My pond: goldfish and violets.
We inherited this pond and goldfish from the original owners (who built the house and the pond) and have done nothing but clean it out yearly from oak leaves. The fish manage to feed themselves and keep up their numbers. We were down to about 7 one year, have 12 now and have been as high as 17. And we also have a good crop of frogs every year. It has been around long enough that there is moss between the edging stones and wild violets are volunteering all around the perimeter. It is a favorite spot to sit and dream (as long as I have bug spray on in the summer).
My project this year is to finish it up a bit. Here
is what it looked like day before yesterday. The flagstones we augmented to this point when we were going to sell the house (2 years ago), but I think more are needed. And then I got to thinking about finishing the whole thing off a bit. I need something to keep me occupied now that I have made eBay and beads off limits – just as well. I just got an email from my favorite bead seller (3 actually, but they’re all one) and they are quitting eBay and creating their own website, which isn’t up yet. It will be interesting to see how they price their stuff now as they are offering free shipping over $30. I used to be able to bid and get piece form $.50 to $99 and then wind up paying $2.00+ on top of that…eveyrthing averaged out to around $3…so we’ll see if that continues with their own website. The Universe is supporting my decision to desist. But I digress
So I dug where I want the wall to be and today I went and got cinder blocks and cap blocks. The "wall" will be 12" high (1 1/2 cinder block with a cinder brick and a red brick on top of it) and about 10 feet long. I plan to create a site specific tile scene for it once I get it up (I bought the mortor today but I don’t think this is going to happen until next week. Tomorrow is site selection at ArtOMatic which is a little over 3 hours round trip plus hanging out and finding the just right space, Daughter and Grandson come Sunday and Monday we are off to Charlottesville, VA, to bring home my work from C’ville arts). So here’s the progress:
Last night I went to the monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting. This month it was held at the new art building at AnnMarie Garden – we were the first group to see it! It’s pretty spectacular and I left my camera at home (sigh), but you can follow a walk through the Garden I did for a Finding Water exercise last year below, after the thought for the day.
Heather and I applied to Target Gallery in Alexandria at the Torpedo Factory to do an install with Body Politics. I got the very nice turndown today. Somehow it doesn’t feel bad because I know we’re going on with the show at ArtOMatic this year. Makes it better.
And that, my friends, is my wildly exciting life. That and the fact that Husband and I are treadmilling 4 miles every other day together at the gymn. Yea, Us!
thought for the day: …hold on to your passion. You must be completely devoted to the life of an artist to make a living as an artist. Artists make art. when they’re not making art, they think about making art and talk about art. They dream about art. Always return to rediscover this passion when you think it is dying. Write affirmations in a journal, post positive photos, and develop a list of motivational quotes. Read inspriational books and listen to inspirational messages. Alyson B. Stanfield, I’d rather be in the studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion
9 Comments
I am now drooling shamelessly over your house. I love the violets & the moss in the pond…
Congrats to you on getting so much accomplished outside! I think it's officially spring fever time! YEAH!
The pond is wonderful—will love to see the finished product. Sorry to hear about the Target Gallery—but "Good for you!" for applying. Your energy & commitment is an inspiration and ability to juggle multiple projects is amazing. eep up the good work!
Christine
a pond? you lucky lucky girl. and even luckier… I have some free cinder blocks for you. that is right, free for the taking. stop by and pick them up any time. (i live on a second story apartment with a small patio. i thought I would be clever and buy these cinder blocks, fill them with dirt, and have little self contained planters. I planted all sorts of stuff in them and they grew like a jungle. but you know what else. they were porous. POROUS! and they weighed a ton. so the landlord came tap tap tapping at my door and told me I had to rip them out. grrr. I was so angry. so one day I tore into them; ripping my forest out and all that dirt was filled (FILLED) with spiders (EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS) and thousands and thousand of baby eight legged freaks. I know you like spiders; but me? not so much. after tossing all my plants I had to cart all those cinder blocks down stairs and stack them next to the trash. of course the trash wont pick them up – i will have to pay to have them picked up. so please – stop by and take them. THEY. ARE. FREE!
Beautiful pond and I loved the sculpture in the garden! Yay for you treadmillers – keep going!
Your pond looks charming and cool. I am very impressed that you're tackling the expansion – can't wait to see the finished product.
oh, i've always wanted a fish pond like that! so cool!! good luck with the art hanging!
Oh how I admire you to tackle a big outside project like this and can't wait to see the tile scene when its done. I loved Alyson's quote. I think that a lot of people think that the artist's work comes about more as a 'hobby', in their spare time, tinkering around — when what it takes a tons of work, constantly. To me that is the blessing of being an artist – it has changed my thought processes along with my daily life completely and utterly.
Tammy, this is going to be beautiful! I grew up with a koi pond and miss it tremendously.
Oh, how I want to sit by your pond! I love goldfish/koi, and wild violets are my favorite flower…
What a beautiful space you have there, can't wait to see it finished.
p.s. forgive me for combining comments – saving the hands – but your mosaic of "the sea refuses no river" (I think was the title) looks like it is by your pond in the photo – is it? It's beautiful!