Marilyn's Photos - June 19 2026 - Robin Hood's Tree

 

thought the Robin Hood story was myth and legend.  Today I find out that Robin Hood's Major Oak Tree has died.  It was around 1,200 years old and considered one of Britain's biggest oak trees.  They think cause of death was compacted soil caused by millions of visitors over the years and climate change - there were five very hot and droughty summers.  Isn't that interesting to see all the poles holding up the limbs.  It looks like it lived in a stationary walker.

And what about Robin Hood?  It is considered to be a blend of fact and fiction, with no single historical person match.  The name Robin Hood, or Robehod was a generic alias for criminals in the 13th and 14th centuries. There are chronicles and accounts of Robin's life in the Sloane manuscripts in the British Museum - well, there are multiple accounts of such a person. I don't see anything relating to archeological relics or evidence besides the romanticized stories.  Particularly the account of his death. So if the account of his death is factual, wouldn't they be able to find some remains in his resting place.  "A mound in Kirkless Park, within a bow-shot of the house, can still be seen and is said to be his last resting place." In comparison, the last remains of Little John have a designated resting place and head stone.  "Little John's grave can be seen in Hathersage churchyard in Derbyshire."  It has been there since the early 1600s. The grave was opened in 1784 and a large thigh bone was discovered and removed.  Back then, these were souvenirs. There was also a bow and cap taken into the church's possession, and while no longer at the church, the bow is still occasionally put on display.  The cap is long gone. This week I went to the gardens that will be showcased in the Grimsby Garden Club Garden Tour on July 4th.  My role was to take pictures of the gardens.  I've taken pictures of this garden a number of times - a Romantic traditional country garden with its white picket fence covered in roses and clematis. Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com

Marilyn's Photos - Julne 18 2026 - Kitchens are Coming

 

Something I realize suddenly. The abundance of extraordinary amount of innovation and creativity in our everyday lives.   What is the latest are of revolution in kitchens, or as now think of them KITCHENS?  What used to be a workroom100 years, 50 years, 25 years ago.  And then here we are with this version of The Kitchen.  Here's the kitchen from the 1920s, the 1970s, and 2000s.  These all have the common element of the workroom.  Maybe the last room has more glitz and display rather than work.  And that makes one realize where things are headed.  Right out of the realm of work and into the realm of display.   The words used in the New York Times article include "Kubrickian." A large rectangular box sitting in an open space opens to reveal the kitchen shelves and cabinets.  I expect the experience might be Kurbrickian like the way each iPhone seems to change is open mechanism.  The New York Times calls the effect "slightly terrifying."   I include 2 pictures.  My first impression was that they look like the a version of the Monolith from 2001 a Space Odyssey and the second like a marble block casket.   This is one style.  There's everything from led lights around every space, like a movie set or a Vegas stage.  Then there are displays on the floor - maybe a StarTrek moment.  At the opposite end and tilting against the wind are absurdist gothic designs and over-the-top colouring funk are trendy styles. So the trend has descriptive terms such as: invisible, kinetic, biophilic micro-farms, appliance vaults and holographic projections. The aesthetic styles are:  monolithic minimalism, raw material fusion, and dynamic smart lighting.  I wonder what kitchens are for now?

Rather than considering redoing my kitchen, I am seeking cute garden scenes.  Here's one in Grimsby. Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com

Marilyn's Photos - June 17 2026 - No Free Hockey

 

A headline more terrifying than the U.S. invading Canada?   Yes - hockey will no longer be televised free on the CBC.  That seems like an earthquake in our social and economic fabric.  It is headlined as the end of an era. I think so - it has been on for nearly 75 years on television, and 95 years overall including radio.  It is considered an essential Canadian story and in a time slot similar to a public holiday. Would you change Christmas Day?   While there are lots of things that are no longer free or available, this is particularly troublesome.  CBC owns the brand moniker Hockey Night in Canada, so while it will still show up on Rogers Sportsnet, it will have a different identity of sorts - something to be discovered when it shows up, I guess.  There are lots of articles on things that used to be free and now cost money. They aren't very serious articles, mostly complaint lists. Maybe that's the point - there are so many now. All we can do is add to the list to keep up with things.  We're in a fast-moving transition where the digital world will dominate. We really don't know how it is going to go, or maybe we do - with everything being mandatory on the digital platforms and costing more.  We could start the list of the before and after world of monetization.  I guess it would need to be a database as it would get big, fast. Part of it is that monetization has taken on a new, expanded meaning with the internet and social media.  There are descriptions of how to fast track monetization on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.  You can take YouTube courses on getting "there" fast.  What I know is that things started to accelerate within the last 10 years, and everything got under the microscope so it could generate more revenue.   It makes me wonder if RethinkX has some ideas here.  They are the disruption technology prediction company.  I seem to be wondering if monetization itself is going to turn out to be the most disruptive technology of all.

This is rose season.  These are from the Portland Rose Garden years ago - an astonishing collection of historic roses.  The garden preserved old varieties during the second world war.   Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com

Marilyn's Photos - June 16 2026 - Enter the Cat

 

Today's Globe and Mail has a picture of the Mexican soccer team's mascot, a duck.  The duck is named Merlin and has its own custom Mexican national soccer jersey.   The British press covered a story about a ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet where a stray cat walked on stage during Romeo's death scene.  The performance was in an open-air theatre.  Romeo and Juliet continued their scene while the cat curled up next to Romeo and played with his hair.  Tragedy turned to comedy with an "All's Well that Ends Well" air of enjoyment. There are more stories like this: In a Belarus performance of Swan Lake, a stray cat wandered onto the set, strolling among the ballerinas.   In a performance of the musical "Cats", an audience member's service dog broke free from its leash and sprinted onto the set to chase the lead actor. During a performance of Harold Pinter's play The Caretaker, a mouse went downstage, crossed the set, and disappeared under the bed that the lead actor was sitting on.

I wouldn't be surprised if June is the sweetest month, starting with lilacs, then these honeysuckles and bursting forth with roses.  Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com

Marilyn's Photos - June 15 2026 - Peregrine Alert

 

The BMO Soccer field had some aerial excitement before the matches started.  A nest of Peregrine Falcons was located above the stands.  There were four hatchlings learning to fly as the crews worked to prepare the stadium.  I wouldn't want to be buzzed by one of those parents.   It was bad enough last year with a Redwing nest beside the driveway, and I had to use an umbrella to get to the car. There have been peregrines nesting at the stadium in the past so this isn't a new experience, just one with difficult timing given the FIFA games.  The birds had fledged before the start of the games so there was no direct game conflict.     Add to that, there's a resident hawk at the BMO Field and it has the job of warding off seagulls attracted to the stadium.  The bird flies in during the pre-game ceremonies and goes to its overlook position before kickoff.  The bird has the lamentable name of Bitchy.   There are a number of North American stadiums that have trained hawks that perform on the day of matches, and there are stadiums that have working falcons and hawks as pest control.  It is those nuisance gulls and geese that need clearing.  In the UK, they have to clear out the local pigeons.

The Spring hawk count happens in Grimsby each year around Easter.  Aren't you shocked by the size of an eagle up close?  Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.com