Not a Coincidence - art goes viral

Image:  Watercolor:  "Rhubarb is Up" - Melanie Elliott - artist

I am a firm believer that coincidences don't happen.  This interpretation to unexplained sync. events leads me to reflect upon a "happening" in which my art experience went "viral".....all because I had inadvertently pushed a button to "post" on my Facebook site.  Under the category of "photos" I had every intention to utilize this Facebook benefit as a space to store my artwork.  Never in a million years did I think that the word "post", in this exercise, would  engage the sharing of my work with many, many individuals.

     Well the cat is now out of the bag and my artwork is global.  The feedback I have received has been mind boggling and have touched the inner core of my heart.  I am elated !!!

      Messages upon messages from dear friends and absolute strangers have been received.  Several of the feedback messages have spoken to the fact that my artwork is very much like Melodie's (late twin).  Receiving messages of this nature have been well-received and indeed heartwarming in the truest of senses.

      With all this positive and energy filled messages, I now have every reason to believe that my work has now reached a level in which I can return to selling it on E-bay.  I gathered up several paintings and have listed them for sale.  Since Melodie's passing, I have not been selling on e-bay for fear that I would not be able to accurately post them......such a waste of energy as the format of E-bay has improved in leaps and bounds.....so much so,  that I am now very motivated to once again become a regular contributor of art to sell.

     To all of those who have been so generous with incredible feedback of my artwork, please know that you have contributed to my moving ahead within the scope of my gift to paint.

      I recall Mum telling me that her Mother - my precious Grandmother did not actively exercise her artistic gift until she was 70 years of age.....it would seem I am before her time only by a matter of 4 years. 

       Thank you Gram for being a grand role model.

Faulkenham History Moment

"A View of Halifax 1751 (sketch)This is the scene Carl C. Falkenhaym viewed as the ship entered the port of Halifax.....docking would end their hardships on the high seas on board "The Gale".

(excuse spelling and grammar - author visually limited)

The Falkenhayn name has 28 spellings
 in Nova Scotia and all are related to the same ancestor whose name was spelt "Falkenhayn".

Carl C. Falkenhayn is listed on the ships list as a pelty worker.  It is my experience that  other Falkenhayns, with a different spelling, are very reluctant to allow themselves ownership of their history.  There has been debate as to the meaning of the word "peltry".  My research enables me to speak to the word and explain that it described the activity of one who seeks and prepares pelts....a necessary and essential trade and product that would be required by all.    One who works with pelts is a peltier.

      In the 1750's immigrants were in need of bartering for pelts from native Indians and the fur trade in Canada began because man Europeans wanted these furs.
     Indeed, when the year of which this family arrived and settled in the province of Nova Scotia gave them the title of being "Founding Fathers".

Midst researching this family's journey, I felt myself in absolute awe when viewing the actual deed of land that the province offered in the Falkenhayn effort to increase population which, through, taxes would assist in the province debt.  Farm land in the county of Lunenburg was the location assigned to these Protestant Loyalists.

Falkenhayn propriety is now the location of the "Three Churches" in the town of Mahone Bay.  This is spectacular propriety and encourage you take a moment to have a gander....Google "Three churches, Mahone Bay".

These immigrants left their homeland to explore and participate in a journey to Nova Scotia where they would be "given" eleven acre plots of land for farming purposes.  With the failure of crops due to the fact that the area of the south shore is very sparse and growing on the top layers of granite.

Several families endured the restrictions and others settled in the Annapolis Valley where they could successfully farm (as did the Falkenhayns).  A minority of immigrants went to sea or moved to the northeast region of the United States (Maine, Mass.).

My activity and awareness of family stories dictated hours of research.  In one particular research, in the Nova Scotia Archives, I found the original deed of land offered to Carl Fakenhayn.  I do not recall ever being so moved by this discovery.

I encourage you to have a good look at your family as there is, without doubt, surprises ... if you embrace the opportunity you will be providing your family a gift of exception.

Keep posted
Melanie Elliott
carpe.diem@ns.sympatico.ca
(daughter of Frances Evelyn (nee Faulkenham) Elliott

Great Minds Think Alike

        Photos:  These photos are of one handmade "patio dress" and made from two lovely polyester crepe scarves. 
      Photo to the right is one that my twin
 Melodie,  picked out for me while vacationing in Martinique.
     The photo on the left is a very similar scarf received as a gift from a dear friend after he had visited the same area as Melodie.  My imagination soared as I held them up together ... the notion to convert them into one patio dress became an instant inspiration.  It would translate my having my twin and a best friend in my very space simultaneously.  Such fun and great energy.

These beautiful bold and lovely scarves were just to lovely to hang up in my closet by themselves and only to be pushed back and forth and with little imagination how to wear a scarf of it's nature.  When first seeing the two together, the idea of making a garment would give me the opportunity to make one  lovely and comfortable cover-up in the form of a "patio" dress .  They have been made so that the back and front's can be reversed.

Nightingale

An Apple a Day

As I take a moment out while an apple crisp finishes baking in the oven.....I turn to a the hand-written recipe which I acquired at the time of my Mother's passing - a recipe that was passed on to her.  On a second look, I was reminded how much the role of the "apple" played in our growing years as children.

The intensity of this picture  and a heightened sense of smell takes me back to what has become a dilapidated garage of silver-like shingles at the back of the old family property.  It was a building where Granddad parked his car and on its inside, far wall was an incredible collection of many car licence plates.

 Upon his return to home after a long day at work,  at the LaHave Creamery,  he would gather a few apples stored in a bin that sat in one dark corner.  In this bin was a winter and spring supply of eating apples.   There was always enough for all.

Each time I cook an apple crisp I am taken back in mind to moments shared with Grandparents in their routine of daily apply consumption, albeit in the form of apply crisp, a pie, apple sauce and a long list of delicious eatables.

My treat to you is the original recipe of the Faulkenham's best apple crisp.  I may be biased but have no hesitation to tell you it is the best you will ever experience.
     I attribute the excellence of this recipe to the fact that the topping includes flour rather than oats.  A part of my fondness on this subject are wonderful retro experiences as a child .

     Grandmother's  Apple Crisp (shared by "Nightingale")

ADDENDUM:

     I neglected to share a family mantra with you which ironically addresses the subject of apples......I am sure you are familiar with "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away".  Mother lived by this rule -- one, I expect, was her life practice and modelled by her parents.  

     Perhaps there is something in this phrase as she lived to the age of 88 years of age -- the longest of any family member.  I would be neglectful to say that daily exercise was included in her health profile.

A Feather for Your Thoughts

I turn once again to a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millary ---- the word feather drew my attention to her poem.  The poem reads:
"Time cannot break the bird's wing from the bird.
Bird and wing together
Go down, on feather.
No thing that ever flew,
Not the lark, not you
Can die as others do." - ESVM


A few months ago I found millinary work to be one of enjoyment and creativity.  As I progressed, I researched what was available online in terms of "fascinators" and other hat materials.
     I ordered a few packages of feathers and other items and was amazed at the beauty of the bird feathers.  After coming across Edna St. Vincent Milliary's poem, I now have reason to wonder if in fact there are feather farms and these feathers are from birds raised for this specific reason.  I willl continue on my research and see if I can find just where and how these feathers are obtained.  I have cancelled two orders until such time I can find an answer to the process that has extended to the marketplace..

Thoughts on the Concept of Time

Time -  my worse demon

 Time cannot break the bird's wing from the bird

Bird and wing together

Go down, on feather

Inspiration:

 Author Edna St. Vincent Millary

Time:   I have a few issues with time that I will share....no, my interst is not related to the fact that as a senior I am running out of "time".  I live well and consider each moment to be precious.

Initially, for the first several year after my brain injury I was unable to tell time.....I could interpret the numbers but not get beyond that concept.  To this day I am having to call upon a coping strategy to decipher the appropriateness of time, example:   When planning to go out and in need of calling a taxi I find myself in melt down mode.  I actually have a catalogue of coping mechanims of this cognitive skill....the big picture is taht of a lot of work compacted with anxiety and stress.  These elements that come with this time concept deficit presents huge and unexplainable and near dysfunction caused by accompanying frustration.
     This deficite actually  demands that I change social skills in order to remain active in the community.  I often have a fear that my time issues are seen by others as a lack of intelligence and common sense.

     If you should be a part of my social circle you would know taht my staying up to 5:00 am using the coputer and completely unaware of the fact that 5:00 am. was a time segment I should be in bed.  Five hours at the computer can seem as a 5 minute segment of time.....time and fatigue level go unrecognized.

********************

.

More than "Brain Gym"

This image is the result of a "brain gym" exercise and it has been proven to help maintain memory and other cognitive skills.  The requirements of this exercise is to pick up a pen - one in each hand and write one's name in a "mirror effect manner".

After a several tries during the session, I came to realize that my name written on the left side is the exact hand-writting style Melodie had.

I should not have been surprised as it is a fact that Melodie were "mirror image" twins.....thus facing each other in the womb...... her right would be my left etc.

For those who believe in "shared spirited energy" will know my delight with this venture.

Thank you Melodie
from the twin of Melodie - Melanie
AKA  Nightingale