ʟᴇᴏɴ

A letter which at the top includes a drawing in ink and the number ‘151’ printed and written in the top left corner. The drawing depicts from left to right: a pot cooking with steam rising from it; a Bhotea mastiff dog writing a note using a quill; a tent with a person sat at a table inside. There are mountains drawn in the background. Underneath, the letter notes that it was sent from Darjeeling on April 2. The contents of the letter discuss Joseph Hooker’s Bhotea mastiffs – Bruno and puppy Kinchin. It mentions that Kinchin is cleaned daily with mustard oil and woods ashes, he steals cheese from Joseph Hooker’s dinner and that Kinchin learnt English was being taught how to write. Ref: JDH/1/10, ff.151

Did you know botanist Sir Joseph Hooker travelled with two Bhotea mastiff dogs? Today’s featured image for #ExploreYourArchive Week #EYAPets is a playful drawing from his letters, showing Kinchin the dog being ‘taught’ to write.

Two fish stare blankly at each other from orange color blocks, as two derpy shrimp look on from a yellow and pink triangle.

I've been playing with watercolor a bit recently. Here's a deep-sea exploration, in tropical tones.

Oh thank you, I needed this.

'80s kids in the Transvaal definitely did.

I chipped away at a huge to-do list today, which unfortunately has the effect of precipitating to-do lists for the rest of the week.

What's on your to-listen/to-watch/to-eat list for the evening?

The frozen surface of a pond reveals a watery world underneath, with algae-covered rocks, air bubbles, and fallen branches.

I'm not quite as fond
Of the season when
Ice drifts across the pond
And the air stings my face again

'Tis the season.

"Specimen of Cladonota apicalis in Ecuador" It looks like someone stuck a burnt-out match on the back of a locust. It's a long thin black streak of exoskeleton on a standard looking bug that's perched on a green leaf stem. A ant is just out of frame. CREDIT: Philipp Hoenle

Treehoppers are wild! Like someone hit the "random" button on the character creator.

Look at this weird bug, Cladonota apicalis. from Ecuador.
Now imagine a horse shaped like this, or a wolf!

Why do treehoppers have such weird shapes?
It's a mystery! But we have some ideas.

(📷: Philipp Hoenle)

Perhaps, perhaps!

No. Just in general.

Priorities, I guess.

This is the way. It's such an ephemeral thing to be investing so much capital into.

How do people afford weddings?

I have a head of cabbage judging me from the crisper drawer right now! This seems like a great idea.

I brought doughnuts for my genetics students to munch on while they're doing their plasmid analysis this morning.

Sending good, antimicrobial vibes your way, my dear!

It's so good.

Interesting, I'll check that last one out!

The new Yukimi solo album is quite soul nourishing.

Caught in the glow of the setting sun. There's a print of a dog sleeping on a bed behind me.

Howdy, gang. What are you eating? What are you listening to?

A biking trail in bluff country. The path is strewn with fallen leaves and the verges are bronze and gold with foliage.

A quick five-mile run in the hazy woods of southeast Minnesota. It's 60°F on this Saturday in mid-November.

I enrolled. Openly.

New music from Austra and Orville Peck today. It's gonna be a fun Friday driving playlist!

I just want to bake things and listen to records. But then somebody needs to eat the baked goods.

I went to the gym anyway. 💪

Help, I have a sugar crash, but I need to go to the gym now. If only I had a charging dock like a little roomba.

I think I want to go see her live again.

Do! Do! Do! Do! Do!

your nerve-endings are what I love to touch
causing quivers and shivers and tingles and such
your pilomotor reflex delights me much

Oh yeah, it felt like being in a sci-fi movie!