DoveSoup Art

I was recently shopping calendars at Barns & Noble when I came across a Marc Chagall edition. I fell in love with his symbolism, which I have been researching the past few days. His frequently repeated subject matter was drawn from Jewish life and folklore; he was particularly fond of flower and animal symbols Use of symbolism I gleaned from the web, in most cases I've tried to add my own thoughts. I'm not an art historian so my thoughts are just my thoughts. Personally the notion that the horses in Chagall's paintings only represent freedom seems absurd. Horses were work animals, they plowed fields and pulled carriages and wagons. Nearly every painting with a horse it seems to portray strength, support, commitment and loyality. In one painting the horse is painted directly on the crotch of the male subject... duh, looks like sexual prouness to me. Cow : Substainer of life. Another notion is that Chagall is striving to unite the bestial and the rational, the spontan

Early in the morning we took a photo of one of the last of the roses in bloom. It's covered with beautiful ice crystals. Floribunda - Calliope

You know the saying "If life gives you lemons...."? Well the other day life gave me three pounds of unripe Fuji Apples. I let the dog out and he ran off barking like a crazy fool, probably chasing after a squirrel he will never catch. Being the dork dog that he is, he ran into the support stakes that are holding up our young apple tree, that was loaded with soon to be, but not yet ripe apples. We were so disappointed when we found our lovely baby apples scattered about the garden. I picked then up thinking they would at least look pretty in a bowl on the kitchen table. Then a stroke of genius, which I humbly admit I often have, I figured crab apples are tiny, tart, (make that sour) and they make great jelly. So, yes indeed, I made lemonade. I cooked down the unripe apples, strained them and made totally fabulous "Organic Green Fuji Apple Jelly" Select firm (normally crab) apples. Wash and remove blossom ends. Cut into quarters without peeling. Cover with water and

Mom is bugging the shit outta me Mom got her check Mom needs to go to the bank Mom is tossing her paper trash into shipping boxes in the library - what's up with that? Mom organized her insurance crap, and had to ask me for our zip code, phone number and address while I was trying to ignore her and read the morning paper - did they really say Russia was going to point missiles at us? Mom just finished throwing a bag of trash down the stairs Mom wants her check copied, before we go to the bank. Mom needs her nails done, today, tomorrow or the next - No rush Mom doesn't realize her life could be in danger © Dove

The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who _______, and those who _______. I'll start it off with this. The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who pee in the shower, and those who don't. or... The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who think trees have feelings, and those who take their meds. Personally I think trees have feelings until they die, then they make great homes for wildlife.

Recently a guy standing in queue at the grocers blamed drinking from Styrofoam cups provided by his work for making him sick. He went on to say it had to be chemicals leached from the Styrofoam (or the dandelion greens salad he had for dinner the night before). I was privy to detailed description of the symptoms, a horrible stomach ache with "terrible lower abdominal cramping" and "gas or diarrhea cramps without the gas or the diarrhea". He was sure something had poisoned him, either E. coli on the greens or Styrofoam chemicals. What is wrong with people now days? Why would Joe Schmo in the grocery store tell me about his bowels? Why is it that after 20 years, once we find that Styrofoam is not so great a choice for food storage do we suddenly become sick? Why didn't he suffer for years with "gas or diarrhea cramps without the gas or the diarrhea" from Styrofoam without ever knowing why? Furthermore Joe Schmo, why do you think that just because the

While sitting on the patio watching the squirrels scurry about and playing tag, I had a conversation with my mother (she's 80) and asked if she ever ate squirrel as a child. She said yes, squirrel, rabbit and once they had opossum for Thanksgiving. She doesn't remember much about the rabbit or squirrel, I guess it was more ordinary fare for them. But the opossum for Thanksgiving... that she remembers. She was old enough to turn up her nose at the idea until she tasted it, said it was very good. Mother said it tasted... no, not like chicken , but like a pork roast. According to my mother, grandmother was a horrible cook, so she may have had better memories if it weren't for Grandmother Bristow's horrific kitchen abilities. (between you and me, mother takes after grandmother) Mother said she thought it was called Brunswick Stew. I Googled it and sure enough she was right, they also call it "Virginia ambrosia" Here's one story: The original Brunswick Stew ,

Me in the bath, eyes closed, He lounging on the floor, pillow under his head reading Kierkegaard. Happy to introduce us, He didn't know Kierkegaard's melancholy winked at me or how horribly sad it made me feel. © Dove Cochrane

Dead-heading, the saddest of all garden commissions. A faded bloom A necessary evil, A tiny death falls into my palm. I'm sorry, apology whispered. Only able to do so many before I must escape. I sit on the deck, smoking. I smoke a cigarette, rocking and chide myself for the grief that like a thorn burrows in my chest. ©Dove Cochrane

We went to the picnic at Governor Strickland's residence (that would be Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland) Anyhow, it was cool to be invited , it made me feel a little "A" Listish. The best part was the adorable turtle in his pond. He was a curious little fellow who kept popping his head above the water to watch the people walk by. The Governor's gardens were mostly impressive and we enjoyed strolling about. I say mostly because my-oh-my the rose garden was pitiful. This is the Governor by God, his roses should be fabulous or not none at all. The rose garden could cause me to change my vote... On the other hand - The solar system was to die for and the green house made me earth-green with envy. The solar system and green house could cause me to change my vote... It did my heart good to see the Governor's garden was also plagued with Japanese Beetles. At least I know he's not spraying heavy pesticides. Matt did talk with "Ted," I sat that one out,

Lucy has a headache Lucy is confused Last week she was desensitized, numbed by ugly news. Lucy is a vegan and above her youthful breast, "eating meat is murder" is etched across her chest. Lucy hates Republicans, Lucy says fuck those who wear fur. She loves a good hunting accident, it's Karma if you ask her. Lucy is peace loving, Lucy wouldn't hurt a fly. Then she turned and walked away, her husband left to die. ©Dove Cochrane

If you are a woman - You have a secret fear. If you have a sister the worst thing she could ever do would be to tap into this fear. You just don't do that to your sister, no matter what kind of bitch she is. If you are a husband or a boyfriend and you want to cause irreversible damage to your relationship, if you want to shut your woman up and you are not afraid of her murderous wrath, you may want to keep this abuse in your arsenal. What would be the lowest of low blows, the foulest of foul play, the absolute most scornful and insulting words on earth...? "You are just like mom!" "You are just like your mother!"

I'm already breaking my promise regarding only posting useless self-adsorbed crap. Come on you really didn't trust a blogger did you? This morning I told Hershey's to Kiss, to kiss-off. Hershey uses GM Sugar in their Kiss candy. If you live in a cave and don't know what GM is let me suggest you read a newspaper now and then, and I will try to explain in words a 8 year old can understand. OK Bubba, GM does not stand for General Motors. GM means GENETICALLY MODIFIED, as in some horn rimmed glass wearing guy working in the laboratory (for this subject it's pronounced "la- boar -ah-tory) rearranging the DNA of a sugar beet so that it can be sprayed with Monsanto’s toxic weed killer "Roundup" and not die along with the weeds. Now back to the horn rimmed glass wearing guy working in the laboratory (remember to pronounce it "la- boar -ah-tory, it sounds so much creepier that way) his job is to figure out how to kill weeds and save the beet. His job does

Nothing to say.... and so much time to say it. The internet is full of bloggers with nothing to say. I'm just one more in the pile of self adsorbed solid bovine waste with spell check. My promise to you is this: Everyday, if I have something meaningless to anyone other than me, I will post it here. © Dove Earth Keeper, Locavore, Green Bitch Woodland Rose Garden Amazon has all the crap you'll ever need - really