A little color lesson-
We're talking values here, values of cyan. An 18th century instrument designed to measure the blueness of the sky called a Cyanometer. The simple device was invented in 1789 by Swiss physicist Horace-Bénédict de Saussure and German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt who used the circular array of 53 shaded sections in experiments above the skies over Geneva, Chamonix and Mont Blanc.
In 1692 an artist known only as “A. Boogert” sat down to write a book in Dutch about mixing watercolors. Not only would he begin the book with a bit about the use of color in painting, but would go on to explain how to create certain hues and change the tone by adding one, two, or three parts of water. The premise sounds simple enough, but the final product is almost unfathomable in its detail and scope.
Spanning nearly 800 completely handwritten (and painted) pages, Traité des couleurs servant à la peinture à l’eau, was probably the most comprehensive guide to paint and color of its time. According to Medieval book historian Erik Kwakkel who translated part of the introduction, the color book was intended as an educational guide. The irony being there was only a single copy that was probably seen by very few eyes.
First thing this morning racing over to get some documents faxed, I found a wee little green bird upside down in my courtyard. His little legs were pointed skyward but I could see on little toe twitching, another victim of my window reflection. So sad. I raced inside looking for something soft to pick him up with and ended up with a cushiony paper towel. I picked him up and he righten himself in his little blanket so I took him over to recuperate under a shady bush- leaving him out in the sun would be sure crispy death in short time. When I looked 20 minutes later he was gone so I hope he is OK tonight with just a headache. Of course I tried to find him on the inter webs to no avail.
So I was driving along Military headed to the dog groomers in heavy traffic and glanced over to the right hand lane just in time to see a big SUV hit a giant turtle- had to be 18" across and I saw him fly into the air but was beyond him to see what happened- did he hit the windshield? Did he fall into the lane of moving traffic, was there any chance in hell he may have survived? I'll never know.
I did some shopping, stopped for some stuff for dinner and went to the car. I admit I was killing time waiting for the call that the dogs were finished and waiting for pickup. While I was tuning the radio a tooth fell out! It was a crown so I immediately called my dentist so he could glue it right back in. The office was nearby so I raced over. No problem he said and started cleaning it out. Oops he said, it decayed under the crown, needs to be drilled out and I want my novocaine for that. Two shots later plus waiting he starts-- YEOWWW, not enough, he gives me more shots he tells me I shouldn't feel. I do. He starts to drill telling me I won't feel anything with all the shots I've had YEOWWWW again, it feels like hot railroad spikes being driven into my brain. We continue like this and he discovers that the tooth is practically up against the nerve and he can't drill anymore without doing a root canal. And he is gonna do it NOW. More novocaine, still must have been the generic brand because it hurt like hell- and three hours later I am root-less and have a temporary and a pulsating headache. And am $2600 poorer. There goes a room full of furniture.
Through all of this I was texting the dog groomer and TY alternately because I was supposed to pick up at 5. Finally I stopped texting and screaming in pain and just told the groomer to call TY and not bother the hygienist again- I had a rubber dam in my mouth and she had to talk for me. The groomer went above and beyond and delivered the dogs to home. What a gal... and that is why I get them groomed in Hell's Half Acre instead of the place down the street.
Sigh. I had tomato soup for dinner, drank a whole quart.
Tomorrow will be better...won't it?
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