tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79904985159819060402024-02-19T21:33:12.868-05:00The Decorated TreeThere’s no better celebration of any season than the decorated tree adorned with the rich symbolism of nature and the promise of renewal. This is my ritual to inform and inspire you in the journey we call life.darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-4650219708736989062018-04-01T17:25:00.000-04:002018-04-03T16:50:51.847-04:00sunrise spring, a blue moon and Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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THIS YEAR in the northern hemisphere the first day of Spring or Vernal Equinox fell on Tuesday March, 2oth. The equinox marks the day when day and night are the same lengths all over the world, with the word equinox literally meaning ‘equal night’ in Latin.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ7gGLIxLzgIX5_cLzlwuP-Ol_c-vFrUA5KkKyKl6Dux62-lwdGgoWu9qEwt_0JDVlTgHgzZLxoX87nAW9ejkDxsJPuLqyQcXCWOoSJvMr_Cxva7E7rRZc0DEIY0hu2GqL9FYccG-mYD7/s1600/Stonhenge.Spring.2018.426.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ7gGLIxLzgIX5_cLzlwuP-Ol_c-vFrUA5KkKyKl6Dux62-lwdGgoWu9qEwt_0JDVlTgHgzZLxoX87nAW9ejkDxsJPuLqyQcXCWOoSJvMr_Cxva7E7rRZc0DEIY0hu2GqL9FYccG-mYD7/s1600/Stonhenge.Spring.2018.426.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I WAS FORTUNATE to witness an open-access event this year at sunrise on the vernal equinox to celebrate and welcome the new spring. Everyone is allowed into the center of the monument (or Druid temple) to witness the sunrise. A pre-dawn ceremony is usually led by some of the most well-known of the modern Druids. It was a sublime and happy experience I'll never forget. It seems that world peace is what the Druids wish for the most. That, and the protection of Stonehenge as sacred place of honor to the ancient Druids that were buried there.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ONCE IN A BLUE MOON | It's not often you see a blue bunny. Metaphorically, that would describe the magical experience I had at Stonehenge and then realizing just last night was a full moon—a blue moon.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A FULL BLUE MOON rose into the evening sky last night (March 31). This will be the second and final blue moon of 2018. Despite the name, the "Blue Moon" it isn't actually blue. In fact, it looked the same as any other </span><a href="https://www.space.com/16830-full-moon-calendar.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">full moon</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. According to the current definition, the term refers to the second full moon in a given calendar month. The traditional definition of a blue moon was reserved for the third full moon in a season that has four full moons, which happens in years that have 13 full moons instead of the usual 12.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SPRINGTIME BUNNY | This f</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">acsimile</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> of </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">n old met</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">l chocol</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">te bunny mold fits in nicely </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mong </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ll the symbols of fertility </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nd rebirth during the E</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ster </span></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>holiday. The small foil-wrapped chocolate eggs are from a Sainsbury's grocery in London.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THIS COSMIC SERIES OF EVENTS culminates with Easter which took place this weekend from Good Friday on March 30 until Easter Monday on April 2, making Easter Sunday fall today on April 1, which is also April Fool's day (which some say dates back to 1564—when France officially changed its calendar to the modern Gregorian version—moving the celebration of the New Year from the last week of March to January 1). These </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">are interesting times indeed.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />THE DE</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">TH OF JESUS occurred around the Jewish passover, which is traditionally held on first full moon following the vernal equinox. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the full moon can vary in each time zone, the church said that they would use the 14th day of the lunar month instead – the Paschal full moon—and celebrate Easter day on the following Sunday. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once the date of the full moon is known, Easter day and the Easter holidays are determined.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TREATS OF THE SEASON</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of this multi-level reson</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nce in the Old World, E</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">aster in the UK </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and other Europe</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an nations celebrate in a big way. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ll the stores—even convenience stores </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nd superm</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rkets—have </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">am</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">zing E</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ster treats. I brought </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quite </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a few home to </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">photograph </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nd sh</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re here.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WILD </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BOUT H</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RRODS | F</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ncy stuff here </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t H</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rrods in London, including these beautifully meticulously-decorated spicy biscuits (amazingly delicious also) from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carelessbiscuitco/">C</a></span></b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/carelessbiscuitco/"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">reless Biscuit Comp</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ny </span></b></a><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">a</b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nd tiny chocolate eggs in pastel hues.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="text-align: left;">EGGCENTRIC SELFRIDGES | Selfridges of London h</span>a<span style="text-align: left;">d the most uni</span><span style="text-align: start;">q</span><span style="text-align: left;">ue collection of E</span>a<span style="text-align: left;">ster tre</span>a<span style="text-align: left;">ts such as the </span><span style="text-align: left;">chocolate speckled eggs above.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3sCJSgLbY_KlilzZLFqQPqoOcoiFpVlkSw1EOk_RZ5q4SdV1kxwVlg_aD7-lkr8-KyUxnP9YgQgY_tboSfdV2sUDRUK6ylsXc74jU6ms492Q6C6SnqxazyKieuKU55AWjQ80R_kyPg7l/s1600/Fortnums.Easter.2018.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3sCJSgLbY_KlilzZLFqQPqoOcoiFpVlkSw1EOk_RZ5q4SdV1kxwVlg_aD7-lkr8-KyUxnP9YgQgY_tboSfdV2sUDRUK6ylsXc74jU6ms492Q6C6SnqxazyKieuKU55AWjQ80R_kyPg7l/s1600/Fortnums.Easter.2018.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">WH</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">T'S THE TE</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">? | London's Fortnum &</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"> M</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">son, in </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">ddition to the finest selections of </span></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>te</b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a they </b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">re known for, </b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">h</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">d the most eleg</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">nt E</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ster finery.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OBRJZ3UPIhg9-P1osIgZAYWi-R1yjOtxrBc12rP69Rfmc0DUXAchBG0qkmJg2WoXYHWd5gqMFw_kg4RXVCf2LtIQ4qrZwaOixaTtHxve9_XgW1JXrX598vjCQpJWiX9nQWi-AaJHh2LO/s1600/EASTER.2018.SUNRISE_4.chicken.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OBRJZ3UPIhg9-P1osIgZAYWi-R1yjOtxrBc12rP69Rfmc0DUXAchBG0qkmJg2WoXYHWd5gqMFw_kg4RXVCf2LtIQ4qrZwaOixaTtHxve9_XgW1JXrX598vjCQpJWiX9nQWi-AaJHh2LO/s1600/EASTER.2018.SUNRISE_4.chicken.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">CHICKEN </span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">ND THE EGGS | From Windsor </span></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Castle came these creamy delicious p</b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>stel eggs. A </b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">delicious Northern-It</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">li</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">n restaurant named Carluccio's in London is where I bought this </b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">white </b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">chocolate chicken. </span></b></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrVIwUUwiIt-3_waG3WjLoyzGwgiuAnGaxPf9VskKt-h252g8JvYz_ll4e_9p5GvSVju038iajIn1-7mkcAfw2EUXzA2PCGGbjo-lFzR8XeBpesPny9AYtw1PJnATjw5mSVYkCoa8kH3G/s1600/EASTER.2018.SUNRISE_6.lrge.egg.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrVIwUUwiIt-3_waG3WjLoyzGwgiuAnGaxPf9VskKt-h252g8JvYz_ll4e_9p5GvSVju038iajIn1-7mkcAfw2EUXzA2PCGGbjo-lFzR8XeBpesPny9AYtw1PJnATjw5mSVYkCoa8kH3G/s1600/EASTER.2018.SUNRISE_6.lrge.egg.426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">A</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ST, BUT NOT LE</b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A</b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ST | This fabulous whole chocolate egg, when broken for the holiday contains creamy chocolate-c</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">a</b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">r</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">a</b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mel robin eggs and bits of chocolate to make it interesting. From the supermarket called Waitrose in London.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©201<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED </b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">collecting, photography </span></b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-1003746027703109072017-12-25T00:06:00.001-05:002020-12-02T16:27:15.677-05:00hope dies last<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTl41ssGrsaCicUIv6O6JGJrVZSQHOAxJqOQTyZk98mKSWvWWxKniNQxlPv2bmp5DXhU2JY4zAuo3Mz37lqkZ2uuv7WWTtAOOL1AKwRts0N_pgVZ861V8TxxAcUJ7oC41qnUurb8BQXsM/s1600/IMG_4403.tree.2017.sm.426.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTl41ssGrsaCicUIv6O6JGJrVZSQHOAxJqOQTyZk98mKSWvWWxKniNQxlPv2bmp5DXhU2JY4zAuo3Mz37lqkZ2uuv7WWTtAOOL1AKwRts0N_pgVZ861V8TxxAcUJ7oC41qnUurb8BQXsM/s1600/IMG_4403.tree.2017.sm.426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE VERY ESSENCE of a Christmas tree is a physical meditation of hope for the renewal that spring brings. Our world seems to be having a long, hard winter right now, but hope springs eternal, as it always does. We have to hold onto that with our loved ones and the friends in our lives that see the world as we want it to be, even when its not Christmas. This ritual of hope is embodied in <i><a href="http://www.blurb.com/b/3433522-the-decorated-tree">The Decorated Tree</a></i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THIS TREE, with woodland creatures, birds, stars, hearts and moons hidden in its branches embodies the magic of the season. Although it doesn't take anything this elaborate to find the spirit of Christmas, it can be as simple as a single candle, for us to reflect on what's important. The people in our lives, our special relationships with our pets, and remembrance of loved ones that are no longer with us, are all what makes the season meaningful.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOw6oIaBQHlk-AS3oJP2OHjd9opy_PVDkaYHCrrMpCiTO9XWLkcnWqLCmQ9iC9SLDa4mLC-D0mtUAuaBfMFftcPDpQ-X5A_TaGHg3Zu7R6UaMKg1h54Sb-dKvfT9oU9iztsvyNpOXIBYKO/s1600/IMG_4465.Christmas.2017.Overall.Closer.426.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOw6oIaBQHlk-AS3oJP2OHjd9opy_PVDkaYHCrrMpCiTO9XWLkcnWqLCmQ9iC9SLDa4mLC-D0mtUAuaBfMFftcPDpQ-X5A_TaGHg3Zu7R6UaMKg1h54Sb-dKvfT9oU9iztsvyNpOXIBYKO/s1600/IMG_4465.Christmas.2017.Overall.Closer.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I THINK I've achieved some of that with this tree. It may be one of my favorites because it is imbued with the hope and light of the season in a playful way— having a lot of delightful surprises scattered throughout. But the theme is consistent — a magical mix of things that could make even the hardest of hearts happy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoNWg25fWPj9MVaOyToZjd30ureaGwRTj-HY3TnTB45MmSg6ILW4UV9YEYb3ZEhk5toVnyeZxnGV0-S6tj2eJck_a6WlS8PIvEDyqCeojyvkbOYGvehRe4SWdfjZRwH1hrX3MoLrNIM4y/s1600/IMG_4312.2017.Christmas.Globe.426.crop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoNWg25fWPj9MVaOyToZjd30ureaGwRTj-HY3TnTB45MmSg6ILW4UV9YEYb3ZEhk5toVnyeZxnGV0-S6tj2eJck_a6WlS8PIvEDyqCeojyvkbOYGvehRe4SWdfjZRwH1hrX3MoLrNIM4y/s1600/IMG_4312.2017.Christmas.Globe.426.crop.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IT WAS A VICTORY of spirit for the world way back in late 1944 in the WWII Battle of the Bulge, and my brave father was part of it. During the wake of the Allied forces' successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, it seemed as if the Second World War was all but over. On Dec. 16, with the onset of winter, the German army launched a counteroffensive that was intended to cut through the Allied forces in a manner that would turn the tide of the war in Hitler's favor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCch1sbFO15oE_t0mansrEDw1zgvBLa5l9So7jtlMiPsdXH_fearPM5FQpGW0algHGKPwv4dyomStN31DO75sIBZyh7zXbOYTkEMvz82gPbfKDmim6U3rwDTO1HhiA2TsvWfIlfICMqRH6/s1600/IMG_4322.Christmas.2017.StarJewel.crop.426.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCch1sbFO15oE_t0mansrEDw1zgvBLa5l9So7jtlMiPsdXH_fearPM5FQpGW0algHGKPwv4dyomStN31DO75sIBZyh7zXbOYTkEMvz82gPbfKDmim6U3rwDTO1HhiA2TsvWfIlfICMqRH6/s1600/IMG_4322.Christmas.2017.StarJewel.crop.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE BATTLE that ensued known historically as the Battle of the Bulge was on, and the courage and fortitude of American soldiers like my father was sorely tested. Nevertheless, the the ultimate response meant the victory of freedom over tyranny (at least for many decades in this country).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I REMEMBER my father every year at this time. He told me how cold it was in the trenches in the snow-covered Ardennes forest in Belgium and how Patton was his hero because he saved his troop from the cold. That's why I continue with The Resistance in the battle we're now facing with the current presidential fiasco at hand.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatprtAK-bMtmkoxqr72XPjcVyZ4-TQvOqBUDvKUOT6H7KkSMWvb92kXUKOYJ3y2msc53gBHnS8PrutiNz3ru0Rz905alWcZkwhbpHFU0hMk9-S46rdEZ6jqdoUreFPv9DERgshAks_Tsi/s1600/IMG_4353.Christmas.2017.Balloon.426.crop.sm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatprtAK-bMtmkoxqr72XPjcVyZ4-TQvOqBUDvKUOT6H7KkSMWvb92kXUKOYJ3y2msc53gBHnS8PrutiNz3ru0Rz905alWcZkwhbpHFU0hMk9-S46rdEZ6jqdoUreFPv9DERgshAks_Tsi/s1600/IMG_4353.Christmas.2017.Balloon.426.crop.sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">AND SO, WITH HOPE, and my fight right here in our own country, my father's service won't have been in vain. The current political climate turns a blind eye to the fight of greed over goodness. Hope truly dies last, and I won't let history repeat itself if I can help, in my own small way, to put an end to it. America was great then, but it has become only a hollow slogan now, if we don't back it up with the best of our better angels. I intend to do all I can to make that happen. It's my way of keeping my father's spirit alive.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vFDwB35tZyxvGzDEXdOso8ayCZCwGoHAdwJYi2mVhKbEZtFfchX6pX8TblN5wXmDfafQC0MZhreo336X97cutqF4vmnHxcaqeW_EBIW2ussBBHPwXnawkKECxuApFDSEi5Q8SYy_P9VB/s1600/IMG_4336.Christmas.2017.Glass.Reindeer.426.sm.crop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vFDwB35tZyxvGzDEXdOso8ayCZCwGoHAdwJYi2mVhKbEZtFfchX6pX8TblN5wXmDfafQC0MZhreo336X97cutqF4vmnHxcaqeW_EBIW2ussBBHPwXnawkKECxuApFDSEi5Q8SYy_P9VB/s1600/IMG_4336.Christmas.2017.Glass.Reindeer.426.sm.crop.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PARENTS instilled in me this hope at Christmas every year of my childhood and it made the strongest of impressions. So I'd like to part with this quote from Joan Winmill Brown: "When Christmas Day comes, there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes."</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: #660000;"><b>©201<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">7</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED </b></span><b style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-4060916043122667762017-04-16T09:25:00.002-04:002017-04-16T12:08:21.863-04:00a golden easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbauZTw8uHYWdTJxO3fuSfP6rH8LIl9fBVYcrnqbP8XCrG433m31y-8eDmsj33L3xAT7kKdwECrAIm6jrXeR6Zmz-xo6t8_4UptJMsFdIMSFJlUXDnkHrq7CqrxmBsp2bWli9cAM_F6Ic/s1600/Easter+Tree.2017.IMG_4259.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbauZTw8uHYWdTJxO3fuSfP6rH8LIl9fBVYcrnqbP8XCrG433m31y-8eDmsj33L3xAT7kKdwECrAIm6jrXeR6Zmz-xo6t8_4UptJMsFdIMSFJlUXDnkHrq7CqrxmBsp2bWli9cAM_F6Ic/s1600/Easter+Tree.2017.IMG_4259.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbauZTw8uHYWdTJxO3fuSfP6rH8LIl9fBVYcrnqbP8XCrG433m31y-8eDmsj33L3xAT7kKdwECrAIm6jrXeR6Zmz-xo6t8_4UptJMsFdIMSFJlUXDnkHrq7CqrxmBsp2bWli9cAM_F6Ic/s1600/Easter+Tree.2017.IMG_4259.sm.426.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SPRING CAME EARLY this year. We all needed this, whether it was by design or if Mother <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">N</span>ature was sounding her alarms. The ephemeral quality of the warmth brought to us this time of year gives us the hope for a rebirth of our spirits and the dedication to embracing the miraculous transformation we have the privilege to watch unfold before us. The delicate flowers of spring bring hope to the forefront<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZCKWVgcoeNiP9ImZgwgthmQ_7j7pBmSPwzPNYQG5Aq8Cj5kz-YeIB-JdmB94ZK3wAPggjMyaxN9JMdNR3ND_aV1YUxIxnpaKHl1rYpIInG3TjuGa-IqrRyYyaOAfBitX_xRci5QQr9R9/s1600/Turquoise.Bunny.IMG_4268.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZCKWVgcoeNiP9ImZgwgthmQ_7j7pBmSPwzPNYQG5Aq8Cj5kz-YeIB-JdmB94ZK3wAPggjMyaxN9JMdNR3ND_aV1YUxIxnpaKHl1rYpIInG3TjuGa-IqrRyYyaOAfBitX_xRci5QQr9R9/s1600/Turquoise.Bunny.IMG_4268.sm.426.jpg" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>ANIMAL SPIRIT: If spring has an animal spirit, it's definitely the Easter bunny! This one may or may not have hung the tree above with eggs. </b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WHEN WE WERE KIDS, the anticipation of the Easter bunny leaving us a basket filled with saccharine-sweet confections was only outshone by Santa at Christmastime. In a lot of ways, the fresh nature of spring was always brighter, if not bolder, than the winter holiday. Easter baskets are now linked with the Easter holiday, while ancient<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">religions determine our date with the new season of growth. Easter Sunday is always </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">determined to be the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPyBNHOK54WeVcNx1-GeyXr-yMjaHj_lF0ZxMHrwaM-oMM_aXrgqPy3f8dEfOQNVxp9YhDEPrgI-EXXu3oueniLt7iO5O4T3zwtsbGHsoB7s58Kx28DMLChCCCmTpxW3cUPviDKnQFwWi/s1600/Easter+Spread.IMG_4174.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPyBNHOK54WeVcNx1-GeyXr-yMjaHj_lF0ZxMHrwaM-oMM_aXrgqPy3f8dEfOQNVxp9YhDEPrgI-EXXu3oueniLt7iO5O4T3zwtsbGHsoB7s58Kx28DMLChCCCmTpxW3cUPviDKnQFwWi/s1600/Easter+Spread.IMG_4174.sm.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>BUNNY TALES: These beautiful bunny chocolates made locally (in Atlanta) by <a href="https://jardichocolates.com/pages/about-us">Pastry Chef Jocelyn Gragg</a> of <a href="https://www.jardichocolates.com/">Jardí Chocolates</a> are some of the most delicately beautiful and delicious I've seen (or eaten). When you buy an "Easter Adoption Box" of them, the profits go to local House Rabbit Societies all across the country. Crossing the pond, you can find these bunny tails from Great Britain's <a href="http://www.charbonnel.co.uk/">Charbonnel et Walker</a>, which are actually Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles (by appointment to Her Majesty, The Queen, no less). </b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">AS ADULTS, we develop a taste for a more sophisticated way of celebrating the season if there are no kids around. I've gathered a trio of delectable chocolate confections for this Easter spread. The most exciting find was the beautiful handmade chocolate bunnies. But the Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles, I'm calling bunny tails, just for fun, because the kid in me is still there. No Easter is complete without chocolate eggs. These are infused with a heady 60% dark chocolate combined with a blood orange/olive oil mix<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpWuAYvrbSW_ADALmThz9EX4Sbz4wsdXP129hA5adrH0Q52B-gxZiMxYHSAyU7skTrPjCMGeQbWq5esgwRLssZMelYhbr1kKKr2pdl89KXzigA9PhNADWf31vjYRa_ZEqoKA-IA6MkBoj/s1600/Chocolate.Eggs.IMG_4197.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpWuAYvrbSW_ADALmThz9EX4Sbz4wsdXP129hA5adrH0Q52B-gxZiMxYHSAyU7skTrPjCMGeQbWq5esgwRLssZMelYhbr1kKKr2pdl89KXzigA9PhNADWf31vjYRa_ZEqoKA-IA6MkBoj/s1600/Chocolate.Eggs.IMG_4197.sm.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>EGG COMPLEXITY: These molded small batch eggs are from local Atlanta <a href="http://www.xocolatlchocolate.com/">XOCOLATL Chocolate</a> and are made of dark chocolate, blood orange, olive oil and packaged in a jar with crystallized ginger. </b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">WHILE EASTER BASKETS of the ancient religions were based on the cycle of growth in spring. Farmers gathered seedlings of their new crops in baskets for blessings for a successful year. Modern Christian baskets symbolized the end of Lenten fasting, when we feast on a large Easter meal. That feast had its beginnings with that meal being brought to the church in large baskets for blessings by the priests.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNUXILnGOZrA7L8jetpsux8WYV5kA1G4GJjdjfZkV539vLrRNgVz6t-XyPbe-7zKIONuH6JFOqYFyV3qYmugciO-be3uLjtU4V097mg95R6zFblZQ9wECrntzVFmGbslW4m0MV4Jk558B/s1600/Egg.Ornament.IMG_4271.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNUXILnGOZrA7L8jetpsux8WYV5kA1G4GJjdjfZkV539vLrRNgVz6t-XyPbe-7zKIONuH6JFOqYFyV3qYmugciO-be3uLjtU4V097mg95R6zFblZQ9wECrntzVFmGbslW4m0MV4Jk558B/s1600/Egg.Ornament.IMG_4271.sm.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>SYMBOLS OF ABUNDANCE: These marbelized eggs were combined with </b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>papier mâché eggs gilded with gold foil for my Easter tree.</b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7_knAYj4_FZ564uMFJqBejRcdpEWxPx0YkJ_itNPPjPUs2B8_2FHi7lum8xiN-G0BIXwmxpGH661Ons4Gk-i0yZSxKbJNqO-L09sz9wT9o-m1P6T-hI0qoLv9ghs6WlTwtcdVochkNlq/s1600/Screenshot+2017-04-16+09.41.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7_knAYj4_FZ564uMFJqBejRcdpEWxPx0YkJ_itNPPjPUs2B8_2FHi7lum8xiN-G0BIXwmxpGH661Ons4Gk-i0yZSxKbJNqO-L09sz9wT9o-m1P6T-hI0qoLv9ghs6WlTwtcdVochkNlq/s1600/Screenshot+2017-04-16+09.41.42.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GOLDEN EGGS</span>: <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gold<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-leafing <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is a su<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rprisingly simple process, but it takes a bit of time and pa<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tience as any craft does. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The reward is worth it. I used papier </span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>mâché eggs<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> as a bas<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">e.</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OarrmZK2_HY1YgAXRzJVWbJcvtbLSDAdQldPhVLL_pG0kq9qGBc09aboajXfA76EKiNEwEyyzLAZeZUx6OKjqSvvD93ZMjNjni-Iaqjto1XbKLncpcvUe5tqQ2iUHf2fs6sxphpmIxSI/s1600/Daffodils.IMG_4201.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OarrmZK2_HY1YgAXRzJVWbJcvtbLSDAdQldPhVLL_pG0kq9qGBc09aboajXfA76EKiNEwEyyzLAZeZUx6OKjqSvvD93ZMjNjni-Iaqjto1XbKLncpcvUe5tqQ2iUHf2fs6sxphpmIxSI/s1600/Daffodils.IMG_4201.sm.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GOL<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">DEN DAFFODILS</span></span>: My father loved sprin<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">g more than any season. These delicate yellow daffodils are a happy reminder of him.</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">My Easter tree is usually only adorned with eggs. Some are marbelized and some are gilded with gold foil to celebrate the rebirth and renewal of the season. Eggs are the ultimate symbol of that. And bunnies are a symbol of fertility and hope for the continued tradition of celebrating Mother Earth's miraculous yearly rebirth.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>©201<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></b></span><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-28241338558356704112016-12-25T02:22:00.002-05:002016-12-25T02:27:13.282-05:00a long winter's night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-poBCNiC1GJhbcPU-nuXUsgSrZqNkjowt-t-3FDcUIo1tWeMMjaJchBVAX9pqLwzRxZlMaNSL1Xc5S_f8kKXnmm469chzoc0Q9wKcjPyaFgTAe9y4N5kYyVEzgOx4KAwaeywaJCdMEy2/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_74.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-poBCNiC1GJhbcPU-nuXUsgSrZqNkjowt-t-3FDcUIo1tWeMMjaJchBVAX9pqLwzRxZlMaNSL1Xc5S_f8kKXnmm469chzoc0Q9wKcjPyaFgTAe9y4N5kYyVEzgOx4KAwaeywaJCdMEy2/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_74.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-poBCNiC1GJhbcPU-nuXUsgSrZqNkjowt-t-3FDcUIo1tWeMMjaJchBVAX9pqLwzRxZlMaNSL1Xc5S_f8kKXnmm469chzoc0Q9wKcjPyaFgTAe9y4N5kYyVEzgOx4KAwaeywaJCdMEy2/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_74.blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"I don't know what I may seem to the world, but as to myself. I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."</i></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">—SIR ISAAC NEWTON</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEZI-Bt9S2KPLLbmWZAhyphenhyphensvGRAWEQ1D_F7r7fYRGsBNhmxNdrpp-NJGLUSacv6I320gMWF5tnL1ks3R72ZfhnfZZFh2LD-MsgdF6Ua6wQZevKHvbE4z5z4PXBFYPk-ocWjS5cSzfaaFi7/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_83.squirrel.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEZI-Bt9S2KPLLbmWZAhyphenhyphensvGRAWEQ1D_F7r7fYRGsBNhmxNdrpp-NJGLUSacv6I320gMWF5tnL1ks3R72ZfhnfZZFh2LD-MsgdF6Ua6wQZevKHvbE4z5z4PXBFYPk-ocWjS5cSzfaaFi7/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_83.squirrel.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SQUI<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">R<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RELING</span></span></span> AWAY</span></b><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span></span></b><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We all know what squirrels do<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> when getting ready for winter in gathering nuts, but this squirrel is saving a <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">for abundance—the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fertile pinecone. This sets the tone for the whole idea<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> behin<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">d the tre<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">e.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">FINDING THE EXQUISITE in my quest to adorn a tree that inspires me, and in the process, others, is a sometimes a formidable process of searching and seeking. As an art director, this is my <i>modus operandi</i>—my particular way or method of doing things. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gAJWHcnMJcn_5b1wc-I1eMPGMqVgnJ1rWPoWSV3UEWJw2vnJB-P6sFb73Fpsttd3qKv9gobxY845TfHxbAEx2r2T2LiuAiGnf-xCQJ22Th7SdKVZ4H75f8KDrhoFgZD_hKEcVKHiP9cC/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_100.collect.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gAJWHcnMJcn_5b1wc-I1eMPGMqVgnJ1rWPoWSV3UEWJw2vnJB-P6sFb73Fpsttd3qKv9gobxY845TfHxbAEx2r2T2LiuAiGnf-xCQJ22Th7SdKVZ4H75f8KDrhoFgZD_hKEcVKHiP9cC/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_100.collect.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">COLLECTOR'S P<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ALETTE</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once I de<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">cide on <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a theme for a tree, I hunt and sort through years of my collection to find the perfect combinat<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ion of color and texture—sometimes buying a few new <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ornaments.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> W</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hile de<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">corating the tree, I edit further <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">as I carefully place each ornament<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> in relation to the others around it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THIS TREE </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">brings together many pieces of many years of collecting, as I dug deep into my storage space this year to find the perfect palette of baubles to achieve the effect of a long winter's night, after I found a wintry flocked tree that spoke to me.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxWhxcEe5D90WHF3JlRM6vnGZbMDF_P8NqdDED62bhn1MhSm6lK0xSjPOgiRz57Srtkx7GR5sJ9zEWxkQzyHK3ka678Gg75Q3M_t83K0ef8Fs0LE2dF2Pk5EPBDfmuFB9_oadv9zbZBKY/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_114.star.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxWhxcEe5D90WHF3JlRM6vnGZbMDF_P8NqdDED62bhn1MhSm6lK0xSjPOgiRz57Srtkx7GR5sJ9zEWxkQzyHK3ka678Gg75Q3M_t83K0ef8Fs0LE2dF2Pk5EPBDfmuFB9_oadv9zbZBKY/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_114.star.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">S<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">TAR<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> SIGNS</span></span></span></span></b><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The constellations <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">in the night s<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ky</span></span> inspir<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ed Martin Luther to place the first lights on a tree in the way of small candles<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> as legend would have it. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A candlelit tree is like no other, but saf<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ety and convenience<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> r<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ule the day<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE CHRISTMAS TREE has always been a ritual to conjure the following spring, just in case there has been an upheaval in the natural order of things, as it has this year. By Christmas day, we're several days past Winter Solstice and the nights are already becoming shorter and the days longer.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReTY6dAfQQ6qvRZyRFjir2FulzAp1UikUDPnwqpljsNSE83Z-gOu1lyub6gSaS1oGi78DKdVDiJxrG-ECcK-0F9iF1G6cQXzpCIFio0bPXTu-VBT64egq08LcUy-TtdedtXhFBsQn_kdB/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_115.winter.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReTY6dAfQQ6qvRZyRFjir2FulzAp1UikUDPnwqpljsNSE83Z-gOu1lyub6gSaS1oGi78DKdVDiJxrG-ECcK-0F9iF1G6cQXzpCIFio0bPXTu-VBT64egq08LcUy-TtdedtXhFBsQn_kdB/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_115.winter.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WINTRY MIX</span></span></span></b><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Glass beaded</span> Czechoslovakian stars, glass icicles and milky glass <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">orbs combine to <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">form a cool textural mix<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WINTER MAY BE the most unnerving season of them all because everything seems to seemingly die all around us. But the light of the universe keeps luring and coaxing life to burst forth again every year as spring arrives. This is why we celebrate Christmas the way we do. Whether it's the Christ Child, or just the human spirit, it matters not.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfmIYc9tmzn-oAqPg0KemFUGz5dCGUBY6iHqzZdTRctrlwzP3571T9Xebd0YIBDeE798lLYsKpFZTp1CK0hDFmAfko4m14OPfdoa0_fDUWAf326zPZOJP6Pgb8aOzvqC-1nZObWepwxUI/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_112.paper.star.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfmIYc9tmzn-oAqPg0KemFUGz5dCGUBY6iHqzZdTRctrlwzP3571T9Xebd0YIBDeE798lLYsKpFZTp1CK0hDFmAfko4m14OPfdoa0_fDUWAf326zPZOJP6Pgb8aOzvqC-1nZObWepwxUI/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_112.paper.star.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WINTER INTO SPRING</span></b></span><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Starry winter<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>nights <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">be<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">come</span></span> shorter as the spring encroaches<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">with longer days.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">IT'S QUITE MIRACULOUS how this happens, but we, still as mortal beings, feel the need to find a ritual that somehow seems a necessary process to usher things forward, even though we know we are not always the better for it in the short term. It's necessary to push through the bad, and to rediscover the good in the long term.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBDMGMeMyHbaXIUkpvfebuTQfrRK-PdPhEvOAfNMyY_uPU7fUCu9VB2paWWgCnWl603sjqZck1kqbu_iSfJ3U-GYsmKaWWvTt0nAVddflDQrN7gX7vwTG19INhDUCzf_WVB8fwqa43YfU/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_70.bottlebrush.blog.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBDMGMeMyHbaXIUkpvfebuTQfrRK-PdPhEvOAfNMyY_uPU7fUCu9VB2paWWgCnWl603sjqZck1kqbu_iSfJ3U-GYsmKaWWvTt0nAVddflDQrN7gX7vwTG19INhDUCzf_WVB8fwqa43YfU/s1600/Christmas+2016.WintersNight_70.bottlebrush.blog.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FUN FOREST</span></b></span><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> | </span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The proliferation of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">newer iterations of vintage<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-style bottle<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">brush trees <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">in the past f<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ew years ha<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">s been a welcome <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">sight<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Playfully-gathered on a cake stand, they <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">create</span> quite a presence.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THAT'S WHAT the Christmas holiday means to me and why <i>The Decorated Tree</i> has become an exquisite ritual for me—one that can "excite intense delight or admiration," as explained in <i>The Oxford English Dictionary</i>. My winter tree is always a meditation and an actual physical altar <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">that represents the will to keep hope alive.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>©2016 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> SP<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ECIAL NOTE | </span><i>This real silver tip tree ha<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">s been flocked with an environmentally <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">safe flocking material made from corn starch, boron, and wood pulp and <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is safe enough to <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">compost <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">aft<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">er the holidays a<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">re over.</span></span></span> (From <a href="http://www.pikenursery.com/">Pike<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>Nurser<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ies</span></a> in Atlanta).</span></span></span></span></i></span></b></b></span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-64774830511260561982016-12-01T16:58:00.002-05:002016-12-02T14:27:56.047-05:00tree in the city<div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I GREW UP in a small town near Gadsden, Alabama (where I was born) called Hokes Bluff. I spent my formative years there — childhood, kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, and high school. It was a small close-knit community and I still have many lifetime friends that have known me since I knew me. To get an idea how small, there were only 104 people in my high school graduating class. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyYTFHIeQWOT3aVMN1a9Q7Y_0TSgE2ZCyqzaYSsfmJh6P-mJl14sQyTojv6dQn10D1l94rVOF5elGe-ynvCqMtaOpV2ie7yidb5h7_FwamjzRyzc2ngqrLrZiJ-E7hkL8KXagZCyaFi8D/s1600/IMG_2987.horiz.presents.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyYTFHIeQWOT3aVMN1a9Q7Y_0TSgE2ZCyqzaYSsfmJh6P-mJl14sQyTojv6dQn10D1l94rVOF5elGe-ynvCqMtaOpV2ie7yidb5h7_FwamjzRyzc2ngqrLrZiJ-E7hkL8KXagZCyaFi8D/s1600/IMG_2987.horiz.presents.crop.426.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I WOULDN'T TRADE my small town upbringing for anything. I learned a sense of belonging and comfort that fewer and fewer people experience. Since my zodiac sign is Taurus, this sense of stability was even more important to me because we Taureans like such predictability. The "tin soldier" in this photo, standing guard under the tree reminds me of a song we played in high school band called <i>One Tin Soldier</i>. The chorus goes like this:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Go ahead and hate your neighbor, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Go ahead and cheat a friend.<br />Do it in the name of heaven, <br />You can justify it in the end.<br />There won't be any trumpets blowing, <br />Come the judgment day,<br />On the bloody morning after<br />One tin soldier rides away.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>One Tin Soldier</i> is a 1960s counterculture era anti-war song that tells the story of a hidden treasure and two neighboring tribes; the peaceful Mountain Kingdom and the warlike Valley Kingdom. Coveting the treasure of the mountains, the Valley People ultimately invade and slaughter the Mountain People. The treasure turns out to be simply three words —"Peace On Earth" — inscribed on the underside of a rock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've probably never really digested those lyrics until now. And after all this time, life has such a weird way of leading you to things that help you figure out why you've taken certain paths, when others are satisfied with the status quo. It helps when you're looking from the outside in.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP7NneWUuAYExNtsai8ttqdghDAi4JgUdeQNDuCdNhSCvmM7ftP4LKpwpZ24X_fFjWO6WhP0AEakdpvzaJj9ahJ1OBZ2W802HpYvWMGHKU635cIpiMklnNUnVBYS-A6fwYTNphru_c1Km/s1600/IMG_3035.buildings.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP7NneWUuAYExNtsai8ttqdghDAi4JgUdeQNDuCdNhSCvmM7ftP4LKpwpZ24X_fFjWO6WhP0AEakdpvzaJj9ahJ1OBZ2W802HpYvWMGHKU635cIpiMklnNUnVBYS-A6fwYTNphru_c1Km/s1600/IMG_3035.buildings.crop.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CITY LIFE: The Atlanta skyline beckoned me from safe environs in Birmingham, Alabama way back in 1994 (just before the Centennial Olympic Games were held here).</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I HAVEN'T MOVED FAR in my life from where I began, physically, at least. First, after high school, I got a visual design degree at Auburn University in Alabama. My love of magazines led me to my first job out of college in Birmingham, Alabama at <i>Southern Living</i> magazine and then <i>Cooking Light</i> magazine (which was born from a column in Southern Living). I worked at that company for 10 years before I made the "jump" to Atlanta in late 1994 — just before the Centennial Olympic Games here in 1996 — I've never really looked back. A large part of it was being queer and trying to find an accepting family far away from the family of relatives and friends who didn't quite get who I became, not by choice, but by innate preference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PARENTS WERE both blue collar workers. My mother worked at the high school lunchroom and my father had a job operating a crane at the local steel plant, which is now shuttered. It's no wonder the people who stayed behind in small towns feel marginalized now. There are fewer jobs and what was once a bustling town has fallen into decay. They rely on what is left of what was and the future looks bleaker by the day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZH0wg4UMlW6z_lFwd4vGC6f37I0XKVif2i_tZkUKscXBf9juavD8j6z09656xEXUXYfP_fQ-JfrFZc8CeHMPZl-H_xY3l1WFW5EdishuZHytiS5u__xODugrtNA0cUqDkBsfNGG2gStM/s1600/IMG_3040.indent.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZH0wg4UMlW6z_lFwd4vGC6f37I0XKVif2i_tZkUKscXBf9juavD8j6z09656xEXUXYfP_fQ-JfrFZc8CeHMPZl-H_xY3l1WFW5EdishuZHytiS5u__xODugrtNA0cUqDkBsfNGG2gStM/s1600/IMG_3040.indent.crop.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IT REMAINS A mystery to me how we got here. How could our new Twitter Troll In Chief be forming, against his claims of helping the forgotten middle class in small towns, a billionaire's club of contemptuous and out of touch cronies?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZxchUGED4Hm3cK4uQPt1wdNbURsdZpugiS0d5MHKbqv-orElUuMkiPd12wsoedUJ552uyBbTwaoIMnOCUEm5v3mpouIhGGmr57XaRmGvTN_DfM6A7I8f0-hIaP6D2lZs75R80JdkxdxK/s1600/IMG_3045.grouping.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZxchUGED4Hm3cK4uQPt1wdNbURsdZpugiS0d5MHKbqv-orElUuMkiPd12wsoedUJ552uyBbTwaoIMnOCUEm5v3mpouIhGGmr57XaRmGvTN_DfM6A7I8f0-hIaP6D2lZs75R80JdkxdxK/s1600/IMG_3045.grouping.crop.426.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PRECIOUS METAL: WWII ornaments were made with bits of silver tinsel pushed inside unsilvered glass globes to save metal for the war efforts.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE COUNTRY my father fought for in WWII is in trouble in facing the same dangers he fought against in Nazi Germany. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is truly frightening.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My father was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne that occupied Hitler's Headquarters (The Eagle's Nest) and was renowned for its role in the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne, Belgium that was finally rescued by General Patton. This battle effectively ended the war.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I see members of the new Alt Right (Neo Nazis) emboldened to raise their hands in a Hitler salute for Trump, it </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lets me know that tyranny like this can happen here. It scares me also because as a gay man that just recently was afforded the right to marry, we have an extremely anti-gay Vice President calling the shots with an inept clown at the helm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find it very hard to accept that the scourge my father fought to eliminate in WWII is in a very real way, upon us again. It is my only hope that we all realize the treasure that we all are looking for is simply "Peace on Earth" and we finally, once-and-for-all get the message that love trumps hate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>©2016 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland,</b></b></span></div>
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<b>German-style goose <a href="http://www.hometraditions.com/the_decorated_tree_alpine_feather_tree_s/1895.htm">feather tree</a> designed by me and made by </b></div>
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<b><a href="https://youtu.be/geq3KhZv3QA">Dennis Bauer</a> </b><b>is available for sale at <a href="http://www.hometraditions.com/">Home Traditions</a></b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-32175311440513700932016-10-06T00:25:00.006-04:002016-10-06T10:07:08.852-04:00the pumpkin tree<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OpyRc2B5SJhd2Sz4qXLl_-lylQKKETA0Ut_Zr6BEbr2bv_IivNaqpa7IC_UOB4KwbCfvXVI73_JgaoZ18Igz46pmYZvXqSnrT11gpVRD04Im8l29bY0jOkYhzoKhlIpYP56AUX0WRarm/s1600/Halloween.Overall.2016.L1008293.426.crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OpyRc2B5SJhd2Sz4qXLl_-lylQKKETA0Ut_Zr6BEbr2bv_IivNaqpa7IC_UOB4KwbCfvXVI73_JgaoZ18Igz46pmYZvXqSnrT11gpVRD04Im8l29bY0jOkYhzoKhlIpYP56AUX0WRarm/s1600/Halloween.Overall.2016.L1008293.426.crop.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE PUMPKIN PATCH is firmly rooted in Aut<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">umn lore<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> — even iconic. It has woven its way into the social fa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bric of Thanksgiving and Halloween. The pu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mpkin ha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s long been a symbol of our connectio<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n to the earth and a pa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ean to our <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">agrarian history. I'm only one generation away from my uncle who was a cotton farmer in Alabama. And my own father had a large garden with a neighbor every year in our community.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're missing something <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in losing that connection<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in our busy lives<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> where everyt<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hing can be ordered online, except maybe . . . pumpkins . . <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mm.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3y6ImQupaoR2obT2ijfIKotLHhA1EptqNII2IUXa5v37McawB9ktv_1tE-246-hOvXIpkhHHP2kBijAMFofRinc3E9gcJtqRtiq5uA4K3Cmd5W8yNkbxxq5MqpI3Ugy4F0kQI4kjxwXm/s1600/OTTPUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3y6ImQupaoR2obT2ijfIKotLHhA1EptqNII2IUXa5v37McawB9ktv_1tE-246-hOvXIpkhHHP2kBijAMFofRinc3E9gcJtqRtiq5uA4K3Cmd5W8yNkbxxq5MqpI3Ugy4F0kQI4kjxwXm/s1600/OTTPUM.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">AN INTRIGUING BOOK<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I've just found <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">online</span> (but haven't ordered and read y<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">), is <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">simply titled <a href="http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/OTTPUM.html"><b><i>Pumpkin</i></b></a> with the subtitle <i><b>A</b><b> Curious History of an American Icon</b></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The book</span> s</span>ounds entirely wor<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">th a r<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ead, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dovetai<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ls nicely with what I've always tried to achieve with this blog — brin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ging resonance back to the symbols of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, </span>and surrounding the decorated tree and the conn<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ections to nature</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>. <i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pumpkin</span></i> is written by Cindy Ott, an assistant professor of American Studies at Saint Louis University. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The desc<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ription reads, in part: </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="description"><i>Beginning with the myth of the first
Thanksgiving, she [Ott] shows how Americans have used the pumpkin to fulfull
their desire to maintain connections to nature and to the family farm of
lore, and, ironically, how small farms and rural communities have been
revitalized in the process. And while the pumpkin has inspired American
myths and traditions, the pumpkin itself has changed because of the ways
people have perceived, valued, and used it.</i> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="reviews"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">"This major contribution to American agricultural and sociocultural history" can be ordered online <a href="http://in%20this%20major%20contribution%20to%20american%20agricultural%20and%20sociocultural%20history/">here</a>.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko_7Ej8gJ6Gd8aC2gcOi7S8tsRxWOlpEnImrUOnsZUhStH9WWnikWHPjx8H1FKJyhQJafbOM7twDQUl81p9iiVebd5uh2s4Qh_RyKuXIKv_-jikSQ7B1JGEwLhA3BnX-5eSDCoKKbFld9/s1600/Art+Meripol.Autumn.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko_7Ej8gJ6Gd8aC2gcOi7S8tsRxWOlpEnImrUOnsZUhStH9WWnikWHPjx8H1FKJyhQJafbOM7twDQUl81p9iiVebd5uh2s4Qh_RyKuXIKv_-jikSQ7B1JGEwLhA3BnX-5eSDCoKKbFld9/s1600/Art+Meripol.Autumn.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">THE MOOD OF AUTUMN:<i> Photographer <a href="http://www.artmeripol.com/">Art Meripol</a>, my old coworker and friend from my days at </i><a href="http://www.southernliving.com/">Southern Living</a><i> magazine and </i><a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/">Cooking Light</a> <i>magazine took this photograph. Art says he photographed this little girl in a pumpkin patch near a </i></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>small town in central Missouri</i></span></span></b>. The atmospheric mystery of the photograph is palpable. With the wind blowing her hair across her face and the cloudy blue autumn sky meeting the earthy tumble of the pumpkin patch is, to me, </i></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>the quintessential image of autumn. Please visit Art's site <a href="http://www.artmeripol.com/">here</a> to find even more breathtaking imagery. </i></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16cnwNHcW1HL3srkO-c9_IYjxUO6zC87G7E1VdQMaZvM1r2P-7P8jqGszptvWTmXDxq0CPMozsYAsptaU2cUJC-kt8l8SStrZ6pFOKpeoHVop4RQCfRbBV6kJNTkGM353glDm_-Fimfxm/s1600/Halloween.2016.PumpkinTruffles.crop.FINAL.Sm.426.L1008317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16cnwNHcW1HL3srkO-c9_IYjxUO6zC87G7E1VdQMaZvM1r2P-7P8jqGszptvWTmXDxq0CPMozsYAsptaU2cUJC-kt8l8SStrZ6pFOKpeoHVop4RQCfRbBV6kJNTkGM353glDm_-Fimfxm/s1600/Halloween.2016.PumpkinTruffles.crop.FINAL.Sm.426.L1008317.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>'TIS THE SEASON: <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/1901">Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels</a> are a different take on each autumn's tedious pumpkin spice season—topped with a sprinkling of Hawaiian red sea salt.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SEARCHING THE PATCH for the perfect pumpkins is quite a fun endeavor each autumn season, even if it's only at your local supermarket. It's even more challenging when you have in mind to make a "tree" from a graduated sizes of these go<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">u</span>rds. Then one has to decide on color and form and how well they all stack up.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJkEOwdjVFgl8n4VTjsyw1k12muQflJcjs8WDLLrdt2U_E_DhKUXO5y0byPdx4VEGLZ-WUhSR1Hml3OBhr0zY_117oLNP2Fx2hBlE0TqqwP9P6YjohuTX69dX5q5eSaHQVHCSyKrG9_G/s1600/Halloween+2016_51.skullfavor.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJkEOwdjVFgl8n4VTjsyw1k12muQflJcjs8WDLLrdt2U_E_DhKUXO5y0byPdx4VEGLZ-WUhSR1Hml3OBhr0zY_117oLNP2Fx2hBlE0TqqwP9P6YjohuTX69dX5q5eSaHQVHCSyKrG9_G/s1600/Halloween+2016_51.skullfavor.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">TRICK OR TREAT: Skull-stamped treat bags are filled with either tricks or treats, so upon opening, you determine what you have. Treat bags are available at Michaels.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH_WxPxac6v2amsV3jD678m72PSNLjxa2-O67eA7GA5NJCNYupdrdLPfVDsEybIcqoCUYp_jiTPo14F4guS4VOY3R7I26tqO7xO8FlhKTHmV2NlSrZH28hismZtibbz-W1gMe3CVxkf9a/s1600/Halloween+2016.candy.426.L1008316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH_WxPxac6v2amsV3jD678m72PSNLjxa2-O67eA7GA5NJCNYupdrdLPfVDsEybIcqoCUYp_jiTPo14F4guS4VOY3R7I26tqO7xO8FlhKTHmV2NlSrZH28hismZtibbz-W1gMe3CVxkf9a/s1600/Halloween+2016.candy.426.L1008316.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">TIERED TREATS: Trader Joes has no shortage of Halloween Treats. These <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/3190">Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins</a> and <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/3123">Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins</a> are both quite delicious. </span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">IT'S A GREAT DIVERSION from the politics at hand this season. It's either "trick or treat" in this election. Our choice is more polarized than ever before. So it goes with the Halloween dessert tableau see<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n in the photo at<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the top of this post</span></span>. The treat (or trick?) bags enclosed under lock and key are purposely mysterious. Yours is a grab bag of one or the other. These sinister skull-imprinted bags could hold an October surprise. Either way, there are enough treats to keep us at the scene of the crime.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYI7raL00UUwwvojsOrVDXFjm2g_bOGSr4VT9e5UmFtoH0-0H9apwqDrar5t9jmjVm0bJURjpK2hB3vPxqaYjs2g35FgKGtdOovsDIX-PhLkrtYgpzoPinPh3646HvUEaQpUz9o05OJ9O/s1600/Halloween+2016.gourds_23.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYI7raL00UUwwvojsOrVDXFjm2g_bOGSr4VT9e5UmFtoH0-0H9apwqDrar5t9jmjVm0bJURjpK2hB3vPxqaYjs2g35FgKGtdOovsDIX-PhLkrtYgpzoPinPh3646HvUEaQpUz9o05OJ9O/s1600/Halloween+2016.gourds_23.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GOURDS GALORE: Quite a mix. You can find elegant gourds everywhere this time of year, but look at specialty shops and florists and farmer markets. I found the long-stemmed beauties at <a href="http://www.frenchmarketflowers.com/">French Market Flowers</a> at <a href="http://www.krogstreetmarket.com/">Krog Street Market</a> in Atlanta.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PUMPKINS </span>are a form <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">squash, and both are <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">part of the gourd family. The<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re are endless varieties, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">color<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s and forms<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. What <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I set out to achieve<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in this post is using the natural go<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">urds without coaxing them by carv<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing or painting — becoming something el<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">se entirely. That can be a fun thing to do, but my mission this time was to keep things pure and simple.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzbEmXCG60rHNZrzCnP429jRLhtASkmVK2I8RC6JM5lx40PQRjVczluICX03UlsrPxRmFLDLjAMd08ZvrPtM8UitAfoaA-H5FcvpuSRkEKFz1kpU1ZtOPJfOlt6Os-_xFodezgD-0PaFb/s1600/Halloween+2016_30.gourdsover.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzbEmXCG60rHNZrzCnP429jRLhtASkmVK2I8RC6JM5lx40PQRjVczluICX03UlsrPxRmFLDLjAMd08ZvrPtM8UitAfoaA-H5FcvpuSRkEKFz1kpU1ZtOPJfOlt6Os-_xFodezgD-0PaFb/s1600/Halloween+2016_30.gourdsover.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BEAUTIFUL VARIETY: It's all about diversity.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PURE AND SIMPLE <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">isn't meant to be</span> without <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">variety though. It takes all shapes<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, size<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s
and colors to make an interesting and beautiful mix. You might even say
that also applies to people. We are all part of the same family<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> — </span>the human family<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> — </span>and we need to start acting like it to survive <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">along with</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the natural world. It's all we'v<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e got when <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">you get <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">down to basics</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.<br />
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">©201<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland,</span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pumpkin patch photo <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">courtesy<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.artmeripol.com/">Art Meripol photography</a>.</span></span></span></b></b><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-47266329583665474602016-03-27T01:51:00.000-04:002016-04-07T04:44:59.846-04:00perfect miracles<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEB3jgRAPl0uJSDlmlSFoTiVqeA5oqvfWlWOiTgUai6kNNw7ks1Hx_v582mROSm3C65Ezlsyuf4_kesdAK-A1l8TNdzb97cR1no0EswhjZrIhlo4phUNXPUTFhoZ4Wdr5eBlXdo1b0HFy/s1600/Easter+Tree.2016.IMG_3340123.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEB3jgRAPl0uJSDlmlSFoTiVqeA5oqvfWlWOiTgUai6kNNw7ks1Hx_v582mROSm3C65Ezlsyuf4_kesdAK-A1l8TNdzb97cR1no0EswhjZrIhlo4phUNXPUTFhoZ4Wdr5eBlXdo1b0HFy/s1600/Easter+Tree.2016.IMG_3340123.crop.426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ONE OF MY FUNNIEST friends, Kathy Reed, loves her chickens. She loves them so much that she carts them around and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">says one rooster</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is</span> famous. It's in his contract that I have to mention his name, although Jack Sparrow missed the photo session for no goo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d reason</span>. I for one, believe her when <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kathy</span> s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ays</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jack</span> had a cut on his foot and had to send an understudy</span>. Although Kathy and I have seen each other several times in the past few years, we first talked about photographing her chickens for my Easter blog 3 years ago. This year it finally happened.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwH3BzdX8qJD3lBYRek6Sz7rKc5K7i8o-vigyJnSkg0-D5vo4FB6SW3H63TCCXvK6OHZJFT5pa4VQYs6FioE5LaQ6lFZrihej_9PPC7hNTh4LXZHyJqtnPMUOvo-baEMggTEs3D0ndeCj/s1600/Crusty-Rooster.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwH3BzdX8qJD3lBYRek6Sz7rKc5K7i8o-vigyJnSkg0-D5vo4FB6SW3H63TCCXvK6OHZJFT5pa4VQYs6FioE5LaQ6lFZrihej_9PPC7hNTh4LXZHyJqtnPMUOvo-baEMggTEs3D0ndeCj/s1600/Crusty-Rooster.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">READY ROOSTER </span></span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Crusty was definitely ready for his closeup since Jack Sparrow did<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">n't show. #shotoniphone6</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IT'S AS IF the planets (and eggs) finally aligned. There is definitely a cosmic connection between Kathy and I. We were instant friends when <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">we first met</span>. And although we may not see each other as often as we would like, we have a rapport that's probably a lot like the communal nature of chickens. We exchange witty bon mots with each other in a pecky no-holds-barred staccato, as if we understand how chickens speak. And we have rituals, like eating fresh strawberries and whipped cream at The Original Pancake House<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>along with our breakfast — something chickens would probably eat if they were human.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREbmc365N627sa1TVmwXNIGTjBY49J9xnOdq7btkTeje1sMlBhGMqgzEvvWr0XDBh3RNXrvSswxpAmdnUfZR2awbXx5xZJAf1D3u2XthieNGC0kBWOEeZlUo-CpI-v3Ssj7HWqBJAvbRO/s1600/EGG-TREE-DETAIL.web.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREbmc365N627sa1TVmwXNIGTjBY49J9xnOdq7btkTeje1sMlBhGMqgzEvvWr0XDBh3RNXrvSswxpAmdnUfZR2awbXx5xZJAf1D3u2XthieNGC0kBWOEeZlUo-CpI-v3Ssj7HWqBJAvbRO/s1600/EGG-TREE-DETAIL.web.crop.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BEDAZZLED EGGS</span></span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Plain dyed and painted eggs take on a whole new look at Ea<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ster with spatters of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">gold paint<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and gold leaf.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">COME TO THINK of it, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">none of this is</span> so<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">far-fetched.
Chickens lay these "perfect miracles" as Kathy likes to call them.
Kathy can talk for days about watching the miracle of life happen when
she sees a chick peck through an egg, popping out and prancing around
like it's the most natural thing in the world. Well, it <i>is</i> probably the
most natural thing in the world, and is synonymous with spring's heady
symbolism. That's why we see so many eggs in so many forms at Easter. It's a celebratio<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">life.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQHb1y9BbrXyyRqbzMuzWFTqFod5S3zC21NXZnS6Qy0nSfpAYpoiBUTTqhgybDF1arPyXwi_99rTOfrQJaBFYN1oZNQg3XRrmaO0b5lhjwP-q6LY1ckfybUe_d1vsiAk2RzOe5iFfN0h_/s1600/Chickens.2.image3.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQHb1y9BbrXyyRqbzMuzWFTqFod5S3zC21NXZnS6Qy0nSfpAYpoiBUTTqhgybDF1arPyXwi_99rTOfrQJaBFYN1oZNQg3XRrmaO0b5lhjwP-q6LY1ckfybUe_d1vsiAk2RzOe5iFfN0h_/s1600/Chickens.2.image3.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">S<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ERAMA <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SISTERS</span></span></span></span></span> | Th<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is breed of chicken is the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">smallest in the world. Short Stack and Jackalin are quite uninter<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ested in the camer<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a. </span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">#shotoniphone6</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">BIRTH, REBIRTH AND LIFE are what springtime is about. And it's amazing how mother nature teaches us the lessons of Easter (Oester) every Vernal Equinox. When you revel in nature as much as Kathy does, and I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">would like</span> to, it's a constant reminder that the cycle of life in any scenario is transformatively poetic.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzlxhmpOtRnaqvQT1sV1WlK7zejFbX5GL6GTcXObm1n3Kdo-R4JQb9c-9YCVdZ2fzdmC06Thesp8I-JNgnoS_MFLUjWXPpJ1xPCPL0JuDJj5oJ_AasDmw4u2sZkRo2jsdG_5lt2JH-RZW/s1600/Peter-and-book.IMG_325944.web.crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzlxhmpOtRnaqvQT1sV1WlK7zejFbX5GL6GTcXObm1n3Kdo-R4JQb9c-9YCVdZ2fzdmC06Thesp8I-JNgnoS_MFLUjWXPpJ1xPCPL0JuDJj5oJ_AasDmw4u2sZkRo2jsdG_5lt2JH-RZW/s1600/Peter-and-book.IMG_325944.web.crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">EGGSPERT</span></span></span></span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Peter Cottontail wrote the book on embellis<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hing eggs.</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PETER COTTONTAIL may not be the egg's maker, but he delivers them at Easter quite proudly (if not dapperly), after embellishing them with dye and paint and gold-leaf, transforming into bright pastel jewels, perfect for embellishing this magical tree, composed of nests and branches.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPiFQ_fa7mK3vs-jtThSwLFXWEqWEY9pL1Z9LKCbwvXyUWD_Zgf-3oOmqSBJaYLLIqNW6-cug5cLdm6H24xDwe_L-hco_t08U1Hna7mGidszdnrl2N_q837DOhkSte3tqJVAXDpbLfcvj/s1600/Easter-tree-top.IMG_328467.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPiFQ_fa7mK3vs-jtThSwLFXWEqWEY9pL1Z9LKCbwvXyUWD_Zgf-3oOmqSBJaYLLIqNW6-cug5cLdm6H24xDwe_L-hco_t08U1Hna7mGidszdnrl2N_q837DOhkSte3tqJVAXDpbLfcvj/s1600/Easter-tree-top.IMG_328467.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">EGG ON TOP </span></span></span></span></span>| <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The proverbial Golden Egg sits atop the tree.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WE ALL KNOW the reason we celebrate spring. It's a spiritual experience for some, a sexy and heady transformation of nature for others, or simply a reason to show off your Sunday best for anyone. Whatever it is to you, these perfect miracles called eggs make us smile like a good friend who helped you through a particularly harsh season<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that always comes around again</span>, warmly smiling, when you get yourself back together in spring. If you had only listened<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the first time.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA6xw9LsFKUWYKnUlnxMGx6VJK7GPfoy4IqVp1AUX3GfQhl3ub4X2JeX760NPepD8aOocoYoJw7qA0M0PxnJhVTQivXci4OvJWelhf5yxNl_NMd8ruwJJN5KOgeqtsSI1qHQm2Vuzd-OL/s1600/Blackalin.serama.image2.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA6xw9LsFKUWYKnUlnxMGx6VJK7GPfoy4IqVp1AUX3GfQhl3ub4X2JeX760NPepD8aOocoYoJw7qA0M0PxnJhVTQivXci4OvJWelhf5yxNl_NMd8ruwJJN5KOgeqtsSI1qHQm2Vuzd-OL/s1600/Blackalin.serama.image2.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>SERAMA SIBLING | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blackalin<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is Jackalin<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'s sister, although they<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">obviously<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">) </span></span></span>came from different eggs<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. #shoton<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">i<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">phone6</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqxj4LkSqf3FizLH8UR5Alk4TNhuHkKmVfO80jr-nHc9e_K7XsA5zQGiwwlUvNwu3qSu-lp2GHDYpglAt9bys9HpBXoTpjrpNujBD8fE5bidWTNeXjL9oNcxLj-YWmrxKRwRJFTHt0J8e/s1600/egg.tableau.IMG_324934.sq.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqxj4LkSqf3FizLH8UR5Alk4TNhuHkKmVfO80jr-nHc9e_K7XsA5zQGiwwlUvNwu3qSu-lp2GHDYpglAt9bys9HpBXoTpjrpNujBD8fE5bidWTNeXjL9oNcxLj-YWmrxKRwRJFTHt0J8e/s1600/egg.tableau.IMG_324934.sq.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GLAMOUR EGGS</span></span></span></span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Embellished <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">eggs are sitting pretty in a brass container.</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cWmfaTe79iiWnOtX3QpvQ5s69Or1VjsiJ9JjH_Qktx0PPBFXW3r7RVKzAr5G_AcOwnv3MbSp4EAHP6wA4v3U45FL8FDPdIygwiir9yYpbTgcdtFi70zdpz9CEE8o2Stq-ZXkmaoIq5MH/s1600/Chicken.butts.image4.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cWmfaTe79iiWnOtX3QpvQ5s69Or1VjsiJ9JjH_Qktx0PPBFXW3r7RVKzAr5G_AcOwnv3MbSp4EAHP6wA4v3U45FL8FDPdIygwiir9yYpbTgcdtFi70zdpz9CEE8o2Stq-ZXkmaoIq5MH/s1600/Chicken.butts.image4.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SER<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A</span>MA</span> SECR<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ETS</span></span></span></span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Short Stack and Jackalin are always es<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tablishing a new pecking order.</span></span></b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">©201<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">chicken<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> talent</span> and laughs courtesy of Kathy Reed </span></b></b><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-33723691848840372902016-02-14T12:54:00.000-05:002016-02-15T12:17:53.998-05:00collective souls<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHYuldC-EUYCHBxIVKtCAa9f6H6Vjb8EXfoQL7dflhhJF04sc-H7nnotY4y0TniUwGnTa6Onz1ROCSDb6gnzubpY1l9mInMvRySvP2gCRoJ1n6fPohxZfSEkrkoEPsokxZrNwNnGiBtTq/s1600/Valentine.2016.IMG_3176_2.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHYuldC-EUYCHBxIVKtCAa9f6H6Vjb8EXfoQL7dflhhJF04sc-H7nnotY4y0TniUwGnTa6Onz1ROCSDb6gnzubpY1l9mInMvRySvP2gCRoJ1n6fPohxZfSEkrkoEPsokxZrNwNnGiBtTq/s1600/Valentine.2016.IMG_3176_2.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OUR LIVES are touched most profoundly when we connect with other souls. Valentine's Day is a good day to remember that. It's not about couples, it's not about people who are alone. It's not about an ephemeral display of flowers and chocolate. It's about the collective of souls we connect with at the level of love.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTmvkXPeZSYtjpUGw8v4AbGiAP9qgUVfIKidXUlVp4tFHAL43kKcaHNPXpcjFxzeeTkToF6hbxdtT5ufgbEAXSdO4aYV-YOTypk2fCA49N0K620JUhiGISjPZCYcRuBvGMidjLe_S8W-G/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3154.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTmvkXPeZSYtjpUGw8v4AbGiAP9qgUVfIKidXUlVp4tFHAL43kKcaHNPXpcjFxzeeTkToF6hbxdtT5ufgbEAXSdO4aYV-YOTypk2fCA49N0K620JUhiGISjPZCYcRuBvGMidjLe_S8W-G/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3154.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FRAGILE HEART</span> | Th<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is beautiful hand-blown glass ornament was a Christmas gift from my friends Eric and Tim<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, who now <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">live in German<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">y. They bought it at one of the many Christmas <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">markets </span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">there <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've always wanted to visit. </span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">AS FRAGILE as life can be, we live most of our lives as if we are impervious to any harm or disease that might come our way. That's the only way to live life fully. When, in fact, the older we get, our physical selves decline, but </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">our souls get stronger.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0GUaVKgP_KyhtYp_h77poOi_jrwKlYYVvVx-sFLbS67LEswtuNDigo1J4Jt4eJKYqfPeSB1zP2P2CSNORavlFWL_iR1BKY81rfGP9b3_hGR9vtuiGTZgDQcJxRP5V2qazB7rOBemIxe2/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3153_1.web.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0GUaVKgP_KyhtYp_h77poOi_jrwKlYYVvVx-sFLbS67LEswtuNDigo1J4Jt4eJKYqfPeSB1zP2P2CSNORavlFWL_iR1BKY81rfGP9b3_hGR9vtuiGTZgDQcJxRP5V2qazB7rOBemIxe2/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3153_1.web.crop.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BLEEDING HEART</span> | Th<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ese shiny glittered glass heart ornaments were pro<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">duced in antique mol<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ds in the Coburg area of Germany.</span></span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WITNESS the recent passing of my Bengal cat Abella. She lived a long and full life, but her body finally gave way. Up until that point, she commanded a matriarchal respect from both Frida, our Ragdoll cat and Tallulah Barkhead, our newest addition to the family.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3EHJnzfLTeE4X-mJX9Ssj0ozjE9Js5RCzVjJODs4qWZEBUzl4X2_QOK-zczvRoC9z6uEPi3pF_zLch_OD4vCjTbyLK7_MLoMpRkgOQG-4Nu9x6khjbDscC9-YLpVWUHFiMCuL-WufciG/s1600/Abella.IMG_3437.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3EHJnzfLTeE4X-mJX9Ssj0ozjE9Js5RCzVjJODs4qWZEBUzl4X2_QOK-zczvRoC9z6uEPi3pF_zLch_OD4vCjTbyLK7_MLoMpRkgOQG-4Nu9x6khjbDscC9-YLpVWUHFiMCuL-WufciG/s1600/Abella.IMG_3437.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A BEAUTY</span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Abella is Italian for "a <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">b<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">eaut<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">y", and that she was. Rest in <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">peace <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">sweet <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Abella! This beautiful photo was taken by my <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">great <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">friend </span></span><a href="http://www.claudialopezphotography.com/">Claudia Lope</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.claudialopezphotography.com/">z</a> when Abella was probably<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> 3 or 4 years old<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">HER STRENGTH and presence was truly commanding. In dying, she left all of us an amazing gift. Because we were lucky enough not to have to make that terrible decision of an injected death, this family was brought closer together in her last moments. Juan and I laid on the bed with Abella on my chest and Juan with his hand on Abella's head. We knew the time was near. She passed so peacefully and beautifully with my hands cupped around her body. We both felt that magical last soul vibration just before her heart stopped. That locked us all together forever. No words can really describe this kind of peaceful beauty. It is an experience that, at once expands and calms at the same time. That was January 24th, just 3 weeks ago today.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthRvobY9bn0AweVEVta01Hc7xkAnLKFnmszRXTPMhYWmVgXFbqUQ2ltOyrtW5mCNaDL06QlvDL8_nLiODfxOnFZWgYI8G5d0-en_fDMYwIO3tPFO4oyajma13bLITmKGTyBkWG-7QvKW_/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3086.web.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthRvobY9bn0AweVEVta01Hc7xkAnLKFnmszRXTPMhYWmVgXFbqUQ2ltOyrtW5mCNaDL06QlvDL8_nLiODfxOnFZWgYI8G5d0-en_fDMYwIO3tPFO4oyajma13bLITmKGTyBkWG-7QvKW_/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3086.web.crop.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">TOOLS OF LOVE</span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">T<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hese <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tools are made to be eaten beca<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">use they are made of chocolate<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> by <a href="http://www.schokomell.de/">Scholok</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.schokomell.de/">omell</a> in Germany</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><b>. The heart<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-shap<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ed chocolates are from <a href="http://www.cacaoatlanta.com/">C<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">acao</span></a> in Atlanta. The<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> flavors are sweet and spicy<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">: <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">gold is A<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ztec Aphrodisiac, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">white is <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cayenne<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> P</span>assionfr<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">uit and pink is Antic<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a Strawbe<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rry.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">VALENTINE'S DAY isn't only for lovers, it's for friends also. Not only the glass ornament above was in a Christmas package from my friends Eric and Tim in Germany, they also included these wonderful chocolates in the shapes of a wrench, a bolt, a paintbrush and a tube of paint. Broad brushstrokes for collective souls indeed. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmz34yeVnfRU04W5eOO4H7GVR1oQgb37yvqdr8QzYVA2aBQ0kW8L33hHocPauYI_Vba8aGqs4NmNuDnzbG80RkFb1C1SzLxPOinxdnVGNyUCpRZR28NaYvd7pyagtXVsCoRbVZFVBDLqC/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3098.crop.web.sm.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmz34yeVnfRU04W5eOO4H7GVR1oQgb37yvqdr8QzYVA2aBQ0kW8L33hHocPauYI_Vba8aGqs4NmNuDnzbG80RkFb1C1SzLxPOinxdnVGNyUCpRZR28NaYvd7pyagtXVsCoRbVZFVBDLqC/s1600/Valentines.2016.IMG_3098.crop.web.sm.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BUTCH ROMANCE</span> | <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chocolate t</span>oo<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ls by </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.schokomell.de/">Scholok</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.schokomell.de/">omell</a> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">o<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">f</span></span> Germany</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><b>. </b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The heart<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-shap<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ed chocolates are from <a href="http://www.cacaoatlanta.com/">C<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">acao</span></a> in Atlanta. </span></span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WE'RE ALL STRONGER for the collective souls that touch our lives. And as Juan always corrects me, when I tell him I am lucky to have him, saying "we are lucky", so I correct him now by saying I love "us". Together, all we have is us, and that is more than enough.</span></div>
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">©201<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6</span> DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</span></b></b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-51868010788896661482015-12-24T00:12:00.000-05:002016-01-05T12:41:55.485-05:00twelve days of Christmas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJMAnF8sZ_0c4Rbfp8uFyPz6nt2NyateyscuNhyphenhypheniD27np6dWVne3DAdMTtmLt4tKt3XWdm-g9heme9cb0LwDAiTDPGyuk0bm-IcBlpVSKV8CJqpswnB3yGBdGPMgxdqu1j-kiFbdHToE6/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.Cover.IMG_2806.crop.426.final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJMAnF8sZ_0c4Rbfp8uFyPz6nt2NyateyscuNhyphenhypheniD27np6dWVne3DAdMTtmLt4tKt3XWdm-g9heme9cb0LwDAiTDPGyuk0bm-IcBlpVSKV8CJqpswnB3yGBdGPMgxdqu1j-kiFbdHToE6/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.Cover.IMG_2806.crop.426.final.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>This Twelve Days <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Christmas-Louise-Brierley/dp/156402525X%3FSubscriptionId%3D0EXCDZJMBA0WS05JKV02%26tag%3Dartistinfoc0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D156402525X">book</a> is beautifully illustrated by Louise Brierly</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I FIRST </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">designed a tree several years back with a Twelve Days of Christmas theme around a set of beautiful figural ornaments I have cherished for many years. But I never photographed any of it properly for the blog. This year, as a special celebration, I'm posting an image every day, starting today and for all twelve days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IT'S A BAKER'S DOZEN of posts that illustrate how I form my thoughts in designing a tree, both thematically and conceptually, with each day's photo revealing some of the decorative elements involved in composing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THE TWELVE DAYS of Christmas is a time-honored carol. Although the specific provenance of the song is not known, the twelve days it touts, between the birth of Christ (Christmas, December 25th) and the coming of the Magi (Epiphany, January 6th), form its structure. With this in mind, I never remove any Christmas decorations until all twelve days are up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THIS BEAUTIFULLY EVOCATIVE carol possibly began as a Twelfth Night "memory-and-forfeits" game in which the leader recited a verse, and each of the players repeated the verse. As each verse was added, the game continued until one of the players made a mistake. The player who erred had to pay a penalty, such as a offering up a kiss or a sweet. This is how the song was </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, \Times New Roman\, serif;">published</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> in its earliest known printed version, in the 1780 children's book Mirth Without Mischief. The song is apparently much older, but it is not currently known how much older. It is generally thought to have been written in the Middle Ages. No matter, the song is beloved, even today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THE BOOK in the photo above was published in the mid-eighties as a first American Edition. It is one of my </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, \Times New Roman\, serif;">all-time-favorites. Its illustrations</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> are brilliantly rendered by Louise Brierley. Their subtle colors and stylized figures provide a rich visual reference that has always seemed as evocative to me as the song's much-interpreted lyrics. This book is the basis of my inspiration for the tree to come.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHUju-DABXH0r2RspeJ9Ycu6AHOwq6nP6Sihi0MYY3Wu9TLPRka5rMl_mhR2eu8SJlH6-zrv3nVBmzv4s5Svc47pTuERQOapc59NVePmhQa4jls5ucDKcPEesWwPAPo30pXDftstaRmte/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.1ST-DAY.IMG_2823.WEB.CROP.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHUju-DABXH0r2RspeJ9Ycu6AHOwq6nP6Sihi0MYY3Wu9TLPRka5rMl_mhR2eu8SJlH6-zrv3nVBmzv4s5Svc47pTuERQOapc59NVePmhQa4jls5ucDKcPEesWwPAPo30pXDftstaRmte/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.1ST-DAY.IMG_2823.WEB.CROP.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cTXRwtMCgkULGf1zFMLvYB5YBa2QYmWT-Ve6O32vtEaiprSKTEahYIHZQ6YnK8K7sFZIQdigHVI_KkKXxpmlW5pEJqKdbidFYENzCbEdzRz1VLLMjYqJdnvXlBFrywxR-nBOsduALWb/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.1ST-DAY.IMG_2823.WEB.DETAIL.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cTXRwtMCgkULGf1zFMLvYB5YBa2QYmWT-Ve6O32vtEaiprSKTEahYIHZQ6YnK8K7sFZIQdigHVI_KkKXxpmlW5pEJqKdbidFYENzCbEdzRz1VLLMjYqJdnvXlBFrywxR-nBOsduALWb/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.1ST-DAY.IMG_2823.WEB.DETAIL.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>A partridge in a pear tree. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a>.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqw4yVVhkhmaDylblC6LnrC0vsq1V7D0DHZpXu4eewOolJz2AD022Vgj_5P_Z4EIipHWa-SqnI5NP5FYzHhK0jSXuO0z-lHMQmdNFAEEhzBo8CMHFJL3njbkafYZyiEQdQ45L3WXficGc/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.DAY2.IMG_2833.WEB.CROP.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqw4yVVhkhmaDylblC6LnrC0vsq1V7D0DHZpXu4eewOolJz2AD022Vgj_5P_Z4EIipHWa-SqnI5NP5FYzHhK0jSXuO0z-lHMQmdNFAEEhzBo8CMHFJL3njbkafYZyiEQdQ45L3WXficGc/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.DAY2.IMG_2833.WEB.CROP.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknv9Po9gPTg7MpL5xWgzIda2fIrPPTQVESaGVsfxrD2MRRpJEnHF5ydxFMM5W2elVJkTU_Asqgh_LNqrCtZZc0VMEGedcg4Z5mffgNhv39CITnKIZJeKISOIHhJPlav6GBfUe1Mto0sRg/s1600/TWELVE.DAYS.DAY2.IMG_2833.WEB.detail.crop.jpg" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a>.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexo_IzoiYnY1jrTXKJP3lvcm21yP_x1ntMRHTM7KNHz9iIK2VAqQBoEXZh0z5KSVUqGLrZM5e2xLUV72fJGIhHpon1CzekUondstvz85U1X83W-BCDmhdNmP9L5x3jMbK-iHAxtBsGPEE/s1600/3rd-day.overall.crop.IMG_2866.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexo_IzoiYnY1jrTXKJP3lvcm21yP_x1ntMRHTM7KNHz9iIK2VAqQBoEXZh0z5KSVUqGLrZM5e2xLUV72fJGIhHpon1CzekUondstvz85U1X83W-BCDmhdNmP9L5x3jMbK-iHAxtBsGPEE/s1600/3rd-day.overall.crop.IMG_2866.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAbRHspsiu1GBVfFhDtdM2Op2X7q0DLgRAq1YJwxCMysle_BU_sOrI6tL2PNq8hW5gpnVYp2fWtHgYT_MzLi5ed9GLFrDOyWKo0NnpxoF8zv0bJAPMsQgazVWxeAsq6d-yE-xJLqvGeDt/s1600/3rd-day.detail.IMG_2866.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAbRHspsiu1GBVfFhDtdM2Op2X7q0DLgRAq1YJwxCMysle_BU_sOrI6tL2PNq8hW5gpnVYp2fWtHgYT_MzLi5ed9GLFrDOyWKo0NnpxoF8zv0bJAPMsQgazVWxeAsq6d-yE-xJLqvGeDt/s1600/3rd-day.detail.IMG_2866.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a Pear tree. </b></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a>.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3T4FXGraKLE_-DLfInmT4r6suzvWNxgcFYiPkc0y3UBbg_T5Je4nNN-wib4qvVp0EKXuF4ZMTYY_t3v1DaWSxV-1Y3U2bIsgOR2hlW7jUZhhT8dX1yU-JGuBFiVAdsrHtr7E8S3rtYcW/s1600/12Days.Overall.IMG_2867.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3T4FXGraKLE_-DLfInmT4r6suzvWNxgcFYiPkc0y3UBbg_T5Je4nNN-wib4qvVp0EKXuF4ZMTYY_t3v1DaWSxV-1Y3U2bIsgOR2hlW7jUZhhT8dX1yU-JGuBFiVAdsrHtr7E8S3rtYcW/s1600/12Days.Overall.IMG_2867.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3a9D8YP3-T0vBi_MKy7bpww018fsuhIkonFwRpZXIyxPJ3b7sFeEgntccgIDghkwjBWjCuS0ltc72SslDjMmlUYlSGtbT8xfsuSqsvMEX0zrdHOU4Z12yvfMMOnfit_o4oJuOdQbT-Zo/s1600/12Days.Overall.IMG_2867.detail.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3a9D8YP3-T0vBi_MKy7bpww018fsuhIkonFwRpZXIyxPJ3b7sFeEgntccgIDghkwjBWjCuS0ltc72SslDjMmlUYlSGtbT8xfsuSqsvMEX0zrdHOU4Z12yvfMMOnfit_o4oJuOdQbT-Zo/s1600/12Days.Overall.IMG_2867.detail.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a Pear tree. </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a>.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWSRVKl8wNf26jPvC7IzjHNIkvoe3QMwyg-J93W_SYNRnmJyBw0hj4shtYMV-aGrXStWaa0XU7_xZ1TRH__NxvAx18U5UR_S3LRjbuCfI5Wa-mp7OEHQLaDFSg3USaP5_DAH19rD6y7PR/s1600/5th-day.overallIMG_2883.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWSRVKl8wNf26jPvC7IzjHNIkvoe3QMwyg-J93W_SYNRnmJyBw0hj4shtYMV-aGrXStWaa0XU7_xZ1TRH__NxvAx18U5UR_S3LRjbuCfI5Wa-mp7OEHQLaDFSg3USaP5_DAH19rD6y7PR/s1600/5th-day.overallIMG_2883.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYuMlfAgglqoNCHfXEan58iFTW1djyRu9-ErrUTjWR1Ui37FrjNj8VHGqSe-pfNOUQX8KCDSvq-kB7XLPeJijx-vZyO_jeJKJQ1On06U2E1XgKbGDOu_zmUYzexqljejMjNCi4o8gbsEx/s1600/5th-day.overallIMG_2883.crop.web.detail.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYuMlfAgglqoNCHfXEan58iFTW1djyRu9-ErrUTjWR1Ui37FrjNj8VHGqSe-pfNOUQX8KCDSvq-kB7XLPeJijx-vZyO_jeJKJQ1On06U2E1XgKbGDOu_zmUYzexqljejMjNCi4o8gbsEx/s1600/5th-day.overallIMG_2883.crop.web.detail.426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves </span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree. </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a>.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwK10VwEQAObwc5xvCQyN9FQnC1U2WjvjaPTaZEhweQ6rn7L6hXowPOtknIqUaTSgmkoVo3kE1hR_sXmvWKTr29ao7DVPjHAw12mXJO5KU64HqcOxckJx9poblowz4QQ8KVRJGeciUzGn/s1600/6th-day.overall.IMG_2891.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwK10VwEQAObwc5xvCQyN9FQnC1U2WjvjaPTaZEhweQ6rn7L6hXowPOtknIqUaTSgmkoVo3kE1hR_sXmvWKTr29ao7DVPjHAw12mXJO5KU64HqcOxckJx9poblowz4QQ8KVRJGeciUzGn/s1600/6th-day.overall.IMG_2891.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb6svQTTip9v8CrVZo4TDQ8wpM0JvpeubGlY0LSUgblZNS78MuHtjIAYs4arx7AtVr41sZ0GYgnMa19VdSXYLWgaq36gWLkkDlQE0dSdW7c298wGCscwgnT37qGwFqkqxv4ApvopOdJWI/s1600/6th-day.overall.IMG_2891.detail.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb6svQTTip9v8CrVZo4TDQ8wpM0JvpeubGlY0LSUgblZNS78MuHtjIAYs4arx7AtVr41sZ0GYgnMa19VdSXYLWgaq36gWLkkDlQE0dSdW7c298wGCscwgnT37qGwFqkqxv4ApvopOdJWI/s1600/6th-day.overall.IMG_2891.detail.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree. </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibs9qJQf2B5HEztXs94beWAoZb7mCrDeBBHrCspXi4fmOhS2mtEWUejLWaAfU_ReZnX3q54i_qbfx3EPcCXPnRtwykPQBzxibcAc57TS_o4c328kcsYD426VsNq5mWhoPvX-QtpmiynFA/s1600/7th-day.overall.IMG_2897.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibs9qJQf2B5HEztXs94beWAoZb7mCrDeBBHrCspXi4fmOhS2mtEWUejLWaAfU_ReZnX3q54i_qbfx3EPcCXPnRtwykPQBzxibcAc57TS_o4c328kcsYD426VsNq5mWhoPvX-QtpmiynFA/s1600/7th-day.overall.IMG_2897.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7Kt5eEV_wFu4hrBFZTzXYIKlpI3g7I32TKrAsM8VYSXqj0j0IkfYj0TLNlVm_MYiyo9C81Px6CBtHca7HAoT-7DMxYteHbLzV9UbROapew_covNiH30YuSYmx8PyRLTrdLTDY8c7dHYd/s1600/7th-day.overall.IMG_2897.detail.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7Kt5eEV_wFu4hrBFZTzXYIKlpI3g7I32TKrAsM8VYSXqj0j0IkfYj0TLNlVm_MYiyo9C81Px6CBtHca7HAoT-7DMxYteHbLzV9UbROapew_covNiH30YuSYmx8PyRLTrdLTDY8c7dHYd/s1600/7th-day.overall.IMG_2897.detail.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree. </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster</a></span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OKUcJJx-Mhzdc8g_4tKCLelTix1RX7DWFFxruHhzwETsfHEdVd_LNl1-IkcqZoUqb9NlrVuEACpvZ_QBWyMIJ3FneFKiP8hE7P4NqFX1Q8EhQlCp1pxUjabWjqe1ExRV1_uTfesUuQ5t/s1600/Day-8.Overall.IMG_2914.crop.web.426..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OKUcJJx-Mhzdc8g_4tKCLelTix1RX7DWFFxruHhzwETsfHEdVd_LNl1-IkcqZoUqb9NlrVuEACpvZ_QBWyMIJ3FneFKiP8hE7P4NqFX1Q8EhQlCp1pxUjabWjqe1ExRV1_uTfesUuQ5t/s1600/Day-8.Overall.IMG_2914.crop.web.426..jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YsSAkN1uCdZ8dtShIARw16o-rNVUSwwjTRCw2_HDaQaSKaIn5mPUxy_7PZCX-BiApY16XwyrKeUdYtgNRhluS9AKqbq5aClojce0pfx6iLSj0jQeZwrBgsp1eVRg1FF5hYYIRvDByfTg/s1600/Day+8.Overall.IMG_2914.detail.crop.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YsSAkN1uCdZ8dtShIARw16o-rNVUSwwjTRCw2_HDaQaSKaIn5mPUxy_7PZCX-BiApY16XwyrKeUdYtgNRhluS9AKqbq5aClojce0pfx6iLSj0jQeZwrBgsp1eVRg1FF5hYYIRvDByfTg/s1600/Day+8.Overall.IMG_2914.detail.crop.426.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">four calling birds, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree. </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster.</a></span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpnWXrsod80q_ipbTVskFChCRzgpG5uT0PmMUlnmgBAjakPQlmnUG50OgQOcUgjm7wYCYxFCsd_lx3t2bfIk34_wmBhnXSZeOuUG_95pBqFLD3wdD7psq-VL8gNizVxBPctzbAgGM_tWG/s1600/9th-day.overall.IMG_2919.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpnWXrsod80q_ipbTVskFChCRzgpG5uT0PmMUlnmgBAjakPQlmnUG50OgQOcUgjm7wYCYxFCsd_lx3t2bfIk34_wmBhnXSZeOuUG_95pBqFLD3wdD7psq-VL8gNizVxBPctzbAgGM_tWG/s1600/9th-day.overall.IMG_2919.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqqAR4_ixch65tX3SILWJ9JjZr97ZbA_2yFjg1DLcRiCQy20wyWA3FMEndnNQ1VrarsD4JOoSQiL-q1aNgMfneu6hPIE1OZzxHvS7tAXUkyBuhlLrNqUi7NcxQJFVA7Uzu0FuVFzoLno/s1600/9th-day.overall.IMG_2919.detail.426.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqqAR4_ixch65tX3SILWJ9JjZr97ZbA_2yFjg1DLcRiCQy20wyWA3FMEndnNQ1VrarsD4JOoSQiL-q1aNgMfneu6hPIE1OZzxHvS7tAXUkyBuhlLrNqUi7NcxQJFVA7Uzu0FuVFzoLno/s1600/9th-day.overall.IMG_2919.detail.426.web.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">seven swans a-swimming, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">six geese a-laying, five golden rings, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">four calling birds, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster.</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT4M5EH-ZmJcBQ1qxG7trSZjOXydBMU0u1waJafwIirM0zyi4Y3eFfxelNEgDtsLGdkqWdAGF1fen1ZLdD2IOktGY1GD3u36EciaHTxZP0hQGbbHOXQ0RpWHjKDTW-XEcB74ohiglTswH/s1600/10th-Day.IMG_2933.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT4M5EH-ZmJcBQ1qxG7trSZjOXydBMU0u1waJafwIirM0zyi4Y3eFfxelNEgDtsLGdkqWdAGF1fen1ZLdD2IOktGY1GD3u36EciaHTxZP0hQGbbHOXQ0RpWHjKDTW-XEcB74ohiglTswH/s1600/10th-Day.IMG_2933.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #660000;">On the</b><b style="color: #660000;"> tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG6XIbYro-cutxeD6zWvez5sHLHi1bnD7_9yEdTfTR7Fg21Lad8-behMQLRGuk9NnWRhMNJtcpahPbIiYpmezFgYveVaosY1_-4oC4htILS_h8UGTwKdQxdCpft5uRuxACNzkW5ED6mDt/s1600/10th-Day.IMG_2933.detail.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG6XIbYro-cutxeD6zWvez5sHLHi1bnD7_9yEdTfTR7Fg21Lad8-behMQLRGuk9NnWRhMNJtcpahPbIiYpmezFgYveVaosY1_-4oC4htILS_h8UGTwKdQxdCpft5uRuxACNzkW5ED6mDt/s1600/10th-Day.IMG_2933.detail.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">seven swans a-swimming, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">six geese a-laying, five golden rings,</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">four calling birds, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster.</a></span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;">On the</b><b style="color: #660000;"> eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</b></span><br />
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">eight maids a-milking, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">seven swans a-swimming, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">six geese a-laying,</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">five golden rings, four calling birds, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens,</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster.</a></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the</b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .</b></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">nine drummers drumming, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">eight maids a-milking, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">seven swans a-swimming, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">six geese a-laying, five golden rings, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">four calling birds, </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three French hens, </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">two turtle doves </span></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and a partridge in a Pear tree.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ornament by <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/">Patience Brewster.</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>©2015-2016 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></span></span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-29154502894231553092015-12-15T16:33:00.002-05:002015-12-28T11:26:18.145-05:00family tree<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd2E3pgztQIxbNxDSoO_nepyfqtGGEoYUUWbAXvdHTvjCHnaitGdJVkyVNDU6k37oMrJlP1KARf1zLAzX8ohroayEDYLzEmvK8PM0hZ6e7v3MfdjzrKbs5OZSxasXwvxjupJkJSQkdd_o/s1600/IMG_2736.Frida.crop.web.426.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd2E3pgztQIxbNxDSoO_nepyfqtGGEoYUUWbAXvdHTvjCHnaitGdJVkyVNDU6k37oMrJlP1KARf1zLAzX8ohroayEDYLzEmvK8PM0hZ6e7v3MfdjzrKbs5OZSxasXwvxjupJkJSQkdd_o/s1600/IMG_2736.Frida.crop.web.426.1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A TREE HAS taken root. A family has formed. And this is already our second Christmas together. Life has been busy. And our view is constantly in motion. But, despite the turmoils of the world, we have the comfort of each other. A Christmas tree is a bright reminder of that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxseT7hDWhG-xjV5ljFCPdDf0h38KhpEKEKMgULYRfaXDybgfyPY1_7ZrBaGjs3OvE3BUKJwM1UqRsxYOJ7NySoE5o6dGSn0v1s47zJbEHEe7qnFICaaSSJoZWNmaog224Ptdxj92US_Im/s1600/IMG_2607.Initial-Ornaments.crop.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxseT7hDWhG-xjV5ljFCPdDf0h38KhpEKEKMgULYRfaXDybgfyPY1_7ZrBaGjs3OvE3BUKJwM1UqRsxYOJ7NySoE5o6dGSn0v1s47zJbEHEe7qnFICaaSSJoZWNmaog224Ptdxj92US_Im/s1600/IMG_2607.Initial-Ornaments.crop.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>MONOGRAMED CHIC | These gold-initialed ornaments form the script for a new family. J is for Juan; A is for Abella, the Bengal cat; D is for Darryl (me); T is for Tallulah (the newest addition, a rescue dog); and F is for Frida, the Ragdoll cat (who makes a blurred appearance in the top photo).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THIS TREE, in a small way, is symbolic of our new family, hung with initialed ornaments representing each of us. The wire and cardboard diamond-shaped ornaments represent a strong structure for a great future together. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The tree is a <a href="https://www.silvertiptreefarm.com/store/silvertip-trees">Silver Tip tree</a>, which is naturally sparse with ample space between the branches and a quirky natural shape reminiscent of the untrimmed trees you see in vintage photos. Many of the lights on the tree have crinkled metal light covers in gold and silver in various sizes to give the tree a magical glow.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0VleCGl6DELbUXrjPZPazp16Ru1MqgEcJ-T3zGSnnaP-MBC51HkNQmcT0U-oqhi3IzMol8wmZCnhYxbAzOlvVYGpfqeXkAtF6VPmjRljPntflb9BDDBT-GIBMf5ozLlwAJ8ohGgbkwcv/s1600/IMG_2736.Frida.crop.detail.FINAL.426.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0VleCGl6DELbUXrjPZPazp16Ru1MqgEcJ-T3zGSnnaP-MBC51HkNQmcT0U-oqhi3IzMol8wmZCnhYxbAzOlvVYGpfqeXkAtF6VPmjRljPntflb9BDDBT-GIBMf5ozLlwAJ8ohGgbkwcv/s1600/IMG_2736.Frida.crop.detail.FINAL.426.web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ALL IN THE DETAILS | This unusual shooting star tree topper is actually a store fixture from Starbucks from last season that I convinced a manager to save for me. It worked perfectly atop this tree.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">LOOKING CLOSER, this tree is topped with a multi-faceted and glittered shooting star. The tree employs a fairly neutral color scheme of glass ornaments in gold, silver, bronze, whites and greens with classic bright blue and red punctuating the mix as a nod to the traditional trees of my childhood.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vr6jZxkpc75gSm0lAVCYXuzrb5RyUZD_yrLG9zZv79lhvAik89ZE2IxaDkhEHmTO8P9suOrzFtOAO29L6xessRbuDDYNi0T8sMFBxF2R7cJqcQhVMuso1uye_faM2Wf-X44gXlKZzFQD/s1600/IMG_2650.Ornament-3.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vr6jZxkpc75gSm0lAVCYXuzrb5RyUZD_yrLG9zZv79lhvAik89ZE2IxaDkhEHmTO8P9suOrzFtOAO29L6xessRbuDDYNi0T8sMFBxF2R7cJqcQhVMuso1uye_faM2Wf-X44gXlKZzFQD/s1600/IMG_2650.Ornament-3.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">FRAMEWORK GEMS | These interesting gem ornaments are made of wire and metallic cardboard. I added a tiny glass bauble to each wire-framed ornament to make them more elegant.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE FRAMEWORK for a family starts with a bedrock of comfort, joy and love. When things are right, whatever life throws your way is tempered by knowing that you have someone there that has your back. When you feel that, you know it's the real thing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvYtMf3mz_KPGVLK8h1WRjMFCzmnvi6nh0IoIbTqFBzBGlXFonAZNWTxti6yNpa4uCewFFlWhl3cQICk4OIgV6duf5QzAar7oqTvOzoz_1ttq2im3JS1VQCfp15b0WL1-H2sDFSplHEhk/s1600/IMG_2620.ornament.1.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvYtMf3mz_KPGVLK8h1WRjMFCzmnvi6nh0IoIbTqFBzBGlXFonAZNWTxti6yNpa4uCewFFlWhl3cQICk4OIgV6duf5QzAar7oqTvOzoz_1ttq2im3JS1VQCfp15b0WL1-H2sDFSplHEhk/s1600/IMG_2620.ornament.1.web.426.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH | These metallic cardboard ornaments are light enough not to weigh down the branches of the tree. Even though they are made from humble foil-covered cardboard, they are quite sophisticated in appearance due the diamond shape.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WARM HEARTS are warmed even further by a beautiful tree that is thoughtfully decorated. I chose to make this one thematic in color and form, but even if your tree is a hodgepodge of family heirloom ornaments of every style and stripe, what really matters is that it conveys that magical spirit of the holidays. The symbolic memories attached to decorations give them a heirloom resonance throughout the years that is unique and meaningful to your family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please check out the video of the tree below (hopefully, I'll figure out how to make the resolution better and replace this one):</span><br />
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<b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">©2015 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></b></b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-90550794687777469802015-11-23T16:32:00.001-05:002015-11-25T10:21:38.556-05:00peace and light<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IT’S HARD to get into the holiday spirit in these uncertain times. Last night, Juan and I attended Atlanta’s lighting of Macy’s Great Tree to try to nudge ourselves into the season. I’m not sure it worked so well. Soon after we got there we saw a brutish police officer hold a guy by his coat in front of him and manhandle him through, and out of the crowd. Everyone looked stunned and I heard nothing said about it. So strange. I wonder what the guy did, who he was and whether he was a victim of racial profiling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THIS HAPPENED before the festivities started. And this was on a night when all the local news reports were highlighting the warning from the hacker group called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AnonymousWorldvoce">Anonymous</a> that there could be a terrorist attack at a big wrestling event downtown. There was also a football game downtown with tightened security. The Christmas tree lighting event we attended was on the other side of the city and also attracted a large crowd.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>P is for P E A C E in this beaded letter.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ONE HAS TO wonder whether all this fear and hysteria (nothing happened at any of the events) is warranted. It is certainly no wonder that everyone is on edge worldwide after the worst terror attack in French history, the Russian airliner that was exploded with a terrorist’s bomb, a double-suicide bombing in Lebanon, and a series of other deadly strikes that are happening one after the other on a weekly basis.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An evergreen wreath has long been a symbol of renewal and everlasting life.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THIS PAST Thursday (November 19th), Pope Francis said “Christmas festivities will seem empty in a world which has chosen ‘war and hate.’” In his sermon, he said “Christmas is approaching: there will be lights, parties, Christmas trees and nativity scenes . . . it’s all a charade. The world continues to go to war. The world has not chosen a peaceful path.” This sermon signaled the start of the holiday season at the Vatican, where a giant Christmas tree was unveiled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’VE ONLY BEEN to the City of Light (Paris) one time in my life. It was a much different world back in 1979, when I visited. I was much younger, more optimistic and full of excitement for the life ahead of me. Not that life has been bad at all—it hasn’t. It just that the human race hasn’t evolved as much as I would have hoped and our effect on our own environment has exponentially grown in such a way that our future is at peril, even without war and hate.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shiny baubles always brighten the winter holidays.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE TABLEAU I’ve set for this post is symbolic of the peace, hope and love that I’ve always thought the holiday season brings to all of us, no matter how we celebrate the season. The Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris (the City of Light) and a symbol for all the world, is laid with an evergreen wreath to mourn the innocent lives lost to terrorism. The lights at the base represent a gathering of lights from around the world. The banner with the letters forming the word PEACE is prominent in the background. And the presence of glittery baubles in the scene all point to a pause for HOPE that our country and humankind will do right by each other. But none of this will ever truly happen without the LOVE we share through something beyond any of our tiny marks on the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">GOD is LOVE, no matter what religion is represented. Terrorism is not a religion—it is hate. This holiday season, more than ever, is a time for us to renew our spirits and to find our way forward. This holiday is celebrated worldwide, so now, maybe for once, we can find the grace and humility in understanding that we’re all in this together. Nothing can squander our better selves when we remind ourselves of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">War of the Gods:</span></div>
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<a href="http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8578368">http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8578368</a><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>©2015 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</span></b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-48548603561672431022015-10-30T17:35:00.003-04:002015-10-31T08:33:23.875-04:00the all-seeing tree<div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THERE IS A HALLOW'S EVE tale I'm sure you've never heard before. It is the story of the All-Seeing Tree. You see, there was once a gardener named Mary Ann who lived not long ago. She was introduced to me by my photographer friend Harold. We used to go sit and be entertained by her for hours on end — always </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">enthralled. S</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he would tell us fascinating stories of her life, with her beloved railroad-hobo dog right beside her in her chair.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPjoAOy24WjGXVRyJ_tXmQZ4rt0PFqy0f8VWdgja3Aw6smCSgochPYPt1hdc5ZQHi8mGWe3xg10O46Q_LO6rSIj1mNdlGZ721oEoNtmjLnSZBSsoZkxfONjn5wC5FIdweiAfJuQpnKBZn/s1600/All-SeeingTree.Hands.crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">MARY ANN'S HANDS | My photographer friend <a href="http://www.harolddaniels.com/">Harold Daniels</a> took this photo of Mary Ann's hands placed on a large worn book as a surface and gifted me a digital print of it on watercolor paper. In the years since she died, her hands have taken on a ghostly look, while the colors in the book cover have become more pronounced. I'm convinced her green thumb had something to do with this alchemy, blooming into an even more intriguing and beautiful photograph.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SHE WAS A KINDRED creative soul and wasn't afraid to speak her mind — both Harold and I loved her for her independent spirit. And boy did she have a finely-tuned eye for beautiful things. Our visits with her were mesmerizing and always fun. And there was the usual offering of simple, but sophisticated food, even though she was living on a fixed income. We both delighted in spending time with her. It was certainly not an obligation. And she learned as much from us as we did from her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">TO DESCRIBE HER, you only need look at her time-worn hands and they told most of the story. To describe the rest of her — she was a tall, big-boned woman, the stature of Julia Child — but <i>she</i> was the expert on gardening instead of cooking. Succulents were her favorite plants and she gave me one of her specimen frilly <a href="http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/frilly-echeverias-the-fairest-succulents-of-them-all/">Echeveria</a> plants one time. After that I was hooked on succulents, having had a green thumb myself all my life. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She grew all sorts of plants in her greenhouse, but succulents were her thing. And she made her own <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertufa">hypertufa</a> pots for them and sold beautifully-arranged containers to supplement her fixed income.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ-Sg6uXDXryqY6xBZvBcJN9GRZxU9-q6ArCY1SecbuNeLRtVUGLVt65nqhP0aXD-ug0-Q7_pUfbIR6oachQrlVzB_MY-D8RNNlY4fYh7feqG7OcX8dmcF1bZO2Rm66vRAu8zIpnfgtkr/s1600/All-SeeingTree.tableau.IMG_2236.crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ-Sg6uXDXryqY6xBZvBcJN9GRZxU9-q6ArCY1SecbuNeLRtVUGLVt65nqhP0aXD-ug0-Q7_pUfbIR6oachQrlVzB_MY-D8RNNlY4fYh7feqG7OcX8dmcF1bZO2Rm66vRAu8zIpnfgtkr/s1600/All-SeeingTree.tableau.IMG_2236.crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SPOOKY TREAT | A green thumb extends beyond the grave. Life is continually recycled and there is a definite collective consciousness at work even after someone is gone.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FtB4qzbcuwUuKsqzbmllU706XdjGxHS8f5gYNpU0Bq_O1WvlWCyJwo3_hzEnwxDbmVGKOBr3USz3nkiNNDS-cw13DxTLS1jsnWIrDeeC1hESfErjks7pzyZkoQARE0_I5vFHAE6x5Ko8/s1600/All-SeeingTree.Cloche.IMG_2260.crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FtB4qzbcuwUuKsqzbmllU706XdjGxHS8f5gYNpU0Bq_O1WvlWCyJwo3_hzEnwxDbmVGKOBr3USz3nkiNNDS-cw13DxTLS1jsnWIrDeeC1hESfErjks7pzyZkoQARE0_I5vFHAE6x5Ko8/s1600/All-SeeingTree.Cloche.IMG_2260.crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SPIDER INDUSTRY | This wire-webbed glass cloche filled with balls of moss is a perfect home for a very industrious army of spiders.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IN MAKING THIS All-Seeing Tree come to life, I invoke the memory of Mary Ann and create the following fictional tale that was surely inspired by the afterlife: You see, after Mary Ann died, her greenhouse was left shut tight with the plants remaining there to fend for themselves. The spiders played a big role in gathering water to nourish the plants by slipping to and fro through the cracks in the doors, bringing as many droplets of water as they could. As their army grew and the greenhouse soon became as self-sufficient and as lush as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrarium">terrarium</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6JXvSjI0x2cT3uwhWZ_KqecbfCwWWdE_kUmZGqaLlgy3b9yFRMesWp9cqHxpp9Aiv1ihOEPIgLwUZsg3d1kfhE8BCJcIWSc4-Ni0mj09vqvS7hbdaAu8QrBZQXmYx2YkJZdTHQn7oL2N/s1600/All-SeeingTree.Candydish.IMG_2251.crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6JXvSjI0x2cT3uwhWZ_KqecbfCwWWdE_kUmZGqaLlgy3b9yFRMesWp9cqHxpp9Aiv1ihOEPIgLwUZsg3d1kfhE8BCJcIWSc4-Ni0mj09vqvS7hbdaAu8QrBZQXmYx2YkJZdTHQn7oL2N/s1600/All-SeeingTree.Candydish.IMG_2251.crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CANDY STOP | This pedestal container of licorice in the shape of tiny skulls is a delectible treat for a Halloween that is spooky, yet fun.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ON ONE HALLOW'S EVE night, this tree miraculously sprung up in a beautiful gothic pot left in the greenhouse, It quickly produced "fruit" that looked back at you. Even though you weren't entirely convinced that the fruit could see, you knew it connected you with something. Even if it seemed a bit spooky, it left you with a certain knowing that our connection with the spirits beyond this realm is surely real, and gives you a real sense of satisfaction that our loved ones live on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE MORAL OF THE STORY is that what we see isn't always real, but what we don't see can be very real. Mary Ann would be sure to let it be known that life is what you make it. And there's nothing spooky about that at all. In fact, it's a real treat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2015 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-73104006983768130062015-04-04T23:32:00.004-04:002015-04-05T14:24:54.519-04:00eggs in a basket<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo_HgST6paT5lzHKA_nGWorOMZxP78JvMebM1HBiicgRBQmkUvPeKZvsoo7mU0wMXzhoDhRQBBfRnIZZbP_5loVmKiNqrBpuLxOBu6fqvOWTn3lV13uXrDO51WKQI7gnel7d4K8gYpJCJ/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Overall.IMG_1729.crop.tight.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo_HgST6paT5lzHKA_nGWorOMZxP78JvMebM1HBiicgRBQmkUvPeKZvsoo7mU0wMXzhoDhRQBBfRnIZZbP_5loVmKiNqrBpuLxOBu6fqvOWTn3lV13uXrDO51WKQI7gnel7d4K8gYpJCJ/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Overall.IMG_1729.crop.tight.426.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">EGGS ARE perfect symbols for spring. Long before being associated with Easter and the resurrection of Christ, the Chinese, Egyptians, Gauls, Persians and Romans used eggs to bless the season in their rites-of-spring festivals.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f1hutyMF2Tv4Rm3bF4PRu7lf5WPayS4A_tEDxGGsuwPw2eJpHbP-QIvgW9rEo9JBRU7f7ZsJCjsj2145gjUEF4L_4ZWuXgvKW-uuliMsY00ExqCh3L0yLQmfJLq1Kou0_eSh7Xfy8yIj/s1600/Easter.Basket.2015.Baskets.IMG_1685.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f1hutyMF2Tv4Rm3bF4PRu7lf5WPayS4A_tEDxGGsuwPw2eJpHbP-QIvgW9rEo9JBRU7f7ZsJCjsj2145gjUEF4L_4ZWuXgvKW-uuliMsY00ExqCh3L0yLQmfJLq1Kou0_eSh7Xfy8yIj/s1600/Easter.Basket.2015.Baskets.IMG_1685.426.png" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;">EGG BASKETS | These diminuative wire baskets from <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/">Terrain</a> hold an array of candy-coated chocolate truffle eggs from <a href="http://www.saxonchocolates.com/">Saxon Chocolates</a>. The golden wire ornament tree was found in this year's Easter collection from <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/">Pottery Barn</a>.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A NEW EASTER Sunday suit is an enduring memory of my church-going childhood, along with the candy-filled and cellophane-wrapped Easter basket left by a mythical bunny.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQlM_EJ3iTOfdHxU2dfxPHaPXUiFA3aWImZH-pR9miVIuF0TvoqPhyphenhyphen1pBcwm0kyOJXljGDky7Q8ylKthDpPKcLSSqll-3-aJSbldTH-8csbMb3Xem7oWRSRMIPjOYh3lXwJTUEbcWUhc/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Bunnies.Right.IMG_1674.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQlM_EJ3iTOfdHxU2dfxPHaPXUiFA3aWImZH-pR9miVIuF0TvoqPhyphenhyphen1pBcwm0kyOJXljGDky7Q8ylKthDpPKcLSSqll-3-aJSbldTH-8csbMb3Xem7oWRSRMIPjOYh3lXwJTUEbcWUhc/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Bunnies.Right.IMG_1674.426.png" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="color: #660000;">BUNNIES WITH BASKETS | These matte ceramic bunnies have been in my collection of Easter decorations for several years have finally found a perfect home under this tree. The wooden eggs add warmth to the tableau.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">OF COURSE there are also memories of the gleeful Easter egg hunt in the cool and fresh unmown grass. The confectioner's scent from jelly beans, marshmallow Peeps® and chocolate bunnies permeated the air inside and mixed with the fresh smells of tulip trees and other early blooming flowers outside. All were stirred together in a heady mix by the brisk winds of spring.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeOKA7ACyzCc8g_XFgBzRd_BBJ5AYu1x-zEjDFqYXlEzUZ2DrNLLbxBcojtHHVvlCMs9J9afYrFrweWgbk-C7NdAEvDgIIUxEdjHKoxgvl2tLzwHS49oPzyoDDwl4X-5zYd7F4ngLyFzH/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Bunny.Back.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeOKA7ACyzCc8g_XFgBzRd_BBJ5AYu1x-zEjDFqYXlEzUZ2DrNLLbxBcojtHHVvlCMs9J9afYrFrweWgbk-C7NdAEvDgIIUxEdjHKoxgvl2tLzwHS49oPzyoDDwl4X-5zYd7F4ngLyFzH/s1600/Easter.Tree.2015.Bunny.Back.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">EGG HUNT | This bunny carrying an egg in an Easter basket on his back, is peering into the holiday's symbolic dogwood flowers to find more.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WITH EASTER, spring has fully sprung, and summer is carried in on the rays of the sun. Change and new life are in the air. And a cleansing of our souls takes place. And the light, it seems, is warmly beamed directly from heaven, coaxing
things back to life again. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IUIF8SPYgd9XfLfRW_zGZHo-pUfz_7SDgnKOenHcbO9pOHB6Fu_g7-zBhTaPWpiizzbTaRVYYDHwT_ZoqAW2EcnhUxwaf-gc8s-tEEXEuecbxgbgMBXmUZDn1JhYTijGj7TzCEDptnvg/s1600/Easter-Tree.2015.Basket.Detail.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IUIF8SPYgd9XfLfRW_zGZHo-pUfz_7SDgnKOenHcbO9pOHB6Fu_g7-zBhTaPWpiizzbTaRVYYDHwT_ZoqAW2EcnhUxwaf-gc8s-tEEXEuecbxgbgMBXmUZDn1JhYTijGj7TzCEDptnvg/s1600/Easter-Tree.2015.Basket.Detail.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">FANCIFUL FUN | Since this tree is simply-decorated, wire-edged ribbon adds presence and movement to the tiny wire Easter baskets.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THAT'S WHAT every spring becomes . . . a
rebirth, however you choose to believe, it's an undeniably intoxicating and
life-giving affirmation.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>When we live in darkness, our human life is a constant want. <br />
When we live in Light, our divine life is a constant achievement.<br />
Light in the physical is beauty.<br />
Light in the vital is capacity.<br />
Light in the mind is glory.<br />
Light in the heart is victory.</i></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> —<i>Talk on the Inner Light</i> by <a href="http://www.poetseers.org/sri-chinmoy/">Sri Chinmoy</a></b></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The text from this post was adapted and updated </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>from past Easter blog posts</i></span></span> and from my book, </i>The Decorated Tree: Celebrating the Seasons <i>available </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>at</i> Blurb.com by</span></span> <a href="http://www.blurb.com/b/3433522-the-decorated-tree">clicking on this link</a> or pasting </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">www.blurb.com/b/3433522-the-decorated-tree<i> into your browser.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2015 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-63147836632418491732015-02-12T22:44:00.002-05:002015-02-13T08:17:32.022-05:00pure of heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3wyDxfYdwnW0drlfgFAj7IDUECBIoOt3icrRp1xFS0zJpoxaEO0hmdItWMNkF52ypkpcfMZwZi_6-O1a_nHoXb9xvJoVzfBwsnSfqped7a1aOejfnXyL9gc6uKu1GIxyhQs9uTFXBr8j/s1600/Valentine.2015.IMG_1515.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3wyDxfYdwnW0drlfgFAj7IDUECBIoOt3icrRp1xFS0zJpoxaEO0hmdItWMNkF52ypkpcfMZwZi_6-O1a_nHoXb9xvJoVzfBwsnSfqped7a1aOejfnXyL9gc6uKu1GIxyhQs9uTFXBr8j/s1600/Valentine.2015.IMG_1515.web.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">HEART TO HEART | These bright and lively "decoupaged" metal heart ornaments were found at <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/">World Market</a>, as well as the glittery heart card with the apt sentiment: "It was, it is, it always will be..." on the front. Inside, it simply states "you" "Happy Valentine's Day".</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MY SWEETHEART told me recently that the reason he loved me is that I had a pure heart. I certainly didn't expect to hear that, but when you love someone for exactly who they are and are completely comfortable to just be yourself with them, I guess that's what comes through.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOMETHING IN THE AIR | A close-up of the bird-embellished heart ornament, paired with bright red primitive wooden heart ornaments and golden heart lockets would make even a simple branch come alive with Valentine wishes.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">IT WAS, IT IS, IT always will be like that when you find someone with whom you are completely compatible. Life becomes an adventure together. Juan has been that, and so much more. I miss him during the day when we're at work and I look forward to seeing him every evening, night and weekend . . . to do nothing more than just be . . . together. Happy Valentine's to me . . . to <i>us</i>, as he always corrects me to say.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">LIFE IS | A box of chocolates from London's <a href="http://www.charbonnel.co.uk/">Charbonnel et Walker</a>, heart ornaments and a love note for your sweetheart.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NO VALENTINE'S DAY would be complete without chocolate. I always will remember when the fancy boxes of chocolate appeared at the drugstore down the street from where I grew up. It signaled a special time. Back then, the boxes were decorated with ruffles and ribbons—much more elaborate than most are today. This special Valentine box of <a href="http://www.charbonnel.co.uk/">Charbonnel et Walker</a> chocolates is utterly simple, but the cardboard dividers within are an unexpected package detail that gives them an old-world provenance. That, and the fact that the company was established as Britain's Master Chocolatiers (by Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen) since 1875. King Edward VII (then Prince of Wales) encouraged Mme. Charbonnel to leave the chocolate house of Maison Boissier in Paris to join Mrs. Walker to establish a chocolatier and confectionery house on London's Bond Street. And the rest is history.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">RICH TAPESTRY | This heart ornament is decorated with a colorful tapestry of flowers and would brighten the heart of any Valentine.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MAKING HISTORY (and memories while eating fancy chocolates) with someone you love clearly is the best Valentine anyone can hope for. It was, it is, and it always will be the reason we fall in love . . . for the companionship and joy in this life <i>we</i> live . . . together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2015 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-38448549850125938792014-12-31T16:20:00.001-05:002014-12-31T19:30:29.484-05:00ring in the new year<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE PHRASE "ring in the New Year" has a new resonance for 2015. Literally, Juan and I have new rings. He surprised me with one for Christmas and I, of course returned the favor as an engagement promise. Since we live in Georgia, the legal significance of these rings is yet to be determined, but in our hearts they mean what they always mean when any couple wears them. Mr. and Mr. will soon (hopefully) become a real possibility, now that 35 states, plus the District of Columbia have <a href="http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/marriage-equality.pdf">marriage equality</a> laws in the books for same-sex couples.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIXyDZqWGtZIzpuQaCOsuQr9NHuedu3F4QonVtqp5nG_A_EHT57F2TwUphQa86xlN9bBJ2rHGaibgQFqyJqp5gYOJ-gmMyP3CAZl4hVrgkdQ00R5efpnAACFHbZt1BnRphmSd7Dd-Yg8_/s1600/New-Years-2014.Champagne.Bottle.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIXyDZqWGtZIzpuQaCOsuQr9NHuedu3F4QonVtqp5nG_A_EHT57F2TwUphQa86xlN9bBJ2rHGaibgQFqyJqp5gYOJ-gmMyP3CAZl4hVrgkdQ00R5efpnAACFHbZt1BnRphmSd7Dd-Yg8_/s1600/New-Years-2014.Champagne.Bottle.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">MR. & MR. | This <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mr.-and-mr.-wine-bag/s223104">bottle bag</a> from Crate & Barrel contains the bubbly for a sparking new year.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE NEW YEAR is always about change. It's about leaving the past behind and embracing the future. Just the fact that products are appearing in the market that tout same sex togetherness such as this linen <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mr.-and-mr.-wine-bag/s223104">mr. and mr. bottle bag</a> from a forward-thinking business (Crate and Barrel). These products make a toast to a reality that we are embracing ahead of the fact. We are using it here to hold our New Year champagne.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAAORdhIQZYmNiv7MjXmp6d5lm8xHW4nx9sRa5cx2cZ7w5qzO_hDkbBT4BtWbrr-qwkPAZLmlb0OO-_Y6hr1RkjvH3nfrg9G9wlcbaU12cpw-uRT4ts6-XkI8ZGy0jNWfDizG1HjPX8sY/s1600/New-Years-2014.Rings.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAAORdhIQZYmNiv7MjXmp6d5lm8xHW4nx9sRa5cx2cZ7w5qzO_hDkbBT4BtWbrr-qwkPAZLmlb0OO-_Y6hr1RkjvH3nfrg9G9wlcbaU12cpw-uRT4ts6-XkI8ZGy0jNWfDizG1HjPX8sY/s1600/New-Years-2014.Rings.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">RINGING TOGETHER | This <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mr.-and-mr.-ring-dish/s628312">ring dish</a> from Crate & Barrel will give <a href="http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=GRP02284">our rings</a> a resting place that we can always find as we are both constantly misplacing things (especially cell phones and remote controls).</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THIS MEANS A LOT to both of our futures. And we have begun building this future together in earnest. It's exciting to know that our partnership might one day soon be recognized by the world we live in . . . just like everyone else. <a href="http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=GRP02284">Our rings</a> are the only tangible commitment we have to that right now, aside from what we hold in our hearts. As soon as we got our rings, we talked about a centralized place to keep them when we weren't wearing them. Crate and Barrel also helped us out with that dilemma with this <a href="http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=GRP02284">Mr. & Mr. ring dish</a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KBU5PDyEvzzoY5r157ftWzSvmSdmaF5erQObiLT1bV2SCbCpD0A67AnBRRU9e4XM_UzVKLpwRxq1mdgpUoSymlSaytvuWvO9yWidjSigy0AgD2gnoYrvfKOltZ9wthTPH7SvWE1_GAu/s1600/New-Years-2014.Reindeer.Tight.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KBU5PDyEvzzoY5r157ftWzSvmSdmaF5erQObiLT1bV2SCbCpD0A67AnBRRU9e4XM_UzVKLpwRxq1mdgpUoSymlSaytvuWvO9yWidjSigy0AgD2gnoYrvfKOltZ9wthTPH7SvWE1_GAu/s1600/New-Years-2014.Reindeer.Tight.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DEER IN THE FOREST | Made in Germany by <a href="http://www.inoschaller.de/en/">Ino Schaller Bayern</a>, a family tradition since 1894, is famous for their paper mache candy containers. The company also makes glittery bottle brush trees and the doe figurine seen here (as well as the stags).</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">IT HAS BEEN and eventful 2014 for both Juan and I. And we are looking forward to a long future together. We don't really need a marriage contract for that, but it will greatly help us in the eyes of the law. All of the benefits that most people take for granted with a legal marriage will be rightfully ours . . . finally. As an animal totem the deer symbolizes Juan and I exploring our own magical and spiritual nature together. The deer is a definitive symbol of grace and an appreciation for the beauty of balance.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfpVcb0e57lNcJgYz-_RNhXtYXpGzZPcKpwox9W1BoqE2Ns2JncIMdNlMzFp-SEs2OsPMRPumhopm3qZrpwyHlnmxBVJDIjsaPz5jyfDGyHy5bIAdf-iQFvdNl8wQkZ1cF2UFpdYSHoCh/s1600/New-Years-2014.Champagne.Glasses.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfpVcb0e57lNcJgYz-_RNhXtYXpGzZPcKpwox9W1BoqE2Ns2JncIMdNlMzFp-SEs2OsPMRPumhopm3qZrpwyHlnmxBVJDIjsaPz5jyfDGyHy5bIAdf-iQFvdNl8wQkZ1cF2UFpdYSHoCh/s1600/New-Years-2014.Champagne.Glasses.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">BRUSH, BUBBLY, AND POP | Champagne served in these <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/edge-champagne-glass/s378747">Edge Champagne Glasses</a> from Crate & Barrel have a decidedly modern sensibility. <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/confetti-mini-crackers-e889/?pkey=e|new%2Byear%2Bcrackers|566|best|0|1|24||2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules">Confetti Mini Crackers</a> from West Elm pop apart to reveal surprise gifts.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OUR TOAST FOR 2015 is to continue along our trail to a future we can only dream of together. The crackers included in these photos are traditionally a Christmas favorite in the United Kingdom. Since we're planning on spending Christmas in London in 2015, that future is looking bright already! Happy New Year!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
<br />darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-45536069022468638202014-12-23T23:11:00.002-05:002014-12-24T08:15:57.577-05:00past. present. future . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN_Bff43SvteMIBNYp-ANRImFTbsjReF777BLH6ydZCERui3xaEqBbHRxBSIOUzuffMYD3P9ymaM7_a35y6fI1tzsrp9-Dm4FE6uRqj_pJnL6yNlNiRy8T2t1Xkw1Jy-viNJsvCNJofSK/s1600/TDT.ChristmasTREE.2014.IMG_1086.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN_Bff43SvteMIBNYp-ANRImFTbsjReF777BLH6ydZCERui3xaEqBbHRxBSIOUzuffMYD3P9ymaM7_a35y6fI1tzsrp9-Dm4FE6uRqj_pJnL6yNlNiRy8T2t1Xkw1Jy-viNJsvCNJofSK/s1600/TDT.ChristmasTREE.2014.IMG_1086.web.426.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">FROM A DISTANCE, this tree appears classically composed of antique decorations because of its traditional and old-fashioned look, but when you get closer, you'll see that all (except for a few) of the ornaments are modern, or only reproductions of vintage styles.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ALL THE REFLECTION contained in this blog has</span> led me to here. There's no escaping the past. It's sometimes hard to live in the present. And the future doesn't always seem bright. But the string of holidays leading up to Christmas each year have a way of coalescing years of the best memories and pushing one forward into the New Year anew. Could it be 2015 already? How did this happen?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqyvJyfTlpcxYTbAtDtrBu5osXBfXgYjKgKhLuGndScSJFHloPc4pgVeFcbAgtFXPHPC4anE2ySIR7OXsh4tz800cp4E42q2RtUJSXLDh7qfKtKfzCM69dTmghvYgb3TQMULYdbnBPhWL/s1600/Watchface.IMG_1349.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqyvJyfTlpcxYTbAtDtrBu5osXBfXgYjKgKhLuGndScSJFHloPc4pgVeFcbAgtFXPHPC4anE2ySIR7OXsh4tz800cp4E42q2RtUJSXLDh7qfKtKfzCM69dTmghvYgb3TQMULYdbnBPhWL/s1600/Watchface.IMG_1349.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">TIME AND AGAIN | This pocket watch ornament sets the tone for past, present and future.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AFTER MORE THAN a year of profound catharsis in my life, I think I've finally learned to listen to the present. To live in it. And to embrace the future with the brightest hopes and dreams. A large part of that is having someone in my life that is living a different phase of their lives, but wants to live it with me, even though I've already been through all of that (and maybe because of it). At 53 years old, I feel like I have a brand new chance for the life I have always imagined. It's amazing how much things can change in a year's time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9eaGSkb41PZfVJF_Tr8_1vOKqE_wtF53umDS3TJg81VabQ4tUx3rJDG2kIRTybxCEZbiBYHNDiSBTTgqDLb_HEDdxhZxGer7zoVONvkEh0e6PQyBkJFvdIF0MsU0jIhfY9niXBSHYkRB/s1600/2014.Bird.Tree.IMG_1363.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9eaGSkb41PZfVJF_Tr8_1vOKqE_wtF53umDS3TJg81VabQ4tUx3rJDG2kIRTybxCEZbiBYHNDiSBTTgqDLb_HEDdxhZxGer7zoVONvkEh0e6PQyBkJFvdIF0MsU0jIhfY9niXBSHYkRB/s1600/2014.Bird.Tree.IMG_1363.web.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">FLEETING MOMENTS | Life can catch you by surprise and change directions only when you are intent on listening to the smallest, quietest, but most profound moments.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IT ALL STARTED when Juan Fonseca joined me in life this past summer. I haven't shared a home with a partner in quite a long time. This forced me to restructure my life in ways I knew I needed to and provided the impetus to do it—all with someone I love dearly. This also took me away from this blog for a while. In preparation for Thanksgiving this year, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">when we hosted Juan's mother and stepfather</span>, we have been reworking our home to make it ours. And, at last, Ive begun sorting through the ephemera of my past life, letting go of things I neither want or need anymore, both physically and in-turn, psychically.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjJ448vcqqTyu4rmZJ9EUq9Vlc8ke9MBEZODHfpFI0j1r5MGRv14JoXyoeq5c3FNpv0UNLSynd_TvhvElGDWJQws_40Cb-H-4LKAtSYSOUaQC6c9IvU_RigUrsVmWNhI0dinhW7sHATMK/s1600/Pinecone.IMG_1328.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjJ448vcqqTyu4rmZJ9EUq9Vlc8ke9MBEZODHfpFI0j1r5MGRv14JoXyoeq5c3FNpv0UNLSynd_TvhvElGDWJQws_40Cb-H-4LKAtSYSOUaQC6c9IvU_RigUrsVmWNhI0dinhW7sHATMK/s1600/Pinecone.IMG_1328.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SEEDING THE FUTURE | Pinecone ornaments always figure into the symbology of a tree and are present on nearly every one I decorate.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WHEN THINKING BACK on other Thanksgivings, I remember some amazingly bright spots in my life. It was Thanksgiving day in 1984 when I got the call from the art director of Southern Living magazine announcing that they would like me to join them as a staff artist. This was my career launch after college. And it has affected my life more profoundly than I could ever imagine. This job set the course of my career at that company (most of which were at another magazine it published). It was ten years of working with a warm, creative, family of friends, a large number of whom I am still in touch with. And I learned the skills that have enabled me to create this blog and give me a creative attention to detail that is lost in a quite a lot of modern publishing. I need to tell a story. I need to have resonance in what I'm doing. It's much more than a pretty picture. Publishers these days seem to only be looking at the bottom line and forgetting their real assets.—namely readers. Back then, that seemed to be the most important lifeline for magazines.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMw2SdniiIcu9XK4HvzKEN-IwWBAV0RUzYmzDFLxKwWn_yBmouDAG8oS9_bwUtv-QPtauUiDhHNPHDkD-TIJ80Wj_zYiV9bYk_iRvEyRznjKDNExf11jn_3S0150bKdEHErd-2OnZbeN2/s1600/Globe.IMG_1405.Crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMw2SdniiIcu9XK4HvzKEN-IwWBAV0RUzYmzDFLxKwWn_yBmouDAG8oS9_bwUtv-QPtauUiDhHNPHDkD-TIJ80Wj_zYiV9bYk_iRvEyRznjKDNExf11jn_3S0150bKdEHErd-2OnZbeN2/s1600/Globe.IMG_1405.Crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">GLOBAL RESPONSE | A heirloom glittered globe spins hope for the future. Globe designed by <a href="http://www.eliotraffit.com/holiday/ornaments.asp">Elliot Raffit</a>.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AND NOW, it begins again. The past does repeat itself. The only difference is all the lessons learned during long-gone times are much more readily available and are viscerally informing my future. And emotionally, it finally feels as if the planets are aligned just right for something better than before. Besides, it was on this day in 1945 that my parents were married. Both lived until just before their 60th anniversary. I can't believe that's been almost 9 years ago. Where does the time go?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5UgkLEvvg3jktFoE9zsy9XiKqbI_kLTMKa8IIqjrkh8gVmOklhDi5JzgE6u1ZmHbO3_E87urjOUypP5-1ECWdfwHJmIOzEyk3kXTq1WgBp2UU1RhongjD30Ot7a17nnU_2IyXyxICPh8/s1600/2014.Tree.Closeup.IMG_1150.crop.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5UgkLEvvg3jktFoE9zsy9XiKqbI_kLTMKa8IIqjrkh8gVmOklhDi5JzgE6u1ZmHbO3_E87urjOUypP5-1ECWdfwHJmIOzEyk3kXTq1WgBp2UU1RhongjD30Ot7a17nnU_2IyXyxICPh8/s1600/2014.Tree.Closeup.IMG_1150.crop.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">BIG PICTURE | Sometimes disparate elements combine themselves into a whole in surprising ways. This tree is a natural-cut tree grown by Cale Smith of <a href="http://www.gstrees.com/">G&S Trees Inc.</a> in the Appalachian farms in Elk Park, North Carolina.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THIS TREE is different from a lot of the trees on this blog. Namely because it wasn't begun to be a really fussed-over tree with a cohesive theme. Then there's the full-sized realness of it. When I let go and decided to decorate the tree with regard to how life comes at you—what happened was a lot of disparate pieces coming together and making a beautiful, but imperfect whole. I honestly bought the tree bundled, with only looking at its top. That never happens. Somehow over the years, I've learned to trust my gut. but when the tree farmer said it was a natural-cut tree, that had me. I've grown quite weary of trees that have been coerced into perfect dense cones all their life. You can truly tell the difference a tree makes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoBa_ycxOPYFIOk35_oms7gNxglYUGkyQIj_13HQPiw8wp0FPA_2cz0lTB9h7a4nt9vthmSnFj-zgOVOHfmxmoerH5xD8t5_Y74MqIiyjJe0PsdVoOntvJOyykWOupuyA3dfwQKQ7Q0lF/s1600/Christmas-Carol.IMG_1308.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoBa_ycxOPYFIOk35_oms7gNxglYUGkyQIj_13HQPiw8wp0FPA_2cz0lTB9h7a4nt9vthmSnFj-zgOVOHfmxmoerH5xD8t5_Y74MqIiyjJe0PsdVoOntvJOyykWOupuyA3dfwQKQ7Q0lF/s1600/Christmas-Carol.IMG_1308.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE | Everybody knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and how he finally found the Christmas spirit. This book is a <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a> special edition of The Christmas Carol, beautifully bound.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AND IN MY AMAZEMENT, that is just what is happening in my life. We already have added a new family member. We've adopted a "schnoodle", whom we have named Halston. He walked into our home from the <a href="http://atlantahumane.org/donate/ways-to-give/?gclid=CjwKEAiA5emkBRCT_JL9p77IyF8SJADpztPy7u8g5uwclJBXzaAB1Cu_vwsl28ZRutHIzGI4W2dg2hoCtL_w_wcB">Atlanta Humane Society</a> as if he had always been here--even without too much protest from the two cats (Abella and Frida) that already lived here (Frida is crouched under the tree in the photo at top). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE PIECES FALL TOGETHER quite perfectly in their imperfection. All you have to do is have a keen eye for balance, be able to take a leap of faith, and understand; just as Ebenezer Scrooge finally did in Dicken's <i>The Christmas Carol</i>, that where you have been affects many more people than you can ever imagine. And what footprints we have left behind profoundly inform our steps into the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">HERE'S WISHING everyone who reads this a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmXTtrxRjkHKBnVsWo4HCcawKSyjCIun1MD0pKaV8Wf854KEVwSCiITXvQ0Afk4KQrYXyvBKGlTT_TIBX6L7CEypDOKAw8KOxzD-eS2LKvC_14OMEU0SqYIxCv_Ummyu8iRKlGNkFbN5c/s1600/Brawley.Boot.IMG_1269.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmXTtrxRjkHKBnVsWo4HCcawKSyjCIun1MD0pKaV8Wf854KEVwSCiITXvQ0Afk4KQrYXyvBKGlTT_TIBX6L7CEypDOKAw8KOxzD-eS2LKvC_14OMEU0SqYIxCv_Ummyu8iRKlGNkFbN5c/s1600/Brawley.Boot.IMG_1269.web.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SANTA'S BOOT | <a href="http://twinklestricksandtreats.blogspot.com/">Robert Brawley's Twinkles and Treats</a> handmade delight is front and center on the tree. A self-proclaimed Halloween Fanatic, OOAK ornaments for all seasons are available on his <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/halloweenfanatic">Etsy site</a>.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-QM9m1c2vzGY00no61Zbw5h5KKa4_90klYL1_NI0jF02WQl0Kb8w9pobGMlcc1zctoFHUrOzQZEDYXwAGBIM_XHDkKqXDjWxW6Xerbl73rWBrf0o309gqGBYqov4m7xXfAYp9ZkEca5-/s1600/Bunny.Cloche.IMG_1219.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-QM9m1c2vzGY00no61Zbw5h5KKa4_90klYL1_NI0jF02WQl0Kb8w9pobGMlcc1zctoFHUrOzQZEDYXwAGBIM_XHDkKqXDjWxW6Xerbl73rWBrf0o309gqGBYqov4m7xXfAYp9ZkEca5-/s1600/Bunny.Cloche.IMG_1219.web.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">CHILDLIKE WONDER | This kitch figurine found this past summer on the clearance table at the Savannah Urban Outfitters, when Juan and I were on our first vacation together, captures the essence of a child at Christmas and became part of our decor this year.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2haZ0AcntncQAGdEZsNIqQtjHLCDbMu6-ur-u9h1XT5AXvHateqwkMjP8Z7ATDM_rt-GOH_bXfv-FvaRIsJVkpvREuC7gTSStaHaoBljGULVg3BjQOM3CbUw69pjXUH-ChvDadnA8OS0/s1600/Santa.Jar.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2haZ0AcntncQAGdEZsNIqQtjHLCDbMu6-ur-u9h1XT5AXvHateqwkMjP8Z7ATDM_rt-GOH_bXfv-FvaRIsJVkpvREuC7gTSStaHaoBljGULVg3BjQOM3CbUw69pjXUH-ChvDadnA8OS0/s1600/Santa.Jar.web.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">PRESERVING SANTA | The timeless quality of Santa's story captures new hearts and minds every season if you just choose to believe.</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
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<br />darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-46968677905634771772014-10-21T21:39:00.000-04:002014-10-23T19:36:12.971-04:00(un)conventional wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-WuK5ZK4v7XP4ZGIctjmEGwxJsLRnwe9VNpBRZbpJ8guGb16VZ9Y7ocN_ae3etasO3zlG3zc915IQ0JpYQh4nTWqEAf_qP9mhRoJtsi7XHnG1QiWDEGC6do-BEQmX7kHZzlEncLxGAz9/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Tree.IMG_0470.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-WuK5ZK4v7XP4ZGIctjmEGwxJsLRnwe9VNpBRZbpJ8guGb16VZ9Y7ocN_ae3etasO3zlG3zc915IQ0JpYQh4nTWqEAf_qP9mhRoJtsi7XHnG1QiWDEGC6do-BEQmX7kHZzlEncLxGAz9/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Tree.IMG_0470.web.426.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ATHENA, the Greek goddess of wisdom was represented or accompanied by an owl in mythology. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Little Owl'<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span>(</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Athene noctua</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) was her ever-watching "mascot<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Large numbers of owls were said to nest in the Acropolis in Athens, <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which is the temple dedicated<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to Athena</span></span>. </span>As her symbol<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the owl</span> ac<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">companied Greek armies to war, </span>gaining the mystique of being seen as a protector.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3la9GE1q_IFV4G5wAgOI3SNqM8sKnTWGHkHJ8jBaqolBxR4KBUJAxE654dGc8raHgZyzeZn0GNkWyrrJlDxugo5mjgbPZ5ZkkoeeQp8kkJ56s0WiCBH9vMl7uRWw9e_Ip0vYRCGv5AegD/s1600/athenian-owl.coin.bkgrnd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3la9GE1q_IFV4G5wAgOI3SNqM8sKnTWGHkHJ8jBaqolBxR4KBUJAxE654dGc8raHgZyzeZn0GNkWyrrJlDxugo5mjgbPZ5ZkkoeeQp8kkJ56s0WiCBH9vMl7uRWw9e_Ip0vYRCGv5AegD/s1600/athenian-owl.coin.bkgrnd.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">FLIP SIDES | Rather than being emblematic of a deep connection with wisdom and intuitive knowledge, much traditional folklore places the owl as a messenger between the living and the dead—</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>or even as death's messenger-in-chief</b></span></span>. A less morbidly superstitious belief has them simply representing a metaphorical shift in perception, providing insight and wisdom to something we haven't seen or considered before—an (un)conventional wisdom, as it were. In ancient Greece, this coin (right) was the most influential of its time. The Athenian Owl featured Athena on one side and an owl on the other (shown). Nicknamed "Owls", these coins were in circulation for well over 300 years (c. 430 B.C. to c. 99 B.C). It is also the first widely minted coin that placed a 'head' on the front and a 'tail' (an animal image) on the back.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SOME CULTURES associate owls with sorcery and evil (Aztecs and Maya), while others </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">consider owls as bad omens (Arab mythology), </span>but the association with wisdom, art and scholarship (which all have their roots in Greek mythology) is the most resonant in Western culture. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3yQkevivwyfbzkUinEEqxDlJlFYecwB6s1LJjTP3BeMK_-ht9hBgnuLUo22AlTpuyJZfqFGI3aPJakBdDaO1oKyL9lXtUN9QbXgk7UIOV6uBT16N9AjWMT60oUj4q-hlOESaP7V5Tp3W/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Detail.IMG_0375.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3yQkevivwyfbzkUinEEqxDlJlFYecwB6s1LJjTP3BeMK_-ht9hBgnuLUo22AlTpuyJZfqFGI3aPJakBdDaO1oKyL9lXtUN9QbXgk7UIOV6uBT16N9AjWMT60oUj4q-hlOESaP7V5Tp3W/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Detail.IMG_0375.web.426.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PART OF THE MYSTERY surrounding the interpretation of the owl as an animal symbol lies with the longevity of the species. Dating back as much as 60 million years, the owl has been found in prehistoric cave paintings as well as ancient fossils. This span of time over millennia, no doubt, contributes to the owl's mysterious nature and is further amplified by its nocturnal habits and eerie call, giving its nighttime appearances an otherworldly demeanor.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7XB-xluh6tqmcfTvbUsVas079tuilouHrDFN28GdAY402dPNS22QNgw5dDOirMQAnQTX8e4XSeAomg_E0tEWvRj0cdEV7FSIu5pstGeN1RJREp9zRsbLrCVZZxcLiO3LduzIBrxADlTF/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Totem.IMG_0556.new.crop.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7XB-xluh6tqmcfTvbUsVas079tuilouHrDFN28GdAY402dPNS22QNgw5dDOirMQAnQTX8e4XSeAomg_E0tEWvRj0cdEV7FSIu5pstGeN1RJREp9zRsbLrCVZZxcLiO3LduzIBrxADlTF/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Totem.IMG_0556.new.crop.jpg" /></a> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYMBOLIC MESSENGERS | This fantastic Owl Totem tree topper inspired this tree and was found last season at </span><a href="http://www.starprovisions.com/star-provisions.php" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Star Provisions</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in Atlanta, but you might find one online at </span><a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/skirts-toppers/glass-owl-tree-topper/productOptionIDs/bd0459cc-8958-45c4-b120-330bd8a8856a" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Terrain</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (or not). They seem to be very popular and hard to find. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtvR6ayvza-RRBYsDbfQ11kMw6IV1R04DLrGk7cQYNO4a41ExkV97YqdIO3mWKldqkqNidyo9oCI7xsqYo5rXJn9fAgOJaacNYWEt9czfebeA5dLSBfeS-0EGnAILUgbLxZpJ1kzq0uvc/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl..Eagle.IMG_0554.web.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtvR6ayvza-RRBYsDbfQ11kMw6IV1R04DLrGk7cQYNO4a41ExkV97YqdIO3mWKldqkqNidyo9oCI7xsqYo5rXJn9fAgOJaacNYWEt9czfebeA5dLSBfeS-0EGnAILUgbLxZpJ1kzq0uvc/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl..Eagle.IMG_0554.web.png" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OWLS HAVE BEEN represented in the market—more and more the past few years as decorative items and ornaments. You can find them everywhere if you haven't noticed. This paper tree displays the collection of owl ornaments I've gathered, lending a mysterious quality perfect for Halloween. The owl totem topping this Halloween tree is a paean celebrating the owl's mystery and the good and bad of its generational (as well as cultural) history. In Indian American traditions, the owl is referred to as the Night Eagle. The owl totem has a special connection with the night and the moon which is a perfect symbol for the change in the airspace that mysteriously blows in with the autumn season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THIS HALLOWEEN (and first days of autumn) signal the return of my blog after a much-needed hiatus. Taking time for the important things in life, I have found an amazing new partner, a new job and a new lease on life (as well as a new camera). Just as the owl represents transformation and change, my intuition tells me that this renewed creative flight is a protective symbol of what's to come. The owl has played a diverse and fascinating cross-cultural role in myth and folklore and its intuitive wisdom surely holds lessons for all of us. It allows us to explore the unknown in such a way that can uncover the magic that we might otherwise miss in keeping a watchful eye and listening for the eerie call of "whooo."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclxaFGuBJ3JMWcU_RHg9cOHgUkhJB1E4DzEparxexjea0tXGGNHgpKwpqN6XmOI1VMUJHyWzANu_4v-wJJ-SOqzL4_YZYjIzVCgQNJ-dhjOdnsy1YfmcG0E4IYXCs49NlMYEsgCq04MRH/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Candle.web.426.IMG_0424.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclxaFGuBJ3JMWcU_RHg9cOHgUkhJB1E4DzEparxexjea0tXGGNHgpKwpqN6XmOI1VMUJHyWzANu_4v-wJJ-SOqzL4_YZYjIzVCgQNJ-dhjOdnsy1YfmcG0E4IYXCs49NlMYEsgCq04MRH/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Candle.web.426.IMG_0424.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">CANDLELIT MYSTERY | This owl and tree branch candlestick sits atop a frog which sits atop its base—very witchy indeed. The crown-shaped candle bases denote the nobility of the mysterious owl. Velvet fabric stuffed pumpkins sit amongst real ones and a diminuitive brass candleholder with curvy legs looks as if it could animate and walk amongst the pumpkin patch. </span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jSQ6ZDIeXtiXDuw63dobsOgP0M6LGLLEk51_ELBwDLGSHtQbQLLjprk9-VtaGS-taPTdIRHQtz8UG9Sh-xPxCWTjRnM8K86XtGaI5nhv_ANfi8_WmCM0APXYtcrVUST7dV8s-LNvP_wV/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Monogram.IMG_0431.Crop.web.426.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jSQ6ZDIeXtiXDuw63dobsOgP0M6LGLLEk51_ELBwDLGSHtQbQLLjprk9-VtaGS-taPTdIRHQtz8UG9Sh-xPxCWTjRnM8K86XtGaI5nhv_ANfi8_WmCM0APXYtcrVUST7dV8s-LNvP_wV/s1600/Halloween.2014.Owl.Monogram.IMG_0431.Crop.web.426.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">PUMPKIN GLITZ | This monogrammed and glittered faux pumpkin sets the tone for a real grey/green pumpkin with a glittered stem, alongside another velvet stuffed pumpkin and a small white pumpkin.</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3mQQvxVBFzzNd8KOBW2TfxW-lhyphenhyphenTo6UPJuDNeS0-RBLt65YmMzZUaVYoZKfnv6q_NQE1XbPhwsGFXmdqFROV-o46nKrfDm5Btsd5jzXM5sC-rCXsyBFaQ8iHKldSNsFb3vHa1PB_V_1Z/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.crop.post.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3mQQvxVBFzzNd8KOBW2TfxW-lhyphenhyphenTo6UPJuDNeS0-RBLt65YmMzZUaVYoZKfnv6q_NQE1XbPhwsGFXmdqFROV-o46nKrfDm5Btsd5jzXM5sC-rCXsyBFaQ8iHKldSNsFb3vHa1PB_V_1Z/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.crop.post.426.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A MOTHER'S WORK is never done.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I've heard this all my life, and it still applies after she's gone. It's hard to believe it has been almost nine years since my mother died. Still, I feel her constant presence in my life. This year has been especially active with serendipitous happenings. This lets me know that there is only a thin veil of consciousness separating my day-to-day life from her undying spirit. My mother's handiwork continues to weave itself into my life's fabric in surprising ways, so I persevere in honor of her yearly preserving.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TTiyeQ36xrNlWS6baP8rKzauUMkidYe1NyHQhYh-g_B7-xx671vRHImWM6X_dBjMapZf3lSdj4f0ciOnjB_vvWtCGRXwC23YKtGFjoBNJwfSEVf6HIl_7lTZ3DEAFKcP4gEJaB14Himo/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.Ball.Jar.Web.Post.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TTiyeQ36xrNlWS6baP8rKzauUMkidYe1NyHQhYh-g_B7-xx671vRHImWM6X_dBjMapZf3lSdj4f0ciOnjB_vvWtCGRXwC23YKtGFjoBNJwfSEVf6HIl_7lTZ3DEAFKcP4gEJaB14Himo/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.Ball.Jar.Web.Post.426.jpg" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">BELLES
OF BALL | <i>Last year, replicas of Ball's blue 1913 Perfect Mason Jar
were released, selling eight times what the company projected; this year
it reissued the brand's green 1914 Perfection line.</i></span> </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MY MOTHER WAS industrious to say the least—from putting up her famous dill pickles, icicle pickles, bread and butter pickles and sometimes, green tomato pickles every year—to canning and freezing almost every uneaten vegetable that was produced from our family garden. Those perfect pickles are all gone now (my nephew Kris still tries his hand at making them), but this year I found a commercially available version that came as close as my memory can get to how those divine garlicky-dill cucumber spears tasted. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdK2gSp0GK_XDBT4oJ7TRbk-fsVwoZFIqJGvj8gPiZvaxBSBN1hDNGxJQVTuXlFwTcthxIswTDhkmGP5c8OQS7rexy8VOiuSzM-9PBsHAYNL7sY4mDafNwMe2Wggtvr7jv-DgjsmBJ9kZ/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0883.Frog.Lids.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdK2gSp0GK_XDBT4oJ7TRbk-fsVwoZFIqJGvj8gPiZvaxBSBN1hDNGxJQVTuXlFwTcthxIswTDhkmGP5c8OQS7rexy8VOiuSzM-9PBsHAYNL7sY4mDafNwMe2Wggtvr7jv-DgjsmBJ9kZ/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0883.Frog.Lids.web.426.jpg" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>FITTED FOR FLOWERS | </b></span><i>The sealing lids that come with the jars have been replaced with flower frog lid inserts to create this floral tree (made by Ashland and distributed by <a href="http://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-MichaelsUS-Site/default/Default-Start?cm_mmc=SQ1_Search-_-Google-_-R8-B-E-Evergreen-TM-Trademark-_-michael%27s&utm_campaign=R8-B-E-Evergreen-TM-Trademark&utm_medium=SQ1_Search&utm_source=Google&utm_term=michael%27s&gclid=CIb8puOQo74CFbIDOgodnj8AcA">Michaels</a>).</i></span> </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THIS "TREE" celebrates all this by using blue and green retro canning jars as vases for a lush flower display. Although my mother's jars were always clear glass (produced much later), she always saved and reused the rings and jars, only buying new inner lids every year to ensure a proper seal for the joys of next season's pickle and relish tray. The tiered wire stand is reminiscent of the canning and sterilizing process used to prepare the jars for the careful alchemy of preserving.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdr6wJNsey51y2ktWaBknBksK1LqX07zyBEVLoZOCsNOqLz7nBYpPUW5sbc-65fz0ujpCFt-40NXzxeG8Rh_ZbxnawpDHTJ8DupvB1m0seZ5u54B912tbXXGU3PLc1f2LsmToNy117qbE/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0767.blog.Detail.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdr6wJNsey51y2ktWaBknBksK1LqX07zyBEVLoZOCsNOqLz7nBYpPUW5sbc-65fz0ujpCFt-40NXzxeG8Rh_ZbxnawpDHTJ8DupvB1m0seZ5u54B912tbXXGU3PLc1f2LsmToNy117qbE/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0767.blog.Detail.426.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I MISS THOSE DAYS of being able to run to the hall closet to fetch another jar of pickles, German vegetable soup, pickled okra, or canned stewed tomatoes. I miss our bountiful family garden we grew every year, sharing a large garden plot and responsiblity with the neighbors who lived across the street and next door. The garden was luxuriously large by many standards today. We grew at least 10 football-field-length rows of Silver Queen corn, several rows of snap beans with bamboo teepees for them to entwine, a half row of carrots, a couple of rows of potatoes, squash, radishes, purple-hulled peas, butter beans . . . the list goes on-and-on, and only changed slightly from year-to-year.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7KxvCO3O35q9rzJ9ofMSKkELQVNVZGXlANKmYEOObzoQ_3bRyVW6J2KDeg6I9Gh84QrzXxMA64f5Ijf4m_7tbrdJM5n-9MMlLGtJKnuGZEhU50ZYzf9bGHqVi_4oc5zfp-_rR2KeWQhs/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0859.Chocolates.web.426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7KxvCO3O35q9rzJ9ofMSKkELQVNVZGXlANKmYEOObzoQ_3bRyVW6J2KDeg6I9Gh84QrzXxMA64f5Ijf4m_7tbrdJM5n-9MMlLGtJKnuGZEhU50ZYzf9bGHqVi_4oc5zfp-_rR2KeWQhs/s1600/Mother's-Day.Tree.2014.IMG_0859.Chocolates.web.426.jpg" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">LOCAL TREASURES | <i>These truly incredible artisan chocolates are handmade by <a href="http://instagram.com/p/njRQuWhTsk/">Adam Turoni</a> of <a href="http://www.chocolatat.com/index2.php#/home/">Chocolat by Adam Turoni</a>, based in Savannah, Georgia—a richly tasty way to celebrate the sweet times.</i></span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THIS IS A SYMBOLIC celebration of that yearly harvest that continued into the fall with a second late summer planting of turnip greens, mustard greens and collards. Life will never be the same for this boy that has chosen to live in the city, but I will always have the memories of the fruits of mother's work of preserving the bounty from my father's carefully-planted and tended crops. I am lucky to know what it took to make all of this happen, as well as having had a hand in it. To have gotten my hands dirty in the soil, helped me learn that we truly reap what we sow in life, even symbolically. This exuberant and bountiful crop of flowers (the peach-colored roses I grew in a container garden) are a living metaphor for a life well-lived, under the tutelage of a mother (and a father) that taught me how to love. This is a happy Mother's Day because her work is still not done. And this is my way of remembering.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, growing, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-66424179416038607992014-04-18T06:33:00.000-04:002014-04-20T22:52:39.590-04:00east meets Easter<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zZk-KvOtZmDSCmaPTclvf28Gb2orGYk51KafKhxAACZljLkdx-WkOuXKYpbtNjs101Ke2wTcwpQKjVFcLdu08IKlWHUcIsnC2HoN9nOOdfSC6a-H3CBsUZ3p2cx2AdcSkkbn6VyQb_7u/s1600/Bunny-Egg.IMG_0557.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zZk-KvOtZmDSCmaPTclvf28Gb2orGYk51KafKhxAACZljLkdx-WkOuXKYpbtNjs101Ke2wTcwpQKjVFcLdu08IKlWHUcIsnC2HoN9nOOdfSC6a-H3CBsUZ3p2cx2AdcSkkbn6VyQb_7u/s1600/Bunny-Egg.IMG_0557.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ALTHOUGH THE EASTER holiday is celebrated </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">mainly </span></span>in the West as a Christian holiday, its message of love is universal. The overarching message of the religious version of the holiday might be summed up with two words: forgiveness and rebirth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa3bboMcRlHn-DNOVOo2Olov6O0T8gkI0y1cYm1v_YbM9dA3ZAVQeiCSSgJoFa2ZvG308mHTzbda5ND8eh0rOX9qD3RF310KrRIiRHxIERx-C6J64mj1jC66UYu2_9BnTv2-NhvFVVPr-/s1600/Moss.Rabbit.IMG_0590.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa3bboMcRlHn-DNOVOo2Olov6O0T8gkI0y1cYm1v_YbM9dA3ZAVQeiCSSgJoFa2ZvG308mHTzbda5ND8eh0rOX9qD3RF310KrRIiRHxIERx-C6J64mj1jC66UYu2_9BnTv2-NhvFVVPr-/s1600/Moss.Rabbit.IMG_0590.crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE RABBIT is the secular symbol of Easter as a symbol of fertility, as well as eggs. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both symbols date</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> back to pre-13th century Pagan traditions. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAxG3B7m7ESWXTx0HGD4e2tei0puCVIhwhFUmELKWI_svr5KsInppC6PhgmBgyFaKVXB1thDscDbFHelLdmxNc0wldSEg0PEDKt9SzRYH7gFqyGsBX07_Bphh-EDi_maRXEhqe2DJeG6W/s1600/Easter-Tree-2014.IMG_0609.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAxG3B7m7ESWXTx0HGD4e2tei0puCVIhwhFUmELKWI_svr5KsInppC6PhgmBgyFaKVXB1thDscDbFHelLdmxNc0wldSEg0PEDKt9SzRYH7gFqyGsBX07_Bphh-EDi_maRXEhqe2DJeG6W/s1600/Easter-Tree-2014.IMG_0609.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS aren't celebrated in the East (unless you're a Christian or simply like the secular aspects of the holiday), but this Japanese magnolia Bonsai tree hung with blue and white china eggs has a decidedly "East meets Easter" feel. Underneath lies a large golden egg for luck and prosperity. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISjFCib8V0OMtx1OhUsbcGqY0hL7w2OAmieIPxvqRR3cbzmk2eJfIMFauzxY1CCXmb7XacJqi9TtIQ1ObdR5vAxmVtGgztWSZfxQHtZ4IanN5K4IjoOgh4glXDZ0YLlEyh3R4jzwoCmEW/s1600/EasterGreetings.Plate.IMG_0657.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISjFCib8V0OMtx1OhUsbcGqY0hL7w2OAmieIPxvqRR3cbzmk2eJfIMFauzxY1CCXmb7XacJqi9TtIQ1ObdR5vAxmVtGgztWSZfxQHtZ4IanN5K4IjoOgh4glXDZ0YLlEyh3R4jzwoCmEW/s1600/EasterGreetings.Plate.IMG_0657.crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CULTURES ARE FUSING all over the world with the connectedness of modern technology. Indicative of the recognition of the universal truths of love, no matter what their belief system may be, many religions and beliefs have developed a more global world-view. And as we enter into some really significant astrological times with Pluto, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus forming a <a href="http://astrostyle.com/april-grand-cross/">Cardinal Grand Cross</a>, the apex of which happens on April 23 of this year, there is sure to be a breaking (or turning) point in the way the collective consciousness of the world behaves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7jwKvo225bUhRup3Q4v67FAihdezeuGAqTwVxMKyX_g3U-GAHHDKUS7Ilpj5zc0L2fstmmvfoilf04o_fKXPDRBNikXD6a7XOqI_Ex_dqrxYhjI05mwl4rFQQ1tlLQCQukJDnllPOMBm/s1600/BlueandWhite-Egg.Floral.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7jwKvo225bUhRup3Q4v67FAihdezeuGAqTwVxMKyX_g3U-GAHHDKUS7Ilpj5zc0L2fstmmvfoilf04o_fKXPDRBNikXD6a7XOqI_Ex_dqrxYhjI05mwl4rFQQ1tlLQCQukJDnllPOMBm/s1600/BlueandWhite-Egg.Floral.crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">FORGIVENESS is the step we all must take to make room for new love. Although sometimes extremely hard to do sometimes, we must forgive (and sometimes forget) the people who have squandered our love and find a place (or a person) with which it will thrive and prosper. I've been very lucky to have found just such a person and am excited about the quickly unfolding prospects ahead of us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKAqcVayQ1tGoWxmrcxjalNw8WwiNTo4d6Ag349sgTkQ1OblRo0_emKcO0TGyl0q_f1TH_njGq1gBxvyn7PuZx0eFnDkRJ1wgNTF6xwapL23YCzk7K5uI2HHYpHFqTaOZ-jatKDHwKy1M/s1600/BlueandWhiteEgg.Leaf.IMG_0594.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKAqcVayQ1tGoWxmrcxjalNw8WwiNTo4d6Ag349sgTkQ1OblRo0_emKcO0TGyl0q_f1TH_njGq1gBxvyn7PuZx0eFnDkRJ1wgNTF6xwapL23YCzk7K5uI2HHYpHFqTaOZ-jatKDHwKy1M/s1600/BlueandWhiteEgg.Leaf.IMG_0594.crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">LOVE is the grandest of all our emotions. It is entirely based on our faith (in any aspect) and being in tune with ourselves and others around us. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It can come in the most unexpected of places. </span></span>And for it to be received fully and without trepidation, our intent has to be pure when asking the universe what to do with it. Being ready to receive this kind of love no less than a spiritual rebirth. And I, for one, am ready!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomYLPkX2nDVxPJPhQofb98Z0ix2DQF1DUP76z8OVYDBbk5pag5AnIq0Lcit3HgVDCEixOyNR7k19zb4eUfKODUz1fbRFat5TseprlRMvP-gBpAS68MsASsSrN034iPss6i4dvt8YJZoLj/s1600/BunnyEars.Crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomYLPkX2nDVxPJPhQofb98Z0ix2DQF1DUP76z8OVYDBbk5pag5AnIq0Lcit3HgVDCEixOyNR7k19zb4eUfKODUz1fbRFat5TseprlRMvP-gBpAS68MsASsSrN034iPss6i4dvt8YJZoLj/s1600/BunnyEars.Crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">REBIRTH is a serious matter, even in spiritually metaphorical terms, as it is a visceral recognition of renewed life. So put on a pair of fuzzy pink bunny ears to bring levity to such a weighty transition. This Easter and the spring days ahead are full of the promise of an untold life of joy and purpose. The message is there, any way you look at it—religious or secular, north or south, east or west. It's up to you what to do with it. The message, pure and simple, is all about love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
<br />darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-54545457368948375012014-02-13T23:52:00.000-05:002014-02-14T00:00:46.694-05:00hearts and arrows<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUiu2gCPzukca8lG28xCNkkiTz7l48Oxqyk_1nO2-iYtBOzcpRttoG1PkBSP3eo2eTuI4G7FWdnM3DjY0DrXfSWl9tVPiAkSjLAvhWDCmqZIWlU9xnnjzVely8u1-bnXZMbKjxGijQcSE/s1600/Valentine.Tree.2014.IMG_0445.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUiu2gCPzukca8lG28xCNkkiTz7l48Oxqyk_1nO2-iYtBOzcpRttoG1PkBSP3eo2eTuI4G7FWdnM3DjY0DrXfSWl9tVPiAkSjLAvhWDCmqZIWlU9xnnjzVely8u1-bnXZMbKjxGijQcSE/s1600/Valentine.Tree.2014.IMG_0445.web.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">CUPID CAN BE quite a trickster. One need look no further than his choice of weapon to know that something is amiss. Arrows? Aimed at the heart? Sounds like a dangerous proposition. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLMGpUb8BrAhR8I6cQ_SO_Ckyd7RRqKs76nQZuqrRk-o_L6pT-PY0OL7LCQBnnu4b1YLC7HR1x5ykgmJdMgh6lDtdtTU2WA703kBCLS_EhZz01pfcgKd2CKwnA9tFTQQDRrxmtndlabBt/s1600/Heart.Arrow.IMG_0449.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLMGpUb8BrAhR8I6cQ_SO_Ckyd7RRqKs76nQZuqrRk-o_L6pT-PY0OL7LCQBnnu4b1YLC7HR1x5ykgmJdMgh6lDtdtTU2WA703kBCLS_EhZz01pfcgKd2CKwnA9tFTQQDRrxmtndlabBt/s1600/Heart.Arrow.IMG_0449.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">LOVE IS most certainly the finely-drawn target that we are all after, but unless the correct balance of grace, light, and levity are found in just the right proportions, it's easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we've found the love worthy of our noblest aims.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGhehOvMnFSv7YLXwvbBLQK_GQuS-ZykzZU-SY1flI1iyrHKgNiCVXuFB6iomzT4KJ1xR_O5WjRF50XkbNNhEYNxK-2mwCLAB6yNqGspcAbXcTbJLbzTPMN1sqh1EhlE9p-r0FChquzxN/s1600/Heart+and+Arrow.IMG_0466.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGhehOvMnFSv7YLXwvbBLQK_GQuS-ZykzZU-SY1flI1iyrHKgNiCVXuFB6iomzT4KJ1xR_O5WjRF50XkbNNhEYNxK-2mwCLAB6yNqGspcAbXcTbJLbzTPMN1sqh1EhlE9p-r0FChquzxN/s1600/Heart+and+Arrow.IMG_0466.png" /></a>IF WE DARE open our hearts again after having them shattered, we had better be sure this time around that our little buddy cupid hasn't been off flying in the clouds for far too long. Being a romantic fool, I'm often right there with him, flitting around looking for suspects without planting my feet firmly on the ground.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ElhANWaqU2vBpAdWTCR4MJbIanBTnhzxMHMnJ9gZsT_RMjsJ1897rP-0O_FIXrQgILJrdzTBczBF4dT-TXQQBsE5c9X_7x3ocTST_iL2mmxyGM5nZqJsbYVNc9DoLKTrxQb_qCjN_-vx/s1600/Heart-Box.2014.IMG_0451.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ElhANWaqU2vBpAdWTCR4MJbIanBTnhzxMHMnJ9gZsT_RMjsJ1897rP-0O_FIXrQgILJrdzTBczBF4dT-TXQQBsE5c9X_7x3ocTST_iL2mmxyGM5nZqJsbYVNc9DoLKTrxQb_qCjN_-vx/s1600/Heart-Box.2014.IMG_0451.web.png" /></a>LOVE IS quite a heady affair, but only becomes substantive once our arrows are sharpened and our aim is sure. It's not an easy sport at all. And it's certainly not for the faint of heart.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JUT2glrV-JigNPfzLKofRQ9u5KPoAy2LLgS8ZEG-ZazG_Lw_3zKH8OksQJU5IgvCRo8Ehhm9-ABNaBEDDGV_bb1FkTq4X2iAockx3bICAMpGSFnJiL6AU8aubB0zNLhAbRlcplOjX6av/s1600/LoveUnderGlass.IMG_0477.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JUT2glrV-JigNPfzLKofRQ9u5KPoAy2LLgS8ZEG-ZazG_Lw_3zKH8OksQJU5IgvCRo8Ehhm9-ABNaBEDDGV_bb1FkTq4X2iAockx3bICAMpGSFnJiL6AU8aubB0zNLhAbRlcplOjX6av/s1600/LoveUnderGlass.IMG_0477.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">BUT WE KEEP getting up, brushing ourselves off and finding a way, lessons learned, to move in that direction again. A sure-fire direction of love. Because nothing else compares, and nothing else will do. After all—true love, if you've ever had it . . . well, you know the drill. And our hearts know the way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-45752336480632130182014-01-31T00:12:00.000-05:002014-02-01T13:47:19.592-05:00chinese lunar new year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALQ0B5YEjf7pQuXULJ5xO1VoEQyM5Z6W8xrAfu8xu-eNCKTLmmUHZS6FSWky-N4FjZQHBQV99Oz8Vl94Hv5i-XJgddEDn5OJP9TRgHc0Xz8__x2cssTVEZQ6T0JMeMoL9AdyqKv28SWjE/s1600/LunarNewYear.2014.Tree.IMG_0386.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALQ0B5YEjf7pQuXULJ5xO1VoEQyM5Z6W8xrAfu8xu-eNCKTLmmUHZS6FSWky-N4FjZQHBQV99Oz8Vl94Hv5i-XJgddEDn5OJP9TRgHc0Xz8__x2cssTVEZQ6T0JMeMoL9AdyqKv28SWjE/s1600/LunarNewYear.2014.Tree.IMG_0386.web.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year">LUNAR NEW YEAR</a> or Spring Festival in China is not just one day of celebration as it is in the United States. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Lunar new year is, of course determined by the lunar calendar. </span></span> The festivities starting on January 31st extend for 15 days. Other Asian countries (including Korea, Vietnam and Japan) get in on the celebration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE NEW MOON starting the night of January 30th this year is also known as the Black Moon. In addition, it's the second Supermoon of the month. This is similar to the Blue Moon where there are two Full Moons in a calendar month. Some Pagan cultures imbue such a lunation a lot of power. This raises the stakes with regard to any ritual celebration of the lunar cycle (such as the Chinese Lunar New Year). It is a particularly auspicious time in the months ahead to devise a new way of being. It's a time to revise old habits with a goal toward a better future.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE CHINESE ZODIAC, known as Sheng Xiao is based on a 12-year cycle with each year being related to an animal sign. This year's trip around the sun will be the Year of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_%28zodiac%29">Horse</a>. Each year is designated by an animal that interacts with one of five "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches">earthly branches</a>," (earth, water, fire, wood and metal), with this year being a "yang wood" year—defining the mood and direction of the world.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircBPwoA59M3wIYhFnDO52fc8kv6PvLqjEofE-82Pj8SK8v3Sw2QFPhL2Ld8TRyiZiv_Jp-bG6BrawF6G6wZkTelY6NSoC1sAsFbZIhjHUDRACZU3xVbkKPpxTD-tmCY7OaqeMYNxN50b1/s1600/Lunar.NY.Incense.IMG_0411.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircBPwoA59M3wIYhFnDO52fc8kv6PvLqjEofE-82Pj8SK8v3Sw2QFPhL2Ld8TRyiZiv_Jp-bG6BrawF6G6wZkTelY6NSoC1sAsFbZIhjHUDRACZU3xVbkKPpxTD-tmCY7OaqeMYNxN50b1/s1600/Lunar.NY.Incense.IMG_0411.crop.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE YEAR OF THE HORSE contains a great deal of fire energy. Along with wood, the flames are stoked. In a "yang wood" year people are said to stand firmly by their principles, making it harder to negotiate or compromise. The combination of a Horse year and a "yang wood" year only happens every 60 years and is historically marked by regional warfare.<br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4vZb5aBWNIwLOysUc4s9PXgMbaFgiKcRITFwaPK45JjmWqYP2Ngy96O_NFg7-dfj2R5OFfz_tMCKq8ZYiUHfQRwq12f5tD6FQO937qCNQnrmJk_OHJCoXVWog1ouLfL73aQlLRyFhHe6/s1600/LunarNY.Lanterns.IMG_0393.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4vZb5aBWNIwLOysUc4s9PXgMbaFgiKcRITFwaPK45JjmWqYP2Ngy96O_NFg7-dfj2R5OFfz_tMCKq8ZYiUHfQRwq12f5tD6FQO937qCNQnrmJk_OHJCoXVWog1ouLfL73aQlLRyFhHe6/s1600/LunarNY.Lanterns.IMG_0393.crop.png" /></a>THIS TREE branch is guarded by a Chinese-style horse and held upright in a faux bois container in front of a faux bois background, both representing "yang wood." Incense is a common tradition at altar rituals throughout the holiday and represents the fiery energy of 2014. The tree is hung with pleated paper disks and glass lanterns. The paper disks represent fireworks; the noise from which is to scare away the half-dragon, half-lion monster "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nian">Nian</a>" who comes out of hiding during the Lunar New Year. By scaring away Nian, the Chinese wish that the coming year will be full of opportunities and prosperity. The glass lanterns symbolize the lantern festival which marks the conclusion of the celebrations (this year on Valentine's Day). The "forced branch" with flowers represents spring. And displaying and eating tangerines and oranges is said to bring wealth and luck. The tradition stems from the way the Chinese words for gold and orange sound alike, while the word for tangerine echoes luck.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">RED ENVELOPES are handed out to younger generations by their parents, grandparents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year and usually contain "lucky" money. Giving and receiving red envelopes, gifts, and business cards is a solemn act. They are usually presented and received with both hands, although the culture has become less formal about such things.<br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLC0FD9Z_9qeak9JPzfGmZlu_w-p3fuxZLJkDp9r79yKUig-cX7bUdWQ14zx-KRIQ-MOyWDEELntGODN5WOkwd8hmfdJ70I_qiW0guxkA6bLM78PhYtUcTWDnom7EgugH71LErkREJCFp/s1600/LunarNY.Horse.IMG_0398.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLC0FD9Z_9qeak9JPzfGmZlu_w-p3fuxZLJkDp9r79yKUig-cX7bUdWQ14zx-KRIQ-MOyWDEELntGODN5WOkwd8hmfdJ70I_qiW0guxkA6bLM78PhYtUcTWDnom7EgugH71LErkREJCFp/s1600/LunarNY.Horse.IMG_0398.crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">MANY FOLKTALES are also shared among families and friends during the Lunar New Year. This year the Story of the Taoist Farmer (The Horse that Ran Away) will surely be one of many parables that is repeated:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This farmer had only one
horse, and one day the horse ran away. The neighbors came to console him over his
terrible loss. The farmer said, "What makes you think it is so
terrible?"<br />
<br />
A month later, the horse came home—this time bringing with her two beautiful
wild horses. The neighbors became excited at the farmer's good fortune. Such
lovely strong horses! The farmer said, "What makes you think this is good
fortune?"<br />
<br />
The farmer's son was thrown from one of the wild horses and broke his leg. All
the neighbors were very distressed. Such bad luck! The farmer said, "What
makes you think it is bad?"<br />
<br />
A war came, and every able-bodied man was conscripted and sent into battle.
Only the farmer's son, because he had a broken leg, remained. The neighbors
congratulated the farmer. "What makes you think this is good?" said
the farmer.*</span></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THIS STORY is an example of an ancient Chinese philosophy known as Taoism.
This Taoist farmer believed in accepting events as they
come, without becoming too elated by the highs, or too saddened by the lows. The Taoist principle of living in harmony with
nature and what it brings, serves as a metaphor for life. It is an understanding that difficult and
stressful events can turn out to have a long-run positive effect on your life. It's a bold reminder that everything happens for a reason (or maybe only for a season). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfNR0GIhU0CCJy_XPHsX3ZAPnqLt0y8y5uUkWMerIW6hS82U4c4d1jNrDW2MAY3_Rg2GKiNm7B9ozpO5t-aBDvjuGEMWUB8Vo8-XMlWL4GuuPQBjt_zpa-i6qObArk9fLpchCK3y1GIST/s1600/CNY.MagentaLantern.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfNR0GIhU0CCJy_XPHsX3ZAPnqLt0y8y5uUkWMerIW6hS82U4c4d1jNrDW2MAY3_Rg2GKiNm7B9ozpO5t-aBDvjuGEMWUB8Vo8-XMlWL4GuuPQBjt_zpa-i6qObArk9fLpchCK3y1GIST/s1600/CNY.MagentaLantern.crop.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IN CELEBRATING the lunar new year, it is good to remember that bit of Taoist philosophy and apply it to all the ups and downs we all inevitably face during the course of a year.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>*<i>The Horse that Ran Away</i> as told by Executive editor, Elise Hancock, </b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">in the <a href="http://hub.jhu.edu/magazine">Johns Hopkins Magazine</a>, November 1993.</span></b> </span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-22199307182839440242013-12-31T16:46:00.001-05:002014-01-01T10:06:25.636-05:00welcoming the new year<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToqvMACqUpfGpTu8t1o8JQpIqMkqaFJOLdyMHlYPNT58Uy5O5i5F0wwSumDDjplhGMaw5n8K3qma5JT-Zgdgf5OxOmgXKBS_dxz_6h2eIrzfQ7W3qh39nOl6R828-bCmCz57r_X2gA_JL/s1600/New.Year.2014.IMG_0340.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToqvMACqUpfGpTu8t1o8JQpIqMkqaFJOLdyMHlYPNT58Uy5O5i5F0wwSumDDjplhGMaw5n8K3qma5JT-Zgdgf5OxOmgXKBS_dxz_6h2eIrzfQ7W3qh39nOl6R828-bCmCz57r_X2gA_JL/s1600/New.Year.2014.IMG_0340.web.png" /> </a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">IF IT'S TRUE what is said about the number 13 being the unluckiest number, then this year has played out the way it should. It has been one of the unluckiest years on record, in my life anyway, as well as a number of friend's lives. The New Year's holiday can be one of trepidation, but since 2014 can only get better than 2013—in my book—I give the new year a whole-hearted and welcoming embrace. That's what the New Year's celebration has always been about—setting intentions for the future.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6fNFsA25lY0bEwO8mZMiWR0YppFih9nUmUxjfJ9SPhEGUnKQZN6djDSSOd6tsw1vkcLKhyphenhyphene3buMbcEUbx2gMBhKACF-9dCbqPd0grev35K-ylGVbS3FA7lA7kObDLsCg-kJd7cDGADyH/s1600/New-Year%2527s-2014.Topper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6fNFsA25lY0bEwO8mZMiWR0YppFih9nUmUxjfJ9SPhEGUnKQZN6djDSSOd6tsw1vkcLKhyphenhyphene3buMbcEUbx2gMBhKACF-9dCbqPd0grev35K-ylGVbS3FA7lA7kObDLsCg-kJd7cDGADyH/s1600/New-Year%2527s-2014.Topper.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THIS TREE signifies a celebration of the best that has yet to come. And it will be colorful, fiery and bright. I know that if I can create a magical tree such as this, then I surely can muster some of that magic in my own life. Let it be so. That is my wish for the New Year. Although I'm not particularly religious, I am spiritual, and my God is found in nature and the cosmos, so I'll share the best-known form of the serenity prayer to push my intent to the universe on this <a href="http://www.dreaminginterpretation.com/new-moon-on-new-years-eve/">New Moon New Year's Eve</a>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>
</i></b></span></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>The courage to change the things I can,</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>
And wisdom to know the difference.</i></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk3wRolbNhUkKLzAdt6KvkhO5M3JdfQSGJHkVWC-vMjyvXIWjl0AwImKfd8TFfDyIdhkvwOQ17bE68O2AFguNbbIsxdKFlN4iW9iYuo70d-eoUN6-WggnOfH5XHmUbO3fTvXw9qisVkzr/s1600/NY.2013.Reindeer.IMG_0351.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk3wRolbNhUkKLzAdt6KvkhO5M3JdfQSGJHkVWC-vMjyvXIWjl0AwImKfd8TFfDyIdhkvwOQ17bE68O2AFguNbbIsxdKFlN4iW9iYuo70d-eoUN6-WggnOfH5XHmUbO3fTvXw9qisVkzr/s1600/NY.2013.Reindeer.IMG_0351.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THE GRACE of a deer is also significant. Ever alert and at one within its natural surroundings, the beautiful symbol of a deer is a poetic metaphor for leaping ahead to the new year. May the original form of the serenity prayer be a comfort in the New Year, no matter whom or what your God embodies.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The original words, attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr: </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">God, give me grace to accept with serenity</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">the things that cannot be changed,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Courage to change the things</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">which should be changed,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">and the Wisdom to distinguish</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">the one from the other. <br /><br /> Living one day at a time,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Enjoying one moment at a time,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Taking, as Jesus did,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">This sinful world as it is,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Not as I would have it,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Trusting that You will make all things right,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">If I surrender to Your will,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">And supremely happy with You forever in the next.</span><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen.</span></span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2013-2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-68488536203592951172013-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-26T21:35:54.435-05:00gifted gestures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8uqLxcNXEPIHLrOIE6YPqxCzYKALtbkEQPuApYIiLx_7W5ljXqAejk-ZjouA1Ik7Yqpun0hlgHVBldb2d5w_jNn_ciFmgDSvaA2rkl4IHnwxZ1WVK6ubrr5z6v0hfZ3NCJDZhHKxtqHj/s1600/IMG_0282.tree.ornament.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8uqLxcNXEPIHLrOIE6YPqxCzYKALtbkEQPuApYIiLx_7W5ljXqAejk-ZjouA1Ik7Yqpun0hlgHVBldb2d5w_jNn_ciFmgDSvaA2rkl4IHnwxZ1WVK6ubrr5z6v0hfZ3NCJDZhHKxtqHj/s1600/IMG_0282.tree.ornament.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8uqLxcNXEPIHLrOIE6YPqxCzYKALtbkEQPuApYIiLx_7W5ljXqAejk-ZjouA1Ik7Yqpun0hlgHVBldb2d5w_jNn_ciFmgDSvaA2rkl4IHnwxZ1WVK6ubrr5z6v0hfZ3NCJDZhHKxtqHj/s1600/IMG_0282.tree.ornament.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A GIFT that won't fail to be appreciated is at once personal and unique. You can never go wrong with an ornament as a gift if you match the ornament to the recipient's taste level. Also, if you put consideration into it being something symbolic of your relationship with them or something pertaining to their personality and likes, it becomes an especially thoughtful gesture. Since <a href="http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/2011/01/about-team-holiday.html">Matthew Mead</a> has been an ardent supporter of my blog and has included my work in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Meads-Holiday-Hundreds-CELEBRATE/dp/0848738144/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y">last year's</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Mead-Holiday-Through-House/dp/0848742583/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382384944&sr=1-2">this year's</a> issue of his holiday magazine, as well as a recent blog post where he named me "<a href="http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/2013/12/king-of-forest.html">King of the Forest</a>," I gifted he and his wife a literal tree ornament like the one you see above. Last year, I gave them a different tree ornament, along with a copy my book <a href="http://www.blurb.com/b/3433522-the-decorated-tree">The Decorated Tree</a>. He's already utilized this year's ornament as a prop in one of his beautiful photographs illustrating how to decorate a mantle.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Yhyphenhyphen4qlAW3l_t8bNe-8wz5aOJU-ORpA8C4o4KwjK8AM4SR3TNS9ztHjZ-r7IKAfAoVhxqiGHonI9xz44QupMsvG8KHngxlmgyk-So7eMUMrXZI2BuJ96Pw3T2UfMYCfhnBUF1UhxTuwd/s1600/Heart&Rose.IMG_0288.blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Yhyphenhyphen4qlAW3l_t8bNe-8wz5aOJU-ORpA8C4o4KwjK8AM4SR3TNS9ztHjZ-r7IKAfAoVhxqiGHonI9xz44QupMsvG8KHngxlmgyk-So7eMUMrXZI2BuJ96Pw3T2UfMYCfhnBUF1UhxTuwd/s1600/Heart&Rose.IMG_0288.blog.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">EVEN IF YOU'RE a last-minute shopper, the variety and abundance of ornaments on the market during the holidays is so vast, you will surely to find something special for everyone on your list—even if they are hard to buy for. Ornaments also make great tie-ons for special gifts. Since I am on the constant lookout for the perfect ornaments to decorate the trees for this blog, I see the best-of-the-best in my collecting pursuit. I've found that selecting ornaments that are neutral in color (or even clear glass like this beautiful heart) are the best way to go when buying one as a gift, because they can be incorporated on almost any tree. And what says "I love you" more than a heart-shaped ornament? I collect heart-shaped ornaments in memory of my mother, as I maintained a <a href="http://thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2010/02/hearts-of-glass.html">yearly tradition</a> of tying one onto a special gift to her every Christmas. The collection still grows in her memory.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABFQ8e8uZ3PKdvdbuFGqd3Cn7XyHRjn7y1RTc6OdUfxBnfi-S3a3nuM7GVPOmhPtJLmQzz467yFzUvdpzKrXM5JKCVmgS0PnE3nMj9RTuWiFerrbKTKEyL9U-vwEn2UYA67Ph8AhQAz1b/s1600/TDT.Tree-of-Dreams.overall.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABFQ8e8uZ3PKdvdbuFGqd3Cn7XyHRjn7y1RTc6OdUfxBnfi-S3a3nuM7GVPOmhPtJLmQzz467yFzUvdpzKrXM5JKCVmgS0PnE3nMj9RTuWiFerrbKTKEyL9U-vwEn2UYA67Ph8AhQAz1b/s1600/TDT.Tree-of-Dreams.overall.web.png" /></a>THE CHRISTMAS after she passed I had a dream about her in which I gave her a brooch that inspired an entire tree. I'm including the photos of the tree here, but you can read the original post <a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2009/12/tree-romance.html">here</a>. This tree is an assemblage of ornaments that remind me of my mother's spirit and humor. It served as a altar of sorts to her memory. It's still one of my favorite trees because it is so symbolic of a mother's love and was completely inspired by a dream of a gift I never got to give her, except in my dream, which is why I entitled the post "<a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2009/12/tree-romance.html">Tree of Dreams</a>."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEVZJJpx11nSdbYqBzfiBV0gSuorxP8pI1nIH8zw0S7uslmQWPZwneI3jNVqPkIOTJkFreByUUvVrII7BkrzdkSJeV_yLA-2OaWsMiUU5qX5ZI9G5wdbNuBKEUdCjSLXkGZAGAX-SVA84/s1600/TDT.Tree-of-Dreams.50.crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEVZJJpx11nSdbYqBzfiBV0gSuorxP8pI1nIH8zw0S7uslmQWPZwneI3jNVqPkIOTJkFreByUUvVrII7BkrzdkSJeV_yLA-2OaWsMiUU5qX5ZI9G5wdbNuBKEUdCjSLXkGZAGAX-SVA84/s1600/TDT.Tree-of-Dreams.50.crop.png" /></a>IF YOU TAKE a closer look at this tree, you'll see a myriad of symbolic and figural ornaments, all brought together by the cohesive color scheme inspired by the brooch. Even though most family trees are a hodge-podge of family memories (and there's nothing else like them), the trees I present in my blog are designed to create a certain theme or mood, which dictates that I usually stick to a predetermined color palette as I have in this post. Still, there is room for a lot of variety within such parameters. Not long after my parents had passed, I gave ornament gifts to my siblings representing my parents (<a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2011/05/bluebird-and-butterfly.html">a bluebird and a butterfly</a>). I detail the special packaging in which I presented them in <a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2011/05/bluebird-and-butterfly.html">this post</a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrajQVVrKWXTaqMEzrA37jXgp_GiU39030vSz4jq7XTLKywPijgvqfjVaw2HhqUBqxqcBvk3HAZhAgEjzw9zYu2VYlVzvVv8QIl2Qc7Mj1L8MPDpKdOau1H_qeDp8po_ZTp3Yz4KTK51P/s1600/The-Decorated-Tree-Book.TreeofDreamsSpread.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrajQVVrKWXTaqMEzrA37jXgp_GiU39030vSz4jq7XTLKywPijgvqfjVaw2HhqUBqxqcBvk3HAZhAgEjzw9zYu2VYlVzvVv8QIl2Qc7Mj1L8MPDpKdOau1H_qeDp8po_ZTp3Yz4KTK51P/s1600/The-Decorated-Tree-Book.TreeofDreamsSpread.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2009/12/tree-romance.html">Tree of Dreams spread</a> as it appears in my <a href="http://www.blurb.com/b/3433522-the-decorated-tree">book</a>.</span></span></span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ0jNmFyUmVvQitCgOLnxURGJImw9BQtdEAw68NS9FeMT1NHlmb-iOWconypZdzY5E3bGHKAisJ437G7w6eb3KQKuPE8Rz1D0-9CuI4uLgWotK2J0Uem8b-cI3Eo5A3HFFnYX_3zokNhX/s1600/Mother's+Pins.IMG_0270.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ0jNmFyUmVvQitCgOLnxURGJImw9BQtdEAw68NS9FeMT1NHlmb-iOWconypZdzY5E3bGHKAisJ437G7w6eb3KQKuPE8Rz1D0-9CuI4uLgWotK2J0Uem8b-cI3Eo5A3HFFnYX_3zokNhX/s1600/Mother's+Pins.IMG_0270.web.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE BROOCH (or the facsimile I found after having had the dream) </span></span>inspired the tree above. You'll see it at the top of the photograph above. Another brooch I happened upon this year reminded me of a Christmas tree pin my mother used to wear. The tree brooch caught my eye in a glass cabinet at the checkout of a store that sells soft drinks and snacks, of all things. I saw the brooch as I made my purchase and immediately asked to see it, and I bought it as another memento of my mother's memory. Maybe this tree brooch will inspire <a href="http://thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2009/12/retromodern-decorating.html">another traditionally-colored tree</a>. Maybe it's a message of inspiration from my mother to create one! I think my more sophisticated adult approach is much different than one as seen through a child's eyes. Or maybe it's only a reminder from the universe to rekindle the innocence I've sometimes lost in seeing a tree as a child would see it. Any way you slice it, it's a definite creative challenge to think of a way to create that innocent wonder and magic.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIXNMYRLmDy5zes0QEnUKBP9_KMUYxkkg_O4PBpr1h3a3Lfzo0urnfou6hjQ_1B3PZRAiXrJN8FFrfiZ5zk2y7MzCCPgN-k-uMNpXswDMJlyYleNECtTJ4uUATiFqVjlZJCYrg-cJYrkI/s1600/IMG_0297.PolarBear.Deer.Ornaments.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIXNMYRLmDy5zes0QEnUKBP9_KMUYxkkg_O4PBpr1h3a3Lfzo0urnfou6hjQ_1B3PZRAiXrJN8FFrfiZ5zk2y7MzCCPgN-k-uMNpXswDMJlyYleNECtTJ4uUATiFqVjlZJCYrg-cJYrkI/s1600/IMG_0297.PolarBear.Deer.Ornaments.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">HANDMADE ORNAMENTS are always welcome gifts, such as this polar bear made by my friend David Schump. In his modernized tramp art style, he creates ornaments sold on his website entitled "<a href="http://www.thearttramp.com/">The Art Tramp</a>". I've bought two ornaments from him this year and have two more on hold that he has made. He makes them in limited quantities, but I'm not sure if he has plans to make multiples of this one-of-a-kind polar bear pictured above. Please check out his site for other beautiful tramp art creations, including beautiful symbolic boxes <a href="http://www.thearttramp.com/">here</a>. The hand-blown glass deer ornament at the bottom of the photo above, is also quite special. Both ornaments would be a welcome addition to any tree, certainly adding a personality that only animals can. Animals evocative of winter are especially appropriate gifts to celebrate the winter solstice that happens just a few days before Christmas (December 21st this year). They also serve as a reminder for us to be careful stewards of the eroding environment in which such animals live.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDoZYU7lWXFS0u5u-VoXiLjibdmYKnSN7uuXPbKqnoVPuNxqSqB0fESafyBlkbsYMrK38pvXyrXpoRcZSC14yEVfXFxjzBZliYXTyxjaAAbhPmHcljrByE9DGwghrQycb5Nx9D9CcwC-5/s1600/IMG_0305.butterfly.peacesign.web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDoZYU7lWXFS0u5u-VoXiLjibdmYKnSN7uuXPbKqnoVPuNxqSqB0fESafyBlkbsYMrK38pvXyrXpoRcZSC14yEVfXFxjzBZliYXTyxjaAAbhPmHcljrByE9DGwghrQycb5Nx9D9CcwC-5/s1600/IMG_0305.butterfly.peacesign.web.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MANY ORNAMENTS are commercially available, such as this lettered cardboard butterfly and a sturdy metal peace sign, which looks as if it's made from twigs. I gave the butterfly ornament this year as a gift to a former companion since butterflies represent his sister, who died of cancer much too early. I know how much he loved her and how he cherishes the butterfly symbol his family has adopted to represent her life. Either of these ornaments would be an appropriate gift for your more gentle, peace-loving friends, or as a special memory of one.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ_-Ub4gERT-_feViDefW3cdN0bn-6s-LiPhHQzcgQO5ncEE5ThB3RwOmEcO7SKBWzfqVucKzBOQxSnwWPkPtSapDzCCF3NbNeGOcSqCiwuYmy8tRhmYVuJT7mL3FUNaisYql6jWZnrph/s1600/IMG_0313.UndertheStars.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ_-Ub4gERT-_feViDefW3cdN0bn-6s-LiPhHQzcgQO5ncEE5ThB3RwOmEcO7SKBWzfqVucKzBOQxSnwWPkPtSapDzCCF3NbNeGOcSqCiwuYmy8tRhmYVuJT7mL3FUNaisYql6jWZnrph/s1600/IMG_0313.UndertheStars.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">STARS ARE THE SHINING symbols of the light of the season. They give us hope for a future filled with the best things life can offer. It's no secret how stars have figured into my world since that <a href="http://thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2013/05/under-stars.html">special night in Tulum</a> I've written about in posts this year. These two gold stars were gifts for Devin and serve as a reminder that while reaching for the stars in his new life in New York City, he should not forget the stars we saw on that unencumbered beach last November and the love we professed for one another. The light of the stars in such an atmospherically unobscured sky is our gift from the universe, reminding us all how insignificant we are in the big scheme of things and humbling us enough to live our lives with unconditional love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">TODAY WOULD have been my parent's 68th wedding anniversary. They were married December 23rd, 1945 and both lived short of their 60th anniversary in 2005. I feel extremely lucky to have had the bedrock example my parents both set and the real unconditional love they shared with my entire family. Love hasn't worked out so well for me, but I'm in a different situation and unable to legally marry. Maybe one day, that will become a reality wherever I live, as it has already for many in this country and around the world. But until then, I'll keep trying to find <i>the one</i> who will make that sort of unconditional commitment and stick by my side, for better or for worse. I am truly ready for that to happen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MUCH LIGHT and LOVE to everyone this holiday season. May you and yours find the indefinable magic of the season. And remember those special people in your lives that are less fortunate than you, and include them in your family gatherings to share in the joy of Christmas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>©2013 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Tree photos by <a href="http://www.claudialopezphotography.com/">Claudia Lopez Photography</a>.</b></span><br />
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-55559545497462152262013-12-13T23:11:00.000-05:002014-12-24T04:30:22.454-05:00fresh perspective<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUloaCvzVQWeDHhkcezB0sCHsHk16z15rgDH_R9jW9o8WBt7HNXyy494uX0qjWrA_w3ot9fdZ5y2N5jk7ZOgm33pgRbiE7wwzntAOGOpl4q5yKeGpiheqeLYocQudw4EajHiXpFzc1DKC/s1600/SunnyTree.IMG_0257.web.blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUloaCvzVQWeDHhkcezB0sCHsHk16z15rgDH_R9jW9o8WBt7HNXyy494uX0qjWrA_w3ot9fdZ5y2N5jk7ZOgm33pgRbiE7wwzntAOGOpl4q5yKeGpiheqeLYocQudw4EajHiXpFzc1DKC/s1600/SunnyTree.IMG_0257.web.blog.png" /></a></div>
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--></style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">ALWAYS LOOKING for something fresh when designing a new
tree, I am rarely drawn to the traditional color schemes of the holiday season it seems.
Not that the traditional reds and greens aren’t beautiful and symbolic of
Christmas—they are absolutely
iconic. It's just that I find great pleasure in combining new shapes, color and form. I steered far from the traditional with the first tree I designed that is crafted by Dennis Bauer: The Decorated Tree's Alpine Feather Tree (<a href="http://www.hometraditions.com/the_decorated_tree_alpine_feather_tree_s/1895.htm">sold here at Hometraditions.com</a>) In <a href="http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/">Matthew Mead</a>'s beautiful holiday publication, the tree decorated in rich
pinks and oranges (as appearing in the pages of <a href="http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/">Matthew Mead’s Christmas All Through the House</a> (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Mead-Holiday-Through-House/dp/0848742583/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386993341&sr=8-1&keywords=matthew+meads+Christmas+all+through+the+house">sold here on Amazon.com</a>). The tree is also detailed in <a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2013/10/fire-and-ice.html">this blog post</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXHr3v_vRowlZ-lw4bAS8gZ6N_ntzs5x59gZSbYKK9u9RxGdC1o76sGPv1d2lkbzCrdnvziBt304niEHvJP0Krnr8duwk3asGcRTtf92VeidFyB0XeB5olPrkHcVM6Lw2EQ1YgHN8tgQw/s1600/Tree.Base.IMG_0245.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXHr3v_vRowlZ-lw4bAS8gZ6N_ntzs5x59gZSbYKK9u9RxGdC1o76sGPv1d2lkbzCrdnvziBt304niEHvJP0Krnr8duwk3asGcRTtf92VeidFyB0XeB5olPrkHcVM6Lw2EQ1YgHN8tgQw/s1600/Tree.Base.IMG_0245.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IN A SIMILAR, but much more subdued warm color scheme, I've decorated this beautifully sparse “natural-cut” tree (yes, it's real) for Christmas this year. I found this tree at at Atlanta's Georgia State Farmer's Market—grown and sold by my favorite sellers there—</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Joel and Inez Owens. Their trees are grown in Tuckasegee, North Carolina and brought to Atlanta every year. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Decorated in summery tones of yellow, gold,
silver and several shades of turquoise, this color scheme reminds me of a <a href="http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com/2013/05/under-stars.html">memorable trip</a> taken to Tulum, Mexico last November, where the turquoise Caribbean water and the golden sun and sand were an inspiring part of the everyday landscape. Nights there, the sky was filled with awe-inspiring stars, so I've also used tiny LED <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?link=GlowingStarryStringLights&categoryId=cat2210113">Starry String Lights from Restoration Hardware</a> to light the tree (a decidedly modern version of Martin Luther's lighting the first evergreen with candles to rekindle the starry night sky inside his home).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2epBPOm8pJwybfu-f4xLP1YXGqN85Bqpo-c-Y6xw8zRdqHxWFxwK_FKs_MThJ0SNcng4Wp-_YRCXYpBdE8-qFdNdXPFumDITqx6xBwi3rtzcEJcKyvBIYa4T1mu308lXVvl6lqbimg6W/s1600/Starry.String.Lights.IMG_0165.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2epBPOm8pJwybfu-f4xLP1YXGqN85Bqpo-c-Y6xw8zRdqHxWFxwK_FKs_MThJ0SNcng4Wp-_YRCXYpBdE8-qFdNdXPFumDITqx6xBwi3rtzcEJcKyvBIYa4T1mu308lXVvl6lqbimg6W/s1600/Starry.String.Lights.IMG_0165.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHfHXJ1DvHran_7xJpCVJ-RgmREADU3tWFItyXAGICgGZrhRa0RPc90m1px_ZbtWU2wxJQUUiGX5azmBvTdDmDxgFK81aX60frVu1f9re_eoy6rS_L6wuLNYlybUHpbNK1sDSLBvXlqqI/s1600/Me+with+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHfHXJ1DvHran_7xJpCVJ-RgmREADU3tWFItyXAGICgGZrhRa0RPc90m1px_ZbtWU2wxJQUUiGX5azmBvTdDmDxgFK81aX60frVu1f9re_eoy6rS_L6wuLNYlybUHpbNK1sDSLBvXlqqI/s1600/Me+with+Tree.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">HERE, I ONLY used the top two-thirds of the tree, and left most of
the long trunk formed by trimming off the less desirable bottom branches. This way the tree fit nicely into a tall metal urn, which I packed with moistened sand—</span><span style="font-size: small;">ironically enough—to hold the tree firmly in place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjNTaNP-Ysab7K0nNE8CCdJezQq2Fh1FWQDuaCxBqIw7HDfJpSfGpXHC5xxx5QKvTeNmQBPRrUivGf1bVs__M7RJwV_UpClPAhrD_AIFd3hUPGPtDr7WGVpzuOObDT8VUbBkk3YayZqxI/s1600/Bulb.Detail.IMG_0109,crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjNTaNP-Ysab7K0nNE8CCdJezQq2Fh1FWQDuaCxBqIw7HDfJpSfGpXHC5xxx5QKvTeNmQBPRrUivGf1bVs__M7RJwV_UpClPAhrD_AIFd3hUPGPtDr7WGVpzuOObDT8VUbBkk3YayZqxI/s1600/Bulb.Detail.IMG_0109,crop.png" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WHEN FOLLOWING the paths least
traveled in life, the world becomes ripe with wonder and surprise again. This is my symbolic and literal way to usher in a fresh perspective to my life that has drastically changed this year. Hopefully, I can soon find my way back to happier and more prosperous times again. It's been a process, so please excuse me while I decorate for Christmas and welcome sunny colors to the mix that brings the warmth of the Caribbean to my living room.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHYUzfRZgsLeRV7xscf5dXToMfCFuObrjKjmBGWmjXChP8NcqX3HSaXL5bFo0ILMsoIDod-H9OlHr2ep1vK6-50mXbdHAtkBG9Lyveh7fMVr-EuHs78f_-m4gngwCNFFxEg-dIqMxPBXd/s1600/Tree.Detail.IMG_0205.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHYUzfRZgsLeRV7xscf5dXToMfCFuObrjKjmBGWmjXChP8NcqX3HSaXL5bFo0ILMsoIDod-H9OlHr2ep1vK6-50mXbdHAtkBG9Lyveh7fMVr-EuHs78f_-m4gngwCNFFxEg-dIqMxPBXd/s1600/Tree.Detail.IMG_0205.png" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WE’RE INUNDATED with the expected every day. And because of these mental habits, we tend to become disengaged with the immediate world around us. It’s
only when we travel, either physically or metaphorically, that we can let our minds
wander and experience the awe that makes life new and exciting once again. One of my favorite YouTube videos I've encountered this year <a href="http://youtu.be/8QyVZrV3d3o">says it all</a>—about awe. Please take the time to watch it:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QyVZrV3d3o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IN THIS VIDEO, "Performance Philosopher" Jason Silva explains that "one of the ways we elicit wonder is by scrambling the self temporarily so that the world can seep in." If we don’t do this from time to time, we no longer are engaged by what we perceive as the everyday banality of the mundane. "We have eyes, yet see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that neither feel, nor understand," according to this video. As an artist, the creatively productive zone where I find new
ways of looking at things is a necessary process in moving outside of my comfort zone—to find a fresh perspective. It's sometimes an extremely arduous process, as this year has definitely been for me. But as Jason finds the words to express the reconfiguring and assimilating that takes place to create poetry in our lives, he concludes this hopeful video with the words, "we have a responsibility to awe." So with that said, I wish everyone that reads my blog an AWEsome holiday season ahead.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2013 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990498515981906040.post-9130394656893537522013-12-03T23:37:00.000-05:002013-12-09T07:25:12.920-05:00magic in the air<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4_HY8GMIKJYmVsGKmtw_l_p4tSSHNjpiHZcnl6YA6DtR5a_S4eiIaO5ORmXS8oGPz0qumb2Q4-kb5VOEnyqEefGqd8ZinqmIUucXzQd5eb3vf_5llOOINkyUa0lPNdV5kGvBhTjqsQVZ/s1600/SANTA.REINDEER.IMG_3385.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4_HY8GMIKJYmVsGKmtw_l_p4tSSHNjpiHZcnl6YA6DtR5a_S4eiIaO5ORmXS8oGPz0qumb2Q4-kb5VOEnyqEefGqd8ZinqmIUucXzQd5eb3vf_5llOOINkyUa0lPNdV5kGvBhTjqsQVZ/s1600/SANTA.REINDEER.IMG_3385.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IT MAY NOT ALWAYS be readily apparent, but if you squint,
blur your eyes and find the space between reality and the magic that is in the
very air we breathe during the holidays—if you listen intently—you might even hear the sleigh bells ringing and a distant
chuckle. Then you'll know that St. Nicholas will soon be here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus3by12Ivn0aH3tkl9Ple8ZujYP6wbTt2t3miN6KZxn42HzZLliS7ZwHz09ybnH45hjoAhyO_gFaK84zSw3Fs9LycAEregcdEa-cCYRV07mfcgg-HucRnCXKNMkVGVjNHco2y21yxyAqe/s1600/Reindeer-Tree.Overall.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus3by12Ivn0aH3tkl9Ple8ZujYP6wbTt2t3miN6KZxn42HzZLliS7ZwHz09ybnH45hjoAhyO_gFaK84zSw3Fs9LycAEregcdEa-cCYRV07mfcgg-HucRnCXKNMkVGVjNHco2y21yxyAqe/s1600/Reindeer-Tree.Overall.png" /></a>I REMEMBER in decorating the trees of my childhood, the
lights were always multicolored then, with some of the bulbs being an unblinking solid color, and
some being a translucent color. All of them were blinking on their own independent schedule. This gave
the tree an effect of a multicolored sky of bright fireflies. The overall
scene was wonderously magical. </span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_JW3ghGKYHxLDyy0Smdno2tmKEwo5Fi2t4mfasMYdr2TLr8rbCH_P3xmI2bcl78lhR710vf_co1xLPyqE6wc6HndvS0MFEY3SGHv621_suQeWMA-PrlS5obPIFA1gRZUW1HErmbetyjV/s1600/Reindeer.Lamp.IMG_3253.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_JW3ghGKYHxLDyy0Smdno2tmKEwo5Fi2t4mfasMYdr2TLr8rbCH_P3xmI2bcl78lhR710vf_co1xLPyqE6wc6HndvS0MFEY3SGHv621_suQeWMA-PrlS5obPIFA1gRZUW1HErmbetyjV/s1600/Reindeer.Lamp.IMG_3253.png" /></a>WHEN THE TREE was done I would sit on the sofa facing the
the "picture window," in front of which the tree stood proudly, for the passersby to see. I would blur my eyes until the lights melded together and formed halos
of overlapping color. It was mesmerizing. It was if we had our own blinking constellation
of color that bounced off of the ceiling and every reflective surface in the room.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RCWFPKPh1DTI3lIWssmooUSmbMr-yqa_aXGvgZINLImpP4GaGwqzphTXhiSJdMQ-b0uVl0xY-0Is7cJEyf17bQOhK-u_NMGSeVilpi35XWiL57g7_QQkCsnd74Brwn_UAgs_CkWJkEjo/s1600/Santa.DEtail.IMG_3223.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RCWFPKPh1DTI3lIWssmooUSmbMr-yqa_aXGvgZINLImpP4GaGwqzphTXhiSJdMQ-b0uVl0xY-0Is7cJEyf17bQOhK-u_NMGSeVilpi35XWiL57g7_QQkCsnd74Brwn_UAgs_CkWJkEjo/s1600/Santa.DEtail.IMG_3223.png" /></a>SOME SAY the season is ushered in</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade </span></span>by Santa in his sleigh
being pulled by eight flying reindeer. That's the way it used to be. These days it starts long before that. But the beginning mark of
the holiday season is when the magic of the season lights up a child’s eyes. Whether it be by
the lights themselves, glitter everywhere you look, or brightly-hued baubles hanging from the tree's branches;
the real focus of the season is where all of that comes together—the tree.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSxvYG8TxjV8d1gHbnius7MNyskXvTIeW1KEW5GIRT4-jXBVI3aL1XhAZkBS5AqYxxUvC9gSHaGjdhec6ToagJfV6BtCSE8E_JNBxMNPHSb2346rZq3VVZO2EeVskw86GjT5dFMh-tu4F/s1600/Sleigh.Bell.Detail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSxvYG8TxjV8d1gHbnius7MNyskXvTIeW1KEW5GIRT4-jXBVI3aL1XhAZkBS5AqYxxUvC9gSHaGjdhec6ToagJfV6BtCSE8E_JNBxMNPHSb2346rZq3VVZO2EeVskw86GjT5dFMh-tu4F/s1600/Sleigh.Bell.Detail.png" /></a>THIS ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT TREE was conceived by good intentions
when it was decorated, but it drooped and sagged under the weight of the heavy
glittered reindeer heads, metal acanthus leaves and sleigh bells. Even so, Santa was diligent with his reindeer, create their own brand of glittery magic. With its LED lit branches, the tree still provided a measure of warmth for
the season that began after Thanksgiving, so the droopy branches didn't seem to matter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLEAkOPRhs3iwN3i31Hd4ga5qdGZWuO4UFGYx3KuvNVSiuNJbaN8C-R95cjhj5z2xfiHVyjizt24wDvu4HtXPJWMNvpz7wnzm13a1dBLN_ThAYB8PUp4SnH1vM-EFDmH1UKyKBoFmXgNf/s1600/REINDEER-FIGURE.IMG_3207.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLEAkOPRhs3iwN3i31Hd4ga5qdGZWuO4UFGYx3KuvNVSiuNJbaN8C-R95cjhj5z2xfiHVyjizt24wDvu4HtXPJWMNvpz7wnzm13a1dBLN_ThAYB8PUp4SnH1vM-EFDmH1UKyKBoFmXgNf/s1600/REINDEER-FIGURE.IMG_3207.png" /></a>ITS QUIRKY NATURE, I thought, was a welcome relief from a
tediously-decorated real tree that was the year before. Not to say they both
weren’t beautiful in their own right. Even in my semi-failures, I try to find the
beauty, so they’re not really failures at all. I even glittered one of the
reindeer’s noses with red glass glitter, to make Rudolf's nose glow. Now he stood out alongside Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen . . . and on with, Comet, Cupid,
Donner, Blitzen!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBy0oN8n9ghf6LJO6BM4xX93VIOgF5dexvjtihjCjtbRGKjTc4hjo6KSUtauDB2rWprbWQaXtB0dvbOkDZk15VhxwXoFTNiGluFWWVfwvyV3TI4IL9UazBmWM4QWdXF7WdhN6Z3b5DStX/s1600/AntlerBowl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBy0oN8n9ghf6LJO6BM4xX93VIOgF5dexvjtihjCjtbRGKjTc4hjo6KSUtauDB2rWprbWQaXtB0dvbOkDZk15VhxwXoFTNiGluFWWVfwvyV3TI4IL9UazBmWM4QWdXF7WdhN6Z3b5DStX/s1600/AntlerBowl.png" /></a>THE REINDEER GAMES of the season are your chance to experiment
with something new. It’s always enjoyable to look for a uniquely creative way to express
the holiday. So with your best conceptual Santa cap on, consider a new way to
decorate your tree—even try a new kind of tree. It's always satisfying to find a distinctive way to decorate and stand out from the crowd. Santa might even give you a reward and let you guide his sleigh through the season. And now that you're aligned with Rudolf, you may even go
down in history!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>©2013 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Special thanks to Devin Borden for the location.</b></span></div>
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darryl molandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02269145025205427310noreply@blogger.com3