This is my 500th post. They just pile up, don't they. Grenouille helped.We went for a walk at Ayrmount today - our local beauty spot, with the lovely Poet's Walk that winds through the old fields, down to the Eno River, around the heavily wooded hillside, and finally past the house of such pleasing colonial proportions. The house predates the American Revolution - probably not a big deal if it were in New England, but quite old for here in North Carolina, where rot and termites were bigger problems than in northern climates, and where the War of Northern Agression saw the destruction of so many old home places.
When I went to school in New York we were taught to call it the Civil War - down here it sometimes goes by another name... Some believe slavery was passing away anyway, doomed to fail for economic reasons, but I believe the institution would have held on for decades. A grisly truth, a horrible chapter in America's story, still not over. The war was sadly inevitable and probably necessary. Jefferson knew it was coming almost a hundred years before it started, but could not, would not, do anything to change even his own position in that society. Of course the North was not guiltless, having bought and delivered most of the slaves, and the North still practices just as much bigotry as the South, but under more cover. Prejudice goes beyond race; at the pond in the photo above we discussed the odds of Prop 8 being struck down in California on Thursday. Bet you didn't think this was going to come back around to Ayrmount, did ya.Again I painted for over an hour this evening - again I had to paint over everything. Some of these CD covers now have more layers of paint than a house that predates the American Revolution. It was still fun. Layers and layers of fun on these little pieces.
12 comments:
what a lovely place, a lovely home...and no, I did not expect it to come back to prop 8! congrats on your 500th post today! wow, that's a lot of posts, I think I have something like 178!! still a ways to go to catch up to you.
those cd covers must be like leather after all that paint. it's a good thing you are enjoying the process!! I am looking forward to the day when we see the rest of them! So far, they are all wonderful and I'm sure the rest will be too.
I continue to admire your very human spirit and your honesty in your blogging and in your art. I think that the layering adds value to the art that is always changing and evolving as does our life.
Those CD covers will be priceless Steve.
We in Oz had a civil war that few people think about. The Brits invaded Oz, declaring it an empty land - some ploy when you think about the Aborigines having been here for many thousands of years, looking after the environment very well thank you very much.
It was gruesome and bloody and my generation didn't hear a thing about it at school. We seem to be coming to terms with it just a little better today.
Congrats on your 500th post! What a beautiful way to celebrate! I am in total anticipation over the CD covers :)
I love the idea of a house still standing after so much time. I think that spirit of preservation is why I love Europe so much.
Congratulations on your milestone post. I can't wait to see what comes next with the cd covers.
Happy 500!!!! The photos Ayrmount are blissful. The poet's that walked that path must have been greatly inspired.
I am in high anticipation about the Prop 8 verdict out here in Cali. I am hopeful.
Here's to another 500!
Shannan
I love the old house and I can at least 3 chimneys- it must be wondeful inside -
Also 500 posts - that's great- recently I strolled through your gallery again because I just can't enough of some of my favorites like the cats on the couch, and the big orange frog and my very favorite- the people with houses and buildings on their heads -sorry I can't remember their good names- anyway... your posts have meant a lot to me and I know to many, many people..
I have mixed feelings about Prop 8 - I think everyone should have equal rights to marry and that strong, healthy relationships should be promoted, but I do feel like it will change the face of insurance and many other issues when we change the meaning of marriage...and I guess I'm ready to accept that all though I don't know all the issues involved
A bit of a history lesson - sweet tooth style. The only way... ;-)
I have the court case on my mind a lot these days...
The Civil War was not about slavery at first. Lincoln decided to bring that issue up to get the Northern support. The Civil War was about States Rights. In the Constitution the States were allowed to ceceed from the Union if they saw a treasonous government was in power. The North was causing hardships for the south by imposing tariffs on their goods and buying cheaper cotton over seas...so the south was not making any money....at least this is what I understand.
Slavery was going out of vogue. Read the Jungle by Upton Sinclair and see why Slavery was not all bad.
Congratulations on Number 500. It's always fascinating to see what interests you.
congrats on your 500th post, Steve!! Wishing you many, many more!
Dear people all, I'm grateful for these comments, and I wish I could post something worthwhile for a reply - but if you see my post for this evening I think you'll understand why I'll just have to leave it at "Thank you."
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