An envisioning, 2017, and a late morning in May, slipping toward noon, around the edges at the house on Lackluster Drive.

Oh to be here.

Port Geoffrey and a Pacific sun to watch rise and fall over the sardine cannery between endless cups of tea. The aromas wafting up something not even a super-sized plug -in fan, like they had in the gym back in school, can ever blow out the window, let alone the porch. But perfect for a lady who herds cats across the yard, what with sardine sniffing right up there in kittiedom, like spending the day with a human sales lady at Woodward and Lothrop in Chanel Number 5.

my new short fiction piece published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to read the rest. There are four images in total, three cats being naughty and the Girl Scouts with the Girl Scouts and one of the cats here-

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/an-envisioning-2017-and-a-late-morning

Fans for the month of November from the latest email from Fan d’Eventails, Paris. The perfect way to clear the smoke if your Thanksgiving turkey catches fire-

Fan Chemins de fer d l’Etat from Les Sables d’Olonnes to La Rochelle hand fan. Advertising fan for the state railroads serving the seaside resorts along the Atlantic coast, including Les Sables d’Olonnes, Royan, La Rochelle, Fouras, and Chatelaillon. Wooden sticks and guards with the paper leaf printed with an illustration by Eugène Charles Paul Vavasseur (1863–1949) depicting beachgoers on the beach at Royan, with the casino in the background. On the reverse side are advertisements, notably for the fan manufacturer A. Ettlinger & Fils, the Agnel perfume company, and the “Aux Corsets merveilleux” corsets , the Albert Schuller diamond cutting workshop, the Grand Hotel and Casino des Pins in La Rochelle, the Family Hotel and the Grand Hotel du Parc in Royan. ca. 1900. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/4816-20.html

Advertising fan for the Galeries Lafayette Pavilion and the Grand Palais. Wooden sticks and guards with a paper leaf printed on one side with the Galeries Lafayette Pavilion from the 1925 Decorative Arts Exhibition, featuring an advertisement for the art and design studio ‘*La Maitrise*‘ founded by Maurice Maurice Dufrène in 1920, and, on the other side, the program for the ‘*Nuit du Grand Palais’* (Festival of Theatre and Fashion) held on Tuesday, June 16, 1925. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/4819-22.html

*Osage Indians in France* hand-fan. Dance card fan, with the sticks made of cardboard (known as “peau d’âne”) printed and embellished with gouache depicting members of the native Osage tribe (Oklahoma, United States of America). The top of the counter-guard features a slot into which a stylus is inserted to write the dancers’ names. French, ca. 1827. *The fan depicts an event that sparked great enthusiasm in France and throughout Europe: the visit of six Native Americans from the Osage tribe. They arrived at the port of Le Havre on July 27, 1827.* Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/4821-24.html

Souvenir fan from the 1904 Saint Louis, Missouri World’s Fair held from April 30 to December 1, 1904, featuring a thread and printed paper leaf depicting a young woman—the personification of Louisiana—unfolding a map of the United States West Coast showing the Louisiana Purchase, surrounded by Art Nouveau flowers and next to a globe inscribed “World’s Fair Saint Louis 1904,” surmounted by the American eagle and flag.
Painted bamboo sticks and guards with a thread and printed paper leaf. Imported from Japan. Sold at the World’s Fair. Image © Fan d’Eventails Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/historic-fans/4815-20.html

Advertising fan for the Western Railway Company, illustrated with views of Saint-Malo, Dieppe, and Mont Saint-Michel. On the reverse side are numerous advertisements for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique ; La Bourdette luxury cars; Walery fine art photography; Sortais, dealer in luxury and carriage horses; Rudge bicycles manufactured by Lucien Charmet; and Fortin Stationery and Printing. Printed paper leaf with wooden sticks and guards. ca. 1895. Image © Fan d’Eventails Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/4820-23.html

More to celebrate with more fireworks. Imagery from the album “Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi; à l’arrivée et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté en cette Ville, Paris.” Louis XV of France became very ill while in Metz leading his armies in August of 1744. These engravings show the celebrations held in Strasbourg after he recovered.

Title page, Page 5 of Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi; à l’arrivée et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté en cette Ville, Paris. Inventé, dessiné et dirigé par J. M. Weis, Graveur de de la Ville de Strasbourg. Printed in Paris in 1745 by Lauren Albert. J. M. Weis, engraver. Collections of the Bibliothèque de l’Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, collections Jacques Doucet. ETA lab open license. https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/viewer/13513/?offset=#page=5&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=

*Représentation du Faubourg de Saverne de la ville de Strasbourg, par lequel le roi LOUIS XV fit son entrée dans cette ville le 5 Octobre 1744.* Page 9 of the album Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi; à l’arrivée et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté en cette Ville, Paris. Inventé, dessiné et dirigé par J. M. Weis, Graveur de de la Ville de Strasbourg. Printed in Paris in 1745 by Lauren Albert. J. M. Weis, engraver. Collections of the Bibliothèque de l’Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, collections Jacques Doucet. ETA lab open license. https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/viewer/13513/?offset=#page=9&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=

Représentation des édifices et décorations élevés du feu d’artifice; Exécuté le 5 octobre 1744 sous le bon plaisir et en présence de Sa Majesté Louis XV, par les ordres du magistrat de Strasbourg, sur la rivière de l’Ill, et en face du Palais épiscopal où Sa Majesté était logée. (Fireworks display) Page 12 of the album Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi; à l’arrivée et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté en cette Ville, Paris. Inventé, dessiné et dirigé par J. M. Weis, Graveur de de la Ville de Strasbourg. Printed in Paris in 1745 by Lauren Albert. J. M. Weis, engraver. Collections of the Bibliothèque de l’Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, collections Jacques Doucet. ETA lab open license. https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/viewer/13513/?offset=#page=12&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=

Représentation de l’Église cathédrale de Strasbourg. Ensemble de ses Clôture, plate-forme, et Tour en flèche, d’Architecture dans toutes ses parties avec les quatre tourelles adhérentes à la flèche, dans chacune desquelles il y a un Escalier en Escargot, le tout à jour, ayant été entièrement illuminé, ainsi que les balustrades de la plate-forme, celles des Galeries, et de toute la longueur du comble de la Nef, avec des Pots à fleurs remplis d’une matière propre à résister aux injures du temps, Le 5 octobre 1744, jour de l’arrivée, et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté LOUIS XV, en cette ville. Page 15 of the album Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi; à l’arrivée et pendant le séjour de Sa Majesté en cette Ville, Paris. Inventé, dessiné et dirigé par J. M. Weis, Graveur de de la Ville de Strasbourg. Printed in Paris in 1745 by Lauren Albert. J. M. Weis, engraver. Collections of the Bibliothèque de l’Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, collections Jacques Doucet. ETA lab open license. https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/viewer/13513/?offset=#page=15&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=

Louis XVI was the grandson of Louis XV who was in turn the great-grandson of Louis XIV. They lived in a time when assuming an ill person would recover was well not a long shot but not something to assume, either. There were no spares back then like Prince Harry. Louis XIV was a first born but Louis XV had two older brothers who died in the same epidemic. So a celebration was in order, for sure.

Dreaming of summer and that not a good look considering it’s November 1st. But a 4th of July parade from 1921 to dream on just for fun with ? ahem the first prize fight float I’ve ever come across in one of these. Must have been bracketed in by 15 Lady Columbias and fourth graders dressed up like the Statue of Liberty. Who knew. (A few from 1922 and 1923 too).

*1921 4th of July Parade: Prize fight float.* Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r520

*1921 4th of July Parade: E. C. Newton’s Float* with the signs reading: ‘How much to raise This Baby on 16 cent Milk’ and ‘A YEAR BABY ON 16 cent MILK.’ Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r58n

*1921 4th of July Parade: Alfred Conte’s Float* with Miss Liberty standing on the top with her court. Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r538

*1921 4th of July Parade: Stockbridge Indians Float*. The float riders might or might not be actual Stockbridge Indians as the Stockbridge Indians had been dispossessed and forced to relocate by 1783. They could equally be Caucasian residents of Lenox dressed up as Stockbridge Indians which would not have bothered anybody in 1921. Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r48d

*1922 4th of July Parade: Birth of the Nation Float*. Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r406

*1922 4th of July Parade: Canary Band*. Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r37w

*1923 4th of July Parade: Liberty Bell Float.* Lenox, Massachusetts USA. Berkshire County. Photographer not given. Lenox Library Association Local History Collections. Creative Commons License 4.0. via https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:rj430r46v

A special post for Día de los Muertos 2026.

Shimmering on air on the smile of a javelina as an eagle soars over the Sierra Madre where Oaxaca meets the sun . . . first a whimper and then a rustle . . . a taffeta petticoat it must be and part of the costume of a little girl helping to lead the village Día de los Muertos parade past a sea of marigolds . . . down the street and off to the cemetery with a mariachi band playing away and another one in the back behind a cart heaped with who knows how many baker’s dozens of sugar skull cookies and offering breads . . .

a special post that I started adding a few years ago though the captioning up for it I wrote up this week. Previously, these images were scattered in the fall series but I like it better this way. With 28=30 images that’s enough for its’ own post, too.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/a-special-post-for-dia-de-los-muertos

Cemetery photographed during Dia de los Muertos, Oaxaca, Mexico. Image ca. 2026. Photo credit and copyright No Maps or Foot Tracks.com.

Very Eerie Halloween Art for Samhain, October 31st, in the 2026 fall show . . .

Soaring in the air, as on a highland Scots island somewhere between the Arctic and the sky, the ravens begin to caw in the ancient graveyard . . . one on each shoulder of the angel by the entrance and ten atop the gate . . . where to now . . . for the stars to tell . . . another few days and Samhain . . . then they’ll know.

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to see it.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/very-eerie-halloween-art-for-samhain

Satan Watching the Sleep of Christ. (detail) ca.1874. Scots. Joseph Noel Paton, painter (1821-1901). Collection of the Kirkcaldy Galleries. via artuk.org.

Very Eerie Pre Halloween Art for October 30th in the 2026 show . . .

swishing on air on the last knot of a Persian carpet as the weaver smiles as somewhere far beyond where the southernmost sea blows wild and free the ice starts to move . . . a huge penguin perhaps . . . the widow of the last man alive come back to find him . . . or maybe a polar bear from far away that hopped a ride on the wrong ice floe . . . impossible to know . . . but plumes of something that rise into the air and a spectral sounding kind of splash . . . life’s a mystery . . . maybe your grandbaby will learn of it in her schoolbook . . . maybe not

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link. The pumpkins in the thumbnail are from Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/very-eerie-pre-halloween-art-for-1a4

Very Eerie Pre Halloween Art for the 28th of October in the 2026 fall show . . .

slipping on air as from the depths of a Denali crevasse a moan rises as the scientist begins lowering his instruments down . . . someone fallen down it and the charts saying at least another twenty years . . . but no . . . turned into a wraith and tired of being poked . . . another spot would have been better but too late now . . . get ready . . . happening now . . .

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to see it. Thanks!

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/very-eerie-pre-halloween-art-for-176

Ideas for children’s costumes for a Halloween party, taken from Dennison’s 1921 Bogie Collection. via @dennisonarchivist on Instagram. via Instagram.

Very Eerie Pre Halloween Art for the 27th of October in the 2026 fall show . . .

sparking on air as in somewhere in rural Europe a broomstick rises into the air . . . an old coven it was that met by the stone circle where the land meets the sky . . . or so said grandmother and she was always right . . . troubled they must be or else they would not rise . . . something brewing somewhere . . . but no . . . the broomstick turned and sweeping away . . . . first to the left and then ahead . . . time to run but here comes another . . .

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to see it. Thanks! https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/very-eerie-pre-halloween-art-for-56b

Sphinxes who guard the entrance to the Elizabeth Street Garden in New York City. Image ca. 2025. Photographer not given but under copyright. @elizabethstreetgarden on Instagram. via Instagram.

Very Eerie Pre Halloween Art for Monday October 26th in the Year of Our Lord MMXXVI

sparking on air on the last whine of a werewolf’s screech as the winds pick up and the old cries begin to rise . . . people not listening to the new gods and the ancient ones starting to inch back . . . swirls of sand and dust with the outline of something or someone in silvery robes, a thing that looks like a spear merged with a Victorian pickle fork and a golden crown that sparks off the stars up in the heavens . . . the lord of the mountains and the moon making his return . . . lightning bolts bouncing off up into the clouds and then down making the earth where they hit bounce . . . be careful . . . very careful

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link. https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/very-eerie-pre-halloween-art-for-8bf

Winslow family mausoleum, Bellevue Cemetery, Lawrence, Massachusetts USA. Byzantine Revival so built in the mid 1920s. American. 2022 image via sipseyheadstonecleaning on Instagram. via Instagram.