Let's make rag dolls!

Some are stylish, with a hint of sultry energy gleaming between the tiny stitches. Others are humbler, with yarn for hair and button eyes. There's a collection of outrageous witches regarding you with wise, yet tired eyes. At least one has outfits and accessories to spare. Another draws inspiration for her bright traditional dress from Yamaya, Orisha Goddess of the Sea. But she is not the only ambassador for cultural fashion. A personalized gift pokes fun at the trials and tribulations of the aging female body. Here and there, a cloth cat or dog. Or a blast from the past - a rag doll from long ago that represents love and distant memories. There are Viking maidens, baby dolls and even a plush and pink elephant lady. It is amazing to see how much individualization is possible with rag dolls. Many probably reflect the unique characters of their makers. 

Members: 7.1k, at the time of writing.

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Roma Urbs Aeterna

For the past few weeks, the eyes of the world had been fixed on events in the Eternal City of Rome, with the burial of one pontiff and the election of his successor. In world history, the buildings, monuments and art of Rome provides a continuous thread that connects our world with ancient triumphs and tragedies. For good or ill, it forms a sturdy framework to fixtures of our modern world, even to those of us who reside far from it. Whether it's the timeless views of old bridges that bisect the Tiber, the inscribed stonework of recovered ruins or terracotta statuary now residing in museums, Rome has so many faces, so many impressions to show us. Infographics decode the mysteries of a Pompeii bathhouse or Hadrian's wall. Scenes from everyday life, depicted in painted images or inlaid mosiac humanize the people of ancient Rome. We see it reflected in opulent image from Renaissance or 18th century art. There are the backstories behind significant archaeological discoveries. Even a little factoid revealing what Gaius Julius Caesar thought of beer.

Members 91.4k, at the time of writing

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Photo Credit: Rainhard2 on Pixabay

Tips & Tricks For Monstera Happiness

Did you know that a Monstera plant is supposed to be a harbinger of monetary wellness? That while residing in your home, it is supposed to be quietly, yet efficiently purifying the air you breathe?  Or that the plant was first discovered by Louis XIV's Royal Botanist? Whether you subscribe to the above-mentioned superstitions, or whether you just like to enjoy its green, leafy tranquility in your proximity, if you own a monstera, chances are you will want it to thrive. For gardening enthusiasts, this Facebook Group is a valuable resource for connecting to like-minded monster-heads, or to ask the hive mind for advice, if your delicious monster needs a boost or some tender loving care. 

Members: 527.5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Mixed Media & Mixed Medium Art

A fusion of styles and inspirations. A bright and unexpected explosion of color. Found objects meeting paint and canvas. A few staves of sheet music peeking out from behind the colored folds of an imagined lady. New life growing in the heart of vintage elements. Black and white photographs. Re-purposed buttons. Art becomes so much more dynamic when it moves out of the confines of its framing. A unique energy dances across the pages when multiples blend into one. As I scroll through the creations of group members at Mixed Media & Mixed Medium Art, delight sits frequently on my shoulders, tugging at the corners of my mouth. It is easy to smile, in the presence of so much creativity. So much beauty. Visit often and stay inspired. 

Members: 19.7k, at the time of writing

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SWFL Eagles - The ORIGINAL LEGACY OF HARRIET, M15 & HIS NEW FAMILY

 For those who consider the title of this post (and the name of the Facebook Group) to be incomprehensible gibberish, allow me to introduce you to the superstars of the Southwest Florida eagle cam. First there were Ozzie and Harriet, the original pair of mated bald eagles, observed all the way back in 2006. In 2013, a hidden camera was first installed in their tree-located nest, just in time to observe a brood of 8-week-old eaglets. To have called them little, even at that stage, might have been an understatement. They were already over a foot high, with almost adult-sized beaks, at reported in the very first nest notes. After Ozzie vanished, Harriet welcomed a new "husband" to her home, M15, and by now, Harriet too is gone, and the feathered-Mrs-in-residence is now dubbed F23. Earlier this year, this dignified pair suffered the loss of their youngest to avian flu, but they remain resilient. One of the most fascinating episodes of this long-term project has been when M15 did his stint as solo eagle dad, after Harriet's disappearance, raising two young eaglets on his own, before choosing a new companion. For regular updates or even livestreams on the private lives of these magnificent birds, you can visit their website or check out the Facebook Group for highlights. There will also be news and footage from other raptor families in different locations. 

Members: 55.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Nature is nature.

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Birding, Nature & Wildlife Diaries of World

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Birds with Threatening Auras

DIY Ponds & Water Gardens

There is something tranquilizing about the sound of running water. There is also something soothing about the presence of a water body outside your window. If you're super rich, you can opt for a seaside villa, a lake cabin or even an island of your own. But if your budget's a little more modest than that, there is a deeply satisfying alternative you can craft in your own time. Welcome to the cozy magic of do-it-yourself fishponds and water features. Secret sanctuaries for pet turtles. Magical nocturnal lighting. Quaint bridges. Gnomes, faeries and toadstools. If you're looking for advice on wholesome pond maintenance or even tips on fish whispering (no, seriously - there are ways to make the fish come to you), this is your village of sage advisors.

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Cemetery Arts

 Tiddles's tombstone was what drew me in to take yet another look at this Facebook Group. Tiddles was a church cat, remembered in a lovely gravestone and monument. But Tiddles is not the only cat immortalized in this manner. Further down, "the beautiful cat endures". The macabre funerary art of a Czech ossuary. An automobile engineer's grave communicates his passion for wheels - in life and in death. The loveliness of early springtime in Savannah's Bonaventure. The famous Highgate cemetery in London. Angels, angels and more angels. Stone puppies frozen in a moment of play. A Hello-Kitty memorial for the tragic young victim of a murder. The popular mausoleum of a Persian poet. A remembrance for unknown soldiers observed in Copenhagen. An Argentine memorial garden pays tribute to musical stars such as bandleader Anibal Troilo and singer Carlos Gardel. There are flowers everywhere and even after all this time, admirers make sure that the cigarette between Gardel's fingers stays lit. A ray of sun lights the tombs of tranquil Yanaka cemetery in Tokyo. Guatemala's land of the joyful dead. There is so much beauty here.

Members: 75.5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Some non-English text.

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