Violet

For most of the original Nintendo Switch’s lifetime, I think I had a Mario profile icon for my personal account. I don’t have anything against the fireball-throwing plumber, but he’s hardly my favorite character in Nintendo’s stable of mascots. Pokémon is my go-to Nintendo series, but it weirdly took years before… Read more...

One botanical sign that spring has arrived is the appearance of violets scattered across lawns. These common flowers and heart-shaped leaves are like an invitation from nature to go outside and spend time with plants. Violets are a truly joyful way to engage with the season, and lucky for us, they’re quite prolific. Many species... Read More The post Transform Your Drinks With the Color-Changing Magic of Violet Ice Cubes appeared first on Herbal Academy.

Sure, May flowers, the product of all those April showers, get a lot of attention. But hold up: plenty of cottage-country beauties burst to life in April. Here are six native wildflowers to spot before Labour Day rolls around. 1. Hepatica Hepatica has a fuzzy, flowering stem and produces pink, white, or purple-to-blue blooms. Ants pollinate these plants by spreading the flower’s seeds. 2. Trillium Everyone can recognize white trilliums, but red trilliums are actually more common—at least on the Canadian Shield. They don’t produce nectar; they attract carrion flies (their pollinators) thanks to their stench. (Red trilliums reek of rotting meat.) 3. Sweet white violet Thirty species of violet call Ontario home, but this variety is among the first to bloom. It also smells sweeter than other violets—hence its name. 4. Spring beauty Spring? Check. Beauty? Check. Each petal of this pretty flower has pink stripes. Ladybugs and other insects, fresh out of hibernation, use the bands like a runway guiding them to the bloom’s nectar. 5. Bloodroot This plant’s thick root—long used to make red dye—sends out multiple green shoots year after year. Bloodroot’s dense colonies of white flowers bloom in small clumps between April and May. 6. Trout lily It takes five to seven years for a trout lily plant to bloom, and less than one per cent of green trout lily sprouts flower at all. When they do, you’ll spot the large, nodding yellow blossoms on the forest floor. How do I make my garden more pollinator-friendly? Related Story Meet 7 of cottage country’s tiniest creatures Related Story This Muskoka nursery has partnered with WWF-Canada to help restore the area’s natural landscape Related Story 5 fascinating facts about beetles The post 6 cottage-country wildflowers that bloom in April appeared first on Cottage Life.

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Art photographer Kim Taylor Reece is best known for the Hula Haniko images. This card was sent by Lilli from Hawaii. Lady Agnew of Lochnaw is an oil on canvas portrait painting of Gertrude Agnew. The painting was commissioned in 1892 and completed the same year by the American portrait artist John Singer Sargent. Postcard sent by Laura (the UK). -----------------------------------------------Thursday Postcard Hunt March theme: WOMAN Week 1 - Working Week 2 - Relaxing Week 3 - Reading, Handwork Week 4 - Famous Women Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος amethystos from α- a-, "not" and μεθύσκω (Ancient Greek) methysko / μεθώ metho (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst, a semiprecious stone, is often used in jewellery. This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme, and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

First up this spring was the Snowflake flowers. This has been a great plant and has multiplied, allowing me to have several clumps in other beds. I have misidentified this plant before and think it might be some kind of Freesia. Nonetheless, it is a bright, happy flower that blooms before spring arrives. Snow Poppy is an odd little plant that must have been a passalong. The one has multiplied into many and I have been able to move them to other locations. I was told not to plant violets, and I should have listened, as they are coming up all over the yard, beds, and woods. But who can say no to these happy purple flowers?

Meet Lady Red Squirrel.  She goes by Scarlett with her family and friends. The artist shares a backstory for each of his animal portraits and includes it on his Etsy site and on a lovely card that comes with the order - here is Scarlett's: "Lady Red Squirrel - Fed up with being patronized by human park goers, this redhead founded the internationally renowned club: Never Underestimate Tree Squirrels [N.U.T.S.]. She now serves as the group's president and chief party planner." And this is Gentleman Squirrel who goes by Douglas (Doug for short) with his family and friends. This is his backstory as told by the artist: Gentleman Squirrel - Tragically this squirrel has a vicious peanut allergy. He is researching antidotes using rare wild mushrooms but in the meantime, he luckily lives in an area with an abundance of nutritious berries. Doug and Scarlett sitting on my pressing table . . .  . . . and at home on the wall in my sewing studio where they can hang out with Hunter, Lady Violet, and Flash (Mischief's cousin) as members of the Ad-Hoc Squirrel Club.   Quiltdivajulie -----------------------------------------------"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men."Roald Dahl

I was thrilled when I learned that Seattle had its own perfumery in Ballard. I decided that I would take advantage of their sample sale to delve into the line. I opted to pick up in person, and I’m so happy that I did. When I arrived at the second floor store, I was surrounded by vintage perfumes on lovely gold-gilded glass shelves. Below the vintage bottles were shelves of niche houses from Blackcliff to BORNTOSTANDOUT. Of course, Immortal Perfumes has a their own house brand, taking inspiration from dead writers to the muses. Scent Name: Unhallowed Art Manufacturer: Immortal Perfumes – Historical Figures Scent Description and Notes: ” I SAW THE PALE STUDENT OF UNHALLOWED ARTS KNEELING BESIDE THE THING HE HAD PUT TOGETHER. Notes: Tonka Bean, Smoke, Oud, Jasmine, Rose, Violet, Musk Inspired By Mary Shelley and Her Monster Mary Shelley was barely a teenager when she wrote Frankenstein, her seminal novel which is largely credited with being the first science fiction story. Mary wasn’t some buttoned up Victorian. She ran away with her lover the poet Percy Shelley and hobnobbed with none other than Lord Byron. Widowed at 25, she kept the ashes of her husband’s heart in a drawer of her writing desk for the rest of her life. This perfume was inspired by the Queen of Horror and smells of romance, despair, and lightning. Unhallowed Art starts off sweet and delicate before moving to a smoky base, like a slowly calcifying heart.” -https://www.immortalperfumes.com/perfumes/p/unhallowed-art-a-perfume-inspired-by-mary-shelley Oil Color: Colorless. Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a 1ml roller ball short bottle from Immortal Perfumes. The label features the name of the scent in black font on a white label that wraps around the bottle with the company name directly below that. The image associated with this scent is as follows: Image from https://www.immortalperfumes.com/perfumes/p/unhallowed-art-a-perfume-inspired-by-mary-shelley Scent: ITI: Huh, the rose, violet, and tonka make me think of French pastilles, sweet, nuanced, and refreshed. I’m interested to see how the other notes show up on the skin since I’m not detecting a lot right now. Wet: Oh, what happened there? On my skin, the rose and jasmine are sharp and soapy with a chokingly powdered white floral musk heavily dusted with tonka bean powder. This makes me think of bathrooms with frilled satin toilet covers and crocheted Kleenex. I don’t think this one is for me. Dry: After 8 hours, it still reminds me of bathroom florals, but in a slightly unsettling way. In fact, my coworker asked me if I smelled mildew and perfume. When I offered her my wrist to smell, she laughed and apologized, but said that’s what it smelled like to her. Other Impressions: [Wet] “Violet and not quite petrichor, but by a lake after the rain.” -Tony

I was thrilled when I learned that Seattle had its own perfumery in Ballard. I decided that I would take advantage of their sample sale to delve into the line. I opted to pick up in person, and I’m so happy that I did. When I arrived at the second floor store, I was surrounded by vintage perfumes on lovely gold-gilded glass shelves. Below the vintage bottles were shelves of niche houses from Blackcliff to BORNTOSTANDOUT. Of course, Immortal Perfumes has a their own house brand, taking inspiration from dead writers to the muses. Scent Name: Queen Anne Boleyn Manufacturer: Immortal Perfumes – Historical Figures Scent Description and Notes: “Anne Boleyn Inspired Perfume Notes: Vegan Civet, Champagne, Dragon’s Blood, Violet The notorious Queen of England was said to bathe in champagne and violets. She grew up the darling of the French court before joining King Henry VIII (after her sister had already taken a turn as his mistress). She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon when she caught the notorious king’s eye. It was for the dark beauty of Anne Boleyn that the English Reformation was set into motion. Her charm and cleverness kept the king intrigued for seven years before he was finally able to secure an annulment for his first marriage. Their secret love affair led to her ascension as Queen of England in 1533. Boleyn gave birth to one of England’s greatest queens, Elizabeth I, however, Henry’s obsession with a legitimate male heir ultimately made him lose interest in his second wife. She was ordered executed after false charges of adultery and incest. Anne was rumored to have a special taste for champagne and violets. This perfume is dedicated to England’s stylish, yet doomed Queen. Check out our VIII cologne to complete the set. You can also listen to our Storical Podcast series on Anne Boleyn.” -https://www.immortalperfumes.com/perfumes/p/queen-anne-boleyn-inspired-perfume Oil Color: Colorless. Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a 1ml roller ball short bottle from Immortal Perfumes. The label features the name of the scent in black font on a white label that wraps around the bottle with the company name directly below that. The artwork associated with this scent is as follows: Image from https://www.immortalperfumes.com/perfumes/p/queen-anne-boleyn-inspired-perfume Scent: ITI: The violet here isn’t the innocent iteration, but the haughty version bordering on soapy thanks to the combination of champagne and dusky dragon’s blood. Wet: Interesting. The violet takes on a sweetly sharp yet powdered aspect on the skin, like the edge of a threatening smile, fizzed with the last drops of champagne under pinches of smoldering dragon’s blood musk Dry: After 12 hours, I’m getting Play-Doh and violet powder. There’s a pleasant muskiness here after 12 hours, but the Play-Doh is just a touch off-putting. Other Impressions: [Wet] “Warm sand, marzipan, and a hint of sweet cashew.” -Tony

‘Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.’ A rhyme whispered in Valentine’s cards for centuries; though here at The Perfume Society, our hearts beat faster for the bloom as used in perfumery (obvs). Far from mere rhyming fodder, violets have unfurled their powdery, beguiling petals through fragrance history, leaving a trail of powdery romance and perfumed intrigue in their wake…     Imagine ancient garlands of violets crowning heads to ward off headaches, or Athenian revellers sipping violet-scented wine – a floral remedy turned indulgence. These delicate flowers, symbols of fertility and fragility, have been surrendering their essence to perfumers since Arab alchemists first coaxed their scent into oils. Yet it was Napoleon’s rose-tinted devotion that truly cemented their legacy. His wife, Empress Marie Louise Bonaparte, nurtured a violet-growing empire in Parma, where the air still hums with Viola Odorata’s purple whispers. [Psst: Read our fascinating spritz through fragrant history for many more such anecdotes…] Modern noses know violet as a soft, powdered kiss – a cousin to iris, but with a sugar-dusted femininity. Yet that tender bloom in your perfume? Likely conjured by alchemy. In 1893, chemists unlocked the secret of ionones, the aroma molecules that make violets sing. Today, these synthetics dance through fragrances like invisible ballerinas, adding raspberry-tinged woods or dewy sweetness.         But perfumers tread carefully: too much, and the nose grows numb, lost in a violet fog. As a perfumer on the fascinating blog Alchemologie, in an article about creating a natural violet accord reports, ‘Alpha ionone [natural molecules which produce the smell in a violet] is a tricky substance to work with. It awards the sniffer with a temporary anosmia after one or two whiffs… particularly difficult as you have to take constant breaks to allow your nose to catch up.’ As the feature suggests, it’s another take on the phrase ‘shrinking violet’!   From ancient crowns to molecular magic, violets remain the shy seducers of perfumery – petals dipped in nostalgia, yet forever blooming anew. Perfect for February, when love stories old and new can linger fragrantly in the frosty air… So, why not try these violet-tinged scents and see which you fall for?       Guerlain Insolence An audacious violet, Insolence is a love letter to valour. Berries and orange blossom dance with an unapologetic violet, creating a powdery whirlwind of femininity. This fragrance embodies the spirit of uncompromising passion, leaving a trail of sweet rebellion in its wake. £130 for 75ml eau de parfum libertylondon.com       Parfums de Marly Palatine A modern floral symphony, Palatine showcases violet as a contemporary muse. Opening with crisp mandarin, bergamot, and pear, it unfurls to reveal a daring violet petal at its heart. The scent settles into a velvety embrace of musk and creamy sandalwood, instilling confidence and freedom with every spritz. £245 for 75ml eau de parfum selfridges.com         Byredo Mojave Ghost A desert mirage in a bottle, Mojave Ghost captures the ethereal beauty of rare blossoms in arid landscapes. Powdery violet mingles with delicate magnolia and sandalwood, while musky ambrette and crisp cedar provide an earthy foundation. This genderless scent evokes the raw spirit of wilderness, leaving a graceful, lingering sillage on the skin. £150 for 50ml eau de parfum selfridges.com       Penhaligon’s The Favourite A regal bouquet fit for a queen, The Favourite weaves violet into a tapestry of sophistication. Iris and musk greet with a darling smile, while sandalwood provides a majestic stage. This fragrance tells a story of power and elegance, with violet playing a supporting role in a court of floral intrigue. £175 for 100ml eau de parfum fortnumandmason.com         Juliette Has a Gun Lipstick Fever A playful homage to vintage glamour, Lipstick Fever flirts with violet’s classic charm. Iris absolute and raspberry notes evoke the waxy sweetness of a freshly applied lipstick, while patchouli and vanilla add depth and sensuality. This scent is a cheeky wink to femininity, bottling the essence of a perfectly made-up pout. £110 for 100ml eau de parfum thefragranceshop.co.uk Written by Suzy Nightingale The post …violets are blue & we love you! appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps is Minerals. I found two stamps featuring quartz: one from France (1986) and one from Ukraine (2009). 

Seems like I ended my last post with something about coming back with Christmas decorations. :) Anyhow, glad February is here. We had some really cold days in January... Rare to see icicles like these around here. These were on the fig tree near the back porch...and the teeny tiny pond froze over... and miss ducky was not able to swim for a couple of weeks. makes me wonder how ducks, geese, birds, survive north of us where it's like this all winter??  Anyhow, I do have a special Christmas picture to show you, well very special to me. Remember our great granddaughter, Violet, born last May 25th? Well, her parents carried her to see Santa. Here she is at 7 months old... Not one bit afraid of Santa, in fact, looks like she thoroughly enjoyed being with him...So much so that Santa read her a book. :)  Violet has the sweetest personality. Here's one of the latest pictures from Andee. Grandma Andee and Violet... Sorry, I don't have a recent grandpa and Violet picture. I'll have to ask for one.  So, Eli and Ellie have both had birthdays... Oops! A little lop-sided picture. Poppy must have been rocking the recliner when he took this one. :) Ellie turned 4 in December and Eli turned 11 in January. Our sweetie-pies.  Love how Ellie crosses her front feet... Such a smart girl, and she is doing great with her Addison's Disease...as long as we keep her prescriptions filled. It's the steroids that keep her going. Miss Ellie takes 13 pills a day. We love her so much. She is worth every penny. We love Eli just as much. Isn't it amazing how quickly things change. Take the country road we live on for example. I have always dearly loved a country dirt road, especially a path with the roadsides and ditches filled with wildflowers and bunnies. This morning as we started our walk with Eli and Ellie, the sight of the road made me sad. What happened, I asked Poppy... Of course, I realize it's winter. Things will look better come spring. But a week ago during the cold frigid weather there was a guy cutting and sawing all along the path...even chopped down a small holly tree and a few young cedar trees. :(  No longer looks like a country path but the beginning of a four-lane highway.  Heaven forbid!  Guess I've worn out my welcome today. Thanks for listening.  Love, Henny