Footnotes to a Conversation, February 13, 2023

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” – Anaïs Nin

Breaking All the Rules

It may be an unwritten rule, but it’s obeyed universally. You don’t talk or interact with other people on public transit, particularly on crowded subways in large urban areas. But what if you break that rule and get to know your neighbours on your daily commute? Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley tells the story of a group of people who regularly sit in the same subway car on their commute from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station. One man chokes on a grape but is rescued by a nurse, and thus it begins. It’s a funny, heart-warming story of people admitting their vulnerabilities and helping each other out.

Claude’s Older Brother

I was surprised to learn that Claude Monet had an older brother, Leon, who was very supportive of his art and the art of other Impressionists. Like his brother, Leon was passionate about colour. “He studied as a chemist and specialised in the then new field of synthetic dyes and pigments used to colour fabrics.” [The Guardian]

Virtual Vegetables

I learned this week that the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market has ended its online market. At the same time, I read an article about the rise of virtual farmers’ markets. Unlike an in-person farmers’ market, vendors don’t spend hours and hours at a market and don’t waste any unsold produce. Farmers can continue to interact with customers through social media and handwritten notes enclosed with the produce. [Modern Farmer]

Billy Biter

In my current housesit, my laptop is set up overlooking bird feeders in the garden. It’s a rural garden and there are so many birds, but the blue tits dominate. They are such colourful, acrobatic wee birds, always on the move, and with a very healthy appetite – they empty the peanut feeder at least once a day. One of their old names is Billy Biter as they’re feisty; don’t you dare disturb their nest. They’re also extremely clever and learned how to peck a hole in milk bottle caps and enjoy the cream at the top. The first sightings were in Southampton in the 1920s, but the habit was quickly adopted across the UK, continuing to this day. [Everyday Nature Trails]

Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.

If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.