Tut's Tomb Revisited

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Benjamin Franklin, American polymath (1706-1790)

Mom compared the storage room to King Tut's tomb and I have to admit that there is a resemblance. I can appreciate the huge task faced by the pharaoh's priests as they tried to fit everything the king needed for a comfortable afterlife into a few small rooms. In my case, all the "wonderful things" have been put in their places and the order makes me happy. After months of organizing, packing, unpacking and re-packing, I can finally say, "Mission accomplished." Yay!

Old Fogey Adventures

You know, many people believe that we archaeologists are just a collection of old fogies digging around in the ruins after old dried up skulls and bones.

Stephen Banning (played by Dick Foran) in The Mummy's Tomb (1942)

I probably looked like an old fogey to the sixty 10-year-olds gathered in the classroom today to hear me talk about archaeology, although I felt pretty hip with the 'Brittany Spears' mic hooked on my belt rapping about my PowerPoint slides. ;-)  Hopefully these young minds came away with the understanding that archaeology is not about tomb raiding and treasure hunting. But one never knows because their questions ended the talk with an interesting conversation about the ethics of buying, selling, and stealing antiquities. After the day's excitement, this old fogey will now return to the study of her broken bits of pottery: the real adventure of archaeology.

Magical, Mysterious Mashrabeyya

Protect your brother's privacy for what he knows of you. 

Arab Proverb 

We unpacked a little bit of Cairo today and now the sunlight coming in the front window is filtered by a lovely wooden lattice screen, called mashrabeyya. The balconies of Cairo's medieval houses have exquisite mashrabeyya screens that kept out the hot sunshine but allowed in cooling breezes. It also provided privacy from the inquisitive eyes of neighbours and strangers, yet allowed for a good view out to the action on the street. Described as, "Delicate and beautiful, like silken masks drawn discreetly across the faces of comely maidens, they came to symbolize the legendary mystery of the Orient" (The Magic of Mashrabeyias), I'm happy to gaze upon a little bit of the Cairene magic here in the homeland.

Inhaling Bliss

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.

John Ruskin, English art critic (1819-1900)

The air in the garden's back corner is thick with the fragrance of peonies. Breathing deep I feel like Dorothy in the field of poppies on the outskirts of Oz: I could curl up in the perfume's soft contours and fall into a blissful sleep, forgetting the cares of the week. I think I may just do that.

Zzz z z z . . . .

We ♡ Egypt

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States (1882-1945)

Our thoughts and prayers are with Egyptians as they vote in their first "real" presidential election today and tomorrow. It is an exciting time; but it is also a worrying time because the education system has failed 80% of the electorate. May whoever wins the presidency work to safeguard Egypt's nascent democracy, work to remedy her other social, economic and political problems, and not work simply to get re-elected.

Welcome Summer!

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.

Henry James, American author (1843-1916)

Meteorologists may beg to differ but for me the May 24th holiday marks the beginning of Summer. The Victoria Day weekend signifies that it is now permissible to wear white summer dresses and shoes. Hurray! because it's certainly warm enough for light cotton sheaths! It's also time for outdoor lunches with friends and after-dinner tea on the patio, watching the evening shadows lengthen. Welcome Summer! 

Hallo, Rabbit

"Hallo, Rabbit," he said, "is that you?"
"Let's pretend it isn't," said Rabbit, "and see what happens."

Winnie the Pooh

A couple of bunnies are regular visitors to the backyard. I have seen one sunning himself in the centre of the lawn as if he had not a care in the world. Dad spotted this fellow crouched under the hydrangeas. I suspect he had just nibbled away on my little herb planter. He didn't run when I stepped forward with the camera, but he did seem to say, "Let's pretend that I'm not here, shall we?"