Winter treasures

How are you holding up with this cold weather? This morning I drove the better half to a class at the Textile Center on University Avenue while I was on my way to take pictures at the volunteer painting session at the Dynamic Green Home. (Pictures and short description will be posted at DGH on Monday.) It's been so cold that the tire low air pressure warning came on in my Subaru. Apparently I'm not the only one to have this experience. (And by the way, St. Paul should be ashamed of itself for the condition of its ice-covered roads.) Anyhow, I finished up at DGH and went back to collect my passenger. I got to the Center a little early so I went in to explore. The have some interesting pieces and some that I'm just in awe of. Here's a series of iPhone camera pictures of the current exhibition in their Studio room. The subject matter, design and execution all left me pleased that I took the time to explore one of My Minnesota's treasures here-to-fore hidden from me.

Wisdom Rug     © harrington

© harrington

 Birch Pattern      © harrington

tree of life, felt rocks, oak wisdom    © harrington

Eagle Rug    © harrington

© harrington

© harrington

© harrington

And Mary Oliver helps us find beauty in the cold and snow.

White-Eyes

By Mary Oliver

In winter

    all the singing is in

         the tops of the trees

             where the wind-bird

with its white eyes

    shoves and pushes

         among the branches.

             Like any of us

he wants to go to sleep,

    but he's restless—

         he has an idea,

             and slowly it unfolds

from under his beating wings

    as long as he stays awake.

         But his big, round music, after all,

             is too breathy to last.

So, it's over.

    In the pine-crown

         he makes his nest,

             he's done all he can.

I don't know the name of this bird,

    I only imagine his glittering beak

         tucked in a white wing

             while the clouds—

which he has summoned

    from the north—

         which he has taught

             to be mild, and silent—

thicken, and begin to fall

    into the world below

         like stars, or the feathers

               of some unimaginable bird

that loves us,

    that is asleep now, and silent—

         that has turned itself

             into snow.

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Thanks for listening. Come again when you can. Enjoy the season. Stay warm.