Kat Eye Studio

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Blank Slate

A new year has begun, a blank slate for us to write on. I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. What is it about the changing of the calendar that makes us thing that we should do anything different? It is a little reminder, though, that each day is a blank slate. Each day is a chance to write the ending a little bit differently than the one before.

This image from our visit to Castello San Sebastiano da Po this summer speaks of possibilities, of sitting down in the light and writing something new. It reminded me of the lyrics I loved from a song that was popular a few years ago called Unwritten. The lyrics to the song are…

I am unwritten,
can’t read my mind,
I’m undefined.
I’m just beginning,
the pen’s in my hand,
ending unplanned.

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten.

What will I write this year? I’m not sure, I’m sitting down here at my desk, with the ending still unwritten.

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Year-end Reflection

The end of the year, time for a moment of reflection. This picture of Brandon at Castello San Sebastiano da Po makes me think of a moment of quiet. A peaceful moment, paused in the busy-ness that is an 8 year old and the busy-ness of our everyday lives.

This morning I was reflecting in my journal that, while it is always surprising to reach the end of the year and realize a new one is upon us already, this year didn’t seem to fly by. If I think back to where I was a year ago, it was a very different place both geographically and personally. It seems like many years ago. I am happy to say that, a year later, I am a different person. A happier person. Much more me than ever before.

So, with that note, I hope that you all have had a wonderful 2009, and take a moment to reflect on what it brought you. And I’m wishing you a fun New Year’s Eve and a fabulous 2010! Ciao!

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Special Treats

Since I posted the German bakery window photo the other day, other food photos have been popping into my head. This one is from Bergamo, a town not too far from here, and one of my favorite cities in Italy. This is a dessert specialty called “Polenta e Osei” which is named after the entree of the same name. The entree is actually polenta with a whole small bird (Osei) cooked on top. The dessert is much more appetizing, with no polenta or birds involved. It is a very sweet cake with a sugary crust, creme filling and small chocolate birds on top. We enjoyed sharing this one and get one every time we go to Bergamo.

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Boyhood, A Still Life

I didn’t set up this still life, this is how I found the kitchen table yesterday morning.

You see, Brandon got a copy of The Dangerous Book for Boys from my Mom for Christmas. And our house has been a-clutter with random items ever since as Brandon tries out the experiments and activities. On the table this morning was:
String
Aluminum foil
Snap Circuits experiment kit
Clothespin
Scissors
Nail with tape on it
2 Legos
A rock
Motorcycle
Other random pieces of tape

I think this was exactly what the authors intended with this book!

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Bright

In the mood for some color and sun today, so I pulled out this window box photo. It’s one of my early ones here, from Pavia, and also one of my favorites. I love the unique flowers, that were matched perfectly to the building color. This was in a back street, not a normal thoroughfare, yet there was this attention to beauty and detail. I keep saying this, but this is something that I love about Italy.

Yesterday, I went to see an exhibition of paintings and drawings by American artist Edward Hopper at the Palazzo Reale in Milano. It was fabulous, he was an amazing painter of light and of unique American scenes. They compare his work to a “photographic view” so maybe that’s why I resonated with it so much. My favorite painting in the exhibition was Cape Cod Sunset, but this image doesn’t do it justice. The sky was the perfect rendering of the rainbow dusk sky that I’ve always loved. One thing I’ve learned about works of art, is that seeing them in a book or online is not the same as seeing them in person. The color, the texture, the feel is completely different.

It’s interesting that I discover this wonderful American artist in Italy, but I guess that’s just part of my rediscovery of art here. If you have a chance, take a look at some of his work. Or, maybe go see some art in person somewhere, to have your own artistic discovery. Happy Sunday!

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Create

This is one of my favorite photos from one of our many trips into the city of Milan, our “home” city if you will. Since we live in the small “suburban” town of Vedano al Lambro, we go into Milan to get the big city feel. I love the energy of the city! There is nothing like the feel of the Piazza del Duomo, packed with people on a Saturday, all just out for the sake of being out.

This is the vegetable carving guy that we saw in the same place everytime we went into the city this summer. He carves amazing works of art from carrots and turnips and beets, like this rose. It is amazing to watch. It’s more like he frees the object from inside the vegetable rather than carves it, he’s just removing the unnecessary parts.

We’re going into Milan today for the day, to see what we can see, explore the town a bit. I have a couple of art exhibits to choose from and I’ve looked up a couple of toy stores for Brandon to search for Lego train track. We won’t see our vegetable carver, it’s too cold this time of year, but I’m sure we’ll see something interesting!