time is honey

Only just learning that the sequence of three asterisks you often see in books (generally used to denote a break within a chapter) is called a dinkus

Today is #HobbitDay because both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins were born on September 22nd. Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves. Anyway come and boromir #Tolkien books.

Happy #HobbitDay to all, and happy birthday to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins of Bag End, Hobbiton. Quite by chance, I'm currently nearing the end of my latest reread of Bilbo's (relevantly-titled) adventure—and soon to embark on Frodo's!

Sunrise on the equinox..in the Trent valley. 2 degrees, a frost. Geese.

Today I cleared windfallen willow branches, gathered apples, saw a kestrel hovering over the fen, watched the house martins flying overhead, met a frog and a dragonfly, and listened to a particularly loud robin singing from my favourite ash tree

For #RomanFortThursday a carved pedestal from the headquarters building of the legionary fortress at Mogontiacium, present-day Mainz, depicting two #Roman legionaries. Dating 2nd half of the 1st century AD. On display at Landesmuseum Mainz. 🏺 📷 me

Enjoying the two guys on this year's Bake Off who look like they could be rival chieftains in Iron Age Gaul

stone steps

Apologies to any arachnophobes (I count myself among that number), but I had to take a photo of this eight-legged beastie by the greenhouse—not least because just yesterday I reached a particularly relevant chapter in my reread of The Hobbit

THÉODEN: "Blast! That wicked Saruman has connoted a foul new weapon, an explosive power that bursts even stone walls asunder. If only we'd had some warning of this devilry!" GANDALF *hiding fireworks behind his back*: "Gosh."

The pensive frog is unfortunately relatable

Embroidered pastoral scene, English make, 17th century. (Art Institute Chicago)

There's something so enchanting about the tone and worldbuilding of The Hobbit: not only its childish fairytale-ness, but also the way its mythology feels further from the refined Tolkienian legendarium of The Lord of the Rings and later writings, and closer to the original inspirations thereof

The castle ruins on Loch An Eilein in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This loch is beautiful, if you’re near Aviemore any time make sure you visit Loch An Eilein.

Bluesky has bookmarks! Now to use this feature sparingly in a well-organised manner, instead of turning into the virtual hoarder I became on Twitter

Excited about the weekend - 15th century, Bodleian Library MS. Douce 62, f. 24r

Another bee on the verbena!

An attempt to draw the same oak from three different angles on the same piece of paper! #trees

Rather nice to hear a tawny owl from my window as I make my way to bed

A nice double rainbow after a massive thunderstorm here this evening. #finland #suomi #Rainbow #lake #reflections #autumn #storm #photography #smartphonephotography

When I was standing in the garden this morning, a buzzard circled right overhead

#FrescoFriday - From the House of Gavius Rufus, Pompeii (VII.2.16), comes this scene from the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia. Pirithous receives the homage of a Centaur... before the conflict breaks out!. #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺 Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (9044)

Happily reading in the sunshine in the garden, when who should arrive but a thunderstorm!

A beautiful border of flowers #ManuscriptMonday BnF MS Latin 1156B; Horae ad usum romanum; 15th century; f.146r @gallicabnf.bsky.social

Inside you there are two wolves

#FrescoFriday - A touch more Centaur-driven fresco action! Discovered 27 April in the tablinum of the House of the Centaur, Pompeii (VI.9.5), this panel shows the meeting between Hercules & Deianira and the centaur Nessos. #Pompeii #Art 🏺 Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (9001)

A bee on the verbena!

Searching endlessly through archives of ancient scrolls and muttering long forgotten truths could fix me

That question's eeRie, mann

Trees of Gold #photography #nature #landscapephotography #trees

For what it's worth, this is very much addressed in the conclusion to the episode

Day 11 of #septempera - acorn thief. I managed to keep things pretty loose so I'm happy 😊

Some might call it Paradise

🌸Flora in the springtime🌸 As the weather starts to warm up for the springtime here in the Antipodes, we’re celebrating with this gorgeous fresco panel from Villa Ariadne, Stabiae. The verdant greens and the fresh foliage are a hint at the riches of summer to come. #AncientRome #FrescoFriday

It passed on too quickly for me to manoeuvre my phone and take a photo, but this time a DRAGONFLY landed on my knee in a similar fashion

Only a few weeks now until the Autumnal Equinox BL Add 18856; Guyart des Moulins, Bible historiale; c.1420 CE; France, Central (Paris); f.5v

A dragonfly on the woodpile

Two dog roses on a stem and a lackey moth caterpillar, attributed to Jacques Lemoyne de Morgues, French school, c. 1575 (V&A, London)

We should start seeding the concept that generative AI is antithetical to traditional masculinity ("why are you, as a man, submissively asking a computer for help thinking?"), in order to poise patriarchal culture against it and destabilise its hold on society in the long term

The belt of Venus and the moon adorn Brightwell Barrow in South Oxfordshire.

Funny how Revival #DoctorWho has a curse over the 𝑛th Doctor starring in Series 𝑛. Shoulda happened with the 13th in Series 13, but that was titled Flux. Then the 14th for Series 14, but he got specials instead. Then the 15th in Series 15, but by that point it was called Season 2

Sunrise over Holy Island.

Found this droplet left by this morning's rain strangely enchanting

One from my archives, the #orangery at #CalkeAbbey #WindowsOnWednesday #windowswednesday #photograph #photography

For #WindowsOnWednesday, a taste of this morning's weather (it's thankfully brightened up a little since)

✨Hercules captures the Cretan bull✨ This Campana relief is ancient Roman terracotta tile that would once have been part of a larger frieze created by tiles placed in sequence. Hercules’ strength is on display and he is depicted in the heroic nude style. #ReliefWednesday #AncientRome

Rainy, rainy day

Beautiful Scotland - here's an acrylic sketch I painted recently. Can't wait to go back there.

Hearing him again! He seems to have become something of a regular