Avoiding Gangrene.

One could say that I very rarely post to my SL blog, unless I have something to obsess over that makes my avatar look a certain way.  Hair, skin, clothes.  You name it,  if it goes on my body I have kvetched and ranted about it.

But you know something? I'm done caring about the substance of my content here.  it just so happens that one of the things I love about Second Life is customizing my avatar, and building a very unique avatar that expresses my inner geekness.

It seems that once I get something right, it stays put.  After all that hair I purchased, I wear the same hair just about every day, and I hate it when I take it off.  Inspite of skin tinting issues in different lighting and on different computers, I have dearly loved my prim feet.  But cold weather comes...  and I must consider wearing shoes again. sure, my leopard skin maenad cloack, will bea easy enough, as will be lengthening my chitons,

So being the tool that I am,  I have been researching online just what the greeks, who prefered not to wear shoes at all, would wear during the winter, and it turns out it is just a fur lined sandal really (snow not being much of an issue for them)  But oh...  if only I could reproduce some of these shoes.

I'm in love with both pairs! so naturally to the marketplace I went with my keywords, expecting nothing,  but imagine my surprise when I found this!

Toes and everything!  (as the only toed being in my family,  I have come to really love prim toes.  And I can have these sandals for the low, low price of L$3999

*sigh*

Alas,  I already have something very similar to this:

But

In my inventory from Caverna Obscura.  They were pretty much my staple before I got the prim feet,  but oh, how I shall miss toes.   But my old leather sandals are copy/mod, so maybe if I find some bargain toes...

Speaking of prim body parts, I have decided to "make" my own prim infant.  I found a full perm kit on xstreet for less than most scripted baby.  And since I don't need a super scripted baby, this is a good alternative.  Like an almost real newborn, it will develop as we go.  Though I am a little intimidated by the project now that I have all the sculpt maps.

So naturally, as I work on my most narcissistic accessory. there will be something to post about again!

Corinda, in a Plum-pit. (NSFW for Classical Artistic Nudity Lots of Pretty Pictures)

Hamadryads, are a certain sort of tree-nymph who is forever bound --physically-- to her tree.

^{"A Hamadryad" - J.W Waterhouse}

There were (at least) eight of them in Greek mythology, daughters of Hamadryades, and Oxylos (a forest spirit of the mountain) Each of the eight Hamadryad-nymphs presided over a particular type of tree; One of them was named Kraneia, and she was the Hamadryad nymph of the cherry tree.

Cherry Trees fall into the "Prunus" genus, as do many pit fruit such as peaches, apricots, and yes... plums. Plum trees and Cherry trees are very similar in many ways, even though they are not the same fruit, it is very similar fruit with similar effects on your digestive system. Even though they are not the same tree, the texture of their bark is similar, and the way they bloom in the spring, is also very similar. So similar, that a plum blossom is very difficult to distinguish from a cherry blossom, when both are removed from the tree.

^{Can you tell the difference? I'll reveal it at the end of this post.}

Even the Black cherry and Black Plum fruit is astoundingly similar, and yet, so different.

^{A side note, see how black plums are redish-purple? Purple is simply not enough! That's what I go for with my hair! sadly this usually means tinting, which is a fiddly process at best and usually makes my hair rez hot pink before the textures come in. and I *hate* pink!}

Similar, but not the same, like a mother is to her daughter.

^{I'm still working on her textures, and I have a few attachments to put on her too. But I loves my Cherry tree momma! But I will I ever know what turned *all* of her to wood while I was away?}

What I share with my mother is tree nymph-hood, and as a fruit tree nymph I am what would be called a Meliad/Meliae, a "genus" that are known for many things, a few of which are the protectors of sheep and goats and of fruit-trees. ( think I need me a goat, maybe!)

Now, Nymphs are well known for being the consorts and companions of Satyrs...

^{Satyr and nymph. Roman mosaic - Pompeii}

Since Hamadryads are a type of nymph, I don't see that they would be any different, in fact, I think it might have given a Satyr an advantage... since she couldn't really run!  Shimmy away maybe... but through the soil that could take a while. XD

^{Tile Mosaic, Pan & Hamadryad, from Pompeii}

At any rate, this, is the inspiration for how a plum tree with a Satyr father, came to be. How a little baby meliad, might have a tree for a mother.

^{can not credit for this amazing and lovely picture. It was found on myspace.}

Something that is lesser known, is that nymphs were often companions for centaurs also Particularly Lamian Centaurs..

^{It also seems to me by this picture... that a centaur can have his junk in the front. Thank you vereh much! Now you know why my man wears a toga, and why I can walk. You know you'd always wondered how I had them babies!}

So it is also, the inspiration for how a nymph born of a Hamadryad, and a Satyr can marry a Centaur and have both a centaur for a son and a faun for a daughter. ((In greek mythology, anything could pretty much give birth to... anything! But even I desire some consistency here.)) Forgotten Realms (AD&D SE) explained it something like this (paraphrased) When a Daddy Satyr and a Mommy Dryad love each other very much  --or are at least horny enough, which is all the time-- they either have a Satyr or a Dryad baby! and yet, in mythology, Nymphs were always having babies with men. It seems to me that a nymph almost has a genetic neutrality about her.  Forgotten realms also says that female children between a Satyr/Dryad women are Dryads, and males are Satyrs.  But you know, limiting it to gender just isn't even realistic. I think men can be nymphs and females can be Satyrs or fauns, if this is what calls to them!

So, Satyr father = Faun Daughter. Centaur Husband = Centaur son.  And in a way, we're also just kind of mutts classified by characteristics.  Just like genetically strong people should be!


<sup>- Left: Plum. Right: Cherry.
- I can source all this, but I'm not going to unless asked.</sup>