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| "Aunt Vonda, Aunt Fern, Uncle Pete, Aunt Martha, Aunt Pauline": junk collage, acrylic, old photo, digital. |
Want music?
Click: Aretha Franklin, Until You Come Back
2GN2S
Like most artists I know, I love Frida.
I studied her in school, read the books, saw the movie and
one year Val & I went to her great show at the Bowers. here.
Today I came across an old photo ...
Everything about this photo, to me, is perfection.
So if that's true, why mess with it? A valid question.
Because I can, without harming the beautiful original.
And, because I get to play and learn at the same time.
I flipped, cropped, posterized, desaturated, drew,
colored in layers, having fun all the way ...
Photoshop people often ask about layers ... above is 3.
Playing and experimenting ... above is 5 layers.
I stopped at 8 layers.
The hard part is knowing when to stop.
Easy, I have laundry to do!
Yellowstone National Park is witnessing a quiet miracle!
After 80 years of decline, aspen trees are finally making a comeback. And the reason behind this remarkable revival is none other than the return of gray wolves.
When wolves disappeared from Yellowstone decades ago, the entire ecosystem fell out of balance. Elk populations surged, and with no natural predators to keep them in check, they grazed heavily on young aspen shoots. For nearly a century, new trees had almost no chance to grow.
But everything changed when gray wolves were reintroduced in the mid-1990s. Their return restored the long-missing predator–prey balance. Wolves not only reduced elk numbers but also shifted their feeding patterns, giving young aspens the breathing room they desperately needed.
The result?
A new generation of aspen trees rising again
Healthier grazing patterns
More habitat for birds, insects, and mammals
Increased plant diversity spreading across the landscape
A powerful “trophic cascade” showing how one species can influence an entire ecosystem
Yellowstone’s returning aspens are a powerful reminder that nature is deeply interconnected. When balance is restored, the benefits ripple outward, touching every living thing.
This story beautifully illustrates nature’s incredible ability to heal — as long as we give it the chance.
Just because ...
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| Golden-fronted Leafbird |
Wednesday's Smiles ...
Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.
