July 4, 2011

YOUR JULY BIRTHDAY
YOUR BIRTHSTONE	YOUR FLOWER
RUBY	WATER LILY

Known variously as the Alan Caplan Ruby or the Mogok Ruby, this 15.97-carat untreated Burmese stone was sold by Sotheby's of New York in October 18th, 1988 for $3,630,000; a whopping $227,301 per carat. It was purchased by Graff of London, who reportedly sold it to the Sultan of Brunei as an engagement ring for one of his wives.

Rubies are the red members of the corundum family of minerals. Corundum of any other color--blue, pink, yellow, and many others--is called sapphire. Natural ruby shades vary from light to dark red and rubies often have undertones, such a a purplish cast. The variations add to the charm and individuality of each gemstone.  Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.  Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September. The name corundum was derived either from the Sanskrit kurivinda or from the Indian name for corundum kauruntaka. Ruby is from the Latin word ruber meaning red, and sapphire is from the Latin word for blue sapphirus, which is also thought to have been used in ancient times in refering to lapis lazuli. For thousands of years Ruby has been considered on of the most valuable gemstones of our Earth. It has got all it takes for a precious stone: a wonderful colour, excellent hardness and an overwhelming brilliance. Besides, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in the finer qualities. Ruby and sapphire are among the oldest gems known to man, dating back many thousands of years. They were both held in very high regard, especially the ruby. The ancient Sanskrit names for ruby translate as king of precious stones or leader of precious stones. Both ruby and sapphire were in the 'Breastplate of Judgement' of Aaron, described in the bible (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30). Sapphire is the symbolic gemstone for the 23rd wedding anniversary. Star sapphire is the symbolic gemstone for the 26th wedding anniversary. Ruby is the symbolic gemstone for the 40th wedding anniversary. Star ruby is the symbolic gemstone for the 52nd wedding anniversary. The astrological sign of corundum is Sagittarius. The astrological signs of ruby are Leo, Scorpio, Cancer and Sagittarius. The astrological signs of sapphire are Virgo, Libra and Sagittarius.

The Scottish Fold cat can be either long or short-haired, and it may have any coat color combination except for Siamese-style points. The original Scottish Fold cats only had one fold in their ears, but due to selective breeding they have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that lies the ear totally flat against the head.

The original Scottish Fold was a white barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1961. Susie's ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier. Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in Great Britain in 1966 and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. The breeding program produced 76 kittens in the first three years—42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene; if one parent provides the gene for straight ears, and one parent provides the gene for folded ears statistically 50% of the kittens will be Folds. Susie's only reproducing offspring was a female Fold named Snooks who was also white; a second kitten was neutered shortly after birth. Three months after Snooks' birth, Susie was killed by a car. All Scottish Fold cats share a common ancestry to Susie.

Scottish Folds can be either long- or short-haired, and they may have nearly any coat color or combination of colours (including white) except pointed colors:  for example: cream, bi-color, et al.

Scottish Folds, whether with folded ears or with normal ears, are typically good-natured and placid and adjust to other animals within a household extremely well. They tend to become very attached to their human caregivers and are by nature quite affectionate. Folds receive high marks for playfulness, affection, and grooming, and are often intelligent, loyal, softspoken, and adaptable to home situations, people and children.

Scottish Folds typically have soft voices and display a complex repertoire of meows and purrs not found in better-known breeds.

Folds are known for sitting with their legs stretched out and their paws on their belly. This is called the "Buddha Position." They are also known for sleeping on their backs.

THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA

"GENTLEMEN, I INTEND TO PLACE THIS ARMY SOUTHWEST OF ATLANTA !" GENERAL SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN - COUNCIL OF WAR HELD AT GENERAL WOOD'S HEADQUARTERS.

Union General William T. Sherman's troops marched into Atlanta, Georgia on September 2, 1864. Confederate troops evacuated the city the day before. On November 15, 1864, General Sherman gave orders to burn all public buildings, machine shops, depots, and arsenals in Atlanta. While setting out for Savannah that same day Sherman stated, "Behind us lay Atlanta smoldering and in ruins, the black smoke rising high in the air and hanging like a ball over the ruined city." Sherman’s devestating march to the sea had begun.

ONE HUNDRED FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO (TOKYO) NUMBER SIXTY-SEVEN

SAKASAI FERRY

Three snow-white egrets happily pick for frogs and bugs among the reeds on the edge of the Nakagawa River, as two more descend to join them.  The human presence is relegated to tiny figures in the distance:  a lone cargo boatman, two ferries passing each other near the landing, and a couple of specks in the street of the landing settlement of Shinmachi.  In this swampy delta area east of Edo, it is the birds that are in charge.  They have been accorded special attention in the printing as well, with the wing pattern on the backs executed in delicate karazuri embossing that is difficult to detect in reproduction. The birds shown by Hiroshige are Chinese egrets (kara-shirasagi)--a species that in fact was only rarely seen in the summer in Japan.  Egrets of any sort are rare in this densely settled part of Tokyo today.

EAGLE CLIFF FRANCONIA NOTCH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

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