Wednesday, September 10, 2014

lingering summer light pt. 1

Reflections, cold wax and oil paints, Donna Watson

September... a pause for summer to say an awkward and lingering good-by and for autumn, sitting on a hill top, a jug of cider in one hand and a bunch of wild purple asters in the other, waiting to say hello.  (NYTimes)  As summer comes to an end, it is that time of year for me to post images of my Zen gardens and my Zen greenhouse.  I have decided to divide my images into 3 posts because I have so many to share.  This first post is all about my Zen house... what I call my outdoor decor.

Torii gate entrance to my Zen House

"...to walk without destination and to see only to see..." 
--- Uta Barth

Follow the stone path

"Your sacred space is where you find yourself again and again."
--- Joseph Campbell

Some of my bonsai in front of my Zen House

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes"
--- Marcel Proust

One of the shelves inside my Zen House

"May my mind come alive today
to the invisible geography 
that invites me to new frontiers,
to break the dead shell of yesterdays, 
to risk being disturbed and changed."
---John O'Donohue, from a morning offer

A new birdcage, inside is a Japanese kokedama or moss ball with a Rabbit Fern

"Landscape consists in the multiple, overlapping intricacies and forms that exist in a given space at a moment in time."  Annie Dillard, Pilgrims at Tinker Creek

Kokedama or Japanese moss ball with Rabbit Fern

"Landscape is the texture of intricacy, and texture is my present subject... What do I make of all this texture?"  Annie Dillard

Another Kokedama, or moss ball with large wooden paddle

"The texture of the world, its filigree and scrollwork, means that there is the possibility for beauty here, a beauty as inexhaustible in its complexity, which opens to my knock, which answers in me a call I do not remember calling, and which trains me to the wild and extravagant nature of the spirit I seek."  Annie Dillard, Pilgrims at Tinker Creek

This is a Rose de Jericho, a type of desert moss,  which dries up into a tight ball without water.  When water is added, it will open up and burst into life, until the water dries up again.  

A water feature inside my Zen House

A corner of the Zen House

A round beach rock with a bee who passed away and has been sitting on this rock all summer

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just 
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't 
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which 
another voice may speak.  
Mary Oliver










28 comments:

Kim Hambric said...

Absolutely beautiful . . .

Love your red accents. And that moss . . .

Marianne Hall said...

bucket list….must have a Zen House. Your place is stunning. Right now mine is more like Mary Oliver's vacant lot.
Thank you so much for sharing…..
I'm just beginning to read 'The Shamanic Way of the Bee'….which has been on my 'to read' shelf for over a year. Your BEE is very special to have landed in such a way.

Cate Rose said...

Lusting after your Zen house...

Magdalena said...

So beautiful! love it !

Ms. said...

How I would love to share this very beautifully constructed post with friends on Face book. Ah well, not to be, still a great pleasure to visit here.

Jennifer said...

Connie Rose said it best - lusting after your Zen house.

susan hemann said...

An amazing garden! a garden of time, love John O'Donahue

Terrie said...

I don't even know where to begin - this is just lovely. Serene, thoughtful, each corner it's own special draw. I'm envious of all the little treasures you've collected! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous part of your world.

Valerianna said...

Its always such a pleasure to see your Zen house... I love all the textures and plants and mosses. Thanks for sharing and I'm so looking forward to the next installment!

Judy Shreve said...

Such a beautiful post - and can't wait to see more of your amazing zen garden. You are an inspiration - may just turn my greenhouse into a more zen like space.
And Reflections is a gorgeous piece. Love the colors and the composition -- also very zen.

Seth said...

Stunning, serene, and beautiful images. Perfect for this time of year.

Jo Murray said...

Your connection to the Orient is obvious in your work and your surroundings. Just beautiful!

Nancy said...

Absolutely gorgeous...each photo, each piece of information, quietly leading us to...into and beyond, ending with another exquisite turn of words by Mary Oliver. thank you so much for sharing this post, this way.

George said...

Love this posting, Donna, the fabulous images and the equally fabulous quotes. What a tranquil place in which to live and discover your muse each day.

Caterina Giglio said...

ah, I suppose I could have guessed that you are an Annie Dillard fan too... I just read, An American Childhood... her ability to describe connection is remarkable... your piece is wonderful and your Zen greenhouse is stunning... thank you for such a beauty break...

Kim Henkel Creations said...

I love your creations - your paintings, collages and your zen house. Love Mary Oliver's words too - thank you for sharing it all.

mano said...

I am impressed by your zen house and your collage. thank you so much for sharing!

Ruth Armitage said...

Beautiful images! Your wisteria has grown so much since I have been there! And of course, I love the Mary Oliver poem.

Leslie Avon Miller said...

serenity, creativity and exquisite taste...that's what see when I feast my eyes on your Zen house and its setting. Beautiful Donna, simply beautiful.

mansuetude said...

A lovely post.
Reflections is classic, one of my favorite. Rhythmic serene

Love the walk down your peace path into elegance. That bee....

Mo Crow said...

Oh you have created such a tranquil space, thank you for sharing!

deborah from collagewhirl said...

Hi Donna, So good to see you enjoying all this beauty. That collage is one of my top favorites of your pieces, which is really saying a lot!

Anna Mavromatis said...

Beautiful images and autumn thoughts...

ArtPropelled said...

I always enjoy these visits to your zen garden and greenhouse.

Barry said...

D - a walk through such a peace filled garden it to take a short journey into stillness - great that we can create these peace giving environments for our daily lives. Go well. B

anti.insects7@gmail.com said...

الان في شركات ابادة الحشرات التي تعمل علي مكافحة الحشرات جيدا وبافضل وسائل التبخير يمكنك التخلص من الحشرات بجميع انواعها المختلفة من خلال شركة مكافحة حشرات بمصر الجيدة .
http://www.anti-insects.com/

anosh said...

كشف تسربات المياة بالرس
مكافحة حشرات بالرس
شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالرس
رش مبيدات حشرية بالرس
تنظيف منازل بالرس
تنظيف مجالس بالرس
تنظيف كنب بالرس
تنظيف فلل بالرس
شركة تنظيف شقق بالرس
تنظيف بالرس
تقوم شركة تنظيف الرس خدمات تنظيف فى مناطق الرس والمناطق المجاورة لها بجودة عالية وتقنية ممتازة وتتميز هذة الشركة عن غيرها فى هذا المجال انها تهتم بالتميز و مواكبة العصر وكل ما هو جديد وهذا ما جعل الشركة تنال ثقة العملاء و تقوم الشركة لتقدم كافة انواع الخدمات ومنها تنظيف الشقق و الفلل والمبانى والمجالس والسجاد والموكيت والارضيات بانواعها والحدائق وغيرها كما تقدم خدمة مكافحة جميع انواع الحشرات وخصوصا النمل الابيض و تتمتع الشركة بوجود فريق عمل مدرب وعلى درجة عالية من الخبرة

anosh said...

كشف تسربات المياة بالبكيرية
مكافحة حشرات بالبكيرية
مكافحة النمل الابيض بالبكيرية
رش مبيدات حشرية بالبكيرية
تنظيف بالبكيرية
تنظيف كنب بالبكيرية
تنظيف شقق بالبكيرية
تنظيف فلل بالبكيرية
تنظيف مجالس بالبكيرية
تنظيف منازل بالبكيرية
الكثير من النساء يشغلهم دائماً القيام بأعمال المنزل، لأنه يكون من الشاق عليهم عملية التنظيف بمفردهم، فالتنظيف والتلميع والتغلب على أي مشكلة خاصة تخص عملية التنظيف من ضياع الوقت، وشراء معدات غالية الثمن دون الوصول إلى النتيجة المرغوب فيها، لهذا وجدت الشركات التي تختص بمثل هذه الأمور والتي تمكنك من حل جميع المشكلات التي تشغل بالك.
والتي تهتم بالقيام بعملية التنظيف بأبسط الطرق وإعطاء العديد من النصائح المفيدة للقيام بعملية التنظيف دون استنزاف الوقت أو التعب، ودون الحاجة إلى انفاق الكثير من المال، فالشركات المختصة بذلك توفر كل الخدمات الأساسية التي تساعد في عملية التنظيف وجعلها تتم بدقة فائقة الجودة، ومن مميزات هذه الشركات:
 التنظيف بالبخار للتخلص من البقع والتغيرات في المفروشات مع الحفاظ على درجات الألوان.
 الاعتماد على المواد المميزة المستخدمة في تنظيف الخزانات والتخلص من الطحالب والحشرات.
استخدام أحدث الأجهزة المميزة في تنظيف الشقق الجديدة التي يتراكم بها بقايا البناء والدهانات مع وجود الأشخاص المحترفين والمدربين على هذه العملية، وغيرها