Played tourist again

 We came into the city day before yesterday

 but we didn't see this

 and we didn't see this

 nor this

 nor this

but this is what we came in for,

 the Pompeii exhibit

79 AD. Mt. Vesuvius erupted. A whole city was entombed. Amazing. The human casts are very moving; the real objects--everything from graceful murals to strigils to gold jewelry to pots and pans to a loaf of bread--vividly remind us that they were real people leading ordinary lives when the catastrophe happened.

Pompeii the Exhibit
New York Times review
More reviews

Some really neat blogs

Just discovered a wonderful blog from Lebanon, Ohio. Julie's pictures of freshly picked blueberries made me want to go right out and pick some. Oh, and she's a birdwatcher/rescuer, too, and has essays on NPR.
Julie Zickefoose

And this blog, Somewhere in NJ, has been following the life and growth of four piping plover chicks. The pictures are adorable. I've enjoyed watching our own LI plover chicks but have never been able to get a picture of the lightning-fast little things.

Last but not least,for the past couple of years I've been enjoying the irrepressible Mary Beard with her blog A Don's Life. Her commentors are always interesting though a few are quite barmy.

Hear the music?

These Etruscan dancers greet me each morning on the desktop as the computer comes to life.

The Do-Not-Sell List

To me the Russian Olive is a beautiful shrub with silver foliage that I've encountered on walks, but now I learn that it is considered an invasive species and may not be sold on Long Island. There are 63 plant species on this list and it's a real eye-opener. The law prohibits the sale, introduction and propagation of these invasive species banned in Suffolk County or Nassau County.
Suffolk and Nassau Counties Do-Not-Sell list
Information on Invasive Plants

Comfy new chair

Still room for a coffee cup on the table.

A day of temporary retirement.

What?

Hanya taking a picture of her big brother taking a picture of her.

The Look

Thirteen going on 25

Dani in the Wilderness

 What a lovely place

 The Canadian Rockies

 The cool gaze of a soccer hero

 who likes the color purple

This is my favorite picture

Omer in the Wilderness

An almost smiling Omer

Number 94

A serious Omer 

A nautical Omer 

An almost smiling nautical Omer

Mystery plant from 5/21 in bloom

It's a wild phlox, of course, of course.

Genus: Phlox. Species: ?

 There are about 70 to choose from.
Perhaps P. divaricata

More pics from the open house

 In a pergola

 Umbrella pine

 Advert for the movie

Clever use for an old handbag

Little train for little train buffs

Something for everyone at the open house

Cornell Extension Open House 2011

Yesterday the weather was perfect and there were zillions of beautiful flowers plus an extensive herb garden on view at the Cornell Extension Open House in Riverhead. The lilies (2nd pic) are trials that cannot be seen elsewhere. In the 4th pic the little flags indicate votes that we visitors were urged to cast for our favorites, also trials.

Mosaics

From Malta

And now

Veronica begins

Happy Canada Day!

I came across this charming video on Bing, the search engine. I used to have Google as my home page but when they put an ugly black line across the page a few days ago I switched to Bing and now I'm delighted by the beautiful photo they provide every day together with links.

Canadian Please