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Orange for the fall leaves we collected outside yesterday. Pale pink for the strange cockatoo I encountered as a child at someone’s house. I think it was my first parrot experience and I found the creature uncanny.

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Oh wow.... I can imagine that pink bird.... and I love the “uncanny” adjective that sticks in your mind with the memory! I bet the leaves are beautiful. Thank you for reading.

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Nov 12, 2023Liked by Amy Cowen

My parrot memory is out of context; Parrot Heads at a Jimmy Buffett concert in the 80s. I've been working in gouache this week and there was a moment of serendipity as green + magenta intertwined. Fav drawing this week was a grid of rapidly drawn tiny landscapes. I read 1-10 in order but you know I giggled at the Random Order Option™️

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Thank you for the “random” giggle. Lol. I so appreciate that. So glad to hear from you -- had just been thinking of you the other day. We want to see you for drawing. I love your “parrot” association. Nice one. Green and magenta.... love. I’m glad to hear you are working in gouache.... I always love seeing all the gouache in my feed in November! Thanks for the comment, Tammy!

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I do love the little secret messages the universe can give you, like your parrots and a lovely mural in your favorite green. It made me smile.

I also had no idea there were parrots in California. I had to look them up. What a pretty bird to have in backyard.

This week’s colors are hot pink marching band plumes and golden stars. ⭐️

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Secret messages.... a wonderful way to think about these moments we have as we look for signs and symbols all around us. Who knows how many people stumble over the same thing and also find it meaningful in that moment. It’s pretty amazing when we think about it. So glad the band trip went well (and lots of walking - I did see the coffee thread this morning)! Hot pink and golden starts is awesome!

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Of all the goodness and moments of connection you spun through this piece, I will share the one thing that absolutely shot off the page for me: The little strawberry pin cushion. 🍓 I have one just like it, and it never occurred to me until this moment how very not-strawberry shaped it is. But we know it's a strawberry because of the little offshoot, and the color, and the green top. Interesting, isn't it, how our minds can see things that aren't really there? That's my gratitude moment for today. I needed that reminder.

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I love this so much because..... I’ve always thought these were tomatoes. But the little offshoot is something I had never thought about in all the years of sewing and quilting. So when I got ready to draw it this week, I suddenly wondered about the offshoot. I looked it up to see, and that little offshoot (of the tomato) is, in fact, a strawberry. I thought, at the time, that it was funny that I had never pondered that strawberry at all. And that’s the thing you pulled out today. What a lovely moment. Thank you for looking that closely. (And thank you for reading.)

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Synchronicity!! How amazing. As are the goosebumps that just ran up my arms, and the smile on my face. 😃

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Wait, so the pincushion is a tomato with a strawberry offshoot right? Or is it not a tomato at all?

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Yes... it's a tomato.... with a strawberry offshoot.

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When I was in college I had a friend with an African gray parrot that was mesmerizing. In Galveston we also have wild parrots. They would come eat peanuts on my mom’s porch.

The color of the day is black, because somehow I ended up in all black like a cat burglar or a ninja.

I’m feeling gratitude for my black and white kitten who makes me feel loved.

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I have gratitude for your black and white kitten, too. I am head to toe in black, but it is the way I love to move through the day! Your African gray parrot sounds enchanting! Thank you for reading. I hope you have a good week.

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Absolutely loved this post and your graphic representations of moments of life are eye candy. The spaces in between, those gutters, really do have magic. Missing you and the group. I hope to jump back in soon. I had finished one art journal (barely) and started a new one yesterday just with a Sunday Stack of books. It was enough.

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So nice to hear from you - and thank you for mentioning the art alongside the writing. I’m with you on the margins, always. I miss seeing you - truly. I know you’re knee-deep in Nano, too, (as am I). It’s a lot, I know. I doubt that writing while we all chat would be effective for you. Eventually, you’ll wind around. Door is always open.

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I want to art while we all chat! I'm ready to come back. A little balance is a good thing. Going to find that Sign Up link now. :)

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Excellent! I can help with the link if you don’t have it. Just drop me a message.

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Thanks so much for the mention!

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Absolutely!

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Thanks for the mention!

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Of course! There have been several. Updated today to better tag writers (in place of general publication links I had). So happy to have been introduced to your work.

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