Samantha E Thompson
@harchivist.bsky.social
Brit-Canadian archivist-librarian, government records and local history museum staffer, trad-classical musician, post-academic philosophy PhD (on Augustine), and other hyphenated things. Can't help it: so much to learn.
I'm not used to seeing actual books in a clinical context anymore.
November 13, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I'm not used to seeing actual books in a clinical context anymore.
Random church shot. Embroidered chasuble draped on the altar rail during preparation. Beautiful work, almost always by women.
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Random church shot. Embroidered chasuble draped on the altar rail during preparation. Beautiful work, almost always by women.
"Please do not use Yamaha recorders for any other purposes besides musical performance."
November 8, 2025 at 10:34 PM
"Please do not use Yamaha recorders for any other purposes besides musical performance."
Got an ALTO Yamaha recorder at a thrift store for $2. Not a professional grade instrument but all Yamahas are good. It can be dunked in the sink to clean it. Now I just need time and energy to learn the wretched F fingerings. Tenor was easier for an ex-flutist.
November 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Got an ALTO Yamaha recorder at a thrift store for $2. Not a professional grade instrument but all Yamahas are good. It can be dunked in the sink to clean it. Now I just need time and energy to learn the wretched F fingerings. Tenor was easier for an ex-flutist.
This is a copy of a death mask decorating the county jail. The fellow's head popped off as a result of the only public hanging in the county. (That really happened.) Haunting began when the mask was removed and stopped when it was put back (legend).
October 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is a copy of a death mask decorating the county jail. The fellow's head popped off as a result of the only public hanging in the county. (That really happened.) Haunting began when the mask was removed and stopped when it was put back (legend).
At Oxford County (Ontario) for regional archivists' meeting and ran into some great folklore. The old county building (ca. 1890) sports random monkey grotesques. Legend has it they represent ten councillors the builders disliked or are the result of a curse.
October 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
At Oxford County (Ontario) for regional archivists' meeting and ran into some great folklore. The old county building (ca. 1890) sports random monkey grotesques. Legend has it they represent ten councillors the builders disliked or are the result of a curse.
Lovely little stone walking bridge near Hamilton, Ontario. My city would have this down in a hot second.
October 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Lovely little stone walking bridge near Hamilton, Ontario. My city would have this down in a hot second.
Anglican church cupboard is 50% carbs.
October 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Anglican church cupboard is 50% carbs.
Unexpected and moving art installation in the rock garden pools at Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens, presumably for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Unexpected and moving art installation in the rock garden pools at Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens, presumably for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Fall raspberry leaves.
September 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Fall raspberry leaves.
Did anyone else's grandparents pass around the boiled sweets on any car trip over 30 minutes?
My dentist would hate my daily commute for the last decade...
My dentist would hate my daily commute for the last decade...
September 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Did anyone else's grandparents pass around the boiled sweets on any car trip over 30 minutes?
My dentist would hate my daily commute for the last decade...
My dentist would hate my daily commute for the last decade...
Two bridges.
September 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Two bridges.
Happy birthday to Gustav Holst and me. I'd never looked at the score for the planets until I found it via @archive.org. Even if you don't read music you might be able to tell this is the beginning of "Mars." Music has a look as well as a sound.
Inspiration for John Williams' Star Wars themes imo.
Inspiration for John Williams' Star Wars themes imo.
September 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Happy birthday to Gustav Holst and me. I'd never looked at the score for the planets until I found it via @archive.org. Even if you don't read music you might be able to tell this is the beginning of "Mars." Music has a look as well as a sound.
Inspiration for John Williams' Star Wars themes imo.
Inspiration for John Williams' Star Wars themes imo.
Okay, I laughed.
September 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Okay, I laughed.
That tree is growing Chicken of the Woods again. It skipped last year. Going to pick it younger this time. Maybe cook it for my birthday.
September 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
That tree is growing Chicken of the Woods again. It skipped last year. Going to pick it younger this time. Maybe cook it for my birthday.
Doesn't have quite the same ring.
September 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Doesn't have quite the same ring.
When flying was a Big Deal.
September 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
When flying was a Big Deal.
The wounded surgeon plies the steel...
Hic Spiritus Est, a sculpture of nails by David Partridge in the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Toronto. Holy Cross Day.
Hic Spiritus Est, a sculpture of nails by David Partridge in the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Toronto. Holy Cross Day.
September 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The wounded surgeon plies the steel...
Hic Spiritus Est, a sculpture of nails by David Partridge in the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Toronto. Holy Cross Day.
Hic Spiritus Est, a sculpture of nails by David Partridge in the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Toronto. Holy Cross Day.
Deep called unto deep.
September 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Deep called unto deep.
I know it's less than nothing in the grand scheme of things but I found a bit of blue beach glass.
September 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I know it's less than nothing in the grand scheme of things but I found a bit of blue beach glass.
I got blocked by someone on here! The only person who blocked me on Twitter (as far as I know) was the fox-torturing lawyer.
September 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I got blocked by someone on here! The only person who blocked me on Twitter (as far as I know) was the fox-torturing lawyer.
Slight crepuscular rays this morning.
September 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Slight crepuscular rays this morning.