Every morning, I open a couple of windows for the cats. Having indoor cats has been much easier and better than I expected, but I do what I can to give them a bit of the outdoors. They love to nibble on wheat and oat grass, nap in the window sills and watch and listen to the birds, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. I'm sure they are smelling and hearing all kinds of things too.
This marvelous picture is from a video of a dog with his head out the car window. It's by Julie Andreyev, and is at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, in an exhibit of artist and animal collaborations. I went there to see the Turner and the Sea exhibit, which was wonderful. It includes maritime paintings by other 19th century artists, putting Turner in context. I particularly enjoyed the selections from Turner's sketchbooks and small paintings. When I was in college I went to London and saw his work for the first time. His skies and seas touched me deeply and influenced my own painting and the way I looked at art.
These are a couple of the small studies I've been doing,
thinking about painting them big. Really big.
My favorite part of summer is sitting on the porch in the evening,
reading and watching the light change.
I hope that you are enjoying early summer (or winter if you are on the other side of the globe).
Last night I went to see The Lunchbox, and recommend it if you like small, charming movies,
or, like me are obsessed with India.
Yes on both accounts on the movie. I have windows open whenever I can for my ac/dc or indoor/ ourdoor cats.
ReplyDeleteYesterday Gus appeared in the living room window mouth full of feathered treat with which to wind back Lucy's love.
Indoor cats: good.
Lucy has thawed.
xo J
So glad Lucy's come around.
DeleteI am a fanatic about open windows. Feel like I can't breathe without.
indoor cats are great. and thanks for the book recommendation. will get the first of that series next. sounds exactly like what I want/need right now :)
ReplyDeleteCool. I love book talk.
DeleteOh, I would love to see the artist-animal projects! My son chalk sketches and won a young artist's award for a sketch he did of our dog's eye. Sometimes you saw an eye and sometimes you saw a big black hole in the sky.
ReplyDeleteI think you and I see the same things very similarly. such as the little blue and pinkish painting and the evening sky in the photo. and I'm sure I will never forget the image of green land and pink sea.
happy summer!
Your son's picture sounds wonderful.
DeleteI certainly love your gorgeous photos and way of seeing things! And thank you--you've given me the seed of an idea with your comment--something involving the peony world.
must go to PEM to see that exhibit. and see the film.
ReplyDeleteI'd never been to PEM--it's a lovely museum.
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ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful and peaceful picture of your cat. I love the chair full of books beside the window. Thanks for sharing the movie. It looks very good!
ReplyDeleteAny time I take a picture in my house, there's a pile of book nearby!
DeleteLove that picture, he looks all wet. Your blue and green painting is very beautiful. I love small charming movies, I never recommend them because people seem to like those big blustery special effects things, glad to see we're not alone. I just finished "Gone Girl", had been in a reading rut and decided a page turner should do it, read it in the Finger Lakes. I hope I'm back, the stacks keep getting bigger.
ReplyDeleteI rarely go to the movies any more, and when I do, I always say, "why don't I do this more"? I am the only person in the world who didn't like Gone Girl, but your page turner method is a great way to get out of a reading rut. I've read many detective and suspense series when I couldn't get into something deeper. It's all good (as they say).
DeleteFyi dear Jen,
DeleteI couldn 't stand Gone Girl or its manipulative characters. That woman made me ashamed of women, something I almost never am. Who do you like in the World Cup so far?
Last, I too hope for a painting series called Peony World.
Best wishes from the West,
Diane in
Clinton Global Initiative
and pink-sunsetted Denver
aka Chihuly-Land , now
til November, ravishingly
over the TOP!
I didn't like it much either, both characters are quite unsavory...nobody to like. but I had to find out what happened which I thought was a big joke on us.
DeleteThe first half was fine, but I hated the second half--felt so manipulated by the author.
DeleteDiane, I haven't been following the WC closely, though I wish I was--the glimpses I've caught have been fun.
I just love your photo of your cat in window. Especially like the stack of books on the chair. And I like the blue and green painting. Must look like your stream at your mountain house. I'll remember The Lunchbox - probably not on Netflix yet. We like "small" films.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. The cats make it easy to take a decent picture. I've been looking at photos taken from the sky and have gotten intrigued with topography/landscapes viewed from above.
DeleteI love the photo of the cat in the window! And those paintings ... and that photo of the sky. So pretty and serene.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your kind words!
DeleteSitting on the porch reading and watching the light change sounds wonderful to me Jen. Simple pleasures that dont cost anything but mean so much.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said, Anne. Giving ourselves time to do nothing is so important.
DeleteHi dear Jen
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post once again
yes I also adore the evening reading on the porch watching the sky, here still light until late at this time of year.
I like your studies I would love to see them big - really big :)
all my love
all the way from Norway
Hi Demie--thank you for your encouragement. I'm imagining you watching the Norwegian sky! xo
DeleteThe first picture is lovely! You don't have to be annoyed by the mosquitoes, by the way? I wish I could keep the windows open for my cat but window screens to keep bugs from entering the house are a must.
ReplyDeleteWhat a luxurious evening you spend in reading and watching beautiful arts in the lingering evening light!
Hi Cosmos--The mosquitoes haven't been too bad this year. Hope you're having a good summer.
DeleteIsn't that a great museum? I love going there. Salem's got some gorgeous old homes too!
ReplyDeleteI love your blue and white sky painting. It would be great to see that really, really big.
It was my first time, and I love it. Thanks for the encouragement
DeleteI'd forgotten about 'The Lunchbox'. It looks very sweet. Will definitely have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteYour work is lovely.
Thanks for stopping by, Joyti.
DeleteHello, Jen. As I was staying away from my PC which is malfunction, and I found it is so nice to see your pics and some ideas on it. Each element evokes me joy of this season. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Haricot, thank you for your lovely words. DId you go to Hawaii?
DeleteOpen windows, museums, painting, porch reading... Ah, yes. And you are the second person to recommend Lunchbox. I did a quick search and the only location that is showing it on the big screen is 56 miles away. I suppose I'll rent it. Maybe I'll make some popcorn to bring the experience closer to feeling like a theater visit.
ReplyDeleteI rarely go to the movies any more (and certainly wouldn't drive 56 miles for one) but am always glad when I do. Lunchbox would be fine on a small screen. Any excuse for popcorn.
DeleteDear Jen, two minutes lunchbox and my face started to smile... I love those small, charming movies and that is surely one of them! I will look out for it and truly hope it will be on here too! Thanks for your wonderful hint! --- I encourage you to paint those studies you did big - really big. I think they would look brilliant! Do it, Jen! Do it and show it to us! I am really excited! Your photo with your cat is lovely! I can feel the early morning hours. Take care, Chrisa
ReplyDeleteIt is a sweet trailer. Thanks for your encouragement. Hope you are enjoying summer, Christa.
DeleteWell, I've got to see The Lunchbox now. I'm like you with India. I even love watching the Bollywood music videos on TV, but never watch any other kind of music programs. It's so intriguing how different countries and cultures turn out such different kinds of people, like how Indians seem to be so kind and more intelligent than most.
ReplyDeleteI've read so many novels by Indian authors. I don't know what it is about that country, but it gets me every time.
DeleteThese pictures are perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alicia!
Delete