STILL WINTER

We're still in the middle of Winter, and there is cold, rain, long dark nights and woolen jumpers. Either the Winter is longer and heavier this year, or I'm getting older. And maybe I'm getting a touch of Torschlusspanik!

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part fo the Seasons meme.

XIPHOID

xiphoid process | ˈzɪfɔɪd | (also xiphoid cartilage)
noun Anatomy
The cartilaginous section at the lower end of the sternum, which is not attached to any ribs, and gradually ossifies during adult life.
ORIGIN
mid 18th century (as xiphoid cartilage): xiphoid from Greek xiphoeidēs, from xiphos ‘sword’.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

QUOTIENT

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

MACHINE

Machine | məˈʃiːn | noun:

An apparatus using mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task: A complex machine with many small moving parts is difficult to fix if it breaks down.

Etymology: Mid-16th century (originally denoting a structure): From French, via Latin from Doric Greek makhana (Greek mēkhanē, from mēkhos ‘contrivance’).

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

XENIUM

A xenium (ksé-ni-um) is a gift or offering given to a stranger (Greek: xénos), which in its native Ancient Greece would once have been a lavish feast or a refreshing spread of food and fruit. In the 19th century art world, however, xenium came to refer to a still-life painting depicting something like an extravagant display of food or a bowl of fruit.

This is a xenium still life by Cornelis de Heem (8 April 1631 [baptised] – 17 May 1695 [buried]) who was a still-life painter associated with both Flemish Baroque and Dutch Golden Age painting. He was a member of a large family of still-life specialists, of which his father, Jan Davidszoon de Heem (1606–1684), was the most significant.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

MY SUNDAY BEST MEME #111 - CHALLENGE: LOZENGE

Welcome to the meme, "My Sunday Best", which is a photographic and creative meme that allows you to showcase your talents in imaging. Every Sunday, you can post here showing an image you have created using your camera, (and/or) image processing software, and/or painting and drawing in the conventional way and have scanned in.

The rules are simple:
1) Create your image according to the "CHALLENGE" theme, and post it up on your blog;
2) Put the "My Sunday Best" logo image link somewhere on your post so people can click and come by here;
3) Leave a comment here once you have posted;
4) Visit other posters' blogs and be amazed with their creativity!

Please do not use this meme to advertise your goods or services. This is a creative meme and any inappropriate links or comments shall be removed immediately!

NEXT WEEK'S CHALLENGE THEME IS: ROCK

Lozenge | ˈlɒzɪn(d)ʒ | noun
A rhombus or diamond shape: [as modifier]: Lozenge patterns are common in heraldry.
• A small medicinal tablet, originally in the shape of a lozenge, taken for sore throats and dissolved in the mouth: Throat lozenges relieve the symptoms of infection.
• Heraldry - A charge in the shape of a solid diamond, in particular one on which the arms of an unmarried or widowed woman are displayed.
ORIGIN
Middle English: From Old French losenge, probably derived from the base of Spanish losa, Portuguese lousa ‘slab’, late Latin lausiae (lapides) ‘stone slabs’.


Last week the theme was "OLD" and Taken for Granted in the USA posted a nice shot of some lovely old things. The photo below was my favourite this week! Please visit his blog to see other great photos!

ZEST

Zest is a food ingredient that is prepared by scraping or cutting from the outer, colourful skin of unwaxed citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, citron, and lime. Zest is used to add flavour to foods.

In terms of fruit anatomy, the zest is obtained from the flavedo (exocarp) which is also referred to as zest. The flavedo and white pith (albedo) of a citrus fruit together makes up its peel. The amounts of both flavedo and pith are variable among citrus fruits, and may be adjusted by the manner in which they are prepared. Citrus peel may be used fresh, dried, candied, or pickled in salt.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

NOTES

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

CELL

cell | sɛl | noun
Biology: The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, which is typically microscopic and consists of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. This animal cell has ingested a yeast cell.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.