John James Audobon is best known for The Birds of America, the book that contains his illustrations of all 435 birds that were known in the United States around 1827, the year the book was first published. But - according to this PBS article - "he lived in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and New York – traveled everywhere from Labrador to the Dry Tortugas off Florida, from the Republic of Texas to the mouth of the Yellowstone – was a merchant, salesman, teacher, hunter, itinerant portraitist and woodsman, an artist and a scientist."Listen to New York Public Library Curator, Michael Inman, talk about Audubon's early life and the process of getting TBOA pusblished in a two part podcast from Stuff You Missed in History Class. It's worth your time, I promise.Youtube: Weather Report - Birdland
Agate
On the night of July 4th, I drove 30 minutes to a ranch somewhere between Marfa and Fort Davis, TX, all while staring at two West Texas agate bracelets I had made by Paul at Moonlight Gemstones for my friends' wedding. I was listening to - no, rather blasting - John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" on Marfa Public Radio while eating Ak-Mak from a box on the passenger side seat. That moment, needless to say, has stuck with me for the last couple of days, though I suppose whenever I get back from Texas I have AGATE on my mind. Have a quick read here about where that handsome rock gets its name and how it's formed.And that's all for my recent trip to Texas on this rag. Until next time...Watch: John Coltrane - My Favorite Things