Professor Alexander Herrmann. Herrmann’s Book of Magic. Chicago, Frederick J Drake & Company, 1903.
Via: Fourmilab, where you can read the book and maybe learn a trick or two.
Avalus has an eye for the small things of this world and it seems he also has an eye-out.
This little fella’ was hopping on the sidewalk next to a shop. I warded it from traffic and overly curious people that try to touch it for about ten minutes. It tried to fly but only managed big hops until eventually it succeeded and flew away.
Birdy ©Avalus, all rights reserved
From Nightjar,
D is for Desert, ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Desert.
A deep tone of beige that resembles the color of the flat areas of the desert. Lacking a nearby desert I went to the beach and found a desert-colored seashell.
Jack and Leo at the Park, ©voyager, all rights reserved
It’s another hot and humid day here and Jack and I only walked as far as the corner and back. Jack was a good boy and got his business done quickly (Good poop, Mr. Schnoop!) and then he turned toward home, anxious for his cool tile floor and A/C vent. He’s still limping a bit on his rt. leg, but you have to look closely to see it. I’ve been watching that leg from behind every day for 11 years so I notice the small stuff. One more day and he’ll be totally back to normal and hopefully he won’t get quite as excited next time he and Leo play together. This photo from early spring is Jack playing with Leo at the park.
Mabel Osgood Wright. Birdcraft. New York, London: The MacMillen Company, 1897.
From Nightjar…
C is for Crimson ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Crimson.
A strong red with a slight bluish tint. Historically, it’s the color of the kermes dye, a red dye derived from the dried bodies of insects belonging to the genus Kermes. Kermesic acid is the pigment that gives the dye its color. I found a similar hue on a sunburnt rose.
Mt. Joli with the Perce Rock in the background ©voyager, all rights reserved
Well, it’s not raining. In fact, it’s a hot, sunny day here which just goes to show that weather forecasting is an inexact science. Jack and I haven’t gone for a walk today partly because of the heat and partly because Jack got a bit over-excited last evening while playing with his best friend Leo (who is only 4 and half Jack’s size) and he’s limping a bit on his right back leg. It’s not serious, Bubba has a bit of arthritis in that hip and sometimes it gives him a bit of grief. Maybe tonight when the temp goes down a bit (it’s 30° C right now) I’ll take him down to the end of the street and back, but for now Jack has positioned himself in front of the A/C vent and is happily asleep. Our photo today is where Jack and I wish we were. This is the beach across the street from my mother-in-law’s house in Perce, Quebec.
Dainty Bits. Water Lily Series. Edited by Miss L. Penney. New York, The National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1891.
A children’s book full of stories and rhymes about the evils of alcohol. Some of the chapter titles include “Old Pussy’s Advice” and “Thoughtless Dick.”
Source – University of Florida, George Smithers Libraries, where you can read the entire book
From Nightjar…
B is for Black ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Black.
My cat Mia was kind enough to help with this one by posing for me.
©voyager, all rights reserved
It’s been ridiculously humid here today and it’s given me a good dose of double gravity. Even Jack was moving slowly on our walk this morning and without his usual wagging wiggle. He’s normally so puppy-like that I forget he’s 11 years old, but watching him this morning I saw every one of those 11 years in his plodding slowness. Normally, I’d say tomorrow will be a better day, but it’s supposed to rain for the next 4 days so it might be better, but probably not.
Embers and the Giants by Canadian artist Kelly Richardson – source CBC Arts
Canadian artist Kelly Richardson loves trees, especially the trees in the old growth rain forests on Vancouver Island where her latest work Embers and the Giants was filmed. Richardson fears for the future of these ancient trees and with good reason – deforestation is happening at an alarming rate and it’s recently been announced that another 109 hectares of pristine forest will be auctioned off.
Richardson’s work may prompt you to consider how we relate to nature as a species and to consider what the future may look like if we don’t choose a different path. In this video made by filmmaker Lisa Wu, you’ll travel to the forest with Richardson and get to see her at work making the landscape come alive in Embers and the Giants. The film was commissioned to participate in the XL Outer Worlds project celebrating the 50th anniversary of IMAX.
Canadian artist Kelly Richardson – source CBC Arts
Embers and the Giants will be at the Toronto Biennial of Art in Fall 2019, and then it’s travelling both across Canada and internationally. You can find out more about Kelly Richardson and her work here.
I’d like to thank rq for pointing this story my way.
via: CBC Arts
Today’s beautiful old book comes from the collection of Anne, Cranky Cat Lady.
Charles Hitchcock Sherrill. Stained Glass Tours in England. London, J. Lane, The Bodley Head, 1909.
For anyone interested, the entire book can be accessed at the Internet Archive.
From Nightjar…
A is for Amber ©Nightjar, all rights reserved
Amber.
The name comes from the fossilized tree resin, but I found the color amber all over the sky.