1998, with spring coming in as the robins sing at the cottage on Maplewood Shores.

Oh to be here.

A tiny bit of ice left up at the top of the elm across the way, so high up the branches are like twigs. Only the tiniest birds having a nest that high up lest their babies tumble to the ground.

my new short fiction piece published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to read the rest

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/1998-with-spring-coming-in-as-the

Off to study the Esquimaux. Roughing it in the land of snow yes but not the land of igloos. No, the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Alberta, Canada. Every refinement and a boiler in the basement heating the place up to a fare thee well.

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Inaugural banquet at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Associations, Clubs and Societies:  Inaugural banquet at the Cosmopolitan Hotel following the first “Ritual of Jewels” ceremony for the Sorority. These ladies are the Charter Members of the Beta Sigma Phi in Medicine Hat. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. October 1945 image. Photographer not given. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. vhttps://collections.esplanade.ca/list?q=Cosmopolitan&p=1&ps=20&src_facet=Photograph
The Bachelors of the Cosmopolitan Hotel: portrait of five men, three unidentified, members of the Bachelors Club of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Photograph ca. 1906. J. E. Miers, Medicine Hat, photographer. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images103109

Inside view of the dining room in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Looks like its set up for a party or banquet. Undated photograph 1890s-1915? partly because of the Victorian/Edwardian planter filled with ferns.
Gainsborough Studio, Medicine Hat, photographers. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images71093
Cosmopolitan Hotel, South Railway Street and Fourth Street Southeast. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Image ca. 1912. George N. Bartlett, Medicine Hat, photographer. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images71445
“Public parlour” of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, showing piano and seating arrangement, and gas light fixtures. Also potted ferns. Taken from hand-tinted original Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. ca. 1900. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images107855
Interior view of the front half of the lobby of the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Shows entryway, lobby seating, elaborate gas and electric fixtures, stained glass windows, front registration desk, and stairway to the second floor. Two hotel guests can be seen through the front window seated in chairs outside. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Image ca. 1900. Photographer not given. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images107856

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Silver Anniversary banquet in the decorated dining room of the Cosmopolitan Hotel – engineers and their ladies. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Loving the ceiling decorations. January 1923 image. Photographer not given. Image © 2026 City of Medicine Hat. Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre Archives. https://collections.esplanade.ca/link/images109638

2022. November turning into December down on the Biloxi shore at the old Sandy Pointe Bungalows.

Oh to be here.

Down for Christmas. All the fancy places taken and a tourist court instead. Better than the Comfort Inn, though. One of those 1930s places with built-in seashell arch-topped niches flanking the living room fireplace, the shelves deep enough for a cat to sleep away two lives if her nap goes on long enough without a grandchild yanking her tail.

my new short fiction piece published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to read the rest. The image is from a 1968 Frigidaire ad campaign –

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/2022-november-turning-into-december

Packing up the sand toys and heading out for a beach cottage holiday. Paintings by British painter Dame Laura Knight. Living from 1877 to 1970, she was married to fellow painter Harold Knight and was also the first woman elected to full membership in the Royal Academy.

Bathers at Low Tide, Sennen. 1915-1919. English. Laura Knight, painter (1877-1970). © Estate of the artist. via https://www.instagram.com/ahistoryinarts/p/DVIeE4Rjdj3/
A Dark Pool. ca. 1908-1918. English. Laura Knight, painter (1877-1970). Collections of the Laing Art Gallery. © reproduced with permission of the estate of Dame Laura Knight, DBE, RA / Bridgeman Images . via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-dark-pool-36178/search/2026–keyword:laura-knight–referrer:global-search/page/2/view_as/grid
The Beach. ca. 1909. English. Laura Knight, painter (1877-1970). Collections of the Laing Art Gallery. © reproduced with permission of the estate of Dame Laura Knight, DBE, RA / Bridgeman Images . via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-beach-37031/search/2026–keyword:laura-knight–referrer:global-search/page/5

Tired of munching on cookies. Time to work off all those calories with a visit to the animals at the zoo. Imagery From “Zoo Berlin – 1841-1929: Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin.” Published in 1929, the text is by Dr. Adolph Heilborn.

Vor dem Affenhause. Gemälde von Jean Loves (1879). Image 8 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/n7/mode/1up
Bärenbrube. Zeichnung (1858) von H. Leutemann. Image 9 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/n9/mode/1up
Restauration. Zeichnung (1863) von Baudouin. Image 11 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/11/mode/1up
Das Antilopenhaus im zoologischen Garten in Berlin. Farbige lithographie (Guckkaasten bild 1872). Page 23 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/23/mode/1up

Feuerwerk zu Ehren des Berliner Kongresses. Zeichnung (1878) von Knut Ekwall. Page 29 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/29/mode/1up
Das junge Reitpferd im Zoologischen Garten zu Berlin. Rad der Ratur gezeidnut von Paul Menerheim. Page 32 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/32/mode/1up
Kinderkarawane. Zeichnung (1879) von Knut Ekwall. Page 35 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/35/mode/1up
Elefantenhaus. Zeichnung (1882) von H. Müuzel. Page 39 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/39/mode/1up
Elefantenportal – Photograph A. Rupp. Page 51 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/51/mode/1up
Vogelgang im alten Berliner Aquarium. Farbige Lithographie (Guckkastenbild). Um 1870. Page 59 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/59/mode/1up
Blick in die Krokodilhalle des Aquariums. Photograph A. Rupp. Page 61 of Zoo Berlin 1841-1929. Zur Geschichte des Zoologischen Gartens zu Berlin. Text by Dr. Adolph Heilborn. Published by the Board of Directors of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. Jacob Brothers Printing House, Berlin, printers. Uploaded by the Polish Public Domain Repository. Via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/dlibra.bibliotekaelblaska.pl.KD.2932_300.151876295/page/61/mode/1up

An envisioning. 1958 and December inching into a January thaw at the house on Chaminade Row.

Oh to be here.

Minnesota, and not being that far from anywhere, if you measure it by how fast a Canada goose can head south for the winter. Teenage children who play trumpet in the band. Saturdays spent ferrying them around. Sitting and waiting in the back of some dusty auditorium, reading a novel while trying to appear to pay rapt attention to whatever the band leader says in case they ask about it on the drive back home. Not needing to find out about a band rehearsal on the other side of the county on the morning of, either.

my new short fiction piece published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to read the rest. The image is an advertisement from 1949 issue of PROM which was a magazine targeted to Saint Louis Missouri teenagers.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/an-envisioning-1958-and-december

Home until spring with a pot of split pea soup on the stove and a bread baking in the oven. A set of photographs shot in 1969 of the house at 5 Tucker Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts which was built at the end of the 17th century. But what caught my eye is the entire bookcase stuffed with cookbooks. More than my mother’s cookbook collection and hers was huge. Too fun!

Cookbooks (including “How to Cook and Eat in Russian,” published in 1947 and “La Bonne Cuisine de Madame E. Saint-Ange” which came out in 1927. Not spotting anything by Julia Child, however). 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts.1965 (I think) photograph. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:9g5513628

Library with contemporary magazines in the magazine rack just past the sofa. 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. Image ca. 1965. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:cr56qk11w

Dining room with the cookbooks seen in image one appearing here. 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. Image ca. 1965. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:1r66mj23q
Front Hall. 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. Image ca. 1965. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:sx61h456p
Master bedroom. 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. Image ca. 1965. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:3j335m80f
Another view of the Master bedroom with a telephone that is considerably earlier than 1965 sitting on the bedside table. 5 Tucker Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. Image ca. 1965. American. Samuel Chamberlain, photographer. Samuel Chamberlain Photographs Negative Collection, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Copyright undetermined but the photographer died in 1975 so his estate, presumably. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:7w62hs77w

I don’t know why these photographs were taken as it doesn’t say nor does it say whether 5 Tucker Street was a house museum or a home inhabited by the owners as opposed to docents dressed like 1690 people though I know little of house museums as in my entire life I’ve only been in one and that was a long time ago. But there is very little put out that looks modern ish; I’ve been in a fair number of old houses packed with antiques because of my micro crafts business and even in homes furnished in real Chippendale there is a laptop sitting on the sideboard and a plastic bottle of Schweppes ginger ale out on the coffee table. But a fun set – I hope you like them too.

Animals in art, painted by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait who specialized in painting animals. Born in England in 1819, he later moved to America at the age of 31 where he died in Yonkers, New York in 1905.

Doe and Two Fawns. 1882. British/American.  Oil on academy board. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, painter (1819-1905). Signed A.F. Tait N.A. / N.Y. 82 on the lower right. Collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. In the public domain. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12769
Rabbits on a Log. 1897. British-American. Oil on canvas. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, painter (1819-1905). Signed A.F. Tait / N Y [9]7 on the lower right. Collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. In the public domain. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12772
Maternal Solicitude. 1883. British-American. Oil on canvas. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, painter (1819-1905). Signed ‘A.F. Tait. N.A./NY. 83 on the lower right. Image source: Christies. Artwork in the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 70 years ago. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arthur_Fitzwilliam_Tait_-_Maternal_Solicitude.jpg
Young Grouse. 1860. British-American. Oil on board. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, painter (1819-1905). Signed and dated A F Tait / 1860 on the lower right. Inscribed on the verso: Number 163 / Young Grouse / A.F. Tait / Morrisania N.Y. 1860 Image © 2026 Santa Fe Art Auction LLC. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.santafeartauction.com/auction-lot/arthur-fitzwilliam-tait-young-grouse-1860_ec3482a8eb

Currier and Ives sold lithographs of many of his paintings including possibly some of these. Their lithographs were very popular and the market for them huge as nearly every American home had at least one hanging on the wall and many with more than that.

Learning to draw trees from back before Youtube and Bob Ross. It’s true the subject matter is a bit limited but the colors are glowing. Imagery from the sketch books of Vere Foster, published in 1895 as “Studies of trees in pencil and in water colors.” The captions and text are by J. Needham.

Front cover. Image 1 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: Lessons in Foliage Contrasts; Oak, Ash, Beech, Etc. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/mode/1up
Front cover. Image 4 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/n4/mode/1up
Plate 1 – Contrasts of Foliage – the Oak and the Ash – by J. Needham. Image 11 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/11/mode/1up
Mountain Scene – Oak – Drawn by J. Needham. Image 21 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/21/mode/1up
Plate IV – Scene in Sherwood Forest – Drawn by J. Needham. Image 23 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/23/mode/1up
Plate V – Old Oak by the Wayside, Surrey – by J. Needham. Image 27 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/27/mode/1up
Plate VI – Ash by the Wayside – by J. Needham. Image 35 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/35/mode/1up
Old Ash-trunk – Drawn by J. Needham. Image 37 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/37/mode/1up
Plate VII – The Great Ash Scene in Surrey – By J. Needham. Image 39 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/39/mode/1up
Plate VIII – The Beech in Early Autumn – By J. Needham. Image 43 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/43/mode/1up
Plate IX – Old Beech Trunks in Burnham Wood – By J. Needham. Image 49 of STUDIES OF TREES IN PENCIL AND WATER-COLORS: With a Description of each Tree, and Full Instructions for Drawing and Painting by an Experienced Teacher. First Series. Vere Foster, artist. J Needham, author. Published in 1895 by Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Collections of Brigham Young University. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/studiesoftreesin00need/page/49/mode/1up

Vere Foster put out other books along the same lines including one about painting landscapes.

An envisioning. 2024, and mid-morning in October, with the leaves turning color, at the house on Lake Helena Heights.

Oh to be here.

The dishwasher to unload. The list to go over. Augusta and the big fabric store, the one with sequined-up ribbons in every color of the rainbow, tacked up in huge swoops against the back wall like the Christmas tree they hoist up and down at the ballet for the Nutcracker.

my new short fiction piece with the rest over on my Substack if you’d like to read it. The image is from the 2016 Neiman Marcus Christmas book and is © the store.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/an-envisioning-2024-and-mid-morning