Sunday, February 26, 2023

A Potpourri of This and That

 


One day last week I took two little girls to the Salish Sea Centre. It's a wonderful little museum featuring the life under the surface of the water surrounding our island. The Moon Jellyfish (aurelia aurita) looked ghostly in a dark tank illuminated with purple lights. It was mesmerizing to watch the jellyfish contract and expand to move throughout the tank. 


Although I've seen lots of Moon Jellyfish out in the wild, I've never seen a Sea Nettle Jellyfish (chrysaora fuscescens) and was struck by their weird beauty and vibrant colour. They can grow to a meter in diameter. How gracefully they move through the water. 


Closer to home House Finches, Chestnut-Backed Chickadees, and Black-eyed Juncos flew around the feeder this morning. Snow fell overnight, just an inch or so here, enough to make the world look bright and beautiful this morning under a blue sky. It was a gorgeous day for a walk. 


I recently finished reading The Personal Librarian, the story of a black woman who was forced to pass as white in order to achieve her dreams. Belle da Costa was librarian to the wealthy American, J.P. Morgan, and although the story is written as fiction, it is heavily based on history. It had me thinking about civil rights, and about being authentic, and about racial tensions. 

The house is quiet this Sunday evening with both of us engrossed in reading or writing. A fire glows gently, warming the room in a cozy atmosphere. I think about the week ahead - I'd like to bake bread, finish a sewing project, and do some writing. These brighter days, although cold, fill me with energy. What are your plans for the week?


31 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:41 PM

    Beautiful photos, as always! I’m thinking my coming week will be a ‘potpourri of this and that’. Maybe a little snow shovelling tomorrow, if it hasn’t disappeared by then. Did the snow pass you by this time?

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  2. Anonymous8:44 PM

    Not sure why I am anonymous today. :). Judy @ My Front Porch

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  3. That sounds like a book I might enjoy. I do like the ones that are based on history because in the process you do actually learn something or it can at least spark an interest in researching more about a certain topic. There is so much of the past that literally makes me gasp in shock. So much that has been swept under the rug. Enjoy the week ahead. I never have any concrete plans. Trying to stash bust and finish all these granny squares blankets I've started. If I finish even one task a day that's been on a to-do list in my head, then I feel I've accomplished something. I'm taking small steps rather than trying to do everything at once. Take care.

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  4. We used to take the children to «  la cité de la mer » in Cherbourg(Corentin) it’s a sea museum and a very nice place . There was a lot of Jellyfish there and other fascinating fish the children enjoyed the place. This week I will do some paint, reading, crocheting and DIY projects, I would like to do some macarons, salted caramel ones and freeze them and on Friday I must go for an appointment to the clinic, the last one before my surgery.

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    1. Anonymous11:58 PM

      We used to take the kids to Cherbourg's ("Corentin") "la cité de la mer," which is both a sea museum and a lovely location. The youngsters appreciated the location since there were many jellyfish and other interesting fish. This week I'm going to paint, read, crochet, and work on some DIY projects. I also want to make some macarons, salted caramel ones, and freeze them. On Friday, I have my final clinic checkup before my operation



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  5. The jelly fish are amazing but I wouldnt want to meet one in the water. My week looks much the same as ever, with the addition of a dental visit!

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  6. I have lost three comments this morning...grrrrr....anyway, Wonderful trip for the kids and amazing photos. The book sounds really good! xo Diana

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  7. The jelly fish are such interesting creatures. It must have been fun to have an up close look.
    I'm making a note of the book title. Sounds right up my alley.
    I'm hoping for some nice weather this week to be out in the garden.

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  8. I've gotten the garbage out! Tomorrow a client. I hope it is a quiet week, though. More snow on the way, too. I think you got some, too?!

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  9. Jellyfish are mysterious creatures. Have a good week

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  10. Anonymous10:44 AM

    A jelly fish a meter in diameter would be a fearsome thing to come upon. My week will consist of yet more tidying up...an on-going task. Maybe baking bread towards the end of the week. Granny Marigold

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  11. There's a lot of talk about climate change being a Prelude to a re-setting of the world. If that's true, I hope God creates a homogenous kind of world with no races, as racial conflicts are a never ending issue. I'm sure the Personal Librarian book is very interesting!

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  12. Your jellyfish photos are fascinating. How did the little girlies find them? And I liked hearing about the book you read - I will have to look it up. I do enjoy fiction books that are based in historical events and facts. It's bright and beautiful here today - sunny and not warm but the birds are still singing. The bight sunshine really lifts the spirits. Want to get some writing projects underway in earnest this week - we're heading into March already. My list of audacious goals is beckoning. Hehe.

    Wishing you a beautiful week, Lorrie.
    Brenda xo

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  13. What fun to take the little girls to see those magical jellyfish, Lorrie. I have those same birds at my bird feeders....house finches, chickadees, and juncos. The book sounds very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. These kind of jellyfish always catch my attention at an aquarium. Sounds like a lovely Sunday evening...

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  15. Incredible photos, Lorrie!
    I especially love the jellyfish

    Hugs and blessings.

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  16. I can just picture you cosily reading and writing. Those photos are beautiful. What an unusual bird to me. I daresay very common for you. Errands to run this week and planning for eldests birthday. Lots to do :) B x

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  17. Oh Lorrie, those photos of those jellyfish just take my breath away. How mesmerizing they are. Couldn't you watch them all day? And the book sounds very interesting.Thanks for the recommendation. The thought of a cozy fire, reading together -- it sounds like my perfect evening.

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  18. It had to have been such a blessing to be there to see these lovely creatures through the eyes of your little grands. I'm glad you included one of your gorgeous bird photos. We have so many house finches here that we at first started to name it Finch Hill. We have some colored like yours that we call Rosy Finches. And juncos that we call Snow Juncos, I guess because they show up so much better in snow. The book you read sounds so familiar to one that I know I read long ago about Morgan's personal home librarian but surely that was a different author.

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    1. Anonymous7:31 PM

      To witness these beautiful creatures through the eyes of your young grands must have been such a blessing for you. Glad to see one of your stunning bird images highlighted. We had considered calling this place Finch Hill because there are so many house finches here. The ones we refer to as Rosy Finches are similarly coloured to yours. In addition, there are juncos that we refer to as Snow Juncos, probably because snow makes them more noticeable. The novel you read seems very similar to one I know I read about Morgan's personal home librarian years ago, but I'm positive that author was different from the one who wrote the book you read.

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  19. Marilyn4:09 PM

    Love watching jelly fish float through the water. Gorgeous pictures.
    The book sounds fascinating too.

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  20. The museum must have seemed like magic to your little ones, amazing photos.
    This week I'd like to take as much time as I can to do housework. We are in the middle of a strange heat wave and with construction going on next door everything feels dusty to me. I should get off my computer and get to work :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  21. Beautiful photographs of the Jelly-fish.

    Sitting down with a good book by a cosy fire sounds excellent.

    As it's the 1st of March when I type this comment, I wish you a happy new month.

    All the best Jan

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  22. Thanks for your great photos Lorrie...I wonder what you're going to sew :-)
    we had such a bright sun in the last few days that I was always outside... the nights are cold and fog and gray should come back... so is time again for the sewing machine and my book by Juli Zeh, a German author.
    Greetings to you. Hug Viola

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  23. Anonymous8:29 PM

    Talk about civil rights and another true story, I only found out this week who the lady on our $10 bill is. ❤️
    Anneliese

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  28. It's a charming small museum that showcases the marine life that exists below the water's surface around our island. The Moon Jellyfish (aurelia aurita) seemed phantom-like in the pitch-black tank that was lit only by purple lights. Watching the jellyfish move around the aquarium, contracting and expanding, was fascinating.

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