It's not the dark we're afraid of, it's what we think
might be lurking in it that frightens us.

August 30, 2009

Happy Birthday Mary Shelley


Born this day in 1797, Mary Shelley (nee Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin)

British novelist best known for her gothic novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Published in 1818.

‘Now that I had finished, the beauty of my dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart …’

August 20, 2009

St. Bartholomew's Day


August 24th

Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, is the patron saint of Armenia, bookbinders, butchers, cobblers, Florentine cheese merchants, Florentine salt merchants, leather workers, nervous diseases, neurological diseases, plasterers, shoemakers, tanners, and trappers.

The poor man didn't have a pleasant end, but I won't go into that.

Another observance; August 22nd is the first day of the month-long Muslim festival of Ramadan.

Thanks to the Old Farmer's Almanac for these reminders!

August 13, 2009

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hitchcock


Born today, August 13, 1899, died 29 April 1980

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder." - A.H.

What's your favourite Hitchcock movie? It's hard to narrow it down to one, but I think mine is 1954's "Rear Window" with James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Followed closely by Kelly again in the 1955 "To Catch a Thief". Here's a small sampling of this iconic director's work:

Lifeboat - 1944
Psycho - 1960
The Birds - 1963
Dial M For Murder - 1954




August 11, 2009

An American Werewolf in London, 20th Anniversary

I see today that this classic is coming out on DVD (Blu-ray) at the end of September! I don't know about you, but this is definitely one I'll be getting for my collection.

Have a look at the official site. A great time trip, back 20 years!

American Werewolf in London

August 4, 2009

August!

August, the eigth month, was named for Augustus Caesar and once had the Anglo-Saxon name of Weodmonath, or “weed month.” Though my late father used to say the weeds didn't need a month named for them to keep trying to overrun his garden.

About the middle of the month, you may notice subtle changes; cooler nights, a shift in the quality of light, darkness falling a bit earlier now and, if they are native to where you're living, the music of crickets in the evenings.

The orb weaver spider knows that the seasos are shifting, and every morning fences, shrubs and sometimes window frames are decorated with their work.



August is a great month for stargazing and sees the return of Jupiter, which is the brightest star in the evening sky. Read about a recent Jupiter discovery HERE. This dazzling planet was last this close to Earth in 1963. Its stately, oval orbit around the Sun takes nearly 12 Earth years. It rises at sunset and is out all night as the sky's brightest star, until Venus pops up soon before dawn. Also, watch for the Moon very near the red star Antares at nightfall on the 27th.

Jupiter



Thanks to the Old Farmer's Almanac, National Geographic and NASA for the info! Click on the photos to enlarge the images.

August 2, 2009

Lughnasadh


"August 1st is the first of the three Celtic Harvest festivals and is known as Lughnasadh or Lammas. The first fruits of the harvest are ripening now and the weather becomes a crucial factor in the farmer's life as on it depends whether the grain crops can be harvested at their peak."

Rowan over at Circle of the Year did this wonderful historical post. I was unaware of the seasonal observation of Lughnasadh until now and I'm so pleased to have learned about it. Please visit her blog to read the rest of it and enjoy the outstanding photography!