Penelope Lively

Ms Lively was born today in 1933 in Cairo, Egypt and is a very prolific writer of fiction for adults and children. She has the same first name as my sister.

Saint Patrick

Patron Saint of Ireland. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, at the age of sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and brought back to Ireland as a slave. Years later he managed to escape and returned to England where he entered the church. He became bishop and later went back to Ireland as a missionary. He is said to have banished snakes from the emerald isle.
Centuries later he became Patron Saint of Eire where he once had been a slave.
Today Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in many Irish communities across the world.
In Chicago they dye the river green!

Birthday greetings go out to...

John Sebastian born in 1944 in Greenwich Village and founder of The Lovin' Spoonfull!

Rudolf Nureyev a Tatar born on a train crossing Siberia to Vladivostok in 1938.

Nat "King" Cole named Nathaniel Adams Cole and born in Montgomery. Alabama in 1919.

Green Gruen Vert Verde

Beauty goes Avant-Guarde 3-meet the plane without wings!

Ginkgo biloba

This is a ginkgo leaf. I find the trees so beautiful, so primal, they date back from the time of the dinosaurs. These exquisite fan-shaped leaves simply sprout off the branches, there are no twigs as such. In Washington Square one autumn I saw an older Asian couple collecting something off the ground. It turned out to be gingko tree fruits. They can be quite pungent when over-ripe!

I want to plant one in my garden!

Mia Hamm

Considered the best female soccer player of her generation this is Mia Hamm born today in Selma, Alabama in 1972.

For Johannes

Imagine going inside this cone as it sits on Kielder lake in the Northumberland National Park.
It is made by Chris Drury as part of their art/sculpture in nature program.

This is for Linda in Devon

Geoff Hendricks the "sky artist" lives in NYC and exhibits in FLUXUS shows.

Happy Birthday to you...

Isabelle Huppert born in 1953 in Paris.

Bernardo Bertolucci born in 1940 in Parma.

Rene' Daumal a French poet born in 1908.

Childhood 3

First tricycle. Now share it fairly boys. Priceless photo!

Head stone 1

An extraordinary grave stone, this one can be found in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. I have always loved cemeteries, being in them, treating them like parks, looking at old graves, imagining lives, and I search them out when I travel. Mount Auburn is one of the most beautiful in terms of park landscaping. It has ponds, lakes, hills, a tower, and an arboretum!

First photograph

Created in 1826 this is the first permanent photograph. View from the workshop at Le Gras.

Guess who? - Mugshot 11

Maud dearly missed

Maud Morgan died today in 1999 in Cambridge, Mass. I still miss her, she had an infectious laugh and great joie de vivre. She lived in a small house with a studio which she had had added on. It was almost bigger than the cute cottage itself. The garden was even smaller, yet private, and had a sense of mystery. Ivy climbing over rocks and a buddha figure and fanciful "distressed" furniture. I used to LOVE going there on weekends! We would light a candle at mealtimes and make a wish each. Her paintings which surrounded her were luminous and colourful, with light coming from inside them. As she got older she made collages.

Etruria 3

More movement, colour and life. Such joy in the Etruscan frescoes.

Today I also want to honour...

Terence Trent D'Arby born in 1962. He is known as Sananda Maitreya now, his voice is beautiful.

Ben Okri born today in 1959 in Nigeria. He is a really good writer and I recommend his work, The Famished Road for example.

Childhood 2

After a nap?

Zarah Leander born today in 1907

Zarah Leander a Swedish diva in German films of the thirties, she sang and played music as well. A friend of mine who is also Swedish and lives in Zurich is named after her. ZARAH.

The amazing Ry Cooder is 60 today

King of Cool Ryland behind the wheel!

Check out his latest album!

Childhood 1

Images of childhood and its consequences. If you have any you wish to share please do! Considering its importance in our lives, how common it is that our childhoods are often mostly forgotten. Many of us have found that photographs have in fact "distorted" our own memories rather than helped them. Reverie and talking about childhood can bring up a lot. Just like forgotten night dreams can suddenly appear again and be remembered. A certain triggar.

Etruria 2

A wall painting in an Etruscan necropolis near Tarquinia. The colours and the movement makes it so alive.

Congratulations to...

Rita Tushingham born in 1942 in Liverpool and unforgettable in her screen debut A Taste of Honey.

Bertrand Blier French film director born in 1939.

Diane Arbus born 1923 in NYC.

Albert Einstein born today in 1879.

Today's birthdays are...

Igel by G.Uecker

Gunther Uecker born on 1930.

Hans Bellmer born in 1902 in Katowice, Poland.

Charles Grey born in 1764, Second Earl Grey and gave the name to bergamot flavoured tea.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Jack Kerouac born today in 1922. I like this photo!

Guess who? - Mugshot 10

Hydra

Hydra an island in Greece is a favourite of mine. No cars! Donkeys for big loads. The town of Hydra is built like an amphitheatre. The island itself is a big mountain really, quite arid, yet beautiful plants and flowers grow in abundance. Olive trees, vines, citrus trees, and rocky paths for walks with destinations like monasteries and small coves for swimming.

I started going a long time ago through a valued friend and felt instantly at home.

Every evening I would go and look at the sunset much like the above picture. The swimming is divine in the warm clear salty water. It is much more than a tesoro for me, it is one of those places to go to before this life is over.

I made friends with a donkey and I learned how to dive for sea urchins and tell the difference between male and female to get the right ones! Snorkelling is heaven, with sea horses and stars.

Going in spring and autumn are special times to go, the summer tends to get very hot indeed and many visitors come to the island.

Enjoy!