Sun n' Sand

From the beach chair, outdoors, my darling ‘young lady’ shields her blue eyes from the strong sunlight. She is wearing sunglasses. Fun, sun, and clear waters are calling. Just imagine – what a wonderful day could be at the ocean! Few hours, while away, taking in the fresh air and the majestic smells of the Atlantic Ocean, keep her young and energetic. Who knew that a little coffee is actually healthy, thank you, science?! “Ahhh!” The woman just keeps going. She has her sunshine – laughing and talking.

Nowadays, her positioning and priorities changed. The main motto is vivid: “Retired from work, not from life!” For many, this is the time much needed to rest, to slow down and rediscover themselves. Above all, of course, writing. The inspiration is everywhere.

The eyes observe the familiar landscape – flowers, blooming plants, sneaky lizards, and the creeping grass. The songs of birds lead to the birds. Great, she retired from her jobs, both at the office and home, and seeks adventures from time to time. O’ yes, she earned the spotlight in many ways. Now is the time to relax and have some simple fun. For Floridians, ‘sun n’ sand’ means wearing and carrying the straw hat, straw tote and other summer accessories. Of course, it is the pressure’s time for the recreational reading, self-expressions in essays and writings, and endless creativity through the easy cookery, handmade craft, and vintage goods’ appreciation.

Floridians love the beach – a place of relaxation, rest, and tranquility. The ocean waves of surf side ambience for stress relief. The walk on the beach is a priceless beach therapy, and for some is a privilege.

People say dreams made from “sand and sun…” What this means? Perhaps to pursue the fullness of life – the happiness.

“Palm trees,

Ocean breeze,

Salty air,

Sun kissed hair,

Endless summer,

Take me their…”

(Print, 2012)

Career Math

This is simple Math Career. 

If I came to work

 at the Latvian State 

Science and Technology Library

 at age of sixteen 

as a Page shelving books; 

and now, I am sixty-six, 

this makes me fifty years 

in services in the field of

Librarianship and Library Sciences. 

Unbelievable! 

December 2019

Historic Facts of Cosmetics

The earliest evidence 

of the role of cosmetics 

in human society was fund 

in the remains of artifacts used 

for eye makeup in Egypt of 

the forth millennium B.C.E. 

Anthropological research also shows 

that there are several ways in which 

humans used their physical 

and social appearance of their bodies 

into cultural manifestations. 

People used their bodies

 and faces as objects 

of aesthetic elaboration 

or as a medium through which  

they can project themselves 

in religious and social life. 

(Heinonen, 2005)

December 18 2019, FNU Library

This is the Season of Giving

Books are always are the best gifts of all!

The word 'reading' means culture and literacy, 

tradition and education;

the life-long learning and obtaining knowledge 

from books.

The reading process is a privilege and pleasure,

and reading is an essential skill.

Core Value of Librarianship

The core value of Library Sciences is the free access, 

confidentiality or ethics of privacy, democracy, 

and the First Amendment right

 that mandates free expression. 

Our Constitution protects expression of others, 

the interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, 

diversity, education and life-long learning 

for the public goods, preservation,

 professionalism, service, social responsibility, 

and sustainability.

FNU Library Director, Ida Tomshinsky, 

and the Una del con Bereshit

The Last Student in the Library before Closing Hour, -

"Thank you for your services!"

From the Poem "Eugene Onegin"

From the poem "Eugene Onegin"


That year the season was belated
and autumn lingered, long and slow;
expecting winter, nature waited --
only in January the snow,
night of the second, started flaking.
Next day Tatyana, early waking,
saw through the window, morning-bright,
roofs, flowerbeds, fences, all in white,
panes patterned by the finest printer,
with trees decked in their silvery kit,
and jolly magpies on the flit,
and hills that delicately winter
had with its brilliant mantle crowned --
and glittering whiteness all around.

        II

Winter!... The countryman, enchanted,
breaks a new passage with his sleigh;
his nag has smelt the snow, and planted
a shambling hoof along the way;
a saucy kibitka is slicing
its furrow through the powdery icing;
the driver sits and cuts a dash
in sheepskin coat with scarlet sash.
Here comes the yard-boy, who has chosen
his pup to grace the sledge, while he
becomes a horse for all to see;
the rogue has got a finger frozen:
it hurts, he laughs, and all in vain
his mother taps the window-pane.

Alexander Pushkin

Cooking Books

A cooking book is an inspiration 

and a great gift for the Lady of the House!

Let your imagination running wild!

Mmmmh! Yammi!

Banana Pancakes

 Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 mashed banana

1 table spoon chia seeds

1 table spoon flour

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

nonstick spray

Book Club & Author Series in Pictures

Motivational and transformational speaker,

relationships coach,

and the best seller Author

Maggie Kanzki

"Owning Your Destiny"

at the FNU Library Book Club 

November 21, 2019

Press Release for "Birds and Cages" book

Author unravels mystery on the origin of birds and birdcages

Ida Tomshinsky publishes ninth history-based book, ‘Birds and Cages’

MIAMI – Ida Tomshinsky, the author of books about the history of various accessories, publishes another history-based book; unleashing the mystery on birds and birdcages this time. Her ninth book is titled “Birds and Cages” (published by Xlibris).

Tomshinsky’s curiosity urged her to explore the subject of history of fashion accessories. She has written books on the history of hats, gloves, socks, handkerchiefs, burlap, handbags, bracelets and aprons. On her ninth book, she decided to write about another subject that has fascinated her: the birds and their birdcages.

“The book is a research project to awake awareness of the bird affairs phenomenon, to get closer to the mystery of the amazing flying creatures and to look into the complicated history of birdcages,” Tomshinsky says. “It is also to spread the concern on these creatures’ safety and well-being in the conditions nowadays.”

Tomshinsky wants her readers to gain knowledge and consciousness about these birds. She also hopes that by reading her book, the readers could contribute to the birds’ well-being through becoming nature-friendly.

“Birds and Cages”

By Ida Tomshinsky

Hardcover | 6x9 in | 108 pages | ISBN 9781796022117

Softcover | 6x9 in | 108 pages | ISBN 9781796022100

E-Book | 108 pages | ISBN 9781796022094

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

www.xlibris.com

About the Author

Ida Tomshinsky is a long-time librarian and admirer of the history of objects. This is her ninth book on history of things that are different now, in the 21st century, compared to what they were in the past centuries. Books are her passion. Reading, writing and critical thinking are her gifts to the society that she is leaving behind, as her legacy. Tomshinsky lives with her family in Miami, Florida. Now, she works at the Florida National University as the library director.

Scary Stories for Halloween

October 31, 2019

"Book Window Display"

 to create the ghost town,

 with books and objects.

The 'Pink Table'

Bringing the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2019

"The Pink Table."

This year tried something new: 

one-stop display for books, 

pink ribbons pick-up station,

and the activity board 

for messages of inspiration. 

Are you ready for 'Blue November?'

"Stay Strong!! Have Hope!"

The Pumpkin: poem

O, GREENLY and fair in the lands of the sun,

The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,

And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,

With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,

Like that which o'er Nineveh's prophet once grew,

While he waited to know that his warning was true,

And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain

For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.

On the banks of the Xenil, the dark Spanish maiden

Comes up with the fruit of the tangled wine laden;

And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold

Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold;

Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North,

On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth,

Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines,

And the sun of September melts down on his vines.

Ah! on Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West,

From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest,

When the gray-haired New-Englander sees round his board

The old broken links of affection restored,

When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,

And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,

What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?

What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin-pie?

O, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling;

When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!

When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,

Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!

When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune,

Our chair a broad pumpkin, our lantern the moon,

Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam

In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!

Then thanks for thy present! -- none sweeter or better

E'er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!

Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,

Brighter eyes never watched o'er its baking, than thine!

And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,

Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,

That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,

And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,

And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky

Golden-tinted and fair as thy own pumpkin-pie!

John Greenleaf Whittier, American Poet, 1807 - 1892

Keeping Up with Knitting and Crochet: Photojournal

Baby-shoe, size 0-3 month

Matching pair

Pocket book with a zipper for baby personal items

Technique: Knitting 

Matching Baby Blanket

Technique: Crochet

Photographer: Ida Tomshinsky, 2019

Celebrating Life

Baby Booties in Different Sizes and Techniques

Craft and Photography: Ida Tomshinsky, 2019

Colors of October

Photographer: Ida Tomshinsky, 2019

Window Book Displays

Window Book Displays are great 

for demonstration and showcase of Book Collections. 

Advertising, marketing new holdings 

and in the same time

drawing attention to subject-oriented events 

are the key elements 

to call on reading with the purpose 

of learning and achieving 

the individual literacy goals.

Seagulls Fascinate Me

"It is fun to watch the graceful birds,

As they sail over the blue waters.

It stirs my emotions

By captured imagination."

(c.2007)

Text and photography: Ida Tomshinsky, 2019

Flower Power

The summer comes with power of the creative spirit

and 'Flower Power' energizing and inspiring

long summer days.

The approach to these photos is simple:

see it, share it, and enjoy 

the symphony of 'Flower Power.'

Photographer: Ida Tomshinsky, 20019

Garden Journal

This photos were taken to study and research

the growing stages of the plant,

 from a dry pot 

to a shocking full-bloom orchids

Text and photo: Ida Tomshinsky, 2019

Perfect Time of Blooming

Perfect weather: combination of sun and rain

made the wine wall at the fence to bloom.

All the plants are native to the tropical 10-11 zone,

grown from bean-seeds.

Pictures taken by Ida Tomshinsky, local Photographer

c.2019, at 8 am sunlight