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If you are going to live in agreement with Patagonia, bring a coat : )
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Perito Moreno Glacier
Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
It is one of the most significant attractions in the Argentine Patagonia.
Area: 96.53 mi²
Length: 30 km (19 mi)
Los Glaciares National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Created in 1937, Los Glaciares National Park is the second largest National Park in Argentina, comprising more than 1,700 square miles and 50 Glaciers. These Glaciers are fed by a giant icecap that begins in the Andes Mountains.
(iPhone 13 Pro Max, 1/11400 @ f/1.5, ISO 50, edited to taste)
Macro Mondays : My Daily Routine
HMM to all!!
I firmly believe that religious practices and rituals add powerful dimension of symbol and meaning to one’s life. So, the most significant task in my daily routine is meditating for half an hour in the evening after offering flowers and lighting an oil lamp to Gautama Lord Buddha. The oil lamp represents the light of wisdom that illuminates the darkness and ignorance and flowers are symbolic of the impermanence of life.
Ndutu region in the southeast of the Serengeti, Tanzania
significantly larger than its much better known relative, the Thomson's Gazelle, a very common sight in the Serengeti - Masai Mara region.
Grant's gazelles are less dependent on water than Thomson's.
Nanger granti
Grantgazelle
Gazelle de Grant
Grant-Gazelle
gacela de Grant o gacela suara
gazzella di Grant
gazela-de-grant
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With the first significant snowfall of the season in the forecast for where I live on Monday, this shot from the archives seemed appropriate for today.
Happy Early Winter to those who are experiencing it, and a salute as well on this Veterans Day to all who have served!
Gambia
Piliocolobus badius is listed as Endangered, as the species is estimated to have undergone a decline exceeding 50% during the past three generations (ca 30 years). Recent surveys report significant population declines and/or local extirpations. The scale of the decline is inferred from rates of human induced habitat loss, and evidence of unsustainable rates of hunting. Already small and isolated Western Red Colobus populations are expected to continue declining given that these threats are ongoing and in most places are not being countered, and indeed are likely to increase, driven by the demand for natural resources from a rapidly growing human population in West Africa.
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The Western Wall, also known as the "Wailing Wall" or the "Kotel," is one of the most significant religious and historical sites in Jerusalem, Israel. It holds deep spiritual and emotional importance for Jews worldwide, and it has also become a symbol of the complex and often contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Western Wall is a remnant of the ancient retaining wall that once surrounded the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. After the temple's destruction, the Western Wall became the closest accessible site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage. For centuries, Jews from around the world have come to this sacred site to pray, lament the destruction of the temple, and express their connection to Jewish heritage.
The name "Wailing Wall" originates from the 19th and early 20th centuries when Jews would gather at the site to mourn the destruction of the temple and express their sorrow through prayers and tears. The term "Kotel" means "wall" in Hebrew and has become a popular and endearing name for the site.
Over time, the Western Wall has evolved into a focal point of religious and nationalist tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The site is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is also part of the contested area between Israel and Palestine. Its significance to both Jewish and Muslim communities has led to disputes and occasional clashes.
The Western Wall plaza is divided into two sections: one for men and the other for women, following Orthodox Jewish tradition. The prayers and rituals conducted here are a mix of individual devotion, communal worship, and celebrations during religious holidays.
In addition to its religious importance, the Western Wall draws millions of tourists and visitors from various backgrounds each year, offering them a glimpse into the rich history and cultural diversity of Jerusalem.
Despite the ongoing complexities surrounding the Western Wall and its geopolitical context, it remains an essential and cherished place for Jewish people, symbolizing resilience, faith, and the connection to their shared heritage.
Was reading some articles on low hanging fruit to reduce CO2 emissions and its crazy to me that we still allow flaring - the burning of natural gas as a waste product during oil development. Surprisingly on average 1% of gas produced across the US is flared – amounting to 1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) in 2018. At $2 per thousand cfd, this amounts to a wasted $2 million per day, as well as a significant increase in GHG emissions. With all that money on the table you'd think someone would have cracked this nut by now. I took this photo over a decade ago in western Colorado and have taken ones similar in Texas just in the past year.
From my original photo taken in Brittany in 2007.
Vitré is a town located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany, France. It has a population of approximately 20,000 people and is known for its medieval architecture, including a castle, ramparts, and half-timbered houses.
During World War II, Vitré was occupied by German forces and its residents experienced hardships and restrictions imposed by the occupying army. The town saw heavy fighting between the German army and the Allies, and was eventually liberated by American forces in August 1944.
The people of Vitré played a significant role in the resistance movement during the war, and their sacrifices and efforts are remembered and honored to this day.
Textures from Karen Burns and Kerstin Frank - thank you.
The great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) is found throughout Northern Europe, Northern Asia and a significant proportion of North America. They are quite large birds, rivalling the Eurasian Eagle Owl in size. The great grey owl has a large, rounded head and yellow eyes, with light underparts mottled with darker grey feathers. Their wings and back are darker grey with lighter bars.
The great grey owl has a large "facial disk." The facial disk is a concave circle of feathers around the eyes of the bird. It helps to collect sound waves and direct them toward the owl's ears, helping the owl to locate its prey by sound. The great grey owl has the largest facial disk of any bird of prey.
Their diet consists mainly of small mammals and their preferred prey is voles, however they will also eat gophers, weasels, squirrels, rabbits, rats and mice. They nest in dense coniferous forests in most of the northern hemisphere.
The female will lay between two to six eggs at one- to two-day intervals. The female does all of the incubation, which starts when the first egg is laid. After four to six weeks the chicks hatch. The male provides all the food for the young, which is torn into smaller pieces by the female. When food is scarce the female great grey owl will often starve herself in order to feed her chicks, and may lose up to a third of her body weight. The chicks will leave the nest after approximately a month and can fly well after two months. The young stay close to home and are cared for by the female for some time after leaving the nest.
ready to fly off as the rest of a small flock had already left the area.
Taken in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia
This species is significantly larger than the Barred Cuckoo-shrike posted earlier this week.
This species prefers open areas near woodland and forests ( as compared to the rainforest prefered by the Barred species). They eat caterpillars and other insects, but will also take fruit or seeds.
coracina novaehollandiae
Australische rupsvogel
échenilleur à masque noir
Schwarzgesicht-Raupenfänger
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The Painted bunting is a small brightly-colored member of the cardinal family. The males are brightly colored with blue, green, red and yellow plumage. Females and juveniles are bright green with pale rings around their eyes. The male is considered by many to be North America's most beautiful bird, and they are one of the most popular visitors to bird feeders. Painted buntings are one of the most spectacularly colored and visually impressive birds in the United States and are the only U.S. bird with a blue head along with red underparts.
Painted Buntings are still fairly common, but populations have been dropping for several decades. The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimated a decline of 62% between 1966 and 1995, but the 1966-2014 survey does not find significant decreases, suggesting that populations may have stabilized, or at least the decline has slowed, since 1995. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 13 million, with 80% spending at least part of the year in the U.S., and 51% in Mexico. The species rates a 12 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, and is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. Painted Bunting is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Found this male in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida.
"Spirit Island"
Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park.
The island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, who believe mountains are physical representations of their ancestors. The fact that Spirit Island is surrounded on three sides by the same mountain range is very rare and makes it particularly significant to the Stoney. The color of the water is different at Spirit Island than where cruises depart at the Maligne Lake docks. The further south on the lake you travel, the closer you get to glaciers, and the more emerald-colored the water becomes due to the presence of rock flour from the glaciers.
For this image, I smoothed out the water to give it a more peaceful environment. This was one of top three bucket list locations from this adventure. Moraine Lake at sunrise, walking on a glacier on the Icefield's Parkway, and Spirit Island in Jasper NP. We ended up driving over 4k miles from KC to the upper parts of Alberta, Canada. What an adventure.
Hopefully not the best Osprey shot I upload this year... But it will the most significant Osprey shot I'll upload this year
Why? ... Because it's the first
During the weeks of lock-down there were moments when I wondered if I'd even get to see one of these magnificent birds this year
Thankfully those fears were soon put to rest...
Now can I have one with a fish please Mr 'O'?
WikiVoyage: The island dates only to 1722, when 10,000 people were given shovels and put to work digging a canal to bypass a bend in the Om Kret branch of the Chao Phraya river. In a month and a half, the 12m wide by 3m deep canal was completed which cut journey times on the river significantly. The river responded to this shortcut by changing course completely, and over the years the canal has become the 30m wide and 10m deep main course of the river seen today. In 1757, Mon people from southern Myanmar were permitted to settle in areas around the Chao Phraya, including Ko Kret and adjacent Pak Kret. Due to laws at the time banning foreigners from farming, the Mon people used river clay to make traditional pottery. This same group dominates this area even today. They have retained a distinct identity in their flavor of Buddhism and, particularly at Ko Kret, their pottery.
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Bethlehem's Basilica of the Nativity is one of the most significant religious and historical sites in the world. Located in Bethlehem, a town in the West Bank, it is widely regarded as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The basilica holds immense religious importance for Christians and attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over the globe.
The Basilica of the Nativity was originally commissioned by Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century AD. It was built over the site believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, as identified by early Christian tradition. The basilica's architecture reflects a blend of Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader influences, making it a unique and historically rich structure.
The church's interior features a combination of ornate decorations, mosaics, and religious artifacts, preserving the essence of its ancient origins. One of its most iconic elements is the Grotto of the Nativity, a small underground cave within the basilica, traditionally recognized as the exact spot where Jesus was born. Pilgrims often gather around this revered site to pay their respects and offer prayers.
Throughout its long history, the Basilica of the Nativity has faced various challenges, including damage from earthquakes and periods of conflict. However, it has been meticulously restored and remains a symbol of enduring faith and spiritual devotion.
Due to its profound historical and religious significance, the Basilica of the Nativity has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, further cementing its importance as a place of cultural and religious heritage for people worldwide. Visiting this holy site offers a powerful and humbling experience, allowing individuals to connect with centuries of Christian tradition and reverence for the birth of Jesus Christ.
This was taken around this time last year. My shadow on the hoodoos in Drumheller Alberta. Of note, I lost a significant amount of weight since this was taken so my shadow is considerably smaller than when I took this haha.
The Tarkine is a vast and significant wilderness in north-west Tasmania, an area of stunning natural beauty and the largest Gondwanan cool-temperate rainforest in Australia. This is our get away destination for today.
I took a cruise on the Pieman River where we saw nature up close and personal, Eagles followed our boat and the photo opportunities were boundless. We had lunch on the river bank and were turned loose to explore the rainforest where I took this, and many other photos.
As ever in Australia, The Tarkine is under threat from mining interests, and the timber industry. Between them they want to build roads, cut down trees and dig a nice mine in this pristine wilderness. Conservationist on the other hand, want The Tarkine declared a national park: fat chance they've got. There's gold, tin and trees in The Tarkine. Get to The Tarkine before it's all gone.
Significant amount of postproduction in Lightroom and Topaz implemented ;-)
Krzyżówka/Anas platyrhynchos
#6
2016 will be marked at his very begining by significant losses...
Michel Delpech (I grew up with his songs), David Bowie (his music has been and still is my best companion), Alan Rickman (fully present until recently with his movies), Glenn Frey (who hasn't danced at "Hotel's California rhythm!!) and many more
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2016 :(
Not to forget all the victims (daily!!) due to constant violence... :-(((
They all left us for a happier land, that is for sure.
But let's make our world a happy land also! WE CAN!!
Michel Delpech:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrn0MsKAWDU
David Bowie:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QiEna_1L1E&list=LLgp6_-0sAJl...
Alan Rickman:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=754D-AaslPU
Glenn Frey:
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire, occasionally corrupted as bobbed wire or bob wire, is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strands. It is used to construct inexpensive fences and is used atop walls surrounding secured property. It is also a major feature of the fortifications in trench warfare (as a wire obstacle).
Michael Kelly Invented the First Barbed Wire Fencing
The first wire fences (before the invention of the barb) consisted of only one strand of wire, which was constantly broken by the weight of cattle pressing against it.
Michael Kelly made a significant improvement to wire fencing, he twisted two wires together to form a cable for barbs - the first of its kind. Known as the "thorny fence," Michael Kelly's double-strand design made fences stronger, and the painful barbs made cattle keep their distance.
Joseph Glidden Was Considered the King of the Barb.
Joseph Glidden's design made barbed wire more effective, he invented a method for locking the barbs in place, and invented the machinery to mass-produce the wire.
Living patterns of the nomadic Native Americans were radically altered. Further squeezed from lands they had always used, they began calling barbed wire "the Devil's rope."
After its invention, barbed wire was widely used during wars, to protect people and property from unwanted intrusion. Military usage of barbed wire formally dates to 1888, when British military manuals first encouraged its use.
During the Spanish-American War, Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders chose to defend their camps with the help of barbed fencing. In turn-of-the-century South Africa, five-strand fences were linked to blockhouses sheltering British troops from the encroachment of Boer commandos. During World War I, barbed wire was used as a military weapon.
Even now, barbed wire is widely used to protect and safeguard military installation, to establish territorial boundaries, and for prisoner confinement.
I found this barbed wire along with the male Blue Dasher Dragonfly perched on it, at a Polk County park along Lake Kissimmee. Polk County, Florida.
Cremona : The elegant loggia of the soldiers .
One of the most significant buildings of Gothic civil architecture in Lombardy, dates back to 1292. It is all in bricks, it consists of a portico with ogival arches, above which there are three large three-mullioned windows surmounted by battlements. of foundation with carved the banner of the municipality and the four quarters.
Uno dei più significativi edifici all'architettura civile gotica in Lombardia , è del 1292 .
Tutta in laterizi , consta di un portico ad alte arcate ogivali , sopra il quale si aprono tre grandi trifore decorate sormontate da merlatura .Tra le arcate della fronte ,la lapide di fondazione con scolpito il gonfalone del comune e dei quattro quartieri .
Gangly heron with significant variation in plumage. Distinct dark morph is slate-gray with a white throat, while the palest morph is white with a yellow bill and lores. Pale gray intermediate morphs can also be found. Little Egret can look similar, but it has a darker bill than the white morph of the Western Reef-Heron. Primarily a coastal inhabitant, foraging on shorelines and in estuaries, but can also be found at some inland water bodies. (eBird)
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I originally posted this as a Medium Egret but was later informed that it was the white morph of reef-heron. It was actively fishing, reminding me of the Reddish Egret of North America, with its dancing and shading the water with its wings.
Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. March 2024.
The Columbia- Wrightsville Bridge is nothing less than one of the most historically significant concrete bridges in the United States. The bridge was the longest multi-span concrete arch bridge in the world when built, and even today it at the very least remains among the longest examples. In addition to its jaw-dropping 28 arch spans each spanning an impressive 185 feet, an additional 20 approach spans (mostly curved t-beams) complete the bridge which is over a mile long in total length. Also, with a 48 foot wide out-to-out deck width containing a 38 foot roadway, this is also a fairly wide bridge for its age as well. The length of the bridge coupled with its width results in a bridge with a footprint of about eight acres!
St. Kevin’s Chapel is a significant monument from the 7th century, representing the architectural and religious developments of early medieval Ireland. Glendalough itself was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and became one of the most important ecclesiastical centers in Ireland. While the exact date of the chapel’s construction is uncertain, it is clear that it played a vital role in the monastic community.
The chapel is commonly referred to as "St. Kevin’s Kitchen," a name that emerged from a mistaken belief that its bell-tower was a chimney used for cooking. This misinterpretation, while charming, does not reflect the chapel's true purpose as a place of worship and sanctuary for the monastic community.
In particularly harsh winters, Wren populations can deplete significantly by up to as much as 25%. Despite this startling statistic, this is often countered by the large broods created throughout the breeding season. I hope this little guy is one of the lucky ones their fantastic little birds and only weigh as much as a 2p coin .
Snowy Owl: Ontario, Canada
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Well I did get a pretty cool present from my daughters and their significant others for Christmas. It is the Star Adventurer tracking mount for taking night photos of the sky.
So I spent the past few days reading up on how to use the unit, make sure it was calibrated and then aligning it properly with the north star so that long exposures can be taken of night sky elements.
Finally had a clear night to try out the alignment with Polaris which turned out pretty cool. Then mounted my 300 mm lens on the Canon 7D Mark II to try it out taking some photos of Pleiades, a formation of baby stars in the sky.
Given there were some thin clouds and moisture haze in the sky as well as a near quarter moon adding light that would be better off not there, and taking this from my yard in Baltimore County which is not even close to a 'dark' sky ... it was some cool practice to see that I was able to get the unit aligned correctly so that 1 to 3 minute exposures could be done. It was able to even pick up some of the gas there around the stars even under the partial moon and city lights impacting the sky.
This capture here was at ISO 800 and just over 70 seconds, and at f/8 to get some star bursts.
Given I have enjoyed viewing this stellar object through a telescope many years before ... the amount of light being picked up here by the longer exposure is so much better than what the eye can see through the scope.
Looking forward to using it under much darker sky conditions ...
African Fish Eagle: Chobe River. Botswana
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Additionally, please do not contact me if you want to do business in NFT's as I am not interested. However, prints are available through my website above with significant new content being added by the week.
A view of the commercial buildings on the north side of Lincoln's historic courthouse square. This view looks to the east from the intersection of S. Kickapoo St. and Broadway St., and shows the entire 600 block of Broadway St., along with Lincoln's City Hall and Fire Department building on the northeast corner of Broadway and N. McLean St. All of the properties in this view lie within the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Of the eight buildings shown above, the former Lincoln Savings and Building Association building (c. 1914, Neoclassical) on the near corner and a two-story commercial building at the opposite end of the block (c. 1895, Italianate) are contributing properties in the historic district. City Hall (c. 1886, Romanesque Revival) which sits in the 700 block of Broadway St. across McLean St., is a significant property in the historic district.
The buildings between the former Lincoln Savings and the two-story commercial building at the opposite end of the block are a mix of newer mid-century commercial buildings, and older buildings that have been modernized to the extent that their historic architectural antecedents are basically unrecognizable. These buildings are non-contributing properties within the historic district.
First settled in the 1830s, Lincoln is the only town in the United Stated that was named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president. Mr. Lincoln practiced law here from 1847 to 1859. Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The population of Lincoln at the 2020 census was 13,288.
The docklands has always been a major component of the Dublin’s history and development. Beginning with the Vikings and Norman settlers the docklands became quite a significant commerce and trading hub. Recently companies such as Google and Facebook have created tens of thousands of jobs and transformed the docklands into a bustling area. Only a short distance from the City Centre it has become home to numerous entertainment venues including music, theatre, opera, exhibitions and galleries. If you are feeling daring the docklands offers a variety of outdoor activities including kayaking and wake boarding. Dublin’s Docklands is sure to have something for everyone, why not make a day of it?
Information from the Irish Emigration Museum.
Texture's & Effect's by William Walton & Topaz.
According to local legend, Helfštýn is named after the robber Helfried of Linva, who founded it. The castle was probably built in the last quarter of the 13th century. Around 1320 Vok of Kravař, a member of a prominent Moravian noble family, became the owner of the castle. Helfštýn remained in the possession of the Kravař family for more than a hundred years and underwent far-reaching structural changes during this period. Construction work began on a larger scale in the first half of the 14th century, but the main reconstruction of the castle into a Gothic fortress did not take place until the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. The Kravařs mainly improved the fortifications of Helfštýn. They replaced the makeshift fortification of the old parkland with a thick stone wall with four bastions, built a prismatic tower over the entrance to the castle itself and secured it with a drawbridge, built a fortified forecourt on the south side and cut the ridge of the hill with a moat carved into the rock.
The era of the Pernštejn family
In 1474, William of Pernštejn took over the castle estate and proceeded to its further reconstruction. In the last quarter of the 15th century,
Helfštýn Castle was enlarged with a thoroughly fortified, extensive farm forecourt (completed in 1480) and another forecourt, which formed a new outpost defending the entire enlarged building. At the same time, the fortifications of the old Kravaře castle were improved with bastions and a new system of towers and gates. The castle's ground plan was definitively given an elongated shape, and in its external form the perfect fortification system significantly overlapped all the other architectural elements.
Renaissance reconstruction
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the inner core of the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. The old castle palace was demolished, along with part of its original Gothic fortifications, and a magnificent Renaissance palace was built on the vacant space, in sharp contrast to the extensive system of late Gothic fortifications that surrounded it.
The destruction of the castle
In 1656, quite extensive demolition work was carried out, which, although it did not damage the fortifications of Helfštýn too much, definitively deprived it of the character of a manor house. And thus began the long-term destruction of the castle. The destruction was accelerated in the second half of the 18th century by the Ditrichstein family with demolition works. These attempts culminated in 1817, when part of the inner castle was destroyed by artillery fire.
Present day
The present-day character of the castle is that of a fortress with six gates and a series of 18th-century buildings and ramparts. Since the 19th century, the castle has been presented as a tourist and heritage site. Nowadays it has become a natural cultural centre of the region, with various cultural events taking place here throughout the season
Gangly heron with significant variation in plumage. Distinct dark morph is slate-gray with a white throat, while the palest morph is white with a yellow bill and lores. Pale gray intermediate morphs can also be found. Little Egret can look similar, but it has a darker bill than the white morph of the Western Reef-Heron. Primarily a coastal inhabitant, foraging on shorelines and in estuaries, but can also be found at some inland water bodies. (eBird)
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There were four adults at the wetland. Perhaps parents to the young bird posted here?
Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai, UAE. March 2024.
South Africa
officially the Motlatse Canyon is a significant natural feature of South Africa, located in Mpumalanga, and forming the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment.
Located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, it is 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length and is, on average, around 750 metres (2,461 ft) deep.
The Blyderivierpoort Dam, when full, is at an altitude of 665 metres (2,182 ft). The canyon consists mostly of red sandstone.
The highest point of the canyon, Mariepskop, is 1,944 metres (6,378 ft) above sea level, whilst its lowest point where the river leaves the canyon is slightly less than 561 metres (1,841 ft) above sea level.
This means that by some measure the canyon is 1,383 metres (4,537 ft) deep.
@Wikipedia
Costa Rica
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Churfürsten is a mountain range in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
They form the natural boundary between the canton's Toggenburg and Sarganserland districts. They are the southernmost range of the Appenzell Alps, separated from the Glarus Alps by the Seez river and Walensee. They consist of a limestone ridge running east to west, with the individual peaks formed by erosion. The ridge is defined much more sharply to the south than to the north, with an almost vertical drop of several hundred meters towards Walenstadtberg and eventually Lake Walensee at 419 m. The southern slope of the range was significantly formed by the Rhine Glacier during the Würm glaciation.
The name is a plural, indicating the peaks forming the historical boundary of the bishopric of Chur.
It has historically also been folk-etymologized as Kurfürsten, i.e. the 7 prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire who in the later medieval period (until 1648) numbered seven, which in turn encouraged the count of seven main or "official" peaks.
This architecturally significant brick house is well over 100 years old. It has been abandoned for at least 25 years. the passage of time,decay,and neglect has pretty much ended any chance of restoration. A wrecking ball is probably the next option,clearing fertile land for farming in this northern Illinois location. But if recent history gives any indication,it will probably decay away for another 25 years...
The significant other half decided to make bread for lunch yesterday. As his bread was still proving, not quite ready for the oven, I decided to make some cakes.
The mixture was hastily put together as my immobility does not allow me to stand for long in the kitchen:
6ozs SR flour + 1 tsp baking powder, 4 ozs sugar, 4 ozs marge, 2 eggs - combined in an electric mixer. 4 ozs dried fruit mixed in, mixture put into 12 small paper cases and cooked at 320 for 15 to 20 mins.
Nearly forgot - sprinkled a few flaked almonds on top befpre cooking.
They smelt so good when cooked and as the bread was still cooking, we had a back to front lunch and ate cake first and soup and bread second.
What was is it that Marie-Antoinette said?!
This aircraft was significantly damaged in a forced landing last August 2020; thankfully no injuries. I was delighted to come across this really sharp image in my July 2018 airshow folder. You may wonder how I could not know it was there, but I took more than 4000 pictures that day, and viewing all of them at 100% takes far too long, so I just dip in and look for likely candidates to develop. The benefit of this approach is that years later, I am still able to discover new gems amongst the dross.
There is an almost ethereal presence of light in this Infra Red shot. Shooting into the sun produces some great results.
In darkness we cannot see, but when light fills the void real illumination takes place. Shadows are only possible where there is light to cast them. Darkness is emptiness and void. Light is fullness and revelatory.
These statements are not just "phenomenological" (concentrating on the study of our consciousness of things and the objects of direct experience - in this case light), they are also "metaphysical" (fundamental to the nature of reality). It was the early Greek philosophers who taught us to think in such ways.
But it is also significant that many stories of creation, especially in the Book of Genesis, make similar statements about beginnings:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness." (Genesis 1:1-4).
Adult gannets are large and bright white with black wingtips. They are distinctively shaped with a long neck and long pointed beak, long pointed tail, and long pointed wings. At sea they flap and then glide low over the water, often travelling in small groups. They feed by flying high and circling before plunging into the sea. They breed in significant numbers at only a few localities and so is an Amber List species.
What they eat:
Fish.
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In the early 1990s Swansea Docks still generated significant rail traffic, with both export coal and steel traffic operating. In addition the wagon works at Port Tennant as well as the Ford plant adjacent to the Docks kept the railway busy.
Here 09013 passes the remains of Kings Dock Junction with empty coal containers returning to Swansea Burrows Yard. The coal was railed from Coedbach washery, and was exported to Ireland.
Kings Dock Junction signal box was located just behind the first container, in front of the precariously leaning pole. For more information, see here: www.roscalen.com/signals/SwanseaDocks/
Merchant Street, a block-long commercial street bordered by E. Prairie St. on the north, and E, Main St. on the south, is the heart of the Decatur Downtown Historic District. This viewlshows the east side of Merchant St. as seen from E. Prairie St.
Nine buildings are situated on the east side of Merchant St. The original facades of the buildings on Merchant St. are well-maintained and highly cohesive. The same building height - three stories - generally prevails and the same material - brick - is used throughout. Commercial Italianate is the predominant style and exhibits a high degree of architectural detail. All nine of the buildings on the east side were constructed between the 1860s and 1910, and all are significant architectural properties in the Decatur Downtown Historic District. Four of the nine also are significant historical properties.
Decatur is the seat of Macon County. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in central Illinois. Decatur has an economy based on industrial and agricultural commodity processing and production. The city is home of private Millikin University and public Richland Community College.
Decatur's estimated population for 2019 was 70,746, making Decatur the thirteenth-most populous city in Illinois, and the state's sixth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area.
Another Winter in New England that, while mild over all, just won't let go. Snow in the forecast for tomorrow and sub-zero temps and "significant snow" in the forecast for the next week, as well. The gardens are happy for snow but the humans are ready for Spring.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) in the warm, sunset light.
The Hertefeld Castle estate, consisting of a castle ruin and attached park, stands in the town of Weeze in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was established in the fourteenth century.
The castle was first mentioned as a knight's seat in 1322. However, it appears that a family of this name lived nearby for significantly longer, since a man named Theodoricus de Hertevenlde was first mentioned in 1179.
In the fourteenth century the castle was the center of an independent domain. However, this independence disappeared in the following years de to increasing subservience to the dukedom of Cleves. In 1322, the domain excluding the castle was sold in 1322 by Wilhelm von Herteveld to Graf Dietrich VII of Cleves. Three years later, the castle too entered the ownership of Cleves. However, the castle was later returned to the Herteveld family in the person of Stephan II von Herteveld, but now as a loan from the house of Cleves.
Following the death of the count Stephan IV in 1485, the family was divided via his two sons into two branches. With the senior branch acquiring through marriage the castle of Kolk in Uedam, Hertefeld castle passed to the junior branch under count Heinrich. This branch later died out in the direct line with Elbert von und zu Hertefeld, who however transferred the estate to his stepbrother Elbert von Steenhaus. Facing financial difficulties, Elbert in turn passed it to his relative Jobst Gerhard von Hertefeld, thereby reunifying the property of the two branches. The hartefeld properties had by this time become quite extensive, incorporating not just Uedam and Weeze but also Boetzelaer castle, Hoennepel, Kervenheim and Zelhem (today part of Bronckhorst).
Jobst Gerhard's father had previously through his good relations with the Duke of Brandenburg, Friedrich Wilhelm, inherited the property of Liebenberg in Brandenburg, which he later made the principle residence of his family. His grandson, Samuel von und zu Hertefeld, was raised to the rank of Freiherr by Friedrich I of Prussia, who frequently lodged at Hertefeld castle during his tours of inspection along the lower Rhine. Another prominent guest was Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
The male line of the family died out in 1867 with Karl von Hertefeld, whose grandniece Alexandrine inherited the property. Since she was married to Philipp Konrad zu Eulenburg, Hertefeld became incorporated into his family property. Alexandrine's son Philipp zu Eulenburg became a personal friend of Wilhelm II, who raised him in 1900 to the rank of Furst. Since the family had also acquired the title of Graf from the king of Sweden, he and his successors were henceforth able to style themselves "Fürst zu Eulenburg und Hertefeld, Graf von Sandels". Philipp himself became notorious only a few years later as a result of the Harden-Eulenburg-Affäre, in which he became a target of the influential publicist Maximilian Harden. In several court cases, he defended himself against allegations of homosexuality without being convicted.
Alexandrines second, Botho Sigwart, became the first family member for some time to make Hertefeld his long-term residence. His opera "Songs of Euripides", which premiered in 1915 at the royal Staatstheater Stuttgart. The principal line of the family returned to Hertefeld at the end of the Second World War, after their principal residence at Liebenburg was confiscated by the East German government.