Thursday, July 21, 2011

Catherine in Trench and Red Scarf

Proof that it's not hot everywhere. She looks stunning in whatever she wears, doesn't she. Her taste is impeccable. And she always looks so happy.

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First Garden

at her first home.
So lovely!

Cats at Home

 
I absolutely love illustrations of animals doing people things in domestic surroundings. These cats have a real eye for interior design and they have such varied interests. I especially like the kitchen under the stairs; totally charming. This split level could work very nicely for people too. ©Franco Matticchio, illustration for "Gioia Casa" 2006 via Flickr.

Wheelin' Tortoise

A 12-year-old African spur-thighed tortoise shows off his new front "leg" at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Gamera had to have his leg removed after an infection set in. To aid in the tortoise's recovery, doctors at WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital replaced his leg with a small swiveling ball-type caster attached to its shell with an epoxy adhesive. AP Photo/BCU/WSU, Henry Moore, Jr.

The nearly teenage mutant turtle is particularly good at moving toward food, and has gained 3 pounds since the wheel was attached. He's getting around too since the caster-style appendage allows navigation on both flat and lumpy surfaces like lawns. The 23-pound tortoise was named Gamera after the giant flying turtle of the old Japanese monster movies. 
I love this happy story, don't you?

Heatwave Solution | Bulldog on Ice

If you see a pile of ice this week, jump in it. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Newborn Baby Asian Elephant | You Will Love Her


Newborn female Asiatic Elephant (Elephas Maximus) calf born to Johti, a 44-year-old, at Ostrava’s Zoo in the Czech Republic. The calf was born on April 15. Photo by Joe Klamar - May 31, 2011

Asian elephants have a maximum recorded lifespan of 86 years. Story and more pictures available here.

Painted Porch Floor


I couldn't have done a better job myself laying out the diamonds on this painted porch floor. Whole white diamonds edge to edge and half black diamonds making the border. It takes a lot of math to figure out a pattern using only full diamonds and half diamonds. Very nice indeed.

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15th Century BOOK OF HOURS - Heart-Shaped When Opened

The little book of hours of Amiens Nicolas Blairie, carefully written on a thin Ruling rose, but modestly decorated with some original illuminations in ink (folio 29), has the curious shape of an almond when it is closed. When it opens, the two halves of the almond bloom to fit the contours of a heart, concrete evocation of the heart of the person praying the prayer that opens.

The Book of Hours was a devotional book popular in the later Middle Ages. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and psalms, often with appropriate decorations, for Christian devotion. Illumination or decoration is minimal in many examples, often restricted to decorated capital letters at the start of psalms and other prayers, but books made for wealthy patrons may be extremely lavish, with full-page miniatures. BNF - L'Aventures des écritures. Matières et formes : Livre d’heures à l’usage d’Amiens