Juxtaposition: Woman & Horse

If there were a moment in every day to capture what seems inane, or that which is fleeting, what would you capture? Would you start to anticipate the moments? Could you be satisfied with only one moment captured? Would you start to see new angles in old experiences? Would you feel a small lift of freedom?

I am captivated by this photo, not only for its obvious beauty, but because of the juxtaposition and the question of its organic origin. Do you think she kissed the horse? Would she have if she were not so perfectly covered? Was this a candid moment between the model and horse luckily captured by photographer Georges Dambier? Not likely considering it was taken in 1953. And yet it is nearly impossible to coax a horse more than once to be so intrigued. Where is she? What was she doing and what did she do that evening...? Why do we love the juxtaposition?

Photo courtesy of Bonni Benrubi Gallery. Title: Fiona Campbell

World Cup Love - "Bitter" Orange Crush from the Netherlands?

If anyone knows anything about me, they know I love words. Word play, word origin, words with multiple meanings. Well, the Netherlands team, referred to as Laranja Mecanica or "Clockwork Orange" for their precision passing, can certainly have more than a "bit" part in this World Cup if they can "curb" the most successful football team in World Cup history: the "Little Canaries" of Brazil.

If the precision and detail with which the Dutch designed their bits to curb their horses are any indication of what they're capable of, as demonstrated by these fabulous prints from an original 17th century engraving (yes, indeed from the 1600s!), Laranja Mecanica, like a big fat orange cat, should certainly put the bite on the Brasilians. I'll even bet a bit on it. Should I lose, I'll devote a few "bits" of web space to my South American neighbors.

If you don't care an ounce about the World Cup, then just imagine how wonderful these would look on an austere wall inside a renovated farmhouse... wide plank reclaimed pine floors... or perhaps that perfect Paris flat with polished concrete floors and rustic barn doors rolling on a metal bar. These Dutch prints are keepers! Eight in all. $375 each, from Irwinfeld Design, Stamford, Conn. www.irwinfeld.com.

World Cup Love - Merci England

Heraldry. Legacy. History. Asymmetrical stone walls that over kilometers become symmetrical, encircling hectares of rolling lush countryside.

The land of a stonemason's dream, archeologist's best dig and a sailor's playground. All creative fodder for writers sitting in dim-lit taverns on cobbled and storied streets all over Great Britain. My favorite city? Oxford. Who can resist it?

Dragons. Crowns. Swords. Dachshunds. DACHSHUNDS!?

Give thanks to Club England for keeping the U.S. in play, and rest your head on one of these regal, hand-crafted linen pillows from HELKAT DESIGN in Wiltshire, U.K. I'm so fond of the muted tones and soft colors. Hand-printed. $44-54 each. www.helkatdesign.com (and here's a little secret... click the title of this post and it will take you to HELKAT's site. Cheerio!)

Zinc. Equine. Wood.

French cast zinc horse head mounted on old board.

Elemental style. What is it? How do you see it? Where is it found?

Zinc is a metallic chemical element, often used by alchemists. It is an essential mineral for plant, animal and human life and reproduction. The equine was thought to have been domesticated about 4,000 years BC. It has been an essential tool in the creation of cities, farming and warfare. Cast horse heads were often used as architectural ornaments. Wood...well, wood is perhaps one of our most natural best friends. It is the oldest building material in the world, aside from earth itself. It is beautiful, rustic or refined, veined and varied, weathers, maleable, and when living, feeds us and respires with us. It warms us, houses us, supports us, floats us, carries us to our next spiritual destination. I love wood. It is like a wonderful old grandfather.

This beautiful ditty of a pony is courtesy of Wilson Antiques, wilsonantiques.1stdibs.com