No panic here

Cock Soup

I couldn't resist buying some Cock Soup, after the mumborg suggested trying out some new soups. I don't think this was quite what she had in mind... heh.
It arrives tomorrow, so I may be having cock for lunch.

Cheerful Things

An astounding wisteria soars on 21st Street.

A lady crosses 23rd Street on her way to to celebrate a birthday.

Long Island Abstract

A '57  Chevy complete with fuzzy dice, parked by Northport Dock.

Counter stools at Munday's Diner in Huntington.

A square of light, Jarvis House, Huntington.

Little Boats in Northport Harbor.

Treasure Box Wednesday: This and That

Saturday proved to be a beautiful day here in the 'Burgh-- balmy breezes and bright clear skies-- so it seemed like the right time to make a little jaunt to the Bellevue/Avalon section of the town.

Also, given the spring construction that's popped up-- and major thoroughfare's closed left and right-- it was about the only place I could go without being trapped in orange barrels and cones!

So let me show you one of my favorite things from this week... this lovely tin portrait plate I found at the Ohio River Boulevard antique mall.


And at 40% off, too! Now how lucky is that?

At the Red White and Blue, I found this excellent pink depression glass sandwich server...


I guess I better get cracking and make some nice crisp cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, huh?

I love the detail on this handle... I've zoomed in so you can take a closer look at that, if you'd like...


I also found a milk glass bowl-- quite ornate!-- for the lady I know who collects milk glass. I'd already gotten her a huge batch of it for Christmas... But I liked this bowl so much, I couldn't resist.


I hope she'll like it, too!

And, and of course, you already are probably familiar with this animated figural clock, from Sunday's post...


And lastly, I thrifted a couple of books.

You know, interestingly this week, was how much fun people seemed to be having thrifting. At the Red, White & Blue in Bellevue, a group of 20-something gals were there having the time of their lives-- laughing, trying stuff on, chatting to everyone.

One of them had found some flamboyant pink sparkly shoes and she was bubbling over, saying she simply couldn't resist them-- it was like being a kid again playing dress-up.

And I got to thinking that that's one of the best things about thrifting-- you get out of it what you bring into it. So if you're looking for something to educate... to entertain... to inspire... or just to comfort like when you were a kid... you really can find it there.

All you have to do is look!

• If you'd care to check out Sunday's post on animated 40s clocks, click here.

And iff'n not? Perhaps you'll pop by Sunday for a brand new, not even previously-worn post?

Treasure Box Wednesday: This and That

Saturday proved to be a beautiful day here in the 'Burgh-- balmy breezes and bright clear skies-- so it seemed like the right time to make a little jaunt to the Bellevue/Avalon section of the town.

Also, given the spring construction that's popped up-- and major thoroughfare's closed left and right-- it was about the only place I could go without being trapped in orange barrels and cones!

So let me show you one of my favorite things from this week... this lovely tin portrait plate I found at the Ohio River Boulevard antique mall.


And at 40% off, too! Now how lucky is that?

At the Red White and Blue, I found this excellent pink depression glass sandwich server...


I guess I better get cracking and make some nice crisp cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, huh?

I love the detail on this handle... I've zoomed in so you can take a closer look at that, if you'd like...


I also found a milk glass bowl-- quite ornate!-- for the lady I know who collects milk glass. I'd already gotten her a huge batch of it for Christmas... But I liked this bowl so much, I couldn't resist.


I hope she'll like it, too!

And, and of course, you already are probably familiar with this animated figural clock, from Sunday's post...


And lastly, I thrifted a couple of books.

You know, interestingly this week, was how much fun people seemed to be having thrifting. At the Red, White & Blue in Bellevue, a group of 20-something gals were there having the time of their lives-- laughing, trying stuff on, chatting to everyone.

One of them had found some flamboyant pink sparkly shoes and she was bubbling over, saying she simply couldn't resist them-- it was like being a kid again playing dress-up.

And I got to thinking that that's one of the best things about thrifting-- you get out of it what you bring into it. So if you're looking for something to educate... to entertain... to inspire... or just to comfort like when you were a kid... you really can find it there.

All you have to do is look!

• If you'd care to check out Sunday's post on animated 40s clocks, click here.

And iff'n not? Perhaps you'll pop by Sunday for a brand new, not even previously-worn post?

Happy Jempot Day

I am too lazy creative to just post a birthday card to my lovely sister Jemma, so I have declared it Happy Jempot Day over various social networks. Not that she actually uses anything other than facebook, but I know she will appreciate the gesture or something.

A Pastoral Scene in the Land of Contrasts

When most people think of Utah, they picture the canyons, hoodoos and many colorful red rock formations typical of the southern half of the state, but at the higher elevations north of Zion and east of Cedar City, the environment is much different. Two roads descend slowly from Cedar Breaks at over 10,000ft. through wide, open meadows like this one, evergreen forest and huge aspen groves growing right up out of black stone lava flows. In fall, the colors and atmosphere are truly gorgeous, but you can still drive around all day, pull over and stop anywhere you want and rarely run into other people, certainly never enough that it feels crowded. (You might however hit a traffic jam of sheep moving to lower ground for the winter as I did here the next day!) Every september I start watching foliage reports on the web and try to time a trip to catch the peak colors. I always get some fantastic images from this area and I love the seclusion and the beauty of it, not to mention all the other fantastic and varied landscapes within a couple hours drive. Kind of makes you want to leave the city and never look back.

I shot this late in the afternoon; the next day it was snowing hard at this elevation and I had to stay down lower and try to work in the rain.

Lori's Garden

My friend Lori's garden on Long Island is a little on the wild side right now.

Her mower is broken and she's waiting for the poison

ivy removal people to appear. A garden untamed is a delight.

This picture: box wood, daffodil, periwinkle and hosta.

Bleeding hearts, hosta.

Reflecting pool.

Violets for Eb.

Dog tooth violet for me.

Everything all at once.

Marsh marigold, tulip, azaelea.

The Swine Influenza and Science Fiction

You would have to be living on another planet if you have not heard of the current outbreak of Swine Influenza. According to the World Health Organization we are currently in a phase 4 pandemic alert. I have been following one of my favorite blogs written by a physician in Mexico (who is also an avid cyclist!) There are updates and relevant info regarding the situation on the blog Living Strong and Healthy Blogger.
As you know, I love science fiction and biology in science fiction is not an unusual topic. There is a great blog devoted to Biology in Science Fiction.
This outbreak has brought to mind some interesting diseases that have been introduced throughout the years such as 28 Days Later with that crazy virus "Rage." This is more a monster chasing thriller type movie vs. science fiction. "Survivors" is a re-imaged sci fi series about a genetically engineered influenza virus that wipes out most of the human race. Now we are moving into conspiracy theories and believe me there are some out there who feel this current swine influenza is the next step towards the New World Order.
Another interesting viral attack was on Star Trek:DS9 the episode Babel, where a genetically created virus was spreading through the replicated food and caused aphasia at first but mutated and became airborne which then caused fever and eventually death. The original virus was to be used against the enemy as a form of bio-terrorism.
Science fiction has not been shy about the use of bio-organisms as topics set in either warfare or post-apocalyptic settings basically setting a scenario for us that humans have the ability to self-destruct weather by physical elements, new weapons, or even biological means.
Some science fiction can be very dark and examine the shadowy side of human nature but it can also be very positive and see the potential we have as human beings.
One message I really appreciate in science fiction, is that a disease does not discriminate and requires scientific minds to find appropriate treatment and you cannot stigmatize a specific group of people because they become afflicted with a disease. It is wrong to think that certain groups of people deserve to get sick, no one does, but unfortunately we may become a host or carrier and that is the nature of disease and its method for transmission.

Salad

I bet you never thought you would get a recipe here.

Sometimes we pretend to be healthy.

This lasts about three days.

How to make this salad:

Cook little bits of chicken breast in olive oil and a dash of Lea and Perrins.

Mesclun  green bits

carrots

dried cranberries

mango

cashew nuts

sunflower seeds

Throw bits on plate and drizzle with balsemic vinegar.

Follow up with ice cream and brownies or both.

Time for Some Clock Talk

You might remember my purchase of the little vintage clock with the swinging girl on the right a few months ago. I found it at the L&L Fleatique for $15, and it needed a little work to get it running again. (Cheers to my dad, for his handy-dandy MacGyver sensibilities that helped it to do so).

Then yesterday, at the Ohio River Boulevard antique mall, I stumbled upon another clock in the genre, and at an even lower price... well... I simply couldn't say no.

Of course, this got my brain ticking over just when these were made and what kind of trends spurred them on. So today, I thought I'd share that information with you.

According to the Jitterbuzz antique clock web site, from the 1700s onward, clocks had become a symbol of status and taste, leading to the creation of tall, elaborate grandfather and grandmother timepieces. But as homes transitioned from large family mansions to city apartments and more modest homes, there suddenly was no longer room for the great tall clocks of previous generations...

And this meant that the clock began to double-up with other decorative items-- y'know-- tchotchkies.


By the 1940s, clocks were elaborate figural displays for mantles or walls, including everything from ships and steering wheels, to stagecoaches and horses, and little animated figures like my children on the swings.


The Jitterbuzz site claims that the United Metal Goods company of Brooklyn, maker of my newest clock, "put the schlock in clock." And certainly the appeal of these clocks is subjective. But their depiction of the trends and interests of the 40s or 50s makes them very much a part of their... er... time.

Meanwhile, I found out a bit of information on the clock I already had. According to Roger Russell's well-researched site, my green clock was produced by Mastercrafters Clock and Radio Company in the 1948-49 timeframe.


It's Model 119, and called "Mantle Swingtime" or "Girl on a Swing." It was also the first motion clock to be made by Mastercrafters. Where auction information indicates the United Metal Goods clock plays music for the tiny couple to swing to, this one-- as far as I know-- never did.

But like the United Metal Goods clock, this has a little light, which lights up the scene behind it. And the figure swings in time to the clock motion.


Each clock uses a landscape print-- popular of its time, to create the background for the figures making up the pendulum.

Roger Russell indicates there were two types of prints used in the "Girl on a Swing" mantle clock. One, like mine here, has the little girl sitting in front of a little country house with a separate plastic fence in front of it. In another scene, apparently, she sits in front of a more modern-looking ranch home.

The print is in the Atkinson Fox style-- one of the things I liked about it-- though I have not been able to identify that particular print in my Fox book.

This clock came in two finishes-- "green onyx" as shown here and a "walnut," similar to the faux wood look of the United Metal Goods clock. The Girl on a Swing also came in a wall clock version.

I've also seen the Girl on a Swing clock case used with a bird-figure on a perch.

The material these clocks are made of is called "tenite," which Wikipedia indicates was an early plastic-- a cellulosic thermoplastic, to be specific-- first created in 1929 . It was manufactured by Eastman Chemicals, using softwood as a raw material.

It thought it was also interesting to note that Mr. Russell located the "Girl on a Swing" clock in a Joseph Hagn wholesale catalog around 1950, and it retailed at $15.95. More than I actually paid for the item in 2008!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this little venture back in...er... time.

• And if you'd care to go back in time to Wednesday's Treasure Box post you can step through the portal here.

And as for me-- it's time to go!

Time for Some Clock Talk

You might remember my purchase of the little vintage clock with the swinging girl on the right a few months ago. I found it at the L&L Fleatique for $15, and it needed a little work to get it running again. (Cheers to my dad, for his handy-dandy MacGyver sensibilities that helped it to do so).

Then yesterday, at the Ohio River Boulevard antique mall, I stumbled upon another clock in the genre, and at an even lower price... well... I simply couldn't say no.

Of course, this got my brain ticking over just when these were made and what kind of trends spurred them on. So today, I thought I'd share that information with you.

According to the Jitterbuzz antique clock web site, from the 1700s onward, clocks had become a symbol of status and taste, leading to the creation of tall, elaborate grandfather and grandmother timepieces. But as homes transitioned from large family mansions to city apartments and more modest homes, there suddenly was no longer room for the great tall clocks of previous generations...

And this meant that the clock began to double-up with other decorative items-- y'know-- tchotchkies.


By the 1940s, clocks were elaborate figural displays for mantles or walls, including everything from ships and steering wheels, to stagecoaches and horses, and little animated figures like my children on the swings.


The Jitterbuzz site claims that the United Metal Goods company of Brooklyn, maker of my newest clock, "put the schlock in clock." And certainly the appeal of these clocks is subjective. But their depiction of the trends and interests of the 40s or 50s makes them very much a part of their... er... time.

Meanwhile, I found out a bit of information on the clock I already had. According to Roger Russell's well-researched site, my green clock was produced by Mastercrafters Clock and Radio Company in the 1948-49 timeframe.


It's Model 119, and called "Mantle Swingtime" or "Girl on a Swing." It was also the first motion clock to be made by Mastercrafters. Where auction information indicates the United Metal Goods clock plays music for the tiny couple to swing to, this one-- as far as I know-- never did.

But like the United Metal Goods clock, this has a little light, which lights up the scene behind it. And the figure swings in time to the clock motion.


Each clock uses a landscape print-- popular of its time, to create the background for the figures making up the pendulum.

Roger Russell indicates there were two types of prints used in the "Girl on a Swing" mantle clock. One, like mine here, has the little girl sitting in front of a little country house with a separate plastic fence in front of it. In another scene, apparently, she sits in front of a more modern-looking ranch home.

The print is in the Atkinson Fox style-- one of the things I liked about it-- though I have not been able to identify that particular print in my Fox book.

This clock came in two finishes-- "green onyx" as shown here and a "walnut," similar to the faux wood look of the United Metal Goods clock. The Girl on a Swing also came in a wall clock version.

I've also seen the Girl on a Swing clock case used with a bird-figure on a perch.

The material these clocks are made of is called "tenite," which Wikipedia indicates was an early plastic-- a cellulosic thermoplastic, to be specific-- first created in 1929 . It was manufactured by Eastman Chemicals, using softwood as a raw material.

It thought it was also interesting to note that Mr. Russell located the "Girl on a Swing" clock in a Joseph Hagn wholesale catalog around 1950, and it retailed at $15.95. More than I actually paid for the item in 2008!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this little venture back in...er... time.

• And if you'd care to go back in time to Wednesday's Treasure Box post you can step through the portal here.

And as for me-- it's time to go!

Chelsea People

For other ShadowShots go here.

A  street fair lets letter carriers walk right down the middle of 8th Avenue.

Always something rather thrilling about walking where you usually can't. 

This group were waiting to go on stage at the Senior Talent Show.

The lady with the sword was very enthusiastic.

An exquisite bouquet of orchids.

Great excitement when The Rock came to Chelsea as part of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Paparazzi swarmed him. R. says he is a wrestler.

 You can just see his head as a sort ofblob between all the photographers.