tuscan tuesday::the women who caught my eye

 Madonna with Child

by Filippo Lippi

 Madonna and Child and Two Angels

by Filippo Lippi

 Pallas and the Centaur

by Alessandro Filipepi, detto BOTTICELLI

1482-1485

(the goddess of wisdom)

 From "Spring"

 Also from "Spring"

Also by Botticelli

"While mystery continues to shroud the composition's overall

significance, the painting is unquestionably a celebration

of love, peace and prosperity. There are 138 different

species of plant that have been identified, each of which Botticelli has

meticulously reproduced, possibly using an herbal."

Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga

by Raffaello Sazio

I'm still dreaming of Italy some nights, 

waking up and remembering all the magical

 bits and pieces of that adventure. 

The colors and softness of some of this work

feels like a treasure trove of inspiration.

I hope to make time this winter to sew a few bits

of cloth as a remembrance of those days.

I've been to Detroit and back, Thanksgiving has come and gone and now the warp speed of December is upon us. Batman has been crafting wreaths from our balsams, lists are being made and my Bernina has been getting a workout.

But I am trying to honor the quiet, reflective aspects of December as well. Cultivating coziness and appreciation of this place, transformed by the blanket of snow that has come to stay. Twinkle lights will be pulled out of boxes, the red and green linens will come out to play in the kitchen and the snowshoes are stashed by the backdoor. The birds are at the feeders, animal tracks traverse the frosty meadow and Orion is back on the horizon. The hoop house is dormant, waiting to sprout some greens in the very early spring, paper whites bloom in the dining room and the Meyer lemon is covered in blossoms. Hope. It is so dang persistent.

xo