THE VOICE OF GOD

I was told one can hear the voice of God in Bach's music. I was intrigued. So, I began playing Bach. I found a new interest in Bach, but I didn't hear the "voice of God". I remained intrigued and continued practicing – and practicing. I got better at playing Bach but I didn’t hear “the voice of God”. One day, after a couple of hours at the piano, I decided to take a break and sit on my deck. The deck is very high from the ground extending into a ring of giant old oak trees. It was a perfect day - a 10 out of 10 - cool, sunny, low humidity. The calm was utterly surreal. Bumblebees busy in the roses, birds chirping in the trees, katydids humming in the weeds, a distant dog barking, faint sounds of a neighbor working, a small plane flying overhead, a crow cawing nearby, a robin's sharp chirping. Now, a hummingbird alarming me -- too close, too fast! But, not a breeze in the trees. I think "quiet" isn't correct, but oh so "calm". And then, unreal, - a hawk lands on the deck rail - not more than three feet away from me. We make eye contact. Still, he stays. Seconds pass and still we maintain eye contact. He flies away. Did I just "hear" the "voice" of God”??? 

A DRAGON IN MY YARD

I am an artist. As you would guess, after many years of art projects, I have a treasure trove of quality art materials left over from those various projects. I contemplated - what to do with these left-overs? Find an artist to give them to? Take them to an artist open studio site and just leave them? Donate them to a school? Then, an idea occurred to me. Why not make something very special for myself? I have very little of my own work. I decided to use my stained glass leftovers for this project. I would make a dragon, install her on the hillside in the boulder field overlooking the street at the bottom of my driveway.

My young granddaughter was visiting at the time. I told her my idea. She responded with "what kind of a dragon - fairytale or Chinese cultural"? Me - "Is there a difference"? She - in disbelief - gently and patiently explained the difference.

The dragon was created and installed. She is 25' long, 8' tall. She is spectacular! Her name is Yuja - named after my favorite female pianist, Yuja Wang.

I should add that there are valid reasons why one doesn't see free-standing, no frame, outside stained glass installations. If you decide to attempt a project like this, email me - marilyn@IAmMyOwnFairyGodmother.com - and I will alert you to the many, many, many pitfalls you will encounter on your way to a happy completion.