Author: L.E. Hansen

by

Those Were The Days

Quite a few years ago my son and I were talking about music and playing a variety of records. At that time, back in Iowa City, most everyone had a turn table and a collection of records. I had a very large accumulation myself—everything from classical and blues to folk and rock.

Janis Joplin was playing, loudly and passionately while we sang just as loud and just as filled with passion. After all, it was the only way to listen to some things. We had just moved into the game of “Oh! Remember when this came out?” when he asked to play Peter Paul and Mary. “Well,” I said, “we can, but I’m really not all that into nostalgia.”

He feigned a look around the room. “I don’t see any shag carpeting…”

Not getting the connection I responded, “What? Nobody does shag carpet anymore. There hasn’t been any for years. New anyway.”

“Huh. And you do know that Janis is nostalgia, right?”

I was shocked. I didn’t know. I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. With some things the old days get carried right along with you to whenever you are.

janis

Janis Joplin on her Psychedelic Porsche, 1968. Photographed by Jim Marshall

by

Extremes In Time

Doesn’t this look like so much fun? I’ve studied it to see where the sleeves might land should the arms be lowered to a natural length. I don’t believe they would drag too much on the ground. I wish the site had posted photos of different arm positions. And then, given my want, I thought of a garment enhancement to address any long-standing length issues. I’m thinking a hook and eye, maybe even more than one or two, could be placed appropriately on the sleeves so that if one wished, they could be used to shorten and fill out the sleeves. These should be placed on the back of the flowing gatherings so they would not disturb the form when applied.

Then also, I had to think—wouldn’t such a thing be gorgeous today? And well it would, although I do believe it would be more ridiculed than welcomed. Today the critiques would run along the lines of “totally impractical” to “ridiculous.” Certainly nothing for the average citizen to wear. I do believe that many people, especially the critical, would be taken aback to learn this is a fashion design of years in the past.

And I, for one, would have it in a heartbeat even if I had to make up a reason to wear it. So maybe it’s not the extremes of the times—any times—so much as it is the extremes of people willing to embrace them.

Big Sleeves Day - Elsa Schiaparelli, 1950s

Big Sleeves Day—posted by Vintage Fashion Uncovered

The satin pants aren’t too shabby either. Although the protruding pockets would demand a form quite thin. Very thin. Indeed.

by

National PI Day

Today—3.14—is officially PI day. I think the celebration that is called for is a freshly baked pie. The bakery where I go says that they do sell many more pies on this special day, so they always bake extra, and they are always all gone by the end of day.

by

Wildlife Wednesday

Guess who’s back? Jeremy Bryner captured a few images of the herons returning to build their nests. The males return first, fix up the nest, and when the females return they inspect the nests and choose the one they like. The males await to offer a female checking out the nest a stick. If the female accepts this gift, it means they have accepted the not only the stick, but that nest. And the male who comes with it, of course.

Aren’t they majestic? Let the nesting and baby making (OK, egg laying) begin! These guys were photographed on Bath Road in Cuyahoga National Park. So does that mean these are The Herons of Bath Road? Sounds like a book title to me.

 

by

The Tale Of The Tail

Or, the tail of the rooster and the synchronicity of chickens.

The day before yesterday while at the bakery, a young boy demonstrated either Tourette syndrome or incredibly bad behavior. Standing in line—a very long line—of a sudden a rooster began crowing and all of us turned to look in the direction of the sounds. It was not the bird itself, but a young boy in a striped tee-shirt and blue jeans, arms then tucked in with hands under his armpits and flapping. He was running around the store, through the aisles and moving his arm-wings while clucking. It didn’t last all that long and when it stopped, the boy was leaving the bakery with his arm no longer flapping but being held aloft in the time-honored way of a parental escort. It was an interesting break in an otherwise boring and predictable normalcy.

The rooster demonstration made me think of the lovely photos of chickens I had seen a while back in “My Modern Met.” It was an article about the underrated beauty of chickens. I wished that I could see those beautiful feathered creatures again, and regretted not saving the article. I may have even posted a photo or two in a post on this blog.

So today, what do I see but a post on Facebook titled “The most beautiful chickens on the planet.” And there they were, and here they are—examples of the glorious feathered beauties themselves.

chicken-portrait-book-monti-tranchellini-242chicken-portrait-book-monti-tranchellini-33

blkChickFor those of us who might want to refer to the full article now or in future, here’s the link.  Roosters