Series of five including video. A very grey drab day today so headed for Sovereign Harbour. Low tide and on the rise. The Common Seals had been high and dry on the mud but were gradually getting to the point of lift off. They obviously don't like getting their feet wet!

Including swarovski crystals

The Brown Pelican in breeding plumage takes to the skies near La Jolla Cove, California. The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a bird of the pelican family, Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. It is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.

Thought I might give everyone, including myself, a break from the pregnancy/family shots. I remembered that I still had a lot of images left to edit from our trip to New Mexico/Arizona. This is from the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Vintage cars were parked in front of each Wigwam, my kind of place

Including the edge documents the luscious depth of Canola. But does it work? Or does it lead the eyes out of the frame? Or am I over thinking this?

Looking over Tuggerah Lakes on a sunny day but with clouds to the west, gave an interesting mix of silvers and blue. A mix of the lake's inhabitants can be seen , including ducks, a cormorant, black swans and even a seagull.

St Ives in the far west of Cornwall is a very hilly little town, with the peninsula that overlooks the harbour being virtually surrounded by the sea on three sides. My favourite view of St Ives is probably this one, where as you come into the town from the south, or from the railway station, your first sight of the harbour is across the roof-tops. At low tide the harbour empties out to reveal a large sandy beach. St Ives was once a major fishing port, but after the railway arrived in 1877 it gradually became more important as a holiday town. Fish stocks dwindled, and now there are just a few small fishing boats left in the harbour. St Ives is, of course, famous for its artists' colony, and there are several galleries in the town including Tate St Ives, which overlooks Porthmeor Beach.

After missing the first two days of Texans training camp before agreeing to a five-year, $14 million contract Saturday, outside linebacker Brian Cushing is eager to get on the practice field today with his new teammates.

Cushing, the first-round draft choice from Southern California, is getting $10.435 million in guaranteed money to become the starter on the strong side and help improve a defense that ranked 22nd last season, including 23rd against the run.

“I’m just relieved and excited to have this done,” Cushing said. “I’m ready to play football and help the team win.”

Cushing (6-3, 262) was in Los Angeles when agent Tom Condon reached the agreement with general manager Rick Smith and director of football administration Chris Olsen.

Cushing’s contract could be worth a maximum of $18 million over five years.

In the fifth year of his deal, there’s a clause that could earn him an additional $4 million in an escalator bonus.

Odds are that Cushing’s contract will be extended before he enters the fifth season in 2013.

Smith and Olsen will have all eight of their draft choices under contract when the Texans take the field for the third day of two-a-day drills at their Methodist Training Center.

“It’s very important to have him signed,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “Rick and Chris were up at 3 in the morning trying to get it done. They’ve done a good job.

“Brian’s two days behind now, but he didn’t miss anything we did in the offseason program, so that’s a good thing. He wanted to be here while we were working on the contract, but he couldn’t.”

Rookies who have signed with the Texans report a week early for conditioning and meetings before practicing for the first time with the veterans. Cushing wanted to report with the rookies.

He was working out at Reliant Stadium last week when the Texans had to explain league rules that forced him to leave.

Cushing took what turned out to be a quick trip back to Los Angeles. He returned to Houston on Saturday afternoon.

Texans coaches are excited to get him on the practice field.

“We’re going to put the pads on (Sunday morning), and I know he’s chomping at the bit to get out there,” Kubiak said.

After the Texans used the 15th pick in the first round on Cushing, they inserted him into the starting lineup. He impressed his coaches in the organized team activities and minicamp.

“We like his presence on the ball,” Kubiak said, meaning Cushing has a knack for finding the ball and making plays. “He’s playing over the tight end, and we’re going to ask him to do a great deal. We think he can handle it.

“Brian’s very athletic. He’s physical against the run. He can rush the passer. He can drop into coverage. We brought him here for a reason, and we’re going to put him to work real fast.”

Frank Bush, who is in his first season as defensive coordinator, has to make calls that maximize Cushing’s strengths. The faster Cushing learns, the quicker Bush plans to utilize all his talent.

“We’re going to try to take advantage of all his talent,” Bush said. “Because he’s such a talented kid, there are a lot of things we can do with him.”

The coaches say they think Cushing has everything it takes to become a star at his position.

“Brian can turn and run with the tight end,” Bush said. “He’s big and strong enough to strike them at the line of scrimmage and nullify some of their speed down the field, so we’re comfortable with him in coverage.

“His ability also gives us a chance to be aggressive toward the quarterback. He’s a big guy who’s shown he can get there.”

Prints are now available here in a range of sizes and formats including:

- Matted Print

- Laminated Print

- Mounted Print

- Canvas Print

- Framed Print

I had this idea to make a Blythe alphabet including all the Blythe doll releases from the beginning to end including some of my fave pictures.

If I have used your image and you want me to remove just fm me, I hope you dont mind me using your photo's but its cos I love them! Hugs xxxx

The E's: Ebony, Eleanor the Forest Dancer, Enchanted Petal, Excellent Hollywood.

The F's: Fancy Pansy, Feel the Sky, French Trench, Friendly Freckles, Frosty Frock, Fruit Punch.

The G's: Gentle River, Ginger, Goldie, Good Neighbour Cafe, Groovy Groove.

The H's: Happy Harbour, Heart of Montmarte, Hello Harvest, Heather Sky, Hollywood, Honey Bunny Once More.

The I's: Ichigo Heaven, I love You its True.

The J's: Jenna.

The K's: Kozy.

The L's: La Jardin De Maman, Last Kiss, Lounging Lovely, Love Mission.

1. Two shiny faces, 2. Evie heard there was something nasty in the woodshed..., 3. Merthyr and the witchy bus..., 4. 2007年10月4日 中国 北京 京西草原, 5. Hey there, Georgie Girl, 6. Mimi's golden hair against the sunlight, 7. Genevieve, 8. Hopscotch?, 9. she just wanted a fringe, 10. "Photograph me...I'm cuter!", 11. Starting ADAD, 1/365, 12. Carnaval 2008, 13. Off With Their Heads!, 14. Lomo mode, 15. A try-on, 16. Colombina, 17. Silky Baby, 18. and eyes like the sea..., 19. Untitled, 20. IMKE, 21. Honey sitting in a mandarin orange tree, 22. Nanette "You, WOMAN make them stop!", 23. New Dresses!, 24. JENNA, 25. Loving the Daisies., 26. Bubbles from the Sun, 27. Untitled, 28. The New Girl, 29. Moon and Apollo30. Not available

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Margam Abbey now consists of the intact nave and impressive surrounding ruins. Those ruins not belonging to the church are now owned by the County Council. These remains, including the unusually large twelve-sided chapter house, dating from the 13th century, stand within 840 acre (3.4 km²) Margam Country Park, close to Margam Castle. The Abbey church of St Mary, the ruined Chapter House and the Abbey undercroft are all Grade I listed buildings.[3][4][5]

On a hill overlooking the abbey stand the ruins of an outlying monastery building, Capel Mair ar y Bryn ("the chapel of St Mary on the hill"). The purpose of this building is thought to have been to allow members of the monastic community who were engaged in the keeping of flocks to fulfil their devotional obligations without having to return to the main church.

The fork-tailed flycatcher occurs in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, riparian forests, and open residential areas with scattered trees. Its breeding range is from central Mexico to central Argentina.

The fork-tailed flycatcher has the longest tail relative to body size of any bird on earth. The tail in adult males is 2–3 times longer than the length of the bird from the bill to the base of the tail.

This species is primarily an insectivore, but will switch to berries and small fruits if insects become scarce.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork-tailed_flycatcher

Photo taken at the AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Barú.

Colombia is the number one country in the world to have the largest varieties of birds, having about 1,876 species and almost 70 kinds that belong specially to Colombia. AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA has done an amazing job to show that. You see some of birds free and others in beautiful habitats. Peacocks, Toucans, Pink Flamingos, Crane Corona, Guacamayas, Pelicanos, Ducks, all types of little colorful birds Colombia is most famous for it, every imaginable birds are here.

This place is so well design, and so well taking care of, that you think some times you are in paradise!"

www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g1507145-d982271...

The nominate subspecies of the common tern is 31–35 cm (12–14 in) long, including a 6–9 cm (2.4–3.5 in) fork in the tail, with a 77–98 cm (30–39 in) wingspan. It weighs 110–141 g (3.9–5.0 oz).

Breeding adults have pale grey upperparts, very pale grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill that can be mostly red with a black tip, or all black, depending on the subspecies.

The common tern's upper wings are pale grey, but as the summer wears on, the dark feather shafts of the outer flight feathers become exposed, and a grey wedge appears on the wings.

The rump and tail are white, and on a standing bird the long tail extends no further than the folded wingtips, unlike the Arctic and roseate terns in which the tail protrudes beyond the wings. There are no significant differences between the sexes.

In non-breeding adults, the forehead and underparts become white, the bill is all black or black with a red base, and the legs are dark red or black. The upper wings have an obvious dark area at the front edge of the wing, the carpal bar.

Terns that have not bred successfully may moult into non-breeding adult plumage beginning in June, though late July is more typical, with the moult suspended during migration. There is also some geographical variation; Californian birds are often in non-breeding plumage during migration.

Juvenile common terns have pale grey upper wings with a dark carpal bar. The crown and nape are brown, and the forehead is ginger, wearing to white by autumn. The upper parts are ginger with brown and white scaling, and the tail lacks the adult's long outer feathers.

Birds in their first post-juvenile plumage, which normally remain in their wintering areas, resemble the non-breeding adult, but have a duskier crown, dark carpal bar, and often very worn plumage. By their second year, most young terns are either indistinguishable from adults, or show only minor differences such as a darker bill or white forehead.

The common tern is an agile flyer, capable of rapid turns and swoops, hovering, and vertical take-off. When commuting with fish, it flies close to the surface in a strong head wind, but 10–30 m (33–98 ft) above the water in a following wind. Unless migrating, normally it stays below 100 m (330 ft), and averages 30 km/h (19 mph) in the absence of a tail wind.

Its average flight speed during the nocturnal migration flight is 43–54 km/h (27–34 mph) at a height of 1,000–3,000 m (3,300–9,800 ft).

This image was taken in Invergordon Marina in Northern Scotland

Experimenting with Mixed Media including The Elegant Writer Pen & Brusho on mixed media paper glazed with Matte Medium.....

Inspired by the colors of the local trees on a Sunday drive yesterday with the Family on my Daughter's Birthday. Yes, our trees around me in Grand Rapids, Michigan are really this color now.

Please bear in mind that the CC lincence refers only to my photographic artistry, and not to the design of this product which remains the copyright of iRiver.

I finally splashed out on an Mp3 player, and I am pleased with my purchase.

It has been a few years since I noticed the arrival of MP3 players made by then unkowns such as Rio and iRiver. Music players with flash memory and no moving parts had been predicted since as long as I can remember, so they came as no surprise, but at first I could not see the point.

The memory was small, it was irreplacable, and I did not know how to get MP3 files.

The player above comes with software for converting CD music to Mp3 and has 1GB of memory which is enough for 200 songs or about 12 hours of music.

It also has a voice recorder which I hope to use for recording English speakers for use as teaching materials. The reason why I purchased this particular player, at auction for about $150 USD, is because these older iRiver players accept an external microphone, which is pretty essential for recording dialogues.

The reason why I am recommending it here is because this player, weighing only 60gms including battery, with no moving parts, and an armband, can be worn while jogging.

My play list includes

Messengers, "That's the Way a Woman is"

Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"

The Cure, "Close to Me"

Elvis, "His Latest Flame"

and

The Zombies, "Time of the Season"

The effect, the buzz, the improvement in jogging speed is phenominal. it is almost frightening. Now I know why Lance Amstrong has an Mp3 player built into his sunglasses.

This image was taken by me but is of a device copyright of iRiver. I hope they forgive my posting it here.

www.christoph-schmich.de

This photograph is copyrighted and may not be used anywhere, including blogs, without my express permission.

This photo was taken at the Riverside, an area in downtown Phnom Penh where the Tonle Sap and the Mekong Rivers converge, brimming with historic landmarks, including Wat Ounalom and The Royal Palace.

There's also a bar district, known for its outdoor patio cafes, restaurants, hotels and hipster nightlife. As such, the Riverside is popular with tourists from around the world, who come here to relax, eat, drink and generally have fun.

And, like other S.E. Asian countries, wherever you find lots of tourists, you'll also find people (of all ages) hawking souvenirs, snacks, postcards, handmade jewelry etc.

The boy in the photo above was selling lotus seeds; a local snack food that goes well with beer. I bought some, of course, and he agreed to let me snap a photo. Judging from the money in the bag he's holding, he was having a pretty good day.

PS: The pinkish colored 5,000 Riel banknote clearly visible in the bag is equivalent to roughly $1.25 U.S.

Including a 1940s event.

Including tree pendants!

P1360086 - Oriental Garden lizard

# 187 - 05 Jan '2018 - 17:05 (11:35 GMT)

Size - measures over - 10 cm (3.9 in) in length snout-to-vent.

Total length including the tail is up to 37 cm (14.5 in)

Also know as - eastern garden lizard or changeable lizard (Calotes versicolor) is an agamid lizard found widely distributed in Asia. It has also been introduced in many other parts of the world.

WONDERFUL FACTS: Calotes is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae. The genus contains 27 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others (namely C. versicolor) as garden lizards.

Species in the genus Calotes are native to South Asia, southern China, mainland Southeast Asia and Ambon. Additionally, C. versicolor has been introduced to Florida (USA), Borneo, Sulawesi, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Oman.

The greatest species richness of the genus is from the Western Ghats, northeast India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

Happy birding

Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers

Comb-creasted Jacana

Scientific Name: Irediparra gallinacea

Description: The Comb-crested Jacana, also known as the Lotusbird, has a red fleshy forehead comb, a black crown, back and breast and brown wings. The belly, face and throat are white, and there is a faint yellow tinge around the eye and throat. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the female is larger than the male, and slightly brighter in colour. In flight, the long legs and toes trail behind the body. Young Jacanas resemble the adult birds, but are rufous to black on the head and nape, and have a rufous-black breast band. The red fleshy comb is much smaller and darker.

Distribution: Comb-crested Jacanas occupy coastal and sub-coastal regions from the Kimberleys, Western Australia, through northern Australia to about Grafton, New South Wales. They are more common in the north of their range. The species also occurs in New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitat: Comb-crested Jacanas are found in tropical and subtropical freshwater wetlands, including lagoons, billabongs, swamps, lakes, rivers, sewage ponds and dams, providing there is adequate floating vegetation.

Seasonal movements: Comb-crested Jacanas will move to new locations, particularly in response to changes in their current habitat, such as droughts or excessive flooding.

Feeding: The Comb-crested Jacana feeds on aquatic insects, which it seizes from floating vegetation or the surface of the water. It also feeds on seeds and aquatic plants. Birds rarely come to shore. When searching for food, the Comb-crested Jacana bobs its head and flicks its tailed continuously.

Breeding: The female Comb-crested Jacana may mate with several males, while the male alone builds the nest, incubates the eggs and cares for the young. If danger threatens the young birds, the male has the curious habit of picking the chicks up under his wings and carrying them off to safety.

Minimum Size: 20cm

Maximum Size: 23cm

Average size: 21cm

Breeding season: September to May (later in the north than in the east)

(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)

__________________________________________

© Chris Burns 2019

All rights reserved.

This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

Norwich Cathedral has the largest monastic cloister in England. It was constructed as a covered walkway enclosing an open quadrangle, or garth, and connected the Cathedral with the various monastic buildings. To the north the cloister is bounded by the Cathedral nave, into which there are two doors, one from each of the cloister's northern corners. To the east was the Chapter House, long since demolished, the entrance to which now leads out into the Cathedral Close. A doorway, now bricked up, led to the stairs to the monks' dormitory above. On the south side were the refectory and the infirmary. Nothing remains of the latter, but a stunning new Refectory, opened in 2004 and combining medieval and modern architecture, now stands on the site of the former. Open seven days a week it serves refreshments and light lunches, and is well worth a visit. From the west walk a door led into the priory's guest hall, or hostry, and now leads into the new Hostry building, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and completed in 2009.

The original Norman cloister was mostly destroyed during the riot of 1272, which was the culmination of a period of unrest over what the townspeople perceived as the unfair granting of landholding rights to the priory. Some of the land involved fell outside the Cathedral precincts, yet citizens living within these areas were expected to pay taxes and tithes to the priory. By the summer of 1272 things had come to a head and a state of siege existed. Efforts to reach a peaceful settlement failed when the Prior brought in armed mercenaries from Yarmouth who arrived by boat directly into the Cathedral precincts. They subsequently sallied forth into Norwich at night, burning and looting as they went. Several citizens were wounded and one was killed. The next day the city authorities called for a muster of men, and a raid on the priory ensued, and it is said that flaming arrows were fired from the nearby tower of the church of St George Tombland. One of the Cathedral gates was burned down to gain access, and several buildings within the precinct, including the church of St Ethelbert and the priory's bell tower, were ransacked and burned. Most of the monastic buildings, including the cloister, were destroyed and the fire spread to the Cathedral itself.

Evidence of this can still be seen inside the

Cathedral in places where the stonework has

taken on a pinkish discolouration caused by the

extreme heat.

www.christoph-schmich.de

This photograph is copyrighted and may not be used anywhere, including blogs, without my express permission.

Núpsstaður is the name of an old farmstead including a cowshed and several outhouses located in South Iceland near the largest glacier of Europe, the Vatnajökull with its regular volcanic eruptions and the Skaftafell National Park. Núpsstaður also counts a tiny turf church that is thought to have been built around 1650 but might even have been risen originally before 1200. The church was abandoned there in 1765. In 1930 the chapel was the first house in the country to be proclaimed inviolate, and in 1961 it was re-consecrated. The last inhabitants were two brothers, Eyjólfur Hannesson who died in 2004, 97 years old and Filippus Hannesson who died in 2010, at the age of 101. Their sister Margrét died when she was 107 years old but had already moved to a retirement home. Núpsstaður farm that had belonged to the same family since 1730 cannot be visited anymore and it is no longer possible to drive up to the farm as before. The national museum of Iceland, Þjóðminjasafnið, took over its control and in the years 1958-1960 it was repaired and restored. Núpsstaður is listed as natural remnants. The environment is beautiful not at least the majestic mountain of Lómagnúpur well known from the Brenne-Njáls saga.

including miniature bronze belts

Lucanian sanctuary of Timmari, votive deposit

Museo Archeologico 'D. Ridola', Matera

******************************************

STOP ISRAEL BARBARITY

We are not stupid!

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I´m not allowed by Flickr to link my personal website.... amazing....! After so many years... Maybe it´s a consequence of the Israel message, I don´t want to think bad, but I don´t believe in coincidences, moreover when lots of user are allowed to. If I continue here is because the great number of friends I´ve meet, but I´m taking advantage of this in order to complain and let you see the kind of injustice that Flickr is doing these days. Let´s see who can be more annoying...

Please visit my profile

This is the kind of things that flickr has to take care of (THIEVES):

mufasa.softarchive.net/works_of_photographer_alonso_diaz....

This is the rules it is supposed I broke: Don’t use Flickr for commercial purposes.

Flickr is for personal use only. If we find you selling products, services, or yourself through your photostream, we will terminate your account. Any other commercial use of Flickr, Flickr technologies (including APIs, FlickrMail, etc), or Flickr accounts must be approved by Flickr. For more information on leveraging Flickr APIs, please see our Services page. If you have other open questions about commercial usage of Flickr, please feel free to contact us.

Where is it said that personal websites are not allowed? I do not do a commercial use of it!!! I´m a economist and work in a saving bank!!

TRUE THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, MY FRIENDS. IT´S WHAT MAKES ME THINK TO CONTINUE HERE

Después de cuatro años no se me permite poner el link a mi web... es increíble! Probablemente es una consecuencia al mensaje de Israel, no creo en las coincidencias y menos cuando muchos usuarios lo hacen. Si continuo por aquí es debido al gran número de amigos que he hecho, pero aprovecharé esto para protestar y hacer ver y protestar por las estupideces que Flickr está haciendo últimamente. Veremos quién molesta más...

Si quieres pasarte por mi web, visita mi perfil, por favor

Este tipo de cosas es lo que flickr debería cuidar (LADRONES DE FOTOS):

mufasa.softarchive.net/works_of_photographer_alonso_diaz....

Esta es la regla que me han dicho que he incumplido: Don’t use Flickr for commercial purposes.

Flickr is for personal use only. If we find you selling products, services, or yourself through your photostream, we will terminate your account. Any other commercial use of Flickr, Flickr technologies (including APIs, FlickrMail, etc), or Flickr accounts must be approved by Flickr. For more information on leveraging Flickr APIs, please see our Services page. If you have other open questions about commercial usage of Flickr, please feel free to contact us.

¿Dónde pone que no se pueden poner enlaces a páginas web personales? No hago uso comercial de ella! Joder, que soy economista y trabajo en una caja de ahorros!

MUCHAS GRACIAS A TODOS POR VUESTRO APOYO, DE VERDAD. ES LA ÚNICA MOTIVACIÓN PARA SEGUIR AQUÍ

None of my photos are HDR or blended images, they are taken from just one shot

Cabo de Trafalgar, Caños de Meca (Cádiz - Andalucía)

Sony A900 + Carl Zeiss16-35mm + ND8 filter + 2 GND8 filters

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

Nectarinia lotenia

Malayalam : Thaen kili / Kokkan thaenkili / Valiya thaenkili

Tamil : Pon chittu / Thaen chittu

------------------------------------------------------

© 2012 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------

Contact : www.anujnair.net

______________________________________________________________________

© 2012 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.

All images are the property of Anuj Nair.

Using these images without permission is in violation of

international copyright laws (633/41 DPR19/78-Disg 154/97-L.248/2000)

All materials may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished,

downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any forms or by

any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording

without written permission of Anuj Nair.

Every violation will be pursued penally.

www.christoph-schmich.de

This photograph is copyrighted and may not be used anywhere, including blogs, without my express permission.

END: 2024.12.31

今年(2024)是龙年，在这一年即将结束之际，我给大家准备了一份特别的礼物——青龙

祝大家龙年大吉，喜迎来年

感谢关注

2024 is the Year of the Loong, and as we approach the conclusion of this significant year, I am pleased to present you with a special gift - Loong.

I extend my heartfelt wishes for a prosperous and joyful New Year.

Thank you for your attention.

INCLUDING: Loong

♥ ♥ Taxi to Mainstore ♥ ♥

20 juli 2023 reed er vanuit Amsterdam een extra trein, voor de deelnemers aan het Dance Festival: Tomorrowland in het Belgische Boom. De trein bestond uit 12 rijtuigen type I11 en een zogenaamd Resto rijtuig. Alle rijtuigen waren voorzien van een speciale bestickering. De Lineas 186 422 verzorgde de tractie voor de trein, die op de foto nog een kleine 500 meter te gaan heeft, voordat hij de Nederlands-Belgische grens passeert.

Nispen, 20 juli 2023.

On July 20, 2023, an extra train ran from Amsterdam for the participants of the Dance Festival: Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium. The train consisted of 12 type I11 carriages and a so-called Resto carriage. All carriages were provided with special stickers. The Lineas 186 422 provided the traction for the train, which in the photo still has about 500 meters to go before it crosses the Dutch-Belgian border.

Nispen, July 20, 2023.

© Alle rechten voorbehouden.

Deze afbeelding is beschermd door Nederlandse en internationale auteursrechtwetten. U mag deze afbeelding in geen enkele vorm gebruiken of reproduceren, inclusief kopiëren en plakken, zonder mijn voorafgaande toestemming.

© All rights reserved.

This image is protected by Dutch and international copyright laws. You may not use or reproduce this image in any form, including copy and paste, without my prior permission.

On our trip overseas last November, we made many stops including this one. This place was crazy interesting, packed with shoppers and sellers, and loads of activity.

Mahane Yehuda Market, often referred to as "The Shuk", is a marketplace in Jerusalem, Israel. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the market's more than 250 vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables. baked goods; fish, meat and cheeses; nuts, seeds, and spices; wines and liquors; clothing, and shoes; housewares, and textiles.

_________________________________________________

For a while now, I've been contributing photos to Google Maps.

It's a nice diversion from Charger only photos and a fun outlet for creativity. Although I haven't made it a priority to include my Charger in the photos, somehow the car has found its way into a few of my Spokane photos (imagine that).

A number of my photos have had over half a million views each which is pretty neat. It depends greatly on the location or business you add the photo to and also who's searching Google. I can't control it so I just enjoy it when one goes crazy. So, in no particular order, here are some of the photos I've uploaded to Google Maps over the last two years.

Taken with my cell phone.

(The best camera you have is the one you are carrying.)

LTE 286 940 komt met trein 42753, de Mannheim/Wörth shutlle, de flyover afgerold en zal via de Brabant route haar weg vervolgedn naar Venlo, waar zij de grens zxal passeren om haar weg door Duitsland te vervolgen naar Mannheim en Wörth.

21 mei 2021, Lage Zwaluwe, Nederland.

LTE 286 940 arrives with train 42753, the Mannheim/Wörth shutlle, rols off the flyover and will continue its way via the Brabant route to Venlo, where it will cross the border to continue its way through Germany to Mannheim and Wörth.

May 21, 2021, Lage Zwaluwe, The Netherlands.

© Alle rechten voorbehouden.

Deze afbeelding is beschermd door Nederlandse en internationale auteursrechtwetten. U mag deze afbeelding in geen enkele vorm gebruiken of reproduceren, inclusief kopiëren en plakken, zonder mijn voorafgaande toestemming.

© All rights reserved.

This image is protected by Dutch and international copyright laws. You may not use or reproduce this image in any form, including copy and paste, without my prior permission.

Horsey beach Norfolk © Yvonne Wallin All Rights Reserved. No usage allowed including copying or sharing without written permission

Including a snow colored poodle

I think this took me the longest to do out of all my 365's, including the multi clones.

Philae is mentioned by numerous ancient writers, including Strab Diodorus Siculus, Ptolemy, Seneca, Pliny the Elder. It was, as the plural name indicates, the appellation of two small islands situated in latitude 24° north, just above the First Cataract near Aswan. Groskurd computes the distance between these islands and Aswan at about 100 km (62 mi).

Despite being the smaller island, Philae proper was, from the numerous and picturesque ruins formerly there, the more interesting of the two. Prior to the inundation, it was not more than 380 metres (1,250 ft) long and about 120 metres (390 ft) broad. It is composed of syenite: its sides are steep and on their summits a lofty wall was built encompassing the island.

Since Philae was said to be one of the burying-places of Osiris, it was held in high reverence both by the Egyptians to the north and the Nubians to the south. It was deemed profane for any but priests to dwell there and was accordingly sequestered and denominated "the Unapproachable". It was reported too that neither birds flew over it nor fish approached its shores. These indeed were the traditions of a remote period; since in the time of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, Philae was so much resorted to, partly by pilgrims to the tomb of Osiris, partly by persons on secular errands, that the priests petitioned Ptolemy VIII Physcon (170-117 BC) to prohibit public functionaries at least from coming there and living at their expense.

In the nineteenth century, William John Bankes took the Philae obelisk on which this petition was engraved to England. When its Egyptian hieroglyphs were compared with those of the Rosetta Stone, it threw great light upon the Egyptian consonantal alphabet.

The islands of Philae were not, however, merely sacerdotal abodes; they were the centres of commerce also between Meroë and Memphis. For the rapids of the cataracts were at most seasons impracticable, and the commodities exchanged between Egypt and Nubia were reciprocally landed and re-embarked at Syene and Philae.

The neighbouring granite quarries also attracted a numerous population of miners and stonemasons; and, for the convenience of this traffic, a gallery or road was formed in the rocks along the east bank of the Nile, portions of which are still extant.

Philae also was remarkable for the singular effects of light and shade resulting from its position near the Tropic of Cancer. As the sun approached its northern limit the shadows from the projecting cornices and moldings of the temples sink lower and lower down the plain surfaces of the walls, until, the sun having reached its highest altitude, the vertical walls are overspread with dark shadows, forming a striking contrast with the fierce light which illuminates all surrounding objects.

Including a 1940s event.

I've noticed Mistletoe growing increasingly in UK trees, so I read up about it and learnt that it's due in part to an influx of continental blackcaps from Germany that have started overwintering in Britain, with many thousands now spending their winters here.

'Blackcaps are migratory warblers that are becoming regular winter visitors to our bird tables. Berries, including those of mistletoe, are an essential part of their diet. On eating the white flesh of the mistletoe berry, the birds wipe their bills on twigs and branches, leaving behind the seed. If the seed is deposited on a host tree and manages to take hold, a mistletoe plant might germinate on the branch. It seems that blackcaps are more efficient at spreading mistletoe seeds than other birds, such as the mistle thrush, which also feed on the berries.' - www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/12/where-does-mistleto....

'According to the Anglo-Saxons, kissing under the mistletoe was connected to the legend of Freya, Norse Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. According to legend, a man had to kiss any young girl who, without realizing it, found herself accidentally under a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.' www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/articles/mythology_folklore/mis....

Mike Oldfield ~ Incantations Part Four

Eighth image in this autumn flowers series...

These buds are bright red, but when the individual budlets burst forth they do so in many colors, including yellow, orange, purple, and red! Tomorrow's post will show these many colors :)

The blue background here is a painted light post, giving the two buds a smooth and colorful backdrop.

It is October 4th here in Wisconsin and the nights are getting quite cold (high '40's), but these Lantana plants and flowers are still hanging in there and looking quite nice.

Everything is pink at the Pink Hotel .. including Miss Pink , of course , naturally .. Careful she's got one of those looks on her face , I could be in trouble .. . it's the coolest place to stay in town , especially when Cooly's on .

Don't ya just like those pink flamingoes . What self respecting retro hotel wouldn't have some of those colourful birds strolling in their grounds . You know neighbours who live near me have them in their garden too and they even have them under special night lights to show them off . . I think I might just stick to the live Magpies at my place .

Theres more of Miss Pink later .., she does smile .

Cooly Rocks On

Coolangatta . Gold Coast

Including the Kittitas Valley Wind Farm

BLS 475 met een shuttle richting Antwerpen ?

6 juni 2024, Hulten

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First quick trip out for 2019 and went out with something completely different in mind. I wasn't able to get the shot I wanted (due to many reasons, including misjudging the tide and the poor weather), but fortunately I didn't come back empty-handed. On the way back to the car, I spotted this structure in the water and thought I would give it a go. Nothing special, but I do like the overall feeling of the image

When we were discussing options for this year's autumn hiking adventure, it almost seemed like there was nothing left in northern Scandinavia that we all still wanted to explore. However, after some discussions, we realized that Finnish Lapland might be an interesting and convenient location for our regular autumn outdoor pursuits.

After conducting some research and planning, we narrowed our focus to Finland's northwest, bordering Sweden and Norway. More specifically, we honed in on the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, which happens to be the second-largest wilderness area in Finland.

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Käsivarsi is somewhat atypical for Finland due to its higher elevation (Finland's highest peak, Halti (1,324m), is located in its northern tip), rugged terrain, and limited wooded areas. This combination sounded particularly attractive to us because it meant we would hike across various types of landscapes, both on and off marked trails.

Our itinerary was as follows: Kilpisjärvi/Saana mountain -> Tshahkaljärvi lake -> Siktagurajohka river -> Meekonjärvi lake including trip to Pitsusköngäs waterfall -> Porojärvi lake including ascent of Saivaara cliff -> Guhturgurajávri/Termisjärvi lakes -> Ailakkajärvi lake -> Kilpisjärvi.

Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021) was a renowned Greek composer, politician, and activist, best known for his iconic film scores, including Zorba the Greek (1964). Born on the island of Chios, he was deeply involved in Greece's political struggles, fighting in the Resistance during World War II and later opposing the military junta (1967–1974). His music blended classical, folk, and contemporary styles, often inspired by Greek poetry. Imprisoned and exiled for his political beliefs, he became a symbol of resistance and democracy. His vast body of work includes symphonies, operas, oratorios, and popular songs, making him a cultural icon in Greece and beyond.

This man was one of the smartest and most brave men, and no other was able to express all the feelings, fear, sorrow and also the beautiful moments in a humans life in songs, like he did. I wanted to share this, to keep his memory alive.

Teatro Antico di Segesta (Calatafimi Segesta, Sicilia)

Il Teatro Antico è un teatro greco dell'antica città di Segesta e ubicato nell'area archeologica di Calatafimi Segesta, comune italiano della provincia di Trapani, in Sicilia.

Ubicato sulla cima del monte Barbaro, l'imponente Teatro Antico venne costruito nel II sec. a.C. quando Segesta era già libera città sotto i Romani, ed è considerato uno dei teatri più belli del periodo classico tanto per lo stato di conservazione quanto per la sua posizione spettacolare sulle colline trapanesi.

Il teatro è una costruzione in pietra calcarea locale il cui accesso avveniva attraverso una strada lastricata. Esso poteva ospitare nella cavea 4000 persone ed era suddiviso orizzontalmente da un largo corridoio detto diazoma delimitato a sua volta da sedili dotati di schienale e, verticalmente, da sei scalette che formano sette cunei (kèrkides) di dimensioni variabili.

Recenti rinvenimenti hanno documentato l'esistenza di varie altre costruzioni, compreso un serbatoio d'acqua che certamente doveva servire per le necessità del pubblico e degli attori. All'orchestra si accedeva dagli ingressi laterali, detti pàrodoi. Pochi filari di blocchi permettono di ricostruire la pianta della scena (skené), un edificio a due piani in stile dorico e ionico con due corpi laterali avanzati (paraskènia) ornati da altorilievi fatti da immagini di satiri.

Nella prima età Imperiale romana il teatro subì delle trasformazioni: lo spazio dell'orchestra fu ampliato eliminando una fila di sedili e ingrandendo la fronte scenica. In età medievale (secoli XII e XIII) le superfici del teatro e della strada furono occupate da un vasto settore dell'abitato, come documenta la grande casa a due piani visibile nella media cavea occidentale.

Ancient Theatre of Segesta (Calatafimi Segesta, Sicily)

Recent discoveries have documented the existence of various other buildings, including a water tank that certainly served the needs of the audience and the actors. The orchestra was accessed from the side entrances, called pàrodoi. A few rows of blocks allow us to reconstruct the plan of the stage (skené), a two-story building in Doric and Ionic style with two advanced lateral bodies (paraskènia) decorated with high reliefs made of images of satyrs. In the early Roman Imperial age, the theater underwent transformations: the space of the orchestra was expanded by eliminating a row of seats and enlarging the stage front. In the Middle Ages (12th and 13th centuries) the surfaces of the theater and the street were occupied by a large sector of the inhabited area, as documented by the large two-story house visible in the western media cavea.

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Got to Seattle a day early for our cruise in order to spend some time here. Ventured up to Kerry Park this evening to shoot one of the greatest looking cityscapes I've seen. The clouds were thick and the rain was threatening, but I got what I was looking for. The rain did start, but not before we met several great people who were enjoying the great view as well, including a photographer from Burlington.

Yesterday (18 April) Hong Kong police arrested 15 pro-democracy political leaders including Martin Lee and Margaret Ng etc. Everyone including Hong Kong people and international public know that this is suppression of pro-democracy movement and the arrest is politically biased. The pro-democracy leaders are charged about their organization and leadership of anti-extradition bill protests in 2019.

It is very clear that standing up against the brutal force of Hong Kong police is such a difficult task but Hong Kong people will not give up. I hope all the people in other countries will give their support to Hong Kong people too since democracy and human rights are universal values for every citizen in the world regardless of your nationality or race.

Hong Kong police has arrested almost 8,000 people in the anti-extradition bill movement but none (zero) of the police force is charged with the illegal use of brutal force against Hong Kong citizens. Hong Kong people is asking for independent investigation on police. This is one of the five demands in the pro-democracy movement.

I saw the bunny standing up in Miroru Park this morning.

Fuji X-T1

Fuji XF 50-140mm

The Chisholm Trail, including Chisholm Trail Brazos in Waco, is a pivotal aspect of Texas history. It was a major cattle trail in the late 19th century, used to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas for shipment to eastern markets. The trail was named after Jesse Chisholm, a trader of Scotch-Cherokee descent who pioneered the route in 1867. The trail was not a single road, but rather a network of trails that stretched from Texas to Kansas. As a vital stop along the Chisholm Trail, Waco, Texas has a rich history that is still celebrated today. The Chisholm Trail Brazos Landmark, located on the riverbanks of the Brazos River, is a testament to the important role the trail played in the development of Texas. The Waco Suspension Bridge also played a significant role in the history of Waco and the Chisholm Trail. The bridge was completed in 1870 and was the first permanent bridge across the Brazos River. It quickly became a vital transportation link for the cattle drives and other travelers passing through the area. The bridge is still standing today (as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge) and is a popular attraction for visitors to Waco.

The Chisholm Trail Brazos Landmark has been recognized by both the local community and the National Park Service. In 2017, the Texas Historical Commission designated the landmark as a State Antiquities Landmark. The National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark both recognize and list the landmark. In conclusion, people celebrate the Chisholm Trail Brazos Landmark as an essential part of Texas history today. The landmark echoes Waco’s role in countless cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail, shaping Texas’ development.

The sculpture seen above is part of Robert Summers's larger, overall sculpture, "The Waco Chisholm Trail Heritage", near the historic Waco Suspension Bridge and includes three cowboys on horseback - one white, one Hispanic and one Black - and 25 longhorn cattle. All of the full sculpture cannot be photographed in one shot because of its size and how it is stretched out over a city block or more. The full sculpture depicts several cowboys and a Mexican vaquero driving longhorn cattle. Cattle were in fact driven across the suspension bridge in its early days, when it was covered with dirt. This particular section of the sculpture is specifically of a Vaquero (a herdsman or cowboy; or a term used in reference to cowboys in areas such as Mexico and the southwestern U.S. where Spanish is spoken) and several Longhorn Cattle. The first pieces were unveiled by Mr. Summers near the base of the Waco Suspension Bridge in 2008, and the total sculpture wasn’t completed until 2014. In total, the sculptures cost about $1.65 million and remain as a popular tourist spot.

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/