the Art of Campfire

I was walking through the store and got a craving for dinner......

There is nothing like a campfire.  The look of it, the smell.  It creates a special ambiance!  But it takes a little work to make it right......

Using smaller sticks, I stacked them in the firepit, smallest pieces on the bottom, crisscrossing them to leave room for air because a good fire needs to breathe. Lighting that first match, and poking it into the bottom of the pile of sticks to catch one of the smaller pieces, and watching the flames begin to warm and lick at the bigger pieces of wood.  And the flames grow and build .... creating a bed of coals - which means its ready for the next step!

I slide a cold hot dog on a metal skewer, and hold it over the flames.  As the flames dance and tease the hot dog, it heats up.  You know its getting hotter by the sizzle of juices that ooze out of the , which of course is what makes the hot dog just a bit crunchy on the outside.  To me that's the best part!  As the skin browns even more, you know it's done.  You grab a hot dog bun and open it up, squeezing it around the hot dog and pull out the stick.  Squirt on a squiggle of mustard, and mmmm yes, the best dinner ever!


Now that dinner's done, its time for dessert.... s'mores!  Slide a marshmallow on the skewer and stick it in the fire, staying away from live flames, as they will catch a marshmallow on fire!  Instead, look for a hotspot of coals, and let it toast.  It will get warm, warmer, and if you have the perfect spot, your marshmallow will turn a golden brown.   When it is ready, grab a graham cracker and break it in half.   Add a half Hershey bar, then ease your marshmallow onto the pile, and top it with the other half of your graham cracker.  It all squishes together, and mmmmm that first bite is the best!
Sweet.  Warm.  Gooey.  Bliss!

It probably took an hour start to finish to make my dinner.  Grabbing a slice of pizza might have been easier, but this was worth the effort!!

Make Good Art

Creativity comes from within.

If you find yourself reaching

for the same colors over and over,

then its time to make an effort

to pick different ones.

It will feed your creativity,

which in turn feeds your soul.

“Go and make interesting mistakes, 

make amazing mistakes, 

make glorious and fantastic mistakes. 

Break rules. 

Leave the world more interesting for your being here. 

Make.

Good.

Art.”

~Neil Gaiman

It's My Art!

Art.  It can be a very subjective topic.

One person's art is another person's trash.

And one person's trash can be another person's art.

So here's my complaint:  Why is it that men assume
that nude photos equal sex?   Is this something they've
learned?  Or is it just Americans who assume that?

I've taken, and shared, a few nude photos -- mind you
they're more sensual than revealing, think old fashioned
pinups that leave something to the imagination.  But.
sharing them leaves me subjected to men who assume
that because I'm willing to take photos like this, it means
that I'm easy, cheap or otherwise a step away from being
a prostitute?

And why is it, with all the porn and nudity on the internet
so readily available, that these same men always ask for
more - ie why don't I show more graphic stuff.

I'll tell you why... because its my art, dammit!

Photography is my passion - not just of nature, or
landscapes.  There is beauty in a shadow, a curve,
sunlight falling across something.  It doesn't matter
if its my dog, my yard, my flowers, or my body.

There is beauty in every thing. 
And every one.
It takes an open mind to be able
to see it, to appreciate it.

Art, for lack fo a better word

Modern Art? some kind of Zen? Feng Shui?
I'm not sure what category one would put this under.....

Today, after work, I sat in my lounge chair and relaxed while reading a book, sipping a Diet Coke (helps with the stress!). Afterwards, I watered my cacti and puttered around, picking up stray leaves and palm pieces, general tidying up of the yard. In between, I was keeping an eye on the clouds in the sky as the sun set in the west, hoping for a great picture or two. (I got my wish!)

Last thing before heading into the house, I arranged some limbs against one of my walls. The wind tends to blow them down, but its fun to re-arrange them! It comes out different every time, and it can be very soothing to set them, balance them, and make them look interesting, all at the same time. Since the word 'art' seems to encompass all kinds of things, I'm going to call it that too. And pretend there was a little "zen" to it as well, since it made me feel relaxed, and good. *smiles* Give 'art' a try sometime, it might surprise you, too!

Art-sy HUGS to everyone!