best wishes

merry christmas

mysterious microscopic gift

axial tilt

Happy winter solstice and lighter days ahead!

change

Here is most of my dad's cool collection of coins from around the world.  The different fonts and plants and animals are beautifully detailed.  The sizes and shapes and metals and weights are fascinating to compare.  Imagine how how far each coin has traveled before ending up here!

evergreens

petite pretty prints

I love this tiny old book from 1920, Flower Guide, written and illustrated by Chester A. Reed. Here is a small sampling of its 191 beautiful one inch wide paintings of "Flowers East of the Rockies." I like the soft quality of the prints, and there's something charming about them even when they're offset.

The Asters: 

New England Aster

Small White Aster

Starved Aster

Daisy Fleabane

Star Thistle

Chicory; Succory

 Wood Sorrel Family:

Yellow Wood Sorrel; Lady's Sorrel

Pink Family:

Bouncing Bet

Water Plantain Family:

Broad-leaved Arrow-head

Narrow-leaved Arrow-head

Honeysuckle Family:

Bush Honeysuckle

Twinflower

Rockrose Family:

Frostweed: Rockrose

Hudsonia

Primrose Family:

Star Flower

Pimpernel

fuzzy fingers

eye see

Another sort of magnifier is this clever pair of cosmetic glasses, an especially unique flea market find.  The "optically correct Eye-See reflectogram" lets you put on eye makeup anywhere.  It's an excellent idea for traveling, though after getting dolled up with eye shadow, eye liner and mascara, you'll have a giant dent at the top of your nose from the weight of the glasses!

meniscus

I have a fun collection of magnifiers with interesting pieces that may have been used by jewelers or stamp collectors originally.  I find them very useful, especially the brass pick glasses, for analyzing intricate jacquard weaves.  Of course it's fun to look at skin and scabs as well!

storytelling records

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6a7eBX7oEQ