Monday Mull

Welcome to Mulling with the Dragons!

Some joyful news to share on Monday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Dragon announce the arrival of the newest member of our tribe, the very handsome and very young, Benjamin. He was born July 31, weighed in at 6 lbs 10 oz and 19.5 inches long. We waited for the official portrait before making the announcement. Welcome to the world, precious one. Unfortunately, this family is in Nashville. Guess a trip will be in order!

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We were wondering what we’d be watching on television now that the Tour de France is over. On Sunday evenings we watch Merlin. "Merlin" is a new drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience. The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began; a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people; a dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther's wise physician Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets. As he does so he discovers that his destiny and that of the kingdom's young leader in waiting, Arthur, are inextricably linked. Very different from what we know as the Merlin/Arthurian legend. This is a BBC show now being shown in the states. We, of course, like the dragon the best.

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Bag Museum

(economist.com)

I love museums. Good thing since I spend so much time around one. I have made a change. I resigned from the docent program. It was a difficult decision to make, but it’s the best one for me. You see I have a bad back. I had surgery in 2001 and I won’t go into the details, but I can walk. I can still walk, but I’m now having problems with the other side - sciatica, numbness when I stand for long periods - little things like that. The museum floors just aren’t good for me. But, I’m still doing what I really love and that is research on Asian art. The new China and Japan galleries are in the works and that will keep me busy and happy.

I found a wonderful article in the Economist about an online column they are doing on lesser-known museums and galleries that they feel are definitely worth a visit. I think everyone should see the Louvre in Paris, London’s National Gallery, the Prado in Madrid, Pinakothek in Munich, The National Gallery in Washington,DC, the Met in New York and oodles of others. Let’s face it -- sometimes it just isn’t any fun to elbow the way through the crowd to see a work of art. The Economist suggests that you can get just as much pleasure seeking out treasures in the world’s less known museums. So, The Economist has started an online series on some of these hidden treasures. They started with France’s National Museum of the Renaissance at the Chateau d’Ecouen. They will also talk about the Noguchi Museum in New York, an Amsterdam museum dedicated to bags and purses, and the wonderful Capodimonte Palace in Naples among others. If you’d like to take a quick virtual look at these places, go to the Economist.


Talk about synchronicity. This morning I found this article at the NY Times: At Louvre, Many Stop to Snap but Few Stay to Focus By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN. "Spending an idle morning watching people look at art is hardly a scientific experiment, but it rekindles a perennial question: What exactly are we looking for when we roam as tourists around museums? As with so many things right in front of us, the answer may be no less useful for being familiar." It must be museum day!

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The week is looking busy ...hair cuts, a baseball game on Wednesday and, most exciting, our friend,Vivian, is in town. I’ve blogged about Vivian before. She is a young friend who has spent the last year in Beijing studying Chinese. Before she left for China we went temple visiting together. We had so much fun. I originally met her at the museum where she worked in the Asia curatorial office. She is visiting this week before she leaves for Michigan where she will start work on her Ph.D.

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I love wind chimes. I hear the ones in Musashi’s Garden every morning. The birds get them started as they fly in for their breakfast.

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I’ll leave you with this picture thought:

(icanhascheesburger.com)

I am thankful for another day on beautiful Mother Earth.

Joy to You!