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I really like these shifty looking little flies. HFDF
TQ138697
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Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day!
Squirrels, no matter the specific species, are pretty much in most wildlife's food chain. So they need to be quite vigilant. I just love it when they scurry around the landscape in a haphazard sort of way ... but then periodically stop, look, & listen. Reminds me of something I always learned in elementary school when approaching a railroad crossing or even crossing an ordinary street. LOL
Kidding aside, squirrels are a photographer's best friend when the wildlife is scarce. I can remember trudging through thigh high snow in Denali NP chasing them ... yes, it was a slow day then too.
This particular one though was taken in Yellowstone NP last May. I just loved the way this little guy popped up on the rock to survey its surroundings for danger.
Thanks for stopping by to view. Hope that everyone is having a great weekend so far.
© 2016 Debbie Tubridy / TNWA Photography
"Pareidolia: the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern"
The Olsen Nauen Bell Foundry (Norwegian: Olsen Nauen Klokkestøperi) is a Norwegian bell foundry located in the municipality of Tønsberg. The foundry was established in 1844 by Ole Olsen, and it is headed today by the sixth generation of the Olsen Nauen family. The company is based at the Nauen farm in Sem and is Norway's only bell foundry.
The Olsen Nauen Bell Foundry produces glockenspiels, church bells, ship's bells, farm bells, and other products from bell metal, which is a specific alloy of copper and tin. The company has supplied bells to most Norwegian churches. Part of its production is exported, some to mission churches and also to other clients. Examples of carillons cast by Olsen Nauen include the ones in Oslo City Hall, Oslo Cathedral, Sem Town Hall in Tønsberg, and Trinity Church in Arendal. The company has also produced a 52-bell travelling carillon, which is the world's largest.
The Nauen farm also has a small museum with a display of old and new bells.
Lovely sillouette of many mountains specific the Balsam Cordillera and several other volcanoes specially the Quetzaltepeque or San Salvador Volcano.
Una bonita cadena de montañas con destaque para la Cordillera del Bálsamo, en primera plana. También aparece la silueta de algunos otros volcanes especialmente el de San Salvador.
Uma silhueta bonita das muitas montanhas deste pequeno e rico país de El Salvador. A maior se chama Cordilheira do Bálsamo e atrás está o Vulcão de San Salvador.
We're at the end of 2024 and the final roll for this year's entry into the Frugal Film Project. So having to do a bit of Christmas Shopping and needing a specific store I took myself to a favourite historic city, that of Galt, Ontario. While most people know it today as Cambridge, Ontario it is one of three (four) colonial settlements and my personal favourite for the amount of historic buildings and architecture left to explore.
Canon EOS 3000 - Canon Lens EF 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 II - Arista EDU.Ultra 200 @ ASA-200
Adox XT-3 (1+1) 9:00 @ 20C
Scanner: Epson V700 + Silverfast 9 SE
Editor: Adobe Photoshop CC
This image is a vintage Christmas postcard illustration published by Raphael Tuck & Sons around the year 1905. The specific card shown is part of their "Oilette Series (#8267)" and "Christmas Postcard Series".
Postcard Details
Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons, a prominent British publishing company known for their high-quality postcards and art prints. They held royal warrants and were a major producer of cards in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Series: The card belongs to the "Oilette" series, which were known for their rich, high-quality lithographic printing that mimicked the look of oil paintings.
Dating: Similar postcards from this series are often postmarked or dated around 1905-1909.
Subject: The illustration depicts Santa Claus, in a traditional red robe with a sack of toys, interacting with a young child kneeling in a chair. This type of sentimental, narrative illustration was a popular theme for Christmas cards during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
While the vintage postcard itself only contains the printed greeting "Christmas Greetings", the specific dialogue between Santa and the little girl is left to the viewer's imagination.
Common themes on postcards from this 1900-1910 era often centered on:
Behavioral Inquiries: Santa might have been asking if she has been a good girl this year, a popular theme in the early 1900s as a form of behavior modification.
Wish List Confirmation: The girl may have been confirming her Christmas wishes, as children often wrote detailed letters or lists to Santa during this period.
Jolly Salutations: Simple expressions of holiday cheer and well-wishes were also very common.
Ultimately, the ambiguity of the scene was intended to evoke a personal, sentimental feeling in the sender and recipient, allowing them to project their own heartwarming interpretation onto the interaction.
In vintage Christmas illustrations and traditions popular in the early 1900s, Santa Claus or Father Christmas was often depicted carrying a tree as part of his role as the bringer of all holiday cheer and traditions.
Here are the key reasons why this imagery was common:
Symbolic of the German Tradition: The tradition of bringing a decorated evergreen tree into the home originated in Germany and was popularized in English-speaking countries by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the mid-19th century. Early postcards often featured Santa bringing the entire celebratory setup, including the tree itself, as a complete package of joy.
A Complete Delivery: In the context of early 20th-century postcards, Santa was portrayed as the single source for all holiday goods. The image shows him delivering the large sack of toys and the tree, implying he provides everything needed for the perfect Christmas celebration in the home.
Visual Storytelling: The image is a piece of narrative art designed to evoke a strong sentimental response. Santa carrying the tree visually represents the spirit of Christmas arriving at the home, a powerful and complete picture of the festive season's arrival.
Over time, as the tradition of families selecting and setting up their own trees became the norm, illustrations evolved to focus solely on Santa delivering gifts to an already-decorated tree.
Every year in Santa Rosa, there are two specific Eucalyptus trees, almost in the center of town where the Egrets and Heron come to nest. It is quite the visual and auditory spectacle.
Site-specific installation called "Glowing Core" by German artist Rebecca Horn (b.1944).
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Horn
The name of the building is Llotja de Palma, a historic building with Gothic design, built between 1426 and 1448. The building was originally the headquarters of the School of Merchants.
Kennedy And His Soul's Love Of The Sea - IMRAN™
Sometimes people think a dog owner can make their dog sit in a way that evokes a particular feeling or projects some specific personality.
My beloved, precious, rescued German Shepherd Dog Kennedy came into my life at the start of 2019. He was initially so afraid of the water—likely from traumatic experiences—that he would sit by the barbecue grill twenty feet away even if I went into the swimming pool.
I had not heard him bark even once, nor go into any kind of water. To get him into the water, I waded into Tampa Bay and tempted him to join me.
That was six months after his coming to his forever home with me. It was so funny to see him come up the water and run off to avoid getting wet.
It was also the first time he barked… and his bark was incredible! Ironically, he barked at me, as if saying, “Come out on to land and play like a real master!”
But then he got bolder and walked closer to me. I could see his expression of “WooTooF!” when he felt the strange sensation of water buoyancy on his body.
Within a few minutes, his natural ability to swim kicked in, literally. And just like that, in one experience, he transformed into a sea dog.
He literally HAD to go into Tampa Bay water every chance he got, regardless of the weather. He even started wading into the pool and grudgingly would even swim.
But I did not have to ever pose him to show his soul being at heart with the sea. You can see this in almost all his photos by the seaside.
This picture is actually a panorama of six handheld iPhone photos taken on April 28, 2022. Kennedy sat absolutely still overlooking Tampa Bay so it looks like a single shot image.
We were at my Symphony Isles neighborhood. I captured it from several hundred feet away while playing with then-2-year-old K2 on one side of the empty lot.
You can see Kennedy sitting at the far end, casually gazing at the bay. It was in his soul. Kennedy and his love of the sea were real. Best Dog Ever!
© 2022-2024 IMRAN™
Lions do not mate at a specific time of year and the females are polyestrous. Like those of other cats, the male lion's penis has spines that point backward. During withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation. A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat. They normally mate after every 15-20 minutes for 2-3 days whilst on their honeymoon. The average gestation period is around 110 days; the female gives birth to a litter of between one and four cubs in a secluded den, which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area, usually away from the pride.
This shot of two adult males,part of survey area pride, mating with a singel female lioness was captured during my recent visit to Masai Mara ,Oct 2020. Both male took in turn to mate with the lioness though one of the male was more successful than his mate.....
Please left click with your mouse to appreciate the photograph at full resolution.
In specific, Holy Week is the week just before Easter that extends from Palm Sunday until Holy Saturday and marks the last week of Lent. It has earned the name 'Holy', according to the Orthodox Church, due to the significant events that take place for Christianity in regard to the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Saturday evening is filled with the anticipation of celebrating Easter Sunday. In some areas, people begin to gather in the churches and squares in cities, towns and villages by 11pm for the Easter liturgies. A few minutes before midnight, all the lights are turned off and the priest exits the altar holding candles lit by the Holy Light, which is distributed to everyone inside and outside the church. At midnight, the priest exits the church and announces the resurrection of Jesus. Many people carry large white candles called lambada, and the church bells toll as the priests announce “Christ is Risen!” at midnight. Each person in the crowd replies with a similarly joyous response.
The capital of the Republic of Cyprus is also its cultural heartbeat.
Nicosia is the capital and largest city on the island of Cyprus, as well as its main business centre.
There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.
We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.
The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.
The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.
I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.
06.12.22. First South Yorkshire have adopted a specific style of destination display to denote short workings, in which the actual destination is followed by the word 'ONLY'. This seems to serve its purpose although some may wonder whether the bus is diverted from its normal route such that intermediate points are omitted. The display illustrated here ('Herdings terminus ONLY') may also cause some confusion as no journeys on service 1A now go beyond Herdings, but the point of the display is to show that the service no longer runs through to Norton Avenue as it did up to the beginning of October. Bus 63001 with its new 'Escafeld' titles was photographed picking up in Cumberland Street in Sheffield city centre. (Photo taken 6 Dec 2022, posted 10 Jan 2023)
The common redshank or simply redshank (Tringa totanus) is a Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific totanus is from Tótano, the Italian name for this bird.
Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.
The spotted redshank (T. erythropus), which breeds in the Arctic, has a longer bill and legs; it is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. It is not a particularly close relative of the common redshank, but rather belongs to a high-latitude lineage of largish shanks. T. totanus on the other hand is closely related to the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis), and closer still to the small wood sandpiper (T. glareola). The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.
The common redshank is a widespread breeding bird across temperate Eurasia. It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Ireland and Great Britain southwards, and in South Asia. They are uncommon vagrants outside these areas; on Palau in Micronesia for example, the species was recorded in the mid-1970s and in 2000. A tagged redshank was spotted at Manakudi Bird Sanctuary, Kanniyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India in the month of April 2021.
They are wary and noisy birds which will alert everything else with their loud piping call. Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates. Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to salt marsh, often at high densities. They lay 3–5 eggs.
The common redshank is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_redshank
Author's Note: There is a lot of stigma regarding cannabis (often referred to as "herb" in this story) and it being used as a "drug." Cannabis is a healthy, natural herb with many medicinal benefits. There is a lot of misinformation out there and I encourage you, my crewmates, to do your research.
For people like Vincent, cannabis has the ability to ease chronic pain, silence anxiety, promote restful sleep, and improve overall mental wellness and so much, much more!
While Vincent is using it as an escape in this specific chapter, it is not any different than using sugar as an escape to feel better when you are having a bad day. And remember that you, too, can always make healthier and better choices just like Vincent did.
DISCLAIMER: This "be like Vincent" does NOT include his stupid idea to smoke while having broken and fractured ribs! If you have broken ribs, DO NOT BE LIKE VINCENT!
>.>
<.<
Have an edible.
---
Author's Note: There is a lot of stigma regarding cannabis (often referred to as "herb" in this story) and it being used as a "drug." Cannabis is a healthy, natural herb with many medicinal benefits. There is a lot of misinformation out there and I encourage you, my crewmates, to do your research.
For people like Vincent, cannabis has the ability to ease chronic pain, silence anxiety, promote restful sleep, and improve overall mental wellness and much, much more!
While Vincent is using it as an escape in this specific chapter, it is not any different than using sugar as an escape to feel better when you are having a bad day. And remember that you, too, can always make healthier and better choices just like Vincent did.
DISCLAIMER: This "be like Vincent" does NOT include his stupid idea to smoke while having broken and fractured ribs! If you have broken ribs, DO NOT BE LIKE VINCENT!
>.>
<.<
Have an edible.
---
Vincent waited quietly in front of fire as he turned his new pipe over in his fingers and inspected it in the light. 'It really is well crafted,' he thought approvingly to himself. Rosamund was the sort who collected and sold only quality goods. He had no doubts that it would smoke as she said it would. Speaking of which, he could hear her approaching from behind. He glanced over his shoulder as she came alongside him and sat down with a little groan of relaxation. "This is the finest indica I have, Captain," she announced as set a small but wide box in her lap. "This here is from my personal collection!"
Already Vincent could smell its delicious, pungent scent! As she lifted the lid, Vincent only had to wait a split second before it really hit his nostrils. And as she lifted a fairly good sized bud and offered it out to him, he took it so gently between his fingertips. In the fire's ambience he inspected the tiny crystals and resin with his sharp eye. Approving of the density and the dark colors of purple and green, he brought it to his nose and inhaled slowly and deep. He actually gave the softest moan of appreciation before glancing at her with a teasing smirk and offered it back to her.
"Personal collection, eh? Should I be worried about competition, my dear?"
"Hm..."
She dared to look contemplative as if she really had to think about it. But as Vincent quirked his brow at her as if calling her bluff, she let out a little snort and laughed before she replied, "Actually, Captain, you should be thanking me. Do you remember those seeds I picked up from you the Summer before last? The ones from that INCREDIBLE harvest that I said should be called 'Magic Mermaid' because I felt like one?"
"How could I forget? I’m still amused as fuck at how high you got."
"Well, this was grown partially from those seeds."
"Really?!"
"Really! I have a buyer over in Carsottoph who has a special greenhouse just for this. He's been buying your seeds off me for a couple of years now. In fact," she continued with a sly little grin as she began picking apart and grinding the bud between her fingers, "he asked me to let you know he's interested in doing business with you. Do let me know if you'd like his contact information. But not tonight! Tonight is for 'personal business,' yes?" She winked at him then continued to grind up the bud more finely with her fingers.
Well, now she certainly had Vincent's attention! He flashed her a small, appreciative grin and replied, "Much gratitude to you, my dear. Let's see how well this smokes, and I will let you know. You know I only do business with the best." "Which is why you come to me," she responded confidently. "I wouldn't steer you wrong, Captain. Pipe!"
Vincent handed over his pipe gratefully and watched with anticipation as Rosamund stuffed the ground up herb into the bowl and filled it mostly up. He was amazed at how much could really fit in there! Then she pulled out another small bud and began to quickly ground it up and stuffed that in there too. Then she treated him further by digging into her box and pulling out some of the finest bits; almost like powder. Vincent knew this made the effects of smoking the herb even stronger! She added a whole layer of it right on top and offered the pipe back out to Vincent with a cheeky smile as Vincent's eyes widened in surprise at such an offering!
"Here's to you, Captain. Mm, here, let me get my wick."
"You're spoiling me tonight!"
"For the best there can only be the best. Cheers!"
It had been a couple of weeks since he'd smoked and so he knew it may hit him harder than it had in the past. She had put so much in here! Was he complaining? Hell no! He watched as Rosamund withdrew a hemp wick from her box and set the box down beside her on her seat. Once she lit it from the fire she then offered it out to Vincent and waited eagerly for his reaction. Meanwhile she fished out her joint from the safety of her bosom once again. She had the same herb rolled up that she had stuffed in his pipe and was looking forward to smoking this with him.
Vincent wasted no more time and gladly lit his new pipe. The familiar burn that moved through Vincent's lungs felt harsher than he was used to. He could already feel a cough building! He knew what would likely happen next would be worth it; at least he hoped. He'd come this far! There was no going back. He pulled the pipe from his lips, inhaling deeper with fresh air and letting the smoke fill his lungs completely. But before he could properly exhale, he abruptly and painfully clutched his ribs as he fell mercy to a fierce and painful coughing fit! 'Two weeks too fucking long!' he thought miserably as the continuous jerking motion sent white hot pain shooting throughout his body in waves.
Rosamund made a slight grimace as she watched him struggle to push through the agony. She had to literally bite her tongue to keep from cautioning Vincent as he brought the pipe to his lips again. Vincent wouldn't want her opinion on this matter. He knew exactly what he was doing and if the pain was worth it to him then so be it! At least, that's how she saw it. With any luck, he'd not be caring about pain soon.
Vincent struggled through two more draws off his pipe before he finally set it down in his lap and passed over the hemp wick. He needed to come down from the pain before he smoked more. Meanwhile Rosamund took the wick and lit her joint and inhaled long and deep. She remained silent and just listened to the sounds of the fire as it licked and crackled around the wood.
For a short time the two of them sat in silence. Soon Vincent felt he could smoke more so he did just that. This time he barely had to cough and was thankfully able to slowly take more steady pulls from his pipe. He was starting to feel a familiar, tingly pressure building around his eyes, and he prayed relief would not be far behind. And what impressed him was that despite the pain he was in, he was still feeling the first touch of effects anyways. To distract himself while the pain eased down, Vincent stared into the fire and allowed himself to get lost in the sounds and ambience.
Before he knew it he'd gone smoked down half the bowl. The tension in his shoulders and back had loosened more and thank God the silent onslaught of bullying thoughts had eased. Instead his focus was more on how lovely the fire and embers were and how they glowed and how peaceful it was to decompress like this.
Suddenly a LOUD crack and pop sound as embers flew high into the air! It caused Rosamund to jump and gasp in surprise which drew Vincent back from his spacing out. He glanced at her and chuckled before he shifted and stretched on the rock. And as he did, he became aware that his mind was blissfully blank and even a little dazed! The fire and Rosamund were the only things really on his mind now. While he felt occasional small, painful pulses move through his ribcage he found he just didn't care about it! Not one flying fuck! He was high and there were more interesting things to focus on now! Even having company wasn't so bad anymore. Silently he prayed his thanks to the heavens above!
"How are you feeling?"
Vincent inhaled deeply and let it out as he thought about it. How did he feel? To be honest he didn't really know. All that really mattered was that he didn't feel how he felt before. His troubles seemed so far away, and right now he just didn't care, which is what he wanted. With that in mind, Vincent turned his gaze towards Rosamund and declared with a small grin, "Like I want some more." Rosamund laughed softly and joined Vincent in smoking as he lit his pipe once again.
"This is just what I needed," he admitted. "You have no idea how grateful I am for you right now. Tonight's just been one thing after another." Vincent sighed and drew on his pipe once more time; slow and deep, before setting it down in his lap and he quieted. Beside him, Rosamund blushed slightly again before clearing her throat softly. She hadn't expected the captain to say that. It wasn't often he spoke about personal troubles. But, then again, the herb could really loosen one's tongue. It seemed like he really had a lot on his mind.
"Well, I'm grateful for your company!" she told him sincerely. "And I sure hope that being here with me and smoking the herb makes up for the shitty evening! How is Damien, by the way? I was expecting he'd be with you."
"He's fine. I just wanted to come out on my own tonight," he explained with a small shrug. Vincent didn't really know what else to say. They had worked things out. Vincent had just needed some time to clear his head and breathe was all. While he valued Rosamund in many ways, he wasn't about to divulge his personal troubles to her; especially that Damien was the reason he was here. There was still a professional line and he had to keep it drawn.
"I'll bring him next time. Though he'll be leaving for a few weeks soon. He's going to be visiting family."
"Yeah? He doesn't seem like much of a family man. Though I'm sure a few girls in my tribe would be happy to test the theory."
"Heh, I bet they would. He really isn't, but I'm making him go. Otherwise, I'm going to end up in the insane asylum."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Just a joke," Vincent replied quickly as he realized that last part slipped out despite his intention to not say anything. Yet, he couldn't stop himself as he continued overexplaining, "He's fine. We're fine. It's....fine. You are definitely making up for the shitty evening. So...thank you."
Vincent gave her a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes before he averted his gaze back to the fire. Then he brought his pipe to his lips as if nothing were wrong. He knew that hadn't been very convincing.
And just so, Rosamund had made a small little face as fought not to ask aloud: 'Are you serious?' Instead, she licked her lips and brought her joint to her lips and took a slow, deep drag off of it. Thankfully, Vincent hadn't seen her expression, she thought.
"Anything for you, Captain. You are always welcome at my hearth."
Vincent could hear the sincerity in her voice and he believed it. She really was a dependable associate. He'd known her a long time now and had watched her grow to the businesswoman she was today; a successful one at that. But now he saw her as more than just a person for business. Perhaps...perhaps he had for some time and hadn't realized it. Either way, he was glad to realize that he was starting to make another genuine friend. Perhaps he wasn't as alone in this world as he thought.
...
Vincent spent the next three hours with Rosamund. He enjoyed their little banter here and there. Most of it was professional; picking on each other's businesses and talking about Summers past spent in business together. Vincent was happy to talk about the past. He hadn't brought up anything really new. Catching up for real would be another time.
Vincent had smoked down the entire bowl and had received the relief he so badly needed; physically and mentally. He knew he would be aching later from all the coughing but still didn't care and knew it would be worth it. He would take the bhang to help supplement while his body adjusted to smoking again and use it more sparingly.
"Thank you again for everything, Rosamund. By the way, I definitely want that Carsottoph grower's name," Vincent was telling Rosamund as he got ready to go. He tucked his pipe and newly purchased herb away; concealed in a way one would never know it was on him. Behind him, Rosamund was tucking away her special wares with a smug little grin. Then she hopped back down from the wagon and folded her arms across her abdomen and smiled at him.
"Good! I knew you would! When you come back next, I'll get that to you. Be well, Captain. See you on Monday?"
"See you then."
Vincent inclined his head respectfully and with an appreciative smile, he turned and set off for the city. Now he was feeling lighter and better. He felt he could finally breathe again. This was infinitely a much better feeling! Good ol' Rosie!
---
NEXT PART:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/53041184499/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
Special thank you to my husband Vin (Be My Mannequin? Pose Store) for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
And thank you to Mythra Rose-Älskling for starring as our lovely, dependable Rosamund!
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and The Engineer has a Discord Server! If you wanna join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Highball through Starnes-1974
I'm not sure what specific day this was, but the slide was processed in June 1974. I failed to note the actual date. I do remember being aware Clinchfield No. 1 was leading a southbound excursion that started at Elkhorn City, Ky on that day. I might have called someone with the railroad to get a general idea when the train might pass Starnes, Va.
I arrived in time and waited....and waited...and waited. Did I miss it? Eventually I could hear the distant and distinctive sound of a steam whistle. I had an inexpensive 200mm tele lens on my Yashica camera, which was mounted on a flimsy tripod (so flimsy, in fact, it wasn't much better than a hand-held shot).
A headlight appeared in the distance at the north end of the siding at Starnes, and I rechecked my settings and fiddled with the focus--waiting until the train filled the frame at the desired spot. I then turned around and got the going-away shot.
There's a lot to soak up in these images. For beginners, there's the audacity of a small Ten-Wheeler built in 1882 "pulling" a train of a dozen heavyweight passenger cars (plus two F7B units) at 45 MPH. In reality, No. 1 did well to handle just two cars! I doubt the "One Spot" could have even started this train had it been stopped--on level track.
It was fairly warm that day, so there's just a hint of steam as engineer Ed Hatcher blows No. 1's whistle for the only grade crossing in "downtown" Starnes. Brother George was keeping the steam pressure up basically to blow the whistle and keep enough in the boiler so Ed could work a light throttle to keep lubrication going to the cylinders. No. 1's ancient boiler was only rated for 125 psi, and anything over that would raise the first safety valve.
In the second shot, take a look at all the arms, heads, and other body parts sticking out from the open car windows. These people are having more fun than the proverbial barrel of monkeys---more like a trainload of dogs sticking their heads out to catch the sights and scents of the passing countryside.
The observation deck of the former Wabash parlor car on the rear holds no less than a dozen people, most with cameras poised to photograph anything---other trains, cows, each other, or just the scenery of Scott County, Va. If anyone was interested in getting a shot of me, you can't tell it. The lettering on the drumhead isn't sharp enough to read clearly, but it says "Spring Steam Special" in the middle, while the outside says something like "American Association" of something. Maybe it was Funeral Directors, Proctologists, Butchers, Tattoo Artists, or Animal Control Specialists. Not sure...
I was able to get ahead of the train for a second shot as it roared across the big bridge at Copper Creek. That was it, though, as it then burrowed beneath Clinch Mountain, and was gone. About a week later I had a few Ektachrome slides to account for my day along the Clinchfield. It was worth my time.
The Flowers Of Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane)
Happy Weekend, Flickr Friends!!
© Copyright @ris_@bdullah 2011 | All rights reserved.
Do not use, copy or edit any of my materials without my written permission.
Would appreciate not having large/animated multi invite codes.
Victoria asked for this specific style of block and provided the grey fabric. She said that there were no limits on what fabrics we could use. It's a wonderful way to use up small but precious pieces of fabric. She gave us the option of adding something to the center if we wanted and I noticed a definite pink/birdy theme in my fabrics. The appliqued bird is from here. (It's the fifth time I've used this bird in a bee block...I'm kind of in love!)
Not really based off of anything specific. I simply wanted to try my hand at painting a multi-cam along with the Combat Brick vest mod, and Brickarms m110 mod.
I was extremely pleased with how the vest turned out. I've seen many people in the community do this mod so I decided to try it along with a new method of sanding down the edges of the vest to give the rig a more rounded look. I also tried adding a different variety of pouches and such to the vest since I typically do the same three mag pouches and radio combo.
The legs however, I was not to happy with. The camo was my first attempt at painting a camo in a while. I got the idea from @LJH91 multicam sniper and decided to try it. I would have liked to blend the colors together a little better, especially the white. and the those damn cp knee pads! I didn't have my usual tools to apply those so they're a little crooked.
The m110 mod is pretty simple but I like it. I was worried about the TT scope looking out of place with the brickarms weapon but it actually fits alright.
Let me know what you guys think. Comments and faves are always appreciated, Thank you!
Every year around this time, the so-called "meninas" are placed in specific places in Madrid.
These, let's say, colorful sculptures are dedicated to various themes that change every year.
This year, in addition, a menina has been placed in the Plaza de Colón that is decorated with the official flag of the Valencian region, and that the people of Madrid are dedicating to all the victims of the flood that unfortunately occurred on October 29, 2024, and not only in the Valencian region but in other regions as well.
At the moment, a total of 230 dead and 4 missing have been recorded, as well as tens of thousands of people affected with thousands of ruined houses.
The photo also shows the so-called "Columbus Towers", which have changed their name and exterior design several times since they were built between 1967 and 1976.
Also visible in the photo is the monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus, which was erected between 1881 and 1885, and which gives its name to this square.
And just behind the head of the "Valencian" menina, you can see an angel that is part of the night lighting in Madrid at Christmas time.
Originally, the "meninas" (or meninos) were "young women (or men) from noble families who entered the court to serve the queen or her children."
In fact, "las meninas" is an expression that became famous as a result of the nickname given to a painting by the famous painter Diego de Veázquez, which is actually called: "The Family of Philip IV" in reference to the family of that king of the dynasty of the House of Austria (Habsburg Spain dinasty), which was completed in 1656 and is considered a masterpiece for various reasons. (Source: Wikipedia)
DEDICADO A LAS VICTIMAS DE LA RIADA, 2024
Todos los años por estas fechas, se colocan en lugares determinados de Madrid las llamadas "meninas".
Estas, digamos, coloridas esculturas, están dedicadas a temas variados que van cambiando cada año.
Este año, además, en la plaza de Colón se ha colocado una menina que está adornada con la bandera oficial de la región valenciana, y que los madrileños está dedicamos a todas las víctimas de la riada que desgraciadamente ocurrió el pasado 29 de octubre de 2024, y no sólo en la región valenciana sino en otras regiones también.
De momento se contabilizan un total de 230 fallecidos y 4 desaparecidos, amén de decenas de miles de personas afectadas con miles de casas arruinadas.
En la foto, además, se ven las llamadas "Torres de Colón", que han cambiado de nombre y de diseño exterior varias veces desde que se construyeron entre 1967 y 1976.
También se ve en la foto el monumento dedicado a Cristóbal Colón, que fue erigido entre 1881 y 1885, y que da nombre a esta plaza.
Y asímismo, justo detrás de la cabeza de la menina "valenciana" se ve un ángel que es parte de la iluminación nocturna de Madrid en fechas navideñas.
En origen, las "meninas" (o meninos) eran "jóvenes de familia noble que entraban en la corte para servir a la reina o a sus hijos".
En realidad "las meninas" es una expresión que se hizo famosa a raíz del sobrenombre que se dio a un cuadro del famoso pintor Diego de Veázquez, que en realidad se llama: "La familia de Felipe IV" en referencia a la familia de ese rey de la dinastía de la Casa de Austria, que fue terminada en 1656 y es considerada una obra maestra por diversos motivos. (Fuente: Wikipedia)
Bagan Hot Air Balloon
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Lions do not mate at a specific time of year and the females are polyestrous. Like those of other cats, the male lion's penis has spines that point backward. During withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation. A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat. They normally mate after every 15-20 minutes for 2-3 days whilst on their honeymoon. The average gestation period is around 110 days; the female gives birth to a litter of between one and four cubs in a secluded den, which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area, usually away from the pride.
This shot of two adult males,part of survey area pride, mating with a singel female lioness was captured during my recent visit to Masai Mara ,Oct 2020. Both male took in turn to mate with the lioness though one of the male was more successful than his mate.....
Please left click with your mouse to appreciate the photograph at full resolution.
Project Room
Barry McGee (TWIST)
Site-Specific Loft Installation
"Running concurrently with the group exhibition Do Not Stack, McGee takes over the project space, transforming the room’s physical relationship with the visitor into an interactive viewing. A distinctive cluster of McGee’s various paintings, works on paper and urban objects can be accessed by ascending through the floor of the utilitarian structure to the lofted space above."
Barry McGee "Site-Specific Loft Installation" at the Roberts and Tilton Gallery in L.A.
I spoke with the director of the gallery. He said that the gallery offered this 10' x 10' room to Barry McGee to do something with it. He said they got to talking and then Barry asked, "Can I build a loft?" And they did. A real interesting space. Well worth a visit in my opinion.
Plonk is a non-specific and derogatory term used primarily in British and Australian English for cheap, low-quality wine.
It is believed to come from Australian slang, in reference to blanc (the French word for "white"), before it became naturalised in Britain.
HOWEVER :
I would prefer to describe this one as "inexpensive and very good for the price" of AUD 5
A breathtaking sunrise view from a high mountain peak. Layers of fog and clouds blanket the valleys below, illuminated by the golden light of the rising sun. The sun's rays pierce through the clouds, casting dramatic shadows on the mountain slopes covered in various types of vegetation, including barren, scrubby bushes and patches of vibrant wildflowers. The scene evokes a sense of tranquility and the vastness of nature. No specific people are visible in the image.
This is another specific shot I wanted with the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and Hudson Yards lined up. Unfortunately both ESB and MSG had plain white colors and the sky was still too bright for the night lights.
Sony A7Rm2, FE 55mm, f2.5, 1/200, ISO 800
A blog post and gallery of photos from my photo flight can be found here.
Looking more like eastern Pennsylvania or up-state New York than rural West Michigan, GR #2104 leads its train into the Lowell yard limits. To the left of the train is the sign that denotes the transition from TWC territory.
Interested in purchasing a high-quality digital download of this photo, suitable for printing and framing? Let me know and I will add it to my Etsy Shop, MittenRailandMarine! Follow this link to see what images are currently listed for sale: www.etsy.com/shop/MittenRailandMarine
If you are interested in specific locomotives, trains, or freighters, please contact me. I have been photographing trains and ships for over 15 years and have accumulated an extensive library!
South Beach at Miami Beach to be specific. Decided my photostream needed a little variety as there has been too much nude male and not enough female to suit me. This was from my 2013 trip to Florida. I don't take candids of beautiful women as I used to, but I could not restrain myself here as not only was she quite fetching, but she seemed to be posing for some invisible photographer. Besides, I was actually shooting the sea gull. :-)
I wish she had chosen a different bikini bottom, but she didn't consult me about her attire. Any solid color, though I think white would look terrific against this beautiful Latina's (?) skin.
The lighting sucked. The shade was much deeper than it appears now, and against the bright background . . . processing was difficult, though a much bigger problem than the contrast was the fact that a dune buggy was sitting right in front of her. Perhaps there are programs that would speed the removal process, but in lightroom, it took about 1300 separate operations just to be rid of it--to say nothing of the uncounted fiddlings for color and contrast, et. al.
A close-up of 1500v DC Manchester/Glossop/Hadfield Class 506 Driving Motor Brake Second M59405M, Sunday resting whilst stabled at Reddish Electric Depot on June 18th 1978. The car had been built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath and had been new in 1954. The small fleet of eight x three-car units spent their entire 30 year working life, plying their trade between Manchester Piccadilly, Hadfield and Glossop. There had been some trials in the late 1960's when a 506 ran to Penistone via the Woodhead Tunnel, but their low-gearing and subsequent overheating, saw the project to run them East of Hadfield being abandoned.
The last of the 506's were withdrawn on December 7th 1984, and whilst one unit was initially saved for preservation, it has since been scrapped.
The 506's were just one class of a myriad of EMU's at the time on BR, that were all different designs and kept to their specific routes/electric systems.
This artwork represents a depiction “based on” an accumulation of known facts but is not factual in its entirety. However, references to; a specific U-boat, the U-boat commander, times and dates and events (unless where noted by [ see below ] ) are based on actual facts and events provided by reliable sources. Assuming these sources are true and accurate, most of the information provided here can be concluded as historically factual.
This artwork represents a depiction of the World War II German U-boat, U-995 Type VIIC/41 departing the sub pens at [ 1 ] Saint Nazaire on what will be its final patrol. The date is 13 March 1945. In command is Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve, Hans Georg Hess. Although just shy of his 22 birthday, Hess has considerable experience serving in the Kreigsmarine. He joined the Kriegsmarine in April of 1940 at the young age of 16. He spent two years serving on various mine- sweepers before transferring to the U-boat force. Hess made five patrols on U-466, mostly in the North Atlantic. In September 1944 Hess took over command of U-995 and made five patrols in the Arctic Ocean. This artwork is based loosely on the fifth and final patrol of U-995.
At 09.10 hours on 20 March 1945, about 25 miles east of North Kilden Light U-995 fired torpedoes at convoy JW-65 and reported one ship sunk and two others damaged. In fact, only the Horace Bushnell was seriously damaged. The ship was hit by one torpedo on the port side in the engine room. The blast created a hole 33 feet by 26 feet, cracked the main deck, completely destroyed the engines and killed the second engineer and three men on watch below. The explosion also blew the engine room skylight over the side, cut off the power, destroyed one lifeboat and filled another with oil. The vessel settled with a slight list by the stern until water reached 34 feet and then steadied. The survivors among the eight officers, 34 crewmen and 27 armed guards on board prepared themselves to abandon ship. * (The Merchant Steamer, Horace Bushnell was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns)
Although considered a total loss and a credit of 7,176 GRT tons for the U-995 and Commander Hans Georg Hess, the merchant ship did not sink completely. In 1947 most its cargo was salvaged. Six crew members were killed in the incident.
At war’s end in Europe the U-995 was back in port at Trondheim, Norway and on 9 May 1945 Commander Hans Georg Hess surrendered his boat and crew to the British who, in turn turned the boat over to the Norwegians. Hess was imprisoned by the Norwegians, eventually spending a year in captivity.
The U-995 was then transferred to Norwegian ownership in October 1948. In December 1952 U-995 became the Norwegian submarine Kaura (Norwegian K class) and in 1965 she was stricken from service by the Royal Norwegian Navy. She was then offered to the West German government for the ceremonial price of one Deutsche Mark. The offer was refused; however, the boat was saved by the German Navy League, DMB. U-995 became a museum ship at Laboe Naval Memorial in October 1971.
After his release Hans Georg Hess returned to Germany, eventually becoming a lawyer in Hannover. He died on 20 March 2008 in Wunstorf-Idensen at the age of 84, and is buried at the village cemetery.
[ 1 ] Actually Narvik, Norway
Credits
1 - Picture of U-Boat used as model for artwork - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U_995_Laboe.JPG
2 - Picture of Saint Nazaire sub pens - worldwar2revisited.com/
3 - Pictures of images from “Das Boot” hulu TV Series - www.hulu.com/series/das-boot-ceda3546-5a3b-4e8d-b6a4-50d0...
Bibliography
• Walk through German submarine U-995
• German submarine U-995 (Wikipedia)
• German U-Boat / The Laconia Incident
• NOVA Online-Hitler’s Lost Sub
• NOAA Ocean Exploration / U-576: Life and Death On a World War II German U-boat
Suggested reading:
The Laconia incident
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconia_incident
The Last World War II U-Boat Commander Has Died at 105
www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/24/last-world-war-ii-...
PORTRAIT / PHOTOSHOOT : Sophie and Rose
That specific shot reminds me of Rose Dewitt Bukater (kate winslet) in James Cameron's TITANIC, and more specificaly, the first time we see her in 1912 (with her hat) ! ... I find it very elegant! :)
More pictures on my Blog! :o)
Sebastien LABAN - Photographe
An elevator crew is using GMTX #2676 to load a grain train at the MAC elevator in Newaygo, during the summer of 2007. The Geep was left by Marquette Rail's Z151 the night before along with the empties. #2676 was one of two extended cab GP38-2s the railroad had leased from GATX.
Interested in purchasing a high-quality digital download of this photo, suitable for printing and framing? Let me know and I will add it to my Etsy Shop, MittenRailandMarine! Follow this link to see what images are currently listed for sale: www.etsy.com/shop/MittenRailandMarine
If you are interested in specific locomotives, trains, or freighters, please contact me. I have been photographing trains and ships for over 15 years and have accumulated an extensive library!
Brussels
Lockdown walk in Boudewijnpark - Parc Baudouin
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribes_sanguineum
The Parc Roi Baudouin is consists of the Bois du Laerbeek, Poelbos, Parc du Sacré-Coeur and Bois de Dieleghem. The discovery of varied biotopes or natural or half-natural sites is among the good reasons to discover this green paradise in the North-West of Brussels. The rural aspect has been underlined with kitchen gardens and the Ferme des Enfants. It is made up of several parts or phases corresponding to specific kinds of arrangements: phase I and II: classical parks (alternation of lawns, ponds, plants clumps, woods and arrangements for kids), phase III: more rural zone with prairies, small woods, hedges and wet areas.
Becoming Marni is a site-specific installation conceived as the concluding act of the whole Marni Prisma program. It consists of one hundred wooden sculptures created by Brazilian self-taught artist Véio, distributed around the cloister and inside the rooms of the Abbey, drawing an ideal landscape of organic forms. The sculptures are installed in different groups, indoors and outdoors, their presence marked by a tactile path, the color of Venice’s water, drawn on the floor: an irregular surface with translucent spots, creating continuity between the outside and the inside. A small cabinet in the cloister housed Véio’s workshop, enabling him to create artworks on site. Furthermore, as the San Gregorio Abbey is usually closed to the public, this exhibition presented an opportunity to enjoy a unique space.
Consuelo and Carolina Castiglioni discovered Véio at a collective exhibition in Paris. Through Galeria Estação, which exclusively represents him, they entered in contact with him and Carolina tracked him down to Nossa Senhora da Gloria, the small village in the north East of Brazil where he lives and works. Here Véio creates his enigmatic sculptures by giving new life to pieces of wood, clogs and branches he finds along the river. He immediately identifies a being in each piece – an animal, a resting human, a fantastic bird. By a process of artistic transformation – clipping, shaving, adding a final layer of color – he makes the same beings visible to the public, removing them from the raw material and thereby restoring to the wood a meaning that exceeds pure physicality.
This is the complete album of the photos of my visit. --- --- --- www.flickr.com/photos/136891509@N07/albums/72157661202999340
I snuck into Connecticut on Friday with a very specific goal thanks to a tip from Jack Robert. There aren't too many shots left on my 'New England Bucket List' after the last nearly four years of hunting. But this was another pretty big one I finally got, having never seen this back in the old days.
Anyway the Connecticut River is the largest waterway in New England, bifurcating the region and running 406 miles from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound and draining some 11,260 square miles. It is been bridged by railroads at 21 points along that length and amazingly 16 of those crossings still remain in service, including all four in Connecticut.
This is one of those bridges, and one I'd longed wanted to photograph. Build in 1872 by the perfectly named New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad it had been staunchly opposed by maritime interests who feared competition and the risks it would pose to maritime navigation. Those fears were not without cause as this story tells: connecticuthistory.org/a-night-to-remember-when-the-steam...
The original bridge was replaced by the present steel one in 1910 that was built by the American Bridge Company at a total length of 1220 ft with a 300 ft main swing main span. Here is another article on it if you're interested: www.courant.com/hc-xpm-2010-11-03-hc-marteka-railroad-swi...
As for the railroad it was never particularly successful and was reorganized as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad in 1875 and was purchased by the growing New Haven system in 1882. Early in its life it had some importance and even saw the passage of one of the most famous trains of all time, the New England Limited was inaugurated in 1884 and operated between New York and Boston jointly by the New Haven who then handed it off to the New York and New England at Willimantic. It became the thing of legend in 1891, when the Pullman Palace Car Company refitted the train with luxurious new cars decorated in white and gold, inspiring the advertising department to call it the White Train and folks along the line to call it the Ghost Train as it sped through their towns after dark. While it only ran for five years it became so famous in that time to even be memorialized by Rudyard Kipling in a verse. To read a bit more check out this.
www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-02-11-980210...
However in 1889 the last major gap in the Shore Line was completed when the Thames River was bridged between Groton New London. Despite this coastal route being 25 miles longer it had far less severe grades and quickly eclipsed the direct 'Air Line' overland route as the preeminent New York to Boston line, a distinction it continues to hold to this day as Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
Meanwhile the old Air Line's connection at Willimantic, the NYNE merged with the New Haven in 1898 and by 1925 through Boston to New York passenger trains were gone. The route hung on for local freight service until 1965 until the 27 or so miles east of Portland to Willimantic were abandoned. The former NYNE route, later New Haven's Midland Division, was severed at Putman by a flood in 1955 and the line was gradually abandoned and today nearly all of it from Blackstone, MA to Portland, CT is a fabulous trail. in fact the stretch around Pomfret on the old NYNE is personally very special as it is one of my Dad's favorite bike rides and annual fall tradition for us to ride the ghost rails of the old ghost train!
Anyway, NH successors Penn Central and Conrail continued to serve Portland via this bridge until 1987 when the state purchased the trackage from CR which had filed for abandonment. The new Connecticut Central shortline took over and operated it until 1998 when the Providence and Worcester purchased the shortline.
The PW, now under the corporate umbrella of Genesee and Wyoming, still operates it to this day as seen here. Lacal freight CT-1 took a string of empty gondolas over the river to Red Technologies in Portland and returned with loads. B39-8E is seen nearing the railroad south end of what they call their Portland Running Track as they approach the east end of the bridge and the diamond crossing with the Valley Line.
Middletown, Connecticut
Friday February 11, 2022
GP9H (the "H" standing for Hudson, I assume) 5903 rests in the INER shops in Hudson, IN. The old Geep was rebuilt a couple of years ago and was given it's original Cleveland Union Terminal number back.
Interested in purchasing a high-quality digital download of this photo, suitable for printing and framing? Let me know and I will add it to my Etsy Shop, MittenRailandMarine! Follow this link to see what images are currently listed for sale: www.etsy.com/shop/MittenRailandMarine
If you are interested in specific locomotives, trains, or freighters, please contact me. I have been photographing trains and ships for over 15 years and have accumulated an extensive library!
This photo has a lot of location metadata: "Ice Rescue Ladder Station / In case of an emergency, call 911 and give the below location: Crocheron Park / Golden Pond / Ice Ladder #3 / The nearest cross streets are located at 35th Avenue along the Cross Island Parkway." You can't get more specific than that. This was taken 3.5 minutes before sunrise, which was at 6:55 that morning, so technically it was still blue hour. I've been fascinated by those red rescue ladders since they appeared in the last few years. They really stand out in the snow. Bayside, Queens, NYC -- February 11, 2021
The EXIF date is wrong. The correct date is February 11, 2021.
Sharing its driveway with a Rover 200 BRM and a few other cars, I think that this Ford Sierra is owned by an enthusiast, although it certainly didn't look in "pristine" condition and its number plate (at least the rear one) was no where to be seen. Sorry I couldn't find many more details on this specific car.
Alien art
Some animals are active right away after they are born, they don’t need any mom, dad and society to teach them how to act. They have instinctive knowledge. They know what to do in their world. Their already built-in software packages run them. Each of the software is specifically made for a specific animal.
We don't have built-in software like some animals, we create our software, and our bodies have the potential for a change. The advantage of that kind of software is that we can be something very different. It might be possible to turn ourselves into better human beings.
Our society has to head in a different direction. We have to change the current model of human being. We have to aim to be not aggressive and to aim to be healthy (mentally and physically) human beings, instead of human beings just thinking of enjoying life without considering of our main goals.
Some aliens might have so high societies and also might be so beautiful inside and outside (like the one in my picture above) that we even couldn’t be able to imagine about them.
Things exist because of the existence of the variety of scientific and random processes in our universe.
You may view more of my images of Ickworth House, Park and gardens, by clicking "here" !
Please do not insert images, of group invite, thank you!
Ickworth Park. With over 1,800 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown, the house and its grounds were created as an homage to Italy, the country so beloved by Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol. The Earl-Bishop spent his life travelling the continent, gathering together a vast collection of paintings, sculpture and artefacts. Already possessed of several houses, he conceived Ickworth primarily as a museum for his treasures. At his death only the Rotunda - the giant circular structure at the centre of the two wings, described by Hervey's wife as 'a stupendous moment of Folly' - was nearing completion. The house was eventually finished by his son. Although Hervey's treasures, confiscated during the French invasion of Italy, were destined never to occupy Ickworth, his descendants made it their life's work to rebuild what has become an exceptional collection of art and silver. Paintings housed in the galleries include works by Velázquez, Titian and Poussin, while the collection of 18th-century portraits of the family is exceptionally fine, featuring canvases by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Vigée-Lebrun and Hogarth. In addition to one of the very best British collections of Georgian Huguenot silver, Ickworth is also home to an impressive array of Regency furniture, porcelain, and domestic objects. More made a career of producing idealised Italian landscapes. His Landscape with Classical Figures, Cicero at his Villa, painted in 1780 and funded in 1993, is a typical work, the misty soft-focus and pastel light adding to its appeal. Hugh Douglas Hamilton's The Earl Bishop of Bristol and Derry Seated before the Prospect of Rome shows Hervey seated at what is thought to be the southern tip of the Borghese Gardens. Ickworth's parklands and gardens can provide a day's activity in their own right. The south gardens are modelled on the formal Italian style, while the gardens to the west of the house are more informal. Visitors can walk or cycle out into the park itself and up to the Fairy Lake. Bright and modern, The West Wing Restaurant overlooks the gardens and can be guaranteed to catch any sunlight on offer. It serves everything from hot meals to snacks, and at weekends the restaurant is open for breakfast. If you're after something rather more formal, try Frederick's restaurant at Ickworth Hotel in the grounds.
The sheep is a quadrupedal, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries. Numbering a little over one billion, domestic sheep are also the most numerous species of sheep. An adult female sheep is referred to as a ewe (/juː/), an intact male as a ram or occasionally a tup, a castrated male as a wether, and a younger sheep as a lamb. Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are raised for fleece, meat (lamb, hogget or mutton) and milk. A sheep's wool is the most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. Sheep continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts, as dairy animals, or as model organisms for science. Sheep husbandry is practised throughout the majority of the inhabited world, and has been fundamental to many civilizations. In the modern era, Australia, New Zealand, the southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles are most closely associated with sheep production. Sheepraising has a large lexicon of unique terms which vary considerably by region and dialect. Use of the word sheep began in Middle English as a derivation of the Old English word scēap; it is both the singular and plural name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a flock, herd or mob. Many other specific terms for the various life stages of sheep exist, generally related to lambing, shearing, and age. Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and find representation in much modern language and symbology. As livestock, sheep are most often associated with pastoral, Arcadian imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies—such as the Golden Fleece—and major religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and modern religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals. Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair called wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral. Domestic sheep differ from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become uniquely neotenic as a result of selective breeding by humans. A few primitive breeds of sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails. Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all, or horns in both sexes, or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair, but a few breeds may have several. Another trait unique to domestic sheep as compared to wild ovines is their wide variation in color. Wild sheep are largely variations of brown hues, and variation within species is extremely limited. Colors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown and even spotted or piebald. Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early in sheep domestication, and as white wool is a dominant trait it spread quickly. However, colored sheep do appear in many modern breeds, and may even appear as a recessive trait in white flocks. While white wool is desirable for large commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored fleeces, mostly for handspinning. The nature of the fleece varies widely among the breeds, from dense and highly crimped, to long and hairlike. There is variation of wool type and quality even among members of the same flock, so wool classing is a step in the commercial processing of the fibre. Depending on breed, sheep show a range of heights and weights. Their rate of growth and mature weight is a heritable trait that is often selected for in breeding. Ewes typically weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms (99 and 220 lb), and rams between 45 and 160 kilograms (99 and 353 lb). When all deciduous teeth have erupted, the sheep has 20 teeth. Mature sheep have 32 teeth. As with other ruminants, the front teeth in the lower jaw bite against a hard, toothless pad in the upper jaw. These are used to pick off vegetation, then the rear teeth grind it before it is swallowed. There are eight lower front teeth in ruminants, but there is some disagreement as to whether these are eight incisors, or six incisors and two incisor-shaped canines. There is a large diastema between the incisors and the molars. For the first few years of life it is possible to calculate the age of sheep from their front teeth, as a pair of milk teeth is replaced by larger adult teeth each year, the full set of eight adult front teeth being complete at about four years of age. The front teeth are then gradually lost as sheep age, making it harder for them to feed and hindering the health and productivity of the animal. For this reason, domestic sheep on normal pasture begin to slowly decline from four years on, and the average life expectancy of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may live as long as 20 years. Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled. Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, possessing excellent peripheral vision; with visual fields of approximately 270° to 320°, sheep can see behind themselves without turning their heads. Many breeds have only short hair on the face, and some have facial wool (if any) confined to the poll and or the area of the mandibular angle; the wide angles of peripheral vision apply to these breeds. A few breeds tend to have considerable wool on the face; for some individuals of these breeds, peripheral vision may be greatly reduced by "wool blindness", unless recently shorn about the face. Sheep have poor depth perception; shadows and dips in the ground may cause sheep to baulk. In general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well lit areas, and prefer to move uphill when disturbed. Sheep also have an excellent sense of smell, and, like all species of their genus, have scent glands just in front of the eyes, and interdigitally on the feet. The purpose of these glands is uncertain, but those on the face may be used in breeding behaviors. The foot glands might also be related to reproduction, but alternative reasons, such as secretion of a waste product or a scent marker to help lost sheep find their flock, have also been proposed.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Giandomenico Tiepolo (Venice, August 30, 1727 - Venice, March 3, 1804) - rooms of Pulcinella di Zianigo - Museum of the Venetian Eighteenth Century Ca 'Rezzonico, Venice
In queste sale si possono ammirare gli affreschi eseguiti da Giandomenico Tiepolo nella villa di famiglia a Zianigo. Strappati nel 1906 per essere venduti all’estero, furono acquistati dalla città di Venezia e trasferiti nel 1935 a Ca’ Rezzonico dove sono stati posti in piccoli ambienti che ripropongono la collocazione originaria.
Compiuti in un periodo di tempo assai lungo, fra il 1759 e il 1797, costituiscono senza dubbio uno dei momenti più affascinanti e singolari di tutta la pittura veneziana.
Non si tratta di opere eseguite per uno specifico mecenate ma per il piacere dell’artista stesso e dei suoi congiunti nella dimensione privata della propria dimora. Proprio questa circostanza rende il pittore libero da convenzioni tematiche e figurative e gli consente di assecondare la propria intima natura che lo porta a descrivere con sarcasmo il mondo che lo circonda.
In these rooms you can admire the frescoes painted by Giandomenico Tiepolo in the family villa in Zianigo. Torn off in 1906 to be sold abroad, they were purchased by the city of Venice and transferred in 1935 to Ca' Rezzonico where they have been placed in small rooms that reproduce their original location.
Completed in a very long period of time, between 1759 and 1797, they are undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and singular moments of all Venetian painting.
They are not works executed for a specific patron but for the pleasure of the artist himself and his relatives in the private dimension of his own home. It is precisely this circumstance that makes the painter free from thematic and figurative conventions and allows him to indulge his intimate nature that leads him to describe with sarcasm the world around him.