The secret life of inanimate objects

Goomp's pool as oceancule, a miniature ocean, produces its own version of arctic sea smoke (pink fuzz, left, in photo) early morning. Totally awesome.

Next-to-longest day of the year, with the sun rising way north of that Stonehenge-in-residence, the nineteenth-century summer cottage on Eastern Point at the mouth of the river. As we've often noted here, the sun pops out of the horizon to the left (north) of the house on the longest day and then arises ever more to the right (south) day by day following the Summer Solstice -- the date of maximum tilt.

Sunrise at Camelot-by-the-Sea this morning, the second longest day of the year, when the sun is farthest north (left in picture) in its yearly declination cycle before it starts back south, hitting midway at the autumnal and vernal equinoxes September 21 and March 21 -- and the nadir on the winter solstice December 21.

Our mother always said that once you hit July 4, the summer was over, and now we know what she meant.  It's true there is nothing so rare as a day in June in these parts -- mid-coastal New England, with its soft breezes filled with the scent of roses. Here her picture as a young Jackson/Tufts undergrad c. 1938 or 1939, around the time she met her destiny, our own venerable Goomp:

An old-fashioned family heirloom card table with drop leaves in Goomp's livingroom, arrayed with a picture of Mummy in her salad days (center in photo) and precious mementos she treasured -- a multitude of ceramic and metal miniature boxes with alligators, kittens and frogs inside -- came to life in the golden early-morning sunlight of the second-longest day of the year.

Another magic moment with Tiny's fur catching the purple and gold of the sun's early light as she meatloafed atop the snail blog printout before heading outside for field exercises:

The light fantastic lent mystery to everyday objects throughout the house, in this case a Beatrix Potter ceramic Peter Rabbit, the same one Mummy always told us wanted us to eat our carrots:

The secret life of inanimate objects is a natural ally of the drama of early-morning light.

Update:  Carnival of the Cats -- brought to you by resident kitties Hakuna and Matata -- is up at the admirable Blog d'Ellison, where proprietor Ellison mistakes us for our father, Arthur -- better known as Goomp -- being as we sent our carnival posts from Goomp's email address yesterday -- but more to the point, Ellison has some information re printing out your blog:

There is, by the way, at least one blog binding service out there, and likely others -- for those of us who wish to see our Reams o’ Crap in print. I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried it.

We'll have to scout that one out.

 

Comments

[Elisson]

I've fixed the Goomp/Arthur reference (what was I thinking?) - and I've gotta tell you, the pictures on your site - hell, this post alone - are magnificent.

On the Blogroll with you! On, I say!

[Sissy Willis]

Great idea!

[Mr.Kurtz]

Psst. Aren't March 21 and September 21 (or thereabouts) the equinoxes?

[Martin Lindeskog]

Mr. Kurtz: Maybe my post, Winter Solstice, could be of interest.

http://egoist.blogspot.com/2004/12/winter-solstice.html

All the Best,

Martin Lindeskog - American in spirit.
Gothenburg, Sweden.

[Gayle]

Tiny is magnificent. When I finally get around to putting together photographs of Sam (the magnificent), my 4 year old Maine coon cat who weighs in at 25 pounds and Tim (the goofy), my 9-month old Blue Point Siamese who (although Sam would NEVER admit it)is the boss of Sam - I'll send them to you. I have never been as entertained as I have been since my first pair of cats back in early 1984. To me, they are the absolute embodiment of love. Nor had I ever laughed as hard as I have since the original odd couple (the late and very lamented Boo and Rocky - litter mates and as different in size and personality as my present 2 characters).

Cats can make you crazy, cats can make you laugh. Cats can assist you through horrible bereavement and serious illness. They are the most magical creatures I have ever known.

And for sheer hilarity - picture my delicious little man Sam in the throes of scaring the LIFE out of my best friend's 85 pound Dalmatian Joseph! Joseph hates other dogs and adores cats. His wussy heart was broken when Sam IMMEDIATELY DECIDED that no D.O.G. was going to enter HIS house. Since Timmy loves Joseph - I now have to take him across the hall to Andrea's for play dates!

[Sissy Willis]

Egad! Thanks for noticing, Mr. Kurtz. Correction made, paw washing in progress.

Martin: Thanks for the great link!

Gayle: Can't wait to see pix of your two fun and funny boys.

[Teresa]

As always... gorgeous pictures! Especially the sunrise - and I'm not an early morning person at all *grin*

[Mr.Kurtz]

Extraordinary eye-mind coordination in your photos: "Beauty in unexpected places" indeed.