Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ralph Mills PhD

@ralphmills.bsky.social

610 followers 450 following 210 posts

Historical archaeologist, oboe and tenor saxophone player, photographer, runner (slow), 35 years vegan, gardener. Researches nineteenth century miniatures, working class mantelpieces, figurinai, and old railway wagons. Four cats. Saanich, BC 🇨🇦

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Nov 23

My research (www.ralphmills.ca/ralph_mills_...) focuses on ornaments, especially figurines, that nineteenth century working people displayed on their mantelpieces, and what we might learn from them about their owners.

An 1864 drawing of a nineteenth century mantelpiece in a London "slum" entitled "A Chimney-piece in Plumtree-court, Holborn". It shows a parrot, a plaster of Paris cat, an urn, a nodding dog and other ornaments. On the wall are several pictures and a crucifix.

2 14

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 5d

Went for a stroll around Osoyoos this afternoon, in the breezy #Okanagan valley, looking across the lake to Nk'mip Desert, the so-called "Pocket Desert" (i.e. all that is left), home to, amongst other rare plants and animals, Burrowing Owls and Pallid Bats (a splendid name).

View across a choppy lake towards dusty hills above an area of arid sage-covered valley bottom.

View from a sandy beach across a choppy lake towards arid hills.

A rusty abandoned cherry picker lies beside a sun-bleached shed, with an orchard in the background.

A view across Osoyoos Lake southwards across the 49th parallel, with vegetation in the foreground and arid hills in the distance.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 8d

Jerusalem artichoke showing off in my vegetable patch this afternoon. It’s about 3 m tall!

A very tall plant with half a dozen stems and yellow, daisy-like flowers.

1 2 24

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 8d

“Farewell to Spring” (Clarkia amoena) a little confused in a corner of my garden today, bidding farewell to late summer!

A white, five petalled flower with bright pink details.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 10d

This is my revenge for being called “carrot top” (amongst other pejorative terms) when a child (I had red hair in those far-off days when I had hair!). #gardening

A 20 inch long carrot with a measuring tape alongside

2 4

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 16d

Fungus foray this morning. Not many specimens as it’s been so dry. But found some of my little favourites!

A tiny pinkish toadstool growing from a twig.

Reposted by Ralph Mills PhD

Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 17d

RIP Jane Goodall. I feel like it's shortchanging her legacy to focus only on her work with chimpanzees when her compassion extended to ALL animals. One of the best ways you can honor & continue her legacy is to incorporate more plant based meals into your life. ❤️ news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...

Why I Went Plant-Based (And Why We Should All Eat Less Meat)

Dr. Goodall went plant-based after confronting what that meat represents: pain. Since, she learned more reasons why the work to #eatmeatless is important.

news.janegoodall.org

22 250 1.6K

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 17d

I wonder how many of those who are celebrating the life of Jane Goodall today were also inspired by her veganism. She professed that it is paradoxical and unethical to declare a love for animals while abusing, killing and eating them. It is also unsustainable and environmentally disastrous.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 22d

For the first time in several years I remembered to buy a birthday card for my sister in time to mail it to her in the UK. I had written in it and addressed the envelope when the Canadian postal workers went on strike. Will she believe my excuse this time?

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 27d

I have sat at that corner table and ordered another pint at that bar in many a seedy pub in my time, and, solitary, imbibed atmospheres of stale beer, cigarette smoke and melancholy, amongst others contemplating their emptying glasses and the meaning of life.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · 28d

As an oboist I’d like to see/hear Leon Goossens live again. I heard him play the Strauss concerto many years ago and it was wonderful. As a schoolboy I played for him in a masterclass. He was politely encouraging! I still try to emulate his very rich, creamy British tone…

1 1 2

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 16

I cheated a bit! It was grown in an old ceramic chimney flue lining.

1 1

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 16

My monster! #gardening Never managed to grow a carrot this hefty before.

A carrot alongside a ruler that shows that it is about 14” long.

1 8

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 11

Obligatory vacation sunset pic…

BC mainland mountains silhouetted against an orange-red sky reflected in the Strait of Georgia.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 10

Last stayed at the Alders Beach Resort on Vancouver Island some 30 years ago. The chalet is still here. Looks like the same chair is still here also! And some of the same paintwork…

A young woman is siting in the sunshine in a yellow-painted wooden chair in front of a chalet with blue detailed paintwork.

A wooden chalet with blue painted details at Alders Beach Resort. There’s a yellow chair to its right, perhaps the same one as the previous by photo

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 10

The view for the next few days!

Misty blue mountains on the BC mainland, seen across the Strait of Georgia from the Alders Beach Resort on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

2 25

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 7

From my archive: why are there two identical privies in the middle of nowhere? #mystery #Okanagan

A pair of sun-bleached wooden privies stand mysteriously amongst sage brush and conifers far from habitation in an Okanagan landscape.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 5

Tobacco is commonly moistened using glycerin, which is usually an animal product.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 5

Wonderful! Looks like a train spotter with his camera in the left foreground.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 4

I’ve spent the morning in the garden. At some point I accidentally switched on All Trails and it recorded my route. I managed to cover some 0.5 km in 15 minutes. Worryingly it also shows me apparently hopping over the fence into next doors’ garden and breaking into their house! #gardening #exercise

A tangled green line showing the route I followed during 15 minutes of gardening. It begins in a grey shape representing my house and also wanders into the grey shape of the house next door.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Sep 1

A sea lion expresses what it feels about my presence in a small boat, bobbing up and down off the south east coast of Vancouver Island yesterday. It didn't seem impressed! #vancouverisland #racerocks

A sea lion lounging on Race Rocks, off the coast of Vancouver Island, appears to be sticking out its tongue at the photographer.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Aug 29

Not being a birder, nor having super equipment, I'm rather proud of this photo, especially as it was moving fast and zig-zagging about! I think it's a sanderling. Mystic Beach, Vancouver Island.

A small bird snatching its lunch from the sand.

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Aug 28

We played English horn (cor anglais) trios yesterday. What fun! It’s a great sound that should be heard more often. #double-reed-fun

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Aug 27

One of the things I miss, having moved to Canada from England, apart from proper beer and public footpaths, is Greggs vegan sausage rolls!

1 3

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Aug 27

At the end of another hot day, sitting in the quiet garden in my mosquito-proof shelter, sipping a whisky and watching the light sensitive lamps coming on, one by one. Sigh. #peace

Ralph Mills PhD @ralphmills.bsky.social · Aug 26

The leader of the concert band, complimenting me on my playing, addressed me as “well, young man…” I’m 77!