Tuesday, October 8, 2024

So Like Still Water

In Ireland, even the bottled water is literary!
We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us that they may see, it may be, their own images, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even with a fiercer life because of our quiet.”

William Butler Yeats
The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore

The Old Men Admiring Themselves In The Water

I heard the old, old men say,
"Everything alters,
And one by one we drop away."
They had hands like claws, and their knees
Were twisted like the old thorn-trees
By the waters.
I heard the old, old men say,
"All that's beautiful drifts away
Like the waters."


― William Butler (1865 - 1939)

P.S.
Lots More Yeats

"accustomed, ceremonious" ~ "take down this book"

Monday, October 7, 2024

R.I.P ~ E.A.P.

Rest in Peace ~ Edgar Allan Poe
January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849
"Three Little Poe - ettes"
Thanks to Antoinette & Igor for the Poe - themed Whimsy!

Favorite Poe Quotes

All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of
fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry
.”

If you wish to forget anything on the spot,
make a note that this thing is to be remembered
.”

I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.”

*****************

Compare this line from Poe . . .

Every poem should remind the reader
that they are going to die.


with this one from Thomas Pynchon . . .
"When we speak of 'seriousness' in fiction, ultimately we are talking about an attitude toward death -- how characters may act in its presence, for example, or how they handle it when it isn't so immediate. Everybody know this, but the subject is hardly ever brought up with younger writers, possibly because given to anyone at the apprentice age, such advice is widely felt to be effort wasted." (p 146)

quoted by David Shields
in his amazing book:
The Thing About Life is That One Day You'll Be Dead

*****************

Compare this line from Poe . . .

A short story must have a single mood
and every sentence must build towards it
.”

with this anecdote from Annie Dillard . . .

Dillard tells the story of a fellow
writer who was asked by a student:
"Do you think I could be a writer?"

"Well," the writer said, "do you like sentences?"

~ The Writing Life (1989)

*****************

Of course, Poe is just right when it comes to
black cats, and ravens, and Halloween . . .
but also Christmas and Valentine's Day!
Dear E. A. P.,
We wish your days had been longer upon this earth.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Picture Perfect Leaves

Trapeze

It leans on me, this changing season,
breathless as these old photographs

under the lamp. White smiles will
smile forever; the tossed ball is fixed in

space and will not move, nor will
divers, diving, ever touch water.

Even the leaves outside my window
do not move. Gilded now, they pose:

picture perfect leaves posing for me---
or for whoever, looking up, tomorrow,

might happen to see their trapeze act:
the wave to the crowd, a flutter and

spins in rising air for the letting go;
then the vertiginous game with sudden

wind, yellow skirts lifted in spiraling
exuberance before the plummet.


By Dorothea Tanning (1910 – 2012)
American poet and artist
Found in her book Coming to That

Quoted also on my recent post:
Grandmothers in the Stars
*****************

Special Effects by Instatoon
Previous ~ Sidewalk Leaves

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Autumn, Without Diminishment

Good Shepherd Card from
Mother Nancy C. Tiederman
Autumn

Again the wind
flakes gold-leaf from the trees
and the painting darkens—
as if a thousand penitents
kissed an icon
till it thinned
back to bare wood,
without diminishment
.

By Jane Hirshfield (born 1953)
American poet and translator
From her beautiful book The October Palace

More Hirshfield on my recent Fortnightly post:
Grandmothers in the Stars
Also perfect for the Autumnal Equinox or Leap Day!

Friday, October 4, 2024

Researching the Ancestors

Pioneers of the West, 1934
Helen Lundeberg, 1908 – 1999

********************
Beautiful surroundings . . . those light-hearted mornings of the desert, for that wind that made one a boy again. He had noticed that this peculiar quality in the air of new countries vanished after they were tamed by man and made to bear harvests. Parts of Texas and Kansas that he had first known as open range had since been made into rich farming districts, and the air had quite lost that lightness, that dry aromatic odour. . . . one could breathe that only on the bright edges of the world, on the great grass plains or the sage-brush desert."
from Death Comes for the Archbishop
Book IX, Ch. 3, pp 272-73
by Willa Cather

Recent Fortnightlies:

July 28 ~ Missing, Presumed Dead

August 14 ~ Missing Ancestors

August 28 ~ Your Mother, Her Grandfather

September 14 ~ Grandmothers in the Stars

September 28 ~ Birkinbines

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

In My Bookbag

Catching up after
summer break . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The family, that dear octopus
from whose tentacles we never quite escape,
nor in our innermost hearts, ever quite wish to
.
~ Dodie Smith ~
From her play Dear Octopus

Also lovely: her novel / movie: I Capture the Castle

Above:
New Octopus Bookbag
Thanks Beata!

Below:
Recent Book Blogs:

July ~ With Liberty and Justice for All

August ~ Land Value Tax

September ~ Naomi Shihab Nye

Facebook Photo

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Chicago Haiku

Sam was telling me about going for a walk in Chicago,
and I turned his comments into a haiku:

The color palette
of Chicago: blue, silver.
Shades of the city.



***************

Scenes from the DNC 2024
Thanks ~ Peggy Morris!

Monday, September 23, 2024

A Black Cat for All Seasons

Calling all Black Cats: Register to Vote!
Back in May, I realized it was time to take down the Easter / Spring wreaths but didn’t really have anything summery or any little flags for Memorial Day, So — instead of holding out for Halloween — I jumped straight to my new black cat. After all, it’s ALWAYS Black Cat Season around here, right?

By adding a red, white, and blue bow, we were all set for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Bastille Day and Labor Day!
Now it's time to change back to orange for Fall!
Outside looking in . . . Inside looking out
The Real Black Cats: Interior Decor!

Sunday, September 22, 2024

The Harvest Moon Has Come

Wendy Andrew ~ Painting Dreams

The Harvest Moon

The flame-red moon, the harvest moon,
Rolls along the hills, gently bouncing,
A vast balloon,
Till it takes off, and sinks upward
To lie on the bottom of the sky, like a gold doubloon.

The harvest moon has come,
Booming softly through heaven, like a bassoon.
And the earth replies all night, like a deep drum.

So people can't sleep,
So they go out where elms and oak trees keep
A kneeling vigil, in a religious hush.
The harvest moon has come!

And all the moonlit cows and all the sheep
Stare up at her petrified, while she swells
Filling heaven, as if red hot, and sailing
Closer and closer like the end of the world.

Till the gold fields of stiff wheat
Cry 'We are ripe, reap us!' and the rivers
Sweat from the melting hills.


by Ted Hughes
from Season Songs (Faber & Faber)

[More about this poem]

More poems by Ted Hughes
Leaves
The Warm and the Cold
Daffodils
Cat and Mouse

The Waxing Harvest Moon

The harvest moon has come . . .

the autumnal equinox has come . . .

and Quotidian blogposts have resumed for the season!

P.S.
There was also this fingernail moon back in July!
And our corner in August.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Summer Break

Red Bird Bike Rack

May the Summer Fun Continue
through July & August!


I'll be taking a break from Quotidian Posts
until after Labor Day.

However . . .

Book Blogs: "Professor Walton"

and

Fortnightlies: "Cultural List - eracy"

will be posted as usual!
My favorite local bike rack
@St. Mark's ~ Charlottesville, VA

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Bastille Day Dress

Electrifying Fashion Design by Coco Chanel
Stunning Sticker Embellishments by Victoria Amador
Red Grosgrain Silk Chiffon Dress
Summer 1932 ~ Paris
by Gabrielle Chanel (1883 - 1971)
And on the other nights, did she dress up in flaming red gowns and dance the night away, carefree, silly, wild? No. She did laundry and mending, and went to bed early with an orange and a thick book with lots of close print.
from The Daughter of the Moon
by Gregory Maguire (b 1954)

Wishing you a summer of lovely
beach days & red bathing costumes!
María Petrona Viera Garino (1895 – 1960)

Clo in a Bathing Suit (1937)
Einar Jolin (1890 - 1976)

Additionally . . .

this old favorite from the 80s:
Lady in Red

&

Kate Bush ~ Wuthering Heights Day
(Red Dress Version!)

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Cultivate Your Garden

Land That We Love:
Fourth of July Harvest


~ Voltaire's Garden ~
"I also know," said Candide, "that we must cultivate our garden."

"You are right," said Pangloss, "for when man was put in the Garden of Eden, he was put there ut operaretur eum, to work; which proves that man was not born to rest."

"Let us work without reasoning," said Martin, "it is the only way to make life endurable."

All the little society entered into this laudable plan; each one began to exercise his talents. The little piece of land produced much. True, Cunégonde was very ugly; but she became and excellent pastry cook; Paquette embroidered; the old woman took care of the linen. No one, not even Friar Giroflée, failed to perform some service; he was a very good carpenter, and even became an honorable man.

Pangloss sometimes said to Candide:

"All events are linked together in the best of all possible worlds. for after all, if you had not been expelled from a fine castle with great kicks in the backside for love of Mademoiselle Cunégonde, if you had not been subjected to the Inquisition, if you had not traveled about America on foot, if you had not given the Baron a great blow with your sword, if you had not lost all your sheep from the good country of Eldorado, you would not be here eating candied citrons and pistachios."

"That is well said," replied Candide, "but we must cultivate our garden.”


from Candide
by Voltaire (1694 – 1778)
Easy Zucchini Casserole:
cut in chunks, stir in olive oil, sprinkle with favorite spices,
cover with foil and bake for an hour at 400.
During the last few minutes,
sprinkle with dry stuffing mix & feta crumbles

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Stand Beside Her

I'm With Her!
Vintage Postcard of Lady Liberty
with Phrygian Caps

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above


Lyrics & Music by Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989)
Sung by Kate Smith (1907 - 1986)
Delayed acceptance: Berlin wrote "God Bless America" during World War I but set it aside, thinking it wasn't quite right for the times. It didn't gain popularity until World War II, when it came into its own as Kate Smith's signature tune.

1920s Cancel Culture: Initially, the song was considered too sappy by the woke left; and it was spurned by the alt-right for being composed by a Jewish immigrant. Thankfully, both Berlin and his "unofficial national anthem of the United States" continue to stand the test of time.
I'm With Her!

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Mick Swengrosh Photography

Thanks to Mick for sharing his photos
and allowing me to share
in observation of Indpendence Day!

Happy Flags!
Amber Waves of Grain!
Who Needs Fireworks!
Sunset

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Home Made Ice Cream

My siblings all had something fun to say
when we were sorting out the old family cookbooks
and came across this instruction guide /
recipe booklet for our beloved ice cream maker!

For a good solid decade or more (1965 - 1975) we made a freezer of ice cream for every special summer event: Father's Day, Fourth of July, Dad's Birthday,the Company Picnics, Labor Day. Even when we lived way out in the country, Dad would drive all the way into St. Charles for the giant ice chunk, and Mom would cook the milk and eggs on the stove top, and Aaron would sit on top of the bucket -- which was sitting inside the pink baby bath tub -- while we all took turns cranking! A good memory!
Aaron: A great memory! And Dad would stop at A & W and bring home a gallon of root beer.

Bruce: Not sure of the age, but this is the same brand as our old green ice cream freezer -- White Mountain. Who knew it would someday be an "antique" and worth more than a brand new electric ice cream freezer.

You sit on top, I'll crank! Okay, now switch!
Dave: Do any of you have "muscle memory" of just how hard those last few turns were? I sure do!

Aaron: I'm not sure if they're still selling them, but a few years ago you could still buy a new, hand crank White Mountain ice cream maker from Orsheln's for about $90.

And yes, I do remember how hard it was to crank at the end!
Diane: "Muscle memory" of the ice - cream maker -- Yes! I love that description of it -- the whole experience! All the summery flavors: almond, peach, strawberry, banana, and delicious classic vanilla.

Peg: The instructions are missing the part about having a child sit on the top with some rag-rugs under their butts!

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Chutney

2 lbs (approx) of zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
to measure about 6 cups

1/2 lb (approx) tart green apples, peeled & diced
to measure about 2 cups

1/2 lb peeled, chopped onions
to measure about 2 cups

1 cup raisins, brown or golden or mixed

3 TB minced garlic
(I use the kind from the jar)

1 1/4 cups of vinegar (white or cider)

1 cup brown sugar (dark or light)

1 TB of ground / powdered ginger

salt, according to taste
between 1 teaspoon & 1 Tablespoon

ALL OTHER SPICES -- optional & to taste
between 1/2 - 1 teaspoon (approx):
allspice
cloves
mace
paprika

Also optional -- 1 or 2 green peppers

I NEVER do this, but to make it hot, you can add
dried chile peppers or jalepenos or ground cayenne pepper

Depending on what you have too much of in the garden,
you can make this exact same recipe using zucchini
or cucumbers or green tomatoes (or a combination).
For your convenience, peeling the veggies is completely optional
(but you do have to peel the apples).

Mix everything together in a large pan,
bring to boil quickly,
and continue to boil for an hour or so
until the chutney is as thick as jam. Stir occasionally.

When it is cooked and cool, you can leave it chunky
or run a hand blender through it
to meld the flavors and texture.
That's what we do!
However, some people prefer chunky chutney!

Ladle into hot, sterilized jars.
Add lids and store in refrigerator.

Friday, June 28, 2024

Listing / Listening, Part 2

[See also, Part 1]

What better way to spend the summer than listening / listing
to these nostalgic favs & learning every reference:

Prime Time

We Didn't Start the Fire

Welcome to the Internet

You can find lyrics and more on my recent post

Cultural List - eracy,
Part 2: From Prime Time to Internet


[Also, Part 1: Make Your Own List ]

@The Fortnightly Kitti Carriker
A literary blog of connection & coincidence;
custom & ceremony


P.S.
While we're on the topic of Billy Joel,
this seems like a fitting place to share
one of Sam's high school assignments
that I have saved all these years
because I thought he did such a good job:

"Uptown Girl" describes the crush that a blue-collar boy has on a beautiful high-class girl. Billy Joel utilizes different melodic techniques when describing them, a duality that expresses the differences between the boy and the girl of his dreams.

Uptown Girl” has a standard homophonic texture for a pop song as well as typical instrumentation, including bass, drums, guitars, backup vocals, and lead vocals and keyboard by Billy Joel. “Uptown Girl” is in duple meter, with a strong beat throughout, driven by drums, which keep the song at an even mezzo forte dynamic and an even tempo of moderato.

The form of “Uptown Girl” is Intro-A-A-B-A-Break-A-B-A-Break with a codo at the end. In the A sections, Billy Joel describes the social divide between himself, a man living downtown “who can’t afford to buy her pearls,” and his crush who lives uptown and enjoys her “white bread world.” Although there is no clear climax, Billy Joel repeats “I’m in love with an uptown girl,” using the repetition to indicate his infatuation and emphasize her unattainability. Throughout the five A sections Joel uses a rougher, boy-like, folksy timbre to express not only his adolescent attraction, but also his social class.

The melody is conjunct; it has lower pitches, an even contour, a small range, and more choppy rhythm. However, in the B sections when Joel describes his physical attraction to the girl and how she looks, walks, and talks, he uses a sweeter, more adoring timbre. Furthermore, he employs higher pitches, as well as a wider range, a more flowing contour, several disjunct intervals, and a more stylish rhythm.

The way that Billy Joel contrasts the A section and B section melodies instills in the listener the economic gap between Joel and his crush. I think the most effective difference is the use of the range of pitch. In the A sections he uses a small range to convey simplicity; conversely, to express the social status of Joel’s crush he uses a wide range to suggest that she is sophisticated and affluent. The concluding musical resolution suggests that maybe the grubby guy is going to win the elegant girl after all!

Insightful analysis, Sam!

Monday, June 24, 2024

As the World Turns

I went to the window to check out the full moon,
pushed back the curtain,
and saw this reflection
of our night-light globe & the doily --
but NOT the table on which it is sitting!
A magical interpretation from Indiana photographer & kind friend Mark Bass: "Wow, kind of an inverted magic carpet ride. Instead of you riding a magic carpet around the world you can have the world revolve around by means of a magic carpet. That's about as cool as it gets."
Viewing the moon,
through the plate glass window
"Whoever moves from carelessness to vigilance,
Lights up the world
Like the moon that emerges from a cloud
."
The Dhammapada, 13:6

Outside Looking In