Success, Snow and Beauty

So after a massive manhunt both suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing have been captured. Although I am 100% horrified by what they did, in one corner of my mind I feel really sorry for the young man who was finally captured alive last night. I felt sorry for him because he must have been so frightened. He is only 19 years old. But...'nuff said because my sympathy will only stretch so far.

The suspect on the left was killed in a firefight in the early morning hours. He
was 26 years old. The suspect on the right was hiding from the police but
finally found after hours of lockdown and searching. He is 19 years old and still living.

Yesterday's snow was heavy, wet, and annoying, but we shoveled and shoveled. Before I left for work I took pictures because it was so beautiful outside. The wet snow draped on the branches and pulled them down. We went around and knocked the snow off so that our trees would survive and by the afternoon when I returned home from work, the snow had melted from all of the branches and the wonder of winter's paint brush was hidden again.

It was a magic scene that met our eyes in the morning. By the
late afternoon the snow was off the branches and hopefully this is the
last blast of our winter. The maple tree is in the center of our front yard.

Tomorrow I'll be attending the ACC show - lots of beautiful things to look at. The American Craft Council holds several shows across the nation each year where the top craftspeople in the nation gather to sell their goods. The St Paul show has been held for many years and I have gone for most of them. It is an annual event that I look forward to each year. So...I thought I would just share pretty pictures of some of the kinds of art that will be exhibited for sale with all of you.

Ceramics by Kirsten Walstead

Ceramics by Mary O'Malley

Gourd art by Denny Wainscott

Fine jewelry by George Sawyer. If I wasn't allergic to metal I'd get one of
his rings. I've loved them forever and he's one of the top in the field.

Paul Perman is a new exhibitor this year. His pieces look interesting, I can't
wait to see them in person.

Copper wall hangings by Judy and David Hedblom are stunning. I bought
one as a wedding gift for a friend a few years ago. The marriage
didn't last, but she still has the copper.

Another new exhibitor this year is Kest Schwartzman. What wonderful imagination.

I have always loved the stained glass made by Josephine Geiger. Such amazing
skill with color and shape. 

I'm hoping that DH will come with me, although he has said he would rather stay home this year. That's fine if he does, I'm going and I'll meet Chickie and Chickie Momma and a customer or two while I wander the hallways and exhibits for several hours. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that next week is a week of happiness, good news, and joy.

Searching for Spring and Good News

It's the 19th of APRIL, not the 19th of March! Apparently that means nothing to the Powers of Weather because they keep pounding us with winter. Yesterday's 'rain turning to snow' moved immediately to snow and our 'expected 3"-6"' turned into 6"-9". It's heavy, wet snow that won't last long because it's spring. But the fact is unavoidable - the drive to work will be a disaster, and it all needs to be shoveled off the driveways and sidewalks - a lot of physical work.

This is heart attack snow. That's what we call these spring snows that are so wet and heavy. A standard shovel will be holding anywhere from 30-45 pounds of weight per shovelful and we'll have hundreds of shovels of snow to move just to clear our spaces. I'll be starting to shovel my driveway and walkways in less than an hour from now. I'm NOT looking forward to it, although the exercise will probably be good for me.

I must admit that I love GrumpyCat.

But this really SUCKS and I'm going on record to tell you and all of the Powers that I'm TIRED OF WINTER. It's enough already. We've paid our dues. It's time for the farmers to be able to plow their fields and get their crops sown. That won't happen if the fields are too wet. It's time for the children to look with wonder at the flowers and follow the bees to their hives and that won't happen while white snow covers the land. I want Spring and I'm putting in my official request for it.

There are the two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing. Apparently
the one on the left is now dead and the one on the right is on the run.

Yesterday the FBI released two photos of suspects for the Boston Marathon bombings. Apparently overnight there was a shootout and other confrontations with the two men. They were found, then stole an SUV, they shot a guard at MIT, threw grenades and explosives at police and now one suspect has been killed and the other one is still at large. The city of Watertown has been almost cordoned off and every news station is carrying nothing but coverage of the hunt for "Suspect Number Two".

I need one beautiful and colorful thing to look at today so I chose
this wonderful photo of butterflies and flowers to bring all of my readers
back to how wonderful our world truly is. 

I also want things to come to an end - but more than that, I want to be able to watch my morning news shows and have the news be basically boring and mundane. I want to see things I can igmore - maybe a movie review or a look at the latest starlet's mess. I am tired of waking up to death, explosions, gunfire and terror.

Breaking News and Witch Hunts

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Remember the old movies where the paper boy was standing in the intersection or on the sidewalk with a stack of newspapers next to him, waving one that clearly said (in 80 typeface or larger) "Extra, Extra"? It's beginning to feel like that here in the US with explosions and I'm not really happy about it.

This picture is so amazing. It looks like a fiery wasteland.

I awakened at my usual 3:15 am and turned on the news as I always do. The news was full of an explosion that occurred in a fertilizer plant in a town near Waco, Texas. The scene looked like a volcanic lava flow - orange-red spread across a large area. Apparently there had been a fire at the fertilizer plant which then caught a concentration of fertilizer within the plant causing a massive explosion. This explosion destroyed the plant, and also homes and businesses in the area. There are no estimates on deaths or injuries yet, but these are burn injuries - the worst injury to have. Just nasty! My thoughts go out to those people affected by this.

This mushroom cloud rose from the plant when it exploded. WOW!

Instant communication is a two-edged sword. It allows us to send help immediately to places in need such as this small Texas town that has now been devastated. It allows people to donate blood and supplies for people who have now lost everything. But it also creates a reactionary policy. In this specific incidence, having instant communication will turn into a blessing. Trauma teams, the National Guard and other people who can help will be quickly dispatched to help. But instant and reactionary communication can also result in witch-hunts which is NOT a good thing.

The ultimate witch-hunt. The Salem Witch trials as depicted in
the masterpiece "The Crucible".

How much information publicized through the media is actually accurate? The variety of news organizations, stations, and media and reporters need to have something to report. When there is no concrete information they will often speculate. News pundits speculating can often be misinterpreted as news pundits reporting factual information. It's not always the case. So before you begin to pillory your neighbor who has been inaccurately accused, take a deep breath and await corroboration. Wait for a second source and proof. Don't act on news that is half-baked.

Errands and Pictures of Fountains - Just Because

Today is my day off which means errands all over town, repairs backed up waiting for my attention, an illustration for CB that I had hoped to get to last week (didn't happen) that maybe can be done today, and my weekly phone gab-fest with Aearwen which had been postponed last week. All good, but a crazy day for sure. Because I allowed myself a bit of extra sleep this morning, I'm running a bit late. I think it's time for a picture blog and because the world has so much bad going on, I'm going to concentrate on uplifting things...FOUNTAINS! Today I'm looking at less traditional styled fountains from around the world.

Broken Sidewalk fountain doesn't rise high but has lots of water.

This is similar using white glass in an interior setting.

This fountain is named Sea Passage. I love the mosaic tiles adding
interesting color and texture to the water.

The Julie Penrose Fountain. I think I've shown this one before, but
it is one of my favorites. It's in Colorado Springs, Colorado. So pretty!

This is the Tanner Fountain at Harvard University. It's fun, flurty, a
cool place to relax and a great place to rock jump if you're so inclined.

And finally, two views (day and night) of the Fountain of Wealth in Singapore...

Fountain of Wealth - Singapore

Fountain of Wealth - Singapore at night

Courage Under Fire - Thoughts About Boston

Terror happens around the world every day. That terror can take the very public position that yesterday's Boston Marathon's attack did, or a more private style such as exhibited in child or spousal abuse which happens behind walls in every nation on any given day. Yesterday's terror was public, loud, and broadcast throughout the world.

The second explosion as caught on camera. The white smoke in
the background was from the first explosion. They happened within
two city blocks from each other and were detonated shortly after each other.

Here's the basic map of where the two bombs were located. As you can see,
the first explosion was quite close to the finish line, the second was back
about two blocks.

The blasts and the numbers of dead and injured were frightening, but what really impressed me was not the act of terrorism but rather those who immediately ran towards the blast sites to help the victims. These medical and security personnel ran towards the explosions without hesitation even though there was no guarantee that there would not be additional bombs in the immediate area. So even as our faith in humanity was crushed, once again it was immediately uplifted by the demonstration of basic decency and courage of those who cared so much that they placed their own lives in danger to help the injured.

This is the image that I carried away with me from the photos and TV
coverage. This young man embracing the form of a fallen woman
surrounded by blood - so very sad.

I've seen this kind of selfless response to terror happen before - in Oklahoma City, at the World Trade Towers on 9/11 and in smaller acts of individual courage in times of danger from floods, fires and auto accidents throughout this nation and others. Whenever I am brought down by the horror of acts of terror I am raised up again by the bravery and selflessness of those who respond to hatred with love and the courage to comfort and heal. Thank the Powers that the second type of person, the one who cares for others so deeply that their own danger is pushed aside, exists. Blessings upon all who were involved in yesterday's rescue efforts and all of the injured, slain, and their families and friends.

Congrats to Australia and a Lazy Sunday

Starting off with a big CONGRATS to Adam Scott for winning the US Masters golf tournament on Sunday in the pouring rain. Australia has been close to winning this major in the past but had never managed to pull it off. Three Aussies were in the running on the final day this time and with two very impressive puts, one in regular play and one in a play-off with Angel Cabrera from Argentina, Andy Scott prevailed. It was a beautiful thing to see and very well deserved.

Adam Scott is a wonderful golfer. He uses one of the belly putters that
are going to be illegal in coming years so he'll have to adjust to a
short putter. Great golfer and not too bad looking either - LOL.

I don't normally watch a lot of golf, but I do love the Masters and the British Open. The Masters is always in April and it is a joy to see green grass, beautiful flowers and sunshine when I'm in snow, grey skies and general oook. I always look at Augusta as what will be coming oiur way in another few weeks and just drink it is. That the golf is marvelous and I get to see a terrific tournament is a great plus, but it's the scenery that always drives me to watch The Masters.  What can I say? I'm a sucker for flowers - LOL.

Green grass, flowers and flowering trees - what's not to like about the US Masters?

Sunday was kicked back. We dropped by Best Buy to see about new TV's for the computer room. We have some time, Sharon doesn't come back for her annual visit until late August, but we wanted to see what was available. DH is now contemplating going slightly larger and wall-mounting the TV. He also (of course) had to look at bigger TV's for the den. He's been wanting one for years now but we have a built-in shelving unit that limits the amount of space we have available to us. It's not a big room and we really don't need a monster set, but I think he has a secret desire to go bigger... It's rather funny, all considered.

It hasn't reached out and grabbed me the way "Into
this River I Drown" did, but I still love this book.

I spent Sunday uploading my latest stories to the appropriate places and then dove into the book I am currently reading on my phone. If you enjoyed "Into This River I Drown" you might be interested in another of TJ Klune's books - "Burn". I must admit that I am still re-reading "ITRID" on my Nook for the third time, and I actually ordered it in paperback because I love it so much that I wanted a physical copy to make notes in and put the play list of music into. "Burn" isn't capturing me quite as much but it's still a terrific read. Happy Monday, everyone! Make it work!