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Ah the 2014 - 2015 era of CN, when anything and everything would show up.
Here we have London - Toronto train A43431 16 about to pass under Garden Avenue with CN 2015, and CN 2563 on point
Like most photographers, I am constantly trying to learn new things both in terms of shooting techniques and editing. This image is one of my favs, so I chose it to try out a few new editing techniques...I did not do anything too crazy, just tried to warm it up a bit and squeeze out more color - oh and fill in the bright spot. Hope you like it. Check out my photo stream to see the original...
See more of my work at:
Previously in Chapter 4 White Horses and Memories
⚜️Tabitha Kinkade could never forget the first time she saw a werewolf. She was just a little girl, wrapped in her mother's arms. She could still see it's yellow eyes rolling as it crushed bone and ripped flesh, killing Myra, her mother's handmaid, it's sharp teeth glistening over with drool and blood. She could still remember the huffing, bellowing growl and the mighty thud of it's massive feet when it turned toward her and her mother. Samantha Kinkade told her daughter to close her eyes, as she pulled a sword from over the fireplace and faced the beast. However, Tabitha had not closed her eyes, cowering there as her mother held her back behind her. And as much out of youthful curiosity than anything she'd peeked from around her mother's dress. When it saw her, clinching to her mother's skirts the beast stopped. Tilting it's head the creature gazed straight into her eyes as the fires from the sconces along the wall illuminated it's enormous body. It's raspy breathing caused the little flames to flicker creating overinflated shadows that danced around the room and then it began to creep closer, the claws of it's massive feet tapping against the wood floor...
Then somewhere out of the night...
an intense shrilling whimper!
And a friend's cry for help brought her back to the present, "My lady the child!"
⚜️Tabitha bolted into the moonlight just in time to see the werewolf cast the child over the edge of the cliff with Kiva jumping after her. She had no choice but to leave her other pets and Lexington alone to deal with the massive lycanthrope. Without a moment's hesitation she dove over the edge of the cliff side after the little girl. Even with her heightened senses the surrounding void was nearly pitch black as the cool salt air rushed through her red hair. From far away now and quickly growing farther with every passing moment, she could hear Lexington directing the wolves and his whip slashing into the fiend's flesh. The beast howled out, growling so loud she could hear the sounds resonate and echo down along the cliff's glistening walls as she fell down into the abyss.
⚜️The mist cascading across her face made her squint as she held her arms closely by her sides. At last she could see the girl through the murk, her red wolf Kiva holding the hem of her dress in her clinched teeth. Using every muscle and every bit of ability she had Tabitha kept her body, as straight as she could cutting through the darkness like a knife. Finally, within arms length, Tabitha found herself faced with a horrible decision. With the pair spinning uncontrollably and as they were too close to the rocks below, she would have to choose her beloved Kiva or the girl. With no time to think she grabbed the girl pulling her shivering body to her breast. Folding her arms around the child she continued to glide like a human cannonball through the night, watching her precious Kiva fade into the foggy chasm. In her desperation she screamed in terror racing to catch up to the dire wolf. And with her body taut, every muscle flexed and ready, she was able to grab the scruff of Kiva's neck just in time to pull her up to safety. With no more than a few meters between them and death, Tabitha flipped them all around and landed feet first on the slippery rocks. She held both her pet and the little girl in her arms for a moment almost in tears then told Kiva to stay with the toddler and keep her safe before she hurridly leapt up along the rock face.
⚜️She climbed the crag like a spider rushing quickly to the battle. As she neared the top the Shadowhunter could hear one of her wolves cry out and Lexington groan as his body crashed into something. Her fear for her friend's safety almost made her sick as she leapt and scurried up the wall grabbing at jagged edges and seams in the rock face hoisting her body closer up along the damp precipice. Overhead, clouds stirred like a soup as the approaching storm's winds became more intense the closer she got to the top. Finally, she could see grass hanging over the edge and just as she reached to grab the rim of the cliff she heard one of Lexington's flintlocks fire. Her wolves growled in anger, hissing and gnashing their teeth and just then, the monster spoke! It taunted Lexington "I'm gonna tear you apart piggy!" then roared again from deep in its massive chest. Just as the devilish brute began to rush her friend she leapt from the side of the cliff catapulting her body into the sky above the colossal beast. Drawing her swords the Shadowhunter was silent as she looked down across the back of the monster just six meters above him. Lexington never looked in her direction as not to alert the werewolf then fired again hitting it in the chest just as Xandra and Jesper both hurdled toward the lycan. As silent as a cat, her blades found their mark plunging deep on either side of the werewolves's broad neck cutting through his heart and deep into it's lungs. She rolled just past Lexington turning quickly, her own flintlock pulled only to watch the beast fall to his knees.
⚜️As it looked at them all the horror and terror was erased from its face. It was the same expression his mate had made before it died earlier that same evening. Calling to her wolves she ordered them off the monster to allow it to die in peace when in a trice it brought its great paw within inches of her boot and upon regaining enough strength it scowled at her and hissed, "He is coming. And there's nothing you can do about it Shadowhunter. You and your kind will be slaughtered like pigs." It laughed and then fell dead.
Taken aback, Tabitha stood motionless looming over the ghoulish creature. Lexington had heard as well, walking over to stand there with her. He started to say something, and she looked, but he obviously thought better to wait, and she did not ask. They both stood silent watching as the monster turned back to a human man, the curse lifted from him forever.
"Mistress look! The same brand as the female." Lexington had bent down to inspect the man's body.
Tabitha knelt down to see and there it was. The identical and peculiar tattoo they'd found on the girl and in the same spot.
Once she'd inspected the tattoo Tabitha looked at the man's face. She shook her head. He looked so peaceful now. Nearly handsome as he laid there naked, the distant thunder claps above them providing just a little light. Standing, she asked Lexington if he was injured and except for a few scrapes and bruises luckily he wasn't. She quickly took a look at her wolves calling them to her. They were bloody, some of it theirs, but nothing was broken and the lacerations that she could observe didn't look deep.
"Mother and Father must have been looking over us tonight." she thought to herself.
Lexington apologized to her for not asking about the girl and Kiva and she assured him it was alright and that they were as well. That said, she instructed the Prince to continue his inspection while she gathered up Kiva and the kidnapped girl before the coming storm set in.
Walking away Lexington must have noticed she was deep in her thoughts. "My Lady, are you alright?" he called out.
Standing there, cleaning the blood from her swords, she sheathed each of them and looked just over her shoulder asking in return. "Have you ever heard of one that could talk Lex?"
"No My Lady. Never. I... well I don't know what to say Ms. Tabitha."
With a slight nod she walked into the darkness, her gallant wolves at her sides. This night had been filled with violence and distress, and more mystery than she cared for.
It would be nice to be home soon, back at Belraak Castle.
🐺🐺🐺🐺
Continued in Chapter 6 The Two Societies
⭐And again,I would send a shout out to my friend Marcus Strong. He took on dual roles for this one and was so patient and forgiving. Thanks Big Daddy! hehe.
With love. 💓
🌳Taken at Flower of Scotland I would like to express my appreciation to elo {Neutron Nebula} for providing one of the most beautiful places in SL for us to take our pics. You can take a look as some of the amazing captures done at Auld Lang Syne in thier group, Auld Lang Syne. Isles of Scotland 🌼
Anything can happen. You know how Jupiter
Will mostly wait for clouds to gather head
Before he hurls the lightning? Well, just now
He galloped his thunder cart and his horses
Across a clear blue sky. It shook the earth
And the clogged underearth, the River Styx,
The winding streams, the Atlantic shore itself.
Anything can happen, the tallest towers
Be overturned, those in high places daunted,
Those overlooked regarded. Stropped-beak Fortune
Swoops, making the air gasp, tearing the crest off one,
Setting it down bleeding on the next.
Ground gives. The heaven’s weight
Lifts up off Atlas like a kettle-lid.
Capstones shift, nothing resettles right.
Telluric ash and fire-spores boil away.
Seamus Heaney, 1939-2013
I know that I said I wasn't going to post anything for the rest of the summer but I was really missing flickr and just couldn't wait that long to post anything. The kids and I have really been enjoying our summer and the weather has been perfect this last week and I was so excited that my kids let me take pictures of them the other night! We leave to in a couple of weeks to go and visit my sister and family, super excited! This is the longest we have gone without seeing them!
I hope that everyone is having a great week!
Und mehr ...
I hope the "&" as being a symbol is OK for this theme.
For the next theme, on Saturday January 11, 2025, take a picture of something (person, animal, plant, object) that begins with the letter A. It is called "ANYTHING WITH A!".
English words that start with A are preferred, but you can use a word that starts with A in any language; please always give us an English translation (and, of course, the A-word in its original language).
PLEASE NOTE:
- just adjectives that start with A are not sufficient for this theme (for example: adorable cat) there must be a NOUN that starts with A.
- this theme is about 'nouns' and NOT about 'names' (of people, pets, cities, brands...).
- avoid compound words (words that are made up of two or more smaller words and form their own meaning).
- this theme is NOT about: celebrations, events, emotions, conditions, numbers or letters...
- if what you're portraying is not an object, plant, animal or person (something tangible) then it's NOT okay for the theme!
IMPORTANT: please do not forget to mention the
word you're depicting in the TITLE of your photo.
Model: Natalia Larioshina
Photographer: Justin Bonaparte
Good morning Cricklewood! What do you think of my Goodies so far? Tim I'm really happy with, he's pretty much done, Graeme is fairly good but finding a face with mutton chops and glasses isn't easy, it seems to be the case that you either get one or the other, not both. Bill is the least convincing; he needs a yellow shirt under a black vest (did Han have one of those?) and his facial hair I'm not sold on. Maybe I'll try the goatee that he had. Any suggestions are most welcome.
\ Mania 69 - ''TAKE A SHOT'' PHOTO CONTEST /
Tequila shot?.. why not! Photoshoot? Hell yes!
Thank you for your interest in Mania 69 photo contest! This is a fun way to enhance our community, so bring out your kinky ideas and express yourself artistically. Get massive!
Theme: Anything Mania, Seduction, Creative, Artistic, Moody
Deadline to submit: April 17, 2022
So what's the down-low? How can you win?
1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN?
Anyone with the group! The Mania 69 Photo Contest is open to anyone who would like to join and follows the rules.
Joining is group members. Please Join the group before submitting; world.secondlife.com/group/da79c436-c0e1-e19f-1feb-a9ffc4
2. WHAT IS THE CONTEST TIME PERIOD?
The Mania 69 Contest will begin on March 23th.
All photos must be submitted to the Mania 69 Flickr Group by April 17th. Winners will be announced in a group message and contacted individually.
3. ARE THERE PRIZES? YES!
1st Place: L$ 1000
2nd Place: L$ 500
3rd Place: L$ 300
4. HOW ARE WINNERS DETERMINED?
The winners will be judged by Katt Harcourt. Contestants must follow all rules to be eligible for judging. Make sure you pay attention to where the pictures must be posted and labeled.
Submitted pictures not complying fully with rules will be disqualified from eligibility.
5. MAY I REZ POSE BALLS OR PROPS FOR MY PICTURE?
Yes! Until end of the contest, Mania 69 will have open rez rights. Please make sure you pick up after yourself and be courteous of others in the club who are socializing or in roleplay. Prim usage will be monitored daily and any prims left laying around will be returned to their owner. We are not responsible for loss of no copy items.
6. WHAT ARE THE PHOTO CRITERIA?
1) All pictures must be taken at Mania 69 (inside or outside the city, you can use teleporters to explore hidden locations)
You may rez your own pose balls and props but please clean up after yourselves.
2) The picture must be named as follows: Mania 69 ''Take a Shot'' Photo Contest 2022. And the SLURL where you took the picture. Example: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Haumea/220/222/3015
3) The picture must be submitted to the following Flickr group and we will then activate it.
www.flickr.com/groups/14837546@N22/
Please make sure you are using your SL User name and NOT your display name. We need to know how to contact winners.
Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/14837546@N22/
Get involved in Mania 69 community: world.secondlife.com/group/da79c436-c0e1-e19f-1feb-a9ffc4
We wish you much success!
Regards,
Katt Harcourt (HexsKatt Resident)
Cavendish Mews is a smart set of flats in Mayfair where flapper and modern woman, the Honourable Lettice Chetwynd has set up home after coming of age and gaining her allowance. To supplement her already generous allowance, and to break away from dependence upon her family, Lettice has established herself as a society interior designer, so her flat is decorated with a mixture of elegant antique Georgian pieces and modern Art Deco furnishings, using it as a showroom for what she can offer to her well heeled clients.
Returned from her Friday to Monday down at Dickie and Margot’s Cornwall country house, ‘Chi an Treth’, and all the excitement that ensued there, Lettice has settled back into her usual London routine of shopping, receiving and visiting friends and seeing potential clients. It’s a Wednesday, and an unusually quiet one, so Lettice is taking advantage of the gap between engagements and has just sat down in her comfortable white upholstered tub chair to continue reading her latest Georgette Heyer* romance novel when the doorbell to the flat rings noisily, shattering the relative quiet of the flat’s interior.
“I’m not expecting any clients,” she muses as she listens as Edith, her maid, walks across the entrance hall to answer the door. “I wonder who it can be.”
A few moments later the mystery is revealed when Edith walks in proudly announcing, “Miss Bowes-Lyon**, Miss.”
“Elizabeth, darling!” Lettice gasps in delight, casting her book aside. Standing up she embraces her friend who is dressed in a romantic pale pink chiffon moiré dress with a fashionable drop waist and draped in a thick fox fur stole. Elizabeth’s light scent of lily of the valley envelops her. “I didn’t know you were up at Bruton Street***. Please.” She indicates to the tub chair opposite her, which Elizabeth sinks into with a sigh as she places aside her matching pink parasol, and allows the fox fur to slink from her shoulders, snaking across the back of the chair.
“I’m up from Scotland just for a few days to have a fitting for Her Royal Highness’**** wedding and run a few errands before going back.”
“Oh of course!” Lettice gasps. “The wedding! I’d forgotten you were a bridesmaid.”
“Has Gerald finished your outfit for the ceremony yet?” Elizabeth asks as she withdraws a hatpin from her straw cloche decorated with silk roses and feathers and deposits the hat on the stool beside her.
“I do wish you’d let Edith take those, Elizabeth darling.” Lettice indicates to the parasol and hat.
“Oh I can’t stay for too long.” Eliabeth assures her hostess. “The fitting awaits.” She smiles sweetly, giving a brief view of her slightly crooked teeth.
“Well I hope you can stay long enough for a cup of tea,” replies Lettice. “And a biscuit or two. Yes, Gerald’s almost finished my gown. It’s oyster coloured satin, and very plain, with a drop waist and pearl buttons down the back. In fact, the only real decoration it will have will be the lace collar.”
“Sounds wonderful.” acknowledges Elizabeth. “When I get married, I only want a simple wedding dress. I saw the photos of Margot’s wedding dress in Vogue. Gerald must have clients pounding at his door now.”
“Yes,” Lettice remarks. “I said it would be the making of him, and so far, I’ve been proven correct. I’m so happy for him. Goodness knows he could do with some luck after all the hard work he has put in to setting up his business. Now, thinking of frock fittings and weddings, how does Her Royal Highness’ gown look.”
Elizabeth taps her nose in a knowing way, replying, “I’m sorry darling, but I’m not allowed to say.” She smiles apologetically.
“Oh! Of course! How foolish of me! I was forgetting that it’s a secret. Yours too, I should imagine?” Elizabeth nods discreetly. “Never mind. I’ll be happy enough to be surprised on the big day.”
“Have you settled on a hat yet?”
“Ahh, now there I really am in a quandary.” Lettice remarks.
Edith appears and walks across the threshold of the drawing room from the flat’s dining room carrying Lettice’s silvery tray from Asprey’s****** on which sits her Art Deco tea service with cups for two and a small plate of rather delicious looking biscuits. She carefully places the items on the black japanned coffee table between the two friends before dropping a bob curtsey and retreating through the green baize door on the far side of the dining room.
“Quandary?” Elizabeth asks. “I thought you were getting Madame Gwendolyn to make you a hat.”
“Yes. I mean, I know Madame Gwendolyn has made me some wonderful hats in the past.” She pauses.
“I sense a but,”
“But I wasn’t happy with what she made me for Royal Ascot*******. I think it looked dowdy and old fashioned.”
“Oh, I thought it looked lovely.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth darling, bless you.” She reaches out a hand and squeezes Elizabeth’s elegant, yet rather cold hand. “But ‘The Times’ agrees with me in their critique of the fashions last year, and it wasn’t exactly the roaring success I’d hoped for, or paid for, for that matter.” Lettice takes up the pot and pours hot tea into Elizabeth’s cup, passing it to her friend, before filling her own. “So, I’m going to see Gwendolyn next week, but I must confess I’ve seen hats I’d prefer to wear in Selfridges’ windows along the way.”
“Selfridges? You can’t be serious Lettice!” Elizabeth puts a hand to her throat and clasps the collar length string of pearls she wears. “Wear a shop girl’s hat to a royal wedding?”
“Well why not? No-one would know, except perhaps you and I. Besides, not all of Mr. Selfridges hats are shop girl material. He has some beautiful models, directly from Paris, and exclusive to his store. They are a fraction of the price, and are every bit as fashionable and well made as anything Madame Gwendolyn can produce.”
“It sounds to me like you’ve already made up your mind, Lettice.” Elizabeth picks up a pink macaron off the plate and pops it delicately into her little round mouth, her eyes closing with delight as it starts melting on her tongue.
“Divine aren’t they?” Lettice asks. “My last client, Miss Ward put me onto the most fabulous little baker in Pilmico.”
“She’s the moving picture star, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Anyway, I haven’t dismissed Madame Gewndolyn – yet. However, I have misgivings.”
“Well, I have misgivings too.” Elizabeth adds, her eyelashes trembling with a sudden concern as fear clouds her beautiful blue eyes. “I actually came to see you yesterday, but Edith told me you were still away.”
“Oh yes, I’d gone down with Gerald to stay at Dickie and Margot’s new house in Cornwall.” She pauses and ponders for a moment. “But you didn’t leave a calling card, and Edith didn’t tell me you’d called.”
“Oh, don’t be cross with her. I asked her not to say anything as I was still in town for a few days and knew I’d catch you between engagements. So, what’s the house like? You’re going to decorate a few of the rooms, aren’t you?”
“It’s quite lovely – larger than either Gerald or I expected – about ten bedrooms, and yes I am, but pooh to all of that right now. What misgivings? You can’t be having misgivings about being the Princess’ bridesmaid now, surely? Not after all the fittings and rehearsals and such.”
“Oh no, it isn’t that. No, I’m very happy to be her bridesmaid. No, it’s Bertie******** who concerns me.”
“Oh!” Lettice picks up a chocolate macaron from the plate and pops it onto her saucer where it nestles against the rounded bottom of the cup. “Of course he’ll be there.”
“He seems undaunted by my last refusal. Queen Mary visited Mummy just before Christmas.”
“Did she take any of the Glamis china collection*********?”
“Thankfully no, but Mummy told me that the Queen is quite convinced that I’m the only woman who will make Bertie happy, and that he’s refusing to consider any other marriage proposals.”
“And you think he may propose again?”
“Well, it is his sister’s wedding after all.”
“But surely he knows that you’re actively being courted by his equerry! What’s his name?”
“James. James Stewart.”
“That’s it! Well, surely His Royal Highness must know you’ve been seen with James.”
Elizabeth sighs, her elegantly plucked eyebrows arching high. “Apparently he thinks he can win me over.”
“More likely wear you down.” Lettice remarks disparagingly, taking a slip of her own tea.
“They equate to much the same thing.”
“Well?”
“Well what, Lettice darling?”
“Well, do you love him? His Royal Highness that is,” she clarifies. “Not James.”
“Oh, I do like him!” Elizabeth sighs, lowering her teacup into her lap, her shoulders rising and then slumping again as she looks away shyly, a blush filling her creamy cheeks. “He’s dashing, and sweet. I don’t even mind his stutter, which I find quite endearing.”
“Now it’s my turn to sense a but, Elizabeth. Come on! Spit it out.”
“Well, you know my misgivings about public life. I have my own definite thoughts and ideas. To never be allowed to express them again, to not be able to think or speak freely or act as I feel I really ought to,” Elizabeth sighs again. “Well, its intolerable really.”
“Yes, I can understand that. I think Mamma would be happier if I didn’t express my opinions or ideas, never mind act as I see fit. You are coming to the Hunt Ball, aren’t you?”
“Yes of course, Lettice darling. I’ll even dance with Jonty Hastings to save your feet from too much butchery.”
“Thank you. Well, the Prince isn’t really a significant royal. I mean he’s only the Duke of York, not the Prince of Wales, so he’ll never be the King.”
“King George was once the Duke of York, Lettice.”
“Times were different then, Elizabeth. Once the Prince of Wales settles down,”
“If he ever settles down. He shows no signs of it, Lettice, cavorting with other men’s wives. He’s shameless the way he flouts them.”
“Yes, I’ve seen him with Mrs. Dudley Ward********** at the Embassy Club on more than a few occasions at His Highness’ table. Well, he’ll have to settle down, eventually. And once he does, and has children, why you and the Prince would be even further from the line of succession.”
“Oh I don’t know.” Elizabeth toys with the pearl clip earring at her right lobe anxiously.
“Anyway, if you’re sweet on James, why are you even considering the Prince?”
“James is talking about going to America. He’s being wooed by an oil company over there, who pays more than the Royal Household does. Could you really see me living in America?” She scrunches up her nose. “I’d stay in Scotland forever with all my cousins and never leave if I could.”
“No, I couldn’t. Canada perhaps, but not America. They’re so… so…”
“American?” Elizabeth proffers.
“American!” agrees Lettice with a chuckle. “Well, it’s up to you. Just because he’s the Prince, doesn’t mean you have to say yes, Elizabeth. If you have misgivings, just refuse him.” She pauses for a moment and sips her tea again before continuing, “Although refusing a marriage proposal from a prince, however minor, isn’t quite as flippant as refusing a hat from Madame Gwendolyn.”
“Oh I don’t know,” Elizabeth chuckles, picking up another macaron. “Madame Gwendolyn can be quite fierce from what I know of her, not to mention she’s Lady Sadie’s milliner too. Refusing Madame would be tantamount to committing mutiny, wouldn’t it?”
*Georgette Heyer was an English novelist and short-story writer, in both the regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel, ‘The Black Moth’.
**Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon as she was known in 1922 went on to become Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions from 1936 to 1952 as the wife of King George VI. Whilst still Duke of York, Prince Albert initially proposed to Elizabeth in 1921, but she turned him down, being "afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to"
***Number 17. Bruton Street was the London residence of the Earl of Strathmore and Kingholme (Elizabeth’s father), and was where she resided when in the capital prior to her marriage.
*****Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (1897 – 1965), was the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sister of Kings Edward VIII and George VI, and aunt of Queen Elizabeth II. She married Viscount Lascelles on the 28th of February 1922 in a ceremony held at Westminster Abbey. The bride was only 24 years old, whilst the groom was 39. There is much conjecture that the marriage was an unhappy one, but their children dispute this and say it was a very happy marriage based upon mutual respect. The wedding was filmed by Pathé News and was the first royal wedding to be featured in fashion magazines, including Vogue.
******Founded in 1781 as a silk printing business by William Asprey, Asprey soon became a luxury emporium. In 1847 the business moved to their present premises at 167 Bond Street, where they advertised 'articles of exclusive design and high quality, whether for personal adornment or personal accompaniment and to endow with richness and beauty the table and homes of people of refinement and discernment’. In 1862 Asprey received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria. They received a second Royal Warrant from the Future Edward VII in 1889. Asprey has a tradition of producing jewellery inspired by the blooms found in English gardens and Woodland Flora. Over the decades jewelled interpretations of flowers have evolved to include Daisy, Woodland and sunflower collections. They have their own special cut of diamond and produce leather goods, silver and gold pieces, trophies and leatherbound books, both old and new. They also produce accessories for playing polo. In 1997, Asprey produced the Heart of the Ocean necklace worn in the motion picture blockbuster, ‘Titanic’.
*******Royal Ascot Week is the major social calendar event held in June every year at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. It was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne and is attended every year by the reigning British monarch and members of the Royal Family. The event is grand and showy, with men in grey morning dress and silk toppers and ladies in their best summer frocks and most elaborate hats.
********Prince Albert, Duke of York, known by the diminutive “Bertie” to the family and close friends, was the second son of George V. Not only did Bertie propose to Elizabeth in 1921, but also in March 1922 after she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Albert’s sister, Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles. Elizabeth refused him a second time, yet undaunted Bertie pursued the girl who had stolen his heart. Finally, in January 1923 she agreed to marry him in spite of her misgivings about royal life.
*********Queen Mary, wife of King George V was an avid collector of bibelots (small decorative ornaments) and decorative arts. She was also responsible for being the first member of the Royal Family to ever do an inventory of the Royal Collections, finding many items had been “borrowed” by the great families of England over the centuries to decorate their own homes. During her husband’s reign, she recovered a vast majority of these pilfered items, returning them to the Royal Collections. For this reason, she was feared when she came to visit, along with her voracious acquisition of other people’s bibelots. She was known to remark on something pretty and then expect that it would be gifted to her as the wife of the sovereign.
**********Winifred May, Marquesa de Casa Maury (née Birkin) (1894 – 1983), universally known by her first married name as Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite best known for being a married paramour of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII, between 1918 and 1929. Known by him by the diminutive “Freddie”, she was supplanted in the Prince’s affections by Lady Thelma Furness, who in turn was supplanted by Mrs. Simpson.
This 1920s upper-class drawing room is different to what you may think at first glance, for it is made up entirely of 1:12 size dollhouse miniatures including items from my own childhood.
Fun things to look for in this tableau include:
The cream straw cloche hat sitting on the Chippendale stool is decorated with pink roses has single stands of ostrich feathers adorning it. The latter have been hand curled. The maker for this hat is unknown, but it is part of a larger collection I bought from an American miniature collector Marilyn Bickel. 1:12 size miniature hats made to such exacting standards of quality and realism are often far more expensive than real hats are. When you think that it would sit comfortably on the tip of your index finger, yet it could cost in excess of $150.00 or £100.00, it is an extravagance. American artists seem to have the monopoly on this skill and some of the hats that I have seen or acquired over the years are remarkable.
The furled umbrella is a 1:12 artisan piece made of pink satin and lace with a tiny pink bow. It has a hooked metal handle.
You can just see draped across the chair on the right, Elizabeth’s fox fur stole. It is, in actuality, a mink tail attached to one of my vintage fur tippets. It is just the right size to be a thick fur stole that could have been worn by the future Queen Elizabeth, who loved furs.
Lettice’s tea set is a beautiful artisan set featuring a rather avant-garde Art Deco Royal Doulton design from the Edwardian era. The strawberry and chocolate macarons are also artisan miniatures from Beautifully Handmade Miniatures in Kettering. He has a dizzying array of realistic looking food and meals which is always growing, and all are made entirely or put together by hand. The green tinted glass comport on the coffee table , spun from real glass, is also from Beautifully Handmade Miniatures in Kettering.
The black Bakelite and silver telephone is a 1:12 miniature of a model introduced around 1919. It is two centimetres wide and two centimetres high. The receiver can be removed from the cradle, and the curling chord does stretch out.
In front of the telephone sit two paperback novels from the late 1910s created by miniature British artisan, Ken Blythe. Most of the books I own that he has made may be opened to reveal authentic printed interiors. In some cases, you can even read the words, depending upon the size of the print! I have quite a large representation of Ken Blythe’s work in my collection, but so little of his real artistry is seen because the books that he specialised in making are usually closed, sitting on shelves or closed on desks and table surfaces. What might amaze you even more is that all Ken Blythe’s opening books are authentically replicated 1:12 scale miniatures of real volumes. To create something so authentic to the original in such detail and so clearly, really does make these books miniature artisan pieces. Ken Blythe’s work is highly sought after by miniaturists around the world today and command high prices at auction for such tiny pieces, particularly now that he is no longer alive. I was fortunate enough to acquire pieces from Ken Blythe prior to his death about four years ago, as well as through his estate via his daughter and son-in-law. His legacy will live on with me and in my photography which I hope will please his daughter.
The Vogue magazine from 1922 sitting on the lower tray of the black japanned occasional table was made by hand by Petite Gite Miniatures in the United States.
The vase of yellow lilies and roses on the Art Deco occasional table is beautifully made by hand by the Doll House Emporium, whilst the taller vase of flowers to the right of the photo was made by Falcon Miniatures, who are renown for the realism and detail in their miniatures.
Lettice’s drawing room is furnished with beautiful J.B.M. miniatures. The black japanned wooden chair is a Chippendale design and has been upholstered with modern and stylish Art Deco fabric. The mirror backed back japanned china cabinet is Chippendale too. On its glass shelves sit pieces of miniature Limoges porcelain including jugs, teacups and saucers, many of which I have had since I was a child.
To the left of the Chippendale chair stands a blanc de chine Chinese porcelain vase, and next to it, a Chinese screen. The Chinese folding screen I bought at an antiques and junk market when I was about ten. I was with my grandparents and a friend of the family and their three children, who were around my age. They all bought toys to bring home and play with, and I bought a Chinese folding screen to add to my miniatures collection in my curio cabinet at home! It shows you what a unique child I was.
The carpet beneath the furniture is a copy of a popular 1920s style Chinese silk rug. The geometric Art Deco wallpaper is beautiful hand impressed paper given to me by a friend, which inspired the whole “Cavendish Mews – Lettice Chetwynd” series.
Good friend and fellow flickerite Jonathan Lawton guides the 6D03 1327 Tinsley S.S. - Masboro Booths into its destination at Holmes .
The train headed by 60059 and consisting of 9 wagons for scrap had left Tinsley Yard and run round in Kilnhurst Loop before heading south to gain access to Booths .
14 2 20
Apologies, not uploaded anything for a few days due to illness, but kind of back with an edited image from last week.
Previous set of Pripyat here www.flickr.com/photos/timster1973/sets/72157643944616235/
Named for the nearby Pripyat River, Pripyat was founded on 4 February 1970, the ninth nuclear city in the Soviet Union, for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was officially proclaimed a city in 1979, and had grown to a population of 49,360 before being evacuated a few days after the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Though Pripyat is located within the administrative district of Ivankiv Raion, the abandoned city now has a special status within the larger Kiev Oblast (province), being administered directly from Kiev. Pripyat is also supervised by Ukraine's Ministry of Emergencies, which manages activities for the entire Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Access to Pripyat, unlike cities of military importance, was not restricted before the disaster as nuclear power stations were seen by the Soviet Union as safer than other types of power plants. Nuclear power stations were presented as being an achievement of Soviet engineering, where nuclear power was harnessed for peaceful projects. The slogan "peaceful atom" (Russian: mirnyj atom) was popular during those times. The original plan had been to build the plant only 25 km (16 mi) from Kiev, but the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, among other bodies, expressed concern about it being too close to the city. As a result, the power station and Pripyat were built at their current locations, about 100 km (62 mi) from Kiev. After the disaster the city of Pripyat was evacuated in two days.
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just because i can, Kiseki's outfit in full view :3 Cool! And some advertising: if you never purchased anything on musedoll, go and buy something from them. BECAUSE THEY ARE PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS COMPANY. Not only they stuff are of super quality and adorable as hell, the way they treat customers and package orders - I cant with them. They write handwritten personal messages and are so cute and lovely and I JUST LOVE THEM, OKAY.
Heey!
Here is Sebastien again, I guess he is king of a muse for me now:)
Its the second outtake from the autumn shoot we had a week ago.
I was struggling (still am) with bad cold and I just couldnt edit that before because of the cracking headache :/
I love a lot the leaf and the leaves floor, autumn here in Belgium is beautiful this year!
Enjoy!
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It's not the words aren't there but they'd only fail my emotions
Just want to feel this way without chaining you down to some old cliche
You want water in my hands and we stand waist deep in the ocean
It's bigger than the sea, it won't let me
Baby I know you try but sometimes I still want to hear it
Even when the waters calm but lately it's just when there's something wrong
Why can't we splash around and hold on to that playful spirit
Oh like we used to do and won't you
Say anything, save everything
Give me just one word, you can scream or whisper
If you want to stay with me tell me why
Say anything
Say anything, feel everything
I want to be with you so this love can fly
We'll hang on every word and we'll scream, we'll whisper
This moment is waiting for you and I
Say anything
Say anything..
Ever have a file that you liked but you didn't know how to process? This was one of those files for me. I could never get the crop or the tonality to work quite like I liked.
The problem was the tree limb coming in from the right side of the frame. It's a lot closer to me than the barn or anything else in the image, so it renders far darker and more contrasty than anything else and it constanly drew the viewers eye away from the barn -- exactly the opposite effect that I had hoped for when I composed it (I had hoped that it would actually lead the viewer into the frame).
I tried all manner of dodging and crops to remedy the problem but nothing appealed to me. After sitting on it for a season and a half, it finally hit me. I'd use a graduated haze filter (using the dehaze tool in reverse makes it a haze filter, right?) with a range mask that limited the effect to the darkest parts of the image. This had the desired effect and brought the limb up to a tonality that matched my intentions and fit in with the rest of the image more naturally.
© all rights reserved by B℮n
King’s Day Dutch: Koningsdag, is the National holiday celebrated with joyful open air festivities on the King’s Willem- Alexander birthday, held each year in April in the Netherlands. King's day Amsterdam celebrations are the biggest and the most attractive. More than million people arrive to the city to celebrate this day. Since 1885, while the Netherlands had through generations only female monarchs, this has been the national holiday called Queensday. However in 2013, Queen Beatrix son Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander has been enthroned as the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while the Queen abdicated and became Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands. Since then, the Queensday has become the King’s Day. Street carnival, dancing and singing combined with the open air free market, selling and buying of all kinds of small objects by almost all Amsterdam citizens. Traditionally the reigning monarch portraits are on display and streets are decorated with national Dutch flags and the color of orange, the traditional color of the monarchy and the symbol of Dutch patriotism. Many any people dress up as the King or wear the King’s insignia, while almost all try to have an orange accent in their clothing. This is also the day to eat in the streets exotic food Indonesian, Surinamese, Moroccan or Turkish and drink beer or orange juice. A glass of Heineken or Amstel sold in the street will be between €1.50 and €2.50. The Dutch, traditionally the nation of sailors and merchants, celebrate their most important national holiday with selling and buying of small unnecessary objects from their households. The prices are mostly symbolic. Starting as early as 7 A.M., the whole city center becomes a street market. Most of people are selling their stuff directly in front of their house. Fun is the most important here - do not expect to buy anything of value. The tradition is to negotiate about the price and it happens, especially when children are trading, that buyer raises the price to show the playful character of this festive business.
The old area of the Jordaan, traditionally poor district of the city but now trendy Amsterdam area, becomes on the King’s Day most crowded free market area. Me and my daugher Samantha selling our old stuff on the Bloemgracht. Many folk singers are performing popular Amsterdam songs directly in the streets. A festive boat parade takes place for several hours in early afternoon, usually along the Prinsengracht canal. People dance on boats and on the shore. Sometimes some boats stop at the shore and will be willing to invite you to their floating party.
Op Koningsdag voorheen Koninginnedag kleurt Amsterdam oranje! Veel mensen dragen oranje kleding en de straten en grachten kleuren dan ook helemaal oranje. Op straat, op de grachten en in de parken worden de leukste openluchtfestiviteiten geboden voor jong en oud. Amsterdam kleurt, net als de rest van Nederland, elk jaar op Koningsdag oranje. Op de uitbundigste feestdag van het jaar viert iedereen feest en zet daarmee de koninklijke familie in het zonnetje. Tijdens Koningsdag is het op de grachten van Amsterdam erg gezellig, maar ook erg druk. Met de vele liveoptredens en dj's tijdens Koningsnacht en het enorme aantal evenementen, vrijmarkten en kinderactiviteiten op Koningsdag hoeft niemand zich te vervelen tijdens het grootste straatfeest van het jaar. Zoals het een ware handelsstad betaamt, is Amsterdam de plek bij uitstek om te handelen en te onderhandelen. De vrijmarkt is een uitgelezen plek voor Samantha en ik om onze tweedehands spullen op straat te verkopen en is hiermee een van de grootste vlooienmarkten ter wereld. Ook op de Amsterdamse grachten is het op Koningsdag een groot oranje feest. Duizenden versierde boten varen over de grachten en zorgen vaak voor een gezellig oponthoud. Op een boot Koningsdag vieren is natuurlijk het allerleukst, maar vanaf de kant en de bruggen deel je net zo goed in de feestvreugde. De Prinsengracht raakt overvol met boten. De dansmuziek weergalmt van de boten af. Er wordt op elke boot lekker gedanst en sommige gaan helemaal los. Wat een feest toch, één groot gekkenhuis!! Voor grote straatfeesten zijn de Jordaan, de Wallen, de Nieuwmarkt en de grote pleinen de beste plek. Bewoners en cafés hebben muziek en drank op straat en u loopt van het ene straatfeest naar het volgende.
Two homeless men outside an elevator in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This is the second-to-the-last image of my Las Vegas series. I'll post the last one next week. All the Las Vegas images are here --->
www.flickr.com/photos/fotograzio/28240091221/in/album-721...
2nd September 2018:
The weather wasn't half as good as expected this morning, so I took our Sunday lunch as a reserve photo.
It did warm up and the sun came back, but it was then too hot, it was uncomfortable sitting out in the garden!
So it's our Sunday lunch - again. It was good though and all local produce.
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites.:O)
A true child of PSR, NS 224 drags nearly 12000' of traffic through SE Sale Creek on the CNO&TP Third District. Manifest on the headend, followed by international and domestic intermodal blocks, and lastly the autoracks, this train would take most of the day to get up to Burnside, Kentucky where a new crew would take over.