“Spectacular!” “Amazing!” “Fabulous!” “Exquisite!” “Unreal!”

A visit to the Chihuly Garden and Glass installation in Seattle last month made me think my superlatives needed to be traded in, the same way I feel about my clothes.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious came to mind, but songwriters Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman beat me to that one.

Dale Chihuly’s work inspires activity in different media, and the programming at the Garden reflects that. They’ve got workshops in dance, photography, drawing, and yoga coming up. But how about poetry? His creations take you into a different world.

Magical jellyfish:

Turquoise ghost pursuing exploding marigold:

I asked my poet sister Lee Woodman to write a haiku on a Chihuly piece. Can’t today, she emailed back; she and her husband were with the grandchildren. Have them write something, too, I replied. This turned into a family lit-fest.

Summer flowers fade

Purple cobras rise and gloat

Soon to freeze in ice

Lee Woodman

Grandpa and the girls liked the pink trumpet flower tree best.

Pink sculpture of glass

It’s beauty beyond compare

True, I live for Art!      Larry Ballon

In autumn, shining

Magenta and glorious

Popping pink, outside      Emily Ballon, age 10

Emily’s eight-year-old sisters chimed in with rave reviews.

“I like the bright pink sculpture because the popping pink bubbles look like suction cups on an octopus’ tentacles. Love, Avery.”

“It’s so pretty and pinkish. I love it. I love how amazing it is,” wrote Hailey, summing things up and also signing off with love.

Meanwhile, on the graphic arts front, I’d asked my sister Jane to create some splashy flowers. Using the drawing tool on her iPad, she sent me these:

All that was left for me to do was make a fashion statement. Yes, these really are the clothes I was wearing that day. I guess I won’t trade in the sweater and scarf just yet.

Keep creating, folks!