Sep 19 2021 - Max in Animal News

 

Max the Miracle Dog, who made headlines around the world when he was awarded the PDS Order of Merit in 2021 has had a permanent statue unveiled in his hometown of Keswick, Cumbria.  There's a picture of Max and his statue in the article.  "English Springer Spaniel Max was an online star thanks to his owner Kerry Irving’s regular updates on social media. Photos and videos of their antics in the Lakes, charity walks and public appearances had already made the special spaniel a household name, but when the pandemic hit in 2020 Max’s daily live broadcasts resulted in him becoming the world’s virtual therapy dog, with dedicated fans tuning in from Australia to America. Their daily Facebook Live videos became a lifeline for hundreds of thousands when the world went into lockdown, helping people through incredibly dark times of isolation, grief, loneliness, anxiety and fear.  In February 2021, Max was presented with the PDSA Order of Merit, also known as the animals OBE, for his outstanding contribution to society. Now his statue, which has been designed and made by local sculptor Kirsty Armstrong, is a permanent tribute of Keswick’s most famous dog.  Reacting to the unveiling, Max’s owner Kerry Irving said, “Hope Park is the perfect location as Max has brought hope to so many people. It’s incredible that our little boy, proudly wearing his PDSA Order of Merit, will now be sat there and remembered for generations to come.” The statue was unveiled by 12-year-old Sophie, a local girl who has dyslexia, and who has found great comfort in Max’s stories. The statue was paid for by a crowdfunding campaign, which raised £26,000 in a single day! Kerry was able to donate additional funds from the campaign to vet charity PDSA, which provides free and low cost veterinary care to the pets of people in need." Read Max's Story HERE.   She Max HERE.   The picture today is our motion blur winter study of birches and a wonderful sentiment about our relationship to dogs.  Will Rogers' most famous words are:   "I never met a man I didn't like" When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like." I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved.

Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

April 24 2021 - Astounding

 

Here's today's question:  What is the current trend in "astounding"?  Is there something in the news that meets the criteria of surprisingly impressive?  Would you consider architecture to have astounding developments? Here's one listed for Toronto: In a Toronto neighbourhood defined by converted 19th-century brick warehouses and sleek glass condos, award-winning local studio gh3*’s bunker-like Storm Water Quality Facility is set to become a unique and imposing landmark. Following in the footsteps of the city’s numerous iconic infrastructure projects (from the massive Hearn Power Station to the art deco R.C. Harris Treatment Plant), the faceted 279-square-metre concrete structure similarly marries cutting-edge aesthetics with state-of-the-art processes. Its austere form and monolithic skin conceal a discrete four-part water treatment scheme — a strikingly simple choreography of elements that will purify urban runoff from the new West Don Lands development and return it back to nearby Lake Ontario. 10 years in the making, it’s been well worth the wait.   Doesn't that look like the Gardiner Expressway? Yes.  It will be at Lakeshore Boulevard and Cherry Street.  You can see the story and pictures HERE.  It is among 10 world projects for 2021 from Azure HERE.    A pretty Hibiscus flower this morning. Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Congratulations Sonia Day!

Sonia Day is well-known as a garden writer.  Her column in the Toronto Star is widely followed.  Sonia's latest book is an award-winning fiction novel. She read from "Deer Eyes" at the Plant Paradise Delphinium Festival.  Sonia's writing is interesting and entertaining, and her reading made it even more so. Check out her website here: http://www.soniaday.com Congratulations to Sonia on winning the Silver Medal for fiction in the Independent Publisher book awards!