Mother's Day 2021

My mother, when she was pregnant with me, can be seen in the color snapshot featured atop this post. She can also be seen (pregnant with me) in the picture directly below.

My mother looks radiant and dad seems happy too, but even after having two more daughters, their marriage fell apart when I was in grade school. He moved out of the house and she was inconsolable.

Perhaps because I'm the eldest child, she turned to me with her heavy heart and everything that was on her mind. For much of the time I felt like I was her mother on many levels.

My H.F. Clematis Vines are in bloom again...

This Sunday is Mother's Day and like any new mother joyful over moments of her new child's life (such as the first time she sees a smile or hears her child's first utterance), so am I with my H.F. Young Clematis, that I have in my garden. 

I've had them in my garden since the early 2000's and each spring when they are born again after a winter's long nap, my spirits are lifted. 

It's been quite a number of years now that they have come back in the spring, and a few days ago they made their first appearnce for this year of 2021.

Some pictures featuring details of this year's buds and flowers are atop this entry. 

As you can tell, their blooms and buds tend to be nearly as large as the light bulbs on the string lights which hang over my garden.

I've mentioned them prior posts here on Blogger, they are another great find from the greenmarket at Union Square.

Bird Day 2021 (Tuesday's Truths WK 214)

Yesterday shortly after Juan V (JV) left from working with me in my garden, I had a visitor who happened to be a male Northern cardinal.

This incident was most welcome after having made my place more beautiful with yesterday's plantings. In any event the handsome creature is featured in the sequence of images atop this entry which serve as a play-by play to his discovering peanuts I had placed in a small petri-dish-style bird feeder, that hangs in close proximity to my lush pair of kiwi vines.

One of these vines is the narrator of my garden-themed movie, The Kiwi Speaks! Fifteen Minutes of Fame...almost, which can be viewed on my You Tube channel and/or my Vimeo channel. 

In this mini movie, the vine talks about what it is like to live within my rooftop garden which is located on the Upper Westside of Manhattan.

A few years after this kiwi vine experienced nearly fifteen minutes of fame by talking about my place, a wildbird, known as a female cardinal named Cam, also expirenced fame by narrating a three volume book series about my place.

Sessions 41 #ClapBecauseWeCare

A #CLAPBECAUSEWECARE PARTICIPANT

GIUSEPPE AND TERESA
(He has taken a video of a session from his window.)

A #CLAPBECAUSEWECAREPARTICIPANT

This evening was the 41st  session of #ClapBecauseWeCare and a few photo-ops from it are featured atop this entry. During my participation, in addition to my thinking of all of the healthcare professionals, first responders and essential workers, my thoughts were especially focused on my brother-in-law (JM) who is due to get the results of his COVID-19 test tomorrow.

It is the same day I will be making my first "real" trip out of my apartment to follow-up with my orthopedist re the injury I sustained this past January when I broke my Greater tuberosity.

Many of  the healthcare professionals, first responders and essential workers, who are keeping us safe during this pandemic, surely have test results to be concerned about and/or are still recovering from injuries they sustained in the past, yet they persevere and fulfill their obligations, which why it is so important to show appreciation in whatever way that can be done, and as I've been saying one small way to do this is to show up for these sessions.

Mother's Day 2020

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOK SERIES

Mother's Day is for the birds, as evidenced by these pigeons in my garden featured in the image directly atop this entry.

Monday's Musings: Session 34 (5/3/2020)

Yesterday afternoon the temperatures were higher than they have been for quite some time causing people to want to get outside but restrictions to do so (because of the coronavirus pandemic) are still in place and people are still encouraged to stay home and shelter in place as much as possible.

I have been following those guidelines since the evening of 3/21/2020 and have only gone out about four times for a two-four block distance.

The lockdown is easier for me to follow because I have a garden, but, truly up until yesterday I have not been able to sit in it very long as it has been either raining or too cold.

BUT yesterday, as I've said, the temperatures were warm.

Therefore I sat in my garden (which is the setting for my book series Words In Our Beak*) ) and noticed that a man across the courtyard had found a work around to shelter in place yet enjoy the sunshine: He stuck his feet out his window (as seen in the image atop this entry).

Over the past several evenings I've seen him participate in #ClapBecauseWeCare sessions so I amused myself with the thought that maybe he would clap with his feet during our evening session but alas when evening came, he did not clap with his feet, or even participate, but others did.

Saturday Night's alright for a.... #ClapBecauseWeCare Session

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

Elton John has said (in a hit song), "Saturday Night's alright for fighting..."

BUT it's also alright for participating in a #ClapBecauseWeCare Session as you might surmise upon seeing photographs that I took of the tribute just a little over three hours ago. The one atop this entry is of Julie Tersigni.

Saturday's Scenario: Reflecting on the 5/1/2020 #ClapBecauseWeCare Session

RED RIDING HOOD TULIP

Just as the petals of a Red Riding Hood tulip in my garden are trying to hang on to their stem as evidenced in this photo directly above) despite being knocked around by all the rain and wind we have had in NYC; our first responders, health care professionals and essential workers are hanging in there for us during this pandemic, in spite of the life-threatening challenges they face in doing so.

Meanwhile, people (some can be seen in the next set of pictures) continue to show their appreciation by participating in #ClapBecauseWeCare sessions and last night (May 1st 2020) was no exception.

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

A #ClapBecauseWeCare Participant

JULIE, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK PHOTO-OP S OF MY GARDEN
SEE THEM BY CLICKING HERE AND HERE 

ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO SAY BRAVO, FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS, BRAVO!
----------------
On another note, when it comes to tulips a number of their varieties are featured in volume one of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

To reiterate what I've been saying here on Blogger, "During this time where many people are confined to their homes due to lockdown restrictions (re the coronavirus pandemic), these books (whose stories are set in my rooftop garden) are great to have around as a reminder that there is still so much beauty in our fallen world."

Moreover, the books make a great gift for Mother's Day which is coming up soon (a week from tomorrow on May 10th 2020)!

The H.F. is in bloom again!

H.F. CLEMATIS IS FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

H.F. CLEMATIS IS FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and like any new mother joyful over moments of her new child's life (the first time she sees a smile or hears her child's first utterance), so am I with my H.F. Young Clematis that I have in my urban garden. She is another great find from the greenmarket at Union Square.

From the moment a bud first appeared on the vine when she was in my place, and traveled boldly up the pole, to its magnificent unfolding, and I was in love! This H.F. Clematis has been with me since the early 2000's but the pictures atop this entry were taken yesterday. They feature views of her doing her thing — climbing up the utility pole in the Northwest corner of my rooftop garden.

As you can see, she is very photogenic, so I am most grateful that she has allowed me to take pictures of her and share her stories, which are both included in volume two of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

THE WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

The stories are told from the perspective of a female cardinal who is featured on the covers of all of the books. They makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves birds, flowers as well as gardening.

Additionally, Words In Our Beak is a great gift to give to anyone who is a mom on Mother's Day, which is tomorrow, May 12th.

A Heuchera's Flower is for the birds!

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

The hot pink bell-like flowers that can be seen if you look at the pictures atop this entry closely; are growing on one of the Heuchera Plants which I have in my rooftop garden.

In the photo atop his entry, they can be found at the lower left hand portion of the image, and in the the other photograph, they can be seen midway to the right.

Moreover, a close-up solo-op of them is posted directly below.

HEUCHERA PLANTS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1

A web-page for The Spruce explains,"Coral bells (Heuchera) is a traditional foliage plant that has had many newer varieties. Heuchera plants form round mounds with a woody rootstock or crown at their base. Small bell-shaped flowers on tall stems attract hummingbirds and make nice cut flowers. Their leaves are rounded, lobed, hairy, and evergreen—even when covered in snow. Besides traditional green-leaved coral bells, new varieties of heuchera have leaves in shades of purple, rose, lime green, gold, and variegations in between. Heuchera are native North American plants that are at home in woodlands, rock gardens, containers, borders, and when used as ground covers."

The aforementioned resource also gives some basics re this amazing plant:

TGIF (Thank God it's Flowers)

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

"What a difference a day makes," are lines from the song popularized by Dinah Washington.

And that wisdom is certainly known to anyone who has a garden! Just a little over a week ago, I posted a photo here on Blogger, which features a northern view of my garden (from the vantage point of my doorway) and many tulips known as the Day Dream variety (primarily orange in color) could be seen. A copy of that photo is featured atop this entry. 

Within the aforementioned post, I also include a view of my garden from the vantage point of my facing the doorway and a copy of it showing how the garden looked at that time can be seen directly below.

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

In any event, in the days following that posting, it rained (heavily) almost non-stop and those tulips lost their petals. BUT passing days make a difference and another tulip variety known as Elegant Lady (pale pink) are now blooming; which is evidenced in the next two pictures (taken yesterday).

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

"WORDS IN OUR BEAK"  IS SET IN MY GARDEN!

As I've said before, an array of tulip types are featured in volume one of my book series, Words In Our Beak, where the stories are set in my rooftop garden and told from the perspective of Cam, a female cardinal, whose picture is featured on the cover of all of the books.

On Mother's Day consider giving the books to someone whose a mom and she'll have tulips and many other flowers throughout the year via the photo-ops in this series.

THE WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

Here's the BUZZ!

OTHER BEES ARE FEATURED IN VOLUME 1

OTHER BEES ARE FEATURED IN VOLUME 1

So honored to be visited by a honeybee AKA Apis mellifera, seen in the images directly above, which were taken in my garden. I featured bees in volume one of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

The books make a great gift to give to anyone who is a mom on Mother's Day which will be here in ten days!

THE WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

Tra La! It's Here! It's May! It's May!

I'm welcoming May 2019 with a song from Camelot, which I did back in 2011 with an entry here on Blogger, where I included photographs of my rooftop garden. As you might suspect, dear reader, the garden has changed so much over these eight years.

April's Last Day Tuesday's Truths WK 124

CLICK FOR IMAGE CREDIT AND POEM INFO

It's the last day of April, the month T.S. Eliot deemed (in The Wasteland) as "the cruelest" and the month Mary Oliver described (in her poem Blossom which is posted atop this entry) as one where "...the ponds open like black blossoms..."

As for me, I've often referred to April as the month where April Showers take away May flowers as they have been doing this month; evidenced in the following pictures(respectively) of the Spring Green, Red Riding Hood and Day Dream tulip varieties).

OTHER TULIPS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1

OTHER TULIPS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1

OTHER TULIPS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1

Many tulip types (other than the ones featured in this entry) are featured in volume one of my book series, Words In Our Beak, where the stories are set in my rooftop garden and told from the perspective of Cam; a female cardinal.

Today's the Octave of Easter for 2019 (Coinciding with a photographer holiday)

Today is the Octave of Easter for 2019. This year it coincides with Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPP Day) which is an unofficial holiday that has always been observed the last Sunday in April. A holiday-themed web-page explains that WPP Day aims "to encourage people to pick up pinhole photography as a hobby and profession, and to share their techniques and pictures with the pinhole photography community."

I must confess that while I'm very familiar with the celebrations surrounding the Octave of Easter, I had not heard of WPP Day. It is somewhat odd that I had no idea about this event. The main reason that any lack of knowedge re this occasion is odd is because for a few years I worked with various pin-hole cameras — and created a number of black and white photographs from them — which I developed and printed myself.

My entire Black and White Collection has been included in gallery exhibitions in Manhattan. One of those images is titled, Thanksgiving In Riverdale (a copy of it can be seen in the image below).

INCLUDED IN THE B&W GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

This photograph won an award (placement in a book, Photo-Glaz) in a competition juried by the late photographer, Roy De Carava.

Other ones, Cocktails and Engaging Conversation as well as Portrait of Contemplation (copies seen in the next set of images)...

INCLUDED IN THE B&W GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

INCLUDED IN THE B&W GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

...are featured in a literary magazine known as, Returning Woman. Moreover, my photograph, Sophia, (which can be seen in the next picture) and my process used in creating it was discussed (at length) in an interview given by Karen Lewis, on a WBAI radio program called The Al Lewis Show.

INCLUDED IN THE B&W GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

It be heard via my web-site where you will also find more of my black and white images, pin-hole and non pinhole.

The site is called patriciayoungquist.com and was created by Chris Deatherage. He also formatted and edited my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

Moreover, my three volume book series Words In Our Beak includes hundreds of images of flora and fauna.

MY BOOK SERIES

The goal of these books is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in a rooftop urban garden (mine) in New York City, my story is told in the voice of Cam, a female cardinal, who visits it. These books are directed to children and adults who are curious about birds (as well as gardening) want to learn about these topics from a unique perspective.

But getting back to a topic related to WWPD, in addition to my creating black and white photos with pin-hole cameras; I also have created ones which are kaleidoscopic in nature...

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.