Some Mornings

The Book of Kells -- Online Learning

So I signed up for a free online course from Trinity College, Dublin and am learning about the Book of Kells  -- that amazingly beautiful and ornate illuminated manuscript from the 9th Century -- and the society that produced this treasure.

I love learning new things. I was amazed to learn that in the 10th Century, Irish monasteries had established foundations (other monasteries) across Europe -- in France, Germany, Italy, and as far east as Vienna.

I am also enchanted by the calligraphy (insular majuscule it's called) and find myself strongly tempted to dig out my long-abandoned pens and ink . . .  

The course lasts four weeks and is not especially grueling -- they say four hours reading/viewing time each week. I'm halfway through the first week and really enjoying it.

( If you're interested in learning more about this course, follow the link HERE)

All images from Pinterest.

Josie Does Art

Delight in Small Pleasures

After last week's political unpleasantness, I'm paying even closer attention to the little things that enrich my life . . . the fig tree in our green house that continues to bear . . .

The two tomato vines growing up that fig tree (offspring of a couple of store-bought grape tomatoes I stuck in the soil at the fig's base to see what would happen) are making little tomatoes!

And the cucumber seeds I planted in the greenhouse back in July have been providing cukes for a couple of months and seem to be determined to keep on. The garden cukes are long gone, victims of bugs and powdery mildew.

And speaking of little things -- Josie is finding her way with words. She's been relying on a bit of sign language and a forceful personality to make her wishes known, but in the past week, she has added to her core vocabulary of Mama, Dada, Uh huh! Moo, Meow, and Yeah.

Now we're hearing (B)anana, Uh oh! and (a new favorite) More (pronounce Moah.) And we think we heard her say Moah mango . . . but her mouth was full of mango and we can't be sure.  Her staff is enchanted, needless to say.

And this tickled me. A few days ago while she was having her lunch, she noticed the book I'd been reading -- Live Wire by Harlan Coben. She seemed fascinated by the author's photo and when she made the sound she uses for What's that?

I said Harlan Coben. Something about the name captivated her and she spent most of her lunchtime looking at Harlan Coben. Later on she got up close and personal and gave Harlan Coben a kiss. Several times.

I've been a fan of Coben since I saw him at my first mystery convention and I just figured that Josie has good taste. So I was a little disappointed when Justin and Claui pointed out later that Claui's dad also sports a shaved head and Josie may have thought that was a picture of her Grandpa.

Maybe so. But she definitely reacted to the sound of the words Harlan Coben. Maybe she just figured Meema was trying to pull a fast one.

Traditional Navajo Prayer

Now I walk in beauty,

Beauty is before me,

Beauty is behind me,

Above and below me.

Up Close

 

Josie and the Imprtance of a Walking Stick

THIS IS A TEST

When my phone croaked at me yesterday afternoon (it makes swamp creature noises for messages -- how appropriate in this case) and I saw it was a "Presidential Alert," my first impulse was to sanitize my phone. A bucket of bleach came to mind but it seemed an expensive solution. But, really and truly, even though I know that the Current Occupant wasn't actually texting me, I still felt revulsion.

And then I thought -- how would I have felt if Obama was still in office -- would the presidential tag still have bothered me? 

Well, yes, it would have. I wouldn't feel virtually soiled and slightly violated as I did in this case but I wouldn't have thought about disinfecting my phone. The thing is I really don't like the concept of a presidential alert. Surely there's an office of emergency management or some such that could be tasked with nationwide alerts. That is, if the current administration hasn't gotten rid of it.

There's a good article HERE that explains the various emergency alerts and the rationale for calling the highest level 'presidential.' And, yes, in case of some national disaster -- Godzilla, plague, or nuclear holocaust, for example -- I can see the advantage of reaching people by every means possible.

Still.  Why did I keep thinking of the 1960 movie "The Time Machine" and the hordes of passive Eloi who had been programmed over the centuries to respond to a siren.  In the beginning the sirens had warned of air raids and the people had taken shelter in cellars and subway/underground stations. A good thing.

 Centuries later, the Eloi still marched underground when the sirens went. But now they were the passive food source for the Morlocks, the mutant race that lived underground.

As I said, I found the whole presidential alert thing unsettling.

Time to Plant the Pansies

Josie and the New Calfie

pictures by Claui

A New Broom

Perhaps in reaction to the Ford/Kavanaugh hearing (wanting to change what I can) and certainly because October is upon us, I found myself sweeping away Summer's blue and white décor and freshening up things with Fall colors. Even the orchids got moved out of their white pots into more autumnal toned containers.

Away with the dusty sea shells and blue and white porcelain in the corner cupboard and in with an odd assortment of painted gourds and animal skulls, arrowheads and fossils, and various other items that (to me) speak of ancestors and times long past.

Wash those doggy- smelling denim covers, air the pillows, and give them their autumn look. 

Down with the paintings of white lilies and up with the quilters and the  fall-toned landscape. Put the little houses where Josie can see them . . .

Oh, yes, and I bought a new broom . . . to be ready for Halloween? John asked.

That would be telling.