Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Take Care of Amanda

It's Earth Day 2015.

I've been working on an article on compost in my head for a long while. (It's been a longer while since I've been a journalist and what's worse, I have no set deadline). I have been applauded or accused of being a compost queen for years. Since moving to Arizona, I have moved my compost heaps three times (Try explaining THAT to a mover!). I currently have two bins and a heap of leaves just piled up.
I think it's the easiest thing on the planet to do to help take care of it. But that's just me. I'm crazy like that.

There's a song from Genesis called "Land of Confusion." Written by guitarist Mike Rutherford, the chorus is hard not to associate with today:

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in.

If you have a spare five minutes, check out the video. It's cold war era and the puppets are kind of creepy. I had to go to the Wikipedia page to figure out all the allusions and all those characters.

I took the Earth Day Footprint Quiz. I failed miserably, but it was assuming things such as my commute would be by car, instead of taking public/mass transportation (while I commute by fuzzy slippers to my desk. Besides, I'm "out there," so to speak) and it doesn't take into account that I'm growing enough citrus for about thirty people, thus adding back into the global footprint. It does say quite clearly that as Americans we enjoy a lot of benefits that a far majority do not, such as clean water and we have electricity available 24/7. It gives me pause.

I've also been following the Reduce Footprints blog. Every Wednesday there's a new challenge to do just that. This month has been about caring for the soil, right up my alley.

A different way to take care of Mother Earth is to promote her care. And that's where Amanda comes in. You can read that explanation on the Diva's challenge this week.

(I've always wondered why our moon doesn't have a cool name like all the other planets moons..It's just a moon. If the earth can be called Amanda...).
Whole World in His Hand
(on recycled paperboard, natch)
That didn't turn out quite as I imagined, but I thought I got my left hand pretty good, including my knobby, arthritic thumb.
I was without my computer all weekend (GASP!), but I did have my phone where I saw a new string on Tanglepatterns.com. Had to do this one:

Flower Fell on the Ground
I wanted to try my hand at Man-O-Man, but the scale was all wrong for this. So I went with only one tile on the tile, instead of the mosaic pattern.
I also tackled the EIM on recycled paper. The word this week is "octopus."

In an Octopus' Garden
Sing along now!
And lest you think I've been forgetting to do my zinchies...!


Recycled printer paper & paperboard

Notice I worked on those pesky triangly patterns, and I think I got them pretty well squared away (Triangles squared!? HA!). I still have the zinchies just in a box. I sooooo need to organize them somehow!

I thank all of you who have interacted with me through this blog. I appreciate all the comments and I attempt to respond to each and every one (sometimes it takes me a bit, but I think I'm all caught up!). And I REALLY appreciate the intrepid artists who are tackling or are interested in my own art challenge blog, Two by Two.  Be sure to check out the amazing artwork on all of these blogs and entertain the notion to try them yourself.

Meanwhile, I'll be working on IAST 89, a fitting tribute to the Queen....

20 comments:

  1. I LOVE the 'whole world in my hand' tile. You've done well and the idea is so beautiful.
    Also love your blog post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ontzettend bedankt, Anne. Ik ben blij dat je mijn interpretatie van de uitdaging vond en wat ik te zeggen heb gehad! Hebben een schitterende dag! c

      Delete
  2. I too enjoyed your post...writing is such a talent and you've got the gift. Your tiles are interesting...I tried b'twined recently and fell in love with how it looks. It's always fun to be inspired by others work and I have enjoyed yours today. P.S. I wish I could say I was successful with compost...I'm a wannabe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Lynell for your kind thoughts. I'm glad that you enjoyed the art I've created and what I've had to say. As a writer, I had the toughest, and therefor the best editor. I'll let you know if I ever do get that compost copy written. Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  3. I always enjoy reading your post. You certainly are a talented writer. Lots of food for thought this week and I particularly like that drawing of your hand holding the world. And you hold it very gently and lovingly as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Jean, thank you very much for your kind thoughts. They are always appreciated. I do hope that I take care of Mother Earth at least as well as she takes care of me. Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  4. Lovely work. I am going to try the two by two next time around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, JL, very much appreciated. I know you work very hard on all those tangly art challenges; I don't know how you find the time to do them all. I am honored you would think to add mine to your list! Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  5. Enjoyed the blog post! I'm a long time composter too. Nice tangles!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jeanette! Glad you appreciated it. You know--compost happens! It's just a matter of moving things along. Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  6. What a gorgeous, gorgeous collection! Love the Earth Day tile. Sang along with Octopus's garden. Tried to do so on Flicks (that's the one you linked to EIM), but have trouble leaving comments there. Will be sending you something shortly :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AW, thank you, Zoe! Sorry you had difficulty with my Flickr page.
      https://www.flickr.com/photos/124963000@N08/17216621105/
      Sometimes this internet thingie can get tempramental, you know? Thanks for persevering! Got your email goodies, thank you! Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  7. Good job on trying to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Your hand and world composition perfectly evoke the ethos of. Earth Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Brand New CZT Suzanne! I appreciate your kindnesses. It's like Kermit the Frog says, "It's not easy being GREEN." But I have to try! Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  8. I really like your Whole World in His Hand tile - great idea for the Amanda challenge! Your other tiles are wonderful too. I still love your idea with the zinchies :-) And your inchie to "octopus" is so special. Very nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra, ich danke Ihnen für Ihre freundlichen worte und wertschätzung. Haben ein brillanter tag! c

      Delete
  9. The whole world on recycled paper is beautiful and genius! Nice design. Sarah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Sarah! It was the first thought that came to my mind, so the tough part was the execution. I always have plenty of recyclables and that only seemed fitting...Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete
  10. I came to see your submissions for this week (which are just so lovely) and loved the post so much that I stayed to wander the blog, which is wonderful! Thank you for sharing so much of yourself on these pages.

    I can't wait to come back and for another visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Becky, I am so glad you enjoyed my work and my words enough to meander around. I know there are plenty of ways an individual can devote their time and that you chose to spend it here with me is just awesome! I'll be sure to check out your blog and see what you're up to. Have a brilliant day! c

      Delete