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 ONE HUNDRED FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO (TOKYO) NUMBER SEVENTY-THREE |
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| The City Flourishing, Tanabata Festival (Shichu han'ei Tanabata Matsuri) |
| This splendid view, with the decorations of the Tanabata Festival dancing in the breeze, initiates the "Autumn" series. It is in fact the hottest time of the year, as the darkened crest of Fuji suggests, for autumn began in August under the old calendar. As the title indicates, it is a view of the city flourishing, and the gay paper ornaments were offered in the hopes that its good fortune continue.
The warehouses below belong to the merchants of Minami Denma-cho, just west of Hiroshige's house. As a final and especially intimate touch, Hiroshige has added in the lower right-hand corner the tiny detail of a blue-and-white summer yukata on a drying pole--perhaps his own! |
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| Collectible Marbles |
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| The early 1860s saw some of the first dedicated bathing costumes for women. This fashion plate from 1864 shows a variety of styles all made of warm wool flannel. The Romantic era notion of delicate women catching a chill and dying, especially when wet, was still very prevalent. | |
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| TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPOSITION ISSUE--1898
Having established the precedent of issuing stamps to promote a large exposition, the USPOD had to issue a set for the next big U.S. expo, the Trans-Mississippi Exposition of 1898. This time they exercised restraint--only nine stamps, with a total face value of only $3.80. The $1 value, titled "Western Cattle in Storm," is considered by many to be the most beautiful classic U.S. issue. A good used set of these is worth at least $1,000, while a mint set can run over $4,000. These too were issued in reproductions on souvenir sheets on their centenary. | |
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| Floods on the Mississippi -- 1882 Art by F.T. Anderson Harper's Weekly, March 1882 |
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In the decades following the Civil War, little was accomplished in the Mississippi River Valley of the South to prevent the damage to the natural and built environment that occurred during the periodic floods. The Southern states, where levees had been damaged by the Civil War, experienced severe flooding in 1865, 1867, 1874, and 1882. The latter was the most severe.
The great flood of 1882 ravaged communities along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries. In Cincinnati, heavy rains began on Sunday night, February 19, 1882, and lasted for two days, causing the Ohio River to rise at a rate of two inches per hour. The flood blocked railroad tracks entering the city, submerged homes and factories, displaced hundreds of families and put thousands out of work temporarily. Similar scenes occurred along the Ohio in southern Indiana and Illinois. Even more serious was the flooding along the Mississippi River from Illinois and St. Louis virtually all the way down to the delta of New Orleans. The 1882 flood was one of the most devastating to the lower Mississippi River Valley. The water easily broke through most of the levees, burying entire towns, killing livestock and other animals, and forcing thousands of residents to flee for safety. In Arkansas alone, an estimated 20,000 people were left homeless. In some places the overflowing Mississippi River transformed the adjacent communities into a lake 15 miles wide. Private steamboat companies rescued those stranded by the flood, as did the Army Corps of Engineers and the Quartermaster Corps, which also distributed rations to the victims. |
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This member of the Sapindaceae family, which includes the Akee, Longan and Soapberry tree, is native to the low elevations of southern China, where it has been cultivated for over 2,000 years.
It is now cultivated throughout most southern Asiatic countries, including India, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines; they have been grown in the Caribbean since the 18th century, and were introduced to Hawaii, Florida and California in the late 19th century. The fruits are about 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter when fresh, and have a red brittle shell, with white translucent flesh and a single large seed. They are eaten fresh or dried, and are also available canned in syrup. The flesh is fragrant and sticky, sweet and juicy; the dried fruit has a smoky taste somewhat like a raisin. A versatile fruit, they are excellent in fruit salads, sweet and sour sauces, and dessert sauce. They may be used in stir-fries, salads, poultry dishes, and even served over ice cream. Can you name this "fruit" ??? PASS YOUR MOUSE OVER THE QUESTION MARKS FOR THE ANSWER! |
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| OFF TO SCHOOL Charles Burton Barber (English Animalist Painter) |
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 | Epic in scope, evoking the ancient kinship between people and dogs, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is an unforgettable debut novel set against the majestic backdrop of the northern Wisconsin wilderness.
Born mute, speaking in a sign language of his own invention, Edgar Sawtelle has led an idyllic childhood on his parents' remote farm, where, for generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dogs whose thoughtful presence is exemplified by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong companion. During the summer of his 14th year, Edgar seems poised to excel in his family's work. He has a way with the dogs, and he has just been given his first litter of pups to raise. But that summer brings two unexpected visitors: a stray dog who refuses to come in from the wild, and Claude, Edgar's uncle, who cannot seem to tame his own ferocious nature. In this masterful novel, Wroblewski brilliantly examines the limits of language and the elemental forces of love, loss and revenge. At once a riveting adventure and a multilayered family saga, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a bold, ambitious novel that will captivate readers from its mysterious opening to its breathtaking finale. |
| David Wroblewski is the author of the internationally bestselling novel The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle, a 2008 Oprah Book Club pick, a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the 2008 Colorado Book Award, Indie Choice Best Author Discovery award, and the Midwest Bookseller Association's Choice award.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was selected as one of the best books of 2008 by numerous magazines and newspapers around the country, and has been translated into over 25 languages. David holds a degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Warren Wilson M.F.A. Program for Writers. Over the years he has lived in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Austin, Texas. He currently makes his home in Colorado with the writer Kimberly McClintock, their dog Lola, and their woefully undisciplined cat, Mitsou. |  |
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| TELLURIDE, COLORADO |
 | Most semi-firm cheeses are pressed during production to remove moisture. As they age, they become even firmer and more pungent and crumbly.
Most of these cheeses are great for snacks and sandwiches, and many can be cooked without becoming rubbery or oily. Semi-firm cheese tends to have a longer shelf life than softer cheeses. Many can last about 1 month to 2 months in the refrigerator if the package isn't opened, 3-4 weeks if opened, and 2 weeks if sliced. |
 | Abondance = Tomme d'Abondance (Pronunciation: ah-bone-DAHNS) This French raw milk cheese has a subtle, nutty flavor. It's a good melting cheese. Substitutes are Gruyere, Fontina, and Appenzell. |
 | Appenzell = Appenzeller This is a creamy and pleasantly stinky cheese. Pronunciation: AP-en-zel Substitutes are Emmentaler, Gruyère, Raclette, and Fontina |
 | Asiago (fresh) (Pronunciation: ah-zee-AH-go) Don't confuse this with aged Asiago, which is a firm grating cheese. Substitutes are Provolone or other semi-firm cheeses. |
 | Beaufort (Pronunciation: BOH-furt) This semi-firm cheese is slightly sweet and has a nice texture. It's a great melting cheese, so it's often used in fondues. Substitutes are Emmenthal, Gruyère, Fontina, Tomme, and Reblochon. |
 | Caciotta = Casciotta (Pronunciation: kah-CHOH-tah) This mild Italian cheese is made with a blend of sheep's milk and cow's milk cheese. |
 | Caerphilly (Pronunciation: kar-FILL-ee) This Welsh cow's milk cheese is crumbly and a good melter. Substitute--Cheddar |
 | Cantal (Pronunciation: kahn-TAHL) This French cheese is sweet when young but earthy and grassy when aged. It's a reliable party-pleaser--mild but complex. Substitutes are Cheddar, Gruyère, Monterey jack, and Lancashire. |
 | Cheshire (Pronunciation: CHESH-er) Said to be England's oldest cheese. It is a good cooking cheese. Blue Cheshire is a blue-veined version. |
 | Cheddar: The curds of many English cheeses are "cheddared" or cut into slabs and stacked to allow whey to drain off. Some cheddars have more lactose in them, making them "sharp" or acidic. Less sharp cheddars are often labeled "mild" or "medium." England supplies many fine Cheddars, as does Vermont and Tillamook (Oregon). Substitutes are Colby, Cheshire, and American. |
 | Colby: This Wisconsin cheese resembles a mild Cheddar. Substitutes are Cheddar (sharper flavor), Tillamook, and American. |
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| This city bus has the look of a stagecoach and possibly was converted from an old stagecoach. Stagecoaches made their way to Iowa to meet the need for mail delivery to western settlements. Equipped with seats for passengers, they became a popular means of passenger travel. The first regular stagecoach line in Iowa began operating in 1838. |
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 | CALIFORNIA Historic Bear Flag raised at Sonomaon June 14, 1846, by a group of American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule. The flag was designed by William Todd on a piece of new unbleached cotton. The star imitated the lone star of Texas. A grizzly bear represented the many bears seen in the state. The word, "California Republic" was placed beneath the star and bear. It was adopted by the 1911 State Legislature as the State Flag. |
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| Pencil sketching is an interesting and powerful element of design. To put it correctly, pencil sketching can be termed as "the mother of graphic arts."
The general perception about drawing pencil sketches is that it is either a part of initial training given to Fine Arts students or it's a good hobby for anyone who can draw well. What most of us don't know is that making pencil sketches is almost an inevitable part of design and a unique branch of art in itself. |
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| Susan has been publishing her Daily Dose for years. She did a fine job of creating email pages, but felt the need to transition to a website. It was a big step for Susan and she has made the change like a pro. You can visit her site by clicking on the graphic. |
