tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46626851890420910662024-03-08T10:51:10.886-05:00spiral boundUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-24922739230903171902012-01-18T13:53:00.000-05:002012-01-18T14:01:14.832-05:00When it's cold outside, stay in and (window) shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4dIs9PD0wM/TxcJmDrnA2I/AAAAAAAACqA/KMbplzDCEtc/s1600/grey+ships.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4dIs9PD0wM/TxcJmDrnA2I/AAAAAAAACqA/KMbplzDCEtc/s1600/grey+ships.jpg" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD-983bLhNQ/TxcIa1fJHTI/AAAAAAAACp4/EGzhq2KPXUQ/s1600/il_570xN.302414291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD-983bLhNQ/TxcIa1fJHTI/AAAAAAAACp4/EGzhq2KPXUQ/s1600/il_570xN.302414291.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jennarose.ca/"><b>Jenna Rose</b></a> Handmade,<b> </b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90404123/gray-ships-tea-towel"><b>Gray Ships Tea Towel</b> </a>and large<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77712867/ships-large-zipper-tote"> <b>Ships Zipper Tote Bag</b></a><br />
I'm pretty smitten. And she's in Hamilton! One of my old hometowns. It IS my birthday this month...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hHI9uP7bIg/TxcIaVkedYI/AAAAAAAACpw/hUhLRf90cT8/s1600/il_570xN.295360677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hHI9uP7bIg/TxcIaVkedYI/AAAAAAAACpw/hUhLRf90cT8/s1600/il_570xN.295360677.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/flyingbirdbotanicals?ref=seller_info#">Flying Bird Botanicals</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90558213/vanilla-rose-cacao-lip-bliss-100-organic">Vanilla Rose Cacao Lip Bliss</a></b><br />
Oh my. Yes please! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHWOjxQajls/TxcLOkSDsCI/AAAAAAAACqI/KY6phV8fIIE/s1600/sparkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHWOjxQajls/TxcLOkSDsCI/AAAAAAAACqI/KY6phV8fIIE/s1600/sparkle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/ohkuolbags#"><b>OhKuol</b></a> - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90345692/natural-soft-grey-druzy-necklace-agate"><b>Natural Soft Druzy Necklace Agate Geode</b></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uec_EIGJkpw/TxcMO30_ruI/AAAAAAAACqQ/iBr7f5sz2e8/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uec_EIGJkpw/TxcMO30_ruI/AAAAAAAACqQ/iBr7f5sz2e8/s1600/butterfly.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98VxYxZQjl8/TxcMQH6XwUI/AAAAAAAACqY/M6l6iRARlM4/s1600/lanternbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98VxYxZQjl8/TxcMQH6XwUI/AAAAAAAACqY/M6l6iRARlM4/s1600/lanternbug.jpg" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zhfZI3VC9A/TxcMQetCR-I/AAAAAAAACqg/xgCBN-3yUC0/s1600/pale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zhfZI3VC9A/TxcMQetCR-I/AAAAAAAACqg/xgCBN-3yUC0/s1600/pale.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BugUnderGlass?ref=seller_info">Bug Under Glass</a> - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81537142/framed-blue-morpho-butterfly-with-old">all</a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79477127/framed-lanternfly-insect-display">so</a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/43743059/pale-mint-morpho-butterfly-framed">pretty</a></b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/43743059/pale-mint-morpho-butterfly-framed"> </a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nl_XwGy-bo/TxcNBJKvmiI/AAAAAAAACqo/wOdNf5iQv7g/s1600/fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nl_XwGy-bo/TxcNBJKvmiI/AAAAAAAACqo/wOdNf5iQv7g/s1600/fireworks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/KarlaWheelerDesign">Karla Wheeler Design</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/54836140/fireworks-sterling-silver-and-resin-ring">Fireworks ring</a></b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hYPahbE8uU/TxcN-AKOTWI/AAAAAAAACqw/AurwLGzckTI/s1600/ring3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hYPahbE8uU/TxcN-AKOTWI/AAAAAAAACqw/AurwLGzckTI/s1600/ring3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NEnvt5gO4do/TxcN-vb16lI/AAAAAAAACq4/5JE4Yzehvv8/s1600/ring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NEnvt5gO4do/TxcN-vb16lI/AAAAAAAACq4/5JE4Yzehvv8/s1600/ring1.jpg" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-le97kER-LKI/TxcN_PhL1CI/AAAAAAAACrA/uIPinuukS4A/s1600/ring2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-le97kER-LKI/TxcN_PhL1CI/AAAAAAAACrA/uIPinuukS4A/s1600/ring2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labradorite rings. I can't get enough of these! I love that they are cut <br />
to sparkle too, I haven't seen (ie noticed) that before.<br />
Top: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/IndigoSilverStudio?ref=ls_profile"><b>Indigo Silver Studio</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/84713006/midnight-dark-and-flashy-6mm-labradorite"><b>Midnight - Dark and Flashy</b></a><br />
Middle: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/claychic"><b>MoodiChic</b></a>, <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66292229/rustic-sterling-labradorite-ring-made-to">Rustic Sterling Labradorite Ring</a></b><br />
Bottom:<b> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/littlebugjewelry?ref=ls_profile#">Little Bug Jewelry</a>, </b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59264955/labradorite-ring-solitaire-stacking-ring"><b>Labradorite Solitaire Stacking Ring</b></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9sV0ww6qc4/TxcPk_Po9WI/AAAAAAAACrI/AwLK2BKU1F8/s1600/owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9sV0ww6qc4/TxcPk_Po9WI/AAAAAAAACrI/AwLK2BKU1F8/s1600/owl.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.annasee.blogspot.com/"><b>Anna See</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79776287/barn-owl-hand-pulled-linocut-block-print"><b>Barn Owl</b></a> Lino Cut Print</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad2f7uMEM2o/TxcRKlf6oMI/AAAAAAAACrY/mJ6Vkym5_vM/s1600/plumebottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad2f7uMEM2o/TxcRKlf6oMI/AAAAAAAACrY/mJ6Vkym5_vM/s1600/plumebottle.jpg" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ys3u0o_fWNg/TxcQBPZEUpI/AAAAAAAACrQ/MfIcKUX_v-c/s1600/plume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ys3u0o_fWNg/TxcQBPZEUpI/AAAAAAAACrQ/MfIcKUX_v-c/s1600/plume.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.plumeperfume.com/"><b>Plume Natural Perfumes</b></a> - especially interested in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76480481/medici-cocoa-eco-luxe-natural-perfume"><b>Medici Cocoa</b></a>, <br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80468349/gingerbread-and-fir-natural-solid"><b>Gingerbread & Fir</b></a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80476641/coffee-and-cedar-natural-solid-perfume"><b>Coffee & Cedar</b></a>. This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/83260924/vanilla-anise-botanical-lip-creme-all"><b>Vanilla/Anise</b></a> lip balm looks nice too. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-M7tUfc6tk/TxcRfcIcy0I/AAAAAAAACrg/0Ow2wtMkuyE/s1600/paperdolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-M7tUfc6tk/TxcRfcIcy0I/AAAAAAAACrg/0Ow2wtMkuyE/s1600/paperdolls.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jenniferbaughan.com/"><b>Jennifer Baughan</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85974715/articulated-paper-dolls-woodland"><b>Articulated Paper Dolls</b></a> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVE3QQdbBYQ/TxcSjYuXkAI/AAAAAAAACro/iCt7LrE7HhI/s1600/snowflakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVE3QQdbBYQ/TxcSjYuXkAI/AAAAAAAACro/iCt7LrE7HhI/s1600/snowflakes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/Woodstorming?ref=ls_profile#"><b>Woodstorming</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85547404/crochet-snowflakes-decoration-christmas"><b>Crochet Snowflakes Decoration</b></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rf9N68C9hAM/TxcTE3LTSiI/AAAAAAAACrw/WJUyJ2oGzHE/s1600/spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rf9N68C9hAM/TxcTE3LTSiI/AAAAAAAACrw/WJUyJ2oGzHE/s1600/spoon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/Revisions?ref=ls_profile"><b>Revisions</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61379020/antique-silver-spoon-ring-meadowbrook"><b>Antique Silver Spoon Ring - Meadowbrook 1936</b></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7EIPfd2790/TxcTewUhSkI/AAAAAAAACsA/IyQSvG0npAo/s1600/gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7EIPfd2790/TxcTewUhSkI/AAAAAAAACsA/IyQSvG0npAo/s1600/gloves.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/lolide?ref=ls_profile"><b>Lolide</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/83999175/fingerless-gloves-extra-long-grey-gray"><b>Fingerless Gloves - extra long</b></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--R8yoE8Spn8/TxcTycTLC3I/AAAAAAAACsI/zgbBwjKofZ0/s1600/foxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--R8yoE8Spn8/TxcTycTLC3I/AAAAAAAACsI/zgbBwjKofZ0/s1600/foxes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/maryjill?ref=ls_profile"><b>MaryJill</b></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66987238/valentine-foxes-greeting-card"><b>Valentine Foxes</b></a></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-81583760475402647692011-12-22T20:32:00.000-05:002011-12-22T20:32:51.331-05:00Festive Scenes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UN0lABHsanY/TvPWp2LUy6I/AAAAAAAACo4/FksgTX-K_iQ/s1600/christmascard-chuck+groenink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UN0lABHsanY/TvPWp2LUy6I/AAAAAAAACo4/FksgTX-K_iQ/s640/christmascard-chuck+groenink.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas card from <a href="http://nietveelsoeps.blogspot.com/2009/12/have-holly-jolly-christmas.html"><b>2009</b></a> by <a href="http://chuckgroenink.tumblr.com/"><b>Chuck Groenink</b></a>, of <b><a href="http://cargocollective.com/greenink#">Green Ink</a></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frQDJVDZtjc/TvPZcFsYuVI/AAAAAAAACpQ/58-rR9AE5UY/s1600/nightbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frQDJVDZtjc/TvPZcFsYuVI/AAAAAAAACpQ/58-rR9AE5UY/s640/nightbefore.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from "The Night Before Christmas" 1961, illustrated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyo_Fujikawa"><b>Gyo Fujikawa</b></a> (<a href="http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/2011/12/night-before-christmas.html"><b>source</b></a>) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1941206387"></span><span id="goog_1941206388"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kY-gFd0zxWA/Tu9wGHCndGI/AAAAAAAAClQ/VuVCtN_FMf8/s1600/native+vermont+fox+crow+mistletoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kY-gFd0zxWA/Tu9wGHCndGI/AAAAAAAAClQ/VuVCtN_FMf8/s640/native+vermont+fox+crow+mistletoe.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fox, Crow and Mistletoe" by Ryan Fowler, <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62322383/fox-crow-and-mistletoe-winter-graphic">Native Vermont Studio</a></b><br />
<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AhKkhNvT0g/Tu-cUXENSzI/AAAAAAAACno/lDMbI3-Kjac/s1600/mcBill+xmas+past.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AhKkhNvT0g/Tu-cUXENSzI/AAAAAAAACno/lDMbI3-Kjac/s1600/mcBill+xmas+past.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas Carol (cover art) by <a href="http://www.mcbill.plus.com/index.htm"><b>Howard McWilliam</b></a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfYzygRzMD0/Tu-Zvb3lSuI/AAAAAAAACnY/L0n0dmGpZwA/s1600/Fraggle+Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfYzygRzMD0/Tu-Zvb3lSuI/AAAAAAAACnY/L0n0dmGpZwA/s1600/Fraggle+Winter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from: <a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_301:_The_Bells_of_Fraggle_Rock"><b>The Bells of Fraggle Rock</b></a> (<a href="http://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-fraggle-rock-is-even-better-as.html"><b>source</b></a>)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6k2ncX8T7I8/Tu9x0kJbdzI/AAAAAAAAClg/e-qfD_SdA-E/s1600/PJ+Lynch++Christmas++Card+2010+to+post+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6k2ncX8T7I8/Tu9x0kJbdzI/AAAAAAAAClg/e-qfD_SdA-E/s640/PJ+Lynch++Christmas++Card+2010+to+post+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas scene by <a href="http://pjlynchgallery.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-christmas.html"><b>PJ Lynch</b></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PynJOyD_D2Q/Tu91RhGqUEI/AAAAAAAAClw/Wr2uWL_HMk8/s1600/Lee+White+WInter-Treehouse-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PynJOyD_D2Q/Tu91RhGqUEI/AAAAAAAAClw/Wr2uWL_HMk8/s640/Lee+White+WInter-Treehouse-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Snowy treehouse" <a href="http://leewhiteillustration.blogspot.com/2011/09/snowy-treehouse.html"><b>Lee White</b></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y9xgqEffsU4/Tu9uj7E-XFI/AAAAAAAAClI/PeHEhM7ITmQ/s1600/carousel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="379" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y9xgqEffsU4/Tu9uj7E-XFI/AAAAAAAAClI/PeHEhM7ITmQ/s640/carousel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack, of course, image found <b><a href="http://thethoughtexperiment.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/12-days-of-highly-tolerable-holiday-movies-the-nightmare-before-christmas/">here</a></b></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-16247047880949904062011-12-19T12:30:00.001-05:002011-12-19T13:48:47.301-05:00Sparks Flew As Their Shovels Met for the First Time - the art of Rick Allen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6X4wQYc5sl8/Tu99QzVfwEI/AAAAAAAACmo/Gcbeh1Y3wUs/s1600/Rick+Allen+Ravens+Bauble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6X4wQYc5sl8/Tu99QzVfwEI/AAAAAAAACmo/Gcbeh1Y3wUs/s1600/Rick+Allen+Ravens+Bauble.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven's Bauble</td></tr>
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This charming Christmasy corvid mugshot is the work of <a href="http://www.sivertson.com/artist.php?id=36"><b>Rick Allen</b></a>, at <a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/"><b>Kenspeckle Letterpress</b></a> which he runs with his partner Marian Lansky. So lovely! These are just the seasonally appropriate jems*, check out their <a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/rick-allen-letterpress.php?id=giclees"><b>whole</b></a> gorgeously <b><a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/rick-allen-letterpress.php?id=wood-engravings">engraved</a></b> library of <a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/rick-allen-letterpress.php?id=notecards"><b>work</b></a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOwgYULhRIc/Tu-Auj9XctI/AAAAAAAACnQ/eGftJZbezhE/s1600/winterhomecomingRickAllen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOwgYULhRIc/Tu-Auj9XctI/AAAAAAAACnQ/eGftJZbezhE/s1600/winterhomecomingRickAllen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Homecoming</td></tr>
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* That is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_%28TV_series%29"><b>spelling mistake</b></a>, obviously I meant <u><i>gems</i></u>, but the fact that I made such an outrageous error makes me laugh so I'm leaving it in. Truly. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Uv2HVHGz4/Tu94OpVG5mI/AAAAAAAACl4/yGTWLyO4Jpg/s1600/Rick+Allen+earth+magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Uv2HVHGz4/Tu94OpVG5mI/AAAAAAAACl4/yGTWLyO4Jpg/s400/Rick+Allen+earth+magic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth Magic</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HuCm_PUZW78/Tu9-j9rjSnI/AAAAAAAACm4/SziGMegiz-4/s1600/Rick+Allen+beneath+the+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HuCm_PUZW78/Tu9-j9rjSnI/AAAAAAAACm4/SziGMegiz-4/s1600/Rick+Allen+beneath+the+stars.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beneath the Stars</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSiEqWT0u_8/Tu9-wvL9XoI/AAAAAAAACnA/inW66qXyMu0/s1600/Rick+Allen+night+visitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSiEqWT0u_8/Tu9-wvL9XoI/AAAAAAAACnA/inW66qXyMu0/s1600/Rick+Allen+night+visitor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Visitor</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63T_2eHAHy0/Tu9-6JkuWGI/AAAAAAAACnI/r_wnYyTSiS8/s1600/Rick+Allen+Lusten+Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63T_2eHAHy0/Tu9-6JkuWGI/AAAAAAAACnI/r_wnYyTSiS8/s1600/Rick+Allen+Lusten+Fox.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lusten Fox</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZBQNVWax9A/Tu9791lyrxI/AAAAAAAACmI/BgzCdne7srg/s1600/Rick+Allen+...+when+their+shovels+met.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZBQNVWax9A/Tu9791lyrxI/AAAAAAAACmI/BgzCdne7srg/s1600/Rick+Allen+...+when+their+shovels+met.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparks Flew</td></tr>
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PS<br />
What is this "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trappers-Daughter-Gustave-Aimard-Wraxall/dp/0217640591/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1324319360&sr=8-7"><b>Trapper's Daughter</b></a>" and where do I find it? And why isn't it published somewhere with these fine illustrations: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8enYKem1bzQ/Tu98NnZY3ZI/AAAAAAAACmQ/U04BO_40ED4/s1600/Rick+Allen+trappers+daughter+otter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8enYKem1bzQ/Tu98NnZY3ZI/AAAAAAAACmQ/U04BO_40ED4/s1600/Rick+Allen+trappers+daughter+otter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trapper's Daughter Takes the Otter Slide - seriously where is this book??</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qtr3N3-ex2s/Tu98oI-pKuI/AAAAAAAACmY/eoXPEzB754I/s1600/rickalle+sleepless_BIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qtr3N3-ex2s/Tu98oI-pKuI/AAAAAAAACmY/eoXPEzB754I/s1600/rickalle+sleepless_BIG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trapper's Daughter & the Bear Who Couldn't Sleep</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfZyhMYMYUU/Tu9-VwqeuYI/AAAAAAAACmw/6jIUw0GsNDw/s1600/Rick+Allen+ravens+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfZyhMYMYUU/Tu9-VwqeuYI/AAAAAAAACmw/6jIUw0GsNDw/s1600/Rick+Allen+ravens+christmas.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven's Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKnek9Cidtc/Tu94YQWbHqI/AAAAAAAACmA/s_QNY_9NBmk/s1600/rick+allen+ravens_window_BIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKnek9Cidtc/Tu94YQWbHqI/AAAAAAAACmA/s_QNY_9NBmk/s1600/rick+allen+ravens_window_BIG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ravens at the Window</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-76341709057057815262011-12-07T12:01:00.001-05:002011-12-09T13:38:23.095-05:00Slowpoke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter is slow to arrive this year. October was basically September weather, all through November it felt like October, and now that it's December it only just feels like November. There was the sparest, lightest little dusting this morning, but it's gone already. We are stuck in the bleak pre-snow season of craggy branches and grey backdrops. It's dark by 4pm and still dark when the alarm shrieks. Delightfully melancholy, but more suited to post-Halloween than the advent of Christmas. <br />
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This semester was tough (hence my lack of luster here). Not because of workload - or rather not because of school workload. More due to work-workload. That's changing though, for better or worse, and I am job hunting for the first time in rather a long while. Equal parts thrill and terror, I tell you. Let's all hope that something lovely and fun comes along, part-time so I can stay at my favourite library too. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8E3rrfZCF0Q/Tt_eeN04oUI/AAAAAAAACgM/vFTvxsnpLag/s1600/redwall+convoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8E3rrfZCF0Q/Tt_eeN04oUI/AAAAAAAACgM/vFTvxsnpLag/s640/redwall+convoy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Redwall gang heading to a winter celebration by <a href="http://www.christopherdenise.com/Books_4.html"><b>Christopher Denise</b></a></td></tr>
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I feel all craggy and grey, like the weather. This busy semester has left me with little time for stretching my limbs and they're in danger of atrophy. I tried doing yoga the other day and I felt like one of those aged newcomers who only go to the first class and bend over, forever suspended, fingers never reaching toes. Stiff, sore and <i>old</i>. That's how I felt. Weird. If this is a preview, I don't approve. <br />
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I have kept up with reading, moreso than usual during school. Not a reading-heavy semester so I had a bit of time on the commute or before bed. <b><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/Anansi+Boys/">It's so</a> <a href="http://www.mouseguard.net/books/fall-1152/">very nice to</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.hodder.co.uk/books/work.aspx?WorkID=42446">slip into</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Tower-Zoo-Tortoise-Julia-Stuart/dp/0385669682/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323454713&sr=8-1">another world</a> <a href="http://libbabray.com/agreatandterriblebeauty.html">now and then</a>, <a href="http://inherent-vice.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page">even a strange</a></b><a href="http://inherent-vice.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page"> </a><b><a href="http://www.scarlettthomas.co.uk/books/the-end-of-mr-y">somewhat sinister one</a></b>, or just to <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shakespeare-Biography-Peter-Ackroyd/dp/074938655X/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1323455794&sr=8-19">slip into</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.robertlacey.com/book/year-1000">the past</a></b>. Now I'm <b><a href="http://libbabray.com/rebelangels.html">starting in</a></b> on my <b><a href="http://www.flaviadeluce.com/">festive reading</a></b>. Since the weather isn't doing it, the books should put me in a seasonal frame of mind.<br />
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<i>(I couldn't decide which trailer I liked best... so you get both!)</i></div>
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Other Autumnal highlights include catching up with an old friend (how is it possible that we'd not spoken for six years? Six? Jeez.) and then there a was a brief dash to stay in a <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City">walled city</a>.</b> It's not far from here, but we don't go often. It was really nice, just for a couple of days, to play tourist and to eat scrumptious things. <b><a href="http://www.lemoineechanson.com/">This spot</a></b> is totally worth it, if ever you visit and feel like a treat. Also, just a block or so away, is this little <b><a href="http://chocomusee.com/">chocolaterie</a></b> which is what I imagine Willy Wonka's factory smells like. Go there just to breathe, seriously. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-56346124397238073122011-09-22T17:50:00.000-04:002011-09-22T17:50:43.128-04:00A Woodland Home for a Woodland Creature (like me)I'm tucking these away for future inspiration.<br />
I'm going to turn into a hobbit one day right? That can totally happen.<br />
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*All images are from <a href="http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm">simondale.net</a>, found via <a href="http://diana212m.blogspot.com/2011/09/fairytale-house-in-wales.html">Diana</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-82831113890614214222011-09-14T17:48:00.000-04:002011-09-14T17:48:00.148-04:00Nicole Gustafsson, kindred spirit<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXl0t8sfgAE/TnDP4Hw8GeI/AAAAAAAACXA/gd8j6PiAZuQ/s1600/The-Naturalists-Study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXl0t8sfgAE/TnDP4Hw8GeI/AAAAAAAACXA/gd8j6PiAZuQ/s400/The-Naturalists-Study.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Naturalist's Study</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvELP5_IiYQ/TnDP4_QVRTI/AAAAAAAACXE/lwWVk9LfDMc/s1600/Terrarium-Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvELP5_IiYQ/TnDP4_QVRTI/AAAAAAAACXE/lwWVk9LfDMc/s400/Terrarium-Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrarium Tree</td></tr>
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I came upon Ms Gustafsson's work at just the right time, I think. Summer has not yet given up the ghost but Autumn is on the verge of charging in with gusts of wind, ripe squash, and the yearly explosion of copper and crimson tree-tops. Not all of Nicole's work is autumnal but a lot seems to fit in with this, the best of all seasons.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfWsSJm_0YY/TnDRwmE-3VI/AAAAAAAACXI/N0avghqi08w/s1600/All%2527s+well+at+the+Schoolhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfWsSJm_0YY/TnDRwmE-3VI/AAAAAAAACXI/N0avghqi08w/s640/All%2527s+well+at+the+Schoolhouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All's Well at the Schoolhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1nQb9gMsVA/TnDSf2zmY6I/AAAAAAAACXM/BdLB_2-mKWM/s1600/The-Conservatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1nQb9gMsVA/TnDSf2zmY6I/AAAAAAAACXM/BdLB_2-mKWM/s640/The-Conservatory.jpg" width="463" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Conservatory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqcwC-2_ono/TnDTzpUzprI/AAAAAAAACXc/aUkUVLJpR2A/s1600/Blue-Tree-Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqcwC-2_ono/TnDTzpUzprI/AAAAAAAACXc/aUkUVLJpR2A/s400/Blue-Tree-Books.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Tree Books</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMMbRqlWk7I/TnDTxXksqoI/AAAAAAAACXU/7w3w0nivkrM/s1600/Hare+House+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMMbRqlWk7I/TnDTxXksqoI/AAAAAAAACXU/7w3w0nivkrM/s400/Hare+House+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hare House <i>(in the rain!) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, the colours! They're so lovely. Trees growing in unlikely places, terrariums, lanterns, rain. I can't help but be smitten. I want to get all of her card-sets but I won't want to give any away. <br />
<br />
Look at all the places you can visit her:<br />
<a href="http://nicole.nimasprout.com/"><b>Portfolio</b></a><br />
<a href="http://ngustafsson.blogspot.com/"><b>Blog</b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nimasprout"><b>Shop </b></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMQstXV-Vbk/TnDWMvCOSJI/AAAAAAAACXg/jDzDnYLkuqk/s1600/lanterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMQstXV-Vbk/TnDWMvCOSJI/AAAAAAAACXg/jDzDnYLkuqk/s400/lanterns.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lanterns. A detail of a larger piece, I think. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFBfh_oKhs/TnDYMhxzIfI/AAAAAAAACXo/TalST-86e6I/s1600/Gustafsson_Mountainoutofamolehill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFBfh_oKhs/TnDYMhxzIfI/AAAAAAAACXo/TalST-86e6I/s400/Gustafsson_Mountainoutofamolehill.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain of a Molehill</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFzXVhsnSi8/TnDYy3L6HmI/AAAAAAAACXs/A-oPAKeQrn0/s1600/The_geologists_study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFzXVhsnSi8/TnDYy3L6HmI/AAAAAAAACXs/A-oPAKeQrn0/s400/The_geologists_study.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Geologist's Study</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3C7dY9qf8zY/TnDYKCZKIQI/AAAAAAAACXk/82ltCtBYTZM/s1600/Gustafsson_Whompingwillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3C7dY9qf8zY/TnDYKCZKIQI/AAAAAAAACXk/82ltCtBYTZM/s640/Gustafsson_Whompingwillow.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whomping Willow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqcwC-2_ono/TnDTzpUzprI/AAAAAAAACXc/aUkUVLJpR2A/s1600/Blue-Tree-Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-47631581564188336972011-08-15T20:53:00.000-04:002011-08-15T20:53:46.061-04:00Papering your wallsThree days a week I work at a desk, facing a monitor. I like to think of it as an opportunity to attend a very small showing of artwork/photography. Needless to say, I click on my "shortcut to desktop" icon frequently to gaze at whatever's on display at the moment, to take tiny mental breaks from my work and take off on flights of imaginative fancy. Here are a few that have been on rotation this summer:<br />
<br />
Photo is from <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Nostalgia-Eva-Hagberg/dp/1580932320/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313421860&sr=1-1"><b>Dark Nostalgia</b></a> by Eva Hagberg, <b><a href="http://www.thefastertimes.com/nostalgia/2009/09/29/rooms-with-a-view-to-the-past-eva-hagbergs-dark-nostalgia/">source</a></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-4wBouDEj8/TkkgQopOUYI/AAAAAAAACVk/W9JgiTgLLmA/s1600/standeferaleschloft2smaller-1024x793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-4wBouDEj8/TkkgQopOUYI/AAAAAAAACVk/W9JgiTgLLmA/s400/standeferaleschloft2smaller-1024x793.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N7jx50zL6B0/TkkhLXyRaII/AAAAAAAACVo/TwyOXJ_7kUg/s1600/for_sale_-_to_print_-_postcard_425x55_-_quidditch_worldcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_164640725"></span><span id="goog_164640726"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
Seagrass, by <a href="http://benjaminlacombe.hautetfort.com/archive/2011/05/02/rossignol.html"><b>Benjamin Lacombe</b></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eth99n0uic8/Tkkyh0K2AVI/AAAAAAAACWQ/e4pTbsYLlZA/s1600/benjamin+lacombe+seagrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eth99n0uic8/Tkkyh0K2AVI/AAAAAAAACWQ/e4pTbsYLlZA/s400/benjamin+lacombe+seagrass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
Venice, <b><a href="http://decorology.blogspot.com/2011/05/venice-big-sites-but-also-true-beauty.html">Decorology blog</a></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD0FzaegC0M/Tkkmb6VxOwI/AAAAAAAACV4/dOyqCQz4KTY/s1600/decorology+venice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD0FzaegC0M/Tkkmb6VxOwI/AAAAAAAACV4/dOyqCQz4KTY/s400/decorology+venice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
Hobbiton, and A Hobbit Dwelling by <a href="http://www.john-howe.com/"><b>John Howe</b></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9-rUnPUHYIY/TkkzbBBFevI/AAAAAAAACWU/NxjNUtaOQC0/s1600/hobbiton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9-rUnPUHYIY/TkkzbBBFevI/AAAAAAAACWU/NxjNUtaOQC0/s400/hobbiton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x8AluIBnjI/Tkk_lYEBO6I/AAAAAAAACWY/uq7IiitqrV8/s1600/John+Howe+a_hobbit_dwelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x8AluIBnjI/Tkk_lYEBO6I/AAAAAAAACWY/uq7IiitqrV8/s400/John+Howe+a_hobbit_dwelling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
Diplodocus, NHM in London, by <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39116650@N04/4184289169">Antonio Torres Ochoa</a> </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VUq7VoQd8aY/TkkpeGDbWnI/AAAAAAAACV8/izXJc-ogyhU/s1600/antonio+torres+-+NHM+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VUq7VoQd8aY/TkkpeGDbWnI/AAAAAAAACV8/izXJc-ogyhU/s400/antonio+torres+-+NHM+london.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">+++ </div><br />
Lacock Abbey, by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/briannegus/4697750068/"><b>Brian Negus</b></a>, which appeared in a couple of the Harry Potter films<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqw38bC1vow/TkkrgJpUJ_I/AAAAAAAACWE/mmVnCeUVf0s/s1600/Lacock+Abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqw38bC1vow/TkkrgJpUJ_I/AAAAAAAACWE/mmVnCeUVf0s/s400/Lacock+Abbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/2691889162/"><b>The Storm at Sea</b></a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/6009907746/in/set-72157627233406375"><b>House Roller</b></a> (from Burning Man) by Trey Ratcliff of <b><a href="http://www.stuckincustoms.com/">Stuck In Customs</a></b> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wqPfyi2zGs/TkmyfcEX1QI/AAAAAAAACWc/aVLHLLzSnDI/s1600/stuckincustoms+storm+at+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wqPfyi2zGs/TkmyfcEX1QI/AAAAAAAACWc/aVLHLLzSnDI/s400/stuckincustoms+storm+at+sea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShS2JUCUz_Y/Tkm2dQTSX5I/AAAAAAAACWg/npRZ0rMFP9w/s1600/stuckincustoms+aug+2011+burning+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShS2JUCUz_Y/Tkm2dQTSX5I/AAAAAAAACWg/npRZ0rMFP9w/s400/stuckincustoms+aug+2011+burning+man.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
+++<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amymerrick.com/">Amy Merrick</a> (from her <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emersonmerrick/5955422117/in/photostream">flickr</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCadfeVQ5q0/Tkm41gLuooI/AAAAAAAACWk/NxVVSsfZ5Ho/s1600/emerson+merrick+canoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCadfeVQ5q0/Tkm41gLuooI/AAAAAAAACWk/NxVVSsfZ5Ho/s400/emerson+merrick+canoe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-46389072930580582182011-08-11T23:02:00.000-04:002011-08-11T23:02:46.539-04:00Weathering Summer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFiLLSsktRg/TkQkVPvYJTI/AAAAAAAACTc/_qr6e0XywS0/s1600/daniel-cooper-storm-over-montreal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFiLLSsktRg/TkQkVPvYJTI/AAAAAAAACTc/_qr6e0XywS0/s400/daniel-cooper-storm-over-montreal.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://spacingmontreal.ca/2011/08/02/photo-du-jour-strike/"><b>Source</b></a>: Photo by Daniel Cooper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
I keep getting caught in summer storms. They inspire terrible ambivalence. <br />
<br />
On the one hand: ecstatic relief. On the other: electric anxiety. <br />
<br />
I love them. I love the wildness of them, and the way the sky churns like an upside-down sea. I love the trickery, the reversal of day and night. I love the rain. It falls as if weighted with lead, as if thrown down. I love the feeling that the earth is drinking deep, slaking enormous thirst. I love finding myself in the minuscule shelter of a bus stop or a parked car and listening to the percussive music of it.<br />
<br />
I both love and fear the sudden zig-zag of lightening, and the wide-eyed counting before the thunderous boom that inevitably follows. <br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
I was coming home on the bus the other day when one of the more violent storms hit. The stress is a bit amped up at that job lately (not necessarily a bad thing, but an adjustment to be sure) and the atmospheric pressure did nothing to help. That particular time I escaped getting soaked, but not getting panicked. The flash and boom were simultaneous and I sat there, peering out through the fogged window at the sheets of rain chanting <i>Faraday cage, Faraday cage, Faraday cage</i>, willing myself not to touch any metal surfaces.<br />
<br />
* <br />
<br />
Traveling in Montreal is precarious enough without fear of electrocution. Those bridges, especially the Champlain and the Mercier, seem set to crumble and I hold my breath as we cross them even in fine weather. When we must cross during a storm - oh my. My pilot is unflapable, but I am all aquiver. I want to pray for safe passage, but to whom? Sometimes being a non-believer is a real bitch.<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
Yesterday, another storm. Fierce, but fast. It was gone halfway through my commute. I was sitting, looking out at the sky as we inched along. The clouds over in the direction we were headed seemed greenish and odd. As if another, stranger storm was up ahead. Traffic was immobile. I pulled out my earphones to see what I could hear. Sirens, actually. Off in the distance. We got closer, eventually, and those weren't clouds. <br />
<br />
A fire was clearly raging somewhere in my neighbourhood. <br />
<br />
Shortly it became clear that getting out and walking was the quickest route home. <br />
<br />
The fire turned out to be at the end of my street, a couple of blocks from my place. An old, abandoned motel was burning. The main road passes in front, and was blocked off and full of red trucks. Hoses snaked along all the roads around it, water pluming out trying to reach the dancing flames. A sizeable crowd had gathered, snapping photos, filming, observing. Our local security officer held court in their midst. I see him at the library sometimes, he's quite a character. I can just imagine him waxing nostalgic about The Great Blaze of '11 in the near future. <br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
Today was the first day since spring that felt cool. Yesterday I wore a little jacket in the morning. Two days ago I saw a leaf fall. It was still green, but in tumbling from that branch it signaled the very start of the end. <br />
<br />
Summer, with its relentless heat and lashing storms will soon be over. <br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-23968531533564595132011-07-12T00:02:00.000-04:002011-07-12T00:02:55.184-04:00Shiny things caught in my net<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEJ52QWCZzo/Thu4p2B7ZYI/AAAAAAAACR8/0-VbLlipa-A/s1600/tilt-shift-van-gogh-starry-night-over-the-rhone-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEJ52QWCZzo/Thu4p2B7ZYI/AAAAAAAACR8/0-VbLlipa-A/s400/tilt-shift-van-gogh-starry-night-over-the-rhone-detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://coolvibe.com/2011/16-van-gogh-paintings-tilt-shifted/tilt-shift-van-gogh-15/">Starry Night Over the Rhone</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<u>A little round-up of some of the neatest stuff I've come across lately: </u><br />
<br />
(via <a href="http://sweetanthem.tumblr.com/post/7341582591/there-is-not-a-single-thing-i-dont-love-about"><b>heartbeets/aka Sweet Anthem's tumblr</b></a>)<br />
<b><a href="http://coolvibe.com/2011/16-van-gogh-paintings-tilt-shifted/">Serena Malyon</a></b> uses the magic of tilt-shift to <b><a href="http://www.artcyclopedia.com/hot/tilt-shift-van-gogh.htm">transform</a></b> Van Gogh's works into 3D. I think they're stunning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOfvoSnD8NY/Thu5HozjqiI/AAAAAAAACSA/E0zaFjILj1c/s1600/tilt-shift-van-gogh-view-of-saintes-maries-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOfvoSnD8NY/Thu5HozjqiI/AAAAAAAACSA/E0zaFjILj1c/s400/tilt-shift-van-gogh-view-of-saintes-maries-detail.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://coolvibe.com/2011/16-van-gogh-paintings-tilt-shifted/tilt-shift-van-gogh-3/"><i>View of Saintes-Maries</i>, 1888 (detail)</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y56FF8zl8z4/Thu5dVqTzMI/AAAAAAAACSE/GmQ6qZjoN7Y/s1600/tilt-shift-van-gogh-wheat-field-with-rising-sun-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y56FF8zl8z4/Thu5dVqTzMI/AAAAAAAACSE/GmQ6qZjoN7Y/s400/tilt-shift-van-gogh-wheat-field-with-rising-sun-detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://coolvibe.com/2011/16-van-gogh-paintings-tilt-shifted/tilt-shift-van-gogh-8/"><i>Wheat Field with Rising Sun</i>, 1889 (detail)</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UP0mxYgXGbE/Thu6yL2FV7I/AAAAAAAACSI/L2y-nSiUA2w/s1600/Mountains+at+Saint-Remy%252C+1889+%2528detail%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UP0mxYgXGbE/Thu6yL2FV7I/AAAAAAAACSI/L2y-nSiUA2w/s400/Mountains+at+Saint-Remy%252C+1889+%2528detail%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://coolvibe.com/2011/16-van-gogh-paintings-tilt-shifted/tilt-shift-van-gogh-12/"><b><i>Mountains at Saint-Remy</i>, 1889 (detail)</b></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
+++ <br />
<br />
Camping in the Cotswolds: <a href="http://www.junkaholique.com/"><b>Junkaholique blog</b></a><br />
A gorgeous<b> </b>blog to follow in general, but <b><a href="http://www.junkaholique.com/2011/06/cotwolds.html">these photos</a></b> of their recent camping trip are especially lovely.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qd7nT9ga1RY/Thu8pSQWjxI/AAAAAAAACSM/IqvuR8u6LEU/s1600/P6268999-horz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qd7nT9ga1RY/Thu8pSQWjxI/AAAAAAAACSM/IqvuR8u6LEU/s400/P6268999-horz.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.junkaholique.com/2011/06/cotwolds.html">Photo: Artemis Russell</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_q0bWbj2FOc/Thu87gVb-DI/AAAAAAAACSQ/70SLKOUqcr0/s1600/P6279238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_q0bWbj2FOc/Thu87gVb-DI/AAAAAAAACSQ/70SLKOUqcr0/s400/P6279238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.junkaholique.com/2011/06/cotwolds.html">Photo: Artemis Russell</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
+++<br />
<br />
Jen Campbell of <b><a href="http://jen-campbell.blogspot.com/">This Is Not the Six Word Novel</a></b> writes about Weird Things Customers Say at <b><a href="http://www.rippingyarns.co.uk/">Ripping Yarns</a></b>, the London bookshop where she works. It is hilarious, especially if you work with the public and most especially if you work with the public and with books. Start with the <b><a href="http://jen-campbell.blogspot.com/2011/05/weird-things-customers-say-in-bookshops.html">first entry</a></b> and work forwards to the most current, which is #7. She's just announced that she will be collecting them for <b><a href="http://jen-campbell.blogspot.com/2011/07/weird-things-customers-say-in.html">a book</a></b>! Huzzah!<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i><span style="font-weight: bold;">Customer</span>: Hi, do you have any new books?<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: We're an antiquarian bookshop - our stock is out of print books. <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Customer</span>: So other people have touched them?<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: Presumably, yes. <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Customer</span>: I don't think I'll bother, thanks. <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: OK.</i></blockquote>(<a href="http://jen-campbell.blogspot.com/2011/06/weird-things-customers-say-in-bookshops.html"><b>from #2</b></a>) <br />
<br />
<br />
+++<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.susannahconway.com/2011/06/something-for-the-weekend/"><b>Susannah Conway recommended</b></a> this <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59021459/sweet-peppermint-lip-balm">sweet peppermint lip balm</a></b> by <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/oakmoss">Oakmoss</a></b> and well... it's lip balm! So I had to try it! It came a couple of days ago and I've been using it ever since. It's lovely. I ordered some samples of soaps and perfume oil too and everything was beautifully gift wrapped. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61042711/peace-blend-perfume-oil"><b>Peace</b></a> is a wonderfully spicy scent, and my fave of the bunch. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAVpZi_EMco/ThvAbFsAfhI/AAAAAAAACSU/UBlXtwgJoHk/s1600/oakmoss+lip+balm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAVpZi_EMco/ThvAbFsAfhI/AAAAAAAACSU/UBlXtwgJoHk/s320/oakmoss+lip+balm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from the etsy shop</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>+++<br />
<br />
Lucy Knisley is a talented comic-maker and I am a tiny bit giddy over her take on a certain beloved series of books. <b><a href="http://lucylou.livejournal.com/596984.html">OMGryffindor!!!</a></b> They're funny, so full of nerdy detail and do a great job of capturing some of the... (ahem) <i>magic</i> of the series. If you love them too, the good news is that you can download all eight posters from her website! The bad news is that due to legal trickiness she really can't charge for all the hard work that went into them and so is simply asking for a donation. I think they're totally worth it.<br />
And look: she and her studio/roommate have re-created the <b><a href="http://theburrowstudio.blogspot.com/2011/07/studio-log-starweek-twenty-eight.html">Black Family Tree</a></b>! Neato!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sogThyMNqg8/ThvCReQAVKI/AAAAAAAACSY/6b7xOvig-P0/s1600/HP4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sogThyMNqg8/ThvCReQAVKI/AAAAAAAACSY/6b7xOvig-P0/s640/HP4.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book Four. Click to see the glorious detail! Or, better yet, check them all out on <b><a href="http://lucylou.livejournal.com/596984.html">Lucy's site</a></b>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-85681772954180392122011-07-05T19:23:00.001-04:002011-07-07T12:38:05.995-04:00Rosaceae Fragaria<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYVA8txEB3Q/ThOORIzVMmI/AAAAAAAACQM/NzLY_ojoW_U/s1600/fragaria.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYVA8txEB3Q/ThOORIzVMmI/AAAAAAAACQM/NzLY_ojoW_U/s1600/fragaria.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/collectionsguide/mssindex/pomology/artists/passmore.shtml"><strong>Fragaria sp. "Parker Earl" by <span class="HdrBlueBold">Deborah Griscom Passmore</span></strong></a> c.1892-1909</td></tr>
</tbody></table>June is a fragrant month. You catch their perfume before you even see them: every corner market sets out baskets of edible rubies. Heavier than they look, and bursting with juice, it is best to eat them immediately lest they spoil before you taste them. Grass sprouts all vibrant and wet, only to be mowed down, releasing that familiar green scent. Flowering trees wave their blossoms above the sidewalk, bathing pedestrians in botanical pheromones. Wild rose bushes grow thick with thorny protection and produce deceptively insubstantial flowers which can, none the less, send out powerful apian invitations.<br />
<br />
Walking through the city is a pleasure in June. <br />
<br />
+++<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry"><i><strong>Did you know that strawberries are not berries at all, but rather fruiting roses?</strong> </i></a><br />
<br />
+++<br />
<br />
Along comes July to wilt us all. The word on the street is "humidex". Bright greens fade in the field, waiting for August to paint them gold. The air is heavy with moisture, and blue skies quickly turn deepest purple - clouding over at a moment's notice, flashing with electricity and pelting the earth with rain. July's perfumery consists of sun-baked sidewalks, chlorine and the savoury saliva-inducing sweet-burnt scent of barbecued meat. Which is tortuous for those of us without access to a porch or yard. I'm always looking for things I can drench in bbq sauce.<br />
<br />
The strawberries are looking puckered and soft at the fruit stands, and it seems as if their season is coming to an end. Don't pass those suckers by though, even when they look a bit sad they're still good for freezing, blending and baking.<br />
<br />
This is what I plan to do with the ones sitting in my fridge - <a href="http://themuffinmyth.com/2011/06/29/strawberry-birthday-cupcakes/"><strong>Strawberry cupcakes</strong></a>. Mine won't be to celebrate a birthday (well, I could celebrate a little, since I do know a couple of sweet July babies) and I may add coconut. I don't relish turning on the oven, but one of those sudden summer storms just hit so maybe it won't be so bad. Besides, who can resist... just look at them:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7AHCZ8VGBBM/ThOR2_TKuAI/AAAAAAAACQQ/KPlWgjz1VdA/s1600/097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7AHCZ8VGBBM/ThOR2_TKuAI/AAAAAAAACQQ/KPlWgjz1VdA/s320/097.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://themuffinmyth.com/"><strong>The Muffin Myth</strong></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
* Edit to add: I made those cupcakes Tuesday and they were DELICIOUS! Sadly I didn't have a ripe banana so I used <a href="http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/"><strong>Earth Balance</strong></a> instead of butter because that's what I did have on hand, and I tossed in a bit of unsweetened coconut. Totally lovely. Needless to say, they're already gone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-55568696150639434812011-06-28T22:11:00.001-04:002011-06-28T22:14:01.364-04:00"And that true North, whereof we lately heard"*<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWJWAIDWzPM/TgqBtVrHE3I/AAAAAAAACO8/uL79Y6t46Dw/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWJWAIDWzPM/TgqBtVrHE3I/AAAAAAAACO8/uL79Y6t46Dw/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stand on guard for thee</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwCG7G_9Frk/Tgp1RZyyf5I/AAAAAAAACNk/KfbZb1Xgi7M/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div> Oh Canada. How do I celebrate? Let me count the ways.<br />
<br />
1. Reading<br />
Did you follow <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/">Canada Reads</a>, way back in February? Was anyone else thinking <i>Who invited Debbie Travis?</i> None the less, there were plenty of intriguing book recommendations to be had. I am a little ashamed to say that I've read none of this years nominees, but the program was enough to spark my interest in all of them. <a href="http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/the-essex-county-complete/640">Essex County</a> and <a href="http://www.thebirthhouse.com/">The Birth House</a> were both on my to-read list for ages, but <a href="http://terryfallis.com/the-best-laid-plans/">The Best Laid Plans</a> was no where near my radar and now I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it. There are clearly a lot of CBC listeners at my library because all five books have spiked in popularity since this winter and are now appearing on lots of bookclub lists.It's <a href="http://www.lawrencehill.com/the_book_of_negroes.html">The Book of Negroes</a> all over again! Actually, not quite. That one's still going strong. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0b3rtp9S0BA/TgpkJvO9MAI/AAAAAAAACNE/3Bn8xzVzf7k/s1600/Canada+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0b3rtp9S0BA/TgpkJvO9MAI/AAAAAAAACNE/3Bn8xzVzf7k/s400/Canada+Reads.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
2. Online Reading<br />
Some of my favourite Canuck haunts, online (in no particular order):<br />
<br />
<a href="http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/">poppytalk </a><br />
<a href="http://harkavagrant.com/">Hark! A Vagrant </a><br />
<a href="http://www.sweetsalty.com/">sweet | salty </a><br />
<a href="http://www.schmutzie.com/">Schmutzie</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.heyladygrey.com/">Hey, Lady Grey</a> <br />
<a href="http://blog.jilliantamaki.com/">Jillian Tamaki</a><br />
<a href="http://themuffinmyth.com/">The Muffin Myth</a> (every recipe is good, every single one)<br />
<a href="http://susanjuby.com/blog/">Susan Juby</a><br />
<br />
3. Travel<br />
Coast to coast! Sort of. Well, I went home to see my family in April, which is on the west coast and I live in Montreal so you know. From sea to shining... er... river.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-O_z3zScUw/TgpwuwEyf-I/AAAAAAAACNQ/vs8naSKkMqY/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-O_z3zScUw/TgpwuwEyf-I/AAAAAAAACNQ/vs8naSKkMqY/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my parent's back yard</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAQaTezC3RE/TgpxuLstgLI/AAAAAAAACNU/ctCS0CR-gRU/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAQaTezC3RE/TgpxuLstgLI/AAAAAAAACNU/ctCS0CR-gRU/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+039.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest near where I grew up, lower mainland BC - why did ALL my forest photos end up fuzzy? Why? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-ptm7alRxE/Tgpymfrk1aI/AAAAAAAACNY/bKa89q67O_o/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-ptm7alRxE/Tgpymfrk1aI/AAAAAAAACNY/bKa89q67O_o/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep Cove</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZECWm0ZYxM/Tgpzc6ZovsI/AAAAAAAACNc/1x-fkHFqfU0/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZECWm0ZYxM/Tgpzc6ZovsI/AAAAAAAACNc/1x-fkHFqfU0/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+302.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stanley Park, 3rd Beach (I think?) in the rain</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YA_AVGpyGms/Tgp05pE8m5I/AAAAAAAACNg/5siDjVqkSHw/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YA_AVGpyGms/Tgp05pE8m5I/AAAAAAAACNg/5siDjVqkSHw/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+330.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More rain at the beach/seawall</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwCG7G_9Frk/Tgp1RZyyf5I/AAAAAAAACNk/KfbZb1Xgi7M/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwCG7G_9Frk/Tgp1RZyyf5I/AAAAAAAACNk/KfbZb1Xgi7M/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+418.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the <a href="http://www.chilliwackblueheron.com/">heron reserve</a> in Chilliwack. Make sure to enlarge this to see the neat heron-shape.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JqvSO11Krxk/Tgp2cBoG63I/AAAAAAAACNo/1hxNSLFKU9A/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JqvSO11Krxk/Tgp2cBoG63I/AAAAAAAACNo/1hxNSLFKU9A/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuaT8UB-9io/Tgp2jip6LLI/AAAAAAAACNs/-Ath1d1zol0/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuaT8UB-9io/Tgp2jip6LLI/AAAAAAAACNs/-Ath1d1zol0/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+445.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dq0xkCWM8Uc/Tgp3G-GEtbI/AAAAAAAACNw/iDHQGey2D58/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dq0xkCWM8Uc/Tgp3G-GEtbI/AAAAAAAACNw/iDHQGey2D58/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dVTSF-ClNSE/Tgp3rR2On-I/AAAAAAAACN0/K-PIRLWiphg/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dVTSF-ClNSE/Tgp3rR2On-I/AAAAAAAACN0/K-PIRLWiphg/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+488.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYaT4dxMGKQ/Tgp310OOXII/AAAAAAAACN4/TRgJV3-sY3Y/s1600/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYaT4dxMGKQ/Tgp310OOXII/AAAAAAAACN4/TRgJV3-sY3Y/s400/visit+to+BC+spring+2011+489.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, I went canoeing in <a href="http://www.sepaq.com/pq/mot/index.dot?language_id=1">Parc Mont-Tremblant</a> a couple of weeks ago. Which was lovely. Except for the bugs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7hzEB0rcD4/Tgp4hrHEwDI/AAAAAAAACN8/iYcvj7_CBxY/s1600/june+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7hzEB0rcD4/Tgp4hrHEwDI/AAAAAAAACN8/iYcvj7_CBxY/s400/june+051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PY3pSfdCr7s/Tgp4wVFXG-I/AAAAAAAACOA/dJ0yiwRG1ZY/s1600/june+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PY3pSfdCr7s/Tgp4wVFXG-I/AAAAAAAACOA/dJ0yiwRG1ZY/s400/june+077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZUtPrvlUEY/Tgp5Nhux0AI/AAAAAAAACOE/lWC4EFFmJ_A/s1600/june+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZUtPrvlUEY/Tgp5Nhux0AI/AAAAAAAACOE/lWC4EFFmJ_A/s400/june+086.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are they doing? Our best guess was "eating bird poop", which is what's under them. Not so pretty anymore, are they? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33BNIm2_D5Q/Tgp5xyElnMI/AAAAAAAACOI/RAkVa1a2fpQ/s1600/june+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33BNIm2_D5Q/Tgp5xyElnMI/AAAAAAAACOI/RAkVa1a2fpQ/s400/june+089.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erosion is neat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfvAeiPJKJw/Tgp6UwZgqXI/AAAAAAAACOM/vgqWmhZXHAE/s1600/june+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfvAeiPJKJw/Tgp6UwZgqXI/AAAAAAAACOM/vgqWmhZXHAE/s400/june+121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loon!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hl2cipbVJxc/Tgp6fXvgiNI/AAAAAAAACOQ/_N61k5mb9eM/s1600/june+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hl2cipbVJxc/Tgp6fXvgiNI/AAAAAAAACOQ/_N61k5mb9eM/s400/june+136.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken from under a large towel where I was hiding from black flies. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Just last weekend I was in Ottawa to visit mon frère. It rained a lot, so we went to the Natural History Musem (er, I mean the <a href="http://nature.ca/en/home">Canadian Museum of Nature</a>), which was gorgeous inside and out.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jYcXODSF5k/Tgp8-ovXciI/AAAAAAAACOU/fFQ2_rpbLGU/s1600/june+24+2011+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jYcXODSF5k/Tgp8-ovXciI/AAAAAAAACOU/fFQ2_rpbLGU/s400/june+24+2011+076.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYU01TwtjVk/Tgp9QZkTo2I/AAAAAAAACOY/HYuVqOUUGe4/s1600/june+24+2011+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYU01TwtjVk/Tgp9QZkTo2I/AAAAAAAACOY/HYuVqOUUGe4/s400/june+24+2011+088.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0TA87Q7doE/Tgp95fS3P8I/AAAAAAAACOc/HZdnMfBhDNg/s1600/june+24+2011+305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0TA87Q7doE/Tgp95fS3P8I/AAAAAAAACOc/HZdnMfBhDNg/s400/june+24+2011+305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0TA87Q7doE/Tgp95fS3P8I/AAAAAAAACOc/HZdnMfBhDNg/s1600/june+24+2011+305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fn5swZafCEE/Tgp-tl4W6oI/AAAAAAAACOg/30Pdkg191i8/s1600/june+24+2011+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fn5swZafCEE/Tgp-tl4W6oI/AAAAAAAACOg/30Pdkg191i8/s400/june+24+2011+172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think the dioramas will get their own post because I'm kind of in love with them.<br />
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Aaaaaand, well, I complain a lot but actually Montreal's not such a bad city afterall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Fvk7UPo9Sw/Tgp_WP3sT4I/AAAAAAAACOk/leG20RlozNs/s1600/june+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Fvk7UPo9Sw/Tgp_WP3sT4I/AAAAAAAACOk/leG20RlozNs/s400/june+028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iN4-8VPuDVs/Tgp_lxCIjfI/AAAAAAAACOo/rmUrCTtCEyA/s1600/june+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iN4-8VPuDVs/Tgp_lxCIjfI/AAAAAAAACOo/rmUrCTtCEyA/s400/june+037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nQzBRR6m-8/TgqAXzij-HI/AAAAAAAACOw/31oFVQJ9PeM/s1600/june+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nQzBRR6m-8/TgqAXzij-HI/AAAAAAAACOw/31oFVQJ9PeM/s400/june+036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Main/Blvd Saint-Laurent street fair</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BU8H8ojB450/Tgp_9wGeu1I/AAAAAAAACOs/wO5fLkBo5RM/s1600/june+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BU8H8ojB450/Tgp_9wGeu1I/AAAAAAAACOs/wO5fLkBo5RM/s400/june+035.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIfjhkqIqpI/TgqA5y7L_HI/AAAAAAAACO0/Wv-2V6j2yf0/s1600/june+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIfjhkqIqpI/TgqA5y7L_HI/AAAAAAAACO0/Wv-2V6j2yf0/s400/june+048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dwcb089_ZfI/TgqBFc4arTI/AAAAAAAACO4/nvHkcFJ6IHk/s1600/june+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dwcb089_ZfI/TgqBFc4arTI/AAAAAAAACO4/nvHkcFJ6IHk/s400/june+049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
4. Eating/buying local<br />
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<a href="http://www.amarille.ca/fr-ca/index.php">The lip balm</a> you always wanted. Nothing is better. NOTHING. (Man, their online boutique isn't up yet. When it is, vanilla cream. Trust me.)<br />
<a href="http://ahimsayogamontreal.com/">This</a> is where I'm doing yoga over the summer, lovely studio and lovely teacher.<br />
<a href="http://arlingtongardens.ca/home/">This</a> is where my produce is coming from over the summer. We just got our first basket last week and it was mostly lettuce + greens and it was very tasty indeed.<br />
<a href="http://www.cafemyriade.com/">This</a> really is the best coffee to be found in the Concordia/Faubourg part of downtown (which is where I am 3 days per week). I had stopped treating myself to fancy coffees at the office, but since I discovered Myriade I am less able to resist temptation. They take their barista-ing seriously. <i>As they should</i>. <br />
<a href="http://restomontreal.ca/en/1796/Resto-Cafe-Oxford" style="font-family: inherit;">Café Oxford</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span>in NDG) is where Adrien and I like to go for breakfast/brunch most weekends. The food's great, and I love how much fresh fruit comes with the meals. Fruit like mango and local berries, not just the standard slice of cantaloupe. Well, they have that too, but they leave it off if you ask (I do). <br />
I just got this new <a href="http://store.walrusmagazine.com/products/canvas-tote-bag-illustrated-by-jillian-tamaki">tote bag</a> because it's too darn cute.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrCPy_QWCMM/TgqHn4WtE_I/AAAAAAAACPI/liPJJD7nVD0/s1600/newtote_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrCPy_QWCMM/TgqHn4WtE_I/AAAAAAAACPI/liPJJD7nVD0/s400/newtote_grande.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tote! Art by Jillian Tamaki. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbc3hXnsKt4/TgpuaVc18UI/AAAAAAAACNI/ZO1zVXC8fp4/s1600/Arlington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbc3hXnsKt4/TgpuaVc18UI/AAAAAAAACNI/ZO1zVXC8fp4/s400/Arlington.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlington Farm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbamuD2YZcU/Tgpu9XvNVWI/AAAAAAAACNM/Jk5uI7lYylo/s1600/myriade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbamuD2YZcU/Tgpu9XvNVWI/AAAAAAAACNM/Jk5uI7lYylo/s400/myriade.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/12/28/coffee-and-a-newspaper/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Happy Canada Day neighbours! How do you celebrate?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWdj0naDdEM/TgqC1k1GEvI/AAAAAAAACPE/6xkYDZIBDI4/s1600/june+24+2011+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWdj0naDdEM/TgqC1k1GEvI/AAAAAAAACPE/6xkYDZIBDI4/s400/june+24+2011+087.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_E0Pqvq87o/TgqCdjrhtnI/AAAAAAAACPA/oFyMHWFHMA0/s1600/june+24+2011+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
* Tennyson: <a href="http://www.classicreader.com/book/574/14/">To the Queen </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-40054896392955754232011-06-10T13:23:00.000-04:002011-06-10T13:23:07.036-04:00"The blue unbroken circle of the sea"*<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kxxWGjb_Fhw/TfJO_F_GDRI/AAAAAAAACMg/N7l1Cn4l8Rg/s1600/longing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kxxWGjb_Fhw/TfJO_F_GDRI/AAAAAAAACMg/N7l1Cn4l8Rg/s400/longing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67477247/longing-5x7-fine-art-photographic-print?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=ocean&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_page=10&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fart">Longing</a>" by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/Market1?ref=ls_profile">Judith Signoriello</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 3px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0c343d; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 3px; text-align: center;"><b>Sea Fever by John Masefield</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 3px; text-align: center;"><b> </b> <a href="http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/masef01.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>source</i></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 3px; text-align: center;">I must go down to the seas again,</div><div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">to the lonely sea and the sky</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and all I ask is a tall ship,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and a star to steer her by;</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and the white sails shaking,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">And the grey mist in the sea’s face,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and a grey dawn breaking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">I must go down to the seas again,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">for the call of the running tide</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">Is a wild call and a clear call</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">that may not be denied;</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">And all I ask is a windy day</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">with the white clouds flying,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">And the flung spray and the blown spume,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and the seagulls crying. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">I must go down to the seas again,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">to the vagrant gypsy life,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">To the gull’s way and the whale's way</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">where the wind’s like a whetted knife</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">And all I ask is a merry yarn</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">From a laughing fellow rover,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">and quiet sleep and a sweet dream</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">when ere the long trip’s over</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8Ed9J_Xt0Q/TfJP8TxFDlI/AAAAAAAACMk/fWYIoVeaiP8/s1600/Dover+from+anglophilia+tumblr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8Ed9J_Xt0Q/TfJP8TxFDlI/AAAAAAAACMk/fWYIoVeaiP8/s400/Dover+from+anglophilia+tumblr.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dover, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/littleblomma/5655552654/in/photostream">photo credit</a>, found <a href="http://enchantedengland.tumblr.com/post/6058584801/lottietea-dover-enchantedengland-i-never-ever">here</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCW6iFK8Y4/TfJQV9vp36I/AAAAAAAACMo/LTHmxQiV-No/s1600/pacific.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCW6iFK8Y4/TfJQV9vp36I/AAAAAAAACMo/LTHmxQiV-No/s400/pacific.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/38784150/pacific-ocean-landscape-photography-west">Pacific Ocean</a>" by <a href="http://www.lupengrainne.com/">Lupen Grainne</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwvDImVMadI/TfJQljMgN1I/AAAAAAAACMs/Hc-M6IBLnIo/s1600/doran+april+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwvDImVMadI/TfJQljMgN1I/AAAAAAAACMs/Hc-M6IBLnIo/s400/doran+april+034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://garden-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-at-beach.html">Day at the Beach</a>" by <a href="http://www.lupengrainne.com/">Lupen Grainne</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2aBNHS1j1s/TfJRAo1HjDI/AAAAAAAACMw/kUFw9ZWbEV8/s1600/Bahamas+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2aBNHS1j1s/TfJRAo1HjDI/AAAAAAAACMw/kUFw9ZWbEV8/s400/Bahamas+129.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bahamas, March 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xa2qu19Mfsc/TfJRMz8i2OI/AAAAAAAACM0/MmQVn-tCscI/s1600/Bahamas+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xa2qu19Mfsc/TfJRMz8i2OI/AAAAAAAACM0/MmQVn-tCscI/s400/Bahamas+145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bahamas, March 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMrjb6Odt4c/TfJRfQ5Ra1I/AAAAAAAACM4/0hUdiT37fIo/s1600/oregon+coast%252C+laini+taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMrjb6Odt4c/TfJRfQ5Ra1I/AAAAAAAACM4/0hUdiT37fIo/s400/oregon+coast%252C+laini+taylor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Meares (Oregon), photo: <a href="http://growwings.blogspot.com/2007/06/spectacular-oregon.html">Laini Taylor</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ80fkbU7To/TfJRzfgno5I/AAAAAAAACM8/ym9Cr6-e9Rs/s1600/onewiththesea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ80fkbU7To/TfJRzfgno5I/AAAAAAAACM8/ym9Cr6-e9Rs/s400/onewiththesea.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56575635/one-with-the-sea-azure-blue-sky-and-deep">One with the Sea</a>" by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bomobob/">Robert Cadloff</a></td></tr>
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<div class="fotopedia_widget_dark_unframed" id="fotopedia_widget" style="width: 400px;"><script src="http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-4226805044/widget?widget_skin=dark_unframed&widget_width=400" type="text/javascript">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPNawGl9eak/TfJSFhuZizI/AAAAAAAACNA/Sco1zFgrhx0/s1600/Bamfield_DT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPNawGl9eak/TfJSFhuZizI/AAAAAAAACNA/Sco1zFgrhx0/s400/Bamfield_DT.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.harboursidelodge.com/newimages/Bamfield_DT.JPG">Beach near Bamfield</a>, BC</td></tr>
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* Title: Sara Teasdale, <i><a href="http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/from-the-sea/">From the Sea</a> </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-8991910909845400812011-06-02T22:07:00.001-04:002011-06-02T22:22:35.996-04:00Works of genius at a library near you<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Late this winter we were plagued by a sinister smell in the library. Something was broken in the metallic bowels of the furnace. Something was cracked and bleeding oil. When dizzy spells and upset stomachs resulted, things got serious. This problem is unfortunately still dogging us and sadly the library has been closed for a while because of it. Much as I appreciate the sudden influx of free time, I do miss my work there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the things I miss most is dishing about books. Fawning over the sparkling new covers, getting recommendations, prodding for impromptu reviews when members return their latest batch at the circ. counter and giving out my own "you <i>have to</i> read this" advice - that is a large part of what makes library work fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I especially miss all the booktalk now that c<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">af</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">é terraces are so inviting with their drowsy summer breezes and icy drinks. Obviously delicious reading material is required. Not that there's a dearth of possibilities. In fact I often find myself cowering in the shadow of my to-read pile. Therein lies the problem, really. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When so many tantalizing titles are calling to you it can be difficult and overwhelming to try to pluck just one at a time. In that instance it can be something of a relief to have someone simply put a book in your hands with a wink and promise that it is worth your time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By necessity (weeding) I've had to trawl the depths of my library shelves and so I've found a great many glittering gems. This is a list of library books I would happily, heartily put in your hands if you had come to me desperate for something tasty to read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Girls-Lori-Lansens/9781400025398-item.html?cookieCheck=1">The Girls</a></b> by <b><a href="http://www.lorilansens.com/">Lori Lansens</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Canadian (small town Ontario), lovely, haunting. A fictional life story of conjoined twins, Rose and Ruby Darlen - though it is so realistic that people often assume it's based on real people*. The premise seems to scare people off a bit, the idea that these young women are inherently tragic. While there is some heartache in this book, there is also humour and mystery and very little time is spent making you feel sorry for the girls. In fact you begin to wish you had a twin of your own at your side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The story is told by the girls (women, actually, as they are 29) themselves, alternating between the two very different voices. The prose completely took my breath away and this has become one of my favourite books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the opening paragraph: </span><br />
<blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I have never looked into my sister's eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to the beguiling moon. I’ve never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that. I’ve never driven a car. Or slept through the night. Never a private talk. Or a solo walk. I’ve never climbed a tree. Or faded into a crowd. So many things I’ve never done, but oh, how I’ve been loved. And, if such things were to be, I’d live a thousand lives as me, to be loved so exponentially." </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3iMIwvLC3Ec/TePQHnTOM4I/AAAAAAAACKI/5OTn0OUWSkg/s1600/The+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3iMIwvLC3Ec/TePQHnTOM4I/AAAAAAAACKI/5OTn0OUWSkg/s320/The+Girls.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">* Check out <b><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/lansens.html">this interview</a></b> with Lori Lansens for some background on her inspiration. </div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385665827">The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</a></b> (Flavia de Luce #1) by <b><a href="http://www.flaviadeluce.com/">Alan Bradley</a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Mystery series, set in England in the 1950s. Our plucky heroine is Flavia, an eleven year old chemist who lives in a fossilized manor house with her grief-stricken father, her treacherous older sisters Ophelia and Daphne as well as their shell shocked groundskeeper, Dogger. Oh, and Flavia's trusty bicycle Gladys, of course. This series is: clever, funny, marvelous. There are currently three, and I just finished the most recent one (<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8517008-a-red-herring-without-mustard">A Red Herring Without Mustard</a></b>). The second one (<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6777616">The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag</a></b>) was maybe a bit slow, but the first is wonderful and the third one is the best so far.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRDx6t3K44Y/TePQA3mYhwI/AAAAAAAACKE/DsysrPY-N6w/s1600/21__120x175_sweetness-trade-paperback-image.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRDx6t3K44Y/TePQA3mYhwI/AAAAAAAACKE/DsysrPY-N6w/s200/21__120x175_sweetness-trade-paperback-image.gif" width="129" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-seFB5iGWMmY/Teg7rIrXe1I/AAAAAAAACK0/HQvDQGH0QAQ/s1600/weed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-seFB5iGWMmY/Teg7rIrXe1I/AAAAAAAACK0/HQvDQGH0QAQ/s200/weed.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh5tNAd-6s8/Teg7qvrfY0I/AAAAAAAACKw/EdVK0oMO8qA/s1600/herring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh5tNAd-6s8/Teg7qvrfY0I/AAAAAAAACKw/EdVK0oMO8qA/s200/herring.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38990.Fun_Home">Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic</a></b> by <b><a href="http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/">Alison Bechdel</a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Childhood memoir, graphic novel, heart-breakingly good. This has bite and literary merit and so much heart. I've seen people go from "<i><b>I</b> don't read <u><b>comics</b></u></i>" to "<i>where do I find <b>more</b> of this kind of thing???</i>" after reading this book. Take your time reading it because the panels contain an astonishing amount of detail. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmyvfbD2XTo/TePPiIfyl-I/AAAAAAAACJ8/6a7cKBRx4pU/s1600/funhome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmyvfbD2XTo/TePPiIfyl-I/AAAAAAAACJ8/6a7cKBRx4pU/s400/funhome1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dp-61qiE0EU/TePPn71sisI/AAAAAAAACKA/VikdQV9k-WM/s1600/alisonfun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dp-61qiE0EU/TePPn71sisI/AAAAAAAACKA/VikdQV9k-WM/s400/alisonfun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4137.Me_Talk_Pretty_One_Day" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Me Talk Pretty One Day</a></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> by </span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sedaris">David Sedaris</a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have you ever read David Sedaris? Why ever not? He's brilliant. This was the first of his books that I read and it was instant love. Since then I've switched to audiobooks for his work because he does them himself and the only things better than his writings are his readings. If you get the chance to see him live, do it. </div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"On my fifth trip to France I limited myself to the words and phrases that people actually use. From the dog owners I learned "<i>Lie down</i>," "<i>Shut up</i>," and "<i>Who shit on this carpet?</i>" The couple across the road taught me to ask questions correctly, and the grocer taught me to count. Things began to come together, and I went from speaking like an evil baby to speaking like a hillbilly. "<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Is thems the thoughts of cows?</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">" I'd ask the butcher, pointing to the calves' brains displayed in the front window. "</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I want me some lamb chop with handles on 'em</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">." "</span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaKUy6Rkeco/Teg8RxkzLzI/AAAAAAAACK4/YCL8bUmI9yk/s1600/pretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaKUy6Rkeco/Teg8RxkzLzI/AAAAAAAACK4/YCL8bUmI9yk/s200/pretty.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.robertlacey.com/book/great-tales-english-history-omnibus">Great Tales from English History: A treasury of true stories about the extraordinary people, knights and knaves, rebels and heroes, queens and commoners, who made Britain great</a></b> by Robert Lacey</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">English history, non-fiction, but not dry at all. Originally this was published in three parts, but it has since been made available as an omnibus and I was thrilled when I got it for Christmas (my library only has the first two parts). I really enjoy historical fiction but I've never studied history properly and so I feel that my understanding of the unfolding of things is more than a little patchy. This is obviously a general overview, not a lot of depth can be gone into about each figure, but it is so readable and so fun that I think it's a great resource to have on hand. When you come across a name that you know you should know but can't quite recall, this is the place to go.<br />
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Also, the woodcuts at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch.<br />
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As Levar Burton used to say on Reading Rainbow, "you don't have to take my word for it!" There are sample chapters for you to peruse on Lacey's website <b><a href="http://www.robertlacey.com/sample-chapters">here</a></b>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3V21Jf3WO4/TePTAugjk1I/AAAAAAAACKM/EEzLxAkHId0/s1600/GTFEH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3V21Jf3WO4/TePTAugjk1I/AAAAAAAACKM/EEzLxAkHId0/s1600/GTFEH.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ikX5027tCN4/Teg_02dctLI/AAAAAAAACK8/BzQikLB3sFs/s1600/26-The-White-Ship.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ikX5027tCN4/Teg_02dctLI/AAAAAAAACK8/BzQikLB3sFs/s1600/26-The-White-Ship.gif" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-86203460402768705352011-05-20T13:19:00.000-04:002011-05-20T13:19:18.232-04:00A selection of lovely work I've come across lately:<a href="http://beccastadtlander.com/index.html">Becca Stadtlander</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuBkDN-eGbU/TdZ7kv_UhiI/AAAAAAAACJQ/u0uMVuBIyxQ/s1600/becca+stadtlander+darkflorals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuBkDN-eGbU/TdZ7kv_UhiI/AAAAAAAACJQ/u0uMVuBIyxQ/s400/becca+stadtlander+darkflorals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beccastadtlander.blogspot.com/2010/09/dark-florals.html">Dark Florals</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_koMTdDjZw4/TdZ7mc51FMI/AAAAAAAACJU/SfOfc5yaHGY/s1600/becca+stadtlander+treesnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_koMTdDjZw4/TdZ7mc51FMI/AAAAAAAACJU/SfOfc5yaHGY/s400/becca+stadtlander+treesnake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beccastadtlander.blogspot.com/2010/02/serpents_17.html">Tree Snake</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7GmObDXrsE/TdZ7nxT_jbI/AAAAAAAACJY/Anou9bnazII/s1600/becca+stadtlander+loonlake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7GmObDXrsE/TdZ7nxT_jbI/AAAAAAAACJY/Anou9bnazII/s400/becca+stadtlander+loonlake.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beccastadtlander.blogspot.com/2009/09/house-on-loon-lake.html">House on Loon Lake</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">+ + +</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.jencorace.com/">Jen Corace</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQaFb3j29vk/TdaA0OJcMSI/AAAAAAAACJc/SsS6mAX6VZQ/s1600/Jen+Corace+blog+banner.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQaFb3j29vk/TdaA0OJcMSI/AAAAAAAACJc/SsS6mAX6VZQ/s400/Jen+Corace+blog+banner.2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thinkstare.blogspot.com/">blog banner: think think, stare stare... our finest hour</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtxesgTpnj8/TdaA2y_j88I/AAAAAAAACJg/D_RJD7C-0GA/s1600/down%252C+down%252C+down+by+Jen+Corace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtxesgTpnj8/TdaA2y_j88I/AAAAAAAACJg/D_RJD7C-0GA/s400/down%252C+down%252C+down+by+Jen+Corace.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thefoxisblack.com/index.php?s=jen+corace">Down, Down, Down </a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">+ + + </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.burstofbeaden.com/">Jon Klassen</a> </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mpy5lKYWy88/TdaFGiqPPrI/AAAAAAAACJs/IZ7C02RCwuY/s1600/coraline+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mpy5lKYWy88/TdaFGiqPPrI/AAAAAAAACJs/IZ7C02RCwuY/s400/coraline+014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.burstofbeaden.com/coraline.html">artwork for Coraline</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BS4z3IS-LI/TdaE_1M8jmI/AAAAAAAACJk/bEi-t59AmGw/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BS4z3IS-LI/TdaE_1M8jmI/AAAAAAAACJk/bEi-t59AmGw/s400/003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.burstofbeaden.com/coraline.html">artwork for Coraline</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQPiRG65ljA/TdaHf3Y24oI/AAAAAAAACJw/Oj13YuzclOw/s1600/waterglobe_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQPiRG65ljA/TdaHf3Y24oI/AAAAAAAACJw/Oj13YuzclOw/s320/waterglobe_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://drawn.ca/archive/jon-klassens-rbc-blue-water-project/">for the RBC Blue Water Project</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">+ + + </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.leewhiteillustration.com/">Lee White</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrxydSUBf-4/TdaK9U7GaWI/AAAAAAAACJ0/AJEkHHAJ2L4/s1600/Lee+White+midnight-ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrxydSUBf-4/TdaK9U7GaWI/AAAAAAAACJ0/AJEkHHAJ2L4/s400/Lee+White+midnight-ride.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://web.me.com/leewhite3/Lee_White_Illustration/Gallery.html#14">Midnight Ride</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-8TfnYthyk/TdaLw_kwYGI/AAAAAAAACJ4/F0vrrpQ50sw/s1600/Lee+White+Waiting-4_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-8TfnYthyk/TdaLw_kwYGI/AAAAAAAACJ4/F0vrrpQ50sw/s400/Lee+White+Waiting-4_3.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://web.me.com/leewhite3/Lee_White_Illustration/Gallery.html#13">Waiting</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-42029540427995162962011-04-06T13:43:00.002-04:002011-04-06T14:31:44.549-04:00Dreamy and Dark <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0_tsVYyajU/TZycvDQ7WbI/AAAAAAAACGs/XE9LAJYDyLQ/s1600/Library%252C+2007+The+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0_tsVYyajU/TZycvDQ7WbI/AAAAAAAACGs/XE9LAJYDyLQ/s400/Library%252C+2007+The+City.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/02.html">Library</a> - 2007 (The City) <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/">Lori Nix</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ages ago I came across the above image and I loved it. Unfortunately, as is the way sometimes, I was not able to track it back to its original source, so I had no idea who made it or what the context was. I couldn't tell <em>how</em> it was made either; it didn't quite look real but it didn't appear to be painted or digital either. Magic! Obviously. <br />
<br />
Finally, the other day, I came across <a href="http://anthologymag.com/blog3/2011/04/04/epic-interiors-by-photographer-lori-nix/">this article</a> and now I know: <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/index.html">Lori Nix</a>. She creates these intricate shoebox worlds and then photographs them.<br />
<br />
Ah! No wonder I like it. Dioramas: I am a fan. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smxLxd4zQfg/TZyoLBzzSCI/AAAAAAAACG8/hI2kvQ-BG74/s1600/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smxLxd4zQfg/TZyoLBzzSCI/AAAAAAAACG8/hI2kvQ-BG74/s400/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top left: <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/unnatural_history/13.html">Olympic Forest</a>, 2010 (Unnatural History); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/lost/03.html">Birdhouses</a>, 2001 (Lost); <br />
<a href="http://www.lorinix.net/some_other_place/04.html">Birds in Flight</a>, 2001 (Some Other Place); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/14.html">Clock Tower</a>, 2005 (The City)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Her earliest stuff evokes a rather lovely stop-motion horror movie feeling. I especially like her later work, in particular the series' <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/unnatural_history/index.html">Unnatural History</a> and <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/index.html">The City</a>. There's something delightfully eerie about seeing wild things take back an urban landscape. Sad too, and I think that's part of the point. On her website Lori Nix talks about having a sense of humour in/about her work though, so I don't think she's all gloom and doom. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4o7laKi3G3Q/TZyoMx_B_iI/AAAAAAAACHA/uBFZ-EjUYls/s1600/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4o7laKi3G3Q/TZyoMx_B_iI/AAAAAAAACHA/uBFZ-EjUYls/s400/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from largest: <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/03.html">Aquarium</a>, 2007 (The City); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/unnatural_history/06.html">Angler Fish</a>, 2009 (Unnatural History); <br />
<a href="http://www.lorinix.net/unnatural_history/05.html">Mastodon</a>, 2009 (Unnatural History); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/unnatural_history/14.html">T-Rex</a>, 2010 (Unnatural History) </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNnAsDq6FGk/TZyoOClCg2I/AAAAAAAACHE/E6S5xEZRWbc/s1600/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNnAsDq6FGk/TZyoOClCg2I/AAAAAAAACHE/E6S5xEZRWbc/s400/Lori+Nix+Mosaic+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from largest: <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/08.html">Fountain</a>, 2008 (The City); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/05.html">Botanic Garden</a>, 2008 (The City); <br />
<a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/13.html">Museum of Art</a>, 2005 (The City); <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/11.html">Majestic</a>, 2006 (The City)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I made mosaics because that's the easiest way to share heaps of images, and there are indeed so very many lovely, haunting images to share. The best way to see them, though, is full size so you can poke around and take note of the staggering detail in each little window. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klvIiWxBZTI/TZyoRk14hBI/AAAAAAAACHI/j08nLuf4Bw0/s1600/Map+Room%252C+2010+The+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klvIiWxBZTI/TZyoRk14hBI/AAAAAAAACHI/j08nLuf4Bw0/s400/Map+Room%252C+2010+The+City.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/15.html">Map Room</a>, 2010 (The City)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
Quotes from <a href="http://www.lorinix.net/about.html">Lori Nix's "About" page</a>: <br />
<br />
"Inspiration comes from reading the daily newspaper The New York Times, science fiction paperbacks and magazine articles. I get most of my ideas during my morning subway commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan to go to my day job. Something about the morning light, the rocking of the subway, seeing the cityscape pass by opens my mind up to inspiration." <br />
<br />
"Currently it takes about seven months to build a scene and two to three weeks to shoot the final image. " <br />
<br />
"I am fascinated, maybe even a little obsessed, with the idea of the apocalypse." <br />
<br />
"I am interested in depicting danger and disaster, but I temper this with a touch of humor." <br />
<br />
"In my newest body of work "The City" I have imagined a city of our future, where something either natural or as the result of mankind, has emptied the city of it's human inhabitants. Art museums, Broadway theaters, laundromats and bars no longer function. The walls are deteriorating, the ceilings are falling in, the structures barely stand, yet Mother Nature is slowly taking them over. These spaces are filled with flora, fauna and insects, reclaiming what was theirs before man's encroachment. I am afraid of what the future holds if we do not change our ways regarding the climate, but at the same time I am fascinated by what a changing world can bring."<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8LtodD5CKE/TZyoX6ShOfI/AAAAAAAACHM/OKe0GXYDvuw/s1600/Natural+History%252C+2005+The+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8LtodD5CKE/TZyoX6ShOfI/AAAAAAAACHM/OKe0GXYDvuw/s400/Natural+History%252C+2005+The+City.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lorinix.net/the_city/12.html">Natural History</a>, 2005 (The City)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-80212068344749180122011-03-23T13:10:00.000-04:002011-03-23T13:10:48.198-04:00I spy with my little eye <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F8lNG1XW9uM/TYn54wwU4EI/AAAAAAAACGY/UQqt6ap1meY/s1600/Spring+-+David+Peterson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F8lNG1XW9uM/TYn54wwU4EI/AAAAAAAACGY/UQqt6ap1meY/s400/Spring+-+David+Peterson.jpg" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2008/04/fia-event.html">A springtime image</a> by <a href="http://www.davidpetersen.net/index.htm">David Peterson</a> of <a href="http://www.mouseguard.net/">Mouse Guard</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
+ Some purple hyacinths in an old honey jar, next to the window. Stems reaching, flowers beginning to fold in on themselves, heady scent starting to fade. <br />
<br />
+ A boy on the bus, with foot-long eyelashes which are completely incongruous with his thick stubble. <br />
<br />
+ Unspeakably scary news from the other side of the world, of trembling earth and colossal waves. Just like that, out of nowhere, for so many people <em>everything</em> is gone. <br />
<br />
+ A couple, on the corner, trying to take an arm's length photo. Laughing because instead they took video of themselves posing. <br />
<br />
+ Pigeons bathing in the street-side lakes that had formed overnight, as the city temporarily thawed. Whole parties of pigeons gathering at the pool, dipping under the surface before popping up, feathers askew, spray fanning out around them. <br />
<br />
+ An office, on a mezzanine, reached by spiral staircase, overlooking the library, inside of a museum, with a window looking out on busy streets and falling snow. A place where one catalogues 16th century dresses and 18th century books. In a word, heaven. <br />
<br />
+ A café, done entirely in white. Blinding: stark, bright, white. White wicker, white tables, white walls. Glass cases full of tiny delectables dusted with the green crumble of crushed pistachio. Customers wearing tweed and cashmere, sipping espresso from tiny white cups. A small white dish with two maracons. <br />
<br />
+ A chunk of ice, hanging precariously over a doorway. Water dripping continuously. Will it shrink, or will it fall?<br />
<br />
+ A suitcase, open on my living room floor. A passport, a pair of strappy shoes with height (I have to practice wearing those...), a sun hat, a <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200620.An_Embarrassment_of_Mangoes">book</a>. A trip I would never have planned, but am grateful to be invited on.<br />
<br />
+ An accidental glimpse in the mirror beside the coffee maker in the office kitchen. Dressed this morning by going: what is on the top of the pile? Grey cardigan it is. Hair coiffed at desk, after removal of hat + coat, and pulled back into a static-defying ponytail. Make up? Not really. But in that glimpse: rosy cheeks, happy eyes, as-if-on-purpose hair with just the right flyaways. How many times do we look in the mirror and not want to change a thing? Not often enough. <br />
<br />
+ A paperback in my purse, for reading on the bus. A great cover. Purple, naturally. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rHyVQwAhrno/TYoFWcn__AI/AAAAAAAACGc/-vx5I0ivFFQ/s1600/SmokeMirrors_PaperbackPS_1213882886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rHyVQwAhrno/TYoFWcn__AI/AAAAAAAACGc/-vx5I0ivFFQ/s1600/SmokeMirrors_PaperbackPS_1213882886.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/Smoke+%2526+Mirrors/ed/170/">Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions by Neil Gaiman</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-74672086360736388102011-03-09T23:02:00.000-05:002011-03-09T23:02:26.897-05:00It's still winter. I just checked.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9uGVexW4yF0/TXhI6QGJwHI/AAAAAAAACEg/ujG4rOCD7G0/s1600/2011+-+03.03+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9uGVexW4yF0/TXhI6QGJwHI/AAAAAAAACEg/ujG4rOCD7G0/s400/2011+-+03.03+027.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yp_xuqNDBbw/TXhMbzvQMtI/AAAAAAAACFM/CLRB_vBgGCE/s1600/2011+-+03.03+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yp_xuqNDBbw/TXhMbzvQMtI/AAAAAAAACFM/CLRB_vBgGCE/s400/2011+-+03.03+082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6yfJXVM7BzE/TXhJM4I8LTI/AAAAAAAACEk/VmpvKK4D4Mg/s1600/2011+-+03.03+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6yfJXVM7BzE/TXhJM4I8LTI/AAAAAAAACEk/VmpvKK4D4Mg/s400/2011+-+03.03+056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xMqwQOak6os/TXhJWiU32OI/AAAAAAAACEo/kqYRyP1efYY/s1600/2011+-+03.03+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xMqwQOak6os/TXhJWiU32OI/AAAAAAAACEo/kqYRyP1efYY/s400/2011+-+03.03+068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4QKbbIFFWzQ/TXhJjLFkSlI/AAAAAAAACEs/NCh2W9sl31k/s1600/2011+-+03.03+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4QKbbIFFWzQ/TXhJjLFkSlI/AAAAAAAACEs/NCh2W9sl31k/s400/2011+-+03.03+074.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tfr86fXsj_U/TXhM9wY413I/AAAAAAAACFQ/dNwwrHkS1pA/s1600/2011+-+03.03+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tfr86fXsj_U/TXhM9wY413I/AAAAAAAACFQ/dNwwrHkS1pA/s400/2011+-+03.03+098.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZfBXwmIkDN4/TXhJ0VYBCFI/AAAAAAAACE0/y92URfRXqks/s1600/2011+-+03.03+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZfBXwmIkDN4/TXhJ0VYBCFI/AAAAAAAACE0/y92URfRXqks/s400/2011+-+03.03+095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_VleTShTOBk/TXhKWdrNKkI/AAAAAAAACFA/C8uRqG6MXbY/s1600/2011+-+03.03+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_VleTShTOBk/TXhKWdrNKkI/AAAAAAAACFA/C8uRqG6MXbY/s400/2011+-+03.03+116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lkw3eUmimvM/TXhKsWUHuoI/AAAAAAAACFE/lXg5MS5zyEw/s1600/2011+-+03.03+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lkw3eUmimvM/TXhKsWUHuoI/AAAAAAAACFE/lXg5MS5zyEw/s400/2011+-+03.03+135.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yp_xuqNDBbw/TXhMbzvQMtI/AAAAAAAACFM/CLRB_vBgGCE/s1600/2011+-+03.03+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vzAzb6e1t2s/TXhIt_yEm1I/AAAAAAAACEc/91lcMR81WAw/s1600/2011+-+03.03+157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vzAzb6e1t2s/TXhIt_yEm1I/AAAAAAAACEc/91lcMR81WAw/s400/2011+-+03.03+157.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xMqwQOak6os/TXhJWiU32OI/AAAAAAAACEo/kqYRyP1efYY/s1600/2011+-+03.03+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-21261831499495044442011-03-07T13:31:00.000-05:002011-03-07T13:31:51.872-05:00Smelling of Purple<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BhVLVGg56xw/TXFKt3FUgxI/AAAAAAAACEI/6bfDL2O3qCc/s1600/emmerson+merrick+february.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="273" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BhVLVGg56xw/TXFKt3FUgxI/AAAAAAAACEI/6bfDL2O3qCc/s400/emmerson+merrick+february.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emersonmerrick/5480273478/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emerson Merrick </span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">of </span><a href="http://emersonmerrick.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An Apple a Day</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am one of those sensitive folks (in a long line of sensitive folks) who hates perfume. I glare openly at abusers who have lost all sense of proportion and wield scent like a weapon. What right do they have to asault my nasal passages like that?<br />
<br />
And yet, I confess that I wear it too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I suppose I should amend my previous statement: I hate <i>most</i> perfume. I hate the majority, but I covet that tiny intoxicating minority. I love a handful of perfumes; the kind with fancy labels, made in small batches, possibly in someone's kitchen, with ingredients described as "locally sourced", "organic" and "all natural". You know the kind of thing. The kind of thing you could practically eat. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the language of the perfumer, I am considered <em>gourmand</em>. Ok, ok. In any language I am considered <em>gourmand</em>. I am picky though - far pickier about what scent I wear than what food I eat. Not that I am indiscriminate about my diet, but when it comes to perfume I seem to have a very narrow range of likes. Whereas with food I am open to experimentation. <br />
<br />
One of the unfortunate things I've discovered in my aromatic searching is that <em>gourmand</em> often means <em>spun sugar</em>. I am drawn to scents inspired by foodstuffs but I do not want to smell like confection. It's the richness I'm after, the complexities of spice - both sweet and savoury. It's the difference between eating fresh fruit and hard candy. The fullness is lost, simplified to one sticky, false note; the living story of the fragrance (and flavour), the botanical roots, are lost and replaced with corn syrup and food dye. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">* * *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My fantasy goes something like this: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine the spice aisle in a small, old fashioned grocery store. Glass jars full of fine powders: crimson, buttery yellow, every earthen shade of brown. Some jars holding the spices in their original form, fragrant and whole. Full-leaf teas lined up all along the top. Rows of vanilla extract with actual vanilla beans, clove buds, slices of ginger and zezty little strips of orange peel floating in the black depths. Small bottles of dark elixir with slender seed pods just visible in the liquid. Wooden shelving, polished smooth with age. Candles made from bee's wax strung up by their wicks. Barrels of fruit at the end of the aisle - ripe purple plums, dark cherries, plump blackberries. Maybe a few stalks of rhubarb bundled up, sitting in my basket. Imagine, also, that there is a bakery next door, and something fresh and dusted with flour is cooling out of view.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine distilling all of this into a small vial and dabbing it on your skin. Imagine tendrils of scent wrapping themselves around you, invisible to all but your most intimate companions. Imagine catching subtle hints of this throughout the day. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to shop for your nose online, scratching and sniffing forlornly at the monitor. I keep at it because that is the best way to access all of the alchemical entrepreneurs out there, and because I am relentlessly optimistic that one day a brown paper package will arrive containing aromatic perfection. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, a couple of months ago, it did. Or, close to perfection, anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To me it smells purple. Not only purple, but the exact right shade of purple. Dark and fully ripe. Plum, or blackberry wine, with bunches of green herbs and whole spices stewing within. I kind of want to lick my own wrists.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't fall in love instantly. In the pot (it's in solid form) it smells too fruity, too strong. On my skin however, the spice comes through, the green mingles with the purple and it turns mellow and lovely. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think it's <u><i>the one</i></u> (alas, is there such a thing?) (probably not for this fussbudget). It doesn't boast enough vanilla, and not quite enough spice either, but it is delightful and I enjoy smelling of purple while I keep searching. Just so long as I remember not to wield it like an olfactory dagger. Which, actually, when you love how something smells, is harder than I thought. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(<a href="http://www.sweetanthem.com/perfume/earthy-herbal/ayn/">This</a> is the perfume, for those who are interested in such things too) </span></i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-85324095273738757072011-02-18T18:00:00.001-05:002011-02-18T18:00:01.014-05:00Words Planted Like SeedsToday is a mirage. A preview of spring, nothing more. By Sunday all this will be frozen over again, encased in ice, piled high with snow. For today, however: icicles shrink, drain pipes gush and heads go hatless under a cloudless sky. I feel a breeze in my hair and it makes me shiver but not from cold. It's like a shard of June has broken off and fallen backwards through the seasons. I wonder if, later this year, we will come upon the fragment of February that it replaced. I wonder if we will go to sleep hot and sticky, in a world of parched grass and air conditioning only to wake up facing a blizzard? <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><br />
On Tuesday I entered the vault. When I heard that I was invited to visit a bank archive I thought <em>yawn</em> and <em>ah well, it'll look good for class</em>. <br />
<div align="center">*</div><div align="center"></div>I had to be escorted into the elevator by my obliging tour guide; the service elevator is the only one that goes to their floor. Not up, as I'd assumed, but down and into an old vault. We stepped through the giant metal door as if entering a submarine. We're under land though not water; a subterranean instead. <br />
<br />
I was surprised by how lovely it all was. It felt newly renovated. Despite the lack of windows it appeared to be a calm and comfortable place to work. Just three people in the department, all bookish and bright. <br />
<br />
There was a storeroom full of treasure. I don't know what I expected. I think I'd imagined that all I would see would be reams of graphs (printed on dot matrix, with tear-away edges) showing how the piles of gold belonging to the bank have grown over the years. <em>And this is when we signed a contract with The Prince of Darkness... see how dramatically our dividends increased after that quarter?</em> But of course it was not like that at all. It was dusty old ledgers from the 1820s and artwork purchased by the bank and prototypes of typewriters all gleaming brass keys encased in wood. <br />
<br />
The treasures were remarkable, of course, but the best bit was when my host sat me down to show me what she does every day. From outside looking in (not that you could, not that deep underground) it would not appear terribly exciting: cleaing old things, typing away about them in a database. But when she told me about it she beamed. <br />
<br />
<em>You are writing the history of the bank, of the city really, and of the items in our collection. This database is it, it's the record. I love my job</em>. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*</div><br />
I checked out the little museum on my way out. It's on the main floor and open to the public, unlike the rest of what I'd seen. There were more stories under glass. Crumbling bank notes from before Canada had its own currency; lovely 3D pictures of the construction of the Old Port (made of cut paper and little strips of wood); a handcarved letter opener. <br />
<div align="center">*</div><div align="center"></div>There are things in that vault, solid artifacts with ID numbers, a monetary value and a spot on a shelf. But the reason they matter is because they are placeholders for stories. They whisper, in their hidden lair under the cobblestones of Old Montreal, even if the only souls who hear are the archivists in the next room. It is a library like any other, a treasure trove made up of words whether they are printed on a page or whether they hover, invisible, in the air. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish I were an athlete but I am decidedly not. </div><br />
The truth is, the snowboard won. I get these ideas, I think that <em>maybe this time I will take to something immediately. I will show natural talent and I will swish down the hill in style</em>. And then, of course, reality hits and I am flailing in the snow with a large chunk of fiberglass strapped to my feet, on the verge of tears. How did I get to be so delicate? Have I always been this way? Everybody falls. Everybody gets back up and tries again. It is the only way to improve. I know this, I knew this before I inched up the bunny hill on the motorised ramp. It made no difference though, each time I collided with the mountain I felt the breath and starch both get knocked out of me. <br />
<br />
<em>Why does it have to </em><strong>hurt</strong><em> so much? When can I go in and drink hot chocolate? </em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em>*</em></div><br />
Just once it would be nice to be able to impress him. Just once it would be nice to see pride in his eyes rather than patience and pity. He spent the whole car ride back with his hand on my knee saying <em>You did so well, I'm so happy we went, You should have seen yourself on that last run</em>, but somehow I had trouble believing him. <br />
<br />
The next day I expected my tailbone to ache, but it didn't. The rest of me was sore though. Especially my arms and my fingers. All those times I had to hoist myself back up, doing backwards push-ups on a moving board.<br />
<br />
People asked how my weekend was and I found myself telling them that I went snowboarding. Just like that, like it was a fun outing and not abject humiliation. Everyone cooed and said <em>Oh my, that must have been hard! I'm too scared to try. Are you any good?</em> and I found myself chuckling and saying <em>No, not really, but everyone sucks at first. </em><br />
<br />
I guess I'll probably end up doing it again, won't I?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><br />
<br />
The past few days I've been trapped in my couch. I started reading <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/148406118">Room</a> and could not stop. Interruptions would not cease: work, making supper, sleep, hygene. I would have preferred that they leave me be, to read for as long as it took. <br />
<br />
It's not really my favourite kind of book but it is the kind that requires you to stay up with it, holding a flashlight if necessary, asking over and over <em><strong>what happens next</strong></em>?<br />
<br />
The language is deceptive. It seems simple but it isn't and it is now imprinted on my brain. I hear myself thinking in the cadence of a five year old and urging myself to be <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/glossary/Scave">scave</a>. If that sounds a little too precious, or if you think that books narrated by children are not your thing, I bet you would be surprised by this story. I bet you would be charmed and drawn in and moved to the edge of your seat. Or then again, maybe you wouldn't, but I was and I'm glad.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-76679430100928773152011-02-10T08:55:00.000-05:002011-02-10T08:55:09.214-05:00Art Therapy<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have files on my computer, heavy with pigment. Folders full of photographs, paintings, illustrations and digital renderings. I seek them out, almost compulsively and then I collect them, hoard them, stash them away. I use them as my desktop wallpaper and sigh each time I close a window. When I feel low, or when I just want to see something nice I pore over the images and find a balm for the ugliness that can, at times, threaten to overwhelm. </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVLz4gqpR7I/AAAAAAAACB4/E61SzgctboA/s1600/that%2527s+just+it+photos+-+tiny+flowers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVLz4gqpR7I/AAAAAAAACB4/E61SzgctboA/s400/that%2527s+just+it+photos+-+tiny+flowers.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL0d3R_h0I/AAAAAAAACB8/JQmR9hurJ5A/s1600/that%2527s+just+it+photos+-+snowy+window.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL0d3R_h0I/AAAAAAAACB8/JQmR9hurJ5A/s400/that%2527s+just+it+photos+-+snowy+window.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The above two photos are by <a href="http://thatsjustitphoto.com/about/">Tim </a>of <a href="http://thatsjustitphoto.com/">that's just it photo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL2J-WHqUI/AAAAAAAACCE/KR5oUig8VbA/s1600/otherbobinskyattic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL2J-WHqUI/AAAAAAAACCE/KR5oUig8VbA/s400/otherbobinskyattic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept artwork for the film Coraline, by <a href="http://christurnham.tumblr.com/">Chris Turnham</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL8ruUhsbI/AAAAAAAACCI/GAGmu0poD4w/s1600/flight3_preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL8ruUhsbI/AAAAAAAACCI/GAGmu0poD4w/s400/flight3_preview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flightcomics.com/">Flight</a> 3 Cover, by <a href="http://www.boltcity.com/">Kazu Kibuishi</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL0fugYgVI/AAAAAAAACCA/NPd_4qMi0lI/s1600/11_santamonicapier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVL0fugYgVI/AAAAAAAACCA/NPd_4qMi0lI/s400/11_santamonicapier.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Monica Pier by <a href="http://alicestevenson.com/">Alice Stevenson</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_B1BD--Ieo/TVPny6fmDoI/AAAAAAAACC8/U9WQ6_pbeO4/s1600/Portrait+with+black+bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_B1BD--Ieo/TVPny6fmDoI/AAAAAAAACC8/U9WQ6_pbeO4/s400/Portrait+with+black+bunny.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV2PBaUF6ZE/TVPn-F2dl3I/AAAAAAAACDA/EyX0vMnI2lE/s1600/oddfellow+girl+%2526+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV2PBaUF6ZE/TVPn-F2dl3I/AAAAAAAACDA/EyX0vMnI2lE/s400/oddfellow+girl+%2526+bear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pI8wljniDcc/TVPnujcBIvI/AAAAAAAACC4/ACOiAqGKADQ/s1600/three+spring+lovelies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pI8wljniDcc/TVPnujcBIvI/AAAAAAAACC4/ACOiAqGKADQ/s400/three+spring+lovelies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait with Black Bunny, Leaving the Orphanage and Three Springtime Gals by <a href="http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/">Emily Martin</a> (aka <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/theblackapple">The Black Apple</a>) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKBPTdt8WSw/TVPqMX2BBfI/AAAAAAAACDE/IrIhCPzCAOY/s1600/fullbodytattoo-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKBPTdt8WSw/TVPqMX2BBfI/AAAAAAAACDE/IrIhCPzCAOY/s400/fullbodytattoo-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vaSDpBZiCNI/TVPqNYnriyI/AAAAAAAACDI/Cl4YQAkts-c/s1600/inthegallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vaSDpBZiCNI/TVPqNYnriyI/AAAAAAAACDI/Cl4YQAkts-c/s400/inthegallery.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgAMmq90a44/TVPqUtjDjpI/AAAAAAAACDM/AHBaxwGxDaU/s1600/birthdaybig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgAMmq90a44/TVPqUtjDjpI/AAAAAAAACDM/AHBaxwGxDaU/s400/birthdaybig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full Body Tattoo, In the Gallery and Birthday by <a href="http://jenwang.net/">Jen Wang</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMCtLxphoI/AAAAAAAACCQ/aaBymnm--Kc/s1600/Diana+S+blackoyster_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMCtLxphoI/AAAAAAAACCQ/aaBymnm--Kc/s400/Diana+S+blackoyster_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMC4YcMlFI/AAAAAAAACCc/DdXkwmdhaCc/s1600/DSBearMountainDETAIL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMC4YcMlFI/AAAAAAAACCc/DdXkwmdhaCc/s400/DSBearMountainDETAIL.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMC1XC4lTI/AAAAAAAACCY/8CoH_q3anAo/s1600/Diana+Sudyka+Anarctic+waters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMC1XC4lTI/AAAAAAAACCY/8CoH_q3anAo/s400/Diana+Sudyka+Anarctic+waters.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oyster Catcher, Bear Mountain (detail) and Anarctic Waters by <a href="http://www.dianasudyka.com/">Diana Sudyka</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHluLNBtI/AAAAAAAACCs/88JOY_ZFoHs/s1600/stasia-burrington-tangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHluLNBtI/AAAAAAAACCs/88JOY_ZFoHs/s400/stasia-burrington-tangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHd2E479I/AAAAAAAACCg/VFnuKUm9UTc/s1600/knee-deep-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="293" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHd2E479I/AAAAAAAACCg/VFnuKUm9UTc/s400/knee-deep-4.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHjrPF8SI/AAAAAAAACCo/tKQsex0cGcE/s1600/shark-bite-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHjrPF8SI/AAAAAAAACCo/tKQsex0cGcE/s320/shark-bite-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHgfnK1_I/AAAAAAAACCk/bq6ObVQlpsU/s1600/molt-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TVMHgfnK1_I/AAAAAAAACCk/bq6ObVQlpsU/s400/molt-small.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tangled, Knee Deep, Shark Bite and (I think this is the name) Molt by <a href="http://stasiab.wordpress.com/">Stasia Burrington</a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm so taken with Stasia's work that I actually own all of these images in some form or another in real life, not just in files on my computer (her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/stasiab">shop</a> is full of beautiful things).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I am checking my mailbox this week, for Molt as a pendant. That's actually not the finished piece; the completed version can be seen </span><a href="http://stasiab.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/official-drawgasmic-submission/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">, and it is breath-taking, but I really love this stage of the drawing for some reason. I even kind of like the fact that it's not finished. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvkMvBSI4CE/TVPmJJJK2cI/AAAAAAAACC0/Ty38-aBjmIw/s1600/my+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvkMvBSI4CE/TVPmJJJK2cI/AAAAAAAACC0/Ty38-aBjmIw/s320/my+necklace.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-70932006903155003292011-02-08T23:00:00.000-05:002011-02-08T23:00:48.419-05:00Internet Whiplash. And snow. Not in that order.<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was snowing gently on my walk to work this morning. Something I'd never realized before moving to colder climes was that under the right conditions snow actually falls in tiny, perfect flakes. Cartoonishly perfect. <i>Exactly like those paper ones we cut out</i>. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think the first time I noticed this was sitting in a car and seeing them land on the windshield in little piles and slowly melt against the glass.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have this idea that I'd like to take a photo of them, the way I see them as I walk along, against my dark purple scarf. I keep meaning to bring my camera out with me when the conditions are right, but somehow I never do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">+++</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Have you ever gotten whiplash on the internet? What I mean by that is you go along reading your usual list of sites, maybe a clever writer here, a webcomic there, all regular daily stuff, but then someone links to a site that's new to you (without warning, possibly) or they write something out of character and suddenly you are blindsided by grief. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday I found myself <a href="http://www.darcypadilla.com/thejulieproject/intro.html">here</a>, directed from <a href="http://www.dooce.com/">here</a> (not a site I read a lot, but on occasion), and I continue to feel haunted by what I saw and read. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am warning you now, it is a devastating story. It starts off breaking your heart and then just gets worse. I'm not sure what I think of making a photo documentary of someone's life in that way. I'm still thinking about it though, and about Julie, which is perhaps the whole point. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">[Note: If you are curious, but worried, you will probably get the idea by following the link and reading the introduction. That part, and much of the rest of it, is safe for work, as they say, but there are parts that are not and there are parts that are just too difficult to really look at regardless of your surroundings.]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's probably a natural reaction to witness a thing like that and be horrified and then, quickly, to start thanking your lucky stars. To watch your own woes shrink to the size of those snowflakes, and then melt away. It would be nice to think that this change was permanent, that it was a forever kind of thing and that <i>from this moment forth I shall never again be petty or take my good fortune for granted</i>. Oh, but it doesn't work like that. I'm sure I was petty again within about fourteen seconds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why is this weirdo standing next to me at the crosswalk, GO AWAY WEIRDO. </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What do you </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">mean</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> you don't have the plum doughnuts? </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The zipper on my tall boots snapped off. The whole world is conspiring against me again, isn't it??? </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's too hard to be raw and grateful all of the time. But it is good to be reminded. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I want to say something about the more important reminder, that of human suffering and the cost of privilege (aka "good fortune") and <i>what on Earth can we <b>do</b></i> <i>about it all?</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But I don't think I can without sounding preachy and being a complete hypocrite. Because what do I do? I try to be kind and mostly I'm wrapped up in my own worries. Like everyone else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">+++</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Walking home from yoga tonight the temperature had dropped. Despite the earlier flurries, the morning really hadn't been terribly cold. That's another thing I learned by moving east; the coldest days are the clearest ones. Sun at the window lulls you into lighter fabrics, more exposed skin, maybe even a skirt. Don't be fooled though, it's a trick. Cloud cover acts as a blanket, trapping the heat. It's better to wear skirts when it's snowing, and snow pants when it isn't. Go figure. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It actually sounded cold - the drop in temperature meant that the snow was squeaky underfoot. It's quite pretty when it's that cold though. The stars come out, and the places where the snow is left untouched glitters under the streetlights. All those tiny, perfect flakes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-9777962058429856372011-02-03T06:14:00.000-05:002011-02-03T06:14:47.713-05:00<div style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Recap</b></u><b>: </b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>December</b> - Blur! Pretty lights, good food. </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>January</b> - Blarg. Three weeks of convalescence (so far). One thing after another and I am feeling all Victorian and consumptive. I even had to postpone a long-awaited voyage. Curses. </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><b style="font-family: inherit;">February</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Brrr. It is deep winter. Snow is piling up to the eaves and we are tucked away </span>inside. Except when we have to go out and then we wear the clothing equivalent of puffy comforters. I'm still not fully well, and I have some trouble sleeping. So I am awake, sometimes, in the darkest parts of the night. I feel like Moomintroll - awake when all the world is hibernating. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TUqNSDJyUiI/AAAAAAAACB0/_LXSjk502JM/s1600/moomintroll.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TUqNSDJyUiI/AAAAAAAACB0/_LXSjk502JM/s320/moomintroll.gif" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-43877509097862543412010-11-19T13:30:00.009-05:002010-11-19T13:30:00.228-05:00I may not be a morning person, but he sure as hell is.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was still dark when I opened my eyes. Today I woke up a full twenty minutes before my alarm and for once I didn't just take advantage and fall back to my pillow. This may have had something to do with an insistent prodding from the foot of the bed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I swept the kitchen floor before unrolling my mat. The dust moved in beguiling eddies, inviting someone to play. I shooed him to little avail. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stretched out, feeling my spinal column click into place. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cat pose. So-called because of the way it invites the household pet to curl up underneath your torso. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Inhale, arch your back and look up.</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>(Shove the cat off the mat.)</em> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Exhale, bow your back and look down.</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>(Shove the cat off the mat.)</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Inhale, arch your back and look up.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>(Shove the cat off the mat.)</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And so on with each pose. I couldn't lay my hands on the heinous spray bottle so I improvised and flicked water at him from the nearby tap. It worked. For about ninety seconds. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There's probably a lesson in there. About tolerence and finding peace within the chaos of life. Can I learn the lesson while hissing that he's an evil, interfering little troll?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Eventually we reached a compromise. He flopped over on his side <em>right next</em> to the mat. Touching it with the tips of his paws. I, in turn, made some effort not to land on his tail. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was statuesque in seated meditation. Pure white marble, shining with the light of the gods. He circled me, a complete disregard for deference, and rubbed his chin against my circled thumb and forefinger. Enlightenment is challenging with fifteen pounds of fur and menace climbing all over your lap. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">By now the sky had lightened. Branches made zigzags against an indigo backdrop. Movements could be heard in the apartment above ours as I rolled up the mat (might I have flicked it with unecessary vigor because I know it startles him? Of course not). One car, down the street, pulled away and left for work. And then, soon after, another. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I switched the light on in the bathroom, getting ready to shower. He beat me to my task and jumped, eager, from the ground to the toilet to the sink. Imploring me to turn on the tap. But not too much, lest he soak his whiskers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When I stepped out of the shower, dripping, I found there was only a small corner of the bath mat available to me. Even a cascade of drops did not deter my interloper. Nor did a towel to the face. Oh no, that was just a plaything and had him on his back sprawled out, batting at the frayed edge and pushing me off onto the tile. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I congratulated myself when I saw the time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>I have a full half-hour for breakfast. That means <strong>coffee</strong>.</em> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My daredevil companion curled around my feet as I put the tiny espresso pot on the bright red burner. What are scaldings, nicks from the paring knife I use to cut up a plum, or bruises from a fall when they come with such love, such devotion? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I wanted to curse him but when I saw him trotting ahead of me, towards the living room couch, and I saw his low-slung cat belly swaying and his paws pitter-pattering my anger gave way to mirth. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We sat together while I ate. I knew he was just siddling up to me because he was greedy for the yogurt in my bowl, but who can resist such softness, such perfect feined feline adoration?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">***</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I closed the door on my way out, not running for once, just heading out for work unflustered, unhurried. I caught a glimpse of him, settling in atop the plumpest pillow on the supplest part of the couch. He was licking white droplets from his muzzle and adjusting his whiskers so as to appear suitably rakish and handsome. I turned the key and shook my head, smitten as always.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-90267876126645477222010-11-09T09:44:00.003-05:002010-11-09T09:45:17.484-05:00Lumos<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1999 – Montreal</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Daytime talk shows are not the best company to keep but I am the night shift manager at a Second Cup and I have little to occupy me in the period between waking and working. So, one winter afternoon finds me stretched out on my roommate’s couch flicking between our five or so channels.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosie O’Donnell is interviewing an English writer I’ve never heard of. The writer seems a bit star struck, not used to the attention of Hollywood. Rosie is raving about the book. A kids book, something to do with magic. The writer tells us that she wrote it on napkins in a café while her infant daughter napped. They flash the cover. Rosie makes the writer swear to cast her in the movie.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“And mark my words audience – <b><i><u>there will be a movie</u></i></b>!”</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The segment ends with Rosie giving this woman a computer. So she can write the sequel on something more substantial than a napkin.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Within a week I make my way over to the Chapters on Saint Catherine. The kids’ books are on the bottom level, but it isn’t the bright cornucopia it will become. I brush aside cobwebs and scan the shelves. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A guy in a red vest goes by with a cart. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Can I help you find something?”</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I give him the title. I’ve forgotten the author, but it doesn’t matter. He’s never heard of it. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Thanks anyway.”</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I turn back and with some diligence turn up a trade paperback with a red locomotive, billowing purple steam and a boy with a jagged scar on the cover. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1999 – Montreal (a few months later)</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things have gotten tricky. I am not a happy person. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Home</i>. I need to go home. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am at the airport. Someone that I love has brought me here, and knows I’m going but doesn’t understand why. He is the kindest person I have ever met. My heart breaks to leave him, but every instinct tells me that to save myself I’ve got to go home.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A painful goodbye, a take-off. Above the clouds I pull out the book I brought to read. To take my mind off things a bit. There’s a flying car on the cover. It’s silly and sweet and it lulls me all the way across the granite Shield, the endless prairies, over the jagged edge of the Rockies, to where my province dips her toes in the Pacific. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Home</i>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1999 – Mission, BC </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The air is so clean, so wet and green. My lungs drink it in. I am dizzy from the sudden influx of oxygen.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I go to the grocery store with mom, trailing behind her. I am a child again, it seems. I pick up gourmet jelly beans and a book. Some kind of bird-creature on the cover, wings outstretched. It’s a little thrilling to discover that the third one in the series is already out. It’s a comforting place to put my aching brain. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2000 – Vancouver</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things have improved in leaps and bounds. The hardest part is that once your mind has dipped into those dark places, once it knows the way, it threatens to return with ease at some slight provocation. You get a bit wary of the possibility of relapse. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fourth book is coming out, and I'm looking forward to it. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wander over to the Chapters on Robson Street to pick up a copy on release day. It's only midday and I am surprised to discover that they’ve already sold out. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2003 – Hamilton, On. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am in this town learning to be a midwife. For a brief span it is my <i>calling</i>, my life’s work. I am happy, working hard and in good company. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson learned: I pre-order my copy of book five at a little local bookshop. I am not the only one.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2005 – St. Catharines, On. and then Montreal (again)</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have left the midwifery program. I don’t know it yet but it will be for good. As in, for ever, and also for my own good. For good. It is good that I left. But it also fills me with grief for the loss of this image I’ve forged of myself. Now I can never be <i>her</i>. Now I have to create a new <i>her</i>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I find my way back to Montreal, and to him. Even with this new crisis I am in better spirits, better health than last time. I find that despite the time and everything that has passed there is still love. He is still the kindest person I have ever met.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Summer. Once again I find myself at the Chapters on St Catherine. This time, instead of rooting through a basement trough I am shuttled upstairs to a special table that’s been set up on the third floor. A long, snaking line is forming for book six. Looking at the crates piled everywhere, I think they’ve ordered enough copies. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2006 (Christmas) – Montreal</b><br />
<br />
Best gift ever. Better than the Barbie camper van I got when I was seven. Better than the combo tv/vcr as a graduation gift. Better than a diamond ring. </span> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I get an ipod. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No big deal, everyone has them. Except it is a big deal, it is magic. Portable music. Of course I’ve been doing that since I slid “Fields of Fire” into my neon yellow walkman in 1986. <i>But did you know that you can get books on these things?</i><b> Audio</b>books? People who read to you, leaving your hands free to chop carrots or paint or enter data while the story washes over you? </span> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s a revelation. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2007 – Still Montreal</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The heat of summer hasn’t really hit. It still feels nice to be outside, at night. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do something unspeakably nerdy. I attend a release party that culminates at midnight, when the bookshop sellers are contractually allowed to hand over our copies of book seven. The last one there will ever be.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The party is painfully tiny. It’s painful in a lot of ways. It’s like the smallest Star Trek convention ever held. Still, it is fun and I float home on a city bus crowded with adults sporting striped scarves and stuffed snowy owls. I think they went to bigger parties.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*** </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wonder if, for the other attendees, this is tantamount to filling a prescription for antidepressants. That sounds crazy. Am I crazy? I have no interest in dressing up as characters. I am only mildly interested in the film versions. I've never read any of the slash fiction, I swear. I don’t have a great deal of difficulty in predicting the outcome of this epic. I count other books, other authors as my precious favourites. But there is something about this series that coos to my hind-brain and makes me glad. </span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I finish the last sentence later that weekend, on a breezy terrace. A short bus ride away from where I began the first sentence, nine years ago, but a world away none the less. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first I hate the ending. With subsequent re-readings I will come to like it. At that moment, setting the book down, I feel bereft. But also, grateful. <span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Present – Montreal</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The books gather dust, but I’m sure I will pull them out again one day, when I have someone small to read them to. The audio versions get played about once a year. Or when I can’t sleep. Or when I’m agitated. It is an auditory soother, hot cocoa for my ears. It’s silly and sweet and lulls my mind away from those dark traps. It’s a tiny point of light when I need it to be. <span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662685189042091066.post-82983206756481965332010-10-13T19:05:00.000-04:002010-10-13T19:05:07.558-04:00Octoberish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love the way taking out of focus pictures makes them look like polaroids. Or at least it does to my eyes. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TLY4mkWi7BI/AAAAAAAAB_k/vDDPzqBVrLM/s1600/2010+-+10.13+157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TLY4mkWi7BI/AAAAAAAAB_k/vDDPzqBVrLM/s1600/2010+-+10.13+157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TLY4mkWi7BI/AAAAAAAAB_k/vDDPzqBVrLM/s400/2010+-+10.13+157.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_owzlgaP7hOo/TLY2bbmJ6PI/AAAAAAAAB-s/SeLmlAkeF8E/s1600/2010+-+10.13+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6