the Curious Chest of Drawers Appears in Brooklyn

a Diligent Observer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:06:13 +0000

The Author’s favorite impractical furniture designer, Tejo Remy, appears yet again, this time at the Brooklyn Museum. Remy’s hodge-podge of drawers has also graced the cover of museum guides in London and Stockholm.

Filed under: Furniture, Museums, New York

Bad News for American Scots

a Diligent Observer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:05:34 +0000

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.

Filed under: Animal, Holiday, Letter, Penn's Woods (Pennsylvania), Scotland, Tradition

French Family Life

a Diligent Observer — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:54:05 +0000

Charming scenes of (perhaps Dysfunctional) Domestic Life from La Petite Illustration, 15 Décembre 1934.

Filed under: France

a Diligent Observer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:41 +0000

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.

Filed under: Clipping

Closed on Weekends

a Diligent Observer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:31:53 +0000

Filed under: Handwriting, Hungary, Letter, Omama

The Alien Structure in the Background

a Diligent Observer — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:09:21 +0000

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.

Filed under: Architecture, Belgium, Buildings, Oddities

The Trouble with Easily Distracted Portrait Subjects

a Diligent Observer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:30:52 +0000

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.

Filed under: Animal, Holland

Closed on Weekends

a Diligent Observer — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:36:24 +0000

Filed under: Handwriting, Hungary, Omama

Alright Then, No Miracles

a Diligent Observer — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:48:09 +0000

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

Filed under: Museums, Scotland, Signs

Learning from Nagymama’s Knee

a Diligent Observer — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:20:59 +0000

From ‘Images of Hungary’, off Opapa's shelf

Filed under: Attire, From Opapa's Bookshelf, Hungary, Photography

Counting in Bruges

a Diligent Observer — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:19:47 +0000

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).

Filed under: Belgium, Buildings, Handwriting

Happy Holidays!

a Diligent Observer — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:42:14 +0000

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.

Filed under: Holiday

Closed on Weekends

a Diligent Observer — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:43:01 +0000

Filed under: Handwriting, Hungary, Letter, Omama

Deflated Inflatables

a Diligent Observer — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:44:19 +0000

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

Filed under: Clipping, Holiday, Newspaper

A Chrismas Gripe

a Diligent Observer — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:16:43 +0000

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.

Filed under: Holiday, Nature