La Comtesse de Castiglione

La Comtesse de Castiglione-k7
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Love and War....

France, May 20, 1945
Dearest Loa,
Still here in France, and will be for another ten days, I guess. I don't know for sure what's holding us up; ships, processing or what; but that's the way it is. I think I ought to be home before June 25th though. That'll make it about an even year since I was home last, huh? Mighty long time! Honey, I just don't know what to say. I guess I know so little about what is going on and has gone on, at home. I guess I'll just have to wait 'til I hear from you. -- I sure hope I can get you by phone when I hit the states!
And by the way, Punkin, don't pay any attention to all the stories in magazines, etc., about the returning boys being strangers and having to be re-adapted and how to treat them, etc. -- They're just the same, and they want the folks at home to be just the same too. So don't be worrying about how to treat me, or any such thing. Just pretend I'd never left -- and I'll do the rest!
I Love You Sweets,
Paul

R.I.P. Herman Leonard

Shortly before I moved to New Orleans in 2003, I went to see Herman's iconic photographs of Jazz legends ... Herman saw them all, photographed them all and was friends with many, and for good reason. Herman himself was an improvisation master-

When I found my own pink shotgun in mid city, I e-mailed him to tell him how much his images moved me. I knew he'd heard this countless times so i made sure to involve exactly how, personally, they moved me while keeping succinct. He was exceedingly kind and generous. At the time i was a mixed media painter and sent him an asian inspired bird collage for his birthday.. he was moved by this and kindly invited me over. He gave great advice when I got pregnant with my first and only child, making sure to convey the importance of keeping mobile and fit. He had a warmth and a presence that made you feel lucky to stand in his general breathing space. He was close to Miles Davis and Tony Bennet.... That says something also.

Anyway... It's hot as hell ( Texas) I've been up since the crack of dawn. I have 101 things to take care of before the sun goes down. At the top of my list now, after hearing the sad news of his passing, is to be dazzled once more by the width and depth of his career. It would seem he never had to steal a moment ( as the hackneyed expression goes) . Go look for yourself. They happily gave themselves to Herman. He was one of them.

Good Journey. Thank you Herman.

All dressed Up In , uuh, full Orchestration

Bringing out the animal in me....

Elisabeth of Bavaria, 19th century








Collage by Agnes Montgomery






Dwarf Rabbit portrait by darla teagarden






Tsuguharu Foujita..



Fresh Faced kitten, Julie Andrews..



Space...




Pretending horse by darla teagarden





Domestic Dwarf Rabbit with folk art teeth... Photo by Darla Teagarden





Secretariat Gotham Prep.








"Ride a cockhorse to Banbury Cross,"

BY ANONYMOUS

Ride a cockhorse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes.

Hair wound around ...

I love things are that based on rituals, fashion or crafts of yore, made modern.... These lovely wearable pieces of art by melanie bilenker are based on the Victorian craft of using hair as mementos, emotional souvenirs, mourning. Instead of grand events, she chooses charming small everyday moments.... making them of course, something grand in return.

Crying over spilled...

The more I look at this, the more it touches me... Is it a heart ripped out ? A bird riddled with human maladies, stray beauty..elegantly rendered.





"What is it?" Doodle asked.

"It's a scarlet ibis," Daddy said.

Sadly, we all looked at the bird. How many miles had it traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree?

Doodle knelt beside the ibis. "I'm going to bury him."- j. Hurst.