Architecture and Sculpture in Denmark, by Guest Writer Cammie Curtin

Why go somewhere warm for spring break? (Part I)

Indeed, with friends studying abroad in Denmark and Iceland, why would I spend my spring break on a beach somewhere? The nordic countries are way cooler. So, with places to stay and people to show me around, I set off for a few days in Copenhagen, followed by a stint in Reykjavik. Guided by my friend who studies architecture, I explored the urban landscape in and around Copenhagen.

One of the first things that struck me were the brightly colored buildings.

On our first big excursion, we visited Kronborg, the castle which inspired Shakespeare's Elsinore in Hamlet. It was originally built in the 1420s. 

Here is the entryway to the ramparts. Can you find the monogram of Christian V? All around Copenhagen, buildings are adorned with the monograms of the monarch who built them. Especially common is the monogram of Christian IV.

There is a small chapel inside the castle, Slotskirke. 

On our way back into the city, we stopped at the Louisiana, a museum of modern art. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds on the water, the most stunning part of the museum was the sculpture park.

"Reclining Figure no. 5 (Seagram)", Henry Moore. We stared at this sculpture for a long time, but we didn't quite see the "reclining figure".

Work by Alexander Calder.

We came across a metal pathway embedded in the ground, marked "Self Passage" by George Trakas, and followed it down to a shady platform by the water.

Finally, we made our way back to Henry Moore's reclining figure... and there she was.

Another day, we wandered around Copenhagen while my friend showed me some of his favorite sites. We walked through the archway around the courtyard of Christiansborg Palace.

The Black Diamond Library reflects the sky.

Inside, the lines of the building echo the flowing river on which the library sits.

In Gråbrødretorv Square, we found cheerful houses. Later that evening, we returned to the square to dine at Peder Oxe, a traditional Danish restaurant.

Finally, we climbed up Rundetaarn (Round Tower, built by Christian IV!) to see the city from above. There are no stairs in the tower-- only a spiral ramp, large enough for a horse-drawn carriage to ascend to the top. 

On my last day in Copenhagen, while my friend was in class, I found my way to Assistens Cemetery. It was a grey day, perfect for a visit to a graveyard. Knotty trees rose above the tomb stones.

Angels danced on rusting fences with peeling paint. 

But, after all this urban exploring, I was ready to spend some time in nature. So, I said goodbye to my friend and to Denmark, and headed for Iceland.

Copyright 2011, Cammie Curtin.

A Day for Us

Like two accomplished ladies in a Jane Austen novel, we painted flowers in watercolor one day, my girl and I.

 It was a day for us girls, and we loved it!

Renee and Jeremy

I hope Robert and all the other sweet babies like hearing this lullaby by Renee and Jeremy!

Memory in the Fingers

When I spin I dream of my ancestor.  She is sitting on a rich green hill in Ireland, the cool, wet wind blowing through her long hair, spinning.  It is ridiculous to think of spinning outside in the mizzle, but this is what comes when I spin.  Learning to spin came so naturally to me, I felt that there was "memory in my fingers" as Elizabeth Zimmerman calls it.

I was recently reading Elizabeth Zimmerman's book the Knitter's Almanac, and found that she had a similar experience when she was knitting an aran sweater from a genuine Irish pattern.  She had a "strong feeling that my fingers knew quite well what they were about, and welcomed the chance to be about it again after a long lapse of time.  I knew then that I had been through this before, with younger fingers in a ruder boat, rocked on the salty summer waves on the Atlantic off the Irish coast.  Silly?  No."

About handspinning, which she taught herself, she writes, "When the fed fibers threaten to become suddenly too thin, my left thumb and forefinger give them a quick extra twist to keep them together until they are safely on the spindle.  Why is this?  I certainly never cogitated on the matter; my fingers doped it out for themselves.  I can only think that centuries of genes have given fingers inherited skills of which we wot not." 

Are there memories in your fingers?

After Easter Craft: Eggshell Mosaic

A toddler has a sticky good time making mosaic out of dyed eggshells in this great after Easter craft!  Just click on the title of the post to see the whole posting!

Egg Colors

Follow the trail of egg colors through my house and garden!

 

Detail of a painting by Wendyll Brown.

Detail of a painting by Wendyll Brown.

Detail of a painting by Beth Curtin.

Happy, Happy Easter, my friends!

Make an Easter Pussy Willow Tree

 Marcy and John created Easter pussy willow trees today which can be saved and reused every year, as long as the puppy doesn't chew up any more of the twigs!  They had seen some like them in Grasmere, a beautiful shop in Barrington, Rhode Island.  They used terracotta pots, pussy willows, cement, and dry moss.

 Their eldest son got a turn mixing the cement.

Marcy protected the edges of the pots with masking tape.  John filled the pots with the wet cement, leaving a few inches of space at the top for the moss.

 In this picture, John is giving the pot a shake to level the cement.

 They started putting in the pussy willow twigs right away.  The cement hardened quickly.

 Marcy spent some time arranging the pussy willows the way she wanted, and then she held them in place for a few moments.

 After the cement began to firm up, Marcy covered it with the dry moss.  Then we went off some for adventures for a few hours.  When we came back, the pussy willow trees were ready to move inside.

 It was time to decorate the trees with John and Marcy's special hand painted egg collection. 

Long ago, when John was a little boy, his mother used to paint each of her children an egg every Easter.  Marcy has continued the tradition for her three boys.

 John's mother always painted the date on her eggs, and so does Marcy.

 Marcy loves to paint animals for her boys.  She uses watercolor, so the paintings are wonderfully detailed and translucent.  If you use watercolor, make sure you always handle your eggs with dry hands.

 I adore Marcy's grasshopper.

 Look at the sea turtle and the flowers!

 Look at this beautiful amanita which John's mother painted.  What a treasure!

And look at Marcy's beautiful Beatrix Potter bunny!

Marcy and John have also collected some goose eggs painted by artists.  Do you recognize the illustrations on this egg?

 That's right, it's the root children.

 Amazing!

 Look at this mallard, so carefully painted.

 This might be my favorite, with its wildflowers and busy insects.

What are your favorite Easter holiday traditions?  Share them with us!  And you can visit the Grasmere shop page by clicking on the title of this post.