BLOGGING HIGH FIVE
My cousin Keith Carlson of Digital Doorway just gave me a digital high five: he picked "Genre Cookshop" as one of his five currently favorite blogs, and asked me and the others to go and do likewise. I've never done this kind of "tag" thing before, but hey, it is a rainy morning and I have had a little more coffee than usual: let's go!

Hmm, this is actually pretty difficult. There are so many blogs I like! You can see all my favorites over on the side bar where it says "Other Blogs". I'll pick five that are currently the ones I go to first, for a spot of r&r. But this changes constantly.
My Current High Fives:

A Dress a Day

Creative Journey

Les Petits Bonheurs

Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down

Penelope's Loom

In glaring contrast to my cousin who (other than this blog) picked all thoughtful, deep, philosophically inclined blogs, mine are more like brain candy I am afraid. Not that these blogs don't have their deep moments, but they are more generally about a visual jolt or a visceral pleasure. But maybe there is certain depth to my shallowness if you know what I mean!

SILVER BLUR
Paul was repairing our clothes dryer and Henry made off with an extra length of flexible metal hose. It was a perfect fit for his arm, prompting a long session of innovative sensory play. I am always amazed by what his very different (autistic) sensibility prompts him to discover. Amazed, but sometimes aghast as well. It is one reason we have so many household disasters: we are not prepared for what totally unlikely combinations/associations Henry will make next. This one was relatively harmless, thank goodness.

MEDS-R-US
For PhotoFriday's challenge today of "Health". I couldn't think of anything other than this: a quick shot of the contents of our medicine cabinet. I have heard that peeking in other people's medicine cabinets is a secret hobby for some, so thrill on you folks! (It is pretty underwhelming in my opinion.) Maybe a medicine cabinet connoisseur could start a site where people anonymously post full frontal shots of their medicine cabinet interiors. LookInside.com?

NO ROCK THROWING
Found this note pinned mysteriously beside Shawna's Stream. Always a good thing to be reminded of I guess. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." I mean, rock.

WHOOPS!
Henry had dropped down on my lap for a rare snuggle just before bedtime. He was in a manic mood, giggling and squeezing some little squeezey toy, the kind sold for stress reduction. They obviously hadn't factored the power of the autistic squeeze into their product specifications. All of a sudden the squeezey toy burst and a fine shower of powder settled down upon us. Henry thought this was just fine and giggled some more. I called for Paul, who took one look and ran for the camera. He says I should run it as a caption contest, but what kind of caption could sum up THIS situation? If you think of a good one, let me know.

TRUE JOY or COSMIC JOKE?
I could hardly believe my eyes this morning when I found that one of my nasturtium plants had broken into bloom! This is WAY early. Just a freak blossoming, as there are no other buds to be seen (believe me I combed over all the plants in turn.) Whatever caused this early bird blossoming I am very grateful. It was a nice consolation gift to receive on THE FIRST DAY OF MY CHILDREN'S SUMMER VACATION!

Either that or the Gods are vindictively taunting me. "Hey Nance, " I can just hear them saying, "You know how you planted all those nasturtium seeds because you really really REALLY want to paint a lot more pictures of nasturtiums? And, you know how you will have just about NO opportunity to paint like all summer long because your kids will be home from school and stuff? And you know how this is the first day of that long vacation? Well...step outside. We have a little surprise for you." (Demonaical laughter)

GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK
I love the shape of this mantel clock that belonged to my father's mother. Made by a little known manufacturer, Florn, and not in working order, I think it is of only nominal monetary value (if that!) But of course, I treasure it for other reasons . I have only faint memories of my grandmother who died when I was a young child, so I like having one or two little things around that "speak" of her, if only in their own untranslatable object language. And I also like using Grandma's clock as a character in my still-life paintings. For me, at least, it evokes a benign, ancestral presence.

AUTOMOTIVE CHICKEN COOP
This old truck has been re-fitted for the birds. It is now called the "Coop DeVille".

A GIRL AND HER CHICKEN
My friend Pat F keeps chickens, a LOT of chickens, and recently gave me a box of mixed size eggs. I cracked open the littlest one this morning, a tiny little egg laid by a tiny little chicken, the one bantam hen in the flock. I can't remember her name, either Teeny or Banty I think. Anyway, here she is with S., Pat's daughter. Thanks Teeny! It was delicious.

THAT SUNNY DOME
The atrium of the Kimmel Center yesterday at about noon. Some lines from Coleridge's Kubla Khan kept circling through my head as I gaped at the huge glass vault above me:

That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.