Here are a few stories, posts, and resources I’ve read, learned about, and enjoyed over the past month.
Hope you enjoy them, too!
What I Found Interesting
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Closing out Women’s History Month in March, the Newberry in Chicago, Illinois launched a new digital collection. The John I. Monroe Collection of Artist-Signed Postcards includes 8,000+ vintage postcard images featuring women as both subjects and creators
The Monroe Collection is sure to be of interest for postcard historians and collectors, but also for researchers in many other areas—fashion, gender studies, art history, and more.
The collection is available online for research and study.
What I found interesting: the postcards are part of the Newberry Postcard Sender, where you can send vintage postcard images as e-greetings.
As a volunteer you can transcribe handwritten postcard messages.
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For folks in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Transportation is accepting applications for Shared Streets and Spaces.
Grants will be provided for “quick-build projects that can make communities more walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly.”
I’m all for more friendly communities for walkers, bicyclists, and people using public transit.
Applications are due June 2024. Details about the $200,000 grants are available in an April 19, 2024 webinar (registration required).
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It’s still early in the growing season in southeast Michigan. Based on what I read this week about foodscaping, I’m changing my plans for the vegetables, flowers, and shrubs I’m planting this year.
I knew about companion planting in the vegetable garden, but didn’t know planting tomatoes with roses could benefit both plants.
Wondering if there was anyone who did the research, I discovered this Marion County Master Gardeners post about tomatoes and roses companion planting (Wayback Machine).
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Interested in seeing a new start? Well, kind of a new star.
You can see the new star lighting up the sky in a binary star system. But you have to be prepared for it, since it lasts less than half a day.
The Corona Borealis, better known as T Cor Bor, was originally discovered in 1866 and last brightened the night sky in 1946.
Not something you’ll likely see more than once in your life; it has a recurring cycle of around 80 years.