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Apr. 29th, 2013 04:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflydreamingThis has been one of the calmest payroll-Mondays in memory. Where is everyone this morning? I woke up early enough that I had breakfast, went online, and did some minor editing. Then, at the bus stop, two of the same bus showed up at once, which meant that the first one was quite late. The one before it must have been late, too, because the usual crowd that happens with a late bus was non-existent. I got on the second bus after confirming that it was the one I was actually waiting for, the one that lets me read without interruption because it's a "magic bus" that does the continuous route (no transfer).
I have a normal stack of work this Monday, with the extra work of payroll reports. But nothing is on fire, and the reports pulled without any time clock mysteries. The phones aren't ringing on top of each other, nor did the come-all-at-once memo go out for walk-in customer swarm.
I don't know what to do with this calm. O_O Is this really going to be a day to putter through the to-do list? I'd better enjoy it while it lasts!
Maybe I can finally post about one of the things I've been meaning to post about!
Last friday, L invited me as her plus-one to the European Masters exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. She has gone several times, and instead of the one pass she understood came with her membership, they have been letting her bring a companion on an unlimited basis. I keep thinking that I could enrich my life by visiting our museums more, at least on First Thursday if not for an exhibit.
Some of the portraits engaged me in an affecting way. (Of course the paintings were all marvelous, to begin with.) There was a portrait of a merchant whose eyes smiled out over the four centuries between us. Pieter Van Den Broeke wore gold chains and lace cuffs without pretense. The description card said that he was a friend of the artist, Frans Hals, and it seemed that warm feeling was captured along with the man's image.
Another delight was the painting of two sisters, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Henrietta Finch, one in black silk and one in moonlight white silk. This painting was done "to attract suitors." The one in black (Elizabeth) posed seated, a prickly wreath of myrtle in one hand, picking at a flower. The one in white stood against a plinth, under the view of a statue in shadow. (It looked like a sphinx.) Their dress buttons undone at the bodice, both ladies looked out with fierce eyes, intense and teasing. (I found an image, but it doesn't come close to doing the painting justice. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Henrietta Finch, by Jervas)
There was also a painting of two girls putting their doll's hat on a calico kitten. "Stuff on my cat," 17th century edition.
I'm happy I was able to find those! While at the museum, I felt that I couldn't pull out my phone to take notes, so the only one that I could remember specifically was the portrait of Mary, Countess Howe by Gainsborough.
They have her set up so that she is the first thing you see when you enter that room of the gallery. The painting is large, filling the space from floor to ceiling. Her presence fills the space, too. She took my breath away. Her eyes reveal intelligence, hint at wit, and imply strength of character. She is absolutely elegant. Her pink gown, even with all its lace, does not seem frivolous on her. She looks like someone I would like to know. I imagine that she would have very pleasant conversation with Mr. Van Den Broeke, if they had met socially.
I have a normal stack of work this Monday, with the extra work of payroll reports. But nothing is on fire, and the reports pulled without any time clock mysteries. The phones aren't ringing on top of each other, nor did the come-all-at-once memo go out for walk-in customer swarm.
I don't know what to do with this calm. O_O Is this really going to be a day to putter through the to-do list? I'd better enjoy it while it lasts!
Maybe I can finally post about one of the things I've been meaning to post about!
Last friday, L invited me as her plus-one to the European Masters exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. She has gone several times, and instead of the one pass she understood came with her membership, they have been letting her bring a companion on an unlimited basis. I keep thinking that I could enrich my life by visiting our museums more, at least on First Thursday if not for an exhibit.
Some of the portraits engaged me in an affecting way. (Of course the paintings were all marvelous, to begin with.) There was a portrait of a merchant whose eyes smiled out over the four centuries between us. Pieter Van Den Broeke wore gold chains and lace cuffs without pretense. The description card said that he was a friend of the artist, Frans Hals, and it seemed that warm feeling was captured along with the man's image.
Another delight was the painting of two sisters, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Henrietta Finch, one in black silk and one in moonlight white silk. This painting was done "to attract suitors." The one in black (Elizabeth) posed seated, a prickly wreath of myrtle in one hand, picking at a flower. The one in white stood against a plinth, under the view of a statue in shadow. (It looked like a sphinx.) Their dress buttons undone at the bodice, both ladies looked out with fierce eyes, intense and teasing. (I found an image, but it doesn't come close to doing the painting justice. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Henrietta Finch, by Jervas)
There was also a painting of two girls putting their doll's hat on a calico kitten. "Stuff on my cat," 17th century edition.
I'm happy I was able to find those! While at the museum, I felt that I couldn't pull out my phone to take notes, so the only one that I could remember specifically was the portrait of Mary, Countess Howe by Gainsborough.
They have her set up so that she is the first thing you see when you enter that room of the gallery. The painting is large, filling the space from floor to ceiling. Her presence fills the space, too. She took my breath away. Her eyes reveal intelligence, hint at wit, and imply strength of character. She is absolutely elegant. Her pink gown, even with all its lace, does not seem frivolous on her. She looks like someone I would like to know. I imagine that she would have very pleasant conversation with Mr. Van Den Broeke, if they had met socially.