Maybe it was my birthday or maybe it was the equinox, but September rushed by in fire-red fashion. So before October could arrive and before all the leaves dropped and browned, we spent some time leaf peeping up Mill Creek Canyon. Sorry, no story this time—just a bunch of pictures (which equals thousands of words, right?).
The Nature of Honesty
A short time ago, the Universe threw me a real curve-ball and my world did a backflip and lost all of its color. When I was able to find my balance, I found myself thinking about honesty.
Grass is honest because it always remains what it is, from seedling to blade—even if it's wild.
The sky is honest and will tell you whether you need a raincoat, in that moment, or whether you need to clean the lens on your camera.
Lakes are beautiful but can be deceptive because how do you know how deep they really are?
I am never stumped by Nature's honesty—She always shows you her true colors, especially on a clear day.
Did you know that rocks can tell you the truth about time?
Sundials are honest (if you know how to use them correctly) and will tell you the time of day as long as the sun is able to shine.
When I took some time to be honest with myself, I realized honesty's beauty: honesty makes things very clear and easy to see.
And even though honesty can be jagged and craggy—even though honesty can feel like you're stepping on pine needles—it can also be soothing, colorful and a trusted friend.
Steven & William Ladd
Some people think you should keep your circles small but I prefer big, colorful hula-hoops over tiny rings. Did you know we added 6 new members to The Jolly Troop last year?! The other day, I decided to take the newbies someplace special to learn something special so we went to Willamsburg to visit Steven & William Ladd.
Pascal knows Steven & William from his time at The Invisible Dog (the place Yvette and I saw their one-of-a-kind chandeliers). Steven & William are artists, business partners and brothers who make art out of things like buckles, straps, beads, boxes and metal ants.
Silas and Baron were really into their art.
Have you ever touched volcanoes made from fabric and beads? Luckily they aren't as hot as the kind with magma inside.
As Roman got an aerial view of the Steven & William's volcanoes...
... Edward asked the brothers a curious question, "Do you have a motto?"
"I'll bet you a star and a dandelion they do," Sophia hummed. And she was right!
Motto, Part 1: Spend your life doing what you love (like making hanging lamps with fantastic fabric).
When Steven & William were younger, they spent many summer hours in their grandmother's rose garden. They loved their grandma and they loved roses. Now, they make rose bushes out of beads, string and grandmother-memories. Do you make memories with your grandma?
Motto, Part 2: Be focused and disciplined (can you find all 7 birds in this image?).
Being an artist takes time, skill, creativity, patience, long hours, strokes of genius, excellence, whimsy and the ability to fly through the rough spots. But just remember: you can do it!
Motto, Part 3: Collaborate (get all the colors involved).
Steven & William have collaborative thoughts all the time—like when they made calendars out of paper hand grenades. Edward was curious what would happen if the brothers forgot a birth date - - !
When it was time to leave, William gave us a goodbye, good-friend kiss (which suddenly made Roman bashful)...
... while the others wrapped up their game of "Keep Away" with Steven.
As the brothers turned out the lights and left for the day, we sat atop the chandelier and imagined what life would have been like if we had never enlarged our circle: we never would have met one another and we may have never met Steven & William. Happily for us, those stories never came true.
Please love, support and visit our wonderful, generous friends: Steven & William Ladd. Click here to be directed to their website.
Competing at Coney Island
A change of wind whipped through the Troop a few weeks ago when The Twins apologized to one another. I thought the gust had something to do with the Vernal Equinox but I was wrong. Have you ever felt a rush in saying—or hearing—I'm sorry? To celebrate their reunion, The Twins headed up our skein and led the Troop to Coney Island.
Did you know every July 4th there is a hot dog eating contest on Coney Island at Famous Nathan's? Did you know the 2011 winner ate 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes? Can you find the best seats in the house occupied by Pascal, Roman, Black Jack, Yvette and The Twins?
While we were digesting our dogs and talking about plans to see the Mermaid Parade this year, something flew by our heads and almost tipped us off our brollies (except for Silas—he's always hanging upside down). Coney Island is a mysterious place so I whistled for my best mate so he could investigate.
Have you ever had to tell your best friend something you know they wouldn't like? "I saw and felt a brown bird fly by that might be as fast as you, so I think you should check it out." When Black Jack gets mad, he goes totally silent. He flew off without saying a word.
Have you ever been number 1 at something, only to meet somebody that might make you a number 2? Being the best is the best when you're the best, but when that changes, it's not the best. Black Jack found the brown bird near The Scream Zone and challenged him to a race. "I'm going to break your wind," was all Black Jack could mumble.
Sometimes going from the top to the bottom can feel like a roller coaster...
... especially when your friends are watching.
But never doubt your friends, because your friends are your fans...
... even when you come in second place.
As it turns out, the brown bird wasn't the jerk Black Jack thought he would be. Just because somebody can do something better than you, doesn't mean they are mean. The brown bird treated us to ice-cream and then gave us a tour of Luna Park.
It turns out, Baron (the brown bird) was raised near the amusement park so he's been doing stunts his entire life and he even taught us a few (you would have mistook Penny for a clucky, spring chicken).
I found my best mate and sat with him for a spell. Soon, BJ flew up to Baron and apologized for being a jerk about the race. Baron quickly responded by saying, "No worries, man. Hey—could you show me how you turned that dive at the end of the cork-screw?" And just like that, a wind blew two new friends together.