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~proverb
hello, flicks.
i'm still taking a break from photography (this is the first photo i've taken in five days - a long time for me), but i wanted to just say hello and to thank you all for the many kind comments and flickr mail about my cat, clementine.
i wish i had news to tell, but i don't. she's weak but she's hanging in there and we are doing all we can for her in hopes of a change.
i hope to get back to flickrland soon, but for right now, duty calls.
miss you guys.
peace.
en
Once upon a time, in the ancient town of Ravenwood, there stood a mysterious crypt, hidden deep within the depths of a forgotten graveyard. The crypt was known to be the final resting place of Lord Edgar Blackwood, a renowned writer of dark and captivating tales. Legends whispered that his spirit still lingered within, trapped in the realm of the living.
For centuries, the crypt had remained undisturbed until one fateful night when a bolt of lightning struck the decrepit tomb, causing its heavy stone doors to creak open. Inside, a lone skeleton lay atop a grand marble sarcophagus, a tattered quill clutched tightly in its bony hand. The spirit of Lord Edgar Blackwood had been awakened.
As the first moonlight streamed through the crypt's entrance, the ethereal presence of Lord Blackwood rose from his skeletal remains. Confused yet filled with a newfound purpose, he discovered that his afterlife had taken a curious twist. No longer was he simply a ghost haunting the crypt, but he had become a ghost writer, a specter with a talent for crafting tales of mystery and suspense.
Embracing this unusual fate, Lord Blackwood ventured beyond the confines of his crypt, seeking inspiration and stories from the living world. With each midnight hour, he materialized beside struggling authors, whispering words of encouragement and sharing his ghostly knowledge of storytelling. His spectral presence breathed life into their manuscripts, infusing them with a touch of his otherworldly magic.
Word of the enigmatic ghost writer began to spread throughout Ravenwood, and writers from far and wide sought out the crypt, hoping to receive the spectral muse's assistance. Aspiring novelists, poets, and playwrights would arrive at the graveyard, carrying their manuscripts and dreams.
The crypt became a sanctuary of creativity, where the writers would gather under the moonlit sky, surrounded by the quiet whispers of the deceased. Lord Blackwood, his ghostly form shimmering with an ethereal glow, would listen intently to their stories, offering suggestions and refining their ideas with his spectral wisdom. The writers, in turn, found their words flowing effortlessly, their pens guided by an otherworldly presence.
With Lord Blackwood's guidance, Ravenwood became a hub of literary brilliance. The town's libraries overflowed with spine-chilling tales and epic sagas that captured the hearts and imaginations of readers across the land. The ghost writer's influence extended beyond the crypt, inspiring a renaissance of storytelling throughout the town.
Yet, as time passed, Lord Blackwood felt a growing sense of longing. Despite the joy he found in aiding others, his own unfinished work lingered in the recesses of his ghostly mind. He yearned to complete his own masterpiece, a story that would stand the test of time and cement his legacy.
Determined, Lord Blackwood returned to his crypt, devoting himself to his own writing. Night after night, he toiled over his spectral desk, penning his final opus. His fellow writers respected his desire for solitude, knowing that the ghost writer had sacrificed his time and talents to uplift their stories.
When Lord Blackwood finally completed his magnum opus, a brilliant novel that blended the supernatural and the human experience, he chose a single writer to be his living conduit. Through a ghostly touch, he bestowed upon the chosen writer his final work, urging them to publish it under their name. It was his last act of selflessness, ensuring that his legacy would live on through another.
With his task complete, Lord Edgar Blackwood's spirit found peace. He returned to his sarcophagus, the quill slipping from his skeletal grasp as he faded into the eternal slumber of the crypt. Yet, his presence lingered, a gentle whisper of inspiration for generations of writers who would visit his tomb, forever seeking the guidance of the ghost writer who turned their tales into magic.
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Region by Solas Enchantment and Nya Alchemi (Now closed)
Not so long ago at a wonderous time in storybook history, Hope – a wood fairy – decided to go on an adventure. She walked through rolling hills and sun-dappled meadows.
Finally, she came across a village. Lining the colorful cobbled streets were silly crooked cottages that swayed this way and that. Amazed at how they could be built in such a nonsense way, Hope named the town, the Village of Strength.
Hope continued her adventure and found herself in a very old forest. Looming before her was a large, dark, and ominous cave. She gathered her courage and stepped inside. *(She was met by an enormous troll! But this was no ordinary troll. For he was there to guide travelers. He smiled a toothy smile and beckoned Hope to follow him. When she was safely on the other side of the cave, the troll bowed a noble bow and disappeared back into the forest.) Hope decided to name this place, the Cavern of Courage.
Continuing on with her adventure, she found herself upon a beautiful bluff overlooking the forest, the cavern, and the village. Amazed by the beauty she saw there; she made a home for herself amongst the trees. And being a wood fairy, she bestowed upon each place a blessing.
To the village her blessing was for all that walked its cobbled streets to have strength.
To the cavern, her blessing was for all that roamed its darkness to have courage.
For the beautiful bluff, she blessed all who ventured there to be filled with hope.
Many travelers ventured through these lands and each was filled with wonder. And they received strength, courage, and most of all – hope.
~By the late Bee Dumpling~
The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?
~Henry David Thoreau (American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher, 1817-1862)
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
The frozen surface of the large Arbersee lake radiates a quiet serenity. As if the world were holding its breath for a moment, thoughts realign and gain clarity. Such moments are rare, yet their power lies precisely in their fleeting nature: they bestow a profound peace and remind us how beneficial pausing can be.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
(Towers of the Virgin, Zion)
We cruised northward from Joshua Tree that winter, staying just behind the storms battering the southwest, gaining all the photographer’s benefit of seeing our favorite haunts draped in fresh snow. Dawn shivered with hoarfrost on oaks that were the namesake of the creek out there in the meadow, and I blew on gloved fingers and paced around, waiting for the sun. Thirty five hundred feet above the valley floor, the Towers lit up along with the skies at sunrise, and gave me hopes for the day. The people who opened up this country were often surprisingly well read in the classics, and most knew their scriptures. Inspired by sacred places, they bestowed names that make them sacred still: Court of the Patriarchs, Angel’s Landing, The Great White Throne. The high point anchoring the right side of the Towers, stained red under the flat top of a sandstone pinnacle, reminded a clergyman over a century ago of a sacrificial altar, and so it became the Altar of Sacrifice. The name conjures biblical connotations of Abraham’s trust and even the rituals of the Aztecs, but the idea, central to every early culture, has modernized. The most dramatic burnt offerings today are probably votive candles, and gods are no longer feared. My parents’ generation taught us the virtue of sacrifice by their example, and looking up there I think of how natural that act is to us. I have a sister who has suffers all for one of those parents, her self-denial is an ultimate devotion. But it’s selfish to consider how much I have given up myself; others can judge that. Instead I’ll bow towards the Altar and say a silent thank you, to all those who have sacrificed something for me.
The wedding dance commences as Charles continues to show off his wonderful blue feet and bestow gifts upon his sweetheart. Rose gathers up the gifts, tending to the nursery.
Siguiendo la luna y su veta invisible
La noche seguro que me alcanzara
No es que tu mirada me sea imposible
Tan solo es la forma como caminas
Siguiendo la Luna
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Fase: cuarto menguante
Fecha: 12-Dec-2018
Lugar: Puerto escondido, Duverge.
*"On the resplendent afternoon of the 15th day of December, in the year of our Lord 2018, at the precise hour of 3:52 and 14 seconds past, the moon ascended with regal poise over the tranquil expanse of Puerto Escondido, Duvergé. In its First Quarter phase, the lunar orb revealed a harmonious balance—half illuminated by the sun's golden rays, half veiled in shadow’s tender embrace. At the tender age of 7.59 days, the moon graced the heavens with an angular diameter of 0.5 degrees, suspended at a distance of 399,649 kilometers from the Earth. The sun, its eternal counterpart, lingered at a distance of 147,228,062 kilometers, casting its celestial influence upon the azure firmament.
Astronomical ephemeris whispered of the moon's passage through the sign of Pisces, imbuing the scene with an air of mysticism and poetic reverie. The tableau, a divine interplay of light and shadow, evoked a sense of cosmic grandeur, as though the heavens themselves had conspired to bestow this moment of sublime splendor upon the beholder."
NGC 2419 is at a distance of about 300,000 light years from the solar system and at the same distance from the galactic center.
NGC 2419 bears the nickname "the Intergalactic Wanderer," which was bestowed when it was erroneously thought not to be in orbit around the Milky Way. Its orbit brings it further away from the galactic center than the Magellanic Clouds, but it can (with qualifications) be considered as an element of the Milky Way. At this great distance it takes three billion years to make one trip around the galaxy.[7]
The cluster is dim in comparison to more famous globular clusters such as M13. Nonetheless, NGC 2419 is a 9th magnitude object and is readily viewed, in good sky conditions, with good quality telescopes as small as 102mm (four inches) in aperture. Intrinsically it is one of the brightest and most massive globular clusters of our galaxy, having an absolute magnitude of -9.42[3] and being 900,000 times more massive than our Sun.
Location: Jumis Studio
Sitting Paragon: Kate
Capture: Firestorm
Editing & Post Processing: Gimp
Background by "TT"
THALESTRIS, AMAZON QUEEN ~ LOVER TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT
~Valerie Beasley~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I dreamed of the ancient blue Aegean;
Its waters deeply furious and flashing destruction.
My eyes stretched the width of history only
To find you on the opposite shore…waiting!
My desire emptied its depths to open a path,
Once extinct, now revealed by a greedy longing
Only to find your reciprocity was not forthcoming.
The waves froze in abeyance, my estate unvested;
For by invitation only is my title of “true love” bestowed.
Dreams are for those who have not tasted the spoils
Of victory after a hard campaign, they do not understand
That we are numbered among the children of Ares!
Refuse the Scythian princess she is not worthy;
I offer a far better liaison to ensure a noble pedigree.
Hale O King! I come to honor you with my bravest 300!
I am Thalestris, Amazon Queen of Themiskrya, here
To propose a bold proposition of procreation and fame.
Rest your army for thirteen days and I shall love
You in the nights, under the stars and the moon’s glow!
Shall we spawn greatness between us, you and I?
Unite our armies and breed royal seed to royal seed
Great Alexander, famed King of all the Greeks?
The auguries are not needed to give consent!
Together, let us master the art of the hunt and the kill!
Teach me battle secrets, strategies, the art of winning wars!
We’ll exchange stories of our auspicious victories!
But as each day slips under its blanket of dusk
When the campfires spark and spit flying embers;
We shall be in each other’s arms, entwined
Within passionate embraces our bodies atremble.
My depth shall sheathe the strength of Alexander;
Our ardor will rise to vehement flame as we make
History in my womb, the beginning of a lineage
Of sovereign majesty and potent power!
We shall rule the world and beyond it!
What we bear between us ~ your child and mine,
Great King will rule when we are dust and ash!
^^^^^
Our future has rooted this night my Love!
The sibyls chant in celebration for the prophecy is true!
I am with child, a daughter, a Queen, my lover!
Now, I leave you to your conquering in Parthia!
I shall return with my embedded prize to Caucasia,
My kingdom, my home, the land of the leopard!
I adjure you to listen to the winds and watch
For you will know the time as the stories
Of an Amazon Warrior, who spins the world
Upside down will be heard throughout the lands
Of Asia to the furthest seas and beyond their bounds.
Yes, our progeny shall boldly rule and conquer!
Our legacy…will be greater than you or I!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum, primrose family) are widespread throughout western North America. Locally in Colorado they grow from the plains (5000' / 1500 m) to above treeline (12,000' / 3700 m). The alpine populations have short flowering stems, such as the individual here.
The reflexed petals make landing on the flower more difficult for potential pollinators. However the shooting stars rely on a "buzz" pollination strategy, where the positioning of the pollinator's (usually bumble bees) flight muscles causes tightly held pollen to fall off the anthers and land on the legs and body of the pollinator or directly on to the stigma of the same flower. Buzz pollination occurs in other species with similar flower morphology, including plants in the tomato family.
The name for the plant’s genus “Dodecatheon” was bestowed by the Roman naturalist Pliny (61-113), who delighted in the flowers and believed they were protected by the 12 Roman gods.
The name Cape Runaway was bestowed by English mariner James Cook during his first voyage of discovery in 1769. It was so named after Māori in canoes who had approached Cooks' ship Endeavour in a hostile manner scurried off after a cannon shot was fired.
"Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows, Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows.
I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand Before the mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hand.
Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess!"
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Clothing:
Dress: RIOT / Tish Long Dress - Sear @ Salem
Acessories:
Choker: .:Avanti:. Corset Collar - Black
Anatomy:
Hair: Runaway - [RA] Britney Hair - Ombres & Roots @ Hairology
Head: LeLutka Bento Head – GREER
Ears: ^^Swallow^^ Darkness Ears @ The Black Fair Event
Skin: amara beauty – Heidi (LELUTKA applier) Tone 1 featured
Eyes: .LeLutka.Eyes.Greer 3.0
Eye Appliers: Izzie’s – Demon Eyes FLF
Nails: #EMPIRE – Stiletto Nails – Ultra
Nail Appliers: MAAI Slink Omega Maitreya HUD - hands & feet * night
Body, Hands + Feet: Maitreya – Lara V4.1
Tattoo: .Identity. Body Shop - Black Out @ The Black Fair
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Eye Shadow/Liner: Izzie’s – Gloom Eyeshadows (Gift)
Lipstick: amara beauty - Sophia lipstick palette FATPACK LELUTKA
Bento Facial Piercings: LittleFish – ~LF~ Brow Piercings
Bento Septum: LittleFish – ~LF~ Selena Septum (LeLutka Greer)
In Scene
Wall Texture: ~TTT~ Sweet Symphony Gothic Wood Panels Set 1 @ Marketplace
Moths: Moth Demon Horns Moth add-ons
Scene up by my Sister, Luna and me.
Location
Taken at our studio
My Blog
Jackson Hole, WY
Many thanks to everyone for your faves, comments and awards bestowed on this image. It's very much appreciated!! Please respect all copyrights and thanks, again!
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
On Christmas, can you remember that moment of perfect anticipation just as each gift was beginning to be unwrapped?
This is Clara and my grandson Ryfry (my family bestows the weirdest nicknames on each other) caught in one of those precious spans of time.
Train Station Strasbourg, Alsace, France.
"The historical building of Strasbourg's current railway station was built between 1878 and 1883 by the German architect Johann Eduard Jacobsthal (1839–1902). In 1900, Hermann Eggert, architect of the imperial palace Palais du Rhin, added a special waiting section and staircase for the German emperor, Wilhelm II, now known as the Salon de l'empereur, with stained glass windows by the manufacturers Ott Frères. The historical building was classified as a Monument historique (type "inscrit") on 28 December 1984. Prior to the opening of the high speed train line LGV Est, the station was refurbished by architect Jean-Marie Duthilleul (born 1952) in 2006–2007 and its size and capacity largely increased by the addition of a huge glass roof entirely covering the historical façade. The modernization of the station was bestowed a Brunel Award in 2008."
[Source: wikipedia.org]
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
Just when the day is nearly done,
beside a patriarchal setting Sun
as far as legs will take you
to this lenitive golden hue
the Wensum flows through admiring eyes
in peaceable enchanting goodbyes
of a today that progressed listlessly
meandering oh so curvaceously
where were you, as the thought bestowed
a chance meeting where hopes flowed
in a light illuminating developing dreams
the night will reduce the memory to streams
by anglia24
© 2007anglia24
In the shadows of twilight's hue,
Where whispers linger, soft and true,
There lies a realm of wistful sighs,
Where melancholy softly lies.
Beneath the moon's ethereal glow,
Lies a heart with secrets to bestow,
It mourns the loss of days gone by,
And dreams of stars that softly cry.
God Himself, the Unique VIII God Is the Source of Life for All Things (II) | Introduction
Almighty God says, "The biggest difference between God and mankind is that God rules over all things and supplies all things. God is the source of everything, and mankind enjoys all things while God supplies them. That is to say, man enjoys all things when he accepts the life God bestows on all things. Mankind enjoys the results of God’s creation of all things, whereas God is the Master. Right? Then from the perspective of all things, what is the difference between God and mankind? God can see clearly the growth patterns of all things, and controls and dominates the growth patterns of all things. That is, all things are in God’s eyes and within His scope of inspection. … Hence God is God, and man is man! Even if man keeps researching science and the laws of all things, it is only within a limited range, whereas God controls everything. For man, that is infinite."
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Life was normal enough for Teddy. Then one day he started to Flickr. It was a bit confusing at first. Then it became fun. Soon he was Flickring late into the evening. Then on Sunday mornings. Then all weekend long. Soon he was Flickring late into the night, day and night he would Flickr. Suddenly, Teddy's life was just too difficult to keep up with. He was falling behind with all his contacts. He was missing photos, dropping comments, losing track of what awards he bestowed upon whom, who he owed thanks to, what he had posted, what he hadn't posted... His world was folding up around him. He couldn't take it anymore. Teddy went to the window...
In another letter she mentions how she wanted the book to be finished “this year—for the 400th birthday of our Holy Father [St.] John of the Cross” (Ltr. 334). Two days later, on 9 April 1941, she wrote: “I have to produce everything with a great deal of effort. To be sure, the building plan is another gift bestowed on me, i.e., it unfolds little by little, but I have to quarry the stones by myself, and prepare them and drag them into place. Besides, while working on this task it often happened when I was greatly exhausted that I had the feeling I could not penetrate to what I wished to say and to grasp. I already thought that it would always remain so. But now I feel I have renewed vigor for creative effort. Holy Father John gave me renewed impetus for some remarks concerning symbols” (Ltr. 336).
-THE SCIENCE OF THE CROSS Edith Stein
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Discalced Carmelite The Collected Works of Edith Stein VI Translated by Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D.
Edited by Dr. L. Gelber and Romaeus Leuven, O.C.D.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
✦ Plumepulse Tattoo by VENUS ✦
I wear my art like a second skin—provocative, unapologetic, and timeless. The Plumepulse Tattoo by VENUS is more than body ink; it’s an intoxicating symphony of curves and contours, where mythical plumage and celestial motifs collide in an opulent embrace. Its graphics sweep across my form with exquisite precision, blending bold florals, winged silhouettes, and sacred star-laced detailing that echo back to the erotic artistry of ancient Japanese irezumi and Baroque romanticism.
Every line is charged with intimacy—delicate feathers whispering along my thighs, celestial swirls tracing my hips, and radiant blossoms blooming across my back. This tattoo is an ode to passion, a living canvas that transforms the body into both gallery and masterpiece.
The Plumepulse comes alive in a palette of possibilities: fresh with lustrous vibrance, faded with soft, time-worn allure, or aged with the kind of haunting beauty only history bestows. Choose from rich color, bold black & white, or your own personal tint to match the mood of your night. Each option invites reinvention, shifting with your story, your seduction, your skin.
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(A look back at some summer flowers I neglected to post.)
Shooting star flowers are unique with their beautiful reflexed petals and vibrant colors with their magenta petals and white and yellow rings with a squiggly red ring at the base. This ring has always intrigued me- is it some kind of guide for pollinators (mostly bumblebees) who “buzz” pollinate the flowers (vibration releases pollen)? Ecologists and evolutionary biologists often assume, rightly so, that markings like this have a benefit to the organism. Whether we ever understand it fully is uncertain though- sometimes I’m just content to enjoy them purely for their aesthetic value.
Shooting stars have a wide geographic distribution- this species (Primula pauciflora/ Dodecathron pulchellum) occurs throughout western North America from Mexico to Alaska, usually in moist habitats from near sea level in the northern part of the range to over 11,000 feet / 3300 m in the southern Rocky Mountains.
The "old" genus name “Dodecatheon” was bestowed by the Roman naturalist Pliny (61-113), who delighted in the flowers and believed they were protected by the 12 Roman gods.
Bangladesh is bestowed with an ample amount of places to explore. From beautiful natural sites to historical places, the country has much to offer for a pleasing and learning experience.
Among the eye-catching places, the most remote and least populated Bandarban is a popular destination for its adventurous, distinctive and scenic landscape. The beauty of its forests, numerous waterfalls, tallest peaks and lifestyles of 15 different ethnic groups attract tourists from both home and abroad. One must visit Bandarban at least once!
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On a spring day last October, I was walking in the woods, enjoying the bird song and peaceful environment, when quite a distance ahead of me in a little open glade, my attention was captured by a single, bright red flower atop its foliage.
There was nothing like it all around, just this single, dynamic bloom...and I knew right then that I had come upon a waratah.
It was as if nature had bestowed upon it a stage where the trees had thinned and the light shone to highlight its uniqueness and beauty.
Telopea speciosissima is a member of the family Proteaceae and its natural growth is restricted to an area within about 200 km of Sydney, here on the east coast of Australia.
The shrub can grow to 3 m. This unique flower head is an inflorescence of up to 250 individual flowers.
I have read that the word waratah has its roots in the First Nation word 'warada' meaning 'seen from afar'. And the genus Telopea is taken from the Greek 'telopos', also meaning seen from afar - both referring to these stunning and conspicuous flowers that shine brightly in the woods and forests.
The waratah is the floral emblem of our state of New South Wales.
This inflorescence was 13cm in diameter. Leaves were up to 25 cm in length.
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Kiruthiga and Sneha were making a big kolam yesterday morning with devotion at TPKoil Street, Thiruvallikeni to bestow their love and respect to Lord Narasimhar on His thiruveethi ula by Temple Ratham.
FROM THE INTERNET
In a wild, remote and somewhat forgotten part of the U.S. Southwest, Hovenweep National Monument contains six separate prehistoric ruined villages dating from the Pueblo period of the mid thirteenth century.
The monument spans the Utah-Colorado border, though the largest and best preserved site is in Utah - the land hereabouts is similar to Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park but on a smaller scale, with flat, bushy mesas split by steep-sided, quite narrow ravines. And the settlements typically consist of several small ruins on or just below the rim around the head of a canyon.
Although in some cases little remains beyond a pile of stones or low wall remnants, the interest and appeal is enhanced by the general remoteness and peaceful nature of the surroundings.
The name Hovenweep, a Paiute word meaning deserted valley, was bestowed on this region by explorer and photographer William Jackson in 1874, and the site became a national monument in 1923.
This baby ducklng was zooming around a koi pond in an oriental garden while the rest of his family napped on shore. He seemed fascinated at the speed he could attain with those tiny webbed feet of his. I would love to be around when he discovers he can actually fly. He has a love of life's treasures that has bestowed upon him and enjoying every moment. I can only imagine how his flying abilities will line up with this enthusiasm. Duck!
Camera was on the ground for this shot.
Displayed here is the Maus Castle the Jerry of the Katz and Maus castle duo, it was started in the mid 14th century by the Archbishop of Triers after securing rights to charge tolls along his portion of the Rhine.
The construction took 30 years to complete and it was due to this long period of construction that the name Burg Maus was bestowed by the Count of Katz castle who said with ridicule “ That Burg Maus was the mouse that would be eaten by the Cat (Burg Katz) “ the name caught on with the locals and has been known this way ever since.
The castle unlike its neighbors got the last laugh as it was never destroyed by combat but instead slipped in a slow state of decline beginning in the 16th century later to be restored by Wilhelm Gärtner in the start of the 20th century to great historical detail.
Today the castle is host to a large aviary that provides falconry displays and also flight demonstrations of owls and eagles from March to October.
I took this with my D750 and Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 G2 Lens processed in LR, PS luminosity masks and DXO Nik
Disclaimer: Not trying to be realistic in my editing there is enough realism in the world, my style is a mix of painterly and romanticism as well as a work in progress.
Temperance. Prudence. Courage. Justice.
The classic virtues are embodied by those who have earned the distinction to watch over the most sacred place in our country. In times of uncertainty, in times of war, in times of peace and prosperity, these young men and women remain ever vigilant, determined to achieve perfection in their duty.
None of them know who is entombed here. It is impossible to know if the unknown soldiers lived in a manner consistent with the honor bestowed upon them - it is unimportant. The tomb symbolizes the great sacrifice ordinary citizens have paid in order to secure the Blessings of our Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
Unfortunately, in an age of increased jingoism espoused by demagogues, this symbolism often becomes distorted. Our nation thrives not because good men and women paid the ultimate measure of devotion to its cause. That sacrifice can never be repaid, nor should it be the goal to which our youth are called to aspire.
Constitutional scholar and Professor of Law at Duke University, H. Jefferson Powell finished an essay (published in The Summer 2006 edition of The Green Bag) entitled 'Constitutional Virtues' with the following: "The Constitution requires of us that we achieve decency and humanity. In that demand it achieves authority over us, not because we the People made it, but because it makes of us a People that we ought to be."
What matters more than the symbolism of the Tomb of the Unknowns is the fact that, in every generation, principled young men and women aspire to uphold these virtues above any circumstance or outside influence surrounding them. It is in the dedication of the Sentinel, who guards the honored unknown, that the power of their sacrifice is best represented. How powerful it would be if more Americans would routinely take 21-seconds to pause, vigilantly reflect, and aspire to be more humane and decent...in other words, more perfect in our duty as citizens.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
The Gate of Seville fortress is one of the most emblematic elements of the extensive and extremely rich architectural heritage that Carmona boasts.
Although archeological remains dated between the 14th and the 12th century B. C. have been found, it has been shown that the origins of Carmona date to the 9th century B.C., which is why this monument – which was declared as being of historic and artistic interest, even before that honour was bestowed on the Giralda in Sevilla – reflects, as if it were a diary, the milestones and events in the history of the West which the town has taken either part in or witnessed.
Indeed, the culture of all the inhabitants of the peninsular, whether they be the western Mediterranean peoples, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Moors and, finally, the Christians, can be said to have been engraved on the ashlar stone of the Gate of Seville.
In order to repel Roman army attacks, the Carthaginians built a bastion on top of the original tower – dating from the VIII century B.C. – giving it the first traces of its present heavy, powerful quadrangular design. During the rule of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the Carthaginian structure was reinforced and reformed, as can be seen in the group of defensive gates that have survived to the present day. A temple was built on top of the bastion, from which the base is still partly preserved.
These alterations and additions and others carried out by the Romans, especially in the first century AD, transformed Carmona into “the strongest city of the Betica during ancient times”, as Julius Caesar, who himself was very familiar with the town´s defensive capability, proclaimed.
During the Islamic period, several additions and alterations were carried out; a horseshoe arch from the Caliphate period, – dating to the 10th century -, and another external pointed horseshoe arch from the Almohad age, (12th century). Later, during the reign of king Pedro I, in the 14th century, other alterations were made to the site.
In the 1970s, the houses which adjoined the fortress were torn down and, in 1973, the last major changes were carried out, enabling the restoration and opening of the Presos Bajo and Alto rooms, the Aljibes courtyard and the Golden Tower, from which magnificent views of all the town of Carmona can be enjoyed.
“Theologians call faith a sure but obscure habit (habitus) of the soul;” obscure, because “it brings us to believe divinely revealed truths that transcend every natural light and infinitely exceed all human understanding. As a result, the excessive light of faith bestowed on a soul is darkness for it; a brighter light will eclipse and suppress a dimmer one.” “So the light of faith suppresses and overwhelms that of the intellect through its abundance. For the intellect, by its own power, extends only to natural knowledge.”
-THE SCIENCE OF THE CROSS Edith Stein
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Discalced Carmelite The Collected Works of Edith Stein VI Translated by Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D.
Edited by Dr. L. Gelber and Romaeus Leuven, O.C.D.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
If you are ever driving between Macon and Cluny take the old road. Its slower but you drive through the Val Lamartine and through a number of pretty villages . One of these is the village of Berze-La-Ville, if you drive in to the village it does not look so special . You might explore and you will come across a small chapel called the Chapelle des Moines. You might pass by as it looks rather ordinary . However if you do venture inside you will find one of the true masterpieces of Byzantine art in Europe. These frescos from the early twelfth century were whitewashed over till 1887 . They were restored by an English woman Joan Evans in the 1950s the work was supported by a group of people from Fort Worth in Texas. I have visited the chapel many times we used to stay regularly in a nearby hamlet called Sommere . Once I saw a concert there by a string quartet its a small chapel so no more than forty people could attend the concert . To listen to Mozart and gaze on these murals was an unforgettable evening
More info if you are interested
A unique example of Burgundian Cluniac mural paintings which are of a remarkable quality, attests to a Cluniac style with Italo-Byzantine influences and therefore underlines the close links that the abbots of Cluny maintained with Rome and Monte Cassino, the source of the Benedictine Order, which maintained links with the Byzantine Empire.
Located ten or so kilometres from the abbey, the villa in Berzé-la-Ville served as a place for the abbots of Cluny to spend their vacations and was particularly appreciated by Abbot Hugh of Semur. The construction of the chapel of Berzé-la-Ville is attributed to this abbot and builder, and the paintings—they have a very distinctive style that distinguishes them from surviving examples of French Roman mural paintings—may be the work of artists who had come to work on Cluny abbey.
The painted decorations in the chapel, which seem to have been confined to the apse[are arranged in three sections. In the lower section, busts of saints seem to emerge from behind a hanging that covers the lower half of their bodies. Inscriptions identify them as saints of eastern and western origin.
The middle sections is pierced with three apertures flanked by two blind arches, in which are represented the scenes of the martyrdom of St Blaise to the north and St Vincent to the south. I
In the centre of the cul-de-four vault that constitutes the third section, Christ is in Majesty he is represented on a throne in a mandorla: He is bestowing a blessing on St Paul with his right hand and is handing a phylactery to St Peter with his left hand.
THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.
I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .
The West Coast has been under the influence of a prodigious atmospheric river that has brought us high winds, and dumped copious amounts of rain and snow. I look out my window and see the land opening itself to this bountiful infusion of moisture. It's gray and chilly, but I rest easy in the knowledge, that the beauty of spring is Nature's way of showing gratitude for the gifts, that winter with its tempestuous wisdom has bestowed upon the earth. Still, somedays it's nice to imagine a fairytale garden full of light and color.
Happy Fence Friday everyone.
Image imagined in MidJourney AI and finished with Topaz Studio 2.0 and Lightroom Classic.
It is in deeds that man becomes aware of what his life really is, of his power to harm and to hurt, to wreck and to ruin; of his ability to derive joy and to bestow it upon others; to relieve and to increase his own and other people’s tensions. It is in the employment of his will, not in reflection, that he meets his own self as it is; not as he should like it to be. In his deeds man exposes his immanent as well as his suppressed desires, spelling even that which he cannot apprehend. What he may not dare to think, he often utters in deeds. The heart is revealed in deeds.
-Thunder in the Soul To Be Known by God, Abraham Joshua Heschel
Мы в осень погрузились незаметно.
В лавину желтизны опавших листьев,
Они, как безусловная примета,
Обрывки позабытых нами писем.
Живём, как жили, осень только снится,
И хочется, чтоб снилась бесконечно,
Ведь сон не сможет снова повториться,
И осень тоже слишком быстротечна.
Она не оставляет равнодушных,
Всем дарит и любовь и восхищенье,
В ней лицемерья нет и нет бездушья,
Она и сон, и явь и наважденье.
Она – то, что даровано природой,
Пора надежд и ярких листопадов,
Она пленит нас даже непогодой,
И согревает чувственностью взглядов…
......................................................................................................
We plunged into autumn unnoticed.
Into the avalanche of yellowness of fallen leaves,
They are, as an absolute sign,
Fragments of letters we have forgotten.
We live as we lived, autumn is just a dream,
And I want to dream endlessly,
After all, the dream will not be able to repeat itself again,
And autumn is also too fleeting.
She does not leave anyone indifferent,
It gives everyone both love and admiration,
There is no hypocrisy in it and there is no soullessness,
She is a dream, a reality and an obsession.
She is something that is bestowed by nature,
It's time for hopes and bright leaf falls,
She will captivate us even in bad weather,
And warms with sensuality of views…
Dahlia- a true symbol of love and happiness
Anders (or Andreas) Dahl (17 March 1751 in Varnhem, Västergötland – 25 May 1789) was a Swedish botanist and student of Carl Linnaeus. The dahlia flower is named after him.
The naming of the dahlia after Dahl has long been a subject of some confusion. Many sources state that the name was bestowed by Linnaeus. However, Linnaeus died in 1778, more than eleven years before the plant was introduced into Europe, so he could not have been the one to honour his former student. It is most probable that first attempt to scientifically define the genus was done by Abbe Antonio Jose Cavanilles, Director of the Royal Gardens of Madrid, who received the first specimens from Mexico in 1791, two years after Dahl's death.
This may well be my favorite image of the year so far to date, two reasons why, one the atmosphere and light was nigh on perfect and two, the character of the tree itself. It’s a tree I came across back in August and have scouted twice before, trying to decide from which side I should photograph him. This side is slightly more elevated and his protruding arm like branches are more poignant. It’s a small Oak really and seems to be stunted in growth, so not really a king of oaks but more like a softy prince, if you get my meaning.
He seems to be in some sort of flap or excitement of the colours of autumn bestowed upon him like gold coins being thrown to him from the poorest taxpayer but still poses a slight snobbery with his pointy fingers.
A great character no less and I have marked this composition for a fours season project, which I have been desperately trying to do for 5 years now.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
As I am privy to seeing these and the Western Grebs often I am becoming so taken by their intricate, involved and fascinating ritualized courtship display. There is a lot of synchronized head bobbing and weaving in unison and then this offering of food being passed to one another (referred to as: (Passing off") to gain affection of the other to begin a bid to mate. Lastly, and in culmination to the aforementioned comes a square off looking directly into each other eyes with beaks flat on the water in a face off, this is the final act before the "Rush" where they run on top of the water in a display like no other. This frame as the rush frame had eluded me for some time.
I am so honored to witness and capture this amazing ritual nature has bestowed upon this wonderful species of bird.
Thanks for stopping by and if you leave a comment that is always appreciated.
These are shamoji, paddle-spoons used to scoop rice out of the pot. I've seen them once in a while over doors to houses, but this place seemed to have a particularly nice set. Why is this done? Even Japanese people ask this question, and online I found a "top answer" with various reasons given, which I've translated:
・Rice taker: Takes away evil spirits. ・Rice source: A symbol of food and abundance. ・Taga faith: Since rice scoops are given out at Taga Taisha, they serve as a talisman. ・Tadpole: Also known as the "Otaga Shakushi," the symbol of Taga Taisha, its shape resembles a tadpole that transforms into something bigger (meaning development), and its shape resembles a fetus or a crescent moon, signifying growth. ・Mountain god: The mountain god's sacred crest resembles a rice scoop, so it is connected to the belief in the mountain god. ・New Year faith: It is said that the mountain god transforms into a New Year god in winter, which is considered auspicious. ・Symbol of women: Prosperity, good child-rearing, etc.
Editor's note: Taga shrine is known as a place that can bestow longevity in relationships...
Oh, and yes, this is the same house as the last photo, for those with sharp eyes. Which is all of y'all.