I heart Julie Lee

Just made my semi monthly visit to my facebook page and saw a posting by Ms. Beth of Twist re: an article about a 10 year old headband prodigy {article here}. As if that weren't just super sweet all on its own, the article mentioned a name I sort of recognized but couldn't remember from where. That name was Julie Lee and here is her {website} where you can hear her music. Check her out!.

Alder Tree Amazingness

This is an Alder tree root nodule which kind of looks like a heart and kind of looks like it might be covered in bees. I love it. That's all I have to say. I would really like to have an Alder tree root nodule of my very own one day. I hope you are all enjoying the rain.

La La La Human Steps

I haven't posted in a long while. I've been out of town at the CGPS conference (more on that later) and it was wonderful! But now on to other things...like Edouard Lock's La La La Human Steps. I have been fortunate enough to come across Amelia in it's entirety on youtube. It's been divided into 7 pieces. I planned to post one piece each day but that would be crazy so please look it up on youtube if you would like to see more. Amazing physical strength from the female leads, speed, endurance, control, and a little melodrama make for a dynamic conversation. This choreography really is all about communication and I love it. I even love David Lang's remake of Lou Reed's I Am Waiting For My Man. If you aren't into dance, watch it anyway...you may find it visually stimulating and at the very least will be exposed to a new language.

Animation!

Some great kids shows that could also appeal to adults (like myself): Linnea in Monet's Garden a cute story about a little Monet fan who travels to France with the old man that lives in the apartment next door. The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear about the struggles and similarities between man and polar bear with a heart wrenching twist. Kirikou and the Sorceress, African tale of an amazing little boy who saves his village from a woman with a thorn in her spine. The Stonecutter, a live action film based on a folktale that is common throughout the world about a small man who seeks to be greater and greater until he discovers that, even in his insignificance, he is great. Also, an honorable mention to Duck Ugly a french take on the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Of course the National Film Board of Canada always puts out great animated shorts, but Ishu Patel's Paradis is really beautiful. Please visit a link about him {here}. Anyone who knows me, knows I can't make an animation list without including Hayao Miyazaki's films...any of them. Please see them in Japanese if you can. There are literally thousands of shorts that I love, so I won't try to list them all. Isn't animation wonderful?

The Weeping Camel and other docs that rock my socks

While I was incapacitated and cranky with crutches, I made good use of my time by watching all of the documentaries that I have been accumulating in my Netflix lineup. I started with The Story of the Weeping Camel, a documentary about a camel, her baby, and their struggle with postpartum depression. It sounds crazy but turned out to be really touching. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried at the end, of course there is much more to it than I let on. It is really about rural Mongolian life, religion, and traditions. I have added this film to my personal library and will undoubtedly watch it again. Some other good docs are Ballerina, In the Realms of the Unreal, Lioness, Wings of Defeat, Please Vote for Me (mostly Ind. Lens stuff). One doc that I thought was particularly powerful was Stranded: The Andes Plane Crash Survivors. Wow. Of course there were many others that I watched but didn't care to see again. These are just a few that I really liked. I hope you have a chance to watch them.

oh my cavalier

pencil, watercolor, mixed media, and lots of cute critters in fancy dresses...oh yes, and bee hives. This appeals to little Jennifer so much! The artist: Julianna Swaney. Here is what she says: " I'm inspired by fairy tales, animals with sharp claws, Victorian hair weaving, antique ephemera and postcards, bird song, nursery rhymes, lace, cabinets of curiosities, anthropomorphism of all kinds, and many more things!" Awww...I like her so much. If you like her too, please oh please visit her website or her blog or her etsy store. Let me know what you think!