioned that the Broadway Mall Association’s newest art exhibition, In Dreams Awake, (a series of sculptures created by the artist Kathy Ruttenberg) is on view outside a few subway stops on the UWS in NYC!

The image atop this blog entry is one I took of the sculpture, Ms. Mighty Mouse, that is located in close proximity to the entrance of the West 79th Street Station. It is 120″ high x 48″ wide x 32″ in diameter. Some details of of Ms. Mighty Mouse are amazing, as evidenced by her shoes (seen in the image below).

Meanwhile, here's a listing of the other sculptures (and their location) that are in the exhibition.

Soon it will be Mother's Day 2018!

THIS SCENCE IS FEATURED IN VOLUME ONE

THIS SCENCE IS FEATURED IN VOLUME ONE

In a little over a week's time (as in Sunday the thirteenth of May), it will be Mother's Day! And if anyone knows the importance of a mother, it's is Frannie and Vincenzo, who are two to of Cam's (my visiting cardinal) children!

May 4th is STILL For The Birds!

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

Today, May 4th, is Bird Day. It seems more special today in 2018's Year of the Bird, which, as you may know, was designated as such due to this year being the one hundredth anniversary of the passing of The Migratory Bird Act.

In any event, according to Holiday Insights, "Bird Day is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize birds. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, Bird Day was first observed  on May 4, 1894. It was started by Charles Almanzo Babcock, superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania. By 1910, Bird Day was widely celebrated, often in conjunction with Arbor Day. Bird Day and Arbor Day events are focused upon conservation training and awareness."

If this breaking news sounds familiar to you dear reader, it may be because I discussed Bird Day in my May 4th posting for the year 2016, which was quite extensive, as it included many bird varieties.

You may reference it by clicking here. Since the publication of my Bird  Day post, I have published two hardcover versions within the Words In Our Beak book series and they can be seen in the image atop this entry.*

Today in honor of Bird Day, I am featuring images of all the bird types whom (in alphabetical order) I have met in Central Park or at the Hudson River, as well as in my courtyard, since that the last year's Bird Day.

HEY! HEY! HEY! It's Garden Meditation Day!

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

Earlier today I posted my tandem tale for the week and since that time it has been brought to my attention that today is Garden Meditation Day.

According to Holiday Insights (HI), "Per C.L, Fornari, the creator of this special day: Garden meditation day honors the fact that when we're working in the landscape we have the opportunity, if we choose to take it, to let the rest of the world fall away." 

Therefore. in honor of Garden Meditation Day, I've posted an image atop this entry which features a partial view of how my rooftop garden looks on this "holiday."

Thursday's Tandem Tales For 2018: Ride Two

This past Tuesday in honor of the beginning of the month of May for 2018, I posted an entry here on Blogger, reminding readers that this month is Gifts from the Garden Month. 

However the month of May is associated with many holidays and observations, not just gardening, and one of the things recognized in May is that it is National Bike Month. 

On evening of the first of May, but not necessarily in honor of this fact, my bike captain and I took our second tandem ride for 2018. The temperatures were much warmer than when we took our first ride for the year of 2018 (which I wrote about in a prior entry here on Blogger).

In any event, this past Tuesday, we did one of our "standard" rides which is cycling up the westside greenway (it  runs parallel to the Hudson River) to the lighthouse AKA The Little Red Lighthouse).

A partial view of it (with a partial view of The George Washington Bridge) can be seen in the photo atop this entry. I have published many entries here on Blogger that feature a more complete view of these structures and if you'd like to see these particular posts, please click here as well as here.

Usually when we cycle to The Little Red Lighthouse, we have a picnic on the grounds and enjoy the sunset. However, it was rather crowded with boisterous people and there wasn't an available picnic table.

Aside from the loud conditions that were occurring at our usual picnic spot, ZW (my captain) made the smart executive decision to have our picnic in an area known as Hudson River Park.

Warning to Linus (Wednesday's Wisdom)

The Peanuts garden series strip (created by Charles M. Schulz ) that's featured atop today's blog entry was initially published on February 22, 1982.

I'm including it in this second day of May posting in honor of the fact that this month is considered to be Gifts from the Garden month as I discussed in yesterday's entry here on Blogger.

In any event, regarding the aforementioned comic strip:

According to the FB Page for the Charles M. Schulz Museum, it is "one of Jean Schulz’s favorite series of strips about gardening. In the Museum’s My Favorite Peanuts exhibition, Jean explains that in the early 1980s after she and Charles Schulz moved into a new home, the garden was of great interest to her, and Schulz often lent a hand. 'He always responded positively to my interests and was willing to help with my projects. He was ahead of his time emphasizing the simple tasks of gardening and rock wall construction, and for a couple of years he participated enthusiastically.'"

It's nice to hear that Schulz was supportive of his wife's endeavors, but if gardening isn't for you, dear  reader, beware of a gardener who hands you a spade when you are in their garden.

It's May! It's May! (Tuesday's Truths Week 82)

OTHER TULIPS ARE  FEATURED IN VOLUME 1

OTHER TULIPS ARE  FEATURED IN VOLUME 1

Welcome to the eighty-second week of my Tuesday's Truths series, which this week is coinciding with the beginning of the month of May, and as has been the case in bygone years, a song (It's May! It's May!) from Camelot is on my mind.