"The Silent Natural" Movie Premier

On the 2nd of this month, I did a mini 'kidnapping' of Himself.  

There was a 'world premier' (actually encore premier) in Hopkinsville, KY of an independent movie that was filmed locally.  It was about William "Dummy" Hoy, a major league baseball player in the late 1800s.   He set all sorts of records during his time in the game.

Oh... and he was deaf.

In the movie, all parts representing deaf/hearing impaired people were played by deaf actors.  The movie is subtitled so hearing and hearing impaired can follow (there are many conversations in the movie that are in sign language).

I'm not sure when it will have its national release but when it does it is worth seeing.

Photos from May

We were so busy in May that I didn't go out on any photo shoots until yesterday.  The 31st is still May... right?

We had an appointment in Nashville and got there way too early.  So we went a few blocks over to Centennial Part and walked for a bit around the lake.

Lots of begging pigeons around trying their luck.  I think this guy was a wee bit offended that we didn't have something to give him!

The oak leaf hydrangea were in full bloom.

As were the snowball bushes.  I think they are prettier in their green phase than when they turn white.

Reflections.

I couldn't get any really good shots of the lake... it is GREEN.  Like emerald green.

Green like a mallard's head.

He is quite used to posing for a treat.

Lady mallard was waiting down in the water.

Mallard family in black and white.  (Better than St. Patrick's Day green).

The glare actually helped the photo.  Aren't those babies sweet?!  There were at least 3 families in the area we walked.

Memorial Day... Remember Them...

Turnbull Creek Bonsai Open House

Earlier in the month we had a lovely day at the open house at Turnbull Creek Bonsai.  It is always a treat to see John's trees!

Golden Full Moon maple.

Isn't that bright green-yellow color unique?

The garden.

Trident maple.

Azalea

Trident maple 'forest of one hundred'.

Look at all of those!

The next three photos are of bald cypress... one of my favorites!

Aren't they interesting?

The next five photos are of various junipers (sorry, don't know the varieties).

Do you see the deer head?

As usual, everyone had a great time.

This is the 'pre bonsai' area.  John collected these this year.

Maple

Winged elm in the middle.  I think the 2 on either side are American Hop Hornbeam.

The bonsai club has sooo many interesting outings and workshops we enjoy.

Thanks John for hosting this!

Folded Star Book

My last book making class was a bit different.  It's called a "star" book and it is very much not a traditional book.

I would describe it as origami with a cover!  This is the basic book form.

And if you attach the folded sheets differently...

It lays itself out in this form.

This book takes a LOT of gluing! 

I tried out this new (to me) glue/paste for adhering my paper.  Love it  It does not get the paper 'wet' so there are no ripples.  It is very sticky too.

Covers are done, now I'm going to adhere the ribbon.

That green ribbon with be laid across the glue line.

Once that's done, it's time to put in the paper signature.

Making sure it is even.

The bead locks in in place both open and closed.

Opening it up.

Almost open...

Fully open!

We were given enough supplies to make another star and one with the open layout.  I'll work on those soon.

Otherwise Engaged...

It is a beautiful spring here at The Sticks, so Himself and I are taking advantage of it to get our yard work done.  Meaning we are working our tails off and I have zero energy for much more in the evenings... including being on the computer.

So I'll be back in about a week (unless it rains and I can't work outside).

2019 Bonsai Club Garden Tour

Saturday a week ago was the annual garden tour for my bonsai club.  It's always a treat to see how other's have their gardens set up and what they have that is in development.

First garden was at our former club president's home.  Love how Mike uses the wheeled shelves to keep most of his trees on.

One of his beautiful trees... and I love the patina on this bench!

Notice how the roots are over the rock with this tree?

Mame (tiny) bonsai.  Putting them all into one container is a great way to keep the roots from drying out in those bitty pots.

Another garden view.

An interesting way to stablize young trees in a grow box.

Mike is known for his cool forest plantings like this one.

These trees are being trained to become 'root over rock' bonsai (like in the earlier photo).  Planting in the tube encourages long roots.

After a while we moved on to the next garden.  This one belongs to Eileen, my Bonsai 101 teacher.  Besides enjoying the garden, the club also had a catered lunch for us.

Her tables are permanent.

Isn't this water feature in the middle of the garden lovely?

A couple of her great trees.  The 'baskets' cover organic fertilizer so the birds and squirrels don't take off with it.

Eileen (on the right) is talking to a new member about her tiny juniper she just bought.

Next thing we knew, we were up in Eileen's bonsai studio (aka the garage) where she repotted the juniper into a larger pot...

... because that is the type of person she is!

It was a fun day.