Tuesday, February 08, 2011

The Low Down on Dirt


ABC Wednesday is a word meme with participants from around the world. This fabulous meme was created and hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt who hails from Great Britain. Over time, others have joined in to help host this wonderful and informative meme. We are now in our EIGHTH round! Some of the participants have been with this from the very first round; others have joined in along the way. Each week we are taken across the globe to see the varied and exciting contributions people have taken the time to discover and capture. We start with the letter, "A" and each week we post something in regards to the next letter of the alphabet. This week's letter is, "D".


DESSERT (why, of course!)


Whoever coined the phrase, 'just desserts'? I have no idea. But, most of us have a sweet tooth and desserts perks the interest of most of us! I just wish I didn't like them as much. Strawberry shortcake. Yum. At least the 'attempt' to be not as bad is there since we used Angel food cake instead of shortbread.


DIRT


Dirt. Soil. Call it what you like! However, have you ever really paid attention as to how many different colors dirt comes in? It makes a wonderful natural pigment. These came back with me when I went to Florida last August to visit my sister in Monticello. I saw the ochre colored dirt in a driveway not far from her house, so we made it a point one afternoon to go dirt collecting!  My sister also knew that further north in Georgia (we were just a few miles from the border) along the highway was the red  dirt, or clay. It is a brilliant color of red much like the red dirt that we have in Hawaii. Full of iron oxide. In Hawaii, it is from the volcanic activity. I don't know if the red dirt in Georgia is from a volcanic source. I only had carry on luggage so I had to be clever about how to get this past airport security, so I packed them in clean zip lock bas and labelled it as pigments. Because, that's what they were going to be used for! I've cleaned it up and have it ready to go. I plan to use it in my encaustic work. As an FYI, though, anything called a pigment comes from the earth just as these do. Often, rocks are ground up to make pigments with. If you visit the website of Earth's Pigments, you will see many of the colors that are available.

But, next time you find yourself out and about, start paying attention to all the different colors dirt comes in. The lowly, humble dirt. Easily overlooked, but certainly deserving of a higher elevation in our viewpoints.

17 comments:

Misfit in Paradise said...

I am loving your D post!
Donna - ABC Team

photowannabe said...

Great post Paula. Just curious if the TSA questioned your pigments at all? That was a clever solution to something that could be thought of as strange.

VioletSky said...

I haven't paid that much attention to the colour of dirt, but I might now - especially after reading your previous post (I am guilty of not being observant enough!)

Sylvia K said...

Well, of course, I love the DESSERT! When will it be ready?? And that's very interesting about Dirt!! Who would've thought?? Hope your week is going well, Paula! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Richard Lawry said...

I will choose the Dessert over the Dirt. My wife makes a desert that she calls dirt. It is a chocolate pudding with finely crumbled oreo cookies on the top. She serves it in little flower pots. The kids love it. More dirt please. :)

An Arkies Musings

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

To Photowannabe: as it was, it all went through TSA without any event. However, I was prepared to defend my dirt!
Richie: yes, I've heard of the dessert called, 'dirt'! I think it involves crushed Oreo cookies.

EG CameraGirl said...

I think I have been amazed about the different colours of dirt since I was 12 and visited Prince Edward Island with my grandparents. The soil there is RED!

I've known about desserts for even longer. :))

Joy said...

We have patches of red dirt here, I love it when it is ploughed, looks marvellous. Having read your take I thought, so interesting, you could use it to paint the actual scene.

Tumblewords: said...

Dessert. High on my list of wonderfuls. Dirt. I learned to watch for the color and substance during the time I gold panned. Clever a/p packaging. :)

Roger Owen Green said...

dirt's ok, but dessert's divine!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Wanda said...

Get down and dirty was very delightful in informative.

I do prefer Dessert over Dirt, but both are necessary in my book.

Martha said...

Life is short, eat dessert first. :)

Leslie: said...

Fascinating! The dirt in Prince Edward Island, one of Canada's maritime provinces has red dirt! It's famous for it. And I can vouch for its colour because I've been there and seen it. That dessert looks very yummy right now as I have a sore throat and it would cool it off quite nicely.

Leslie
ABCW Team

Kay L. Davies said...

I've observed different colors of dirt in my travels, Paula, but never to the extent of packing some up to take home. I wonder how Canada Customs would react if I said "This is just my dirt bag."
-- K

Spadoman said...

I met a weaver in Silver Citythat dyes all her wool thread with natural dye, some from 'dirt', some from plants. The colors are fabulous.
I got some red earth at the Grand canyon a couple of years ago and use it to paint on some of the drums I make. I mix it with bear grease after pulverizing with a mortar and pestle.
Now, can i have some of those just desserts? My birthda is in May and I always request Strawberry Shortcake as my 'cake'.
Take care and be well.

peace

Kate said...

I think I definitely prefer the top...dessert is always welcomed!

Dhemz said...

yum yum yum! wow, interesting dirt!
Check out my ABC Wednesday entry too. Thanks! have followed your blog.

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