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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Was that an Allium, or an Armeria? Alsways like to know the name of a plant.

Crow with sneakers, they can be stealthy. Steal eggs from nests. Talk incessantly until the have last say with squirrels. Warm glad pages wrapped up with smiles. A saran safari enhanced with a warm cup of Java.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes! It's an Armeria! I debated with myself about including the name and chose to leave it out because I wanted to focus attention on the plant shapes and associations.

Crows are such interesting beings!! What a nice phrase: "A saran safari enhanced with a warn cup of Java" Thank you!!

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Sue Greer-Pitt's avatar

Really enjoyed this post, especially the references to Pollyanna also a favorite of mine since childhood, which I read again (digitally) sometime in the last 5 years. Lots of my favorite childhood series (most written in the 1800's and early 1900's) are now available in free (no longer copyright) or very low cost digital editions. The glad game is something I remind myself to play frequently.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Oh!! I'm delighted to hear I'm not the only person revisiting those classics from the 1800's and 1900's!! Yes, isn’t it nice that they're so accessible now? Another thing to be glad about!! 😉💙💙 Thank you for writing!! 💙💙💙

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Sue Greer-Pitt's avatar

I discovered that Lucy Montgomery wrote a lot more than the Anne of Green Gables series or the stories of Avonlea, through digital collections, and also that there were two follow up books to Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm that I never saw as a child. I will have to scour my digit archive to remember all the things I've read in the last 15 years, but quite a lot of old things from my childhood, plus additional works by the same authors.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

What a fun reading project you're doing!!!! I've been rereading Antoine de Saint Exupery, Oscar Wilde and Edward Lear and I too have found things I haven't read before! I've added reading a biography about each author in conjunction with their works. Fun times!! I think I need to add Lucy Montgomery to my list...🤔 Thank you for that thought!! 💙💙💙💙💙

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Margot Potter's avatar

I love allium! We have gomphrena in our porch planters, which are small puffballs that resemble crunch berries! Beautiful sketches. Thank you for sharing!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Ooh!! What color is your gomphrena??? And thank you for your kind comment!!! 💙💙

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Margot Potter's avatar

It’s bright fuchsia! It does well in my upper deck planters with rosemary and the Japanese beetles leave them alone.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Oooh!!! How lovely!!!! The next time you water it please pass along my appreciation to your plant!! 💙💙💙💙

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Margot Potter's avatar

Will do!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

😘🥰💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Kelly Brereton's avatar

Sue, I love the way you bring the animal's silliness and seriousness out in a completely dignified way. Then you put your perspective into the mix and all of a sudden you have an endearing piece of art!!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Awwww thank you!!!! What a wonderful description!!! I'm saving your comment!! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness!!! 💙💙💙

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Mary B's avatar

The bird in sneakers is the BEST! Thanks for sharing your processes, too!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Lol!!! Thank you for your kind comment!! And you're so welcome- thank you for reading!!! 💙💙💙💙

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Martha Connery Britt's avatar

Sue, your post today was SO on-point for me that I just wanted to give you a BIG Thank You! I'm currently planning to make a physical move that will facilitate carving out creatiive time for me each day...I'm an "Eldest Daughter" with many responsibilities (apparently it's now a syndrome LOL) - you are my inspiration to keep moving forward!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Oh good!! Thank you for telling me that I'm not the only one fiercely determined to carve out time each day to just be a creative human!! There's so much emphasis in every way nowadays to be always "do-ing" - that it feels deliciously rebellious to deliberately take some time each day to "just be"!! I applaud and encourage you wholeheartedly!!! Keep going!!!

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Nancy Klatt's avatar

Sue, thank you for today’s essay. I love your watercolor sketches! They are so charming and whimsical. Mr. Bunny with his tea under the pink puffballs, the sneaker shod crow and the chilly squirrel. I have also, thanks to your essay, downloaded Pollyanna from the library. I think I must have read it as a child, but will return to it again. In fact, I read the first chapter midway through your essay. Thanks for a positive start to my morning.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

You're so welcome!!! Thank you so much for your kind comment!! I'm delighted to hear that you're reading Pollyanna!! I hope you enjoy it too!!!

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Richard's avatar

Love the sketches.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you!!!

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

Going on a book safari requires some take-no-prisoners blue footware!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes!! It really does!!! 😆🤣😘💙💙💙💙

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Diane’s Blue Forum's avatar

I’m totally enthralled, Sue!💙💕💙

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Sue Clancy's avatar

So kind of you to say!!! Thank you!! 💙💙💙💙

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Minaz Ansari's avatar

What if life were a gift for us? Love that thought!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Me too!!! I wrote it in my sketchbook so I could think about it and remember it. It amazes me how easily caught up I can get in "fraught busy-ness" that I forget to enjoy the gifts in front of me. So I work at remembering... Hugs !

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Minaz Ansari's avatar

A warm hug back to you :)

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Loved that little squirrel watching you so intently. Your yard looks so serene! Beautiful art, beautiful recommendations. Hope is such an important emotion. Hugs dear Sue. 🤗🤗

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes!! Hope is indeed so very important!!! Thank you for your kindness!!! Hugs to you too dear Beth!!!! 🥰🥰💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

A little bird carrying a book bag wearing sneakers how cute is that.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Lol!!! Thank you!!!!! 😆💙💙💙💙

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Lorraine Evanoff's avatar

Just WOW!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

So very kind of you!!!! Thank you!!!! 🥰😘💙💙💙💙😍

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Jena Ball's avatar

P.S. The crow in blue high tops made me laugh out loud. I have a few characters who hang out in the tree outside my apartment who would wear them with pride.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Oh good!! I'm so glad to hear that you laughed!!!!! Thank you for telling me!!!!! 😆😘💙💙💙💙💙

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Jena Ball's avatar

I love how you think and how generous you are with both your creativity and the wisdom of others. Thank you and HUGS!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you so much for your delightful comment 😘 I appreciate you!!! HUGS to you too!!!! 🥰💙💙💙

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