Feb 09 2025 - Black Dogs

 

There are a lot of black dogs.  Every day, going for a walk, a black dog or two go by.  Millie's red-auburn colour is considered more rare.   Black, brown and white are the most common colours.   "Despite the huge variety in coat color, there are only two basic pigments that determine the color of canines: eumelanin (black) and phaeomelanin (red). All different variations in color are created by these two pigments, which are both forms of melanin." It makes me wonder what breeds these black dogs are?  I can identify golden retrievers and golden labs easily and the rest? There are 25 or more breeds that are black.  So the ones that seem to be walking down the street might be   Belgian sheepdogs, flat-coated retrievers, or black labrador retrievers. No Pulis, pugs, giant schnauzers, or dobermans.  And definitely no great danes in the neighbourhood.  Here's the advice at the end of the article on which black dogs to avoid:   "If you want a dog with a black coat, and you're torn between a few dogs on this list, then consider a couple of other things before you make your decision. If you don't have a ton of time to devote to exercise and training, you might want to nix the black Russian terrier, the puli, and the Belgian sheepdog from your list; they each require a lot of both. If you have allergies, the Newfie manufactures a ton of drool. Slobber is just as responsible as shedding for causing allergies. If you’re busy and want a low-maintenance breed, the border collie has extensive care needs that can make them difficult to look after."

I found this in the archives - an enoki mushroom heart-like image.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Feb 02 2022 - Winter Snow Storm vs Chocolate

 

The clouds in the sky are moving fast.  Layers of them above a pale orange layer.  Which of them will come the rain clouds followed by snow clouds that will deliver our snow storm today into tomorrow?  February certainly is a tumultuous month.   That must be why February is also the month where chocolate can dominate and be celebrated. It is a soothing, uplifting, and energizing food and drink.  The debates about the goodness of chocolate are always present.  Here are a few of them. Is chocolate good for me?  The standard answer: Chocolate contains polyphenols which are good for you - reducing blood pressure and having antioxidant properties.  But healthier sources of polyphenols include pulses.  "Pulse” is a derivation from the Latin words puls or pultis meaning “thick soup”. Pulse crops are small but important members of the legume family, which contains over 1,800 different species. Pulse crops are the seeds of legumes that are used as food, and include peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and faba beans. Now that's a bit of a let-down for chocolate. Is dark chocolate better for me?  Here's the response: It certainly is bitter and hard to taste the chocolate flavour at 100% chocolate.  I once got my Dad some  organic chocolate "nibs".  They are little bits that are considered to be very healthy - Cacao nibs are highly nutritious, providing an impressive amount of protein, fiber, healthy fats, minerals, and plant compounds like flavonoids. They were in an organics store in trendy Liberty Village.  He tried one and gave me the bag back.  Not enough sugar.   And what about these:  Hot chocolate doesn't count,  Chocolate with bubbles in is "lighter", and a chocolate bar is the perfect portion.   While we call these chocolate myths, they do seem more fact vs fiction areas.   Calling these myths seems to make sense given chocolate's history.  The Mayans creation story involves two twins who came into existence when their deceased father's head spat onto their mother's hand from a cacao tree.  Supposedly his severed head had been left on a cacao tree.  The father was resurrected and became the Maize God. The corn from him was used to create the true humans of the world. Can you imagine if the Roman Catholic Church had a "Jesus was spat onto Mary's hand" story?  How different things would be. My "Chocolate or Vanilla" mushroom image transformed in Flexifly.

Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblog.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

The Outer Limits

Topaz Labs provides software filters for post-processing images.  This one creates little fibres and liquid lines.  So here we are today with our mushroom shapes turned into landscapes and alien forms.

Little White Mushrooms and the Fighting Irish

The Fighting Irish

What does a University have to do with these mushrooms?  Surprisingly, these mushrooms were growing in the mulch across the street from the campus when we were on our way to Kansas City in September.

The University's name comes from Notre Dame du Lac - Our Lady of the Lake and refers to the patron saint, the Virgin Mary. What was the journey from its beginnings as an all-male Catholic institution founded in 1842 to being known for its sports?  All its teams are known as the Fighting Irish.  The connection in the Wikipedia article was that analysts say the University promotes Muscular Christianity through its athletic programs. This is a Christian commitment to piety and physical health, a movement that came into vogue during the Victorian era. 

The largest building on campus today is the stadium - over 80,000 seats. Doesn't this indicate the significance of sports to the university. The football team has the renown of being the source of the expression "win for the Gipper".  George Gipp was the school's legendary football player during 1916-20.  His bad bad habits got the better of him.  When he was dying in 1928, the coach inspired the Notre Dame team to beat the Army team and "win for the Gipper".   The 1940 film, Knute Rockne, All American, starred Ronald Reagan as Gipp.

So back to the mushrooms across the street at the 'Mews' - what could this little white conical mushrooms be? So many pictures on google and none seem to be the same.

Marvelling the Mushroom and other Vegetables

The Marvelling the Mushroom series explores the linear art underneath a mushroom.  These pink oyster mushroom are lyrical in the interplay of circles and lines.

Here we are with Rutabaga, and its cracked surface that reveals a pretty purple underneath.

Finally, the red cabbage reveals fingerprints intermixed with its sweeping curves in purple and fuchsia.

Marvelling the Mushroom Series

Hi everyone,

Here's an extract from the Redbubble portfolio Marvelling the Mushroom.  

Marvelling the Mushroom…with Love

There are so many hearts to be found in nature.  This is a mirror image of Enoki mushrooms, as they form a heart.

Marvelling the Mushroom Series

Hi everyone,

Here are a few more images in the Marvelling the Mushroom Series.  These are macro images of the underside gills of mushrooms.  They reveal the rich patterns and textures in nature's micro landscapes.

Happy New Year Calendar

Welcome 2011!  May you have an adventurous and abundant year!

Marvelling the Mushroom...continues

Today’s post is an image that continues the Marvelling the Mushroom series.  I think this is a Bearded Tooth mushroom – it comes from the Mushroom Grower at the Etobicoke Farmer’s Market in Toronto.  They are a few inches wide and look like little shaggy brains.     

Fruits of Autumn

I've noticed the beautiful mushrooms at the St. Lawrence Market and the Dufferin Street Organic Farmers Market. The oyster mushrooms have been amazing with vibrant colour and form. Here are some of the images.