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"Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale".
Elsa Schiaparelli
Francia, Normandia, Honfleur, estate 2004
Honfleur è situata sulla riva sud dell'estuario della Senna, di fronte a Le Havre.
È conosciuta per il suo vecchio porto pittoresco, circondato di case coperte di ardesie. Fu spesso rappresentata da artisti, tra i quali Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet e Johan Barthold Jongkind, che formarono la "Scuola di Honfleur" che contribuì alla comparsa del movimento impressionista.
Honfleur is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine river, vis-a-vis from Le Havre. It is known for its picturesque old port, surrounded by houses covered of slates. It was often represented by artists, as Gustave Courbet, Eugene Boudin, Claude Monet and Johan Barthold Jongkind, who formed the School of Honfleur which contributed to the impressionist movement.
Hello everyone, this is my long awaited Cyber Sushi MOC, a cyberpunk custom build that I worked on throughout 2018 and early 2019. The concept is basically a sushi restaurant located on top of four large pillars in the middle of a cyberpunk city district with smaller buildings. If I recall correctly I was inspired to do this by some Ninjago Movie concept art or just cyberpunk concept art in general which I consume by the terabytes. I personally loved this MOC and it was one of my biggest accomplishments of the era, it doesn't have any motorized functions but it does include a battery box with lighting for the interior as well as color-changing RGBs in the front glass window which can be seen in the following video. Some of you might already be familiar with it because I did do a full walkthrough on my YouTube channel which you can check out here youtu.be/YpBEzlLBm1s
I'm glad I can finally share the photos with all of you, and I hope you like it! I plan on writing individual captions and details for each photo but since I'm uploading a huge batch it'll take some time to write but stay tuned for more MOCs as well as a big announcement that I'm making soon. I'm so happy to be back in the community after all these years and I want to contribute more creations to the global LEGO Moc community.
Long Live LEGO!
2018 NJ BALD EAGLE PROJECT REPORT
by: Larissa Smith, CWF Wildlife Biologist
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ in partnership with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, has released the 2018 NJ Bald Eagle Project Report.
“Two hundred-four nest sites were monitored during the nesting season, of which 185 were documented to be active (with eggs) and 19 were territorial or housekeeping pairs. Thirty new eagle pairs were found this season, 20 in the south, nine in central and one in the north. One hundred-twenty-one nests (66%) of the 182 known-outcome nests produced 172 young, for a productivity rate of 0.94 young per active/known-outcome nest. The failure rate was well above average with 61 nests (33%) failing to produce. The Delaware Bay region remained the state’s eagle stronghold, with roughly half of nests located in Cumberland and Salem counties and the bayside of Cape May County.”
The number of active nests has increased while the number of young eagles fledged has decreased since a high of 216 young fledged in 2016. During the 2018 eagle nesting season there was an abundance of cold, wet, windy and snowy weather which was the cause for a portion of the nest failures. As the eagle population increases, there are more eagles competing for territories. This can also be a contributing factor in nest failures. NJ is still in the range of 0.9 to 1.1 young per nest which is needed for population maintenance with a productivity rate of 0.94 young per known-outcome/active nest in 2018. The 2018 NJ Eagle Project Report has all the details on the project including telemetry, re-sightings and recoveries.
The success of the eagle project is due to the tremendous dedication of the NJ Eagle Project Volunteers. They monitor the nests in all types of conditions and education people about the eagles with enthusiasm.
Link to the 2018 NJ Bald Eagle Project Report: www.conservewildlifenj.org/downloads/cwnj_852.pdf
Issues contributing to luna moth rarity:
◦Habitat degradation and fragmentation
◦Light pollution in areas of human habitation can disrupt mating behavior and has a negative impact on their populations – the adult moths are strongly attracted to light
◦Pesticide accumulation in the environment
◦The European fly Compsilura concinnata, a parasite deliberately introduced to the USA throughout much of the 20th century as a biological control for non-native, invasive gypsy moths, can parasitize more than 150 species of butterflies and moths in North America, crippling and killing non-target species
I was thrilled to find this luna moth, one of two I saw here today!
State Parks are great!
The best of our 848 captures are in a mini-themed album:
• Outing to Oconee State Park, SC – 2021APR13
◦ Moody Spring – 2021APR13 – SC Highway 107
◦ Oconee State Park – 2021APR13 – Mountain Rest, SC
◦ Wigington Overlook – 2021APR13 – SC Highway 413
Hope you enjoy 35% of these 155 luna captures I took today!
Enfield Garage was never known for tidy buses as RM 2074 confirms in this view at the garage on 2 May 1982. For that time of the year it would be unlikely that road conditions have directly contributed to the dirty state of the bus so less than diligent washing over time is probably to blame. Careless fuel filling has caused staining and hydraulic fluid spill has acted like glue to attract dirt. An unusual position for a dent, a missing wheel nut guard and a roof showing signs of outside parking plus a lot of mileage under trees at the northern end of the 279`s add to the scruffy appearance.
From the notes of where I went on that date it appears that I was at Enfield before midday so it is an unusual capture of an advert fixer working at that time of day.
Their work generally started at evening run-in to be, logically, on site when most buses were. But if a new advert contract start required multiple buses to be attended to - or to catch up on a backlog - daytime working occasionally happened. Can`t help thinking that the Health & Safety requirements now would outlaw standing on a ladder propped against the bus and using a paste brush in one hand whilst holding a large paper advert (or a bill as they were always called) in the other hand.
With all due respect please do not Arward and Banners for me, it contributes nothing and I prefer a fave or a comment, both is also warmly appreciated.....:-))
The New York Court of Appeals Building, officially referred to as Court of Appeals Hall, is located at the corner of Eagle and Pine streets in central Albany, New York, United States. It is a stone Greek Revival building designed in the mid-19th century by Henry Rector. In 1971 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of six buildings housing a state's highest court currently so recognized.[note 1] Seven years later it was included as a contributing property when the Lafayette Park Historic District was listed on the Register.
At the time it was built it was known simply as the State Hal 244
While driving back from Snaefellsnes Peninsula to Reykjavik, it happened to be foggy while we drive pass the lake which surprisingly contributed to the serene, otherworldly scene.
Built in 1923, this Pueblo Revival-style building was designed under the purview of superintendent Jesse L. Nusbaum, and built to serve as the Headquarters for Mesa Verde National Park. The building is clad in rough-hewn stone with casement windows, porches with wooden and stone columns, vigas, and parapets. The building is a contributing structure in the Mesa Verde Administrative District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
(Copyright © 2015 K Harwin)
All photographers should visit Portsmouth, there is so much to photograph. Portsmouth is now on my favourite places to photograph.
The Emirates Spinnaker Tower
The tower a 170-metre (560 ft) landmark tower in Portsmouth, England, UK.
The tower represents sails billowing in the wind, a design accomplished using two large, white, sweeping metal arcs, which give the tower its spinnaker sail design.
Planning began in 2000, construction began 2001 and was completed in mid-2005, due to repeated delays and extra funding requests by the builders.
The project came in over budget, with an overall cost of £35.6 million for the tower alone. Taxpayers were never intended to fund the tower, but Portsmouth City Council eventually contributed £11.1 million towards construction.
Equipment & Settings Used.
Camera: Canon EOS 70D
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
Filter: B+W ND 110
Exposure: 1/320
Aperture: f/10.0
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Software: Adobe Lighroom 6
Tripod: Giottos 9351B
Tripod Head: Giottos MH1300-621 Ball Head
Please do not download, copy, edit, reproduce or publish any of my images. They are all my own work and are not for use without my express written permissi
If you do Facebook and appreciate vintage, and not so vintage, images of steam railways, consider joining my Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/641198139996056/
You don't have to necessarily contribute pics, just join in the discussion or enjoy the images.
On the JiTong Railway, sub zero temperatures make for spectacular steam and smoke effects as a pair of QJ 2-10-2s (7002 + 7041) get their heavy freight under way after a signal check at Dariqiga in Inner Mongolia on 22 February 2005.
V200_2_241_1600
A view of the south side of Lockhart's courthouse square. Shown here is the 100 block of E. Market St. as seen from S. Main St. The buildings shown in this view are contributing properties in the Caldwell County Courthouse Square Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
On the corner at 100 E. Market St. is the E. L. Bowden Building, built in 1889 for a hardware business. The facade has been much altered with plaster, however, the two-story commercial building still retains its original ornamental awning hooks across the front and down its entire west side.
Next door at 102 E. Market St. is the former First National Bank of Lockhart Building. Constructed in 1888, this two-story, three-bay stuccoed building has two one-story Doric columns sup- porting the central bay, while flanking pilasters terminate the sides. The original openings have been replaced, but the decorative molding over the first floor is still evident. The second floor contains a wide central window, flanked by narrower windows. An applied cornice with large double brackets and a triangular parapet crown the building.
The third building from the corner is the Flowers and Storey Building at 104-106 E. Market. Constructed in 1902, this building originally housed a barber shop and druggist's office.
The two-story, originally redbrick building is distinguished by the recessed entrance sheltered by an arcade of three round arches supported by two central Corinthian columns. The three-bay building is divided by brick pilasters on the second floor. Two round arched windows form the central bay, while flat arched windows form the end bays. These windows have been replaced with aluminum windows. The building is crowned by decorative corbelling and a parapet over the central bay.
When the building was built an agreement was made with the bank to the west to build and maintain a common stairway to each building's second floor. The first floor entrance has recently been bricked over, but the narrow round arched window on the second floor is still evident.
There are five other buildings in this block, but our view of them is obscured by a tree and light pole. The five buildings were all constructed between 1889 and 1910, and originally housed businesses including two saloons, a confectionery, barber shop, and storehouse.
Lockhart, a community of 14,811 at the 2020 census, is the seat of Caldwell County and is located just 30 miles south of the state capital in downtown Austin. Lockhart's square and downtown is filled with late 19th and early 20th century buildings, nearly all contributing properties to the historic district. The city's turn-of-the-century appearance has attracted the attention of film makers. Over 50 films for the theater and TV have been shot in whole or in part in Lockhart, including the 1996 Christopher Guest comedy film Waiting for Guffman and the 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
The first Jenkins County Courthouse was erected in 1908, and burned to the ground in 1910. This courthouse, the original building's replacement, was erected in the following two years. It was designed by Lewis F. Goodrich who employed Classical Revival and Renaissance Revival elements to replicate the previous 1908 edifice.
Like the vast majority of Georgia's historic county courthouses, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as a multiple resources listing. It is also a contributing property to the Downtown Millen Historic District, listed in 1996.
Millen, Georgia is a small town located in the east of the state, between Augusta and Statesboro.
I hope you'll enjoy the my images as much as I enjoyed taking them.
When I get out of the water, I'm so happy - 5 Goose gosling they often bite each other little wings and feet. Sometimes they wrestled among themselves. It was the first time I watched them chasing and fighting each other. Greylag Geese was following the family around made the father very uneasy. The sun emerging through the clouds this morning contributed to the colours on my photos from time to time.
Quick note - Sorry I know a little too much for the 15 Goose gosling photo series.
Canada goose gosling - The baby geese, called goslings, take about a month to hatch. Hatchlings are covered with yellowish down and their eyes are open. They leave the nest when 1-2 days old, depending on weather, and can walk, swim, feed, and even dive. They have enough energy remaining in their yolk sac to survive 2 days before feeding. Babies are covered with soft feathers called down. They hatch with their eyes open and will leave the nest within 24 hours, following their parents. Goslings can swim right away. In less than two months, the goslings grow adult feathers and learn to fly.
How many goslings can Canadian geese have?
Gang broods may range from 20 to 100 goslings following just a few adults. Gang broods are more common in areas of high nest density. Family groups of parents, that year's offspring, and sometimes 1 or 2 of the previous year's goslings stay together well into the winter.
How long before baby geese can fly?
Eggs hatch after 25 to 30 days of incubation. The young, called goslings, can walk, swim, and feed within 24 hours. Both parents (especially the gander) vigorously defend the goslings until they are able to fly, which is at about ten weeks. The young geese remain with their family group for about one year.
Do Canadian geese return to the same place every year?
Nest sites are chosen to offer some protection from exposure to wind while giving the incubating female a clear line of sight to detect approaching predators. Female Canada Geese always return to nest in the same area where their parents nested and often use the same nest site year after year.
In spring and summer, geese concentrate their feeding on grasses and sedges, including skunk cabbage leaves and eelgrass. During fall and winter, they rely more on berries and seeds, including agricultural grains, and seem especially fond of blueberries. They’re very efficient at removing kernels from dry corn cobs. Two subspecies have adapted to urban environments and graze on domesticated grasses year round.
Thank you so much for visiting my stream, whether you comments , favorites or just have a look.
I appreciate it very much, wishing the best of luck and good light.
© All rights reserved R.Ertug Please do not use this image without my explicit written permission. Contact me by Flickr mail if you want to buy or use Your comments and critiques are very well appreciated.
Lens - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f5.6 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Thanks for stopping and looking :)
YouTube channel "ALPS picture & tales"
Instagram @roberto.bertero
Night shot obtained zooming out with my lens, from 40mm to 17mm, during an exposure time of only 30 seconds, ISO 6400. Obviously camera on tripod.
Shot taken in the far September 27th 2011 while I was wandering during the night at the foot of Mount Paterno (Dolomites), whose tormented ridges look also as visually drag during the use of my zoom.
On the left, the more brilliant line is generated by planet Jupiter. The gas giant in our solar system that shines, especially on moonless nights, more than any star because of its "proximity" to the Earth.
Therefore, I hope it is clear, nothing to do with the star trail technique, which itself is often largely misunderstood. In that case you need to set a long exposure of at least 15 minutes up to what you want, also a few hours, by pointing your camera towards the Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere, or Sigma Octantis if your are in the Southern Hemisphere, then you obtain concentric trails. Also it is possible to point the camera toward any other cardinal point in order to get more "parallel" trails the more you get closer to the celestial equator.
Instead, in this shot the trails appear to come from a single point, as a sort of Big Bang structure, which wouldn't be obtainable in any other way except that zooming during exposure.
The fact of being able to get a similar shot in just 30 seconds (without having to wait hours!) undoubtedly has its advantages. An image like this definitely belongs within the field of abstract photography... this implies it may be necessary to make a few attempts before to get a "making sense" dialogue between the various elements visible and less visible to the naked eye.
Here it seemed to me that the shining Jupiter on the left, the ridges of Paterno at the bottom as well as on the right, and the central "point of origin", due to the lens zooming, contribute to create a logical structure in the overall image (hopefully also with a symbolic meaning).
_____________________
©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Dug out of the archive to contribute to a photo club theme entitled "Hands and Feet". Taken on July 12th, 2008 at my home when I lived in the Charente, France. The adult finger is my left index finger and the tiny hand clutching it is my grand-daughter Hermione's. Dicey shot: I had to hold the camera in the other hand to take the shot.
Type 'l' to view in flickr's 'Lightbox". Repeat to return.
Personal ref: 20080712-DSC_4569-SmallForWebBWversion.
Not quite of Germanic origin; in fact, this type of cake was invented by Sam German, a chocolate maker that had contributed to the development of dark baking chocolate, that of which is used in the recipe of this confectionery delight.
It's close to 7PM here in the west coast... a bit early for cake, but I couldn't resist. Conceivably, I'll have to find another dessert post dinner. Still, I do need to load up on carbs tonight. Perhaps I'll have some Italian breadsticks with marinara while I catch up on my Batman tetralogy. Last weekend, I've missed my chance of acquiring one of those warm, soft-pretzels during my open carb-window. Maybe I'll go and grab one tonight?
Built in the 19th Century, this wood-frame three-bay Italianate-style shotgun house features a brick porch, added in the early 20th Century, second-story windows that extend below the bracketed cornice, asbestos shingle siding, and a breezeway to a side veranda, a very rare feature in local architecture of the size of this house, but is more commonly seen with larger structures. The house stands on Patton Street in Covington’s Austinburg neighborhood, and is a contributing structure in the Austinburg Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The dray.
Its working life has long expired and today it is relegated to a corner in the paddock where it rests and it's main
use is perhaps that of an ornament.
Its metallic wheels are now covered in rust as it the other metal parts that adorn the old dray.
The once solid timber that formed its sturdy body and would have carried huge and heavy loads is now showing signs of decay.
Back in its day the dray would have played a key role in the transportation of many a varied load all of which contributed to life of our early pioneers who founded this district.
Rest easy old dray for you have served your time well.
Theresa Park, New South Wales, Australia.
#TheresaPark
#newsouthwales
#australia
#dray
#camdenmacarthurexposed
#iarphotographics
#rusty
#metalicwheels
#chain
#transportation
#Pioneering
#District
#fence
#paddock
#loads
#working
#lifestyle
#image
#sturdy
#railings
#ornamental
Davidson-Thomas House Quincy FL
Contributing Building - Quincy Historic District - National Register of Historic Places.
This house was built by J.E.A Davidson who served as a state senator for Gadsden County in 1868. The semi-circular porch, added in 1890, is supported by six Corinthian columns. Charles W. Thomas purchased the home in 1926. He and his son, Charles, operated a large lumber mill, grew shade tobacco and raised livestock on their extensive land holdings. Thomas Memorial Baptist Church is Thomas’s gift to the Quincy congregation
2024-09-07, Day 1
The low-angle light of early evening fills the sky with hints of gold to match the foliage of the autumn willows (Salix spp). The reds contributed by Dwarf Birch (Betula nana) intermingle to paint the tundra with outrageous beauty, Burwash Uplands, Kluane First Nation, Yukon.
Some months following our multi-day off-trail adventure in the mountains of Alberta in 2022, my friend and I began studying maps of the Kluane Range, which still supports the largest non-polar continuous ice sheet in North America. In Alaska this Range is referred to as the St. Elias Range, but in the Yukon the maps once again bear the name of the First Nation people who have made a life here for millennia.
Specifically, my readings and infatuation with the idea of seeing bears, wolves, and immense ice consistently brought me to the Donjek Route. The Route originates more or less from the First Nation town of Burwash Landing, then climbs through the eastern-most flank of the Kluane Range via a difficult and very steep pass, and then up the Donjek River for a glimpse of one finger of the massive ice and the tallest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan (19,551 ft; 5,959 m). The way back to the Uplands and to return to Burwash Landing requires navigating two more passes with scree descents described as “very steep” by Parks Canada, an organization no doubt known as much for its dry sense of humor as its helpful route descriptions. Once the steep scree-laden passes are negotiated, a river crossing is required, and then a short bushwhack up 500 feet to the next drainage where one ostensibly follows the increasingly voluminous creek back to Burwash Landing. In total, approximately 68 miles (105 km) of trail-less wilderness, and constituting a place on earth where one is likely to encounter Grizzly Bear, wolves, moose, caribou, fox, Dall Sheep, Willow Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, and other resourceful critters. The thought of seeing these species in their native habitat was thrilling, and where Ursus arctos is considered, also the source of a mild form of anxiety. Early this year during one of our frequent night hikes, we resolved to pay our respects while the body is still able.
The arrival into Whitehorse from Vancouver did not unspool quite as planned, and as a result we found ourselves arriving in Burwash Landing at half past 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The easiest way to begin walking the Donjek Route involves traveling along the Alaska Canada Highway for about 6 miles northwest of Burwash Landing to then begin ascending the Duke River toward the Burwash Uplands where a good campsite is another 8 miles distance. At the other end of the Route, the walker finds oneself meeting the Highway 4 miles southeast of Burwash Landing.
To avoid 10 miles of road walking, we thought to enquire at the local convenience store and fuel station whether any of the staff had a friend interested in some cash in exchange for following us to the trail egress where we would leave our rental vehicle, and then ferrying us and our packs to the Duke River Bridge. After discussing this idea with the cashier, she placed a call to her friend Kevin who was interested. In an ancient Subaru with over 250,000 km on it and a broken speedometer, and after dropping the rental car, Kevin managed to ascend 3 km up the gravel road along the Duke River before it became too deeply flooded for him to proceed. He left us to our devices and we commenced negotiating the water, mud, moss, and willows.
At the beginning of the Donjek Route, there is no signage or trail, but one follows clearly defined mining roads that see progressively less use as one ascends to the Burwash Uplands. At length, we found ourselves at tree line on a broad, sloping terrace draped in more moss-rich tundra than I have ever experienced. Oddly enough, neither of us had thought much about autumn color prior to arriving in Whitehorse. However, happenstance delivered peak autumn Yukon hues to the senses along with many hours of low-angle, golden light. The spirit of the place is enchanting. And due to the lateness of the season the risk of snow was counterbalanced by the complete lack of mosquitoes.
shot with the latest iPhone (perhaps processed in one or more desktop or iOS apps) and finished in photoshop.
an ongoing project contributing to my pocket project flickr set.
Keeping my fingers tightly crossed that this is not the next thing to go wrong in my home!!!
"Calgary’s unusually cold start to the winter is causing headaches for homeowners, property managers and tenants, and response requests are busier than ever. A big issue is ATTIC RAIN: a phenomenon caused by prolonged extreme cold spells & poor ventilation followed by rapid warming of temperatures. It’s caused by excessive moisture building up in the attic, which then freezes to beams and ceilings. When temperatures rise, the frost melts and leaks through the ceiling.
There are a number of contributing factors to attic rain such as but not limited to poor intake ventilation, exhaust, high humidity or lack of insulation. These can all contribute to the process, making it tough to nail down the cause.
These problems become visible when temperatures start to climb, melting the frost and creating leaks. The leaks can manifest themselves by entering the dwelling through light fixtures, bathroom exhaust vents, down the sides of walls and ceilings. You may notice drips/stains in your ceilings that were not there before. Those stains could be an early indicator that an expert should be called in to inspect the attic." From Residential Services on 11 January 2022.
Today, 11 January 2022, our temperature got up to about PLUS 8°C. Sunrise is at 8:36 am and sunset is at 4:52 pm. A lovely sunny day! Starting yesterday, our deepfreeze has finally come to an end - at least until the next one.
How good this felt when I was out on a walk at Carburn Park again this morning, 11 January 2022! The continuing several Trumpeter Swans and one Tundra Swan looked so different in the sunshine compared to how they looked a few days ago. The sleepy Porcupine was an extra special treat (at least to me).
I haven't yet edited photos from today, so am posting another five images from my archives. I am adding the description that I wrote under a previously posted photo taken the same day.
"In the early afternoon of 7 November 2014, I drove over to the east end of Fish Creek Park and was lucky enough to see two of these beautiful Rusty Blackbirds. IUCN Status: Vulnerable. I very rarely see these birds, so I’m always glad when I do see one. It was interesting to watch this one pick up and then toss aside endless leaves to check underneath them for food. Eventually, it did find a big, fat, juicy water worm of some kind, and ate it. As you can see from the photo, this bird is camouflaged quite well in those surroundings."
“The Rusty Blackbird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species. The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years and scientists are completely puzzled as to what is the cause. They are relatively uncommon denizens of wooded swamps, breeding in the boreal forest and wintering in the eastern U.S. In winter, they travel in small flocks and are identified by their distinctive rusty feather edges and pallid yellow eyes.” From AllAboutBirds.
I haven't contributed to the Macro Monday group for a while, so it is my pleasure to wish you all a HMM!
Having just bought my first Speedlight, I would like to say a big thank you to my friend Di (PhotosbyDi) who has provided me with useful and helpful material to help get me started. This is my first attempt with it and there is much to learn, but it has been a lot of fun experimenting this evening!
#278 in Explore 15th November
#195 on 16th November
Day 92
9th November 2009
We drove back from Norfolk to Somerset today, it look 7 hours. Eek. We took in some castles and had a picnic in the cold on the way, which admittedly did contribute to the length of time it took us to get home!
The weather was very strange this morning but good rainbow weather. This shot is obviously very processed but I thought it could get away with it
Perspective
How am I up here
Flying alongside Snow Geese?
Oh…it’s just a dream!
Essay
In my current environment I spend a lot of time observing waterfowl. I have begun to notice, in passing, peculiar traits which not only define the characters of various ducks, swans, and geese but also contribute to their success as a species.
For example, placid dabblers like Mallards immediately go into a panic mode at the first sign of an eagle. They will break into groups flying north, south, east, and west to various hide-outs. It's as though this organized chaos was rehearsed to confuse the predator.
While they are going through their frantic maneuvers, the Mergansers and diving ducks like Common Golden-eye appear completely unconcerned. Perhaps they know eagles have no interest in them because the chances of nabbing one of these expert underwater swimmers is close to nil.
In late winter, Canada Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese split up into small groups and feed on the first green Tule shoots. The former are some of the most cautious and unapproachable of all the waterfowl in the wild. However, when they descend on a town's ponds and rivers, they undergo a complete personality change. These surly town Honkers will congregate on walk-ways forcing joggers to go around and generally make a public nuisance of themselves.
In early spring, the dusky colored White-fronted Geese try to lose themselves amongst the superior numbers of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans. They are much more deliberative than the Canadas. Like Tundra Swans they will sometimes fly as soon as they spot me even at a great distance. At other times, especially when I am in my truck, they will allow me to get quite close. This unpredictable shifting between docility and wildness befuddles me. There is something very mysterious about this ebb and flow of moods and motivations.
Finally, Snow Geese are the ultimate collectivists. Numbering in the thousands they will languish together in a large pond or graze as tight as sheep on the first green sprouts showing in the soggy marsh soil. It crossed my mind that they are striving to meld into a massive singular entity like a living, deafening cloud. This unified noise and action is their power and security.
The other day, as I approached one of these massive flocks, their murmurings became louder and more urgent the closer I got. When a few swans flew off here and there, the clamorous chorus seemed to be building towards some phenomenal crescendo. It reminded me of the engines of a 747 revving up to full thrust just before take-off. Then a couple of Canvasback Ducks scrambled across the water's surface followed by four Snow Geese rising up out of the flock which span close to a quarter mile of shoreline.
That was the cue for the great explosion. A white mass rose off the water and filled the sky in a matter of seconds. The din of so many beating wings and frantic cries always takes my breath away. There is nothing like it! Perhaps the great flocks of Passenger Pigeons were more spectacular but the strategy did not serve them as well.
These geese with all the accompanying waterfowl simply flew over and landed on another pond a half a mile south. These Snow Geese, which nest in or near the arctic circle, will carb up for a couple of weeks to make the long flight to their next layover--maybe in lower B.C. When they leave, it will be in stages. One wedge of twenty or thirty geese after the other will navigate north up over Picture Rock Pass or Klipple Point and out of the valley until not one remains.
Copyright photo.
Fig 227: Athens' Acropolis from Philopappos hill. This particularly memorable form was a citadel before its famous temples were built. It has remained an outstanding example of civilization's response to landform.
We arrive in Greece with Athens crowned by that most famous example of civilized response to special landform, ATHENS' ACROPOLIS . The Acropolis was one of the earliest settlements in Greek antiquity. Its plateaued top, 100m above the plain of Attica, attracted an original community to this strategic position around 4,000 BC. This site later became a focus of court life, a Mycenaean king's citadel, and fortified with Cyclopean walls.
The Acropolis hill is a limestone block, and the buildings were to intentionally emphasize its form. Several architects working in harmony designed the asymmetric grouping of marble structures. It was to provide a related composition to be reminder to the town's people below, and to enhance movement of processions within the rock-pedestalled group. Everyone in society contributed.
lingering longer. looking closer. really seeing. listening, pondering, sifting, solidifying.
feeling, sharing; opened up like a chestnut ready for roasting, the prickles are gone.
( habit! )
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[4 images in this series] Langworthy Farm, built 1875, near Westerly, Rhode Island, is a fine example of domestic Second Empire style, the mansard roof with the additional top floor contributing to the sense of mass and size. The house is essentially a large 2-story front section with a 1-story wing symmetrically positioned as the rear part of the house. The roof, which can't be viewed as a conventional roof, is of asphalt and uses a fish-scale pattern of shingling. Four interior chimneys and a widow's walk of ornamental woodwork with 4 finials top the dwelling. The expected dormer windows accent the roof with their top arched panes; the windows have elaborate surrounds with elaborate woodwork at the bottom sides. Brackets in the cornice appear to alternate from small to large. The side facades of the front portion of the house have five 2/2 windows with window hoods and green shutters and a 4-sided bay window with 1/1 narrow panes. The bay windows with bracketing at the roof are positioned differently on each side. The rear wing dispenses with window hoods. The entrance is by means of a front porch; the wing has a porch on either side, but they are not identical. The front facade shows 3 dormer windows. Below those on the second floor are 3 windows positioned below the dormers--one pair of very narrow 1/1 panes flanked by wider windows with 2/2; the second floor windows are hooded. The porch extends the width of the house with four slender square posts supporting the roof. The post brackets display ornamental scrollwork. The porch railing consists of turned balusters, and is entered by four wood steps to the entry--a single wooden door with arched transom with a sun-burst design and with sidelights of 4 panes with a vertical orientation.
The house has 15 rooms with 7,400 square feet. It currently functions as a bread & breakfast. It's assessed value is close to $2,000,000. This was a farmhouse when built, although it's difficult to envision this in that usage. The house occupies the site of a former home of Samuel Ward, governor of Rhode Island twice and a founder and trustee of Brown University. [More info at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ward_(American_statesman)]. I have a more than normal interest in this building--I'm descended from the Langworthy family of the Westerly area
The four images are as follows:
1) front facade
2) side facade to the left on front entrance
3) side facade to the right of front entrance with rear wing
4) detailed view of roof and dormer windows on wing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
I'm convinced that looking out the window and seeing these two increases the quality of people's lives and maybe even the value of their property.
Do you think there's a polite way I could ask people to contribute to Jimmy and Mack's upkeep? They're not cheap.
REFORD GARDENS | LES JARDINS DE METIS
MECONOPSIS BETONICIFOLIA
Himalayan flower imported by Elsie Reford in the early 1930s that has since become the floral emblem of the Gardens.
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
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Built in 1910-11 by F.W. Cunningham & Sons, this Neoclassical courthouse was designed by architects Guy Lowell and George Burnham. It was expanded in 1988-91 using the designs of Terrien Architects Inc.
This building is a contributing property to the Portland Waterfront Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Portland, Maine is a charming small city of roughly 68,000 residents, which makes it the largest city in the state. It is the center of a metropolitan area with around 550,000 people (in 2020). Portland is the seat of Cumberland County.
On Explore - February 8, 2024 - Thanks to all my Flickr friends!
We know that ladybugs hibernate in the cold, but I even came across them in the park last month when the sun showed itself. It is also possible that this individual is looking for a new place for itself. It would be fair to say that I was surprised by the ladybug that I chanced upon on a snowdrop on a cloudy and cold morning. This is the photo I captured by quickly grabbing my camera from my car and taking it without a tripod. The delicate balance of nature never fails to amaze me.
Ladybugs, like many other insects, go through a period of dormancy during the winter months, known as hibernation. During hibernation, ladybugs typically seek out sheltered spots such as under leaf litter, in tree bark crevices, or inside buildings to protect themselves from the cold temperatures. They enter a state of reduced metabolic activity, conserving energy until warmer weather returns.
Ladybugs hibernate in groups, which provides them with added protection and warmth. They release a chemical signal that attracts other ladybugs to gather in clusters, known as aggregations. These aggregations can sometimes be quite large, with thousands of ladybugs huddled together.
As the weather begins to warm up in spring, ladybugs become more active and start to emerge from their hibernation sites. They begin searching for food and mates to start the reproductive cycle anew. This emergence from hibernation is often observed by people who may find ladybugs crawling out of their winter hiding spots and venturing into the open once again.
Ladybug populations in the UK can vary depending on factors such as habitat, climate, and food availability. While specific population numbers may not be readily available, ladybugs are common and widespread throughout the UK, with numerous species found across various habitats including gardens, parks, woodlands, and agricultural fields.
Ladybugs play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity. Some of the benefits they provide in natural life include:
Controlling nature's pests: Ladybugs are voracious predators of aphids, scale insects, mites, and other garden pests. By feeding on these pests, ladybugs help to keep their populations in check, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in agriculture and gardening.
Pollination: While ladybugs are primarily known as predators, some species also feed on pollen and nectar. As they move from flower to flower in search of food, they inadvertently aid in pollination, facilitating the reproduction of flowering plants.
Indicator Species: Changes in ladybug populations can serve as indicators of environmental health. Monitoring ladybug populations can help scientists assess the impact of habitat loss, climate change, and pollution on ecosystems.
Food Source for Predators: Ladybugs serve as an important food source for various predators, including birds, spiders, and other insects. Their presence contributes to the food web and supports the survival of higher trophic levels in ecosystems.
Aesthetic Value: Ladybugs are beloved by many people for their bright colors, distinctive markings, and gentle demeanor. Their presence adds beauty and charm to gardens and natural landscapes, enhancing the overall aesthetic value of these environments.
Overall, ladybugs play multifaceted roles in ecosystems, from providing valuable ecosystem services to captivating human observers with their fascinating behavior and appearance. Protecting and conserving ladybug populations is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and promoting sustainable agriculture and gardening practices.
I've captured some moments with my camera, and I sincerely hope you'll find the same joy in viewing these images as I did in capturing them.
Thank you so much for visiting my stream, whether you comments , favorites or just have a look.
I appreciate it very much, wishing the best of luck and good light.
© All rights reserved R.Ertug Please do not use this image without my explicit written permission. Contact me by Flickr mail if you want to buy or use Your comments and critiques are very well appreciated.
Thanks for stopping and looking :)
The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany as part of the Empire State Plaza on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million (worth approximately half a billion current dollars), was the most expensive government building of its time.[citation needed] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, then included as a contributing property when the Lafayette Park Historic District was listed in 1978. The following year it was declared a National Historic Landmark
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Joaquin became a tropical storm Monday evening (EDT) midway between the Bahamas and Bermuda and has now formed into a hurricane, the 3rd of the season--the difference is Joaquin could impact the US East Coast.
GPM captured Joaquin Tuesday, September 29th at 21:39 UTC (5:39 pm EDT) as the hurricane moved slowly towards the west-southwest about 400 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas. At the time, Joaquin had been battling northerly wind shear, which was impeding the storm's ability to strengthen. However, compared to earlier in the day, the system was beginning to gain the upper hand as the shear began to relax its grip. At the time of this data visualization, Joaquin's low-level center of circulation was located further within the cloud shield, and the rain area was beginning to wrap farther around the center on the eastern side of the storm while showing signs of increased banding and curvature, a sure sign that Joaquin's circulation was intensifying. GPM shows a large area of very intense rain with rain rates ranging from around 50 to 132 mm/hr (~2 to 5 inches, shown in red and
magenta) just to the right of the center. This is a strong indication that large amounts of heat are being released into the storm's center, fueling its circulation and providing the means for its intensification. Associated with the area of intense rain is an area of tall convective towers, known as a convective burst, with tops reaching up to 16.3 km (shown in orange). These towers when located near the storm's core are a strong indication that the storm is poised to strengthen as they too reveal the release of heat into the storm.
At the time this data was taken, the National Hurricane Center reported that Joaquin's maximum sustained winds had increased to 65 mph from 40 mph earlier in the day, making Joaquin a strong tropical storm but poised to become a hurricane, which occurred this morning at 8:00 am EDT. With the inhibiting wind shear expected to continue to diminish and the system moving over warm waters, the National Hurricane Center is forecasting Joaquin to intensify further, possibly into a major hurricane within the next few days.
Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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Built in 1926, the Golden State Theatre, a 15,000 square-foot live performance venue, is located in the heart of Old Monterey. Recently restored, it features an Old World grand lobby and mezzanine, one thousand plush velvet seats, state-of-the-art sound, and the indefinable magic of a truly historic setting. The Beach Boys, Jay Leno, Tracy Morgan, and Mary Chapin Carpenter — these are just some of the names that have recently graced the stage, contributing to the Theatre's new legacy since its renovation and exciting revival. Attend a world-class concert or film festival at the Golden State Theatre or host your own special event here and become part of its new chapter of history.
Cube frame Island comin atcha!
Mad props to my boi Sam for contributing and planning the Island! and also to my bros Alex, Kyle, and Iggy for building and contributing their cube frames.
As for the frames themselves. well they turned out to be a huge success! Shout out to all the haters. :P
I tried following a recipe for applying the Orton effect, again working with two separate exposures, one in focus, the other out. The registration is closer here.
The use of the multiply blend has contributed to the too-real primary colours here.
Maybe I should try it with two transparencies ...
James Withers Sloss was one of the founders of the city of Birmingham, Alabama. In 1880, he founded the Sloss Furnace Company, where he constructed the city's first blast furnace and contributed to the industrial production of iron in the south. In 1899, when James Sloss sold the company to investors, they rebuilt the furnaces with modern equipment and also constructed brand new boilers .
The site operated until 1969 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980's. The Sloss Furnaces now operate as a museum and are open to the public.