#stone animals

[magnus-sm-writes]

First read of the new year: "Stone Animals" by Kelly Link. A creepy haunted house/haunted objects story that always makes me feel claustrophobic in my own skin

[colorfulbibliostack]

Finds from the Drug Store in Moab, Utah

I'm leaving to go back home today, and I will say, it's been fun. Some unnamed friends shoplifting, N getting up to crazy shenanigans (punching a tree, buying a wood sword, and climbing on the edge of a cliff are up there on the list) and making some new friends on the way (Thank you to Miss Marla for allowing our attempted break in and showing us the place in my Wasteland Baby post), (and a great big thanks to the racecar driver who gave us our Jeep tour and scared us half to death with your 'the breaks aren't working' and 'oh no we're sliding off the edge' jokes).

Mostly I'll miss the abundance of ravens. They were lovely.

Reflecting on the trip, I think I could do this forever. Maybe not the driving part, because God, that long ride makes me ill, but travelling. Setting up a tent and moving forever. The Nomadic lifestyle seems like one that would suit me well. Meeting people, seeing new things... I would only miss the company of my lover, and best friend. Maybe after school, I'll likely be alone anyway.

[thamesbeachcomber]

Piece of flint, about ten inches long. Looks like a sleeping seal pup.

[whilereadingandwalking]

Magic for Beginners is a classic fantasy short story collection, and Kelly Link writes some of my favorite, weird, twisting stories. Link operates in grey areas. She uses magic to get at the twisting difficulties of family and marriage, to get at alienation and mystery and loss. In "Stone Animals," a family is haunted by everyday items, by rabbits, by their home itself—or are they? In "Magic for Beginners," a group of teens are in love with a cult tv show called The Library, where the cast and time of release changes every episode, but the true focus is Jeremy and his group of friends, their relationships and allegiances and loyalties. I've read quite a few of her stories before, but here they are in a collection, and I love Link's strange stories and outlook.

[filosofablogger]

Good Monday morning, friends!  Come on in and take a load off.  For obvious reasons, I shan’t ask how your weekend was, but take heart … Jolly and I spent several hours last night searching the neighborhood (the Internet, that is) in search of things to (hopefully) bring a smile, or maybe even a chuckle!  But first, I attempted to make a strudel, and jolly made popcorn … and of course, there’s bacon for the bacon-lovers and a sprinkled donut & juice box just in case Benjamin happens to drop in, so grab a snack and then we’ll go have a bit of fun.

Larry’s bacon

Oops … forgot the tea …

  Benjamin’s Donut

Benjamin’s juice boxes — but he’ll share if you ask nicely!

Teeny Tiny Critters

Take a look at this adorable hedgehog midget …

And these owls …

No, they aren’t real, but I bet you can’t guess what they’re made of!  They are made of stones!  Akie Nakata, is known as the Stone Artist.  She has been drawing adorable animals on stones since 2010 and over time, she has built quite a solid collection.

For her, stones are not just materials or canvases that she just draws on. First, on her usual walk along the riverbank, she finds a stone that catches her eye:

“When I find a stone, I feel that stone, too, has found me. Stones have their own intentions and I consider my encounters with them as cues they give me that it’s OK to go ahead and paint what I see on them. So the stones I decide to paint on are not arbitrary, but my significant opposites with whom I have established a connection, who inspire me to work with them.”

The artist leaves the shape of the stone untouched. She neither grinds nor smooths them, as she likes to stay true to the stone that inspired her.

“In my encounters with the stones and in my art, I respect my opposites in toto, so I never process stones and would never cut off an edge to alter the shape. The art I want to create is a life newly born in my hands through my dialogue with the stone. I want to paint the life I feel inside the stone. I consider my work completed only when I see that the eyes are now alive and looking back straight at me. To me, completing a piece of work is not about how much detail I draw, but whether I feel the life in the stone.”

You can see lots more of Ms. Nakata’s work if you head over to Bored Panda.

Elephants are afraid of … WHAT???

Recently, India has been having a problem with elephants wandering onto the railroad tracks and getting themselves … well, smushed.  But, the owners of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), found a solution.  Guess what, it turns out, elephants are afraid of?Yep, you got it … great big ol’ elephants fear little teeny-weeny bees!  So, Northeast Frontier Railway’s Moradabad division installed honey bee sound systems at various points along the railway tracks.  Once an elephant herd is sighted, villagers at once inform the local staff about their presence, the buzzing sound is then played near the tracks to scare them away. “Till now the project has been a success,” said the Divisional Railway Manager. Elephants have been long known to be frightened by the buzzing sound of bees and stings.

Who would have guessed?

A dangerous criminal …

The Pembroke Pines Police Department in Florida have been after an elusive criminal since January, and she led them on a merry chase, but finally, on March 19th, they were able to capture her.

The Pembroke Pines Police Department said the cow was spotted in the area of Sheridan Street and Interstate 75, causing officers to respond and guide the animal toward an enclosed field in Davie.

The property owner agreed to allow the cow to stay until it could be safely moved.

“We wish the cow well on its future adventures,” the department said.

The police department said last week that the cow had been wandering the area since January, and repeated failed capture attempts revealed the animal is “faster than it looks” and is a “talented fence jumper.”

Shall we have a few ‘toons ‘n memes for a laugh or two?

And of course, I cannot end a Jolly Monday without a cute animal video!

Okay, folks, that’s a wrap for yet another Monday!  I hope you guys all manage to find some good karma this week, keep your cool, and for Pete’s sake keep safe!  Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa & Jolly!

Jolly Monday With Popcorn! Good Monday morning, friends!  Come on in and take a load off.  For obvious reasons, I shan’t ask how your weekend was, but take heart … Jolly and I spent several hours last night searching the neighborhood (the Internet, that is) in search of things to (hopefully) bring a smile, or maybe even a chuckle! 

[newspecies]

this is the residence of the Alium kingdom. the kingdom was cursed so that nobody could leave, or grow older. this isnt all of them(i didnt feel like drawing that many animals), theres still a lot more. truthfully, all of these animals come from random things i found in my room. a lot of them are glass animals, Quill and Spic are little metal animals, Tom, Lone and Delphi are stuffed animals, Salazar, Stilio and Terry are made out of pipe cleaners, Vox is a rubber duck, Avem is a model magic bird, Gelus is made out of legos, Volant is a plasic toy, Sheba is a painted littlest pet shop, and Calum, Noctis, and Caligo are made out of stone.

[wallowingindarkness]

Listen/purchase: Don't Let The Light In by Stone Animals

[journeyintowriting]

Writing Prompt: Stone Animals

There is a pair of stone animals sitting outside of a house. What are they and what do they become when night falls?