Patie's "Fossil"

"I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing I realize how extraordinary it is, sheer miracle: the branching of a tree, the structure of a dandelion's seed puff." - Frederick Franck

Patie found this "fossil" washed up in the sand on the beach last week.  It's from a cow's spine, as far as I can guess- Jim concurs.  She was so excited she yelled out, "Mommy!  I found something REALLY cool!"  They were so excited.  It's like digging like a real paleontologist.  So exiting. 

I don't know if it creeps you out, but, I grew up hiking through hills scattered with random animal bones, it doesn't bother me.

In fact, once we brought it home and I scoured it with bleach, it fascinates me- the form, the movement, abstraction.  Simply moving it into new positions completely changes what I see.  I see a sea creature, a charging elephant, a ballet dancer, a sumo wrestler, and something surely out of Super Mario Brothers.  I also see an old bone, that used to be alive,  and now it's here- beautiful in it's own way, on my desk.  It affirms that beauty is everywhere, that life is finite, and that it is always a wonderful idea to spend an afternoon in the crisp air,exploring.