I was Ghost hunting over the weekend and in the course of that I came across a great Uncle, James C. Warren, who worked as a cigar maker in 1900.
I was curious as he lived in Wood County, West Virginia and I was not aware of West Virginia being a huge cigar making state. Well, they are or maybe were. Cigar and tobacco dealers and makers were plentiful.
I was inspired.
My dad smoked cigars for years. Usually after dinner, on road trips and later while driving a 90 minute commute from work. When he would light one up after a formal dinner party he would always quote Rudyard Kipling from the Poem "The Betrothed".
My mother, though she denies it smoked Swisher Sweets during her turn to drive on road trips.
This week enjoy the Art of Cigar at Renaissance Tapestry.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Santa Margarida
Inside Museu Nacional d'Art de
Catalunya in Barcelona is a painting by Juan Rexach of Santa Margarida that he
painted in 1456. It captivated me with the serene beauty of Margarida against
the pink flesh and vivid red blood of the Dragon. Her flawless skin, golden
hair nor her elegant garments are tainted with the blood she spilled.
Margarida was the daughter of a pagan
priest whose mother died when she was born. Her father gave her into the care
of a Christian woman in Antioch to nurse and raise. Margarida grew up Christian
consecrating herself to GOD. Her beauty caught the eye of a Roman Governor who
told her he would marry her if she gave up Christianity. She refused and he ordered
her tortured. One of the torments that she endured was to be eaten by Satan who came to her in the form of a dragon.
She escaped from the dragon, alive by
slicing open his belly with a cross. They also burned her and attempted to drown
her but she remained safe through each torment. In the end she was beheaded.
Joan of Arc claimed that one of the
voices she heard was that of Santa Margarida.
This week enjoy Santa Margarida.
Monday, May 16, 2016
El Pajaro Muerta
I
parked my car, got out, crossed the street and walked up the sidewalk. I was feeling carefree and dreaming whimsical.
I stepped onto a section of the sidewalk that had been painted pink and there
it was. I stopped, stunned and unable to step any further. A bird, the bird.
The
horror of the scene was intense. It had not been there long… dying… alone. The
feathers were still bright and vivid, a creamy white that faded into milky
browns and a startling yellow throat, made even more strikingly vivid because
of the pink sidewalk.
The blood under it’s snapped and lifeless neck was a deep
fluid crimson.
But
as the gruesome scene unfolded there was a fairy tale like beauty about it.
This
week enjoy El Pajaro Muerta – The Dead Bird
Monday, May 9, 2016
Pretty in Pink
Last week I performed my favorite
volunteer project as Backstage Mom for the Sweetheart Pageant. It is a local pageant held in Schertz a city
near me and before any of you get fussy there have been male contestants. Scholarships are awarded and the chosen few become
ambassadors for the city.
The Young Ladies all wore pink dresses
that were designed for them during the introductions and dance number. The room
was decorated in whites and pinks with pink topped cupcakes
and pink table
runners.
I have been inspired by all the pink so
this week I present you with …
Pretty in Pink
Monday, May 2, 2016
Itsy Bitsy Spiderwort
Last week a friend and I decided
to take a walk through Crescent Bend Park.
We came across many lovely flowers
and creatures but what stood out among them all was Spiderwort.
Actually
Texas Spiderwort or Tradescantia humilis Rose. It grows from March through June
and has blossoms that range in color from white, pink, purples and a very vivid
blue.
Tradescantia gets its name from English
naturalists and explorers John Tradescant the Elder
John Tradescant the elder (portrait attributed to Cornelis de Neve)
and John Tradescant the
Younger.
Portrait of John Tradescant the younger, attributed to Thomas De Critz (1607-1653)
The Younger made three trips to The New World, Virginia and in 1629 returned
with the plant introducing it to England. Both men served as gardeners to Charles
I and Henrietta Maria of France.
This week enjoy Spiderwort.
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