The Book of Kells and a Cat

This morning, my daughter and I watched one of our favorite movies, The Secret of Kells.  She said, "This is the most creative movie ever!"
It is an animated movie with a very distinct, unique, beautiful style. The story focuses on a monastery which is preparing for a Viking invasion, while the famous Book of Kells is being written.  It speaks about the creation of the Chi Ro page, which is below:

Anyone who knows me, knows how I love ancient Celtic... everything.  This movie is right up my alley. The characters speak about how the intricate designs in the illuminated manuscripts are inspired by nature.   Father Aiden speaks about the designs on a butterfly wing.  As Brendan explores the forest, the designs of the fiddleheads (by the way, fiddleheads are delicious steamed with butter), vines and even mist mirror the illuminator's designs.  I like how when they talk about the Book, they say it will turn darkness into light. What a beautiful way to view the Gospels written in the Book of Kells.  The knowledge found in these manuscripts, the knowledge of the perfect love of Christ allows us to understand the God who brings Light into the darkness of our minds and souls.
But there is another reason why I love this movie. It is the cat, Pangur Ban.  I appreciate it when literature and media connect on various levels.
There is a very old Irish poem, which has been attributed to an Irish monk. It was found in the margins of a 9th century? manuscript.  It is quite possibly, one of the most delightful poems about an animal ever written.  And I don't even like cats. I really don't.  But my dog is more like a cat than a dog, so maybe I do, or would if they didn't give me hives.
Back to the poem, here is one translation:

I & Pangur Ban my cat 

'Tis a like task we are at: 

Hunting mice is his delight, 

Hunting words I sit all night. 

'Tis a merry thing to see 

At our tasks how glad are we, 

When at home we sit & find 

Entertainment to our mind. 

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye, 

Full & fierce & sharp & sly; 

'Gainst the wall of knowledge I 

All my little wisdom try. 

So in peace our task we ply 

Pangur Ban my cat & I; 

In our arts we find our bliss, 

I have mine & he has his. 

In addition, I found a really cool t-shirt with Pangur Ban on it - Pangur Ban T-Shirt.  

Lovely Places

Recently, I have discovered the world of Pinterest.  I avoided it for a while, because quite frankly, the last thing I need is another social networking place to waste time.  However, I opened an account to promote my etsy shop.  But what I have found is that it is a great place for other stuff too.  I started collecting photos of  places that I would love to visit one day.  As I look at them, I realize they all look like they are from another world.  Or at least straight out of the books and stories that I love so much.

  This one looks like it is straight out of Terry Pratchett's books about Tiffany Aching.  

Ancient stone churches always fascinate me.

Fangorn Forest

This cave is probably inhabited by mermaids, no doubt.

A gnome lives here, I think.

This needs a story written about it.

I would most definitely like to live in this castle!

Camelot 

I don't know if this works but this is my pinterest board.

http://pinterest.com/rcochell/lovely-places/

Anyway, I just wanted to put these all in a place of my very own, because they are so beautiful.  

Wasteland

I have been reading a little of T.S. Eliot lately.  I think poetry has a bad rap.  If you say "i like poetry" at a football party, cornhole tournament, or other normal get-together, you may get some weird looks.  Like you are nerdy or something.  But that is wrong.
I am going to say something that goes against every fiber of me, but American poets are awesome. They are tough, manly and cool.  I say that it goes against my fiber because I love the Brits.  I love Conan Doyle, Tolkien, Lewis, Dickens, and the list goes on.  But when it comes to poetry, I really love Robert Service and T. S. Eliot both who were Americans, although Service was born in England.  Granted, Eliot moved to England later in life and became a British citizen (I think,anyway, according to internet info)
I realized something though.  Eliot speaks the same language, the same heart song as Robert Smith of the Cure.  My husband is either rolling his eyes or laughing at me right now.  But seriously.

I like Eliot because although he was a Christian, he did not want to be a "christian" poet.  He wanted to be a great poet of the English language.  But somehow his beliefs seeped through his poetry, I think because of his honesty.  He wasn't superficial or fake.

My new favorite Eliot poem (nothing will beat Hollow Men, although I do like the Magi poem too) is   The Waste Land

When lovely woman stoops to folly and
Paces about her room again, alone,
She smooths her hair with automatic hand,
And puts a record on the gramaphone.


and later on...


In this decayed hole among the mountains
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
Over the tumbled graves, about the chapel
There is an empty chapel, on the wind’s home.
It has no windows, and the door swings,
Dry bones can harm no one.

It just seems to have the same feel as the Pornography album by the Cure....
One Hundred Years (one of my favorite songs)  here are some of the lyrics to the epic song...  Faith is another album that is similar.


Stroking your hair as the patriots are shot
Fighting for freedom on television
Sharing the world with slaughtered pigs
Have we got everything?
She struggles to get away . . .

I did not do so well with cool pics and links on this post, so I will end with a depressing Cure song/video

Manchester Orchestra - Virgin (new favorite song)

I love this song so much.  Its by Manchester Orchestra.  From the video, which is really cool, it seems to be about man destroying society, environment, our world.  But I think it has to do with a much deeper concept than physical destruction.  I think this song is abouth destroying our innocence.  Once we do that, are things ever the same?  That is not why I like the song. That is depressing, and I do not like depressing songs.  Well, you may say, she is crazy because she constantly references The Cure, and that is some of the most depressing music ever.  OK, you got me.  I do like sad songs.  They speak to me and seem more meaningful and true than happy pop songs. I really like how this song sounds though, sort of reminiscent of Pink Floyd.  Sounds a lot like MeWithoutYou, too.   

Heard don't move unless you know someone you can move
And I bruise just like anyone would bruise
And I know we've got a long way to go
I know I've got so far

We built this house with our hands, and our time, and our blood
You build this up in one day to fall downward and rust
You built this house with your hands, and your time, and your blood
We built this up in one day to fall downward and rust

I'm gone
You tried to emphasize and side with both your ghosts
In time I swore I'd take the straight and narrow path but still won't
I hold his ear I'm only trying to do my job tonight
Kiss him on top his lips and crucify the fire

Never really feel the same
never gonna be the same
no it's never gonna be the same
never gonna be the same

Trust in me the same way (with your time, your blood)
Holy or inane (To fall downward and) 

More Arabic Calligraphy

I am not spending as much time creating and selling jewelry lately.  I am thinking about what angles I would like to take next.  First of all, I want my image pendants to be totally my own.  That is a little difficult because there are certain public domain images which I know sell nicely.  I am an unknown artist, so who would actually be searching for my designs?  Anyway, I was using an Arabic calligraphy design of the Lord's Prayer for one of my pendants.  It has been pretty popular. I can't even lay claim to discovering the awesome design, but I am thankful a friend shared it with me.  I decided to try my hand at some simple symbols and see if they will sell.  Valentine's Day is approaching, so I made two Arabic Love symbols (which I have practiced in my altered book before).

The simpler designs, are the ones I drew myself.  I think they are missing something, maybe some layering or distressing techniques.
I was thinking of creating some with French, Latin, Japanese words....Love, Peace, Truth, Beauty
I am planning on making some geek jewelry too.  I have a bin full of hard drives from old computers which I plan on cutting up and making earrings and pendants out of.
Can I say that finally having a computer again is so cool.

So, I destroyed the love pendants above, because I thought they were too plain.  Here are my new ones.  I used some ink pads and made an Irish Gaelic and a French pendant, both of which say I love you.

This post truly was a rambling.  Perhaps more about the process anyway.  

Deprived?

So, I have been in the extremely uncomfortable situation of sharing a computer lately.  One laptop between the 5 of us. It is only temporary, but really cramps my style!

And I would like to add... it was not my fault.  SOME people may have said in the past that I have an aura of breaking electronic devices.  OTHER people have said that all I have to do is touch a computer, and it stops working.  But I refute that claim.  It truly was not my fault.

  Regardless, we are now sharing my 14 year old son's laptop. 
   I am laughing about this because it makes me realize how rich and spoiled we are.  Like many other americans, we have tightened our belts during the past year or so, but when it comes down to it, we are so rich.  Compared to the majority of the Earth's population that is.  We are not hungry, we are clothed, we live in a 2000+ square foot house, and the  kids are privileged to an excellent free education.  The small inconvenience of having to share a computer, when compared to the way the rest of the world lives is so inconsequential. In fact, it has made my New Year's Resolution of cutting back on computer/facebook time a lot easier.

W hen I was reading the Hunger Games,  I was struck by how Suzanne Collins described District 12's way of life as being so ... primitive.  Very little electricity, small living spaces, poor nutrition, poor medicine... yes, very primitive, but then I realized that was not what she meant.  The reality of today is that THAT is how most of the world lives, in THIS day and age.  We live like the people of the capitol.  Decadence, fashion, overindulgence and purging.   We either eat ourselves into oblivion or starve ourselves or purge.   . Most of the world eats to survive. The luxury of hot water and showers are not accessible to everyone on earth.  Most of the world do not enjoy the freedoms of religion and speech that we do.  Then we complain about the inconvenience of internet connections which don't work, or phone towers which don't work.  How trivial!

I dont mean this post to be judgemental in any way.  Just a reminder of how privileged we really are. 

I think that is part of my New Years Resolution this year.  I want to be more thankful for the little things, and use my time wisely.  Every day is a gift, and I want to treat it as such.  Instead of wasting time on facebook, mindless tv shows, and other material pursuits, my goal is to enjoy real conversation and activities with my family and friends.  Don't get me wrong, this is not going to be easy.    It actually takes more effort and creativity to sit down and play stratego with a 12 year old than to spend an hour on pinterest.  Cooking with a 10 year old requires patience and clean up than reading tumblr quotes.  I think what it is all about is self discipline.  So, I will put the computer down now and make a real breakfast.  Time to enjoy this new day!

St. Katniss of Arc ?

Several years ago, I was student teaching in Wisconsin in a 6th grade classroom.  Somehow, I happened to be placed in a classroom which was horrid!  They were "that" class, the one class which every teacher remembers with a shudder.  On top of that, my husband and I had just found out we were expecting.  I could barely move with fatigue, and I was so hungry all the time.  It was an interesting 10 weeks, to say the least.  At the end of the quarter, I swore I would never, ever, EVER teach!  There were a few mean girls.  They were awful to anyone outside of their clique. One day a particularly mean girl, Sarah, started making fun of a heavier girl causing her to cry.  This happens to be one of my soap boxes  and told her how awful she was and sent her to the office.  Before she left she told me I would never be a "real" teacher!  After she left, I broke down and cried.  I don't usually let that happen in public, but I was 5 months pregnant!  What do you expect?   I didn't let her know she upset me so much with her statement.
A few weeks later, an assignment was due.  I had assigned a special biography project to the class.  Each student was supposed to choose a historical biography and complete a paper and oral report.  Sarah chose Joan of Arc.  I didn't expect too much.  To my surprise, Sarah not only loved the book, she was inspired.  She was almost in tears while speaking about the bravery and courage of Joan of Arc. One of the reasons why I think it is so important for students to read classics and biographies is exactly that.  In the hope that they inspire them to reach for higher goals and cast aside behavior which hurts others.  Joan of Arc gave her life in an attempt to win freedom for the unpopular.  I don't think this was lost on Sarah.
I just finished reading the Hunger Games Trilogy.  I loved the series, can't wait for the movie.  Part of which, was filmed a few miles from my house.

While reading, I kept on thinking about how Katniss was similar to Joan of Arc. She is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She was the leader, a symbol of hope to an army of deflated soldiers, a girl who became so much more than society would ever allow.  Here is a great summary of her life .. http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_short_biography.html 

Katniss was a lot like Joan of Arc.  A young sixteen year old girl, who became a symbol for a revolution against oppression.  Just like Joan, Katniss triggered a whole nation of people to fight for freedom.  There are of course many differences.  Joan relied on her faith.  Katniss had none, atleast no faith in a higher power.  Joan saw visions of Saints and was called a Saint herself, which inspired many to follow her.  Which leads me to my next rambling.  Did Joan really see visions?
Its not that I don't believe in people seeing visions, I am just always....skeptical.  The way I see it, logically, of course, is that either Joan DID see visions of Saints who told her what she had to do, she was crazy and saw hallucinations, or she lied about the whole thing.
I do not think she was crazy.  First of all, I do not think a whole army would follow an insane person, although, a whole nation followed Hitler, so perhaps this is my weakest idea.
She could have actually have seen visions of the exact saints which would inspire poor people to fight for their country.  She saw visions of  the Archangel  Michael,  who had recently become the patron saint of the French Army.  If God was to send visions to a maid, they would be meaningful.  Like that.
I wonder if it would be such a crime to suggest that perhaps she exaggerated her visions in the effort to gain support.  It has been done before.  It will be done again.   Using religious fervor to fight a war.
Either way, her story is incredible.  Even more than Katniss's tale.  It has a martyr's ending, which is tragic.  But to live every second of your life under conviction, and having the ability to inspire men to fight for honor and justice.  I can't help but admire Joan.  I like Katniss.  I admire Joan.

So of course I have to wrap up with one of my favorite songs and my favorite bands.  The Smiths as they sing "Now I know how Joan of Arc felt when the flames rose to her Roman nose and her hearing aid started to melt".   Classic