Miss Magpie here, reporting for duty. I have been out and about doing errands and chores, being an everyday sort of person in my everyday sort of way, but as always, I am in a constant state of watchfulness, snapping to attention at the slightest glimmer of a sun-ray zinging off the corner of the windscreen, the flicker of movement that snags my eye (ouch!) on a brilliant yellow weed wildflower (and yes, Steve, it was tiny but beautiful), the broad gleam of a hawk’s white underside lighting up like a beacon as he banks away from the sun over our ravine.
Some things, like this golden gilt cockerel weathervane, are clearly made to dazzle us . . .
While I harbor my exceedingly childlike admiration for the wonderful works of intentional glamor and glitz without any hesitation, I am all the more moved by those things that through their very nature or some moment of perfect serendipity become jeweled treasures to be savored every bit as deeply and wildly. The crinkled aluminum foil from last week’s roast (seen here) becomes in my eyes a stolen bit from the vault of the Crown Jewels; the bottom of an empty jar and its creased shadow on rough concrete is transformed into an alchemist’s beaker bearing a mystical, nearly invisible elixir for eternal romance.
One sip, and I am transformed into an otherworldly being . . .
Even the most mundane of things can–and should–be able to become beautiful to one with a practiced magpie eye. Thankfully, those around me have patience while I crouch at the curb picking up bits of broken glass and shreds of steel that have fallen off of passing vehicles (probably spaceships, to be sure), while I lag behind on a walk to pick up opalescent beetle-wing shields and bent pins and uselessly blunted coins. And the smallest scrap of Japanese tea-chest paper or damaged disposable pie tin or leftover curling ribbon, the parts from a broken watch, keys and candy-wrappers and bits of metallic thread–these have no need of monetary weight, if they can spur the heart to visit places it’s not gone before.
The value of shiny and golden things is not always intrinsic but arises from what can be imagined about them, dreamed about them, hoped . . .
Art-Colored Glasses 
Quick, quick, you have made a spelling mistake and I know you did not do it on purpose, I am the one who does that.. you NEVER have typos. All that Glitters is not Gold! Check your header.. Or did you do it on purpose to shock me! Hmm. Maybe you were checking to see if I was awake!? Ok now I am going to go back and READ! c
Not to worry, my darling, it’s okay as written–the popular version of the quote has long been modernized to ‘glitters’ for clarity, but Shakespeare’s Portia originally said the Elizabethan ‘glisters’. However, if I shocked you, I apologize–usually I am very good at shocking myself (either with my dorky moves or, more literally, every time I get out of the car and touch the door frame!) but I don’t ordinarily pull any shockers on anyone else on purpose! 🙂
Thank God, i thought it was a test!! all good then.. my bad! c
My daughter is a magpie. Tiny, sparkly, things make her incredibly happy. Miniscule flowers? Oh, yes. Bits of foil? Absolutely. She makes me crazy with her collections of pretty little things, and I’m constantly cycling “craft projects” out of her room and into the light so she remembers to do something with them. But still. You’ve given me a bit a hope that maybe my little packrat is really an artist 🙂
I love your post about her Collection! I look forward to seeing what all of her magic Stuff evolves to be over time. The only definite you can predict is greatness–she and Stickbug have it in their genes anyway!
Hail to the perpetually distractable! Where would the world be without us? We see so much more than is visible to the more practical minded persons that are around us daily. so glad to have you showing your ‘shinys’ today.
And you can *all* be glad my ‘shinys’ are all I’m showing! 😉 But yes, I do think some pretty nifty inventive ideas have come from the unlikely-seeming-tangent, random-incident and Found Object aficionados among us.
And I love that you love the tiny, the shiny, shadow, the underbelly, the flashing white.. c
And I know that you have a rich appreciation for such things yourself, as witness all of the loveliness you share from the farmy and your life!
xoxo
Wonderful!
My “craft” room is stuffed to the brim with ‘treasures’ that I might use one day. But they are just as good for an occasional visit too. Just to behold the glitter and the shine and the many hidden possibilities.
Exactly! Tourism through one’s own collections is a delightful pastime too. 🙂
“Magpie eye” wonderful. I see I am not the only one crazy for mundane beauty. Enjoyed this post very much.
Sometimes it’s those very mundane qualities that make something so truly beautiful–it’s just the surprise of finally, suddenly realizing that what we’ve been staring at or walking past all along is so wonderful.
Your photos are so VIBRANT. Colourful, breathtaking, and made of scraps to boot! I wish we all had the magpie eye – then we would see more of this artistry.
I think we all find beauty in our own special places and from our own special points of view, but yes, I’ll always be happy if more people rediscover their childlike ability to see and enjoy such stuff!
So shiny. The pictures certainly caught my eye. Inspiring as always, Kathryn.
Just another excuse on my part to share stuff I think is fun and pretty! 🙂
Shiny! Shiny! Shiny! You know, if I could stop and collect the sparkle of the sun on the cold snow I would! I could stand for hours just staring at it, as you well know, and likely, so could you! What would this world be without magpies like us?
It’s probably a good thing we can’t capture snow sparkle and lots of similar things permanently, or you and I would never get a danged thing done, we’d just be standing around mesmerized and hypnotized and happified beyond usefulness!!!
This makes me want to go on an adventure hunt for about twenty shiny or sparkly things that are miscellaneous bits and bobs, and then put them together in some haphazardly wonderful way, such as you’ve shown in you’re lovely art work. Beautifulicious!
Whenever you get up this-a-way, we’ll have to go treasure hunting! But in the meantime, I know you have a gift for finding brilliance in unexpected places too, my dear!
I glance downward almost as much as I look up — which explains why I tend to trip as much as I do. One would hope that I’d learn to look straight ahead a bit more often but that would mean I might walk past that old key, the all copper penny, or, heaven forbid, a much-coveted Petoskey Stone. No, I’ll take my chances. What’s a scraped knee, or two, when there are treasures afoot?
Oh, yes, the treasures are worth all of the battle scars incurred in their pursuit! In fact, it might be quite perfect to actually get that scraped knee specifically from tripping over a Petoskey Stone. Though I wouldn’t object in the least to just finding the stone and skipping the tripping!
A fascinating post, and all the more so because this morning I learned about microbes that attract crabs, and later fish, by radiating light… a glitter, I suppose… You certainly know how to share your excitement with the reader, and I enjoyed reading your post.
Oh, I find bioluminescence fascinating. And the seas are full of incredible magic of every kind. I can only imagine how much fabulous stuff there is to see, learn and study in the so-called Dead Sea, for starters!
Beautiful!
I am paying the love forward to you today – have a squizz here: http://thecompletecookbook.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/gratitude-x-6/
🙂 Mandy
Mandy, my darling, you amaze me! And I thank you. Never was a squizz more happily had. I send you a *squeeze* (hugs!) in return!
Kathryn
Loved the title! And as for the cockerel, I think he belongs in my olive grove atop an old tree 😉
Oh, wouldn’t he be spectacular atop an old olive tree! You may have to do some complicated negotiating to get hold of him, however, as he currently lives in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts! 🙂 Maybe you can gild one of your own cockerels? 😉
Ah, you have taken me back to English Literature lessons, but now I’m out of school and so I can wander with you and dawdle as we see the minutiae of our world around us.
There *are* certain advantages to having matriculated! 🙂 I do so love the ‘minutiae’ you share from your peregrinations, Claire!
As one magpie to another – Bravo!
It’s truly a wonder I’ve never had a car accident, as easily distracted as I am…trees full of turkeys, a herd of deer, or a particular stretch of country road near my daughter’s house, where some Other Magpie has picked-up discarded beer bottles, and threaded them onto the branches of trees…
I *did* think of you the first time I saw THAT! 😀
I love the image of a tree full of turkeys! Here it’s the black buzzards hunkering on a lamppost that I enjoy in such disproportionate delight when I’m just driving along to the library or the pharmacy on a sunny afternoon.
Now, the beer-bottle tree sounds like an efficient light-catching use of dead-soldier bottles, which otherwise might just be too sad a sight. The half-empty glass is nearly tragic enough a concept without going completely dry!
I love that last collection! I’ve always got my eyes cast downward when hiking (looking for that heart-shaped rock to add to my collection). Now you’ll have me on the hunt for pretty shiny things as well! I love your perspective, Kathryn, you always find the beautiful in everything!! xo Smidge
You are the reigning Queen of finding the beautiful in everything, my dearie! Your posts are *always* full of the very kinds of things that capture my attention and invite closer looks at subtle texture and gleam and detail of design, whether they’re objects or verses of perfectly aligned words or bits of delectable food!
xoxo
I really really like the pic of the glass! The mind can imagine all sorts of scenarios for what did or will happen with this scene.
In that case, you will be happy to know that it’s really the bottom of the [Ipecac] antique apothecary jar from my earlier post. I just loved the way it sifted the light rays on the concrete . . .
As a lover of shiny things, I greatly enjoyed this post. Also you have a very intelligent yet beautiful writing style! Are you perhaps a writer?
Thank you for such a sweet remark! I’m *working* on my writing all along, my friend! This is my only publication outlet at the moment, though. What you see is what you get. 🙂
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Detecting mettle from tinsel is a groovy gift…
My dearest, your mettle is well tested indeed, and shines with the glint of solid gold. Can’t get groovier than that! 🙂
I love the sentiment in the caption under the last image. ‘the value of shiny and golden things in not always intrinsic … ‘ Imagining, dreaming, hoping – where would we be without that trio.
Without those motivators, I’m pretty sure I’d never have met *you*, dear B, and that would be a dull world indeed. 🙂
I love your magpie eye and for sharing all things glittery. Beautiful.
Thank you, my sweet! You, in turn, are a jewel!
It is interesting to me that somewhere along the line, my nine year old daughter acquired the nickname Magpie. This is because of her given name, however she has quite grown into the name and is an avid collector of “stuff” & we adults best never refer to any of it as junk!
Heavens to Betsy, no! Well, except that I really do like Junk as well, myself. Trash, rubbish, decay, rust, hoo-boy, I’m getting all het up just thinking about it all. Oh, the joy of odds and ends!
I thank you for this, I can now finish that poem that had been abandoned due to my inability to find a suitable word to rhyme with blisters.
When your poem is done, give it to your sisters,
Who ought to be tending their orchids with misters
But might still be hiding from imminent twisters.
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