Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Took a stroll through Spacetaker’s art show (aka WHAM, the Winter Holiday Art Market) (Good thing they don’t hold it at Litha; the acronym wouldn’t be nearly as cool.) at Winter Street Studios. Ran into many people, some of whom I knew and most of whom were, are, and will remain complete strangers. Much art on display, some good, some maybe not so much, and all of it for sale. I just ordered a new camera this morning, though, so I wasn’t for shopping.

Sometimes people hide from the camera. Sometimes they make it. Sometimes, well… half is good.

Other folks, including Leisa McCord (what a wonderful name for a crochet artist!) went on with their work while strange people made photographs of them…

And as usual many of the customers stood or sat around, discussing the merits of this piece or that artist (or, since most of the customers here were probably artists themselves, trying to decide what might be useful for their own work…)

And a fine time was had by all.

From the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park….

Well, almost.

Workmen set up and hung lights on the City Hall Yule Tree this afternoon.

There are few experiences in Newmarket more dangerous – or more feared – than a pirate attack…

and of all the pirates in Newmarket there is none more feared than the dreaded Captain Sippycup.

Not, obviously, Azteca…

But quite lovely nonetheless.

From the grand opening of the Baker-Ripley House Community Center in Southwest Houston….

It’s probably not proper to call this a “performance” – there’s a very significant ritual/spiritual component to the dance. It’s NOT just an entertainment.

It is, however, quite beautiful to see.

(Side Note: If this looks interesting, you can click on any of the pictures and become more informed.)

According to the experts at HMNS, this little feller (he’s about 4″ or so) is Anurognathus, the frogmouthed mini pterodactyl. He, too, is about 150 million years old and according to tour guide and HMNS fossil guy David Temple he’s the best of perhaps two specimens found to date.

He’s about the size of a bat, and shaped accordingly, and I have to admit that for some reason I was kinda taken by the li’l guy. Not that I’d want one for a pet or anything, but..

It’s never been a secret that I’ve been a science fiction fan for nearly 50 years now. I wasn’t terrifically impressed with the Stargate movie, but SG-1 ranks high in the pantheon. This is only relevant because it starts to explain that while I was touring the Solnhofen fossils at the HMNS exhibit, my first reaction to this guy was “Holy Crap! It’s a fossilized Goa’uld!! What the HELL?”

Obviously, it’s not. My best guess at this point is that it’s some form of banjofish; I’ll confirm when I get back to the exhibit later this week.
(It wasn’t. It’s a very old fish that got itself fossilized in a very odd configuration; we’re looking at it from the top. The expanded head is because its gill covers are splayed out.)