The Byrne Diaspora

That's our girl

This photo of Mary Anne Tietjen comes from her fourth grade class picture at St. Ann's in Cleveland, taken in 1951 when she was nine years old.  On this July 31, to me she seems young to the point of timeless, since we keep catching glimpses of her all around us: in fireflies and tomato sandwiches, in the royal bearing of her young nieces and nephews, in our own hands as we wash dishes, in pictures where our mouths are set in contemplation, in the faces of strangers in wheelchairs.  Happy birthday, Mary Anne!  We are so grateful you live among us.--JEB

Snake-bane

The other morning I was walking up to the main cabin to get breakfast, as usual, when I saw the above box on the porch, labeled DEAD COPPERHEAD in a certain fraternal relation's handwriting. I looked in it, then sort of wish I hadn't, at least not at that hour of the morning. Donny "Snake-bane" Byrne III found it on his back porch the night before, and killed it, so that we'd all know what a copperhead looked like. Well, I hadn't known before, and now I certainly do. If you want to see the snake itself, see here (but it's not pretty!).  --MCB

The art of summer

My artist-friend Kristin got in touch to ask if I wanted to be in a photography project. That it would involve baby oil, hard candy, tutus and temporary tattoos. How could I say no? So we gathered at her house, got dressed, and drove out to a baseball field north of town. The photos, by UNC student Mary Catherine Penn, turned out beautifully--I love the colors, especially--which somehow seem a perfect distillation of summer-ness. Take a look here :)  --MCB

Happy birthday, Monie Love!

Since today in 1981 Monica Catherine has been adventuring her beautiful way through this existence, and from the start we all knew she was very old, as well as very young.  When she was 8, the British emcee Monie Love guest-rapped on Queen Latifah's anthem "Ladies First": Praise me not, for being simply what I am!  As appropriate as that tune was to the obviously royal little girl, I called her Monie Love just because I was in love with her.  And so we all remain.  And so she remains...a ladies-first & open-hearted love-nexus of earth-inspiration & fantastical worlds, with hands to the plow of wordcraft & body art, but always somehow at play, too; an original and self-naming entity of many names, also known as Monique, Moniqua, Bianca, Bionica, Harmonica, and Baby.  Today we celebrate that you chose these parents, this family, this wide circle of circulation, and this planet, then, now, and many years to come.  Happy day-of-birth, Monica!--JEB 

Lamb surprise

Yesterday morning, Donny went to check on the animals as usual, only to find that Shamrock HAD GIVEN BIRTH. Six weeks late. TO TWINS. Nobody had any idea she was pregnant--only that, Dad and Donny said, she'd lately been particularly selfish and aggressive at feeding times. Now we know why!

The baby lambs are a girl and a boy. Their fates are unclear (breeding stock? lamb chops?) but right now, they're just hella precious-cute. Donny and I watched them staggering around in the hay for a long time. Here's to a last gift from spring! --MCB

The old landmark

We passed a milestone sometime last night -- Byrne Diaspora has had TWENTY THOUSAND views since its "birth" in January 2007. What that means, exactly, I have no idea, but it's a very large exciting number. Above is a random picture to celebrate. In the recent past, we've been found by Google searches for "salvia divinorum flower," "philadelphia wedding," and "Monica Byrne Bear Creek NC." Ha! Somebody's got my number...  --MCB

Fourth

Happy Independence Day! When I woke up this morning and went up to the main cabin to fill my "begging bowl" (i.e. get breakfast), Pam pointed out a beautiful sight. Dad and Donny had hung our flag from the pergola. It is actually Grandpa Byrne's flag, our father's father, who served Stateside in World War II. So we remember him today, and all who have fought for our crazy beautiful country.

See more pictures of the flag, and other assorted bright-hot-July-Melleray-morning pictures, here!  --MCB