Orphaned

"Left-over" Christmas trees always sadden me. I think of all the time and energy and yes, love (I presume), that has gone into nurturing and caring for them, to grow them up to become evergreen specimens ready and willing to grace a home or business with their fragrance and beauty. Even before Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away, the trees have been cut, severed from their life source, and shipped out. I know they are expectant, filled with dreams of tinsel and lights and presents. Perhaps someone has told them what is ahead, their purpose in life, their destiny. And it is made to sound so good and noble and fine. Many are adopted, selected and taken home, but there are those who remain in the lots. Under lock and key there is no escape. I know there are much worse things to contemplate, but today I think and record my thoughts on the orphaned trees, the "left-overs."



yesterday I saw
a flock of evergreens
ensconced in a
Christmas tree lot
crowded together
pushing and shoving
jostling for position
tightly against
a chain-link fence
topped with razor wire
confined with
no way of escape
incarcerated
through no fault
of their own
looking like puppies
up for adoption
anxiously peering
hopefully expectant
eyes pleading

choose me
pick me
please
take me home
with you

Pick Me!

Trust

Because of the techniques I used in coloring the text around the center, this image may be difficult to read. Here are the words written around the central text: "...and then a most curious thing happens...peace comes...creeping in as relentless as the tide...unapologetic, washing over my soul followed by great leaps of waves of HOPE as trust MOST graciously settles in..."

Twirling

While on our Thanksgiving camping trip, I became infatuated with the rustling falling leaves. So many had already flown off of their branches while others seemed flighty and anxious to be moving on. Many were still attached and wavered like a loose tooth. Non appeared reticent, attempting to hold on, but rather wiggled around boldly facing forward into their new season. I liked that and put it on this page.

Polka Dots

I punch many holes with my hole punch as I make pages for my 3-ring journal. By gravity these fall to the floor where they tend to accumulate 'till someone vacuums them up. The sunlight in my studio attracts my cat who rolls in its solar warmth and exits the room covered in dots held in place by static cling.

Alchemy

While decorating a Christmas tree to be used in the dining hall at Triune Mercy Center, I came up with the idea of using an old hymnal that I had purchased at Goodwill for $1.00. I tore out pages and cut star shapes which were glued to string like a garland and flung upon the tree. Some were upset that I had used the hymnal in an unconventional way (desecrated it). "But" I said, "I have turned music into stars!" And as I continued in this thought, the attached page for my three ring journal came into mind.

Diving Ducks (poem)

This is an experiment that I wanted to share. While on a recent camping trip, I watched diving ducks or ducks diving for a very long time. Fascinated and mesmerized, I wanted to record this in a poem. I wrote the poem, then painted the poem and painted it again. I may even paint it another time and see what blossoms. I don't know if it is progress or just adventure with words and color...but I like it. What fun to take the words and swing them like rainbows just to observe the effect!