All The Birds Are Leaving

Welcome to September!
The name of this little piece is “Miss Collins”. As you can see, all the birds are leaving. Ah how can they know it’s time for them to go?

This is one of her own favourites as well as one of mine, particularly today. Is the summer done up and gone? What happened? It was here just a second ago! Yes, there is a definite chill in the air today... however, yes, it is Sandy Denny and not Judy. It's the song, not the singer.

Was I green in 1972 when I first heard this? You have no idea. Not even I have an idea and I was there.

Then, just as quickly as this summer of ‘09 has up and gone, it was Christmas ‘72, on the precipice of ’73 when things really did change for me. And a record player and “Colors of the Day” happened (thanks, Janice, wherever you done up and gone to!) … and I sat down and freehanded one of my first sketches while this song played in my folks' big ass living room. Jeez Louise, even for today, it is a big living room. I’ve lived in entire houses that were smaller than that one room.

Back then, my folks’ house seemed enormous. Even the last day I was in it, my mother truly up and gone forever, and then my dad taken to his new home – gosh, when was that? Really? -- there was a vastness to that living room. With furniture from what seemed like a retro minimalist's dream, blond hardwood floors and a magnificently expansive “picture window”, I swear you could have flown a 747 through that place, landing it safely on the old upright.

Speaking of sketches – and I was at some point - I am indeed in "The Sketchbook Project", thanks to nudges from Sarah Wallis and Anne Gaal. Anne already has her sketchbook, that lucky girl! And I think I will start up another blog to deal with this opportunity, again thanks to a good idea on a certain Circle of Rain post! This will truly be fun.

Have you forgotten the SHRINE DAY FOR LABOR DAY gimmick? Next Monday, rain or shine, I have to have that work up or You Know Who (Kitten!) will take away my crayons! Mmmm… what is in my shrine? What have I chosen? How small can I get? How large? How ridiculously fun will it be? How somber?

Well, darlings, do show up and find out. And join in -- it’s not too late. Yours can be large as large can be. I am the one with those tee tiny challenges, remember -- not you.

Take care! Yes, yes, I am shutting down -- AND up -- now.
Get More of Everything.
Candace in Athens.