Marilyn's Photos - July 13 2025 - Wimbleton Towels

 

Famous events bring forth famous swag.  Wimbledon is famous for: a) being the oldest tennis tournament in the world b) strawberries and cream c) only Grand Slam still played on grass courts d) its towels You likely know the first three answers.  But Wimbledon towels?  I guess I am not attentive enough to the social beat.  AI says these are: "iconic, collectible, towels, particularly the traditional green and purple "Championship" towels, which have become synonymous with the tournament.  Players often take these towels home as souvenirs, despite them being intended for use during matches and then laundered. " I prefer them to take them home rather than reuse them.  How cheap.  Actually, aren't they expensive at $200.00.  But then, they have hand towels and face clothes for $94.00 so something for at least two price groups.  There are many products for the fans far away.   Go to the website to purchase and here's what you will find: "The Official Wimbledon Towels have achieved iconic status here at The Championships where they have featured in some of the biggest matches in memory. Instantly recognisable, the classic colouring of the green and purple championships towel is as at home on the beach as it is the tennis court. Made by Christy, using their exclusive Hygro cotton technology, the towel features a soft handle and a high absorbency that make it a perfect partner for those 5 set show downs. As used by the players on court at The Championships, Wimbledon Excellent absorbency Highly durable Soft handle Low linting Classic Wimbledon Colours 100% combed Hygrocotton pile 70cm x 133cm / 500 GSM" I've included the pictures so you can "instantly" recognize them next time. There is a Wimbleton tote bag for $430 - that feels cheap compared to that recent Birkin Hermes Bag.   Those TikTok stories of Wimbleton players "stealing" towels - the videos show them stuffing them into duffel bags.  Real or AI?  Now I've started to wonder about all kinds of things. Here's the Ostrich Parade at the Ringling Circus Museum.  It looks normal compared to the Wimbledon towel.

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Baker's Dozen Day

Isn't 'baker's dozen' an interesting expression.  Dozen may be one of the earliest primitive groupings.  It is also known as a devil's dozen or long dozen.   The expression came about with baked goods, as a way for bakers to avoid being blamed for shorting their customers.  Bakers had to sell goods by the dozen at a specific weight.  The expression evolved over the centuries to further variations around this intent. While most things aren't sold by the dozen anymore, we still an buy a dozen eggs.  This is common everywhere. They started out being sold by the dozen to match up with the Anglo-Saxon and Roman systems of measurement.  One egg could be sold for a penny or 12 for a shilling.  This persisted in the American colonies, after the revolution.  And it just stayed after that. What else is in the dozen group? 12 hours on a clock face 12 months in a year 12 signs of the zodiac 12 grades under college level  12 Tribes of Israel 12 Apostles of Jesus Sold by the dozen: roses, donuts, batteries 12 Days of Christmas  12 Olympians 12 Jurors on a jury Our Valentine's pictures today started at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.

At the Ringling Museum

Ringling Museum     The historic mansion is a delicate beauty, with complex colours and textures in terra cotta, tile, and marble. Built with a similar intent - to create the most striking of private homes - as Biltmore and Hearst, this mansion is elaborate. The antique roof tiles come from Barcelona where John Ringling salvaged them and sent them home, filling two cargo ships. There were too many for the house, so some were sold to neighbours.  One can still see roofs that match Ca' d'Zan's. The house is Venetian in design. In keeping with the theme, Mable Ringling kept a gondola at the dock. After John Ringling's death, the mansion was neglected for decades.  Its transformation back to its original beauty was completed in 2002, with a six year effort to restore it. There is the Art Museum, Circus Museum, and also an 18th century Italian theatre on the ground.  It sits inside a new structure.  Ringling had it shipped from the Veneto to Florida in 1930.