Snapdragon, Artist Block and WordPress 3.0

I am crazy about snapdragons, so don’t be surprised if every now and then a snapdragon (click to see all snaps) appears on this blog. I really liked the painterly background of this shot. I might have used it for Ruby Tuesday if it weren’t already close to Wednesday.

So, anyone out there using WordPress 3.0 now? So far I’ve updated 5 blogs to WordPress 3.0, and everything went very smoothly. Looking forward to trying out the new default WordPress theme.

I’ve wanted to paint a watercolor, but 1) I’ve been busy like crazy, with work, with family, and unfortunately a young friend needs to have surgery tomorrow. We expect it will go smoothly. And 2) I need inspiration. I am inspired to photograph nature, but not to paint it right now. I like painting Jewish holiday subjects. The next important day on the Jewish calendar is the 17th of Tammuz, which is a fast day when Jerusalem was surrounded many, many years ago. Hmm. Yes, artist block is sort of (or exactly) like writer’s block. I don’t seem to have writer’s block. Probably because on a blog one has permission to ramble. At least on this blog I give myself permission to do so.

So in terms of why I have artist’s block, it’s really more 2) than 1). If I were really motivated, I would be staying up all night working on a watercolor. Or at least spending five minutes on a watercolor.

Today’s Flower: Purple Verbena

I have always admired the low-lying flower verbena, and this year I have it in my front yard, nestled among white alyssum, orange marigold, pink begonia and yellow rudbeckia.

For more flowers, visit:

Review with Nasturtium and Rudbeckia

Busy, crazy week – birthday boom bash for my daughter on Sunday, busy, busy, busy with work, then this morning my daughter wakes up with a fever and a virus! The nerve of her – I hope she gets better soon. She is missing the last two days of school.

On My Blog

Where the Fortress Looms: After discovering the fabled Ruin Rui in Ruins, Patrick finds mutated pins and dead racers everywhere. Bruce is the last rebel left. Or is he?

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere

• Ilana-Davita teaches us about the philosophy questions in France. Here are a few: Can a scientific truth be dangerous? Can art exist without rules? Is the role of a historian to judge?
• Ima2Seven called this post Health Nuts but of course I think the people who are nuts are the ones eating the junk food. It’s been a big struggle for me to get my family to eat healthier. I told my daughter I wanted to bring apples and carrots for a party (not being totally serious), and she told me the other kids would laugh at her (they seriously would).
• Dr. Weil on ADHD Without Drugs
• Jew Wishes reviewed The Story of a Life by Aharon Appelfeld.
• Therapy Doc writes about depression and loss in I’m Not Depressed.

Upcoming on this blog: An interview with someone who has experience managing and helping out with a shiva house

Eggs with Sepia Touch

I photographed the eggs, desaturated the photo, selected just the eggs, then applied a bit of sepia color to them.

Why am I photographing eggs? Perhaps because:

• My mother painted eggs.
• I am studying more about shiva, the Jewish mourning period after a close relative dies, and eggs are the traditional dish eaten by the mourner at the beginning of shiva. Eggs represent the cycle of life.
• Eggs are simple and beautiful.

For more sepia photos, visit:

Window Shopping in Deal

My daughter and I went window shopping in Deal, New Jersey (all the stores were closed at the time – it was a Sunday night – not that we would have bought anything, anyway) a few weeks ago. We had eaten at the local kosher Chinese Japanese restaurant. You would not catch me wearing any of these shoes. Mine are much closer to the ground.

Here is my daughter striking a pose in front of a children’s clothing shop.

For more photos with a little or a lot of red, visit: