by Marja-Leena 
by Marja-Leena Whale Valley
Photograph by Richard Barnes
My copy of the August issue of the National Geographic magazine arrived yesterday. I always enjoy most of the articles they publish but as you know, my favourites are anything to do with rocks and archaeology and the related sciences. This time I was thrilled to see a fascinating article and many gorgeous photos of Wadi Hitan, the Valley of the Whales in Egypt and the whale bones found there. There are some surprising discoveries concerning the evolution of the whales. All this is available online so enjoy!
Some of you might remember my post of five years ago when I first learned about this remarkable place. You might also enjoy this story and photos by Jenny Bowker, a quilt artist who visited Wadi Hitan while living in Egypt.
by Marja-Leena stargazer
The stargazer lily is in bloom with a heavenly scent.
Another heat wave this week and not even a drop of rain…
Gazing at the full moon and the stars last night…
by Marja-Leena ‘original’ copies
Art factories in China aren’t news to me, but this really blew my mind:
There are no sticky ethical problems involved in the booming trade. As long as the Dafen copy artist does not forge a signature or try to pass her work off as an original, there are no legal implications.
Please read Masters of imitation – Painters in Dafen artist colony churn out reproductions of classics, by Aileen McCabe for the Vancouver Sun.
Are you as disturbed by this as I am? Of course, one can go to any art museum and poster shop and get mass printed copies of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and many other famous works. Is it the same, worse or better? I’m also concerned about the factories that do pass off copies of originals, even of works by living artists. Just thinking about all this opens a large mental can of worms for me – perhaps that’s the intent of the article?
by Marja-Leena evening skies
July 12th, about 8:00 pm
July 19th, at 7:20 pm
We’ve had a month of gorgeous summer weather, including an incredibly hot week which I didn’t enjoy but it’s been quite pleasant since. A month or so without rain with weeks of summer still ahead has me wondering if we are going into a drought? At least we have plenty of water in the mountains from all the heavy snow pack that came after the Winter Games.
Some amazing skies too, like on the two evenings pictured above viewed from our back deck. This evening’s unusually long feather-shaped cloud went right overhead and did not fit into the camera frame. We’re so fortunate to usually have cool evenings when a light fresh breeze comes wafting down the hill after dark, drifting inside through open windows and doors. We leave them wide open in our bedroom as we sleep, something I could not tolerate in the damper times of the year.
UPDATE July 26th: The long feather cloud is a CHEMTRAIL! Please read Natalie’s comments below and check out the links she’s generously provided, especially the last one. You will be shocked and disturbed. How do we stop this??
by Marja-Leena inside to outside
I’ve been quiet here as I’m busy with family as well as all the watering and gardening to keep up in this continuing warm and dry weather.
So today, I’d like to just quickly share something a friend sent me (thanks, D). Watch a drawing in action of a skeleton that comes to life, you will be amazed. I actually posted this almost five years ago but it’s well worth a revisit. Reminds me of life drawing classes of long ago. Enjoy!
by Marja-Leena freshly fallen
for Hattie
Another scan, another flower, this captured moments after falling, still young, soft, alive and beautiful. It may have been too warm for this moderate-temperature loving orchid.
by Marja-Leena scatterings
…more scan play with dried flowers, this one a dipladenia
This morning’s wake up call was the sound of slamming doors echoing through the house. A pleasant coolness felt almost chilly after the week’s heat wave. All morning the wind kept blowing hard with occasional powerful gusts shaking the trees violently, sending needles and leaves flying afar much like rugs being shaken free of dust. A top heavy potted oleander on the deck was knocked over twice until brought inside. A houseplant was knocked off the windowsill. Some tall flowers in the garden are needing staking.
In the afternoon as we drove through the city, we noticed a lot of tree branches and leaves on the streets, still being blown about. Yet the day was mostly sunny and not too hot. Later I learned that this region had quite a storm.
Storms aside, the main event of the day was that we met our daughter and granddaughters at the airport after their long flight from England. What a delight to see them again, and how excited the girls are! They are home for the summer! We’re only sorry that our son-in-law could not come because of work commitments.
by Marja-Leena heat
I know I shouldn’t complain after our cool spring but I am much too hot! It was 30C (86F) here yesterday and today will be hotter, and it’s humid too. I know those in eastern Canada and US are experiencing even higher temperatures. I’m only half joking when I say that it’s my northern blood that makes me so intolerant of the heat, for I get headachy, bloated and downright cranky in hot weather.
A couple of evenings ago just before it got this hot, we managed to process a lot of strawberries for the freezer and then early yesterday morning I made some no-sugar freezer jam which finished me for the day. Hope it turns out!
Between watering the garden and trying to keep cool downstairs, far away from computer and studio, I’m not going to get much done except for some interesting reading which I hope to write about later – on a cool day.