the Curious Chest of Drawers Appears in Brooklyn
Bad News for American Scots
Unfortunately for Americans planning to celebrate Rabbie Burn’s birthday, one of the key ingredients for a Burn supper, the Haggis, cannot be legally prepared in the U.S.A.
Sheep lungs, part of the sheep’s ‘pluck’ that gives Haggis it’s distinctive flavor, are prohibited from being saved for use in human food. Happily, the heart, liver and other such delicacies are still permitted for human consumption.
In 1974, Edwin D. Eshleman, the Congressman from Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District, had to inform one American-Scot, Mr. McKee, of this unfortunate section of the regulation of the Department of Agriculture.
Many thanks to the Author’s mother, who interned with Congressman Eshleman in the summer of 1974, and preserved this wonderful document.
French Family Life
Charming scenes of (perhaps Dysfunctional) Domestic Life from La Petite Illustration, 15 Décembre 1934.
The Author is inclined to think that this chocolate wrapper is meant to depict a man and woman–perhaps Jahangir, the 17th Century ruler of the Mughal Empire, with one of his 800+ wives?
But no matter how hard she looks, she cannot see the figure on the left as anything but a moustachioed man.
Either the chocolate bar wrapper creator is not the most adept artist, or he’s intentionally created one of the more liberal after-dinner chocolates around.
Closed on Weekends
The Alien Structure in the Background
What the devil is that curious structure in the distance, behind one of Brussels’ many churches?
Brussels, December '09
Despite the fuzzy photography, this is no ‘Loch Ness Monster’ hoax.
The Trouble with Easily Distracted Portrait Subjects
This streifenhyane with a short attention span makes for a difficult portrait subject.
Bought in a dusty shop in Groningen
The Author does wonder the artist’s reasoning for depicting the hyena facing away.
This Armadilla, from the same collection of illustrations, is a bit more sociable.
Closed on Weekends
Alright Then, No Miracles
This illuminated message on the lawn of the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh aims to lower your expectations of divine intervention. The artist, Nathan Coley, apparently took the phrase from a 17th Century proclamation made in a French town rumored to be a hotbed of miracles.
Don’t get your hopes up folks!
Edinburgh July '11
Learning from Nagymama’s Knee
From ‘Images of Hungary’, off Opapa's shelf
Counting in Bruges
When the Author first encountered these cast iron number gracing buildings in Old Europe, she adapted her handwriting to reflect this odd lettering style (although her 1st Grade Teacher might object to the childish 6′s. The Author’s early education included lessons on penmanship).
Happy Holidays!
Should the Author and her Sisters wear matching Robertson Tartan again this year?
Matching Tartan Sisters
Please excuse the Author’s lack of diligence over this Christmas period. Merriment and family require her attention.
Closed on Weekends
Deflated Inflatables
Charlotte Lancaster wrote this witty poem lamenting the Christmas decoration that, when left unattended, is a particular blight on the holiday season. The Author agrees whole heartedly with her sentiment, but could never say it so cleverly and in such a clean rhythm.
Published in the Lancaster New Era December 2008
In all her years in Great Britain, the Author has yet to encounter an inflatable Christmas decoration. Is this a particularly American way to celebrate the holidays?
For those unacquainted with inflatable characters at their peak:
Jolly Plastic Snowman
And the depressing sight of deflated decorations:
Christmas Massacre
A Chrismas Gripe
The Holiday season is wonderful and all that, but the author wishes these garish excuses for Christmas trees wasn’t outside her flat:
The offending vulgarity has been a blight on the Author’s neighborhood since early November.
Perhaps the Author is showing herself to be a bit of a curmudgeon and certainly old-fashioned, but she simply cannot abide kitschy Christmas decorations.
