Barely active...

“Dance of the Swallows”

Swallows are remarkable birds. We see them almost every day, which is probably why we often stop noticing them. They live close to people, building their nests under the roofs of houses, barns, schools, and kindergartens, as if trusting us with what matters most—their young.

This diptych was inspired by the swallows that have lived for years near my children’s kindergarten. They built their nests right on the children’s veranda, so close that the kids could watch tiny heads appear from the nests and little beaks open wide while waiting for their parents to bring food.

For the teachers, it was not always easy. They had to look after not only the children but also the swallow families. Young children do not always understand that baby birds should not be touched, taken from the nest, or disturbed. Sometimes the best way to help nature is simply to leave it alone.

What always amazed me was the courage of these birds. Despite the noise, movement, and dozens of children playing around them, they kept returning to their nests again and again.

In these paintings, I placed them among the branches of weeping willows. In the region where I grew up, willow trees were everywhere. They grow quickly, create beautiful shade in summer, and become especially magical when the wind moves through their long green branches. And when swallows weave through those branches, an ordinary summer day becomes something unforgettable.

Perhaps the most precious memories are made of moments just like these.

Dr. Ryland Grace was arguably the perfect backup candidate for his mission. Stratt got that right. He had no children, no life partner, no family, not even a dog. All he had was his students and that was enough for him, but that made him replaceable.

Right?

Not only were Grace’s wishes completely ignored, his life and his value as a person was undermined. Simply because he had no one but his students to care for his wellbeing, because he wouldn’t have someone at home waiting for him to come back.

Aroace people deal with similar treatment simply because romance and sex are seen as essential to the human experience, completely disregarding any and all other types of connection. One’s inherent value as a person is not lost when they choose to live life without romantic or sexual relationships. One’s value is simply in existing.

Aroace people know this well, which is why so many have become so attached to Ryland as a character. Many of us see his way of life as the end goal for ourselves, so any one of us would have been seen as just as dispensable, by Stratt and by society as a whole.

Gray x Yamato - Married with child (Hakumi)

Li x Terry - Married with child (Faith)

Enjyu x Equus (the most unlikely crack couple ever) - Married with child (Sumire)

Taiki (oc) x Renka (oc) - Married with child (Naomi)

Ilen (oc) x Liena - Married (child incoming!)

Kiba x Wen - Married (almost risked divorce)

Pheles x Yanti (oc; Yamato's older sister) - Update: Newlyweds

The rest are Bull, Celina (oc), and Cecelia (oc)... I'm considering adding Berkart, Karat (for Bull), Bull's two other egos (lol), Assado and probably Bears idk 🤷‍♀️

in the OC bracket I would add the remaining Savana snd Auri

35 Miis will truly expand the island to it's full potential and I have like 20 rn... so I should just go for broke

Update: I now added Cooler Bull and Wild Bull as well as Savana and Auri. Liena considers a child and Pheles x Yanti are married now.

Meanwhile Ilen and Liena welcomed their son Avery to the island

Lord Marda-Biarce's one and only equal

FRUITS AND BERRIES A-Z, PART 6 Date: 2020 Note: Here are  Yamato and Grey from Battle B-Daman. Not the best anime, but that didn’t stop my from enjoying it. Does anyone still remember this show? The drawings are part of a mini-fanart series, which lists different fruits, berries, and veggies, in English and Chinese. You can see the other drawings I’ve made in the tag #veganfanartAZ