harlequin pattern

in december, i will be doing two workshops at the minneapolis institute of arts in conjunction with their current botticelli exhibit. the botticelli exhibit is a big deal, with 12 of his works on loan from the uffizi gallery in florence, the largest exhibit of botticelli works in the u.s. history. in preparation for my workshops, i have been doing a deep dive into all things early-renaissance. so, when i just now googled   “harlequin pattern” i was not at all surprised to learn it originated in renaissance italy.

autumn burning bush leaves

p.s. these are the same leaves i posted a few weeks ago that i called jujube leaves–because of their bright candy colors. i tucked them in a book for good keeping. and yesterday they fluttered out onto my lap. muted. moody. and even more delicious than jujubes.

stepping from one season to the next

gently falling snow all day today. over 2 inches. i looked ahead at the forecast, and i don’t think this will be the snow-that-lasts-til-spring. snow that lasts until spring is my personal official first day of winter (not december 1st, nor december 21st). i don’t think we are quite there yet, we are on the cusp. these autumn colored leaves were on the skirt of me garage, so instead of getting buried  they got only a soft dusting of snow. providing for me the the perfect symbol of this seasonal transition.

snow covered autumn maple leaves

bits and baubles

going to have to clear the dining room table soon to make room for thanksgiving dinner. all this will swept up and put back outside. i do not mind these clean sweeps. after the holiday, i will start gathering again, bits and pieces from my walks. and it will all look very different.

late autumn nature bits

more alike than not

some nice near-symmetry in these tall grass seed heads.

winter grasses

same rocks, different composition

yesterday’s beach rocks. reconfigured.

beach rock collection