In the in-between days

 

My oldest son was gifted a "swim with the fishes" at the Florida Aquarium...by his daughter (who I hope also went swimming there, but didn't post a photo!)

A bored mind can be the canvas upon which innovation is painted, and the womb in which novelty is nourished

The great goddess form Çatal höyük, 6000 BC, sitting on a throne flanked by two felines. She is later known as Matar Kubileya, Kubaba or Cybele. Found at Çatal höyük, 45 kilometers south of modern Konya, Turkey

Maybe the Angry Women - 4

 Considering women's rights to their own bodies!

Considering a woman elected president and having to live in hiding from a dictator who would not leave office. Maria Corina Machado. Then she won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025...and how to collect it (see below)

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'She's awesome': How U.S. veterans helped Venezuela's Machado escape
December 12, 2025 5:33 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — It's an extraordinary achievement to win the Nobel Peace Prize. But for this year's laureate, even getting to the ceremony was a feat of its own.

María Corina Machado spent more than a year in hiding after her opposition movement defeated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in last year's election by a wide margin, according to voting records validated by international observers. Maduro refused to leave office and ordered a massive crackdown on the opposition.

Getting Machado out of Venezuela and safely to Oslo required an operation worthy of a thriller. At the center of that mission was U.S. Special Forces Veteran Bryan Stern, the bearded, broad-shouldered founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Stern and his team of U.S. military veterans have pulled off hundreds of extractions around the world. But this one, he says, was different.

She's the second most popular person in the Western Hemisphere after Maduro," he said." Because of that signature, that's what made this operation very hard."

Stern and his team had only a week to plan Machado's escape, a mission they called Operation Golden Dynamite — a nod to Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize founder who also invented dynamite.

A land route was ruled out — too many checkpoints where she'd be recognized. So, they decided to move by sea.

But they had to be careful. The U.S. military has built up a significant presence off Venezuela's coast, destroying nearly two dozen alleged narco-trafficking boats in recent months, killing at least 87 people. Stern wouldn't discuss details, but says he coordinated with U.S. officials who were aware they'd be operating in the area.

He was careful to avoid using a boat that could turn into a target. "I didn't want a big giant boat with big engines that could go fast and cut through waves," he said. "That's what the narcos use — and the U.S. military likes to blow them up."

Then their plan hit another snag: Ms. Machado's boat never arrived at the predetermined rendezvous point in the Caribbean Sea. 

"We were supposed to meet in the middle, but when that couldn't happen, we pivoted and went to them," Stern said.

In pitch darkness, with 10-foot waves smashing the sides of both boats and only flashlights to guide them, nerves frayed. Each crew worried the other could be cartel members, government agents, or worse.

"I could be Maduro's guys, I could be cartel guys — anything really," Stern said. "Everyone is skittish approaching each other in the dead of night at sea. In 10-foot waves? This is scary stuff."

Finally, once they were close enough to hear one another, a voice cut across the water.

"It's me — María!"

Stern hauled her aboard. With the wind at their backs, the final leg to a Caribbean island — which he declined to name, but is widely reported to be Curaçao — was mercifully smooth. A private plane was waiting to take her the rest of the way to Oslo.

Stern says Machado was tougher than the crusty veterans helping her escape.
"We're all bitching and moaning — it's cold, it's wet, we're hungry, it's dark," he said. "She didn't complain once."

Stern admits he was a bit star struck by Machado. He'd followed her fight for democratic change for years. He'd always assumed Venezuela's "Iron Lady" got her nickname from her political steeliness. But after that night, he says it's something more.

"She's gnarly," he said, laughing. "Pretty awesome."

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Reuters published on Dec 11, 2025: Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado has arrived in Oslo just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony — defying a decade-long travel ban after spending more than a year in hiding.

This year's peace laureate Maria Corina Machado has been forced to live in hiding. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.

Here she finally stands next to Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, with her Nobel Prize diploma and medal.

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I noticed many negative, uninformed and just stupid comments on the FB posts that I have read following these two postings. When some of them at least asked questions, like who is she? and why did she win? I do hope they make the effort to search for the answers!

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Did you see her speaking on the correct YouTube video? My link seemed to go elsewhere. But this goes to a newscast which includes her at the Prize Ceremony.

I must wonder if her win of the election and becoming Presidente' de Venuzuela in actuality might have changed the way the US (Trump and Hegseth particularly) are acting towards it today.

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'Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise,' they are all comprised in this one word, love."

and...

"Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as you ever can."

John Wesley, born 1703, father of Methodism.

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Angie Buchanan

6.24.22

"No more civility. No more being polite. No more trying to get along, no more attempts to understand a different point of view. No more tolerance. The filters are out, the gloves are off. I am feral, unhinged. I will not be legislated by your religious doctrine. I'm not even trying anymore, Your way hasn't worked. Let's try mine.

Art: Circe Invidiosa by John William Waterhouse In case you don't know the story - she's poisoning the waters - turning her offenders into monsters.

This witch don't mess around."

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These posts came about after the 2022 Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and started the domino effect of many states declaring abortions illegal. Women (and a lot of feminist men) were outraged. Some who were pregnant died.

The Goddess Kali in Tampaksiring Indonesia

Kali destroys those who are evil-doers, collects the garbage of humanity.

Jackie Morris animals

I usually post art on my other blog, but I wanted everyone to see these videos and paintings!

 Jackie Morris, of Wales and England...has been a former blogger, but is a world renowned artist.

Here I found some videos of her doing a painting, and even talking about the stories she illustrates so beautifully.

A Short Film From Seven Fables

You might say she paints animals, but their spirits also are alive!

I posted another video a few years ago of her painting and calling otters.

There are musical pieces composed about her otters series. They were played in concert halls while Jackie would paint a new watercolor on the stage.

For more of her wonderful critters, here is her gallery on her home page. Gallery.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

St. Stephen's Day

While today the Brits apparently celebrate a very obscure holiday they call Boxing Day, much of the  rest of the world is just cleaning up from Christmas still. Or thinking of how to give away some of the loot they received from Great Auntie So-and-so...which either doesn't fit, is ugly, or makes one sneeze. Question, what do Canadians do?

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Often sung with Christmas Carols...

Good King Wenceslas

By John Mason Neale

Listen on YouTube Music (Loreena McKennit- below)

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.

Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou knowst it telling:
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.
Lark my footsteps my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly;
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze the blood less coldly.

In his master's step he trod,
Where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, rejoice,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

 December 26 commemorates the life of St. Stephen, a Christian deacon in Jerusalem who is believed to have been the first Christian martyr (he was stoned to death in 36 ce)

SOURCE: Wikipedia

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CBS Sunday Morning on Nov. 31, 2025 published this information (the Sunday after American Thanksgiving)

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I support the World Central Kitchen with my pennies. I have so much more than many people in the world affected by climate disasters or wars. These volunteers are feeding those who are hungry. I saw them at work immediately in Black Mountain and Swannanoa with people lining up after Hurricane Helene came through and decimated so many homes in the western North Carolina mountains. The food was trucked in of course...donated through the organization started by Chef Jose' Andres in 2010. 

WorldCentralKitchen

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And I am cautious about taking more food than I can eat when it is offered through our own food bank. Right now I am sorry that I've let some of it spoil (since it's mostly "day-old" when we get it) when I was hoping to have it for my meals this week. So when the truck came for the last time this year, I didn't go pick up anything. I've got a lot in my refrigerator and pantry! For this I'm very grateful.

Sharing with Thankful Thursday 

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Today's goddess:

Marble female figure

Source Jenny Mendes Ceramics

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They are so off...tamales are rolled, not tacos, or perhaps at a stretch enchiladas. Now those Mayan virgins might have been doing some rolling. Did I say that? I'm an Elderly Grand-Elf, remember?

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Open Yesterday's Pages tells of the woman who started Women's Studies in American colleges.

Merry Christmas!

By Sarah Ly - Christmas Morning.....American quilt artist

Christmas in Locorotondo, Italy 2021

What every Christian is celebrating today!

Riverwalk in San Antonio TX

Sylva, NC, the Court House.

OK a bit of humor might seep in today. Joy to the World!

And more seriously to consider...

Christmas 1912

Children for 22 years didn't experience Christmas...but wait, they didn't have Santa then either, nor Christmas trees. But the story from the Bible? I just bet that was read and studied! The King James version too!

Oh the stories about Santa! How about one who rappels down the face of Chimney Rock, in North Carolina?

Somewhat sloppy boots there, so I hope his climbing boots are safer.

Neighbor David LaMotte plays his guitar, a peaceful sound!

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Today's quote:

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Today's "goddess"

Madonna and Child by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 1609-1685