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"Large figure in a shelter" (Henry Moore, 1986), Parque de los pueblos de Europa, Guernica, Vizcaya, País Vasco, España.
La escultura Large figure in a shelter, fue creada entre los años 1985 y 1986, pocos meses antes de la muerte de Henry Moore, considerado el escultor británico más importante del siglo XX. El valor de la obra se ha visto incrementado por su tamaño, casi tres veces mayor que las esculturas consideradas como referencias más significativas de Moore, y porque sólo existen sólo dos ejemplares, cuando la edición media de las esculturas del artista británico es de siete a nueve piezas. La obra adquirida por los gobiernos central y vasco fue realizada en bronce, tiene una altura superior a los siete metros y pesa unos 20.000 kilogramos.
La monumental escultura se ubicará en una loma cercana a la Casa de Juntas de Gernika, a unos 30 kilómetros de Bilbao. El artista vasco Eduardo Chillida ha supervisado la elección del lugar elegido para situar la obra de Moore, ya que a pocos metros se levanta su conjunto escultórico Gure aitaren etxean, inaugurado en 1987.
The Large figure in a shelter sculpture was created between 1985 and 1986, a few months before the death of Henry Moore, considered the most important British sculptor of the 20th century. The value of the work has been increased by its size, almost three times larger than the sculptures considered to be the most significant references to Moore, and because there are only two copies in existence, when the average edition of the British artist's sculptures is from seven to nine pieces. The work acquired by the central and Basque governments was made of bronze, is over seven meters tall and weighs about 20,000 kilograms.
The monumental sculpture will be located on a hill near the Gernika Assembly House, about 30 kilometers from Bilbao. The Basque artist Eduardo Chillida has supervised the choice of the place chosen to locate Moore's work, since his Gure aitaren etxean sculpture ensemble, inaugurated in 1987, stands a few meters away.
The Longmen Grottoes (aka Longmen Caves) is a UNESCO–listed world heritage site which has thousands of statues of Buddha carved in caves excavated from its surrounding cliffs. Unfortunately, the site was subjected to significant vandalism and senseless destruction at several points in its history. Major artifacts were removed by Western collectors and souvenir hunters during the early 20th century and by the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The heads of many statues were also destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
The Chinese government has since recognized the cultural and tourist importance of the Longmen Grottoes and has been active engaged in the preservation and restoration of the site. For more information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longmen_Grottoes
And in the right order , words can create one of the world's most significant documents ( even if it is in Latin of some form ! ).
Shot taken for Saturday Self Challenge 09/08/2025 - Letters .
Of course all of you will know of and maybe recognise the Magna Carta of 1215 sealed by King John - however , the original document John reneged on and he had the Pope annul the charter he sealed with the Barons . After John died and a young King Henry III took the throne but was too young to rule at that time so William Marshal (a family ancestor of ours ) became Regent until his death in 1219 , and in this time he took the Magna Carta and reissued it in Henry III's name having made some alterations and it took it's place in history as the cornerstone of many of our laws and rights of the people .
Here is an easy to read overview of Magna Carta -----
schoolhistory.co.uk/notes/magna-carta/
And here is a translation for any academics to plough through found in the National Archives web site ---
www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/magna-carta/...
So for the purpose of SSC , I hope my shot helps to show the importance of " Letters " .
After that mind bending lesson - relax with a tune called -
" Letters From Earth "
Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about 60 kilometres (37 mi) by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link. At the 2016 census, Nelson Bay had a population of 5,820.
It is a major tourism centre, particularly for dolphin and whale watching, surfing, diving, fishing and other recreational aquatic activities. The eastern boundaries of Nelson Bay lie within the Tomaree National Park
The Cap d'Artrutx Lighthouse or Artrutx Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse located on the low-lying headland of the same name on the Spanish island of Menorca. It was completed in 1859 but the tower was significantly increased in 1969. Automated in 1980, the keeper's accommodation is now used as a restaurant.
Source: Wikipedia
Centennial Gardens
Water is another significant landscaping feature. From the lower pool, water is pumped to the main pool and then to the top of the cliff where it cascades in down the 40-meter rock face.
Spray from the waterfall has encouraged the growth of plants on the limestone cliff face. . At night, when lit with green illumination, the scene is one of almost primeval beauty.
These well-landscaped gardens were once a quarry manned by prison labour. The gardens were developed in 1974 to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of Napier as a borough and a city. Initially prisoners and later Council gardeners transformed the bare former quarry into the present verdant gardens. All the soil had to be moved onto the site.
Many of Napier Hill's roadside retaining walls were built by working parties of prisoners. Dressed limestone from the quarry was known locally as "shell rock". In the 1920s and 1930s, it was very popular with local architects and builders who specified it for ornamental walls and pillars.
When the quarry was closed, this local supply of "shell rock" dried up.
www.flickr.com/photos/97201328@N02/26978260655/in/datepos...
Thanks to all who take the time to visit and comment on my photo stream....it's greatly appreciated. Also for all of the invitations to join or post my photos into groups!
Jasper has slowed down significantly and on most days we go super easy at a snail's pace, but on rare occasions he shows us he's still got it...well, barely.😊 It's all good, and we just want to see him enjoy life as long as he can.
I've decided to post some travel images on Tuesdays, beginning with a recent visit to Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
On the eastern edge of this city lies an abandoned Reformatory with a history that spans nearly one hundred years. This photograph is of a set of windows from this structure.
The facility sits on approximately 222 acres of serene greenspace. The walking trails and ponds that are enjoyed to this day conceal stories of incarceration, hard labour and notorious inmate escapes.
Built in 1911, with a cornerstone laid September 25th by then Prime Minister of Ontario Sir James Pliny Whitney, the facility housed 660 inmates by 1916. Alternatively known as the Guelph Correctional Centre, the institution signaled a turning point in the government of Ontario’s approach to crime and punishment. Politicians and social reform advocates of the early twentieth century sought to use productive work as a means of rehabilitating inmates for redemption after serving their sentence. The location was ideally suited for agriculture and quarry mining, and prisoners contributed to the local community with their labour.
From 1917 – 1921, prisoners were temporarily relocated, and the facility was converted into the Guelph Military Convalescent Hospital which cared for more than 900 injured WW1 veterans.
Officially decommissioned in 2001, the Reformatory buildings have been completely vacant since 2014, while the Province of Ontario and the City of Guelph continue to consult and strategize on how best to make use of these culturally significant lands and buildings.
I posted these side by side so you could see the differences between these somewhat similar Warblers. Most significant to me is that the Black-throated Green does not have a black back as does the Golden-cheeked Warbler.
One of the most significant religious festivals in the Hindu religion, Durga Puja, attracts devoted worshipers of the goddess every year. Durga Puja 2023 Date is from 14 October 2023 to October 24, 2023, Durga Puja will be celebrated with great excitement. In states like Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Tripura, and Jharkhand, Durga Puja is joyfully observed. In Bengal, the five-day holiday is celebrated as Vijayadashami, Maha Navami, Maha Ashtami, and Shashthi.
The Durga Puja festival honors Goddess Durga’s victory over the demonic Mahishasura. On the tenth day, also known as Vijayadashami, it is said that Goddess Durga defeated him after a nine-day battle. The culmination of Durga Puja is marked by the celebration of Dussehra on this day.
Here it can be seen an unknown artist putting his finishing touches to the Durga Mother . Incidentally this Durga will travel far east into some Hindu family by trailer truck very soon..
One of the most significant fighters of WW2, a fully loaded P-47D weighed in at around 8 tonnes - more than twice that of an early war Spitfire. Extensive internal ductwork links the supercharger (located behind the pilot) with the engine up front.
The P-47 was nicknamed 'Jug' - for years I thought that was short for Juggernaut, but it turns out the reason is the body shape (if imagined being stood on its nose) resembles that of a milk jug!
Btw, 'a nickname' is a mispronunciation of 'an eek name' where 'eek' (or 'eke') is a now defunct word for 'also.'
Processed with Topaz Texture
Elora is a community in the township of Centre Wellington, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its 19th-century limestone architecture, its artistic community and the geographically significant Elora Gorge.
Zeleni vir je prirodna zanimljivost značajnog krajobraza. Zadivljujuća 70 metara visoka stijena koja se osovila između dva šumovita obronka, a s vrha stijene obrušavaju se dva potočića. Jedan brzo nestaje u usjeku, a drugi se ruši okomito u obliku slapa koji pada pred otvor špilje s jezercem i ulijeva se u potok Curak koji ovdje izvire.
Vražji prolaz jedan od najljepših kanjona Gorskog kotara, dužine oko 800 metara, na pojedinim dionicama širine svega 2 metra.
U špilji je jezerce smaragdno zelene boje, kristalno bistre i mirne vode. Podzemni izvor- Zeleni vir dubine oko 50 metara u dnu je špilje i ne primjećuje se, a ime je dobio po boji jezerca koje stvara.
The green whirlpool is a natural attraction of a significant landscape. A stunning 70 meter high rock that meanders between two wooded slopes, and two streams fall from the top of the rock. One quickly disappears into the notch, and the other collapses vertically in the form of a waterfall that falls in front of the opening of a cave with a pond and flows into the Curak stream that springs here.
Devils passage is one of the most beautiful canyons in Gorski kotar, about 800 meters long, on some sections only 2 meters wide.
In the cave is a pond of emerald green color, crystal clear and calm waters. Underground spring - A green whirlpool about 50 meters deep is at the bottom of the cave and is not noticeable, and it was named after the color of the lake it creates.
Temperatures are now significantly below zero, Sunday it was frosty in combination with sunshine. A great time for hiking in the Vennebeck area, Ostwestfalen, Germany
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 .
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Thanks to everyone that takes the time and makes the effort to comment and fave my pics its very much appreciated
Regards Clive
Douglas R4D-6S “Ready 4 Duty” at Season Premiere Air Show, Old Warden.
In a significant tribute to the valor and sacrifice of World War II veterans, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) has announced that its historic Navy aircraft the Douglas R4D-6S, Ready 4 Duty, will undertake a remarkable 12-week transatlantic journey. This commemorative mission, aptly named the Navy to Victory Tour, will traverse 12,000 miles across the southern and eastern United States, Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands, from April through July 2025.
The Ready 4 Duty, a Douglas R4D-6S, is the U.S. Navy’s variant of the renowned DC-3 and C-47, and is the last of its kind still in operation. Built in 1944, this iconic aircraft will serve as a flying memorial, honoring the service of American and Allied sailors during the war. The tour marks an essential opportunity to recognize the advancing age of World War II veterans, many of whom are now in their nineties.
Douglas R4D-6S ‘Ready 4 Duty’
Photo: Alan Wilson
“Safely operating an eighty-year-old aircraft for such an extended journey is no mean feat,” remarked Christopher Volpe, the lead coordinator for the Navy to Victory Tour. “But helping to build a lasting legacy for veterans makes all of the preparations and sacrifices worth it.”
The tour will feature appearances at over a dozen aviation and ceremonial events, with the Shuttleworth Collection in the UK already confirming Ready 4 Duty’s participation in several key shows. The aircraft will be on static display at the Season Premiere Air Show on May 11, and will also take part in flying displays at their Military Air Show on May 31 and the Festival of Flight on June 28-29. Additionally, the Midlands Air Festival has confirmed the aircraft’s involvement in flying displays from May 30 to June 1, 2025.
Further tour stops are anticipated, with tentative locations including Prestwick, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, Guernsey, Normandy (France), Le Ferte Alais (France), Paris (France), Glize-Rijen (Netherlands), and Lelystad (Netherlands). More details regarding these events will be released in the coming weeks.
Volpe emphasized the urgency of the mission, stating, “The window to honor these men and women while they’re still with us is closing rapidly. For them, their families, and society at large, we’re committed to paying tribute to them on this 80th Anniversary of the Allied victory.”
Douglas R4D-6S ‘Ready 4 Duty’
Photo: Alan Wilson
In addition to its commemorative role, Ready 4 Duty will transport artifacts from surviving U.S. World War II-era warships, including the U.S.S. Yorktown, Battleship Texas, and U.S.S. Laffey. This exhibition will mark the first time that artifacts from such a collective of warships will be displayed together, further enriching the tour’s historical significance.
David Oliver, President and CEO of the CAF, stated, “The Navy to Victory Tour is a heartfelt tribute to the countless Allied sailors and airmen who served with courage and conviction during the Second World War. This commemorative mission embodies the transatlantic bonds forged in the fight for freedom and remain a cornerstone of our shared history.”
The Commemorative Air Force, founded in 1957, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of military aviation, boasting an airworthy fleet of over 180 vintage military aircraft—the largest flying collection in the world. With a mission to educate, inspire, and honor, the CAF engages millions of Americans annually through immersive living history experiences.
For aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike, the Navy to Victory Tour promises to be a historic journey that honors the legacy of those who fought for freedom and preserves the stories of a pivotal moment in world history. For more information about the tour and the aircraft, visit dfwwing.com and commemorativeairforce.org.
My recent limestone train photography excursion had me reminiscing about the Franklin Industrial Minerals in Tennessee. While the line still remains interesting, todays EMD power is significantly less cool than the GEs that made up the entire roster now over a decade ago (Oh....Im getting old...) I believe the three B23-7s are still on the property but used far less. The locomotives at that time were also still wore their original red and grey colors, imo a bit nicer than the current blue logos. Here the 4023 and 3138 are preparing their outbound train at the plant in Crab Orchard.
This is a significant honor, as Washington has hundreds of beautiful waterfalls.....
An autumn capture of this special falls. Always thrilling to visit here and walk the edge.
The Palouse river drops 187 feet into this rugged plunge pool.
"The canyon at the falls is 115 meters (377 feet) deep, exposing a large cross-section of the Columbia River Basalt Group. These falls and the canyon downstream comprise an important feature of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across eastern Washington and across the Columbia River Plateau during the Pleistocene epoch."
Wikipedia
Thanks for taking a look, and for your comments, faves and suggestions.
Markerwadden
Anthyllis vulneraria, the common kidneyvetch, kidney vetch or woundwort is a medicinal plant native to Europe. The name vulneraria means "wound healer.
Bombus muscorum, commonly known as the large carder bee or moss carder bee, is a species of bumblebee in the family Apidae. The species is found throughout Eurasia in fragmented populations, but is most commonly found in the British Isles. B. muscorum is a eusocial insect. The queen is monandrous, mating with only one male after leaving a mature nest to found its own. Males mate territorially and the species is susceptible to inbreeding and bottlenecks. The species builds its nests on or just under the ground in open grassland and forages very close to the nest. In recent years, populations have significantly declined due to loss of natural habitat. B. muscorum is currently listed as vulnerable in Europe by the European Red List of Bees.
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment and favoring my images. Enjoy the day.
A l'entrée d'une petite ville accueillant des Néo-zélandais à l'occasion d'un Concours de Café Toraja .
Une petite reproduction des maisons torajanes.... très significatives
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At the entrance to a small town hosting New Zealanders for a Toraja Coffee Competition.
A small reproduction of the Toraja houses.... very significant
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A la entrada de un pequeño pueblo que acoge a neozelandeses para un concurso de café Toraja.
Una pequeña reproducción de las casas Toraja.... muy significativa
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Am Eingang einer kleinen Stadt, die Neuseeländer anlässlich eines Toraja-Kaffee-Wettbewerbs empfängt.
Eine kleine Reproduktion der sehr bedeutsamen Torajana-Häuser....
First significant snowfall of this season. With temperatures low enough to sustain the snow and up to another 6" expected in the next day or two, perhaps autumn's door has closed and winter's door has opened.
Plant ornament is the most widespread ornament after geometric, it is characterized by its favorite motifs, and the latter are different in different countries, at different times. Plant ornament, in comparison with other types, provides the greatest opportunities for creating a variety of motifs, execution techniques, for an original interpretation of form. Plant ornament uses numerous forms of plants: leaves, flowers, fruits, taken together or separately. This is an artistic reworking of various forms of the plant world. In the hands of an ornamental artist, the original forms, scales, colors change and are subordinated according to the laws of symmetry. In stylization, all typical features of the plant are enhanced in accordance with its character, and the particular or accidental are removed or weakened. Often these changes are so significant that the original material is transformed beyond recognition. The most common plant forms since ancient times include: acanthus, lotus, papyrus, palms, hops, laurel, grapevine, ivy, oak.
Орнамент купольного пілону. Храм на честь ікони Божої Матері «Печерська». Скит Києво-Печерської Лаври.
Рослинний орнамент - це найпоширеніший орнамент після геометричного, для нього характерні свої улюблені мотиви, причому останні різні в різних країнах, у різні часи. Рослинний орнамент у порівнянні з іншими його видами надає найбільші можливості для створення різноманітних мотивів, прийомів виконання, для оригінального трактування форми.
Рослинний орнамент використовує численні форми рослин: листя, квіти, плоди, взяті разом чи окремо. Це художня переробка різноманітних форм рослинного світу. У руках художника-орнаменталіста початкові форми, масштаби, колір змінюються і підпорядковуються за законами симетрії.
При стилізації посилюються відповідно до характеру рослини всі типові особливості її та видаляється або послаблюється окреме або випадкове. Часто ці зміни настільки значні, що початковий матеріал перетворюється до невпізнанності.
До найпоширеніших рослинних форм з найдавніших часів відносяться: акант, лотос, папірус, пальми, хміль, лавр, виноградна лоза, плющ, дуб.
The Kawasaki KLR650 is a dual-sport motorcycle intended for both on-road and off-road riding. [...]. The 2008 model was the first significant redesign of the KLR650 since its inception. Wikipedia
This bluff and the range in which is embedded was a very significant landscape to the local First Nations. Not only were there story and nomenclature that were passed through generations of the Baiyambora clan of Kabi Kabi nation, but the area was regularly occupied and tool making was a significant activity. The tools enabled their sustenance but also were traded during intra- and inter-tribal gatherings for bunya feasts and the coastal pippi harvest.
Geologically, the rock is tuff, fused volcanic ash. There are two major overlying deposits and their declination suggests that the ash derived from eruptions somewhere to the northeast. The ash was deposited in a valley, but through erosive processes the bounding ranges/valley sides have been removed and the tuff deposit now stands as an inselberg in the landscape. Thus the landscape has been inverted, where the valley was is now this elevated range of tuff (underlain by porphyry) whilst the valleys of the Mary River to the east and Coonoon Gibber Creek to the west are now the lower landscape.
When surveyors first came to map the area, this feature was called Kenilworth Bluff on their maps, because it was seen from Imbil Homestead and the Bluff was in the direction of Kenilworth Homestead, though still on Imbil run. However in recent times, Kenilworth Bluff has been officially defined as the line of bluffs at the Kenilworth end of the inselberg/range. And while long-term locals often refer to this bluff as Brooloo Bluff it is best known as "Duwirri".
The palace was built using the stones of the former Coronation Cathedral of the Virgin Mary Provost Church. The building lasted more than twenty years which explains why Louis Seize style ornaments appeared on the mainly baroque building.
The architect of the palace was Jakab Riedel and it had become one of the most significant Louis Seize style building in Hungary. On the facade the bishop's coat-of arms can be seen. Its furniture is Empire and Biedermeier style. The library contains 40000 volumes- codices, incunables. The palace garden reaches the castlewall hiding the unexplored parts of the Coronation Basilica.
Heading into a summer sunset, an LNER 9 car Azuma passes under West Lane, Burn near Selby with 1S31 19:00 London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.
This image is from one of my YouTube videos:
2nd June 2021
2021 represents a significant milestone in the history of the Phoenix Railway-Photographic Circle with the celebration of our 50th anniversary by publishing a book to showcase some of the members work, past and present, from 1971 to the present day.
The book contains 14 chapters and 144 pages of photographs depicting the work of over 50 accomplished railway photographers with many differing styles and approaches. It takes an alternative view on photographing the railway scene over the past 50 years.
The book, called 50 Years of Phoenix published on 14th May 2021 with orders now being taken – click on this link to order your copy:
www.mortonsbooks.co.uk/product/view/productCode/15554
Why not take a look at the PRPC web site at
Ishkani Church is situated in the picturesque Işhan village, which overlooks the stunning valley of Çoruh (Chorokhi) River. This village was once a part of the historic Tao region in the medieval Georgian Kingdom.
Ishkani Church played a significant role as an important ecclesiastical center until the Ottoman administration took over the region in the 16th-17th century. Currently, the site comprises the remains of a grand domed church and a small hall chapel, with several other churches and structures recently discovered through archaeological excavations. The entrance to the chapel bears a Georgian inscription indicating that it was dedicated to the Holy Mother of God by King Gurgen I, who passed away in 1008.
The main building of the site is a large cross-domed church that measures 36.60 meters in length, with a width of 19 meters at the crossing. Its western arm is 15 meters long and 9 meters wide, with a height of approximately 35 meters, and a dome height of 11.4 meters with a diameter of 7.86 meters. The building facade is constructed using smoothly cut stones, while the tall, cone-shaped roof is adorned with dark red and green tiles. Following its restoration, the four arms of the church were covered with stone slabs, which have also been decorated with tiles in a similar style.
The Church of Ishkani boasts an unusual plan that resulted from several reconstructions over time. Its eastern side features a raised apse, surrounded by open exedrae, which is covered in decorative elements. The vaulted apse showcases an open exedra, and a horseshoe-shaped arcade rests on eight monoliths adorned with cubic capitals. A rectangular ambulatory frames this space, while a corridor with openings on the side leads to two chambers. The adjoining rooms are taller and have double arched windows that face inward into the open center of the church.
The church was once adorned with frescoes, though they have mostly survived on the dome, while the wall frescoes have faded over time. The Chapel's dome is decorated with Lapis lazurite, depicting the Ascension of the Cross. The dome features four figures of angels floating the cross in the sky. On each side, four two-wheeled chariots are drawn by four winged horses, driven by a standing figure. Above each chariot is a Georgian inscription that talks about the colors of the horses. Most scholars believe this scene depicts the "Vision of Zachariah" from the Old Testament, where he saw four colored horses and their riders, red, black, white, and gold. Within the drum of eight windows, eight busts are set on arches, while the adjacent blind arcade alternates with these figures and the windows below.
Opposite the main church on the south side stands a chapel with plain facades, built in 1003 as per Armenian letter inscriptions. The small chapel features fresco paintings depicting a scene of communion in the apse wall and Christ Pantocrator in the conch.
As part of the rehabilitation efforts for the monastery in Ishkhani, several chapels and churches were uncovered. These included a large basilica, two hall churches, and various monastic buildings. Additionally, several burials were also discovered, mostly from the medieval period and during the Russian-Turkish war.
During the period of Turkish rule, a mosque was established in the western arm of the church. Unfortunately, the church is not accessible to visitors today.
Ishkhani is a fascinating monument of Georgian history and culture, boasting intricate decoration, intriguing architecture, and lavishly painted murals. It is a monument that truly deserves recognition as one of the world's most significant landmarks.
"Another significant inclusion is the sandstone mounted tide gauge donated by the British India Steam Navigation Company to celebrate Queensland's Centenary in 1959. The stone housing was built by PJ Lowther and Son and the project unveiled in August 1961." From apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600265
view of old town and Kostel Svatého Víta (Saint Vitus Church) from Hrad Český Krumlov (Český Krumlov Castle) and Plášťový Most (Cloak Bridge)
Český Krumlov (German: Krumau or Böhmisch Krumau, also spelt Krummau) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. It is known as a tourist centre, which is among the most visited places in the country. The historic centre with the Český Krumlov Castle complex is protected by law as an urban monument reservation, and since 1992, it has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
The Saint Vitus Church in Český Krumlov is a significant sight of the late Gothic from 1407-1439 with later modifications. In 1995, the Church was declared part of the National Cultural Heritage.
The Church of St. Vitus is a Gothic three naval construction from the period of 1407-1439. It was built on the foundations of an older building from the year 1309. The Gothic entrance portal was erected in 1410. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Church continued to be extended and modified.
The Church is formed by three parallel arcades merged with a five-sided elongated presbyterium; there are rectangular multistoried sacristies on both sides with the Chapels of Resurrection and the St. John of Nepomuk Chapel, and the antechamber situated on the northern side. The occidental façade of the church incorporates a tower with quadrangular Roman window openings on the landing level changing to eight-sided openings higher up. The uppermost part of the spire is pseudogothic in style, dating to 1893-1894.
We had a significant ice storm early this morning. I went out to take some photos. I had my Olympus E-M5 Mk3 with my Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 lens. To make a long story short, I slipped and fell down the front steps and snapped the lens clean off the body of my camera.
The camera body suffered significant damage and is probably not repairable for any reasonable cost. However, the lens survived and seems none the worse for wear. And since the lens is worth more than the body, I guess that was the desirable outcome.
Excerpt from www.tourstcatharines.com/tours-wellandave.shtml:
Montebello Park was established in 1887 as a significant open space in the core area. It was designed by internationally renowned landscape architect F.L. Olmsted. The edges of the park are lined by mature deciduous trees which encompass a variety of smaller spaces. The pavilion and bandstand dominate the landscape. The park contains many contrasting elements – passive and active areas, sunny and shady areas, hard surfaces and soft landscaping, formal gardens and informal open space.
The Nikolaikirche (officially: Stadt- und Pfarrkirche St. Nikolai) is the oldest and largest church in Leipzig's city center and, alongside the Thomaskirche, the best-known church in the city. The sacred building named after St. Nicholas is the main church of the Protestant-Lutheran St. Nicholas parish in Leipzig. The redesign and decoration of the interior of the Nikolaikirche is a significant creation of classicism. (Wikioedia)
With track conditions having deteriorated significantly on the former Algoma Central mainline in recent years, CN’s five-days-a-week Hearst to Oba local, L552, now only makes it as far as Mead most days, due to slower run times and the line’s inaccessibility south of this point. Much of the trackage between Hearst and Oba is now restricted to 10 MPH, a far cry from the nearly mile-a-minute running I remember when I rode the Tour of the Line train through here less than a decade ago.
Despite the gloomy autumn weather, the pair of EMD SD60s tasked with this day's train look sharp amongst the golden larch trees as they crest a small grade into Mead, Ont., along the storied (but increasingly tired-looking) tracks of the Black Bear.
Designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm of Hunt, Eager & Burns, this 5,400 sq. ft. Arts and Crafts style mansion was built in 1910 for Decatur businessman William J. Grady and his first wife, Sarah. The 11-room house continued to be home for Grady after he divorced Sarah in 1921, married Esther Bonney in 1926 and even after Esther died in 1961. They had no children. Indeed, the second family to live at No. 3 Millikin Place didn't move in until the year after the one-time president of Faries Mfg. Co. died in 1968 at age 92.
The W. J. Grady House holds the distinction of being the first house to be completed on Millikin Place, located along the north edge of the historic James Millikin House and property shown earlier in this series (see my album: Macon County, Illinois).
The core characteristics of the Arts and Crafts movement are a belief in craftsmanship which stresses the inherent beauty of the material, the importance of nature as inspiration, and the value of simplicity, utility, and beauty.
The W. J. Grady House is an architecturally significant property in the Decatur Historic District, a residential historic district in the Millikin Heights neighborhood of Decatur. The district encompasses the city's historic Near West and Southwest neighborhoods and was formed beginning in the 1850s and continuing through the 1920s. The Decatur Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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.
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
The Piazza del Comune, in Assisi , was the secular site of the city, surrounded by its most significant buildings, where the entire socio-political and cultural life took place: it is considered one of the most representative Umbrian medieval urban constructions.
The meaning of Got a Bee in His Bonnet is being preoccupied or obsessed with an idea.
The origin of this phrase clearly alludes to the state of agitation one would be in when finding a bee inside one's bonnet. It follows on from the earlier expression 'to have bees in one's head', which had much the same meaning. This is recorded from the 16th century, for example, in Alexander Douglas's Aeneis, 1513:
Quhat bern be thou in bed with heid full of beis?
Beekeepers have always worn protective headgear when working with bees and it is possible, although entirely speculative, that the bonnet refers to this.
The first citation of 'bee in his bonnet' in print that I have found is the Reverend Philip Doddridge's Letters, 1790:
"I suppose you have heard of Mr. Coward's pranks. He has, as the Scotch call it, a Bee in his Bonnet."
The reference to Scotland is significant and the expression may well be Scottish. Early bonnets were caps worn by men and boys and had gone out of use in England by the time the phrase emerged but continued to be used in Scotland.
Giant anteaters prey almost exclusively on social insects (i.e. ants and termites). Such dietary focus significantly shapes the physical form and behavior of the species. Giant anteaters do not have teeth; instead, they have tongues can reach as much as 610 mm (2 ft.) in length! As long as the tongue is, it is relatively narrow over the entirety of its length, with its widest point being only 10 to 15 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in.). They use this giant tongue to gather insects for food, extending it up to 150 times per minute.
Their tongues are covered with tiny spines which point toward the back of the throat. Additionally, their tongue is coated with a thick, sticky coat of saliva (which is secreted from relatively enlarged salivary glands). Prior to swallowing, the insect-coated tongue is firmly pressed against the anteater's hard upper palate – crushing their meal and easing ingestion.
The stomachs of anteaters do not secrete hydrochloric acid. Instead, they depend on the formic acid content of their ant-dominated diet to aid in digestion.
They can eat up to 30,000 insects a day.
Despite their coarse fur and thickened skin (particularly about the muzzle), giant anteaters may still be agitated by the large-jawed soldier castes of the ant and termite species upon which they feed. Accordingly, they avoid soldiers both actively and tactically. The anteater's typical feeding profile could be described as a lightening strike - quick feeding action over a short period. Such a clipped feeding incursion generally outpaces a given insect colony's ability to rapidly mount a defense; thus tactically avoiding the aggravation of soldier castes.
Giant anteaters tend to pursue the larger bodied social insects, while tamanduas and silky anteaters tend to prey on smaller insect fare. Such dietary segmentation allows for different anteater species to co-exist in the same region without being in direct predatory competition.
Giant anteaters are terrestrial. Unlike other anteater species, adult giant anteaters only rarely climb trees. Instead, its powerful forearms and prominent claws are used primarily for digging and ripping in the search for food.
While the giant anteater has five digits on each foot, their first digit is reduced and the second and third digits exhibit the long claws.
Anteaters are able to detect insects with their powerful sense of smell, 40 times that of man. If threatened, the typically non-vocal giant anteater may make a bellowing noise. Additionally, they will often rear up on their hind quarters and swipe with their (up to) 10 cm (4 in.) long foreclaws.
Anteaters do not walk on the soles of their forefeet. Rather, they flex the digits upward and turn the forefeet inward, such that the large foreclaws do not come in contact with the ground. Anteaters sleep as much as 15 hours each day.
As an outcome of their diet and lifestyle, anteaters have relatively low metabolic rates. As a stark example, the giant anteater has the lowest recorded body temperature of any placental mammal – 32.7° C (90.9°F).
When observed in regions without a significant human presence, giant eaters are diurnally active. However, giant anteaters appear to adopt a nocturnal lifestyle when living in more disturbed areas subject to human activity.
Giant anteaters, save for mother/young pairs, are generally solitary. Usually only one baby is born at a time. It nurses for 6 months and is carried on the mother's back for up to a year.
In 1948, Jaguar launched its first postwar sports car, the XK120. With a sophisticated dual-overhead cam 3.4-liter straight-six engine and curvy, aerodynamic bodywork, the car was a sales hit—and was also discovered to be a significant race car in the hands of privateer drivers. Noting this performance, Jaguar decided to build a variant of the XK designed specifically with an eye toward competition. First referred to internally as the XK120C, the car was ultimately different enough from the XK120 that its name changed to C-Type ('C' standing for Competition).
Jaguar C-Type And XK120 Differences
While the XK120 was a capable car (the '120' designating top speed in miles per hour), the C-Type's aim was light weight and slippery aerodynamics to achieve the highest top speed possible for longer racetracks like Le Mans. Whereas the XK120 was based on a heavy steel chassis derived from the Mark V sedan, and used ash wood framework to hold its aluminum body panels, the C-Type had a new lightweight tube frame chassis, one of the first of its type, and Malcolm Sayer-designed alloy bodywork with a more aero-efficient design. The 3.4-liter twin-cam straight-six engine remained, but was given an improved cylinder head, more aggressive camshaft profiles, a dual-exhaust system and unique pistons to bump output from 160 hp to just over 200 hp. With a significantly lighter curb weight than the XK120 road car, the C-Type was an instant performer.
C-Type At Le Mans
The first three cars produced in 1951 were almost immediately sent to the 24 Hours of Le Mans to be tested against the competition. Two of the C-Types failed to finish, but the third car driven by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead won the endurance race outright, making the C-Type the first British car to win the event in some two decades, setting several speed and distance records in the process. In 1952, C-Type customer car deliveries began, and the twin SU carburetors were upsized slightly, while the car's bodywork and cooling system were also revised. Jaguar's factory motorsports team again ran three cars at the 1952 Le Mans, but all retired with mechanical issues.
In 1953, Jaguar again built three new factory racers with further weight reduction thanks to thinner aluminum bodywork, lending them an unofficial "lightweight" designation. Triple Weber carburetors and higher-lift cams helped bump power to 220 hp, while the rear suspension was slightly revised and Dunlop disc brakes (a rarity in '53) replaced the previous drum units. The factory "lightweight" C-Types finished first, second, and fourth at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the end, some 53 C-Types were built before the model was replaced by the even more specialized Jaguar D-Type for the 1954 racing season. Despite the arrival of the D-Type, a C-Type fielded by privateer team Ecurie Francorchamps finished fourth overall in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Jaguar C-Type was really the brand's first all-new postwar race car and as such, it was driven by many of the luminaries of the period including the late Sir Stirling Moss and American Formula 1 champion Phil Hill. Hill said of the C-Type, "I was just in awe of the C-Type when I first stepped into it. When I look back on it now, it makes me smile. The steering was light-almost scary light. It was the first car I ever drove that had a really precise feel about it-it really felt like a racing car." Just three of the special 1953 "lightweight" cars were ever built, though some cars were later modified to lightweight specification.
With just 53 Jaguar C-Types ever having been built between 1951 and 1953, and their competition legacy being what it is, you might guess that you'd have not only a hard time finding a C-Type for sale, but also affording the asking price. You'd be right on both counts. Jaguar C-Types are rare and expensive, most have been raced hard, and some have been involved in significant accidents along the way. The most expensive and desirable C-Types must be the three "lightweight" 1953 factory racers and the 1951 Le Mans winner, while privateer cars with particularly successful or interesting racing histories will also be toward the top of the pecking order.
Motor Trend
This Italianate style residence was built in 1880 for L. L. Haworth (1831-1918) by Decatur architect Ebenezer McNabb. Lysander L. Haworth was one of the principals of the Haworth & Sons, a major Decatur industrial establishment. The company invented and manufactured check rowers, an invention that saved the farmer 3/4 the labor of planting. The civic minded Haworth was actively involved in community affairs, and was elected Decatur mayor in 1879 serving one term.
This house in the 300 block of W. William St. served as a family dwelling for 40 years. Then for 20 years it served as the home of kindergartens, dancing schools, lodge organizations and the Community Recreation Association before it became the Burke Nursing home in May 1938.
In 1943 it was remodeled and taken over by the Decatur Day Nursery Association. The nursery name was changed to the Decatur Day Care Center in 1967. The day care center continued to operate from this house until 1994 when it moved to its present location on E. Lake Shore Drive as part of a $2.3 million intergenerational complex that incorporates the Life Enrichment Center of St. Mary's Hospital for older adults. This house on W. William St. is once again a private residence.
The L. L. Haworth House is a significant architectural property in the Decatur Historic District, a residential historic district in the Millikin Heights neighborhood of Decatur. The district encompasses the city's historic Near West and Southwest neighborhoods and was formed beginning in the 1850s and continuing through the 1920s. The Decatur Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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.
Here is the site of one of the most significant celtic oppidums (= a large fortified settlement) in Europe which dates back to the 2nd and 1st century BC. The house was built by a group of archaeologists in the small museum in order to give some insight of the former lifestyle of the local Celtics.
After a significant snowstorm on December 17, train 6937 with Brookville BL20GHM 126 pushing on the rear of the three-car consist, makes its way through Ansonia in more fluffy white stuff on the afternoon of Sunday, December 20, 2020.
Siem Reap - Ankor Wat Temple - Sunrise @ lotus pond
CAM7497.F
Many thanks for your visits, comments, faves and invitations.
Take care and stay healthy!
Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world with the site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2). It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the 12th century. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura, present-day Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.
"The Cathedral of Bern (Das Berner Münster) is Switzerland's largest ecclesiastical building. Construction started in 1421 and continued under a series of different builders for generations.
The spire was finally completed in 1893. The portal with its depiction of the Last Judgment is a remarkable feature. The vantage point of this masterpiece is located 344 steps above the entrance, in the 100m-high cathedral spire.
The Cathedral is Switzerland is the largest and most significant church dated back to the Late Middle Ages. As the dominant structure in Bern's Old Town, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, the Cathedral plays a pivotal role in the city's architecture. (www.bern.com/en/city-of-bern/attractions/cathedral-of-bern)
This significant weaving incorporates the artist’s contemporary designs in a manner she describes as harmonious with ancestral robes. It is both a meditation on the strength of community in Haida culture and a reminder of the importance of extending collective work into global contexts. The bold yet intricate patterns honour the waters of Haida Gwaii, recalling the nurturing rains, the rivers and streams and the oceans she describes as “connecting us all.”
Significant rain Saturday night covered the iris with water droplets. Photographed in my flower garden. Most of my iris were passed down from my grandfather to my mother, and now to me. I believe that I have them correctly identified, but don't know the names of several. Any help will be appreciated. Most of the iris that I have were hybridized and purchased in the 1970's although a few that my grandfather first planted may be from the 1950's and 1960's. My mother may have purchased a few of them in the 1980's. IMG_8233
The Ardnamurchan landscape changes significantly as you drive from one end of the peninsula to the other. I think of it as in three sections. The first is from home via the coastal road, winding through the fringe of ancient Atlantic oakwood rainforest, along to Glenborrodale and Glenbeg, and then once facing the volcanic Ben Hiant, and skirting round Camas Nan Gaell, you are here at the start of the second section, cutting inland and upwards to get you round to Kilchoan. I love the scenery and looking out for deer and eagles on the way. The cows and sheep don't live in fields here. They just roam, wild