Vicki Lane's Blog, page 518

Getting a Little Political

Yesterday evening as I was grabbing a quick sandwich before my class, I met a woman who'd just come from Asheville's own local version of Occupy Wall Street Protest.  She said she'd decided to lend her support for a few hours before her own class started.
This is an interesting thing that's happening. I have to agree that the corporations have had it all their own way recently -- putting short term profits before environmental and/or human concerns  And as for considering a corporation a person? -- as someone said on Facebook, I'll believe it when Texas or Alabama executes one.

Praise for Ordinary Things

I love my hard-working Felco pruning shears (or secateurs as some of you call them.)  They always go to the garden with me. Along with pruning branches or cutting flowers, I sometimes use them to dig a little hole, if I've  inadvertently uprooted a seedling and don't have my trowel handy. Or they're useful in hoicking out the occasional deep-rooted  weed.
Small wonder if the abused Felcos get a little gummed up and don't open and close smoothly.

I also love WD-40 oil. It makes those pruners work like new.

Fall Feast

On Sunday I was in Cedar Mountain, near Brevard, NC

and I was charmed by these beautiful birds feasting on the ripe pyracantha berries.
They're not a bird that I see around our place. . . A look at the bird book suggests they might be Cedar Waxwings . . .Do any of you know for sure?

What's That?

Close up...
And far off...
If you don't know, the answer is HERE.

Persimmons

The wild persimmons are ripening . . .
 Tempting, tasty, and, alas. . .tiny . . .(Garlic head for size reference)
But coons and possums will eat their fill.

And Now...October

My monthly newsletter The Goodweather Report  is up HERE, full of book talk and chat about the upcoming release of UNDER THE SKIN.

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Two Artists

These two novels by Susan Vreeland are fictional glimpses into the lives of two very different painters.  The Impressionist Auguste Renoir, painting in late 19th century France and Artemisia Gentileschi ( 1593 - 1653), one of the few women painters of post-Renaissance Italy to achieve success in her lifetime.
The Passion of Artemisia is the story of a young woman who, in spite of rape, betrayal, and  discrimination, makes her way in the hitherto all-male world of painting.  It's a compelling account and helps to explain the violent subject matter of her most famous painting, 'Judith slaying  Holofernes.'
Artimesia's story has the drama but Vreeland's account of the creation of Renoir's best known painting, 'The Luncheon of the Boating Party,' made me smell the oil paint.  As I followed Renoir through the difficulties of assembling so many people to pose for this picture and the different choices he made in the composition, as well as  the various stages over a period of weeks of completing this piece, I became familiar with each face in the painting, with the clothing, the food on the table, even the shades of color in the white table cloth.  This is a wonderful lesson in how to look at a painting and I recommend it enthusiastically! 

Roadside Encounter

You lookin' at me? Nothing to see -- keep movin', will ya.

All Cry Chaos

More serendipity in my life. I received a copy of this recently released novel, sent, evidently by an intern who was using last year's list for the Edgar committees. As a person who's just admitted to reading crummy books picked out of the recycling, of course I gave this one a try.

All Cry Chaos is the first of a series featuring veteran Interpol agent Henri Poincare ( great grandson and namesake of the famous mathematician.)
Library Journal says: "Weaving fractals and chaos theory into an international mystery that also confronts great moral and theological questions, Rosen crafts a literate, complex tale. Highly recommended."

Oh, yes! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more in the series. And although I am totally not a math type person, I do love learning new things. I was enchanted with the peek at fractals  -- a concept I'd only heard of. So enchanted that I'm looking for them everywhere now -- in ferns, in the patterns atop a pot of broth. . .

I Call It Serendipity . . .

when I use the wrong camera setting and get a picture that is a black oblong . . . 
but which, tweaked with Fill Light and Auto Contrast,
turns out to be something strange and lovely. . . perhaps a fairy's-eye view of Nature.