Susan Ray, Writer

On 16 Sept 1642 Rosa O'Doherty signed this letter. Here it is for #InternationalWomensDay , 384 years later. This is possibly a unique surviving example of a 17thC signature of a #Gaelic Irishwoman. (The letter is now in @ucdarchives.bsky.social as part of the Franciscan collection)

Mary Wright Plummer standing

3/8/1856 — b. Mary Wright Plummer, American librarian, children’s author. Library science pioneer; set-up first art reference dept + a kid-friendly children’s library. President, NY #Library Club (1896); 2nd pres, American Lib Assn(1915) #InternationalWomensDay #WHM2026 #LibrarySky #BookSky #KidLit

The hand embroidered banners of the UK women's suffrage movement designed and embroidered in communal workshops by skilled women artists #WomensArt
#WomensHistoryMonth

A cool little Mycena that I photographed in Oxapampa, Perú. Never seen one with this cool stem texture before, no idea which species it could be.

Olympus OM-1 / 90 mm macro lens / 180 images stacked, ISO 200, f/5.

#mushrooms #mycena #fungifriends #olympus

Today, Michelle and I are proud to announce that we will be hosting the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center on June 18th in Chicago, and welcoming the public on June 19th.

We can’t wait for you to visit. Go to obama.org to learn more.

From a very productive time when I took every opportunity to paint directly from the subject, usually putting my bike on its stand and resting my drawing board on the handlebars. Magdalene bridge is crossing the river, punts are for hire and it wouldn't be complete without some ducks are happily swimming around.

One of my Cambridge on-the-spot watercolour drawings from nearly 30 years ago. This was done from the riverside board walk that leads to Quayside. I don't sketch in town any more - too crowded plus lack of stamina!
#watercolour #watercolor #Cambridge #enpleinair

Ronny Salerno - Photographer & Writer Cincinnati-based photographer and writer focused on editorial, commercial, and fine art work. A practicing photojournalist and author of "Fading Ads of Cincinnati," Salerno's website was formerly know...

I've been revisiting Ronny Salerno's book: Fading Ads of Cincinnati, on this soggy day. If you haven't had a chance to see Ronny's work, it is a visual day trip. And he's a really nice human being, too. I had the delight of working with him on a feature story years upon years ago.
ronnysalerno.com

A photograph of a cluster of small white flowers worth yellow centers

I found this beauty in the Estero Americano Coast Preserve above Bodega Bay, California

Fremont’s deathcamas
(Toxicoscordion fremontii)
#flowers #bloomscroll #photography #art

Rendered in #Handmade Pigments, Rupy C. Tut’s #Warriors March Toward Belonging. #art #paintings

Link for more info and photos of her paintings: www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/03/rupy...

Here's another one of my paintings: 'A Light Can Shine Only In Darkness', oil on MDF panel, 30x40cm in its pine frame. Another painting about distance and ideas which can grow in calm isolation.
#art #painting #oilpainting #lightbulb #walnut #surrealism

This delivery driver throws treats to all the dogs on his route to see if they can catch. Spoiler alert: some of them definitely cannot. Still 13/10 for all (TT: jezzyvi)

1/3

I didn't think we still needed to discuss this.

World Book Day isn’t a purity test. Comics count. Annuals count. Football mags count. If a child is choosing words, stories, characters, facts-then they’re reading. Gatekeeping ‘real books’ is how you make reading feel arduous. Let them in.

Painting of room with full bookshelves, books stacked on table and floors, a woman standing looking at an open book, and a cat curled up on the quilt-covered sofa

‘Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.’
— Henry Ward Beecher
writingforwellbeing.co.uk
#writing #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity #WorldBookDay #books #reading

One of my favorite childhood books. Like millions of others, I’ve read and reread this book countless times, finding it delightful every time.

Emma Kaili Metcalf Beckley Nakuina seated

3/5/1847 — b. Emma Kaili Metcalf Beckley Nakuina, American historian, author, curator, jurist. Hawaiian historian, cultural writer; authority on ancient laws + water rights #law. First curator of Hawaii National Museum; early female Hawaiian judge #WomensHistoryMonth #womenwriters #WriterSky #LawSky

The sign was attached to a wooden door, reads ;Medicine can be obtained at all times by ringing the bell except between 1.30 and 3pm on Sundays. Little is known about the origins of this object, other than the door was once the entrance to an English pharmacy during the 19th century.

This 19th century sign reads “Medicine can be obtained at all times by ringing the bell except between 1.30 and 3pm on Sundays”. It was once the door of a Victorian pharmacy or dispensary. The primary difference between a pharmacy and a dispensary was that the former

Mrs. John Hay Whitney Bequest and The Sidney and Harriet Janis Collection (both by exchange), and gift of Irving Blum

Ellsworth Kelly, Spectrum IV, 1967
https://botfrens.com/collections/14377/contents/1135471

The first of soon to be hundreds of native Primroses now in bloom in my Sheffield garden meadow. Wonderful

Photograph of an orange sunset over purple hills and ocean fog in the distance

Looking towards Bodega Bay, California
#photography #art #sunset

On World Book Day, I hope everyone stops by their local library. In addition to tangible, "real" books and magazines, these free, safe, welcoming spaces offer everything from free movies, music, craft classes, cooking programs, engraving machines, ukuleles, genealogy research, and SO much more!

I am educating my brother about Hoopla and Libby. He wanted me to help him buy him an audiobook on Spotify and I said, "But, WAIT! Do you have a library card? Cause, that audiobook you want to listen to? The library has the whole series! For freeeeeee!!!"

Some of the superb late 19th century buildings in Dewsbury.

As I have written before Dewsbury like many former manufacturing towns in West Yorkshire, has struggled in the post-industrial era. Once a thriving centre of the textile trade, the town was hit hard by the decline of its industry. In recent decades its town centre has suffered from shop

For World Book Day, my Nephew went to School dressed, attired, clothed, covered, garbed, robed, sheathed as a Thesaurus.

I have absolutely no idea what Trump is trying to accomplish in Iran, or how he plans to accomplish it, and the fun thing is that neither does he!

That's why the constitution does not give the President the authority to launch wars without Congressional approval.

Several people asked for a new picture of Molly, aka the Thing of Evil. Here she is.

Flower watercolour drawing

Watercolour and ink drawing of alstroemerias
#flowerart #watercolour

Maya figure of a lord, 550-950 CE, from the Jaina region in Campeche, known for its rich artistic output, particularly the creation of finely crafted figurines that depict royalty, deities, and individuals in ceremonial contexts. An excellent representation of the Maya artistic styles.

Medieval stone carving of a group of high status women, dressed in the fashion of the day, from the Palais des Papes in Avignon. Their faces are expressing concern, anxiety, grief, strain.

My default face listening to the news right now, utter dread at what the orange one will do next. The Medieval Ladies from the Palais des Papes in Avignon have seen it all before #PlusÇaChange

Molly, aka the Thing of Evil, with her slave. That would be me. 🤣

4-5000 year old skeletons found in Siberia, buried while holding hands.
Also many impressive grave goods.