Will you be mellow and bright tonight buttermilk sky?

Back to a slow, measured pace on my mathematics blog. I haven't decided when to step it back up to full again. But in the meanwhile, here's some recent posts from there:

• How Many Of This Weird Prime Are There?


• How December 2020 Treated My Mathematics Blog


• History of Philosophy podcast discusses Girolamo Cardano


• What I Learned Writing My All 2020 Mathematics A to Z

So after visiting Biggby #1 on its last day of operation, in the original site, we went to another East Lansing thing that would be closing soon. In this case, Mackerel Sky, a gallery/boutique. The owners were partly looking to retire and partly protesting how lousy actual local interesting shops were being treated now that East Lansing is dropping ten-storey apartment blocks with chain stores in the first floor everywhere. (There's a ``Mini-Target'' gotten built next door that swallowed up what had been the neighborhood parking lot.) We did not go their very last day --- that was New Year's Eve, I think, plus a couple straggler days in January 2020 when they dumped remaining inventory and, like, shelving --- but this was our last visit there.

Mackerel Sky's storefront, a little back of Grand River (the main street in town) and ahead of an alley. A ``mackerel sky'' describes a particular kind of cloud formation which is why the logo is a fish that's also clouds. It's also called a ``buttermilk sky''.

Balancing blocks and other sorts of supremely gift-worthy items up front of the store.

And some pendulum clocks for sale and all roughly agreeing about the time.

What I visited Mackerel Sky for most often: their cards. Lots of them, of good quality and often generally delightful.

Past the cards we get into the things useful at homes or kitchens; if you needed a spoon rest, or a good spoon, here was a good spot to go.

And in the far back the books, and various remaindered items, like towels and tiles and decorative containers.

Looking form the far back towards the front of the store; note the jewelry counter which basically always had something tasteful and appropriate for bunny_hugger.

Lamps. Yes, you had a question, in the back, there?

Decorative ceramics here, suitable for anywhere you needed a laughing onion.

Some more of the decorative ceramics, including your rabbit, sheep, mouse, and bear action.

The final gallery exhibition was this display of many of the newsletters they'd sent out to customers over the years. Roughly chronologically ordered, getting nearer the present as you move to the right.

An example of the gallery newsletters, including that time in 2010 that they moved to this location. I'd only ever known it here.

Needlepoint of, I assume, the old location, which was set on the wall above a journal for people to enter their memories of the place.

The jewelry counter. Also on the right, ceramic tiles, good for use as decorations or coasters or similar small plate needs.

Orb cats.

Trivia: When Indiana's New Albany and Salem Rail Road Company incorporated in 1847, New Albany was the largest city in the state, with a population of 8,181. Salem had 2,223 persons, and most if not all of the early stockholders.
Source: The Story of American Railroads, Stewart H Holbrook.

Currently Reading: Tulipomania : The Story of the World's Most Coveted Flower and the Extraordinary Passions It Aroused, Mike Dash.