The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, is a Catholic basilica that stands in the middle of the historic center of Quito. The structure is the largest architectural complex within the historic centers of all of South America. San Francisco is considered a jewel of continental architecture for its mixture of different styles combined throughout more than 150 years of construction. Inside the church there are more than 3,500 works of colonial art, of multiple artistic manifestations and varied techniques, especially those corresponding to the Colonial Quito School of Art, which was born precisely in this place.

Then the sun broke through and let the stream shine. I was so moved (and in a hurry to take a picture of this moment before it's over) that I forgot to take off the polarizing filter. As a result, there were many reflections on the filter pane in this extreme backlight ... But this is precisely what creates a dreamy mood. To linger in this place in this moment - very close together with nature - these gifts brighten up everyday life and let you forget the routine for a brief moment. Let us be grateful for that.

Dann brach die Sonne durch und ließ den Bach erstrahlen. Ich war so ergriffen (und in Eile diesen Moment abzulichten bevor er vorbei ist), daß ich vergaß den Polfilter abzumachen. Dadurch kam es in diesem extremen Gegenlicht zu vielen Reflektionen auf der Scheibe des Filters... Aber gerade dadurch kommt eine verträumte Stimmung auf. An diesem Ort in diesem Augeblick zu verweilen - ganz nah zusammen mit der Natur - diese Geschenke hellen den Alltag auf und lassen für einen kurzen Moment die Routine vergessen. Lasst uns dafür dankbar sein.

Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. These prickles are an adaptation that protects the plant from being eaten by herbivores. Typically, an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flower heads.

The comparative amount of spininess varies dramatically by species. For example, Cirsium heterophyllum has minimal spininess while Cirsium spinosissimum is the opposite. Typically, species adapted to dry environments have greater spininess.

The term thistle is sometimes taken to mean precisely those plants in the tribe Cardueae (synonym: Cynareae), especially the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum. However, plants outside this tribe are sometimes called thistles.

Biennial thistles are particularly noteworthy for their high wildlife value, producing such things as copious floral resources for pollinators, nourishing seeds for birds like the goldfinch, foliage for butterfly larvae, and down for the lining of birds' nests.

A thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland and Lorraine, as well as the emblem of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

beauty of nature

Nature. The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration. Oh, the passion for research and the joy of discovery!

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Capter le regard d'une libellule c'est accorder les couleurs aux lumières, Mesurer si possible le plus précisément possible l'exposition et la pondérer en fonction du "fond" de l'image. le bokeh devenant alors un composant incontournable de l'image.

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To capture the gaze of a dragonfly is to match the colors to the lights, Measure if possible as precisely as possible the exposure and weight it according to the "background" of the image. bokeh then becomes an essential component of the image.

Philip

Brume Bretonne, at the foot of the village of Meneham

2 Million views !! Thanks to all

Je viens aujourd'hui, vous remercier tous pour votre soutien, vos favoris, vos commentaires, votre gentillesse !!! vos encouragements constructifs, vos partages qui sont très inspirant pour moi, qui ne suis qu'une modeste photographe.

Je m'applique à ne jamais retoucher mes photos, bien sûr elles ne sont aussi belles qu'après une bonne séance de beauté artificielle j'en convient mais c'est justement là ma recherche essayez de trouver la beauté naturelle et surtout la lumière !!

Aujourd'hui mon compteur annonce deux millions de vues ! et cela c'est grâce à vous tous !!!

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I come today, thank you all for your support, your favorites, your comments, your kindness !!! your constructive encouragement, your sharing which is very inspiring for me, who am only a modest photographer.

I do my best to never touch up my photos, of course they are only as beautiful as after a good session of artificial beauty I agree but this is precisely where my research is trying to find natural beauty and especially light! !

Today my counter announces two million views! and this is thanks to all of you !!!

Dans mon jardin, un couple de Piérides, très occupé à perpétuer l'espèce ... Pardon pour mon ignorance, je ne sais pas les identifier précisément...

Merci à toutes et tous, pour vos commentaires et nos partages ...si précieux ; Belle semaine à vous!

2021-06-16_15-52-03_01-

In my garden, a couple of Pierides, very busy perpetuating the species ... Sorry for my ignorance, I don't know how to identify them precisely ...

Thank you for all of you, for your comments and our sharing ... so precious; Have a nice week!

It was a foggy morning when I took this photo, which made the sky this weird and beautiful colour. The atmosphere was amazing. This bus stopped precisely where I hoped it would stop. This is exactly how I framed the image in my camera. It’s exciting to me when things line up beautifully like this. It’s a gift…

🎧: “Shades of You” by Fejká (YouTube), “Shades of You” by Fejká (Spotify)

The Mesta (Bulgarian Места), or the Nestos (Greek Νέστος) is a river in Bulgaria and northern Greece and is one of the five major rivers in Greece and Bulgaria.

In Greece, it currently marks the border between the geographical region of Macedonia in the west and Thrace in the east.

The length of the Nestos is 230 to 243 km (depending on the length calculation) of which 104 to 130 km are in Greece and 113 to 126 km in Bulgaria.

The Nestos rises in the mountain massif Rila in Bulgaria in the north, and flows in the south into the Aegean Sea (more precisely into the Thracian Sea) in the form of a delta north of the island of Thasos.

It flows in a north-south direction first through the mountain ranges of the western Rhodope Mountains and the Falakro.

In Bulgaria the course of the Nestos, forms valleys in the Rila and Pirin mountains.

Thanks for your Views Faves and Comments, have all a Nice Week. 🌞✌

[You need to enlarge the photograph and read the description for this one.]

Can you spot the figures in this sunrise over the sea? I've borrowed them from a sublime painting by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrise_by_the_Sea#/media/File:Cas...

Friedrich took his landscapes very seriously indeed because (like many Romantic artists and poets) he believed the work was revelatory. In other words, it was an expression of the sublime in Nature and not merely a picture. The Romantics elevated landscape to the realm of the Transcendental. I've discussed Friedrich previously in a comment on "Caspar's Ghost" www.flickr.com/photos/luminosity7/49678826142/in/album-72...

The danger - if we might call it that - of beautiful landscapes, sunsets or sunrises lies precisely in the fact that we might simply view them as pretty. For Caspar David Friedrich this would have meant the ultimate insult to his creative vision. His work existed merely in order to point to a greater truth or profundity. Often this meant Friedrich included some obvious symbols of transcendence such as a cross, a ruined abbey or a graveyard. And in this instance you'll see the figures he painted looking out at the stormy sea at sunrise. They are literally absorbed into the experience. Friedrich calls it "surrendering".

Friedrich himself liked to go out alone to experience Nature:

“I have to stay alone and know that I am alone in order to fully contemplate and feel nature; I have to surrender to what surrounds me, unite with my clouds and rocks, in order to be what I am. I need solitude for a dialogue with nature. Once I spent an entire week in the Uttewald Abyss amid rocks and firs, and throughout this time I did not meet a single living soul; it is true, I do not recommend this method to anyone — it was too much even for me: involuntarily, gloom enters the soul.”

The key word in this Romantic vision is the SUBLIME. In the next photograph I'll say a little more about that (these two photos obviously belong together).

So on this morning when I awoke to drive from St Helens to a place called The Gardens in the Bay of Fires, the rain was falling lightly. I didn't think there was much prospect of a good sunrise shot, but thought I'd enjoy the quiet moment of reflection and take my chances. At The Gardens you quite literally come to the end of the road. The only company I had was some rather sodden cows in a field that I'll introduce you to tomorrow. There was a feeling of silence, but in fact the wind was howling.

The rain let up enough for me to get in a few shots. This one shows a previous storm that had been blown out to sea. But soon the wind blew in another downpour and it was time to pack up and go.

Que bonitos pueden ser, los atardeceres cuando los factores se juntan y se produce un buen candilazo. No he fotografiado, muchos atardeceres y este precisamente me cogió en la ciudad y no por ejemplo en el campo, donde en un entorno más natural tal vez, el cielo hubiese ganado más. Que os parece este atardecer?.

How beautiful they can be, the sunsets when the factors come together and a good tire occurs. I have not photographed, many sunsets and this precisely caught me in the city and not for example in the countryside, where in a more natural environment perhaps, the sky would have gained more. What do you think of this sunset?.

Possibility for #MacroMondays. #Odd. Precisely 2 inches/5 cm horizontal width.

One light on the left in an experiment.

Friday's Flower Power

dedicated Froschkönig/Micha & AnnAbulf/Anna zum Burzeltag

wizard is never late,

nor is he early.he arrives precisely when he means to.

- says Gandalf to frodo

in

― Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Art of The Return of the King -

Site emblématique de la ville des Sables d'Olonne, et plus précisément de son quartier originel de la Chaume, le phare de la Chaume, ou "Feu de la tour d'Arundel", est situé sur la terrasse de la tour d'Arundel qui constitue le donjon carré de l'ancien château Saint-Clair à la Chaume, bâti à l'entrée du port des Sables-d'Olonne au 14ème siècle par les princes de Talmont.

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_la_Chaume

Château Saint-Clair (Vendée)

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Saint-Clair_(Vendée)

Castle St Clair - La Chaume lighthouse

Emblematic site of the city of Les Sables d'Olonne, and more precisely of its original district of La Chaume, the lighthouse of La Chaume, or "Feu de la tour d'Arundel", is located on the terrace of the tower of Arundel which constitutes the square dungeon of the former castle Saint-Clair at La Chaume, built at the entrance of the habour of Sables-d'Olonne in the 14th century by the princes of Talmont.

February 2023 - Uploaded 2023/02/09

Because of the shady state of national and international aimlessness I am trapped in my home office most of the time since month. Recently, I had a free run for a week and at one afternoon I had the time for photographing too. Precisely this day was wet and dull all the time. Still I did enjoy the time very much and I brought a few photos home as well. This is one of the them. The famous castle Neuschwanstein below deep hanging rain clouds.

Auf Grund der fragwürdigen Lage nationaler und internationaler Planlosigkeit, bin ich seit Monaten die meisste Zeit in meinem Homeoffice gefangen. Kürzlich hatte ich mal wieder eine Woche Auslauf und an einem Nachmittag auch die Zeit zum Fotografieren. Genau dieser Tag war durchgehend nass und trüb. Trotzdem habe ich die Zeit sehr genossen und auch ein paar wenige Fotos mitgebracht, wie dieses hier vom berühmten Schloß Neuschwanstein unter tief hängenden Regenwolken.

more of this on my website at: www.shoot-to-catch.de

On February 17, 7 years ago, precisely on the day of the Cat in Italy, Zarpazos appeared unexpectedly in our lives.

Unfortunately, he has not been with us for 3 years but his memory will accompany us for the rest of our existence

.

Zarpazos, 7 años en nuestros corazones💕

El 17 de febrero de hace 7 años, precisamente el día del Gato en Italia, Zarpazos apareció inesperadamente en nuestras vidas.

Desgraciadamente hace 3 años que ya no está con nosotros pero su recuerdo nos acompañará el resto de nuestra existencia

Tenía pensada esta foto desde antes de hacerla. También, tenia pensado el encuadre y la edición de la imagen. El día, se había despertado, con un cielo lleno de nubes amenazantes y un aire frío, típico del invierno. Era justo, lo que esperaba un cielo lleno de nubes, quería darle fuerza a la imagen, con ese cielo y editándola en blanco y negro. Por otro lado, quería transmitir el momento, un día gris, frío , la plaza vacía prácticamente, pocos eran los valientes que salían a la calle. Yo era uno de ellos, salí precisamente para capturar, la imagen que tenía en mi cabeza y este es el resultado. Que os parece?.

I had this picture in mind since before I took it. Also, I was thinking about framing and editing the image. The day, he had woken up, with a sky full of menacing clouds and a cold air, typical of winter. It was fair, what i expected a sky full of clouds, I wanted to give strength to the image, with that sky and editing it in black and white. On the other hand, I wanted to convey the moment, a gray, cold day, the empty square practically, few were the brave ones who went out on the street. I was one of them, I went out precisely to capture, the image I had in my head and this is the result. What do you think?.

Sponsored by HISA & FINCA

Featuring FANATIK

SO excited to be showcasing the new home from HISA - The Windburrow. Soon to be released at the Wizarding Faire opening August 7th at 12pm. You can take a look at this in their inworld store now!!!

For full credits check out my blog:

Not So Secret Garden

The Buddha Said — Alan Watts ft. Akira The Don

youtu.be/MOYcmfJ_Kek

And so, that is a nice little tangle

If I put this in the language

Of oriental philosophy and religion

It would be something like this

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

One who abandons that desire attains nirvana

Which is supreme peace liberation

Nirvana means, in Sanskrit blow out

That is, exhale the breath exhale the breath

The opposite, dеsire, is to breathe in

Now, if you brеathe in, and hold it

You lose your breath

But if you breathe out, it comes back to you

It comes back to you

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

So the principle here is if you want life

Don't cling to it let go

Let go

But the problem is if I desire not to desire

Is that not already desire?

How can I desire not to desire?

How can I surrender myself

When myself is precisely an urge to hold on

To cling?

To cling to life, to continue to survive

To survive to survive

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

The Buddha said that wisdom

Must come only from the

Abandonment of selfish craving, or desire

I can see rationally

That by clinging to myself

I may strangle myself

I may be like a person who has a bad habit

As a result of which he is committing suicide

And he knows that but can't give it up

Because the means of death are so sweet

Robin: holy FlickrGeek, Batman!

Batman: Precisely, Robin!

Inspired by Emily

Setsubun is a Japanese festival celebrated the day before the first day of spring. Families celebrate by throwing roasted soybeans outside the door of their house to chase out the oni (naughty ogres or spirits..... Yeah....throw some beans at her..go on..try it....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb7yhXrPfC4

NEW @ LANEVO

OGRES MASK

@ CYBER FAIR

March 2021 March 4th - 24th

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Forever%20Wild/128/128/1501

Japanese oni (ogre) mask created in cyberpunk specification.

This mask is asymmetrical, with a different kanji character for each color on the left cheek,

All Kanji characters and their meanings.

Black=冥-mei- (A world without light)

Blue=煌-kirameki- (Sparkle)

Brown=禅-zen- (Zen)

Beige=覇-hatagashira- (Overlord)

Emerald=颯-hayate- (The wind is blowing)

GrayBlack=滅-metsu- (Destruction)

Green=梵-bon- (Principle of the universe)

Gray=鋼-hagane- (Steel)

Navy=碧-ao- (Deep Blue)

Orange=暁-akatsuki- (Dawn)

Pink=魅-mononoke- (Temptation)

Purple=響-hibiki- (Reverberation)

Red=焔-homura- (Flame)

Sky=閃-sen- (Flash)

White=零-rei- (Zero)

Yellow=電-den- (Lightning bolt)

and electronic circuits visible in the protective glass on the right cheek.

Electronic circuits are precisely built with capacitors, batteries, and cables.

The electronic circuit can enable full brightness.

In the fatpack version, you can change the color of the two parts of the mask by selecting from 16 different colors.

Other Stuff

[MANDALA]TEMPURA Tassel Earring

Bauhaus Movement - Amaya Dress / ONYX

AZOURY Ephese Arms

[LINKRAVE] LinkHack Gloves

ZIBSKA Noir Pack #5 Eyemakeup

Sénanque Abbey is my preferred Cistercian Abbey in Provence, located more precisely in the Luberon, near Gordes. It was founded in the XIIth century. I had admired it once, but unfortunately, it was in june, before lavenders flourishing, and we had arrived too late in the afternoon to visit it. So I promised myself to see it again at the right period.

This time, lavenders fields were in flowers, at the beginning of July, and we arrived at about ten'o clock in the morning at the opening, a perfect time to admire the abbey et to visit it without waiting too much. So beautiful was the abbey in front of it's lavenders field in flowers ! It was for me a moment of great joy, i had realized one of my dreams !

___________________________

La beauté de l'abbaye de Sénanque, une des merveilles de la vieille Provence

L'abbaye de Sénanque est mon abbaye Cistercienne préférée en Provence, située plus précisément à coté de Gordes dans le Luberon. Elle a été fondée au 12ème siècle. Je l'avais déjà admirée une fois, mais hélas, c'était en juin, avant la période de floraison des lavandes, et on était arrivés trop tard dans l'après-midi pour la visiter. Je m'étais alors promis de la revoir, mais à la bonne période.

Cette fois-ci, les champs de lavande étaient en fleurs au début de juillet, et on était arrivés aux alentours de 10h du matin à l'ouverture, un timing idéal pour admirer l'abbaye et la visiter sans attendre trop longtemps. Qu'elle était belle, l'abbaye devant son champs de lavandins en fleurs ! Ce fut pour moi un moment de joie intense, j'avais réalisé un de mes rêves !

____________________________

Gordes - Provence - France

Merci à ce Rouge-gorge d'avoir posé et me permettre de tester la formation animalière que je suis en ce moment.

**

Thank you to this Robin for posing and allowing me to test the animal training that I am at the moment.

**

Est une espèce de passereaux. Auparavant placé dans la famille des Turdidae, il figure actuellement, avec d'autres représentants de celle-ci (particulièrement les tariers et les traquets), dans celle des Muscicapidae. Le mâle et la femelle sont presque identiques, avec une couronne, des ailes, le dessus et la queue de couleur brune, une bande grise sur les côtés de la gorge, un ventre blanc et la fameuse « gorge rouge », plus précisément de couleur orange foncé tirant vers le rouge. Bien que sa face et sa poitrine soient plus orangées que rougeâtres, cet oiseau prend le nom familier de rouge-gorge au Moyen Âge. Cette contradiction est due à ce que la dénomination de la couleur orange n'apparaît en Europe qu'au xvie siècle, par la diffusion sur ce continent de l'orange douce (le fruit) rapportée à la fin du xve siècle par les Portugais de Ceylan et de Chine.

L'âge maximal d'un rouge-gorge est de 18 ans.

--

Is a species of passerines. Previously placed in the Turdidae family, it currently appears, along with other representatives of this family (particularly augers and wheatear), in that of the Muscicapidae. The male and the female are almost identical, with a crown, wings, upper and tail of brown color, a gray band on the sides of the throat, a white belly and the famous "red throat", more precisely of color. dark orange tending to red. Although its face and chest are more orange than reddish, this bird took the colloquial name of robin in the Middle Ages. This contradiction is due to the fact that the name of the color orange does not appear in Europe until the sixteenth century, by the distribution on this continent of the sweet orange (the fruit) reported at the end of the fifteenth century by the Portuguese of Ceylon and China.

The maximum age for a robin is 18.

Shortly after sunrise in the karst area of ​​Luoping in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Haze or smog lay over the landscape and the sun didn't really want to get through. In spite of that or precisely because of this, the light was very beautiful.

Kurz nach Sonnenaufgang im Karstgebiet von Luoping in der südwestchinesischen Provinz Yunnan.

Dunst oder Smog lag über der Landschaft und die Sonne wollte nicht so recht durchkommen. Trotzdem oder gerade deshalb war das Licht sehr schön.

Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!

bitte beachte/ please respect Copyright © All rights reserved.

A view from the deck yesterday afternoon after the snow when a bright and warming sun combined with a strong breeze from the north to encourage a rather quickly developing ice-out. One of the interesting things about living on a lake is how differently this occurs every year depending on conditions. Note the straight line between water and ice created by the consistently blowing wind shown more clearly in the turbulence along the shoreline. This is the first time I've witnessed this, clearing the northernmost third of the lake in a single day.

However, it is not the first time that I've seen the lone hooded merganser male shown in comments, in precisely the same spot, cruising the shoreline, no doubt awaiting his mate. In fact, he is there every year like clockwork (this, of course, presumes it's the same one) only to disappear when the ice fully vanishes.

Suite à une erreur de mise en ligne d'hier corrigée aujourd'hui,je remets les commentaires exacts.

🇫🇷Nous voici sur la terrasse de notre location pour cette 2° semaine de vacances en Corse, plus précisément Tiuccia qui est une station balnéaire de Corse-du-Sud, dépendant de la commune de Casaglione et située à une vingtaine de kilomètres d'Ajaccio, sur la route de Calvi (par la côte), au fond du golfe de Sagone.

Elle est bâtie au pied du rocher de Capraghja (Carpraja), où demeurent quelques vestiges des fondations du château des comtes de Cinarca, et d'où l'on domine la totalité du golfe, jusqu'à Cargèse.

Le site est bordé au nord par le Monte Lazzu (100 m). Dans son prolongement en direction de la mer se trouvent également les ruines de deux anciennes fortifications génoises, la tour du Capigliolu (XVIe siècle) et un fortin (XVIIe siècle/XVIIIe siècle).

🇬🇧 Here we are on the terrace of our rental for this 2° week holiday in Corsica, more precisely Tiuccia which is a seaside resort of Corsica-du-Sud, dependent on the commune of Casaglione and located about twenty kilometers from Ajaccio, on the road to Calvi (by the coast), at the bottom of the Gulf of Sagone.

It is built at the foot of the rock of Capraghja (Carpraja), where remains of the foundations of the castle of the counts of Cinarca, and from where one dominates the entire gulf, up to Cargèse.

The site is bordered to the north by the Monte Lazzu (100 m). In its extension towards the sea are also the ruins of two ancient Genoese fortifications, the tower of Capigliolu (16th century) and a fortin (17th century/18th century).

ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved

Do not use without permission.

Taken from the Djurgårdsbron with Djurgården to the right. It might not look like it, but this is quite central - which would have been quite evident had I shot in any other direction than precisely this one, up the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken as this part of the water is called.

It is always hard to translate names but I can give you that 'bron' means 'the bridge' and 'viken' means 'the bay'.

This building was probably the home of a landless labourer, possibly a craftsman. It was built in the mid-17th century on the edge of Washington Common. It has one heated room, and the fireplace is in a smoke bay, an early form of chimney.

Poplar Cottage cannot be precisely dated but from the style and details of its construction it was probably built in the mid 17th century, or possibly a little earlier. It occupied a small plot of land on the southern edge of the common at Washington, near Steyning in West Sussex.

Source: www.wealddown.co.uk/buildings/poplar-cottage/

East of the main entrance to Kalasasaya.

The Kalasasaya dates to at least 200 BCE - 200 CE. It is located to the north of the Akapana and west of the Semi-Subterranean Temple, other structures in the complex.

North of the Akapana Pyramid is Kalasasaya, a partially reconstructed 130m-by-120m ritual-platform compound with walls constructed of huge blocks of red sandstone and andesite. The blocks are precisely fitted to form a platform base 3m high. Monolithic uprights flank the massive entrance steps up to the restored portico of the enclosure, beyond which is an interior courtyard and the ruins of priests’ quarters. Note the size of the top stair – a massive single block.

The Monolito Ponce monolith, with his turban (no doubt covering up his deformed cranium), mask, ceremonial vase and walking stick, sits at the center of the first platform. Some say the stick and the vase are symbolic of the dualism of Andean culture (nature versus nurture).

Other stairways lead to secondary platforms, where there are other monoliths including the famous El Fraile (priest).

Titanopsis is a genus of about 10 species of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the arid regions of South Africa and Namibia. The name "Titanopsis" comes from the ancient Greek "titanos" (limestone) and "opsis" (looking like).

***

Without a doubt, 'the Concrete Leaf' is the most picturesque of the rare succulents. Its scientific name is titanopsis calcarea.

The nickname is due to its rough and rugged appearance. This gives the impression of mineral inlays on its fabrics.

It uses this mechanism to camouflage itself. In this way, birds and other animals do not perceive them among the rocks, on which it grows.

Here, we speak of one of South Africa's rare succulents. Its habits make it difficult to locate. That is precisely why it is so unusual.

***

They are small plants, with rosette up to 10 cm high.

Leaves are up to 3 cm with truncate tip and rough warty little tubercles at the apex of the leaves. They look like limestone and are hard to see in the wild.

Yellow flowers with 2 cm diameter appear in late fall.

In the region of Liguria, on top of a rugged area of the Italian Riviera, lies the Cinque Terre, five small towns of lush colors contrasting with the brown stones and the turquoise sea.

The Cinque Terre is one of the most pure and unspoilt Mediterranean areas of Liguria and the Tyrrhenian Coast. Five miles of rocky coastline, united by two promontories, five villages located in a zone of difficult access and precisely why these places have managed to maintain their characteristic charm over time. The viticulture, typical of the region helped to create a unique landscape, on hills overlooking the sea.

With an undeniable beauty, Monterosso, Riomaggiore and its trekking path, Corniglia, Vernazza and Manarola deserve to be visited for those who love a breathtaking view.

Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. These prickles are an adaptation that protects the plant from being eaten by herbivores. Typically, an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flowerheads. The comparative amount of spininess varies dramatically by species. For example, Cirsium heterophyllum has minimal spininess while Cirsium spinosissimum is the opposite. Typically, species adapted to dry environments have greater spininess. The term thistle is sometimes taken to mean precisely those plants in the tribe Cardueae (synonym: Cynareae), especially the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum. However, plants outside this tribe are sometimes called thistles, and when this is done, "thistles" would form a polyphyletic group. A thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland and Lorraine, as well as the emblem of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Biennial thistles are particularly noteworthy for their high wildlife value, producing such things as copious floral resources for pollinators, nourishing seeds for birds like the goldfinch, foliage for butterfly larvae, and down for the lining of birds' nests. 12710

For Macro Mondays - Translucent

About the only thing I could come up with for this week. This old fashioned 'glass' panel is beside our front door, allowing some light in but no clear view of the garden beyond. Each of the circles in the design are precisely 2 inches in diameter.

Happy Macro Monday!

the most precisely articulated national purpose in recorded history. Not only is it a famous statement of purpose: it is also an admirable statement of purpose. Prior to July 4, 1776, the national purpose of nations had been to dominate... The American national purpose was the opposite: to liberate from domination; to set men free. All men are created equal.

We not only have a national purpose; we have one of such aspiration, such potentiality, such power of hope that we refer to it — or used to — as the American Dream :-)

Archibald MacLeish, in LIFE, "Eloquent Guides to America's National Purpose," 1960

Truth Matters! Character Matters!!

waterlily, j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

Today, March 19 is International Sleep Day, also for Peter and Oleg

PETER:

Eh ... Oleg .... Pssst.

I can not sleep.

OLEG:

Wh..Wh..What?

PETER:

I can not sleep

OLEG:

Why not?

PETER:

You snore

OLEG:

Nonsense ... I don't hear it and I sleep well. Let me sleep on now. It is 1 day in the year International Sleep Day and it is precisely on that special day that you wake me up.

PETER:

Yes ... but I would also like to enjoy this day.

OLEG: (irritated because he was woken up)

Then shut up and go to sleep.

PETER:

How?

OLEG: Go count sheep jumping over the fence.

PETER:

1, 2, 20, .... 31 ..

Oleg?

OLEG:

What is it now?

PETER:

The fence is too high for sheep number 32.

OLEG:

Lift number 32

or shorten the gate.

PETER:

Thank you Oleg

It'll be fine.

Sleep well Oleg

OLEG:

Sleep well Peter

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Sleep_Day

In the late Middle Ages, precisely in 1430, the Hussites advanced on the city, but without conquering it. Bishop and the wealthy citizens fled. The inhabitants who remained in the city then plundered the wine cellars, monasteries, etc. Probably the people also ran through this narrow alley ... maybe with or without booty.

Uhh-uhh-uhh, ohh-yeah, hmmm

A hundred and five is the number that comes to my head

When I think of all the years I wanna be with you

Wake up every morning with you in my bed

That′s precisely what I plan to do

And you know one of these days, when I get my money right

Buy you everything and show you all the finer things in life

Will forever be enough, so there ain't no need to rush

But one day, I won′t be able to ask you loud enough

I'll say, will you marry me?

I swear that I will mean it

I'll say, will you marry me?

Singing, uh-oh-oh, uh-oh-oh

Uh-oh-oh, oh-yeah

How many girls in the world can make me feel like this?

Baby, I don′t ever plan to find out

The more I look, the more I find the reasons why

You′re the love of my life

You know one of these days, when I get my money right

Buy you everything and show you all the finer things in life

Will forever be enough, so there ain't no need to rush

But one day, I won′t be able to ask you loud enough

I'll say, will you marry me?

I swear that I will mean it

I′ll say, will you marry me?

And if I lost everything

In my heart, it means nothing

'Cause I have you, girl, I have you

To get right down on bended knee

Nothing else would ever be better, better

The day when I

I′ll say, will you marry me?

I swear that I will mean it

I'll say, will you marry me?

I'll say, will you marry me? (the day I get on my knees)

I swear that I will mean it

I′ll say, will you marry me? (and what you do me, baby?)

Got me singing (uh-ooh, uh-ooh)

Got me singing (uh-ooh, uh-ooh)

Would you marry me, baby? (uh-ooh, uh-ooh, uh-ooh)

A hundred and five is the number that comes to my head

When I think of all the years I wanna be with you

Wake up every morning with you in my bed

That′s precisely what I plan to do

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRCsZ5a3aCM

Thank you for visits, comments and favs!

Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!

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

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Part 5 of the new series in which I try to portray different mental disorders, or the emotions of the person affected behind them.

Today Borderline or Borderline personality disorder (BSD).

Hark, I prithee, I must needs declare that 'twas a mite challenging for Midjourney to fully appease me, yet no trouble at all. In sooth, I hath required a few endeavors to procure precisely what I sought. But, 'tis completely acceptable, for there be no haste

Prompt 1: IMAGE: Emotions Unraveled | GENRE: Conceptual | MOOD: Emotional Turmoil | COLOR: A mix of contrasting hues | BACKGROUND: Abstract and fragmented patterns | SCENE: A person with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) experiencing intense emotions | DETAILS: Expressive facial expressions and body language reflecting various emotional states | RENDER: Surreal and evocative | LIGHTING: Dynamic and shifting | COMPOSITION: Chaotic and fragmented | SHOT: Close-up shot focusing on emotions | CAMERA: Experimental camera | LENS: Focal length 35mm | TAGS: Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD, emotions, mental health, conceptual art --ar 3:2 --q 2 --weird 200 --s 1000 --style raw

Second step: Insert the two best images as a link in the prompt and repeat the prompt and change the setting to --weird 500

Third step: Vary strong with a changed prompt: IMAGE: Emotions put on hold | GENRE: Conceptual | MOOD: Emotional Turmoil | COLOR: A mix of contrasting hues | EMOTION: sociopathy | BACKGROUND: Abstract and fragmented patterns, glas, ice and Murano glass | SCENE: A person with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) experiencing intense emotions | DETAILS: Expressive facial expressions and body language reflecting various emotional states, Murano glass | RENDER: Surreal and evocative | LIGHTING: Dynamic and shifting | COMPOSITION: Chaotic and fragmented | SHOT: Close-up shot focusing on emotions | LENS: Focal length 35mm | TAGS: Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD, emotions, mental health, conceptual art, Murano glass --ar 3:2 --weird 500 --s 1000 --style raw

Finally: I did a "Custom Zoom Out" and some "Pan down's" with the Prompt: A Heart of Glass --weird 1000 --ar 3:2

Frame and fine adjustment in LR and PS

Suedbahnhotel Semmering, Semmering, Austria

"The original Suedbahnhotel Semmering (also called “Hotel Semmering” or “First Suedbahnhotel”) was the 1st Hotel am Semmering at all and was opened in 1882 at the foot of Pinkenkogel Mountain–at precisely 1000 m above sea level. The Suedbahnhotel am Semmering was one of several grand hotels along the Suedbahn route from Vienna to Triest which were commissioned in order to stimulate the tourism in the respective regions and also the Suedbahn route from the privileged K. u. k. Suedbahngesellschaft. Semmering was already easy to reach at this time through the pioneering accomplishment of the Semmering Railways and was consequently expanded to create a popular holiday and spa resort. Semmering was popular with Viennese society as well as with the multi-national guests from all levels of the royal monarchy. Fin de Siècle and Belle Époche are two eras at the end of the 19th century and/or at the beginning of the 20th century which were characteristic for the Suedbahnhotel Semmering, but not just from social-political and sports history perspectives. A section of the Austrian tourism history also had its start here.

Currently, the opportunity exists to acquire the fairy-tale and spaciously-constructed “Second Suedbahnhotel” in order to be able to continue to develop it with a corresponding usage concept and to be able to sustainably preserve a unique architectural jewel. The Suedbahnhotel Semmering is by no means dead: It is merely sleeping and waiting to be kissed to be awakened..."

(Source: suedbahnhotel-semmering.at/?lang=en)

The Alcarria is a Spanish natural region located in the South Sub-region, which includes most of the center and south of the province of Guadalajara, the northwest of the province of Cuenca and the southeast of the province of Madrid.

Geographically it is formed by a tabular relief crowned by the structural surface of the limestone wasteland that is continuously cut from north to south by rivers and streams that form narrow glacis and loamy slopes and deep fertile valleys. This generates a geomorphology that produces a remarkable contrast between the holm oaks and the rain-fed agriculture of the páramo, and the small orchards, the olive groves and the aromatic herbs of the slopes and valleys.

Precisely, the abundance of aromatic plants such as rosemary, thyme, lavender or lavender make it possible beekeeping which results in the honey of the Alcarria. Other products given in the region are the Alcarreña lamb, the Alcarria oil and the Mondéjar and Sacedón and Arganda designation wines.

The anthropogenic landscape of the Alcarria has been the contextual framework of several famous literary works, among which the Journey to the Alcarria by Camilo José Cela stands out. (Source Wikipedia)

La Alcarria es una comarca natural española situada en la Submeseta Sur, que comprende la mayor parte del centro y sur de la provincia de Guadalajara, el noroeste de la provincia de Cuenca y el sureste de la provincia de Madrid.

Geográficamente está formada por un relieve tabular coronado por la superficie estructural del páramo calizo que se ve continuamente cortado de norte a sur por ríos y arroyos que forman angostos glacis y cuestas margosos y profundos valles fértiles. Esto genera una geomorfología que produce un notable contraste entre los encinares y la agricultura de secano del páramo, y las pequeñas huertas, los olivares y las hierbas aromáticas de las cuestas y valles.

Precisamente, la abundancia de plantas aromáticas como el romero, el tomillo, el espliego o lavanda hacen posible la apicultura de la que resulta la miel de la Alcarria. Otros productos dados en la comarca son el cordero de raza alcarreña, el aceite de la Alcarria y los vinos de denominación de origen de Mondéjar y Sacedón y Arganda.

El paisaje antropogenizado de la Alcarria ha sido marco contextual de varias obras literarias célebres, entre las que destaca fundamentalmente Viaje a la Alcarria de Camilo José Cela.(Fuente Wikipedia)

closeup of the narrowest part of the decaying old packhorse bridge in Carrbridge, Scottish Cairngorms. These few rocks are all that would separate a person crossing from the depth below and the flowing river. But apparently it is precisely this precarious arch which has withstood floods and use troughout the ages since the bridge was built in 1717.

PX500 | BR-Creative | chbustos.com

The Grand Galibier is a summit of the French Alps in the Cerces massif and precisely in the Galibier range, at the limit of the departments of Savoie in the town of Valloire and Hautes-Alpes in the town of Monêtier-les-Bains. It rises to an altitude of 3,228 m and dominates the Col du Galibier.

something in sam's house creates this prism at precisely 1:00 every afternoon.

HDR of M & M's in small amber glass bowl taken for Macro Mondays Misfit theme. The width is precisely 3 inches.

I've just come back from a little trip to Bohemian Switzerland, more precisely to the Tyssa walls.

The aim was to photograph the sunrise here. According to the weather report, there was a 50% chance that the rain would have stopped by then. As you can see, that was not the case. And so I hiked around this grandiose landscape with an umbrella and rain jacket, always trying to protect my technique from the water.

Of course it was a reef pine tree (pictured here on the right) that first caught my attention.

Even if the morning went very differently than planned, I am very happy about the experience and the result. I don't often get such a great rainforest atmosphere in front of my lens, which fits perfectly with this landscape.

By the way, I also saw the sun, shortly before I got back to my car.

Gerade komme ich zurück von einem kleinen Ausflug in die Böhmische Schweiz, genauer gesagt zu den Tyssaer Wänden.

Ziel war es hier den Sonnenaufgang zu fotografieren. Laut Wetterbericht bestand eine 50 %ige Chance, dass der Regen bis dahin aufgehört hat. Wie man sieht war dem nicht so. Und so bin ich dann mit Schirm und Regenjacke in dieser grandiosen Landschaft herum gewandert immer bemüht, meine Technik vor dem Wasser zu schützen.

Natürlich war es eine Riff Kiefer (hier rechts im Bild) die meine Aufmerksamkeit als erstes auf sich gelenkt hat.

Auch wenn der Morgen ganz anders verlief als geplant, so bin ich sehr froh über das Erlebnis und über das Ergebnis. So eine tolle Regenwaldatmosphäre, die perfekt zu dieser Landschaft passt, bekomme ich nicht oft vor die Linse.

Die Sonne habe ich übrigens dann auch noch gesehen, kurz bevor ich zurück an meinem Auto war.

more of this on my website at: www.shoot-to-catch.de

Le Grand Galibier est un sommet des Alpes françaises dans le massif des Cerces et précisément dans le chaînon du Galibier, à la limite des départements de la Savoie sur la commune de Valloire et des Hautes-Alpes sur la commune du Monêtier-les-Bains.

Il culmine à 3 228 m d'altitude et domine le col du Galibier.

The Grand Galibier is a summit of the French Alps in the Cerces massif and precisely in the Galibier range, at the limit of the departments of Savoie in the town of Valloire and Hautes-Alpes in the town of Monêtier-les-Bains. It rises to an altitude of 3,228 m and dominates the Col du Galibier.

The buildings around the High Line in New York City represent a wide variety of architectural styles, from the industrial warehouses that once lined the old freight rail line to the sleek, modern skyscrapers that have been built in recent years.

The High Line itself is also an architectural landmark, as it is a converted freight rail line that has been transformed into a public park. The park's design incorporates elements of the original industrial structure, such as the steel beams and railroad ties, while also creating a new and inviting space for people to enjoy.

The mix of old and new architecture along the High Line is one of its unique features. It reflects the city's history and its ever-changing landscape. The High Line is a place where people can come to appreciate the past, present, and future of New York City architecture.

***

Architects: Neil M. Denari Architects

Area: 3642 m²

Year: 2009

Manufacturers: Capoferri Serramenti

The West Side High Line in New York City is a continuous elevated bridge structure that will become, over the next ten years, a unique linear urban park. Designed by Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the High Line Park will advance a merger between various urban ecologies both found and implanted.

By definition, the High Line has created new relationships between building mass and, in certain local situations, has engendered new forms of urban infill, far different than simple mid-block party wall scenarios. Where the High Line passes through the Chelsea Arts District at 23rd Street, one of these unique site conditions exists. It is here that NMDA has been commissioned by developer Alf Naman to produce a slim-fit, 14 story building for ground floor galleries and 12 condo-lofts rising next to the High Line. This structure is precisely shaped by a confluence of forces, that also like the High Line Park, are a combination of both found and implanted ecologies.

Consisting of one condominium per floor, the main living areas and views are oriented toward the south, while the east façade facing the high line is formed as a sculptural surface with smaller windows allowing privacy and framed views across Manhattan. A curtain wall of glass and stainless steel panels hangs on a complex cantilevered steel frame, generating expression within systematic economy. Since the building sits in the middle of the Arts District, it attempts to deliver a commercially viable, highly crafted object that can take its place among the art shown in the nearby galleries.

HL23 is seeking a LEED-certified gold rating.

Ararajuba is a Psittaciforme, also known as Guaruba, Guarajuba, Tanajuba, Aiurujuba, Ajurujuba, Marajuba, Ajurujubacanga, Guarujuba and Imperial parrot.

Its scientific name means: do (tupi) Guarajúba = yellowish bird.

It measures about 34cm in length and weighs around 255g. Ararajuba has the colors of the Brazilian flag (yellow with green wing tips), so it is considered the best alternative to be chosen as a National Ave. It is a species without sexual dimorphism.

It feeds on seeds, oily fruits, fruits and flowers.

It looks for tall, hollow trees to build its nests, inside a deep chamber that prevents predators such as toucans. In this place, they lay two to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 30 days, not only by the parents, but also by other individuals in the flock. These “helpers” also collaborate in the care of the puppies until they become adults.

Inhabits the canopy of tall humid forests. It is quite social, including in the reproductive period, living in flocks of 4 to 10 individuals. It is precisely in the areas where the species occurs that the highest rates of deforestation in the Amazon for the formation of pastures are verified. Thus, the loss of their habitat is one of the main threats that jeopardize the survival of these birds. The trafficking of wild birds is another factor that significantly contributes to the reduction of these individuals in the wild.

Found exclusively in Brazil, from western Maranhão to southeastern Amazonas, and always south of the Amazon River and east of the Madeira River. There are occasional records in the 1990s in the northeast of Rondônia and the extreme north of Mato Grosso.

Taken at BioPark/ Rio de Janeiro