Scary but freeing

Under a Pride post Michael Koutsofta: When the celebrations and festivals for strait and normal? David Jesudason: Michael Koutsofta You're right narrow waterways face an unprecedented amount of persecution in 2026

Perhaps my finest work

A peaceful scene viewed from the railway of a canal cutting through countryside. Two barges are passing under a bridge. In the background is a windmill.

“Barges are loaded with goods from factories built beside canals. Barges may be towed by horses or driven by their own motor engines”

‘In the Train’, 1955
Artist: WC Watson

We will!

Thanks Minty!

AOC talking to RFK Jr. Her facial and hand gesture has the spiritual energy of that Italian hand gesture where you pinch your fingers and wave your hand (the "ma che vuo" gesture).

how it feels to say "sprezzatura"

We're off to Vietnam tomorrow
Guess who's a bit too excited to sleep but has to work before we go?

It's 10 years today since Prince died.
So a reminder of this, that happened on the other place, because sometimes sadness can still bring laughter.

Some of the other stories I gathered here include the time Prince invited me to his house, a glimpse at the Myst-like CD-ROM game he released in the 90s, some digital artifacts that I had the only copy of—including Prince’s own notes on his greatest hits, and the message behind his Super Bowl show.

Other work by the Ladybird artists
‘April’
Shell Guide to Trees and Shrubs Artist: SR Badmin

We are looking at a painting of St Liphardus - a 6th-century lawyer, hermit and abbot in Meung-sur-Loire near Orléans, France. He is wearing bishops clothing including a surplus and mitre and is holding a crook. On a lead is a small knee high green and blue dragon.

We’re very sorry sir but you cannot bring your emotional support dragon in here.

👍 Good news for the UK, which you won't see reported in the news media. 👏 (The hacks are too busy in the political gutter).

Broderie Anglaise hem on a dress being individually cut to showcase the eyelets as part of the hem

A labour of love ❤️

A triptych of a wagtail painted on vintage florentine folding panels.

Today’s moment of calm
Little dotty wagtail
If you know you know 😉

Murray and Pierre return to the lab after an evening out to find a blue glow emanating from the aparatus

On this day, 20th April 1902 Marie Skłodowska Curie and husband Pierre successfully isolated one tenth of a gram of Radium, the first sample of a radioactive element, from 8 tons of pitchblende.
Artist: Frank Hampson
‘Madam Curie’ (1970)

Absolutely incredible.

NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman, who commanded Artemis II, took this footage from the far side of the Moon with his iPhone.

Watch with sound on.

Same ❤️

A swan's arse in the air

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the river.

A large white waterfowl with orange feet stands in front of a door. On the door is a cardboard sign secured with tape that reads, "DO NOT LET THE DUCK IN." Adding insult to injury, I think the duck might be a goose.

Whatever you do,

😂😂

Every now and then I think of that woman a friend knew from a ferret owner’s group who said that her ferret loved it when she blew raspberries on his bellybutton, only to discover that wasn’t a bellybutton and that he *really* enjoyed it

It is. I am 68, I am aware of the almost 'natural' urge to become more conservative (small c) as I age. It goes alongside, and is fed by, the narrowing of circles and feeling on the outside of things. However, it is no one else's job but mine to resist it and to keeping looking outward

Thought for the weekend: Small things are the whole thing ✨

Image: www.instagram.com/vicky_barone

Some good news 👇

An observation test for your inner 8-year-old.
Can you spot 12 deliberate mistakes?

From Treasure magazine, 1965
Official answers coming soon

A collection of autumnal and coastal nature finds on watercolour paper, including seedheads, larch cones, shells and feathers

Floral finds from the garden in later May on a dark enamel background

Spring floral finds from the garden including cowslip, hellebore and gold lace primula in a series of Victorian glass bottles

Garden floral finds in April with hand written labels on a buff coloured linen background

I confess things are tricky financially atm due to mental illness preventing me from working as much as I'd like. If my photos have ever lifted your mood on an anxious or sad day & you'd like to support me by buying me a ☕ or a set of my wallpapers my ko-fi's here.Pls RT ty x: ko-fi.com/emmamitchell

Two stewards in livery serve a couple in suits a restaurant- grade meal in a train dining carriage

The modern world in old Ladybird books.
Eating on trains, 1974.
Artist: Frank Humphris

During a picnic, a boy, a girl and their father start to play ball. The father, in a suit, looks rather stiff and out of place.

In the updated scene, the dad, in casual clothes, is really into the game and is reaching high to steal the ball from his son

Old Ladybird books updated.
The birth of ‘Competitive Dad’.

(1964 and 1976)
Artists: John Berry, Martin Aitchison

A small yellow chick runs in a panic when an acorn falls on its head, believing that the sky is falling in

Before social media, we had
‘Chicken Licken’ (1969)

Artist: Robert Lumley

Domestic bliss follows 7 yrs as a LDR.

It's lovely 😍