The Hills are Alive!

Fifty years ago, Julie Andrews played a nun and then nanny to seven children in "The Sound of Music." A few months ago, Lady Gaga sang in honor of the movie and Julie at the Academy Awards, which was the inspiration for this week's twinchie prompt. (While the movie earned an Oscar, Ms. Andrews had to settle for a Golden Globe award in 1966 as best actress, but we digress...)

The Sound of Music

You just never know where the thoughts may come from!

The song, "My Favourite Things." describes things that make the character Maria happy:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, 
These are a few of my favorite things. 
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles. Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings. 
These are a few of my favorite things. 
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into springs, 
These are a few of my favorite things. 
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.

Pretty!

Awww!

YUM!

What are YOUR favorite things? What makes YOU happy? Show us your "favorite" twinchies!
Send a photo of your Two by Two art along with blog links, if so desired, to:
1xeritas@gmail.com by 2 June 2015 at 2 PM (Arizona time GMT - 7.00)
We'll get everything posted shortly after the Two o'clock deadline.

Also, if you feel you missed out on the past week's Two by Two for "Wildfire," send those along too.  We apologize for the trouble we caused since we experienced some technical challenges, Thank you for your understanding.

Week 5--Wildfire

Hmm, we seem to have experienced some technical difficulties last week, but are hoping that hasn't dampened anyone's enthusiasm. And if you're just tuning in, you're still more than welcome to join in on the creating.
Indeed, as you answer the challenges, send us an email and we'll add your "twinchie" to the week's post to save for all posterity. And always, links to your own creative blogs and websites are welcome.
First up is Ann in Denmark, whose bright colors look like a hundred candles burning:

JL Johnson sent her drawing of a wildfire, flames whipping wildly: 

Here is an innovative approach by Freebird:

(My apologies for a late posting as this landed in spam-o-la)

And our official responses (also on this blog):

Thanks so much to the artists that are working on their two by two-inch art and for the hundreds of visits this blog has received. Take the time to visit the artist's blogs--links are over in the right-hand column. Please spread the word so more can create twinchies. We accept all art forms--we're just looking for two-inches of art every two weeks (it's okay if you miss them). 

And if you have any ideas for the word prompts, we're already working on the list for 2016. We're crazy like that!

Until next time...

Fire and Brimstone

It's been an incredible weather year here in Arizona. Personally, we saw over a foot of rain last August pour into our yard. That's the challenge with the rain here--when it does rain, it's all at once. We had more rain in the month of August than the previous three years combined. And it's been raining some every other week since, just about. Very unusual.
So, what pray tell, does that have to do with fire?
What that means is that there is now plenty of plant-life to fuel massive fire outbreaks as it all dries out and the summer heats up. As our "monsoon" season hits, lightning strikes can cause fires, but mostly, like Smokey the Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires."

Here in Arizona, 100,000 acres fall to fire, on average, every year. One year, there was almost one million acres burned. That's quite a bit larger than the entire state of Rhode Island. The causes?
Man.
One couple was lost in the woods and created a signal fire. A firefighter wanted to guarantee he would have work that summer. A lit cigarette or two. A idling automobile (creates enough heat to ignite brush).
We've already had a few areas burning this year, mostly as a result of storm activity. It's supposed to be an explosive year.
And there can be a poignant images from these events.

All images from news sources through Google
No known copyrights

And, for some forests, there is rebirth and renewal. Indeed, the Ponderosa pine seeds, and that of other plant species, require heat to germinate. So, it's not all doom and gloom.

What image comes to mind when you say, "Fire?" What have you seen? What is it like where you live?

Submit your TwobyTwo art by 2PM, May 19, 2015 to:
1xeritas@gmail.com
Include a link to your website or blog, if you wish.
And spread the word, so others may participate. All artists and media welcome.
Perhaps this may spread, well,  like "wildfire."

Week 4--Royal

We could not be happier for the British royal family, with the arrival of a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana to Will and Kate this past weekend. It's big doings for Windsor Castle as the princess will retain her succession rights even if they have another child (until now, all male children took precedence over their fair siblings).
Thus far, the participants of the TwobyTwo are all girls...so it's a big WOOHOO!

And without any further ado, the results from the "Royal" challenge:

From Zoe in Australia, who wishes everyone a winning hand:

A Hand-crafted Royal Flush
by Zoe

From Ann in Denmark, who created TWO TwobyTwos:

Royal Copenhagen's Blue Pattern and
a Royal ZIA
by Ann

From Sarah, Michigan/USA, who was also inspired to create TWO!

Two Zentangly Illustrations
by Sarah

JLJohnson created this collage with images from Realm Magazine:

Royal Collage
by JL

And TWO more from Cheryl, Arizona/USA:

Fleur de Lis and
Good to be King
by Cheryl

An effort fit for a king, or future queen, was made by all of the participants this week, don't you think? Be sure to visit each artist's blog to see what else they've been creating!

Until next time...