Saturday, December 31, 2016

A New Year

Elk atop Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado in July!
Hoping your holidays were joyous & bright and that the New Year is full of wonder, good fortune, and the best kinds of adventures.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Emerald Posting...

It's not too late to order a Yuletide Edition of Emerald Post HERE which includes a festive print called "Gathering the Greens," a tribute to the Irish tradition of decking the halls with Holly, Ivy, & Mistletoe all nestled around a vibrant red trinity knot. You'll also find a mini notecard, a postcard, photo print, and bookmark in December's Emerald Post. If you'd like to send one as a gift, I can address and post it directly to the lucky recipient.  


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Winter Blooms

'Tis the season for these beautiful winter miracles. These are frost flowers, delicate naturally occurring ice ribbons formed when the air is freezing but the ground is not. The stem of the plant is still pulling water up from the ground but the freezing air causes the stems to crack and ice to form in extremely thin layers which is pushed out from the stems of plants in the most wonderful patterns, like Christmas ribbon candy. These are worth looking for on these cold mornings!









Monday, December 12, 2016

Gingerbread Dreams

Here are some recent feats of Gingineering, aided, in part, by my niece & nephew. A castle for the royalty and a wee cottage for the more humble village peasants (or a woodland witch, you never know).




LED candles illuminate melted hard candy windows

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Cave State

It may be under appreciated just how many caves we have here in the Ozarks and throughout Missouri (especially since I've visited so few). So we have decided to start exploring these gems. Recently we visited both Cosmic Cavern near Berryville, Arkansas & Talking Rocks Cavern near Branson, Missouri. Both caves were really spectacular with guided tours lasting about an hour. Though I must say I enjoyed Cosmic Cavern more so due to an excellent guide, sometimes that makes all the difference. Here are some pictures from our subterranean explorations:

Cosmic Cavern - Berryville, AR





We were lucky to spot the tiny, elusive brown cave bat!


Talking Rocks Cavern - Branson, MO








A Winter Village



Mushroom Monday

Back in November I stumbled upon this purple-hued cluster of mushroom. The tops of them looked almost metallic taupe but underneath was purple indeed. I think they are Silvery Purple Corts, but not certain.






Saturday, November 19, 2016

Emerald Post

This Traveling Chariot is soon to start delivering something very exciting (and green) to mailboxes near and far.....


https://www.etsy.com/shop/emeraldpostshop?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Enchanting Artisan Parcels
Unfolding Traditions, Art & Lore
From the Old World, From Celtic Lands
From Elsewhere & Elsewhen

Within each limited edition Emerald Post Parcel you will find artwork inspired by Ireland, Celtic lands of Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall, & history & folklore of these lands. Each Emerald envelope is hand addressed to the recipient and contains approximately 3-5 items evoking another world or another time. Currently, Emerald Post is available in one month, 3 month, or six month suscriptions. Your parcel may include:

               A quality print of my original artwork
               Photo prints
               Postcards *
               Notecards with envelopes *
               Original Block Prints
               Occasional Original Artwork
               Bookmarks
               Magnets
               Stickers
               Use of ephemera such as postage stamps, maps, etc
               Tidbits of history & folklore

For the holiday I'm offering a Yuletide Edition of Emerald Post to arrive near Winter Solstice (Dec 21). They would make great holiday gifts.  Here is a sneak peak:


Get the Yuletide Edition HERE for $14



Read more about Emerald Post here.

To my regular blog readers here at Traveling Chariot: In addition to my blogging here of travel, art, and my Missouri adventures, I will maintain a blog at www.emerald-post.blogspot.com for things related to Emerald Post and Ireland. Sometimes they might overlap. There is also an Emerald Post Newsletter you can sign up for HERE if you'd like updates and musings about Emerald Post. Thanks!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Paths to Winter

Daylight hours are waning though the sun is still quite warm. We have crossed the threshold from light to dark, from summer to winter, we are well on our way. The monarch and I are soaking up the still warm sun for sustenance, she for her long journey south, me for my long journey into winter's short days & cold nights.



Monday, October 17, 2016

Mushroom Monday

My guess is the oyster mushroom - these were very small on a long dead willow trunk.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Autumn, for a Spell

We've crossed over into the luminous, liminal season, the fleeting, over all too soon Autumn. I'm trying to slow the clock, as I harvest my dreamy Glass Gem Corn, as I walk the fog cloaked mornings, as I watch my pumpkins grow.