Spotted in Denver, outside a thrift store of course! I admired her style and she reminded me of me when I was her age.

I was so lucky to spend time in the fascinating edifice of Orsanmichele, which started its life as a granary, but ended up a church with this gorgeous tabernacle by Andrea Orcagna. Oh goodness, how fortunate I was to drop in on these masterpieces as easily as you can go to a Starbucks in the USA! I knew I was blessed then and I feel it even now. I enjoy being reminded of my good fortune by silly old Facebook.

The plague, known contemporarily as “The Black Death,” struck hard in Italy in 1349. It was followed then, as the world is today after the Covid epidemic, by an economic crisis. One of the ramifications of that crisis was a sharp decline in the city’s magnificent sculptural output. So this exceptional production by Orcagna of the spectacular shrine pictured below in the Orsanmichele, the sculptural scene remained extremely barren until the closing decade of the 14th century.

Orcagna, who was a painter, sculptor and architect, was commissioned to execute the only the mammoth tabernacle for Orsanmichele. This Gothic marble structure, rather like a miniature church, was a religious and civic edifice built to house Bernardo Daddi’s repainting of a now-lost image of the Virgin and Child. Hexagonal reliefs of the virtues and octagonal reliefs of the Life of the Virgin alternate on the tabernacle’s base. The programme culminates in the large relief on the back, the Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin. That’s where Orcagna both signed and dated his work.

Here is Denver we had our first snowfall of note this week. It was pretty, looking out my windows at 6 a.m.

More than likely, before the end of winter, we will all be very tired of snow. But, for now, it’s a novelty, especially since this in the first winter I’ll be spending in Denver in 10 years. I was in Seattle for 3 winters and then Florence for the rest. Snow is a novelty in both of those places.

I’m reminded that it is said that the Eskimos have at least 50 words for snow. Is it true? I have no idea, but it’s a pretty thought.

For the truth of the matter, see:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/there-really-are-50-eskimo-words-for-snow/2013/01/14/e0e3f4e0-59a0-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_story.html

It’s inevitable. We are all going die. How do you want to be remembered? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Do you want a tombstone and if so, what kind?

I don’t dwell on this topic, but I do think about it and when I run across interesting grave markers, I take note.

This is a good one!

Elijah Jefferson Bond (1847–1921) was an American lawyer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the ouija board.

Bond was born on January 23, 1847, in Bel Air, Maryland to Charlotte Howard (née Richardson) and William B. Bond. His father was a judge. Bond graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law.

He served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He worked as a lawyer in Baltimore until around 1918.

Although Bond invented and patented items, including a steam boiler, he is best remembered for patenting what became known as the Ouija board. He filed for a United States patent on May 28, 1890. Charles W. Kennard and William H. A. Maupin were listed as assignees. The patent was granted on February 3, 1891. Bond sold the US distribution rights for the Ouija board to the Kennard Novelty Company.

By 1907 Bond had relocated to West Virginia where he established the Swastika Novelty Company. The company produced a knock-off of Bond’s original Ouija board called the “Nirvana”.

Bond was married Mary Peters of Baltimore and they had at least one son, William B. Bond.

Bond died on April 14, 1921, at the home of his son at 3304 Clifton Avenue in Baltimore. He was buried in Baltimore’s Green Mount Cemetery, beneath a marker that resembles an Ouija board.

Rest In Peace, EJ Bond! I enjoyed your invention when I was young!

Facebook reminds me that I posted this scene of Florence 4 years ago today. I love this street art version of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.

I remember the mild weather if Florence in early November. it could be quite rainy however.

I’m still in Denver today and this was the scene when I woke up this morning! Quite a different vibe!

In retrospect. Please see yesterday’s post: