Today’s Birthdays…’appy Birthday Harry! (and JK Rowling too!)

I do not know which grandchild first created this very special drawing-or for that matter, when. I only recently discovered it when looking something up in the ‘Sorcerer’s Stone' book. A fellow Potter fan had recently pointed out that Sirius Black is mentioned in the very beginning of the first book. When Dumbledore asks Hagrid where he got the motorcycle, Hagrid says that…Black lent it to him. (Yup, you gotta go look it up now too right?) When I got out my copy, there was this drawing stuffed inside the cover. Whoosh, it was just like a trip in Dumbledore’s pensieve; suddenly I was back to when I first fell under JK Rowling’s spell. I was so very very skeptical. Nothing could honestly live up to all the hype now could it? What did matter however is that my grandchild was reading this book, and had been enchanted into a level of drawing not previously within the usual capabilities. It really was magic!
Now I am as enchanted as I was then. Having seen the movie, it became imperative to re-read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Why else have I not posted my thoughts on SpongeBob Squarepants as cultural icon, or how iridescence has become as adventure in quantum physics? Obviously I am under a spell of some kind. I do hide it well however. I did keep my appointment in town, I did get laundry done. I did feed the cat. In addition, and in honor of both Harry Potter and JK Rowling, I did cast a spell of my own (BIG thanks to Roy Tanck) on some moonflowers. ~~wingardium moonflowerosa~~The result was the moonflower nebula at right. So, in closing, thanks and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to JK Rowling and Harry today. And thanks to Roy Tanck for the 'spell'.

Weddings, Magic and Iridescence

I am still pondering cows jumping over the moon. I am still re-reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Oddly what connects these seemingly unrelated topics is a property called iridescence. I am assuming that if one possesses a magic wand, and has the power to use it, that it would leave a trail of irridescent sparks in its wake. It also occurs to me that sometimes the moon appears to be irridescent. Perhaps I am mistaken, and I am doing my moon gazing with rose colored glasses. It's hard to compare; one cannot, after all, gaze at the sun to search for that elusive property. It is hard to even define. If I was going to be really poetic, I'd say that iridescence is joy captured in light. If it was sound, I'd say it was light hearted laughter. I actually realize I like just thinking about it -or perhaps just like thinking about it. I've been thinking about weddings these past few days too. Pictured here is my nephew Joe and his bride Trista. I like including little details from my real life into paintings; theirs was a very special wedding. The wedding making all the news this weekend was on YouTube. It made the local and national news on Friday night...but I was so busy reading I didn't log on to see it. Then my husband came across it on Sunday afternoon. Seven million people had already gotten a look at the joyful entrance. It will not replace my children's or Joe & Trista's as favorite weddings-I don't know these folks. But I've already watched it at least 5 times. Probably more before I log off for the night. I added to my YouTube favorites. I posted it on my facebook page. It is not within my power to make everyone I know happy, but I sure can share what it looks like. I hope that you can enjoy it as well. Have an iridescent day! :o)

Night Lights

You'd think that a blog associated with moonflowers would have more to say when celebrating 40 year anniversaries of landing on the moon. Especially when the same week contains a solar eclipse by the aforementioned moon. I must admit to a bit of a block; then again there's a lot to sort through whilst contemplating such significant events. I knew there was stuff in my head-I just couldn't find my keys. I needed that ol' EUREKA moment, which finally occurred when I found me a muse. The cow jumps over the moon. If that's likely to happen any time soon, I'll bet it'd be in Wisconsin. I began pondering an image I'd seen somewhere, and discovered it to be the work of an artist named Lowell Herrero (added a link over there in the artist column) Now I know that I am going to have to create my own version. I've got moons, moonflowers, stars, but no cows at night.
I remember the night of the moon landing. I know it was a defining moment in history, but at the time I was a little reluctant to celebrate it. I was waiting until they got back in the landing unit. I was waiting until that unit got launched back into space and was on its way home. I guess that makes me a bit of ‘Doubting Thomas’, but all of this space adventure stuff was still uncharted territory. It was comforting to hear the words from Genesis being read; the words were a good anchor when boldly going where no man had gone before.
Now we’ve got an International space station; I love the global collaboration. Imagine thinking ‘outside the globe’ and the possibilities it opens. I guess that is why I would like to see space travel continue-as long as we can be reasonably sure of the safety of all concerned. And I also glad they are fixing up the Hubble telescope. Those images are breathtaking and beautiful. Now there’s an Artist at work. It is no stretch for me at all to hear “Let there be Light” when someone defines the Big Bang theory. Thank God.

A Keeper

The news reminded me that today is offishally FISH DAY in Port Washington. It is the biggest one day fish fry anywhere, and yes, it is a very good time. This post being rather late-the fireworks are probably over already-it's best to mark your calendars for next year. As Port is a much further distance from where I live now, we have not gone for some time. But perhaps with an electric or solar powered car...well, you never know. Where we live now does have this fish in front of the house. It's a keeper. It's a mailbox. One of a kind.

Speaking of Keepers, that is also the name of of Quidditch team member. Which brings us back to Harry Potter. It may be needless to say but we did not finish our popcorn, which is rare. I could say we were paying such rapt attention to the film that we forgot to eat. I could say we were so engaged in the film we were unaware we had popcorn. Or, I could just say, if you are a Harry Potter fan, books or film, see it. Yes. If you have not read the books, some of it may (or may not) make sense. But that should not stop you. You can always ask some of the 104 milion other people who've already seen it. It stands well on its own as a film (and I do tend to be picky about these things). Which is why this post will be short. I am going back to re-read the book...and wait until the movie comes out on DVD. (....fade to Hedwig's Theme...)

Magic

Tonight 3 generations of one Muggle family will join together (as is our custom) to view the latest Harry Potter movie. After the JK Rowling special last night on TV, I for one, am more eager than ever. I, for one, can never get enough magic. Well, that is as long as good is always triumphant over evil. From Dorothy's red shoes in Oz, to Merlin, to Lord of the Rings, the power to fight off the dark arts are my favorite sagas. Include the Narnia Chronicles as well. Still, the Harry Potter series is my favorite. Maybe it is because it has become a family event. It is more than just good reading or movies. It is sharing it that perhaps multiplies the enjoyment. I have to get one of those wands tho. It could be so handy to have the dishes wash themselves!

What A Tangled Web….

When I first started blogging, I was experimenting with the format, among other things. Since first launching Moonflower Studio in 1998, I was looking to see how web savvy I still was. I wanted to become more familiar with new things like YouTube and other networking sites. I didn’t really know what tools or options were ‘out there’ in cyberspace. I did know I wanted a way to include other aspects of my creativity. I also knew that my original website was (is) very outdated. For an art site, there weren’t even any pictures on the index page to appeal to the eye. That is, of course, not counting the animated moonflower blooming on it. My husband combined sequential photos (he took himself) into the final .gif file. It was so very cutting edge at the time. And so now it’s time to get our baby a makeover. I’ve been downloading software, and experimenting with this, that and the other thing. It’s not going to be as easy as I thought. Then again, Rome wasn’t built in a day (if it was I would hire the contractor)

Got Potter?

I have choices to make. I could go at midnight on Tuesday, but that would mean going by myself. I could go Wednesday, assuming it isn't already sold out. That means co-ordinating how many family members, time, where. I could wait for the best case scenario with smaller crowds and more family. That way I may actually have time to reread the book. This is like waiting for Christmas. Except there are only a few left. I wonder if they blog at Hogwart's?

What A Circus!

It's back after a six year absence-The Great Circus Parade is on Sunday! What a spectacle...sigh. Each wagon is a work of art in itself. The train leaves the Circus World Museum in

Baraboo, Wisconsin and arrives in Milwaukee about a week or so before the big event. They set up near the lakefront and you can walk around and become enchanted. I have promised myself that one day I'm gonna paint that scene. It would be more addictive than blogging to get lost in all those colors!

Hanging Out Laundry

I’ve heard some sort of negative comments about tweets and twittering. It seems silly to some; ‘who cares if you’re making a grilled cheese sandwich or watching re-runs on television?’ It is apparently without merit to share the mundane. But every since I first heard about twitter, my first thought was about laundry. Back in the day, when dryers were a luxury, people would ‘hang out’-literally. It could be a family chore, with the little ones handing out the clothespins. It could become social on some windy days, when everyone and their Aunt Petunia was taking advantage of blustery fluffing. Some greetings or small exchanges about the weather had the potential to become full blown conversations. Sometimes it may be gossip, or swapping helpful household hints or it could be just a neighborly chat. Yes, it was a break in the chores routine. I think it was also a break from the confines of being a solitary housekeeper. In a household of children, no matter how precious they might be, a chat with another parent was well, fresh air.
I don’t remember the last time I ‘hung out’, do you? Everyone is so busy, and even with every technology to make our lives easier, we don’t seem to have time for each other. I think we need companionship on many levels, from the most complicated relationships to the most mundane exchange of pleasantries. So why not use some of that technology to tweet? Quite frankly, the world might be a better place if everyone just said hi to each other. My only problem is (obviously) staying under the character limit. I appear to have something in common with Mark Twain who said, ‘The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug’.

The Alphabet Song

Okay, I admit to using clip art, 'cuz i don't have a qwerty typewriter handy that I could take a digital picture of (and then digitally alter in Photoshop). I also wanted to make this quick. Like THAT'S gonnna happen.

I just noticed that there are the same number of letters in the word twitter as there are in the word lexicon. Isn't that ironic?

I don't think I'm gonna be very good at tweeting. As the child of two English majors, I was raised to be verbose. I remember as part of my rebellious adolesence, my father accused me of being vociferous. I had to go look it up before I could feel guilty.

This Just In

Busy day...now there's a surprize. I deleted the post titled The Emperor's New Nose. Good writing, but perhaps a little mean spirited. I didn't want to have to account for it when meeting my Maker. I made feeble attempts at household chores. I ran some errands. I researched more web building software possibilities. I may have found something for a gradient background; stay tuned. It frustrates me immensely to be able to install dazzling widgets here, and then not be able to put together an updated website. (expletive deleted)

I recieved another facebook invitation; this time I followed thru. Well it is Wednesday, so it is Anything Can Happen Day. Even at 11:58PM. So, if we are gonna explore those vast possibilities, I included a pop-art TV test pattern. That's a hint that there could be videos involved. I could have embedded it here, but it's hard to watch TV and read at the same time. So you have the option of following the link to (TADA) the Pinkinklingz Channel on You Tube.

Lights Are On...

...and I am at home. Using trial software to TRY and build new website, I'm getting days and nights remixed yet again. It all expires in 30...no, 29...no, 27...yadda. You can find me under the ever mounting 'to-do' lists, color charts, html for beginners (I forgot the stuff I used to know)

I thought after blogging for a month I had gotten quite a bit more web savvy. I thought I'd be able to celebrate by expanding into web site pages. Well, WYSIWYG. But I think that my little house pictured should be included in the final draft. It is actually a very small painting of what was a very small shop in Fish Creek. It was called the Fudge House, and it may very well still be there. It was a treat to walk by day or night, with its chocolatey smells filling the air. That's what I need-chocolate!

Happy Birthday America

A thought for the day...
'If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most common basic link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.' President John F. Kennedy, 1963

BOOM!

It is highly unlikely that I took this photo--nor did my scientifically minded husband. (while we're blogging, he's looking up this kind of stuff) I believe it falls into the public domain category. But can you imagine the look on the face of the science minded person that took it? :) The caption read, 'Off the coast of Pusan, South Korea, July 7, 1999 -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) breaks the sound barrier in the skies over the Pacific Ocean. VFA-151 is deployed aboard USS Constellation'. There's a gallery of these 'boom blooms' at Livescience.
They're forecasting lots of LOUD fireworks for the upcoming holiday weekend. We still have some days left for Summerfest. There is also a buzz 'bout decibels at Wimbelton. One of these days I will learn how to embed sound bytes...Until then, Happy Trails and...Cum On Feel the Noize!

The Pix I Promised

I did promise I would share the pix from The Wailers show at Summerfest, and here they are. I made a sort of Jpeg salad out of them. We never actually saw the band (unless you count the video screens) It was just jammed! (pun intended) Jammin' was indeed a sing-along as was 'Three Little Birds'. Might as well've been a Sunday-go-to-meetin' gathering. Come together indeed!

I would like to thank my son Chris for his tip on the Snagit app. I could have pulled off this collage the old fashioned way. But this was WAY faster and easier.

Summer in the City

In the Lovin' spoonful lyrics, it says 'Hot Time! Summer in the City'.... so what happened to the heat?! The beer stayed cold; we really didn't need the new can coolers we bought.
That being said, everything else was all we wanted out of our adventure. The mozzarella marinara from SAZ'S was just what I was dreaming of. Check. We also checked off BBQ, funnel cake and cheese stuffed pretzels. And Beer.

We usually spend more time checking out different bands but we had our hearts set on the Wailers. We camped out early to get good seats. They started right on time and they sounded absolutely great! Irie! Respect concrete to all de band. Sen? Ya mon! (I'll post some pix at a later date)

You may have noticed a few new widgets on the side bar. I do so love my tunes. Actually, I have to admit to a MP3 download habit. I have a Sansa FUZE mp3 player, not an iPod. It has (only) about 500 songs on it (so far). I am a music junkie. One of the widgets will allow you to give a listen to my downloads from Amazon. You can scroll thru the list and adjust the volume. If you're really lucky, you'll be able to download 'WALK TALL' by Ziggy Marley and Paul Simon for free! Have fun!