Today marks the winter solstice – the beginning of the story-telling season, the time when the earth’s northern hemisphere is at its maximum axial tilt away from the sun, the day when your noontime shadow is the longest it is going to be all year. So break out your cakes and ale, light some sparklers, and call back the sun!
Because it is tattoo Tuesday – here is one I liked . . .
There are more interesting solstice mandalas over at deviant art.
And sappy cat blogging . . .
Anna Mo knits with chunky spools of wool, utilizing giant needles to produces the three-inch stitches that comprise her blankets, wraps, and now tiny pet beds. The animal-focused textiles mimic the appearance of her human accessories, crafted in bright blue, pink, and orange encasements that are perfect for the upcoming winter. Due to the round shape of the beds they even begin to look like spools of yarn themselves, hollowed out to perfectly snuggle your pooch or kitty.
This is tattoo Tuesday . . .
Captain James Cook, explorer, was born on October 27, 1728, in a small village near Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. His discoveries included the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). He famously vowed, “to sail ‘as far as I think it possible for man to go.'”
On his third trip to Hawaii he was killed in an argument with the native people. And that was about as far as he could go.
This is a Maori tattoo similar to the tattoo style noted by and commented on by Capt. Cook when he traveled in Polynesia.
Today the earth is traveling through the debris (why call it that?) stream of Halley’s Comet. The focal point of the meteors is just above the constellation Orion. Spaceweather says that the best viewing is to look southeast when the sky is still dark before dawn. So then, overcast in my neighborhood.
As the shower intensifies on Oct. 20th, the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar (CMOR) near Tavistock, Ontario, is picking up echoes from the constellation Orion. The bright pink “hot spot” in this radar sky map shows where bits of Halley’s Comet are distintegrating approximately 100 km above Earth’s surface.
I would like to see the auroras like this. I did catch a glimpse of them on a night-time drive in the middle of New York state when I was traveling with friends between Boston and Ohio. I also saw them briefly in a dark sky area of Ohio. But nothing as dramatic as this video. I don’t remember hearing any music, either.
Here are some tattoos:
Thanks to Why, Because Science for the reference.
Based in a quiet undisclosed studio a short train ride outside of downtown Berlin, artist Peter Aurisch creates some of the most original tattoos in the city—and in a place with an estimated 2,000 tattoo artists, that’s saying something. To keep his ideas fresh and original, Aurisch may only begin planning a new piece when the client first arrives. He tends to work freehand without sketches or source imagery, and instead draws inspiration from stories and details provided by his customers.
It’s Tuesday. Here is an unrelated, but amusing, tattoo.
No, no. Not this Fay Ray . . .
This Fay Wray – who was born on September 15 in 1907. Although best known for her role in King Kong, Miss Ray had a career in film and television that spanned 57 years.
She appeared other films such as The Countess of Monte Cristo, Doctor X, and The Most Dangerous Game, and on television in shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, and Playhouse 90.
Fay Wray died quietly in her sleep on August 8, 2004. She was 96 years old. Two days after her death, the lights of the Empire State Building were extinguished for 15 minutes in her memory.
Of course, someone is sporting a tattoo of this lovely lady . . .
Credit: Wikipedia
We recently returned from Hawaii and that is the subject of tattoo Tuesday.
Hibiscus – Hawaii’s state flower is a symbol of power and respect.
Plumeria – a symbol of beauty, charm and grace
Hawaiian Tribal Tattoo – I do not know the meaning of this design, but I think that tribal tattoos are very attractive.
This was the view from our room at the Hale Koa.
Oliver Hazard Perry, the Hero of Lake Erie, was born August 23, 1785 in Rhode Island. His family, on both sides, included a long line of accomplished naval men.
During the War of 1812 against Britain, Perry supervised the building of a fleet at Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 27. He lead American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, receiving a Congressional Gold Medal and the Thanks of Congress. His leadership materially aided the successful outcomes of all nine Lake Erie military campaign victories, and the fleet victory was a turning point in the battle for the west in the War of 1812. He is remembered for the words on his battle flag, “Don’t Give Up the Ship” and his message to General William Henry Harrison which reads in part, “We have met the enemy and they are ours; …” (Wikipedia)
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument at
Put-in-Bay, Ohio on South Bass Island.
Perry’s career began when he was 12 when he sailed to the West Indies with his father, who was a ship’s captain. He was appointed a midshipman in the US Navy when he was 13 years old. He first experienced combat at age 15 off the coast of Haiti.
Perry’s life was cut short at age 34 when he died on his birthday after contracting yellow fever while on a trip to South America. In spite of that, Perry was a popular figure with many ships named in his honor, many memorials and monuments – particularly in Rhode Island and around Lake Erie – named for him, and many places across the country bearing his name.
Perry Victory
Battle of Lake Erie
Firearms, fibers, any news or behaviors that make me say, "hmm, let me take another look at this."
I still miss my man, but my aim is getting better.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 