Snack time

While I was waiting for my falafel here:I spotted this ball (or how could I call it otherwise?) on one of the roofs nearby: Usually such balls can be found on top of the churches, and usually in there real treasures are held. In there could be found documents with names of the people who built churches, when they were renovated, who renovated them, who gave money for them, why the church was built, and sometimes also relics are added to these documents. Most people don't know that such treasures are kept on the top of churches. I wonder if the ball on this roof also holds such treasures...

Deadwood

There are different kinds of treasures; for someone this can be a lot of money or jewelry, for other this can be a child. I called a man 'my treasure' once upon a time. I guess all share the same characteristic - all can be lost suddenly.

I flipped through the pages of my new book On the border with Crook during the weekend. Reading about Crazy Horse was a great pleasure for me and when I came upon the paragraphs describing Deadwood, small town in Black Hills in South Dakota, I couldn't stop my thoughts from escaping into those August days of 2001 when I was actually there.

The main street of Deadwood, twenty yards wide, was packed by a force of men, drawn from all quarters, aggregating thousands; and the windows of both upper and lower stories of the eating-houses, saloons, hotels, and wash houses were occupied by women of good, bad, and indifferent reputation. There were vociferous cheers, clapping of hands, wavings of handkerchiefs, shrieks from the whistles of the planing mills, reports from powder blown off in anvil, and every other manifestation of welcome known to the populations of mining towns.

~ Excerpt from the book On the border with Crook~

I would describe Deadwood as a mining town of gamblers and history. For me it was a peaceful place and people looked content with themselves. I wondered when I saw open doors, bicycles lying in the frontyard, something I can hardly imagine here in the suburbs where I live. Too many thiefs have been walking around lately, unfortunately. It was the only time during that travel when B wanted to go cycling. So, we went. Up, all the way to Lead, another mining town, and a little bit futher where we turned left and followed the marked trail. On the steepest part of it, among those beautiful pines and clearings, I noticed it - a spear, lying on the sandy path, waiting for me. It was obviously there for ages, and that piece of rock was for sure shaped by a human being. I took it with me, and enjoyed the ride. Later I found some feathers, got lost and tried to find the shelter from the storm. I wouldn't mind going back one day to see if everything is still the same.

Since that day, the spear is the greatest treasure I have. If we speak of treasures that can be held in someone's hand. I unwrap it from time to time and hold it in my hands thinking of that man who shaped and used it, perhaps more than a century ago. And of course, thinking of those wonderful days I spent driving around the Wild West.

Macro: 7

Two more days to go. And then one week off work. Actually 1 and 2 May are national holidays in Slovenia.

A mess in my house. I had to put all my plants into the upper room which I have desperately tried to put in order for some time now. It is Mr Ž's papers lying all around the room and in the next week I will just do a major cleaning of all this crap. If it is not possible to do it the nice way then it is time to do it the ugly way. Don't get me wrong, after two years of begging it is really time to do something. My patience has its limits.While putting all those plants into that room I noticed one of my treasures I keep. It is a shell my parents brought me from their vacation in Mauritius years ago. It is a beautiful shell and I saw one of a kind in our Museum of Natural History. In Latin it is called Cypraecassis rufa. It is quite big and if I put my ear close to it I can hear the sound of sea echoing out of it. Which calms me for at least one moment despite a terrible noise coming from my living room below...

Little treasures V

Sometimes I think that my blog is really boring. Anyway I like writing about the things that come up my mind and share this little world of mine with you, rare and dear readers.

Let's get back today to my little treasures which my home hides. The whole week I was reading a book Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux which I really liked. He has that special way of describing things which enables you to experience the travel like it was you on the way. I was in China back in 2001 (what a great year it was!), I spent 3 weeks there. I was traveling with a group of different people; we were together but each of us was on his/her own. Mostly we stayed in Shanghai (perhaps we should travel there tomorrow on a map?) and strolled around the city indulging in its vibrant colors. Well, Chinese are making lots of bad things, like ruining their history and building high block of flats that surely don't attract tourists. The air is polluted and so is the environment. People use their elbows a lot. If you don't move, they walk over you. This was my experience and it was Paul's too. But I liked China very much. I really, really liked it. I felt like home although China and their life is 100% different than what we have here. I wouldn't like to live there but I liked it anyway. I don't know why.
In 2004 when I celebrated my first birthday where I work now, I received a beautiful teapot for my present. I don't know if these are Chinese letters on it but anyway, I connect it with the cultures which are present on the other side of the world. I like this teapot a lot and it is one of the objects that belong on my little treasures list.
Reading that book I mentioned above led me to this that I post a photo of my favorite teapot today. Please, don't mind the dust on it, I have lots of that in my home. :)

Little treasures IV

The list of my little treasures is not over yet. I have still some to show you.
Many years ago when I traveled to Munich at least once a month, I stopped at Kunst & Spiel shop. Like usual. A charming small shop on a busy street in Munich. Always when I entered I felt like being in another world. I liked most of the things they were selling (well, they still do!). Each time I was there, I looked at the xylophone, a charming instrument I owned when I was a little girl. I have never learned how to play it properly. So, one day, my ex-husband took it from the shelf and bought it for me. How happy I was! From time to time I play myself a song that is composed by me, by a sudden inspiration. No notes. Sometimes I just look at it and feel it under my fingers. I am almost sure I will never be able to play by notes on it, but does it really matter?

Little treasures III

Do you know a story of a dreamcatcher?

I received one for my birthday many, many years ago from a friend of mine. I enjoyed company of this friend a lot; we talked hours about all sorts of things. He knew what I liked and I knew what he liked. He always gave me presents that I secretly wished for. So, one year I received this dreamcatcher that you can see on the photo. A weird one but one of my little treasures. Actually I had no idea what it was at the beginning (I was a bit ashamed, me, a person who adores Indians), and then he told me a story about this strange object. You can read it here.

When I visited the Wounded Knee site on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 2001, there was a booth with a little Indian girl and an old Indian man in it, selling dreamcatchers. Their webs were of all sorts of shapes but none was like the spider web. That’s why I didn’t like them. Selling them to tourists. We didn’t talk a lot. I felt like a stupid tourist although I was there for quite different reasons than just tick a place on my schedule and move on. I was following a path of Crazy Horse and his people.

So, later, when I had some real sinew, real bird feathers (not those of chicken that you can buy in every craft store), a willow twig and some beads, I made a little dreamcather for somebody I loved. I didn’t take a photo of that one, so I cannot share it with you but I was very satisfied with my work. It was a masterpiece. I hope that it does its good work like mine beside my bed. Allowing only good dreams to filter through and catching the bad dreams which disappear with the light of a day.

Little treasures II

Puzzled? No, puzzles!
Once for my birthday I received a puzzle. And I became addicted that very moment that I put the first two pieces together. Perhaps for someone this is a waste of time but for me it is like creating something, a picture that I am not able to draw but put together piece by piece.
Mostly I was buying 1000 pieces puzzles by Ravensburger which proved to be the best fitting of all that were available in our shops. Most of the pictures were maps, all sorts of, mostly those 'ancient' ones. I love such maps. A night sky was also one I liked a lot. The stars were glowing in the dark.
The only one that I put together and actually hang it on a wall like a picture, was the one you can see on the photo above. A drawing by Janosch, one of my favorite illustrators. I have always had this puzzle in my bedroom. Probably you can guess, why. The guys on this picture are sleeping! The real colors are much more vivid and I still have to find a better frame for the picture.
My little treasure for almost 10 years now.

Little treasures I

During the holidays I took some photos of little treasures in my home. Of the things that mean a lot to me.
Today I am sharing with you a photo of a necklace made of tiny shells.A few years ago I gave my mum and dad a present for their wedding anniversary - a travel to Mauritius. My dad had been dreaming about it for many years and at some moment in my life I was able to pay them a short holiday on this island. It was a travel of their lifetime. My dad has got Parkinson's disease now and I don't think he will have a chance to experience something this beautiful again. A pity. I wish I could help but I can't.
From this journey they brought me this beautiful shell necklace that I still keep in a bag in which I had received it. I have never worn it. I just look at it from time to time, feel it in my hands, shells slipping through my fingers. Perhaps I will wear it this summer. For some special occasion, if there is one.