Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
counting counting....
In the meantime trying to find something to really cheer about!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday diary
"Dear Diary:
I was attending a group-show gallery opening in Chelsea, when I noticed a small Jack Russell terrier in the middle of several people who were talking, drinks in hand.
I began to see the dog was moving about, situating himself in the middle of different groups of people. Occasionally he barked and scampered around, capturing the other gallery patrons’ attention.
At some point it struck me that the dog was in the gallery by himself. I reached down and looked at the tag around its neck. On it was written, “Don’t Mess With Me, I Know My Way Home.” On the other side of the tag was a Yankees logo.
Later that evening, I saw the dog in another gallery, and I felt that perhaps he was going to various openings and was networking."
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Babette and Friends A- B- C's
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Proust and Madeleine Tea Cakes
After reading page after page of Proust's description of his madeleines and because there is not a decent french pastry shop in the vicinity I baked my own madeleine tea cakes. Proust makes you do the most amazing things...
Voila the recipe I used:
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
Grated zest of 1 lemon (or orange)
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 3/4 baking poser
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or three pinches of vanilla powder
5 oz unsalted butter, softened or melted but not warm
1/3 cup milk
Madeleine molds, pastry bag and plain tip
Instructions
1. Brush molds with softened butter and then flour. Tap out extra flour.
2. Cream eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl with whisk or electric mixer, until light yellow and creamy.
3. Add dry ingredients and zest and beat until blended.
4. Beat in the butter and then milk.
5. Let rest for 10-15 minutes.
6. Set oven to 400˚F.
7. Pipe batter with pastry bag and tip into madeleine molds up to the rim. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden. Cool them before you eat.
PS: With whole wheat flour, yogurt, pieces of chicken liver and pieces of small cubed apple and crushed garlic make a mix and pour it in madeleine molds -very very lightly oil the molds with flux oil or olive oil- and bake and make "doggy madeleines" and spoil your doggies!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Three little bunnies and a Dove
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Mille Feuille
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Iris to Ceres
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom -groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn: thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air;--the queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Mushroom Princess
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mystery Visitor at the Farm
Friday, May 14, 2010
The sea in my mind
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Storm
Early Morning Mist
Dream
Babette's dream
Last night Babette had an unusual and long dream. Her paws were in full motion and her ears and whiskers were twitching, her nose got very busy sniffing something interesting. Suddenly she moaned and made crying sounds and her legs moved more and more wildly as if she was now really really running and her tail started to go up and down and shake left and right. I believe what ever she was up to became not so pleasant anymore! When she opened her eyes, she had the face of a dazed dog. I wondered if she had a nightmare and was relieved to awake and get out of whatever she was dreaming. Of course we can never tell..
I read that not all animals that experience REM sleep necessarily dream. Some think that perhaps only mammals dream during REM sleep. However, dolphins, thought to be highly intelligent do not have any REM sleep whatsoever!
I was surprised to read that elephants,giraffes,cows,horses and even sheep dream too!
Apparently elephants don't change in posture when entering or exiting REM sleep. Therefore, it is often difficult to tell if they are in NonREM or REM sleep. It is hard to see the eye movements since their eyes are relatively small. However, some indicators of REM sleep in elephants, as well as other animals, are twitches, vocalizing and irregular breathing.
Giraffes have about 20 min. of REM sleep each night in episodes of 1-6 minutes each. During this time, they lie down, heads resting over their bodies or on the ground.
Horses which must lie down to experience REM sleep, sometimes move their legs while sleeping, and will even neigh in their sleep!
Sheep who often sleep in a "sphinx-like" position occasionally stretch out while sleeping. During this time, they experience many REM sleep-like sleep. During this time, they have eye movements and ears and their legs occasionally twitch.
Interesting, isn't it?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Etymology of the word: Dog
Fascinating information about the word Dog:
Dog (noun) In Old English O.E. docga, a late, rare word used of a powerful breed of canine. It forced out O.E. hund (the general Germanic) by 16c. and subsequently was picked up in many continental languages (cf. Fr. dogue, Danish: dogge), but the origin remains one of the great mysteries of English etymology.
Many expressions -- a dog's life (c.1600), go to the dogs (1610s), etc. -- reflect earlier hard use of the animals as hunting accessories, not pampered pets.
In ancient times, "the dog" was the worst throw in dice (attested in Greek, Latin, where the word for "the lucky player" was "the dog-killer"), which plausibly explains the Greek word for "danger," kindynas, which appears to be "play the dog."
Slang meaning "ugly woman" is from 1930s; that of "sexually aggressive man" is from 1950s. Dog tag is from 1918. To dog-ear a book is from 1650s; dog-eared in extended sense of "worn, unkempt" is from 1894.
In a letter addressed To King Edward VI, 15th May 1546, Queen Elizabeth I, wrote the sentence below { read the whole letter by clicking on the sentence if you are interested in Tudor History and to understand the meaning of the whole sentence}
Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds. [Queen Elizabeth, 1546]
It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge. [Heywood, 1562]
Phrase put on the dog "get dressed up" (1934) may refer back to the stiff stand-up shirt collars that in the 1890s were the height of male fashion (and were known as dog-collars at least from 1883), with reference to collars worn by dogs. The common Spanish word for "dog," perro, also is a mystery word of unknown origin, perhaps from Iberian.
Did you ever wonder where do the phrase "The Dog Days" come from?
Not from our dogs but from stars and calendars.
It is first recorded in 1538 as Dies Caniculares in Latin. In Greek it was known as Kyon Seirios. Greeks thus named time period around the heliacal rising of Sirius (q.v.), the Dog-star, noted as the hottest and most unwholesome time of the year; usually July 3 to Aug. 11. But variously calculated, depending on latitude and on whether the greater Dog-star (Sirius) or the lesser one (Procyon) is reckoned.
The heliacal rising of Sirius has shifted down the calendar with the precession of the equinoxes; in ancient Egypt c.3000 B.C.E. it coincided with the summer solstice, which was also the new year and the beginning of the inundation of the Nile. The "dog" association apparently began here (the star's hieroglyph was a dog)
Our friend Courage the Shepherd dog!
We got very good news today about our friend Courage's recovery. He had been neglected and starved for weeks and was struggling between life and death when rescued by German Shepherd Rescue of Orange county. He went through extensive and painful treatments and finally he is on his way to new beginnings. We send him love and happy kisses and woofs and many thanks to the good people at the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County for their selfless work. We need more two leggeds like you!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Dogs Are Shakespearean, Children Are Strangers
Dogs are Shakespearean, children are strangers.
Let Freud and Wordsworth discuss the child,
Angels and Platonists shall judge the dog,
The running dog, who paused, distending nostrils,
Then barked and wailed; the boy who pinched his sister,
The little girl who sang the song from Twelfth Night,
As if she understood the wind and rain,
The dog who moaned, hearing the violins in concert.
—O I am sad when I see dogs or children!
For they are strangers, they are Shakespearean.
Tell us, Freud, can it be that lovely children
Have merely ugly dreams of natural functions?
And you, too, Wordsworth, are children truly
Clouded with glory, learned in dark Nature?
The dog in humble inquiry along the ground,
The child who credits dreams and fears the dark,
Know more and less than you: they know full well
Nor dream nor childhood answer questions well:
You too are strangers, children are Shakespearean.
Regard the child, regard the animal,
Welcome strangers, but study daily things,
Knowing that heaven and hell surround us,
But this, this which we say before we’re sorry,
This which we live behind our unseen faces,
Is neither dream, nor childhood, neither
Myth, nor landscape, final, nor finished,
For we are incomplete and know no future,
And we are howling or dancing out our souls
In beating syllables before the curtain:
We are Shakespearean, we are strangers.
Delmore Schwartz, “Dogs Are Shakespearean, Children Are Strangers” from Selected Poems (1938-1958): Summer Knowledge. Copyright © 1967 by Delmore Schwartz.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Science proves: Dogs Detect Human Emotion
They could have saved their time and money. Anyone who lives with animals knows they do indeed detect emotions and navigate the changes.Maybe the scientists should study why most humans do not.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Dog Sketches...
Dogs in Ancient Greece and Rome
I came across fascinating information about dogs in Ancient Greece and Rome in Encylopaedia Romana. I hope you will find it as fascinating as we did at Babette and friends.
"There on the left as one entered...was a huge dog with a chain round its neck. It was painted on the wall and over it, in big capitals, was written: Beware of the Dog."
Petronius, Satyricon (XXIX)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
19th Century Dog Paintings
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Frog's Desiring a King
AESOP'S FABLES
The Frogs Desiring a King
'The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them; they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them. But some of them thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted.
"Mighty Jove," they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order." Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log, which came down -Splash! - into the swamp.
The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster; but after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even dared to touch it; still it did not move. Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it, thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same; and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst. But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him,
"We want a real king; one that will really rule over us."
Although Hollar's reputation lies mainly in his topographical and architectural etchings, Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) is considered the first artist working in England to view book illustration as an independent art form, and this effect can be seen in his Aesop illustrations, which show a fresh approach to interpreting the story. Publisher John Ogilby (1600-1676) employed Hollar to provide new illustrations for his second edition of The Fables of Aesop , published in 1665. Václav (Wenceslaus or Wenzel) Hollar was an etcher-engraver from Prague who worked for booksellers in London from 1652. Along with Francis Barlow, he was one of the pre-eminent etchers working in Britain in the 17th century. An enormous number of Hollar's plates - around 2700 - survive. You can view them on line at Victoria and Albert Museum Collection which I frequently do and take immense pleasure doing it. Vive la technology!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Babette's new Friend
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Zirus Animation and Get Well
Friday, April 9, 2010
OM
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Alice in the Wonderland
'Babette and Friends' is Reading Lewis Carroll.
`Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, `I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Little is't to such an end
That I praise thy rareness!
Other dogs may be thy peers
Haply in these drooping ears,
And this glossy fairness.
But of thee it shall be said,
This dog watched beside a bed
Day and night unweary—
Watched within a curtained room,
Where no sunbeam brake the gloom
Round the sick and dreary.
Roses, gathered for a vase,
In that chamber died apace,
Beam and breeze resigning.
This dog only, waited on,
Knowing that when light is gone
Love remains for shining.
Other dogs in thymy dew
Tracked the hares, and followed through
Sunny moor or meadow.
This dog only, crept and crept
Next a languid cheek that slept,
Sharing in the shadow.
Other dogs of loyal cheer
Bounded at the whistle clear,
Up the woodside hieing.
This dog only, watched in reach
Of a faintly uttered speech,
Or a louder sighing.
And if one or two quick tears
Dropped upon his glossy ears,
Or a sigh came double—
Up he sprang in eager haste,
Fawning, fondling, breathing fast,
In a tender trouble.
And this dog was satisfied
If a pale thin hand would glide
Down his dewlaps sloping—
Which he pushed his nose within,
After—platforming his chin
On the palm left open.
Favorite 2 Leggeds
- Adopt
- Aesop's Fables
- Bird birdie nam nam
- Birdfriends
- Darwin
- DefendersOFWildlife
- Discover Dog
- DogPHILOSOPHY
- DogPOEMS
- E BIRD
- EarthAnimal
- Ethicalhorse
- Good Weave-End Child Labor
- Horsefriends
- HotelsforLuckywoofs
- HumaneSociety
- Just The Place For a Snark
- Maddie's Fund
- Musictherapy
- Neads
- NYTBooks
- NYTScience
- RoyalDogs
- ServiceDog
- TravelingTips
- TravelonHorses
- TravelwithDoggie