Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Scribble Picnic (Fireflies)

One of my favorite memories as a little girl was catching fireflies (aka lightning bugs) in mason jars with my dad and brothers in our neighbor's backyard. Some of my summer memories were good and precious - this was one of them. I can't tell you just how much I love them and all the joy they bring to my heart. They fascinated me as a child. I sat for hours next to my father on the picnic table, watching what felt like a million of them, lighting up the night, bringing some sort of hope and promise to my heart as a little girl.

I couldn't think of anything more appropriate for Michael's Scribble Picnic theme - jars. Say, I have an idea! Why don't we all hang out for a while with our own jars and catch a few fireflies....gazing up into the midnight sky, dreaming?...  
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17 comments

  1. MichaelJune 21, 2017 8:13 PM

    REally awesome write up and that link was FASCINATING! I had no ideas that "the light produced by the firefly is the most efficient light ever made. Almost 100 percent of the energy in the chemical reaction is emitted as light;" let alone that some synchronize their flashing! Whaa? Also, until watching that video, I never relaised that they don;t stay on the whole time but flash off adn on! I relaly need to see some of those one day...with you! :D

    Your art piece, as such, is so magical. I love it's style. Again, you've totally captured that child like heart of wonder. One of your best, for me anyway. Great job and great write up too. Thank you so much, smoots. Love it...and I'm not jsut biased, it really is lovely.

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  2. ChristineJune 21, 2017 8:25 PM

    This is a lovely piece Alexandra, inspired by your precious memories, it totally captures your childhood joy.

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  3. Lorraine June 21, 2017 9:10 PM

    We always called them lightning bugs too! Don't see enough of them these days. There's nothing like passing a field heavy with fireflies at dusk. Magical. And so is your painting. There's always a bit of childlike magic.

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  4. WandaJune 22, 2017 12:46 AM

    I saw it on facebook and loved it. Michael's information on the firefly was interesting. God's creation is always the best.

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  5. MaryJune 22, 2017 6:34 AM

    I love this Alexandra - her expression is a mixed one of peace and perhaps tired happiness after all that June bug catching - yes apparently here in the south they call them by that name because we see them mostly in the month of June! they are prevalent here right now, we even had one in the house a couple of days ago - I was able to catch it and take it back out into the garden, its bright little light flashing. Bob and I love to sit on the porch in the evening just at dark when they really look so beautiful hovering in the garden.

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    Replies
    1. joeksJuly 01, 2017 4:19 PM

      Now I am curious what you call the large, clumsy, hard-shelled beetles that we call June bugs in the midwest! :-)

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  6. lissaJune 22, 2017 9:08 AM

    what a sweet memory. I've never caught fireflies before or even seen one or maybe I have but I probably didn't know what they were. sweet drawing.

    have a lovely day.

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  7. stefanie starkJune 22, 2017 4:54 PM

    Oh this is such a sweet illustration! And it's always really amazing to read your lively memories about childhood. I admit that I forgot a lot of what happened during my childhood. It's such a pity as I can see in your art that this can be an absolutely inexhaustible source of inspiration. I think I should try to retrieve my childhood dreams.

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  8. Janis CoxJune 22, 2017 6:22 PM

    Oh Alexandra,
    This is such a lovely illustration and your story of watching fireflies - heart-warming. We do have fireflies here in Haliburton. Hubby sees them when he walks our dog at night. I'm in bed. lol :) As a kid we used to collect grasshoppers and put them in jars. Your picture reminded me of that.
    Blessings
    Janis

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  9. Tammie LeeJune 22, 2017 8:41 PM

    Such a sweet piece Alexandra!
    I feel the same way about fireflies, so much fun to see them, like a bit of magic or fairy dust.

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  10. Lowcarb team memberJune 23, 2017 6:17 AM

    That's a nice memory and a very nice sketch ...

    All the best Jan

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  11. Nicolas HallJune 23, 2017 10:49 AM

    The most missed aspect of my childhood (no fireflies. . . wait, correction. . . no light-up fireflies/beetles in Oregon!) I couldn't count the number of times I caught them in my grandparent's yard in my hands, cupped them gently and then peered in to watch them light up. They remain, to me, a symbol of magic that is good and possible in this world. And if you offered me the choice of a night out with "adult" friends talking/complaining about adult things in our world or a night alone in a summer field with fireflies and magic, there's no contest. It's fireflies, every single time.

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  12. Lisabella RussoJune 23, 2017 3:22 PM

    How beautiful your painting is and your memory as well.

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  13. Jennifer RoseJune 24, 2017 6:32 PM

    that is really nice and a good memory to keep :)

    never caught them as a kid but we would collect snails lol

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  14. Andrea @ From The SolJune 26, 2017 8:27 AM

    Have I missed something? There is no Linky. I waited a day to see if you had just forgotten. Well, I did enjoy your fireflies and your sleepy little munchkin. I can remember two generations of catching them in a jar then letting them go so they could flash their lights for another day. You always capture the best in life :)

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  15. Magic Love CrowJune 26, 2017 7:05 PM

    So precious!

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  16. joeksJuly 11, 2017 3:33 PM

    I thought I had commented here already... anyway, you've done a wonderful drawing for "jars" which also takes me back to catching and releasing Many lightning bugs as a child. Glad you have them as a good memory!

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