Senator James Inhofe needs a dictionary

weather; noun

1. the state of the air and atmosphere at a particular time and place : the temperature and other outside conditions (such as rain, cloudiness, etc.) at a particular time and place

climate; noun

1. a region with particular weather patterns or conditions

2. the usual weather conditions in a particular place or region

3. the usual or most widespread mood or conditions in a place

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), chair of the Environment and Public Works Senate Committee, Feb. 26, 2015

no birth, only death

crone; noun
\ˈkrōn\

1. a cruel or ugly old woman

via Wikipedia:

The crone is a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman. In some stories, she is disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing. The Crone is also an archetypal figure, a Wise Woman. She is marginalized by her exclusion from the reproductive cycle, and her proximity to death places her in contact with occult wisdom. As a character type, the crone shares characteristics with the hag.

Babayaga lubok

warm side of the mountain

adret; noun

1. a mountain slope so oriented as to receive considerable light and warmth from the sun during the day

owl and table cloth brings...

i've made a new sculpture for an upcoming themed exhibition (themed around Italian superstitions). owls are bad luck in Italy.
no title yet - perhaps Harbinger, Bellwether, Crier or something like that.

 garden defense owl and table cloth (2013)

garden defense owl and table cloth (2013)

supposedly the ghost of Templars - taken in an Italian castle in the 1980's

ideal vs real

Weltschmerz; noun
\VELT-shmairts\

1. mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state
2. a mood of sentimental sadness

batch

batchin' it (v)
A term meaning "living like a bachelor," usually used by married people or ones in serious relationships whose significant other is temporarily or permanently away. It has a male connotation.

"My wife is in San Diego visiting her mother and buying yarn for the store, so I've been batchin' it."

allie is visiting her grandfather in California for the weekend - i told my mom and said, "Oh, so your batchin' it this weekend huh?" this is something people have said to me before. i understand the use of this term, but not why people thing this is an accurate term for me. through the definition, and the way the term is used, it implies that i will somehow have more freedom without allie around. meaning that i will not necessarily be acting like a bachelor (not cleaning, going dates, giving flowers to girls, etc, etc) but that i am somehow restricted by my partner - which couldn't be farther from the truth (and is actually more the opposite - that i feel more freed when i'm around allie).

perhaps this says more about how people normally conceive of others' relationships (or of men in their relationships) - that they are somehow more happier and free when their significant other isn't around. yikes.

swirling my coffee

gyre; noun

1. a circular or spiral motion or form; especially : a giant circular oceanic surface current

the rain on Venus

virga; noun

1. wisps of precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground

mist in the parlor

wraith; noun

1. a: the exact likeness of a living person seen usually just before death as an apparition
b: ghost, specter
2. an insubstantial form or semblance : shadow
3. a barely visible gaseous or vaporous column

winding-sheet

shroud; noun

1 (obsolete) shelter, protection
2 something that covers, screens, or guards
3 burial garment
4 a: one of the ropes leading usually in pairs from a ship's mastheads to give lateral support to the masts
b: one of the cords that suspend the harness of a parachute from the canopy

halo

anthelion: noun pl
A luminous, white, halo-like area occasionally seen in the sky opposite the sun on the parhelic circle.

image from here

moondog

Paraselene; noun

1. a luminous spot on a lunar halo caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds.
2. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) Meteorol a bright image of the moon on a lunar halo Also called mock moon or moon dog
3. a false moon, in reality a bright spot or a luminous ring surrounding the moon.

Geosmin Olfaction

Petrichor; noun

1. the scent of rain on dry earth

The cynosure of all eyes

Cynosure; noun

1. something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc.: the cynosure of all eyes.
2. something serving for guidance or direction.

January in Chicago

Apricity (plural apricities); noun

1. (obsolete) The warmth of the Sun in winter.