Dorothy and Friends -- Wizard of Oz

Dorothy and Friends, originally uploaded by drurydrama.

Baum’s Strong Women

For the past 104 years, people saw what they wanted to in the Wizard of Oz. In the fifties, conservatives in the government pointed an accusing finger at L. Frank Baum, its author, insisting that Oz is a communistic society lacking money, where all comrades work for the common good. At times religious groups saw the book as demonic, pointing out that Baum pictured witches as nothing more than smart women: some good, some bad. Economists saw the story as a march to the gold standard with “oz” standing for ounces of gold, the green of Oz as the color of money, and the brick road as an “obvious” reference to the yellow metal. Others insisted that the story was a political tract with the lion representing England. In fact, the emerald green of Oz may be a reference to Baum’s ancestral home of Ireland. Yellow brick was a common building material in 1900. The name “oz,” according to one of Baum’s sons, was inspired by a filing cabinet in Baum’s office. The files were listed alphabetically with the last one labeled, “O - Z”

Frank Baum insists in the introduction to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, that “old time fairy tales” contain a “fearsome moral to each tale.” He would have nothing to do with placing a moral in his stories. Baum insists the story “was written solely to pleasure children of today.”

With that said, and in spite of what the author insists, there is a wealth of metaphor and meaning in his works. Perhaps the most consistent theme that runs through most of his many books is the message that girls may strive to be strong women. In ten of his fourteen books, the hero is a girl or woman. True power in Oz, both good and evil resides in woman. Dorothy, a little girl in the original story, leads (practically drags) her three adult male friends through a life’s journey, helping them find themselves. They discover that they always had the courage, kindness, and intellect that they mistakenly thought they lacked. Oz himself is a fraud.

Baum was an ardent advocate of woman’s rights. As a newspaper correspondent, he wrote numerous articles on the topic. He campaigned vigorously with his wife, mother-in-law, and Susan B. Anthony to win the vote for women in the new state of South Dakota. The vote was lost but his strong feelings for the equality of women continued to be expressed in his stories and papers.

- Dr. Len Radin
www.drurydrama.com
Drury High School
North Adams, Massachusetts

Catch that Rabbit

Rabbit, originally uploaded by hollykoffler.

Here someone has captured a wonderful photo of a rabbit in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

I, myself, tried unsuccessfully to catch a picture of this faster than lightening bunny rabbit in my yard just yesterday. I have never seen an animal move as fast as him.

My daughter, Savannah Rose, got excited thinking we could catch it for a pet and even dumped a box out of her brother's closet to leave out for the rabbit to "hop right in." There was no hope of catching him nor did I want to try. He should be free to munch off my tall grass and the neighbors where ever he pleases.

I just wanted to capture his cuteness in a photograph. Maybe he will decide to visit my yard again soon and I will get a second chance. If not this Alice will just have to keep her eyes wide open for the white rabbit to come along with his pocket watch and then follow him off to Wonderland.

Enjoy the nature around you be it tame or wild. Everyday is a gift to cherish.

Marjorie Leet

Marjorie Leet, originally uploaded by glamtv.

Performer with the Ziegfeld Follies from 1923 - 27

Okay. So I am at it again. It is 5:45 a.m. and I am miserable with a head cold now for 5 days. My lips are so chapped from breathing through my mouth.

To pass the time, I like to explore flickr.com and thought I would do a search for Ziefeld Follies. I love the pictures of the entertainers, the various sets and style of the photography.

This one is lovely. It has a victorian yet gypsy flair to me.

So, as I continue coughing and my face feels like it weighs a hundred pounds, I hope you are having a better day.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady , originally uploaded by adamantine.

Vanessa cardui on Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine.

Wish I felt as beautiful and free as this butterfly. A yucky "crud" type cold is taking over my family of 6. It is horrible as it is lasting nearly 2 weeks. My daughter is now finally over it, but the rest of us (except Grandma, age 89) are not even a full week into it.

The pressure in my ears, the soreness in my throat, the pouring of my nose, and the excessive sneezing make me want to runaway mentally. Maybe be free like this beautiful butterfly.

The photograph is lovely and exceptional. The way the light makes the wings transparent in places.

I know I will get better (another 9 days or so to go) and then I can grab my camera and go capture some beauty around me here in Montana.

Dancing Embroidery Pattern

AB 7232 g, originally uploaded by mmaammbr.

There are some new wonderful embroidery patterns on flickr.com. I just love finding this site and group.

Going to check each day if new stuff has appeared is one of the highlights of my day. It is also causing me to have to purchase a new ink cartridge for my printer. I now have a box load of patterns to keep me stitching and making things for years to come.

Hope you have things that uplift and excite you to explore each day. Life is too short not to take to enjoy the things that bring you happiness.

I love you Fred and we will get through this new medical twist together! Our past 16 years has been a dance and I look forward to more twists and turns ahead.