This is the oil which birthed Antimacassars. My great-grandmothers and grandmother had antimacassars on everything. Click for full size!
Macassar Oil, An oily Puff for Soft Heads. Thomas Rowlandson, Etching coloured, 1814. Subject: Macassar Oil, Rowland’s Oil,Alexander Rowland,baldness,hair Tonic, Hair Oil,Proprietary Medicines.
Some of the buildings had inscriptions either in the woodwork or in the plaster. Some of the older ones represent possibly medieval equivalent of twitter – quips and deepities.
©Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
Rick & Chas have cuddle time. Click for full size.
© C. Ford, all rights reserved.
The Agonist – Take Me To Church. Oh, that voice! Vicky Psarakis is peerless. Lyrics below the fold. [Read more…]
From Giliell, click for full size!
© Giliell, all rights reserved.
A beautiful moth from Avalus. I’m pretty sure it’s a Hawk Moth, perhaps a Lime Hawk Moth. Spot the moth in the last photo. Click for full size!
© Avalus, all rights reserved.
A Great Tit gets the caterpillar from Giliell, click for full size!
© Giliell, all rights reserved.
I am terrified of snakes. Intellectually I know that most of them are harmless, especially where I live, but that knowledge doesn’t really help when I’m confronted with one. My heart pounds, I find it hard to breathe and my body freezes. It’s ridiculous, especially for someone who likes to walk in wildish places. So I’ve recently started to watch snake videos in an attempt to desensitize myself and I’ve now gotten to the point where I can watch a whole video without closing my eyes or cringing (mostly.) Why am I telling you all this? Because today I actually saw a real live snake and stopped to take his picture. I feel so brave. I took several shots, but I was a bit shaky and only one turned out. There was some heart pounding and I’m pretty sure I was holding my breath, but I didn’t freeze. Admittedly this snake was sitting still and not wriggling, but I’m not going to let a little detail like that keep me from feeling good. So now, I proudly present the first snake that I’ve ever said hello to.
©voyager, all rights reserved
If you missed the beginning, it’s here. Click for full size. ETA: I’ve found translations, but I’m not sure as to their reliability.
Emperor.
Todt zum Keyser:
HErr Keyser mit dem grawen Bart,
Euwr Reuw habt ihr zu lang gespart,
Drumb sperrt euch nicht, Ihr müßt darvon,
Und tantz’n nach meiner Pfeiffen thon.
Death to The Emperor:
Mr. Emperor with the gray beard,
You have long saved your repentance.
Therefore, do not struggle, you must from here
and dance after my fife’s tone.
Der Keyser.
Ich kundte das Reich gar wol mehren
Mit Streitten, Fechten, Unrecht wehren:
Nun hat der Todt uberwunden mich,
Daß ich bin keinem Keyser gleich.
The Emperor.
I was able to increase the kingdom considerably,
with war and fight prevented injustice.
Now Death has won over me,
so that I’m not [any longer] like an emperor.
Empress.
Todt zur Keyserin:
ICh tantz euch vor Fraw Keyserin,
Springen hernach, der tantz ist mein:
Euwr Hofleut sind von Euch gewichen,
Der Todt hat euch hie auch erschlichen.
Death to The Empress:
I dance beforeyou, Mrs. Empress,
Dance after, the dance is mine.
Your courtiers have left you,
Death has here sneaked up on you too.
Die Keyserin:
VIel Wollüst hat mein stoltzer Leib,
Ich lebt alß eines Keysers Weib:
Nun muß ich an diesen Tantz kommen,
Mir ist all Muth und Frewd genommen.
The empress:
My proud body had much pleasure.
I lived as an emperor’s wife.
Now I must come to this dance.
All spirits and joy have been taken from me.
From rq, a most beautiful art work: So out of that comment conversation earlier this morning/today, I made some art that looks completely unrelated but came out of the emotions. Also it is called “Life is Not a Ringing Bell” and I have decided to dedicate it to Rick. Such a beautiful piece, filled with quiet emotion and love. Life is not ringing a bell, but it is having a partner who loves you enough to nag you into doing what you should, and having a friend who can express that so well. Thank you is so very inadequate. Click for full size.
© rq, all rights reserved.
Click for full size.
The Winding Up of the Medical Report of the Walcheren Expedition. Thomas Rowlandson, Etching coloured, 1810. Subject: Lucas Pepys (1742-1830), Robert Jackson (1750-1827), Thomas Keate (1745-1821), Dr. James’ Fever Powder, Chelsea Hospital, Walcheren Campaign, Military Medicine, Medical Boards, Drugs.
The Walcheren Campaign involved little fighting, but heavy losses from the sickness popularly dubbed “Walcheren Fever”. Although more than 4,000 British troops died during the expedition, only 106 died in combat; the survivors withdrew on 9 December. […] Along with the 4,000 men that had died during the campaign, almost 12,000 were still ill by February 1810 and many others remained permanently weakened. Those sent to the Peninsular War to join Wellington’s army caused a permanent doubling of the sick lists there.
As for ‘Look Ass Peeps’ (Lucas Pepys):
In 1794 Pepys was made physician-general to the army, and was president of an army medical board, on which it was his duty to nominate all the army physicians. When so many soldiers fell ill of fever at Walcheren, he was ordered to go there and report. As a consequence the board was abolished; but Pepys was granted a pension.
One of our cacti has blossomed this year, one whose blossoms open only for one night. So I had to take the picture in late evening sun.
And as I was walking from the glasshouse, I took a shot of the elderberry too.
©Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
From Giliell, click for full size!
© Giliell, all rights reserved.