Cast Your Vote.

As many of you have noticed I change the picture part of Bastion & Lark's banner a couple of times a year. These changes are either to mark an event, much like the recent image of Churchill Downs to commemorate the latest Kentucky Derby, or simply to show a change in the seasons.

I am going to be putting up a new banner this coming Monday, the 27th, and would like your help to decide what one to use. I've created four new banners to choose from that will represent the thankful arrival of warmer weather (to Chicago anyway). Please vote for the one you like the best and next Monday you can check back in to see if your choice won. As I would love to get a lot of votes on this please share this with your friends, followers, coworkers, fellow cult members...what have you. So without further ado...

Style  #1.

 

Style #2.

 

Style #3.

 

Style #4.

 

And there are your options, not to hard to see what my inspirations were yes. I look forward to seeing how everyone votes. Also, of you have any general comments about any of the styles I'd love to hear those too of course.

 

Best,

Brion

 

Sunday Morning Classics: Habanera.

While this morning has been a bit of a downer for me (don't ask, it involved a baby duck), I wanted to inject some beauty into the day. Finding a great piece for Sunday Morning Classics goes a long way to achieving this goal.

So, to help sooth a saddened heart I have picked Habanera from Bizet's opera Carmen. The version I choose is done by the ever amazing Maria Callas for a performance she did in 1962.



Hope this brightens your day too.

Best,
Brion

The 139th running.

As many of you should already know I am a huge fan of horses, horse racing and all things equestrian in general. The absolute height of this passion is of course the running of The Kentucky Derby, the greatest two minutes in sports.

The Derby is a wonderful spectacle of nobility, colour, fashion, excitement and pageantry. Each running holds true to time honoured traditions yet presents all new stories. One of the biggest stories this running is about Rosie Napravnik (riding Mylute) who is poised to potentially be the first female to win a Derby, as Mylute is an odds favourite.


#4 Rosie Napravnik

 

Of the time honoured traditions one of the most well known, and possibly my favourite, would have to be the Mint Julep. As such here is the recipe used at the Derby.

 

The Mint Julep:

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Sprigs of fresh mint

Crushed ice

Early Times Kentucky Whisky

Silver Julep Cups

 

• This is the official recipe used at Churchill Downs. Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

 * These are also a great drink any time during the summer, trust me.



 

So make sure to find a great place to view a great outfit to wear and have a fabulous time watching the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby.



See you at the races,
Brion

P.S. Hope everybody like the new header image I did in honour of the Derby.

John James Audubon, Happy Birthday Sir.

 

 

 

John James Audubon (26 April, 1785 -  27 January, 1851) was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, hunter, and painter. He painted, catalogued, and described the birds of North America in a form far superior to what had gone before. In his outsize personality and achievements, he seemed to represent the new American nation of the United States.

 

American artist and ornithologist, Audubon is mainly remembered for his Birds of America series, a book of 435 images, portraits of every bird then known in the United States, all painted and reproduced in the size of life. Its creation cost Audubon eighteen years of monumental effort in finding the birds, making the book, and selling it to subscribers. The illustrations are life-sized, creating a challenge for birds that stand taller than what could fit on a 39.5" by 28.5" print. Because of this, his tall birds, like the heron and flamingo, are my favorites. While some find them conspicuously awkwardly positioned, I've always thought being bent in half actually captures these birds more appropriately than the standard long and lean look. He was also intent on capturing birds in flight. Audubon actually shot a lot of the birds he illustrated and went to great lengths to pin his models up in what appeared to be their natural positions of diving and flight. "Birds of America" recently became the most expensive book ever, when a copy sold for about 11.5 million dollars at auction.

 

It should come as no surprise that I am a big fan of the man's work, and today would have been his 228th birthday. In my small way I would like to pay tribute to the man by sharing with everyone a few of my favourite Audubon paintings. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

 

To give you an idea of the size of the original book.



Pink Flamingo

Blue Heron

Piping Plover

Hooping Crane

Black Crowned Night Heron (one of my wife's favourite birds)

Wild Turkey

Snowy Egret

Peregrine Falcon

Mockingbird ( a truly amazing bird)

Western Shore Lark

(you didn't think for a second there wouldn't be a Lark, did you?)

 

 

For anyone who loves birds of just stunning painting I would seriously recommend getting a copy of  Audubon's Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio , it is an amazing book. For any birders, like myself, you will already know the significance of Audubon's work.

 

Perhaps soon I'll share some of the better pictures I've taken while out birding...perhaps.

 

Happy Birding,

Brion

 

P.S. I've obviously been quite lax with posting for the last, well, few months. I've had a lot of projects and personal things going on for awhile but things have slowed (thank goodness) so I'll be able to get back to doing one of the things I love, sharing all the things that excite me with all of you.

 



(1851-0Hooping Craneasdjkj



Happy Valentine's Day.

Hoping that everyone is able to be with the one they love today...

...and that you are both exquisitely dressed.

 

Best,

Brion