Skip to toolbar

On2 In2

Find Your Fun - LIVE IT™

MediaMix

The Black Cat

By Leave a Comment

“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” — Groucho Marx   

Black cat folklore is varied with countless contradictory myths and superstitions. In Britain and Japan, black cats are considered good luck, but many Western cultures view the black cat as a symbol of bad luck.  Therefore, you can take your pick of black cat superstitions, and have some fun with it.

 

 

Instinct vs Reason

Read Edgar Allan Poe's most disturbing tale, The Black Cat.
Edgar Allan Poe (1848, Masury & Hartshorn, PD)

The Black Cat is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) first published in 1843. It’s one of Poe’s darkest tales, and he uses a black cat named “Pluto” to arouse superstitions and fear.  [Read it here, in full for free ⇒  The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe]   On the other hand, a black cat was a Poe household pet he described as a “remarkable” animal “of a demure and sanctified demeanor” in the short essay, Instinct vs. Reason–A Black Cat, (Alexander’s Weekly Messenger”, January 29, 1840).

 

Explore Poe’s Philadelphia home, and (if you dare) descend into the spine-chilling basement that inspired The Black Cat.  The Edgar Allen Poe Historic Site is open Friday – Sunday (9am – 12noon and 1pm – 5pm), free to visit, and no reservations are required.

Information/Resources:
Wikipedia (Black Cat – Historical Associations; Ship’s Cat; Bastet; Edgar Allan Poe)

 

Watch these specially selected thriller films to get that creepy, scary feeling this HalloweenFright Night Movies: An On2In2™ video collection, free to watch, on demand-– Suspense, Mystery, Terror, Horror, Evil….

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Cookie Crunch

By 2 Comments

Traditions of cookie decorating can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and got a start in North America during the 17th century with the introduction of cookie cutters, molds and holiday decorating by Dutch and German settlers. About 200 years later, decorating cookies for Christmas gained popularity in America as more German-imported cookie cutters became available and cookbooks featured cookies cut in holiday inspired shapes sparked creativity in home kitchens. Today, the popularity of cookie decorating continues to grow during holidays throughout the world with all sorts of creations.

This holiday season, Zandy R (@pillbug) has been working on a cookie cookbook and experimenting with different iced cookie recipes and techniques (sugar cookie cut-outs decorated with royal icing).  You can do it, too.  Here are her cookie decorating tips:

it's fun to bake and decorate holiday cookies with these On2In2™ recipes and tips.

• Use your favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes, try something new or go nostalgic with a family recipe.  Find Zandy R’s (@pillbug) absolute favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes here → Roll & Cut Sugar Cookies.  If this is your first cookie decorating adventure, best to do a little research before starting. The Complete Photo Guide to Cookie Decorating by Autumn Carpenter

• It helps (a lot) to have the right equipment.  To decorate cookies with royal icing, you’ll need piping bags and/or squeeze bottles (a bunch, if using different colors) and a small offset spatula or rounded butter knife (to help spread the icing).  Also, toothpicks come in handy for tiny, precision work.

See Zandy’s favorite cookie baking tools below.  The stainless steel rolling pin eliminates the sticky dough problem by keeping the dough cool, the battery-powered sifter is genius, the 4-tier cooling rack is a great space saver during mega cookie baking projects, and the Kitchen Aid mixer—well, that’s really a dream machine.  For more information on any item, click/tap on the photo within the in the ad, and there’s a search box to help you find anything else your heart desires.


• Roll out cookie dough with a chilled rolling pin to avoid sticking.  Have fun cutting out a variety of cookie shapes     Holiday Cookie Cutters

• After cookies are baked and cooled, keep at least overnight (loosely covered with a sheet of parchment paper) before decorating.

• If using royal icing (as Zandy R did for her cookies), there are no quick short-cuts.  Let each application dry before applying the next one.  Check out Betty Crocker’s advice for decorating cookies with icing ⇒ here

• It’s a creative process of experimentation and experience, and that takes time and patience.  Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and colors because you’ll get better and better the more you decorate.

• When something goes wrong and you totally mess up a cookie, eat it immediately.

This page includes affiliate links to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

 

 

Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Moon Gazing

By Leave a Comment

“See yonder fire! It is the moon
Slow rising o’er the eastern hill.
It glimmers on the forest tips,
And through the dewy foliage drips
In little rivulets of light,
And makes the heart in love with night.”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christus, The Golden Legend (1872)

It may seem strange to some, but a full moon can take my breath away. I stop and stare.  It seems to draw me in every time with a mysterious magnetism. And, it’s just so big and bright and beautiful! I always find myself wanting to share the experience with whoever may be nearby— ‘Look at that amazing moon!’  I also typically snap half a dozen photos trying to capture the moment (never does look quite as beautiful as I’d actually seen it, but I keep trying).

 

Over the years, the response to my moon gazing has been somewhat mixed. Although friends will kindly indulge me with a look up, and everyone is interested in special events like the January 2018 Super Blue Blood Moon, many don’t quite get my fascination with the Moon.

Following a special lunar event, a full moon may seem very ordinary to some as it happens every month (well, almost every month– February 2018 was a month without a full moon), or there’s sometimes a tendency for people to believe nothing good happens during a full moon (or worse– something really bad happens).  I feel nothing negative or ordinary at all when gazing at the Moon, and decided long ago this moon thing might have something to do with my zodiac sign, Cancer the crab. According to astrologers, Cancer is ruled by the Moon – making me a ‘moonchild’.  However, astrology can’t explain everything because there are plenty of non-Cancer moon gazers out there, and it’s been going on for thousands of years.

 

 

The Moon was revered throughout ancient societies as humans began to recognize the Moon’s influence on life cycles– crops, tides, fertility, and some form of moon worship can be found in most ancient religions, from the ancient Celts to the Egyptians.  Probably the most enduring and enthusiastic moon gazers are the Japanese.

Tsukimi (or ‘Otsukimi’, literally ‘moon-viewing’, also known as ‘Jugoya’) refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the Harvest Moon (typically September/October in today’s calendar).  Still popular today, this celebratory moon-viewing in Japan is an aesthetic custom with a spiritual component that can be traced back as far as the Heian period (794 to 1185) when Japanese aristocrats held events aboard boats to view the Moon’s reflection on the water’s surface.  Modern Tsukimi festivities continue with the traditions as people gather on the evening of the full harvest moon at a place the Moon can be clearly seen, decorate with pampas grass, and serve white rice dumplings and other seasonal foods known collectively as Tsukimi dishes, and sake as offerings to the Moon.  In Buddhism, a full moon is a symbol of enlightenment, and the phases of the Moon represent the changes of life. In Shinto, the Moon is a symbol of the wonder, beauty and awe of natural phenomenon. There’s also a long-established obsession in Japan with the Moon and its affect on poetic inspiration.

When you’re an avid moon gazer or a newbie, it helps to know the best dates and times to look for the Moon as it changes with the seasons as well as moon phases.  Below are Moonrise/Moonset time/position tables (along with explanatory notes) provided by Karen Masters, Ask an Astronomer – Cornell University, and full moon calendars .

 

Moon gazing is a long-established tradition, and will fill you with wonder and inspiration.

 

Moonrise/Moonset Times

The time of day the Moon rises or sets depends on its phase. The table below summarizes moonrise and moonset times. [Note: “Local noon” and “local midnight” as used in the table are the points in time when the Sun crosses the meridian, and exactly 12 hours later. This can be different from the time on your watch because that time reflects time zones used to determine local time. Zola uses Willy Weather website and free app to find the times for moonrise and moonset, but you can search any local or online weather related resource for that information.]

If you're a moon gazer, it helps to have Moonrise and Moonset time tables

Moonrise/Moonset Position

When the Moon is new, it rises and sets with the Sun, and the position of Moonrise and Moonset varies just like that of Sunrise and Sunset. When the Moon is full, however, the pattern is inverted. The chart below sets it all out. [Note: The chart is for the Northern Hemisphere. For Southern Hemisphere moon gazers, exchange North for South in the chart.  A certain amount of variation in the direction depends on your latitude.]

If you're a moon gazer, it's good to know what direction to look. So, here's a Moonrise and Moonset position chart.

FULL MOON CALENDAR

I must admit my moon gazing avocation is haphazard.  I tend to just look up at the night sky and see what’s up there as there’s pleasure in every moon phase, and a dark, clear night with no moon is the perfect time for stargazing.  But, there are those that prefer to make a moon watching plan to avoid missing something special, prepare telescopes and camera equipment, schedule a visit to an observatory, park area with good moon viewing, or attend a moon festival to add more to the experience.  It’s a great night for a party, field trip or peaceful meditation — your choice.  Below are 2019 & 2020 Full Moon Calendars for US and Canada (times indicated on tables are Eastern Time Zone) courtesy of the Old Farmer’s Almanac).  [Note:  A full moon occurs around the globe at the same moment regardless of location, but there’s a difference in date and time because of time zones.  To find the exact date/time of the full moon anywhere on Earth, go to the moon phases – lunar calendar ⇒ here and search by location and year.]

LUNAR SPECIAL EVENTS 

Hey there moon gazers!  If you missed the first full moon and lunar eclipse of 2019, there’s still time to watch a video recording of this very special total lunar eclipse.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

⇒⇒ Did you miss the July 27, 2018 stream broadcast of the longest total lunar eclipse (aka “Blood Moon”) of the century?  Or, do you want to see it again?  There’s still time to watch a video recording of this special event via Photographing Space camera positioned in South Africa.  Just click/tap the play button in the center of the media player below↓

 

Information/Resources:
How Does the Position of Moonrise and Moonset Change? Cornell University – Ask an Astronomer
April 2018 is Global Astronomy Month, and the Moon will celebrated this year with a series of special programs for rediscovering this bright, beautiful orb in Earth’s night sky (Astronomers Without Borders)
A Planet’s Domicile in Astrology (Wikipedia) – In astrology, a planet’s domicile is the zodiac sign over which it has rulership, and the assignments of the ruling planets appear to be based upon the Northern Hemisphere seasons. The Sun was awarded to Leo and Cancer the Moon as the months the Sun passed through these two zodiac signs were the warmest and had the longest days in ancient times.
Photography: John William Draper (1811-1882) was the first to successfully take an ‘astrophotograph’ in 1840, a quite amazing detailed photo of a full moon.
Tsukimi history, Wikipedia

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you!  If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your moon gazing experiences, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy.

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo of moon gazing at Mount Tamalpais State Park, California, USA is courtesy of Todd Diemer/Unsplash CC0
Moon gazing photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Hank Conner, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Zola’s moon gazing photo album, © 2018-19 Zeester Media LLC

If Stars Could Speak

By Leave a Comment

 

Awake by Zach Rogers is a short video beautifully photographed and produced using a time-lapse process that results in mesmerizing views of star filled skies above stunning landscapes.  It was a 3 year “passion project” involving the selection of 6,870 photos from a collection of 50,000.

“A philosopher once asked, ‘Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?’ Pointless, really…..  Do the stars gaze back? Now, that’s a question.” — Neil Gaiman, Stardust (1999)

Experiencing a night sky teeming with glittering stars awakens curiosity, perspective and inspiration, and is a recreational activity enjoyed by amateur astronomers throughout the world.  The opportunity to see such a sight, however, is getting more difficult as dark skies are vanishing from the glaring effects of light pollution.  In fact, more than 99% of people living in North America and Europe see light polluted night skies rather than stars, and the Milky Way is hidden from more than 1/3 of the world’s population. The International Dark-Sky Association (“IDA”) works to protect night skies and ecosystems within parks and conservation areas around the world.  Find dark skies for your best stargazing experience via the IDA locator map HERE, and look around for Telescopes and Stargazing Guide Book * to learn more and get started.

The short video Lost in Light by night sky photographer, Sriram Murali, dramatically demonstrates the affects of different levels of light pollution on our view of the night sky.

 

The Witch Head Nebula is a reflection nebula located in the Eridanus constellation.If you can’t get outside—-Watch the Night Skies channel here to see more amazing stargazing views captured on video by talented photographers.

More about stars⇒   Sol Invictus     Super Star Sorcery     Mysteries of a Galaxy

 

 

 

 

 

Watch this how-to seminar on astrophotography techniques and equipment, and take better photos of the night skyPros give advice on how to take great photographs of the night sky in this free-to-watch info-video series → Shooting Stars 

 

 

 

A big, bright full moon over the Santa Monica Mountains from Malibu Road was a moon gazers delight

Have you tried moon gazing?  Humans have revered the Moon for thousands of years, and celebratory customs of moon viewing add a spiritual component to the experience of seeing a big, bright, beautiful moon in the night sky.  Simple, but awesome.

 

 

References/Information:

“Light Pollution Hides Milky Way from 80 Percent of North Americans, Atlas Shows” by Nell GreenfieldBoyce, NPR All Things Considered (June 10, 2016)

Night Sky Network – Search tools to help you find astronomy clubs and special events throughout US

Earth Sky (List of astronomy events, festivals, star parties & workshops)

Ten of the Most Breathtaking Night Skies on Earth by Michelle Douglass, BBC Earth (August 27, 2015) Some the world’s best dark skies are over remote, hard to reach locations, while other sites are astrotourism hotspots encompassing national parks and observatories.

Lassen Volcanic National Park (located approximately 3 hours northeast of Sacramento, California) has meadows freckled with wildflowers, jagged peaks, clear mountain lakes, a rich diversity of plant and animal life as well as numerous volcanoes, steaming fumaroles (steam and volcanic-gas vents) thumping mud pots, and boiling pools.   Stargazing & Astronomy→ park info       Dark Sky Festival

Atacama Desert, Chile 

Pic du Midi – Hautes-Pyrénées, France 

Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island, New Zealand – This ‘Land of Glowing Skies’ was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in January, 2019

Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve – Mackenzie Region, NZ 

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona becomes International Dark Sky Park in June 2018

Dark Sky Festival – Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California USA

Acadia Night Sky Festival   – Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine USA

Jasper Dark Sky Festival   – Jasper National Park, Jasper, Canada

Night Sky Festival  – Joshua Tree National Park, California USA

Mayo Dark Sky Park  – Newport/Mulranny/Ballycroy, Ireland

Brecon Beacons National Park – South Wales, UK 

Galloway Forest Park – Scotland  

Dark Skies Festival   – North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, UK

Winter Star Party  – Florida Keys, USA, usually scheduled each year during the full moon in February

OzSky Star Safaris  The “Classic” is held at the outskirts of Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, and the “Spring Edition” takes place at NSW Southern Tablelands

Exmoor Dark Skies Festival – Family stargazing weekend at Exmoor National Park, a large beautiful and peaceful area of wild countryside in the South West of England and Europe’s very first International Dark Sky Reserve

Star Search:  A Night Guide for Urban Texans by Wes Ferguson (Texas Monthly, March 2018) – Where to find dark, wide-open skies or a big telescope for star gazing in the state of Texas

Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Dark Sky Festival, Canada

Fountain Hills Dark Sky Festival, Arizona

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

The feature photo is a still shot taken from the video, “Awake” by Zach Rogers

The title of this article “If Stars Could Speak” comes from the title of original music by Alexandr Fullin. It was used by Zach Rogers as the soundtrack to the “Awake” video.

*This page includes an affiliate link to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission.  This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Home Brew

By Leave a Comment

It was a wise man who invented beer—Plato

Beer has been brewing on this planet for many thousands of years, believed to have started at the time cereal grains were first farmed (≅ 9500 BC), and is considered by some historians to be nutritional refreshment integral to the establishment of ancient civilizations and development of technologies. About 3000 BC, domestic brewing expanded throughout Europe by Germanic and Celtic tribes. The first record of hops as an ingredient in brewing was much later in Europe 822.

Today, beer ranks third (behind water and tea) as the most widely consumed beverage throughout the world, and is sometimes referred to as “liquid bread” as it can contain good amounts of nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin, and chromium. However, the main active component of beer is alcohol, and that cancels out nutritional benefits when more than small quantities are consumed and creates long and short term health risks as does all alcoholic drinks.

Beer Making @ Home

Homebrewing is legal in most countries, but best to research prior to embarking on your beer making adventure as there are some prohibitions as well as limitations and restrictions.  In the United States, federal laws restricting homebrewing were repealed in 1978;  however, states and local governments retain the authority to enact homebrewing laws and regulations.

Brewing your own beer instead of buying a couple of six-packs can save some money, but the primary reason there are so many homebrewers is that it is just a lot of fun cooking up different and unique types, styles and flavors.  You can give it a go (or inspire a friend) for less than $35 with Stephen and Erica’s Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit.  It’s perfect for brewing beginners, and makes 1 gallon of 6.8% Alcohol-by-Volume beer (9-10 12-oz bottles) with a taste that harmonizes fragrant grapefruit with bright bitterness, making it great for hop heads as well as first time IPA drinkers.  They’ve also published a book that includes 52 recipes for small batches “Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Beer Making Book“. But, before you jump in, recommend you watch the video Brooklyn Brewing for inspiration.  Prost! 

 

 

Information/Resources:
Wikipedia:  Beer, Fermination, Homebrewing
Homebrewing Laws Worldwide, by Lyonette “Lyo” Louis-Jacques, Slaw (Canadian online legal magazine), November 20, 2013
US federal and state law information: Statutes by State  (Although home brewing is legal under both federal and state law in the US, each state may regulate alcohol and the state laws relating to home brewing vary widely.)
Step-by Step Tutorials, Learn to make beer, cider and mead, American Homebrewers Association
Find a Homebrew Club,  Search for local homebrew clubs using this worldwide database of over 1,700
Homebrew Con, June 28 – 30, 2018, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon (America’s largest gathering on home brew hobbyists with educational sessions, expo and social activities)

This book by James Morton “Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World Class Beer at Home” will take your brewing skills to another level of taste. Click/Tap on the “Brew” book image to check it out and purchase.

 

 

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo:  The “Toast” to beer feature photo is courtesy of Wil Stewart/Unsplash.  German culture requires a personal toast to each and every person at the table prior to drinking even one small sip of alcohol, and failure to do so is considered rude and bad luck.

*This page includes affiliate links to Amazon shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

A Collector’s Passion

By Leave a Comment

The hobby of collecting is defined as the “seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector”, and the range of collections is well,….. unlimited because there are no rules in collecting and collectors’ passions are as diverse and unique as each individual collector.

Collecting also has a long history that can be traced to book collecting in ancient Egypt, art patronage and collecting during the Italian Renaissance period (14th – 16th centuries), and the acquisition by affluent scholars of unusual items (called “cabinet of curiosities”) beginning in the 16th century.

There are many theories as to what compels so many of us to collect things.  Like rubber bands — oh yes,  @zeester must admit to a compulsion to collect rubber bands, sea shells, rocks and wine corks. The yen felt by collectors may be connected to the human ‘hunter – gatherer’ survival instinct, but could also be fulfilling some psychological need relating to aspects of memory, organization, or purpose.  Whatever the reason, hobby collectors find fun in collecting as well as profit, and their personal stories are as fascinating as the collections they’ve created.

Billy Wilder (1906-2002), a legendary filmmaker, was an avid art collector. He described his passion for collecting as a “sickness”, and said, “I don’t know how to stop myself…………Name an object and I collect it.” There is no denying, however, Wilder enjoyed his hobby, saying it was “more fun than making movies”, and he acquired one of the finest and most extensive art collections in Hollywood. In 1989, a large selection of paintings and sculptures from his collection sold at auction for $32.6 million.

Edward Wharton-Tigar (1913-95), a decorated WWII British spy and business executive with a passion for cricket and collecting, amassed the world’s largest collection of cigarette cards (over 2 million).  His entire collection which includes a rare T206 Honus Wagner card is held by the British Museum.  After more than 75 years of collecting, Wharton-Tigar considered his “collector’s mania” an inherited trait.  “My mother had it and so did my grandmother. If you have it, you have it. There is simply nothing you can do about it. You are driven by this desire to complete things.”

It’s a WOW — an old garage full of beautiful classic cars!  Lenny Shiller from Brooklyn NY talks about his motivation to collect classic cars and the enjoyment he has working on his eclectic collection in the video Lenny’s Garage from Bullrush Films.

 

Ξ More collectors tell their stories ⇒  WATCH:  Collector Confessions  

 

The awarding of medals can be traced back thousands of years, and they are specialized art form valued for their artistic beauty and history.In Heads and Tales: The Odyssey of a Medals Collector, art collector and historian, Stephen K. Scher, tells the story behind the building of his medals collection, including the motivation, temptations, mistakes, and successes. It’s a rare opportunity to learn from a collector’s personal experience.

 

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you!  Collecting, as with many hobbies, can lead to social connections and new friendships. You can connect with people sharing similar interests by joining the On2In2™ social network via the “Engage” page.

 

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Information/References:
Wikipedia:  Collecting, T206 Honus Wagner
The Los Angeles Times, November 14, 1989 (Wilder Auction)
The New York Times, August 30, 1989 (Wilder Auction)
The Independent, September 3, 1994 (First Hand: I constantly dream about my card collection)

Feature photo of a troll doll collector is courtesy of Grastisographry CC0

Birds of America

By 1 Comment

John James Audubon was a 19th Century artists and naturalist, and his "The Birds of America" publication is regarded as the greatest study of birds in history.
JJ Audubon by H.B Hall, PD

Some time around 1820, French-American artist and naturalist, John James Audubon (1785-1851) started work on a personal project to paint every bird species located in North America, using unique methods and materials as well as extensive field observations.  It was a tremendously challenging and costly endeavor, and many doubted Audubon’s ability to pull it off.  In fact, the idea would seem a little wild & crazy even today with 21st century technology.  But, Audubon was no ordinary guy. He was also totally committed to finding and illustrating every bird in North America for publication, working more than 15 years toward his goal and raising cash by teaching, selling art works, taking oil painting commissions, hunting and selling animal skins, and conducting exhibitions and demonstrations.

How to view and download John Audubon's extraordinarily beautiful illustrations in The Birds of America.
Common American Swan (The Birds of America, plate 411) is courtesy of the National Audubon Society, John James Audubon Center and Montgomery County Audubon Collection

The result of Audubon’s work is The Birds of America, first published in England as a series of 87 sets of prints between the years 1827 and 1838.  Now considered to be the greatest study of birds in history as well as one of the greatest examples of book art, the original publication included 435 hand-colored, life-sized prints of North American birds on handmade paper that were produced from copperplate etchings and engravings with water-coloring applied by assembly-line colorists.  An accompanying text (‘Ornithological Biography’) was written by Audubon and the Scottish ornithologist William MacGillvray and published separately in five volumes (1831-1839).

The cost of printing the first edition of The Birds of America was an amount equivalent to more than $2 million US dollars in today’s money.  Audubon financed the massive print project with pre-paid subscriptions, but only the wealthy could afford the subscription price which limited the publication to no more than 200 complete sets.  Consequently, more affordable editions were later produced using lithography and published during the mid-19th century.

 

“The Birds of America’ will then raise in value as much as they are now depreciated by certain fools and envious persons.” — John James Audubon

 

Almost two centuries later, Audubon’s bird art is still captivating and revered among birders and art collectors, and his influence on ornithology and natural history has been widespread and enduring as The Birds of America and Ornithological Biography significantly contributed to the understanding of bird anatomy and behavior.  Watching the short video, ‘Audubon’s Birds of America’ from the Lost Birds Project, you’ll get a sense of the massive beauty of these works of art as David W. Carson, curator of the History of Science Collection at Cornell University, conducts a private viewing of The Birds of America.

 

Six of the birds illustrated by John Audubon in The Birds of America are now extinct, and many more are endangered.  Also — According to a recent study, North America has lost more than a quarter of its entire bird population during the past 50 years. [North America Has Lost 3 Billion Birds, Scientist Say by Nell Greefieldboyce (NPR, September 19, 2019)] ⇒⇒ Learn how you can help by visiting the National Audubon Society’s Action Center.

A copy of the complete The Birds of America series is available FREE of charge for viewing and high-resolution downloading via ⇒⇒ the National Audubon Society’s digital library, courtesy of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania and the Montgomery County Audubon Collection.  Be sure to check it out, and let John Audubon inspire your own creative work.

Audubon’s personal copy of The Birds of America is held within the Stark Museum of Art Rare Books & Manuscripts Collections in Orange, Texas.  An original, complete series is on public display (one page is turned each week) in the Audubon Room of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  It was purchased by the university in 1839 for the astonishing price of $970 (equivalent to approximately $80,000 today). Undoubtedly, a wise investment.  In December 2010, a complete first edition from a private collection was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in London for US$ 11.5 million (a record breaking auction price).

Other permanent public display locations:  Trinity College (Watkinson Library) in Hartford, Connecticut; University of Pittsburg (Hillman Library);  Liverpool Central Library;  Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vermont;  and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Ewell Sale Stewart Library) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Look around– there are surely more opportunities for viewing a first edition as there are currently 107 held by institutions, and many periodically offer special exhibits.

Information/Resources:
The Life of John James Audubon: The Naturalist (1869) [FREE ebook] The primary source material for this biography was Audubon’s notes and journals, written/edited by Lucy Green Bakewell Audubon and Robert Williams Buchanan. The JJ Audubon image is an engraving by H.B. Hall based on a portrait by Henry Inman that appears in the book.
John James Audubon – The Making of an American (2004) by Richard Rhodes*
Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ at Yale:  Creating a masterwork one feather at a time. Article by Mike Cummings, Yale News, June 30, 2015
“Ornithological Biography” or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America Vol 4, (1838) by John James Audubon [FREE ebook].
Featured photo of Columbian Hummingbirds is from plate 425 of The Birds of America
Wikipedia:  The Birds of America

 

If you just can’t get enough about birds, there’s more here ⇒ Bird ID Challenge (test your birding skills);  Birdsong Melody  (the music and magic of the mockingbird);  The California Brown Pelican; and Fast and Fearless (the Hummingbird).

 

 

Audubon was the first, but there’s a new illustration of birds to get excited about!    The Wall of Birds* tells the remarkable story of artist Jane Kim’s 2,500 square-foot mural celebrating the diversity and evolution of birds at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  It took her 2 1/2 years to create the one-of-a-kind, life-size mural showcasing all 243 modern families of birds, and the book “is a visual feast, essential for those who love art, birds, and our natural world”.

 

 

 

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social network

We’d love to hear from you!  If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

*Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a book purchase you make via a link to Amazon within this page. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Fright Night Movies

By Leave a Comment

This wicked collection of videos is good for a dark night marathon viewing of thrillers.  There’s a variety of terror to enjoy:  suspense, action, mystery, horror, psycho and the supernatural, and all videos are free to watch thanks to generous sharing by the talented creators involved in the film production and the Vimeo filmmaking community.  [Editor’s Note: As with all media content within the On2In2™ website, the Fright Night video channel is intended for adult audiences, not children. The content of some videos includes expletives, violence and erotic scenes.]

 

 

 

 

Fright feature photo is courtesy of Tertia Van Rensburg/Unsplash CC0

Full Moon Rising

By Leave a Comment

There’s something special about watching a full moon rising as it brings to light a sense of wonder and supernatural energy, inspiring art and poetry, mythology, folklore, and astrological study.  In many cultures and religions, moon gazing is an aesthetic practice with a spiritual element — a full moon symbolizing truth and enlightenment in Buddhism.  In others, a full moon evokes fear and legends of horror involving curses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves.

Full Moon Silhouettes, is a short video (by award winning photographer, filmmaker & visual effects artist, Mark Gee) of the moon rising over the Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington, New Zealand.  Mark shot the video in real-time, and did not manipulate or enhance the film.

 

But there’s a full moon risin’
Let’s go dancin’ in the light
We know where the music’s playin’
Let’s go out and feel the night.

Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
    (excerpt from Harvest Moon by Neil Young)

A Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere (the autumnal equinox) and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.  During a Harvest Moon, moonrise occurs shortly after sunset for several nights, resulting in a bright moonlight that traditionally allowed farmers more undarkened time to harvest their crops.  Most years, a full Harvest Moon appears in September, but occasionally it’s the October full moon as it was in 2017.

The 2019 Harvest Moon will make its appearance in the US & Canada just after midnight September 14 (12:35am EDT), and along with it comes celebrations and traditions around the world.

In Britain, giving thanks for a good harvest is a custom that goes back to pagan times, and a Harvest Festival (aka ‘Harvest Home’, ‘Harvest Thanksgiving’ or ‘Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving’) is traditionally held on a Sunday near the time of a Harvest Moon. The celebration includes singing, praying and decorating churches with baskets of fruit and produce.  Food is also collected from gardens and farms and distributed to those in need within the community or sold to raise funds for a church or charity.

Tsukimi (or Otsukimi, meaning ‘moon-viewing’, also known as Jugoya), refers to Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon. The festivities usually begin with a celebration of the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar, and the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month. (These dates normally fall in September and October). The traditions of the Japanese autumn moon festivals date back a thousand years, including the still popular custom of holding harvest moon-viewing parties on the evening of the full moon (‘Tsukimi’), decorating with Japanese pampas grass (‘susuki’), and serving Tsukimi dango (white rice dumplings), taro, edamame, chestnuts, seasonal foods and sake. Seasonal produce is also displayed as an offering to the moon for an abundant harvest—sweet potatoes to the full moon; beans or chestnuts to the waxing moon

Chinese lanterns in all shapes, sizes and colors have become a beautiful symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Chinese Lanterns, Marc oh! CC BY-ND 2.0

The Mid-Autumn Festival (aka ‘Moon Festival’) is a centuries old Chinese celebration of harvest, and one of the most widely celebrated in the world.  Held each year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month [2019: September 13; 2020: October 1 (China Standard Time)], the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important cultural holiday in China, Vietnam and among ethnic Chinese throughout Asia, based on traditions of gathering of family and friends, watching the moon (a symbol of harmony and unity), giving thanks, and praying for good fortune. There are also special offerings, incense burning, lion and dragon dances, food & drink, games and activities involved in the celebrations.  The mooncake is one of the hallmarks of these traditional customs (many millions of the sweet delicacy are sold each year), but the lantern has become the beautiful, glowing symbol of the festival as different designs, colors, shapes and sizes are carried, displayed and released to float in the sky during the celebrations.  [Note: The Mid-Autumn Festival is not celebrated on the day of the Harvest full moon, but there’s more than a 50% chance the two events will coincide in a calendar year.  Another Chinese festival involving lanterns is the ‘Lantern Festival’ (or Spring Lantern Festival), celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and marking the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations.  It’s become a popular celebration in Western countries, and is sometimes confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival.]

Information/Resources:

Full Moon Zen by Kenneth Craft, HuffPost (April 28, 2016/April 29, 2017)
Full Moon For October 2017, The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Lunar effect, Full moon, Harvest Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Tsukimi  (Wikipedia)

The tradition of moon gazing can be traced back to ancient cultures, and is still enjoyed today throughout the world.Check out this On2In2™ Moon Lover’s Guide to the best full moon viewing on Earth

 

 

 

 

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’re the social type as well as lovers of ice cream mooncakes.  Please register via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and creation, and network with On2In2™ playmakers.

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo is courtesy of Gerd Altmann via Pexels CC0

Mooncake

By Leave a Comment

A mooncake (yue bing) is a Chinese pastry traditionally filled with a sweet, dense filling (make that very sweet, very dense) and one or more whole salted egg yolk (symbolizing the full moon).  The tops of these delicacies are decorated with imprints of Chinese characters for longevity and harmony and the name of the bakery as well as images of the moon, flowers, vines, Chang’e (Chinese goddess of the moon), or a rabbit (symbol of the moon), and there hasn’t been a Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in China without mooncakes since the Tang Dynasty (618-690 and 705-907) when they were first used as offerings to the moon and eaten during worship.  Today, mooncakes are customarily offered and shared between friends, gifted to business clients and relatives, and eaten at family gatherings while celebrating the festival, and there are many different crusts, fillings and regional styles.

Although deeply rooted in ancient tradition, the sky’s the limit when it comes to contemporary-style mooncakes.  The many modern creations include low-fat and sugar-free versions, exotic flavors and ingredients, and unique, custard-style fillings.  Häagen-Dazs was one of the first to create an ice cream mooncake.  They were a big hit (everybody loves ice cream!).

You might want to try this Home Baked Mini Cheese Shanghai Mooncake recipe (by Kimiya Lim, makes 16 small cakes) as it’s simpler and less time consuming than baking traditional mooncakes.

 

Ingredients

140g (1 cup) Cake flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
10g (1 tbsp) Custard powder
25g (1/4 cup) Milk powder
2 tsps Parmesan Cheese powder
40g (3 tbsps) Caster sugar
50g (1/3 cup) Softened butter
1 egg

4 Salted egg yolks (optional)*
320g (11 1/2 ounces) Lotus paste**
Black sesame seeds

Directions

Bake in preheated 130°C – 150°C (250°F – 300°F) oven for first 10 minutes, take out & cool for awhile then egg wash and sprinkle tops with a few black sesame seeds.  Return to oven and bake for another 18-22 minutes or till golden on top. Baking time & temperature may vary depending on the type and accuracy of oven. You may need to adjust your oven temperature accordingly.

* Salted duck eggs are a common ingredient in Chinese cooking.  Traditionally, they are preserved whole and raw in brine, and after a few weeks, the salt water draws out the moisture within the egg, concentrating its flavor.  The yolks hardened into bright orange balls.  Find them at your local Chinatown market or brine duck (or chicken) eggs ahead of time at home.
** Lotus seed paste is a sweet and smooth filling made from dried lotus seeds.  Purchase ready-made at your local Chinatown market or make at home.

Resources/Information:

Mooncakes in Modern China, by Meredith Butenhoff, Allyn Wiggins, Hattie Grant, & Brandon Bank (Debunking Myths of China, Furman University, October 25, 2016), article includes recipe & instructions on how-to-make mooncakes
The Right Way to Eat Mooncake, by Ellen Duong (Sampan, August 5, 2016)
‘Mooncake’ (Wikipedia)

 

Sharing holiday recipes includes the family favorite pumpkin breadMore family tradition in the kitchen with fall favorites:
♥ German Chocolate Cupcakes
♥ Pumpkin Bread

 

 

 

 

Feature photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Chee Kweng Teoh, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0