Rare pair of pocket watches circa 1815 reached over $2 million . . .

Geneva, Switzerland: Watch auctioneer Antiquorum set new two new auction records with its important collector's wristwatches, pocket watches, clocks and horological tools auction last weekend, November 15–16.

The star of the sale was "The Royal Presentation Mirror-Image Pair" of gold and painted on enamel and pearl-set, rare pocket watches made circa 1815, which reached a worldwide auction price of $2,177,554.

A Patek Philippe pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph, saw enthusiastic bidding that also propelled it to a world record price of $1,148,891.

"The extraordinary results indicate that the passion for rare and important watches continues despite worldwide economic concerns," said Robert Maron, chairman of Antiquorum. The entire auction totaled $12 million.

All prices have been converted from Swiss Francs to US dollars.

When you go home for Thanksgiving, check all the jewelry boxes and ask all your relatives if they have any old family timepieces.

Take care of your antiques and they'll take care of you.

Thanksgiving Turkey Illustrated Quote . . .

THANKSGIVING

SOLD

I can't believe Thanksgiving Day is one week from tomorrow. It is my favorite holiday; no presents...just food...what could be better than that? I am still mowing the grass! I saw pictures on the news of a big snowstorm in upstate New York that is probably headed my way. I am using my walk-behind mower because of a problem with the rider. It's always something, isn't it? I should finish today...after 3 straight days. It looks great; nice and short with no leaves! I have to get busy and start polishing some silver. I will use this Georgian silver food warming dome to cover the turkey on my early Staffordshire well and tree platter. The best part of this great North American holiday is the leftovers. Everything tastes better to the cook the second time around. I made the first graphic long ago. I still love it. The scan is from one of my antiquarian books. 

Coldplay | Viva La Vida | three versions . . .

With Chris Martin:


With Lyrics so you can sing along:


PS22 Chorus .. Thanks to Deanna.

Benjamin Franklin Money and Lending Quote . . .

If Benjamin Franklin were alive today, he would definitely be blogging about the financial crisis and the credit crunch!

This quote is from Poor Richard's Almanack. Very timely, isn't it?

Margaret Mead Quote . . .

Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
American anthropologist whose great fame owed as much to the force of her personality and her outspokedness as it did to the quality of her scientific work.

Random images that caught my eye . . .

Each one can be enlarged.

I couldn't possibly pick a favorite.

Really like the last one called Victorian London.

Source: pixdaus

Plant your tulip bulbs now . . .

This article was published in May 2008 showing the Dutch bulb fields photographed from the air.

The photo above shows six million tulips coming into flower. The bulbs were planted in late October and early November and are ready to be picked in May. They are sold as bunches of cut flowers in floral shops and supermarkets. More than three billion tulips are grown each year and two-thirds of the vibrant blooms are exported, mostly to the U.S. and Germany.

Their dazzling colors are thanks to the years in the 17th century when Tulipmania swept the globe and the most eye-catching specimens changed hands for a small fortune.

This colorful landscape is a short-lived phenomenon. When the flowers are gone, the land will be cultivated for vegetables.

Enjoy your Sunday. Don't these photos make you want to plant bulbs? I have to stick with daffodils because the deer have eaten every tulip I ever planted. Boo Hoo.

Defend Equality ~ Love Unites | must see . . .

DEFEND EQUALITY

LOVE UNITES

The poster above illustrates Keith Olbermann's compelling video. Once you start watching you will not be able to turn away. This is the best thing I have ever seen from him. Please watch...you will not be sorry.

Pollen mixture magnified through an electron microscope . . .

Pollen from a variety of common plants: sunflower, morning glory, hollyhock, lily, primrose and caster bean. The largest one at center is nearly 100 microns wide (human hair is approximately 100 microns thick). (Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility ~ Dartmouth College)

Now I know why honey bees are so fond of pollen---because it is so beautiful!

Please visit The Big Picture for a fascinating 32-photo essay entitled Peering into the Micro World.

My favorite quote by William Morris . . .

A page torn from an old Good Housekeeping magazine.



William Morris 1834-1896
British writer, designer, artist and socialist.

The trials and tribulations of living with a cat . . .

Cold and rainy here.

Brrr! Shiver.

Considering a nap.

Or a movie.

Or a cup of tea.

The aristocratic cat in the photo would never resort to the tactics of the cat in the video.

Just something silly to amuse you until my creative juices start flowing again.

Also experimenting with a new arrangement of photo and text. I wonder how it will look when uploaded? UPDATE: I didn't nap or watch a movie or drink tea...raked leaves instead! Hooray.