Saturday, January 29, 2011

Grrrrr



Something weird's going on with Blogger's formatting system today; either that or my last post's determined not to make an appearance out here. I'll keep trying. . . meantime, apologies for the false alarms. 



This water boatman alighted on one of my drawings the other day.




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15 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    I am loving your blog.. that I just stumbled upon..so inspirational. Thank you>

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  2. Rachel FentonJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    That's not the same as what I call a water boat man; maybe they're different in the UK.

    Gorgeous image though; nice of him to pose.

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  3. ElisabethJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I'm curious to read the disappeared post, Claire, but in the meantime, your boatman is wonderful.

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  4. Out on the prairieJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    Maybe you should add its image.

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  5. susan t. landryJanuary 30, 2011 at 4:26 AM

    smart little bugger, to find such a lovely place to rest...

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  6. Marylinn KellyJanuary 30, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    And of course, he would be a water boatman. A vanished post is a puzzling thing...and counter-techie that I am, I have nothing to offer to retrieve it. xo

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  7. MimJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Exquisite . . .

    Delicate chance.

    These sightings--grace,

    Tender wishes from Mim

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  8. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Hello Joan - and welcome to this space. I've just been across to your blog and feel a kinship. I also explored the Mercy community you spoke of being a part of (in your profile); during my years in Cape Town (1986 - 1994) I was deeply engaged with The Institute of Spirituality (an ecumenical community under the direction of Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu - you will, I'm sure, know all about it) and in the midst of these spiritually dynamic times, the resonances of that time and the instruction in 'ways contemplative' continue to inform my way of working and being in the world. It is a pleasure to meet you. I love the way you describe your connection to the land, your mountain, your river. I feel as though in coming to New Zealand, I found my turangawaewae, my soul place.

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  9. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Hi Rachel - oops, perhaps I've misnamed this dainty creature? Would you call him a 'penny strider'? (A friend in the US addressed him thus). I'd best do my homework! As you say, it was lovely of him to pose. . . and he left no tracks behind him (so contrary to the way we humans make our way?)

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  10. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Hi Elisabeth - the blog I'd intended continued to rebel, play tricks, elude me. In the end, I surrendered. It clearly did not want to leave the draft box, so there it shall stay!

    You give us so much food for thought on your blog, Elisabeth - all that lively discussion on the significance of names, mother/daughter relationships, our relationship to & with anger. I regret I've been so tongue-tied lately. Though words elude me often, I do keep 'turning up.' Please accept a collection of appreciative pebbles in their place? L, C

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  11. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Hi Steve - his image is like a shadow, isn't it? And yes. . . it would interesting to include it. (I don't think I've invited an insect to 'take up residence' in a painting since I was a child. Could this be a sign?!)

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  12. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Dear, wry Susan - I love the way you come to things. . . he's a smart little bugger? Why yes! Or perhaps (like some of us at the moment) he's baffled at finding himself on strange territory, miles from where he started?! Love to you over in Maine xxx

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  13. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Dear Marylinn - imagine if we could enter and occupy a space with a similar lightness of touch, leaving neither dent nor stain on the surface of the things and people we come into contact with? I'm not sure if this is to be desired or not? Certainly our human affect/impact seems somehow at odds with this wish/this image? Is it a way of engagement that we might aspire to? Does lightness of touch imply shallowness of engagement? I suspect not. I would love to learn how to alight, touch, engage, disengage in the way this water boatman has. . . . no smudge of fingerprints, no bruise, no willful interference. Am just musing here. . .

    I love your term 'counter-techie', Marylinn. It has the ring of a qualification. . . Marylinn Kelly, CT ; ) xo

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  14. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Dear Mim, I marvel at your gift for synthesis.

    'Delicate chance'

    'These sightings - grace'

    Yes and yes. So, too, your presence here.

    Thanks, as ever, Claire xo

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  15. Claire BeynonFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    PS. Rachel (and others), you might find this article amusing. . . 'it's titled Wet Pennies'. http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=http://www.teachengineering.org/collection/duk_/activities/duk_drops_mary_act/duk_drops_mary_act.xml

    Googling for images of water striders and boatmen led me there. You and my US friend are right - the critter on this drawing is in fact a Water - or Penny - Strider. Boatmen are more robust in profile and physique! Thanks for prompting the research ; )

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