Taken somewhere in Worcestershire.....

Bokeh from sun shining on a tree.

Just a reminder for those who may need it.

Yes, I love the messiness of the lighting but it sure makes it tough to edit. I keep telling myself to stop shooting into the light but it creates a glowy magic that I adore. What rules do you break?

Sevilla, Spain

The “line_up“ is a paperwork series I developed since 2010. The “liners” are made out of paper (Din A3/A4),

oil paint and graphite. The theme is the hermetical laws of polarity and movement. There is no ending and no beginning in any direction, just an endless movement. You have the possibility to arrange the papers like you want and that makes it an endless playground for my photo-work and the eyes of the viewers.

Yanomano

The skateboard park next to Lake Jindabyne. I thought the pretty blue looked good against the sky and approaching storm. Some illustrations and tags on the blue walls and one on the right read, “Be nice”, which I thought was pretty wise! Jindabyne Snowy Mountains NSW.

This picture is for the group Happy Caturday and this week the theme is "Black and White".

Elijah in one of his favorite afternoon spots... on a kitty tree in the den.

On the way to a doctors appointment we passed by a Church that always has some type of quote on their outdoor board. I thought that I would share what was posted since it stuck with me....

"Today we live in a world where you can be anything that you want to be. BE nice."

Geese swimming, taken on my walk yesterday in the Humber Bay Park West, Toronto. It was a dull overcast day and today is just like that. No sun expected today,

I AMA standing across from where I take photos of Zdenka’s bench.

Thanks for visiting, stay healthy and hopeful! #BeNice

Listening

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Dalai Lama

Plus poetice quam humane locutus es (Hai parlato più da poeta che da uomo,Petronio,Satyricon)

A STATEMENT ABOUT MY HEALTH

Be Nice

Not far from where I discovered that piece of political poetry I posted yesterday, these two little words stared up at me from the footpath. I was walking to the Launceston General Hospital to meet with my specialist after he conducted a biopsy just two weeks earlier. Most of you will understand what that means, and the apprehension I felt as I neared my appointment. Often people will say, “Have a nice day.” We mean well, but in truth it is far more important to be nice to others in our actions. I’ve said it before, but “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” www.flickr.com/photos/luminosity7/51273912570/in/album-72...

These little words in blue on the pavement before me were a reminder that if we want people to treat us in a certain way we need to first of all be nice to others too. One of the worst things I have ever said (when lying to myself about the essential nature of being) is, “I don’t care.” Because in the end, if we stop caring about others and their well-being, not only will they have reason not to care about us, but we can even begin to stop caring for ourselves. The French philosopher, Michel Foucault, wrote a trilogy of books near the end of his life entitled, The Care of the Self. That’s not being selfish at all, because if we really want to be cared for, then we need to care for others too. Being nice is a two-way street.

I am so blessed to live in a country that values the healthcare of all its citizens. Our Medicare system in Australia is not without its problems, but it sure is better than the alternative where healthcare is determined by one’s ability to access money, the best doctors and private hospitals. All the most serious surgery in Australia is carried out in our largest public hospitals, because they have the best funding and the best surgeons. Australia's public health care system was born because a Prime Minister named, Gough Whitlam, had a vision for a better society. And 50 years after he was deposed (look it up, the oligarchs and CIA didn’t like him), his vision remains strong. A universal public health system in Australia is simply a non-negotiable now. The most radical Neo-Liberal wouldn’t dare touch it. Elections are won and lost in this country over it. And we can afford it partly because we don’t spend so much of our GDP on military spending. There’s a lesson there.

So I walked into the specialist clinic with a smile on my face and a new found commitment to be nice. I waited and waited (as often happens in a busy public hospital), but when the tea lady came around and offered me something to eat and drink I wanted to be nice to her. When the doctor apologised for the wait, I said with genuine feeling, “That’s no problem at all.”

Thanks to that anonymous street poet, I for one recommitted myself to being nice.

The nice doctor smiled and told me he had some positive news. They had discovered a non-aggressive form of cancer in my prostate, but with active surveillance (that’s the term used for stage one of this disease these days), we should be able to treat it. It’s a funny thing to learn that renegade cells, which could under certain conditions kill you, are resident in your body. But the important thing is we know they are there, are watching, and will take the necessary action when required to defeat them. I’ll be okay to face any challenge ahead of me. The most important thing is to stay fit and healthy, eat well, and remain as stress free as I can.

So as I walked back to my parked car, I felt the stress melt away. Being nice as much as possible is a wonderful antidote to the stressed out way of living that we are often subjected to. As Dr Martin Luther King, Jnr once said, “I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.” The best way to defeat hate is to live with love in your heart. Did you notice that heart next to the words on the pavement too? Be nice is another way of saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

“When peace like a river, attends my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, You have taught me to know

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul

So please my friends, listen to your body! Men over 50, get regular prostate checks. Women, please do likewise for breast and gynaecological cancers. Early detection is the key to survival. And please, let’s be nice to one another.

* I found the piece “Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Pärt so moving more than 30 years ago, and I listen to it over again quite often. Listen as the piano and cello sing to each other. There is a true inner peace to be found here:

Spiegel im Spiegel for Cello and Piano (Arvo Pärt)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZe3mXlnfNc&list=RDFZe3mXlnfN...

Please note that I will only respond to comments of those who have actually read my statement.

One of six photos taken yesterday while I walked with two of my grandchildren in the Humber Bay Shores area, near to our home.

Best seen large by clicking on the photo.

Thanks for visiting, enjoy each day. #BeNice

Day 88 -- on black

lack of creative energy ... but I do like the violet filter.

time to settle in with another glass of wine. woo

Belle & Sebastien -- Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying

The 'Be Nice' sign was a nice touch above the street in Brighton, England.

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All Rights Reserved. All Images Copyright protected

via Instagram ift.tt/2exVLHP

HFF! Taken on an overcast day in Toronto recently. I love watching the gulls fly off as I get closer. They wait until the very last minute to take off!

Thanks for visiting, stay healthy and hopeful! #BeNice

Happy week!

I am still busy this days, home,kids,studding, I hope you all have a great day, thanks for visiting me and specially thanks all you that support Happy original bench.

LOTS OF LOVE

Dedication to Sylvie Benice!

San Francisco, California

tokaanu, new zealand. july 2014.

One of six photos taken yesterday while I walked with two of my grandchildren in the Humber Bay Shores area, near to our home.

Thanks for visiting, enjoy each day. #BeNice

*giờ đây thật quá khác biệt, Anh như một người xa lại đối với Em

EM ĐAU LẮM

• ...

• ...

• ...

• ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LXcLJpz--E&feature=related

Fav~ if you like :)~

*đừnt chùa...

Backyard statue with reflected light on the window from a table lamp inside

Manipulated in CS5.5

Something to think about

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%A1%C5%BEnice

july 2014

see the full, panorama version of this photo here

Check out this backpacking adventure on my YouTube channel

youtu.be/DF3MisJbuC0?si=o5QrqZrfaTUpbXjy

youtu.be/4R0W6BIozWY?si=mLMpWAD9fxilmA-m

Day 3

I awoke at dawn. The morning was cold, but not enough to be icy. I was not interested in sunrise photography this morning since it was the same view from the previous evening. We made breakfast together and ate, then got back on trail to finish up the route to Vogelsang.

The trail continued gently up through meadows and across dry creek beds. When we crossed the only one that was still wet, we saw a snake resting in the water. Debbie gained an affinity for the tiny chipmunks scurrying about and standing on their hind legs gnawing on nuts and seeds.

We quickly gained ground now that we were both better acclimated to the elevation, and we reached the pass in no time at all. The sign calls it a pass, but that’s only because it’s the top of the hill before going down the other side, it is the gentlest pass I’ve climbed in the Sierra, so much so that it barely deserves the name.

We rested here while we studied our maps, considering a route change. We had the option from here to go the opposite way I had planned and descend to Yosemite Valley. I suggested this route because we were only going to go higher up in elevation over the next couple days and with the way the altitude was affecting Debbie going lower seemed a better idea. She turned down the Yosemite option because the ranger at the permit pick up told us it was 90° in the valley. No thanks.

The next section of trail down from the pass followed a mountainside along a steep valley in which could be seen a small lake as a ridgeline of white granite rose swiftly on the other side. In most high elevations in the Sierra the temperature is a comfortable mid-60s, but some valleys like this one trap heat. Along this valley the temperature climbed into the upper 70s and we began to sweat while cicadas buzzed and hummed from the pine. Overhead the thunderous rumble of jets disturbed the beautiful drones of the cicadas.

After a short uphill climb through pine trees the trail leveled out into a large open meadow. A few small clouds floated on a breeze in the deep blue sky, and we reached Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. Having expected to see a lively place full of people and white canvas tents I was surprised to find it dead, dismantled and abandoned. Our plan here was to play music on our instruments, Debbie on her violin and me on my native flute, in the hopes of being invited for food, whether lunch or dinner, either with the staff, mule crews or just any of the people staying at the High Sierra Camp. Since it was a ghost town we made our way along a deep rutted trail through the meadow to the hiker camp. When we arrived at the bear boxes, we dropped our packs and went to refill our water and rinse off the trail dust down by the lake. We would decide on a campsite after watering and lunch.

Lunch was made up of cheese, salami, crackers, homemade jerky combined with home dehydrated pineapple. After eating she played some music on her fiddle. The beautiful music attracted the attention of another backpacker who came over to join us. After music he head off towards Evelyn Lake for fishing.

…

By now the clouds had grown larger, gathering thicker to our east over the Kuna region, and to our south on the other side of Vogelsang Pass. Before this trip the weather forecast prompted me to buy several new filters for my camera to make daytime lightning photos possible, and I was excited to try them out. With the way the clouds were to are south I decided to follow the trail in that direction, in the hope that I would get a good view of any thunderstorms that arose in the next basin over. We left our packs and other gear at the bear boxes and headed out.

We went back down to the abandoned High Sierra Camp, across the rushing creek behind it, then up a steep climb. The trail, as it climbed, snaked its way around and between large blocks of rocks taller than my arms could reach. Wildflowers grew alongside, purple and white heather with red paintbrushes. The higher we climbed the more impressive the view to the west became, until the rounded summit of the iconic Half Dome appeared in the distance while far below Lake Merced, where another High Sierra Camp lay abandoned, peaked out of the thick forest.

It was around this spot that I got cell signal just as I had last time when I was here 9 years ago. I was able to call the mechanic and get more information about what happened with my jeep. It was a thermostat, so he replaced it and charged the Burt coolant. Debbie tried text and call her kids, Kenny and Lily, though I’m not sure if anything went through due to a different carrier than mine.

Continuing higher we reached Vogelsang Lake. I showed Debbie the spot where I camped here in 2016 while doing 40 days on the Sierra High Route. During that stay here the wind was intense all the long cold night. It blew so strong that my tent lifted up beneath me a few times and I was afraid I would be blown off the mountainside. The best part was that the ground was solid rock so instead of my tent stakes I had to use sticks and anchor them with piles of rocks. Once the the wind died down in the early AM hours the cold really set in and made me shiver until sunrise and beyond while trying and failing to get good sunrise photography. After that stay here I went over Vogelsang Pass to Benice Lake and accompanying tarns where I got an early September snowstorm and whiteout. It wasn’t enough snow to stick, but it was the first snow of the season. Now this time I was climbing Vogelsang Pass with Debbie in search of thunderstorms.

From that campsite the trail circled the western shore, then ascended the sweeping slabs to the south. Here a strong constant wind blew, and Debbie had to stop due to the altitude, she didn’t want to but I wouldn’t take no for answer (better safe than sorry, especially with all our gear back down the mountain). I found her some shade with a nice place to sit and rest while I continued the climb.

The trail was a mixture between sandy and gravely, with a nice view of the lake far below. Pink and purple alpine heather flowers squeezed out from the cracks where rocks and boulders met the earth. A beautiful crystal-clear stream flowed over the path babbling in voices with the whispers of wind.

By now the altitude was being to affect me too. I became lightheaded and I could feel a headache beginning, but I had to push on the last little bit to the top. The pass wasn’t too much further; I could see it. Pushing on I slowed my pace. By the time I reached where the trail leveled out on top of the pass I had to sit down. I was out of breath and shaky. I could feel my pulse in my head, and the chances of developing a headache were greatly increased, now I had no choice but to take something to prevent it. (Elevation 10661)

The storm clouds I had been hurrying to catch had moved on further into the distance and the sky in front of me was mostly clear of the big billowing clouds, only remnant wisps remained.

It is just over the top of Vogelsang Pass where the steep cross-country route up to the Parson’s Traverse begins. I would have liked to have continued to that spot so I could lay eyes on it and determined its difficulty to see what we would be getting ourselves into, but since I was feeling the altitude and any attempt to go further would worsen my headache I chose not to. Also, from that spot I would have seen the two lakes of the next basin, Bernice and Gallison, instead I needed to rest.

After the rest, I discovered a beautiful little pond surrounded by the long purple pillars of elephant head flowers waving gently in the breeze. The pond itself reflecting the distance unnamed split peak that rose on the other side of the next lake basin. After photographing the pond, I quickly headed back down the trail to find Debbie.

She was waiting for me, not in her resting spot, but further on up the trail in my direction. She had begun heading up hill to find me. Now it was my turn for a long rest in the shade and after finding a nice spot I laid down and listened to Debbie tell me the story of the marmot that came to visit her.

“I’m lying on the other side of this bushy tree, I’m all alone and I heard a little noise. I had been dozing off a little bit, which meant my mind started playing tricks on me and my brain said mountain lion, but when I jumped up, I see this fuzzy marmot guy looking at me. He started circling. He would go around the trees and rocks and peek out looking at me, then lay down and stare at me for a while, then come closer to me then go back looking at me from another way. Like he was totally trying to figure out what I was doing, and if I was a threat to his little domain. Once he started to walk away, I thought he was leaving, but no he was making a wide circle to come up at me from behind. He did that a few more times before eventually deciding OK. Then he just took off for real.”

After I recovered and the story was told we descended back to the hiker camp. By now there was more people and tents. We found a good spot next to a cluster of pines and set up our tent while food rehydrated. Sunset was spent enjoying the view from the cliffs behind the campground watching the light playing across the crests of forested ridge lines. The vast valley beyond was forested further than we could see. A mixture of smooth and jagged peaks and cirques jutted up out of the trees 10 miles away to the north. As the sun sunk lower Clark’s Nuthatches cawed out from the forest. We sat here at the cliffs edge until the sky darkened and the Milky Way appeared and bats danced among the stars.

You’ll probably see me in this dress a lot because I love how feminine I feel wearing it.. and you’ll probably not give a damn but hey I like it anyway and that is what matters... if your in any way feeling begrudging spiteful or disrespectful there’s always the option to leave unfollow whatever.. don’t drag me down to your level.. theres the door 😊 #benice

...for a while

If I can upload I will.. .I'll be carrying on with my selfportraits, and the settings will be different.

Exciting.

I was inspired by a recent post by Melissa, the person behind Operation Nice. I love how she made a sign with things we can do to be nice to one another. This post inspired me to make one of my own and then frame it and put it in my house as a reminder to be nice.

I was alone in the elevator so I could push down my face covering to grab this photo. Tip of the hat to my Flickr contact, Judy Dean who is doing a Lockdown2 Self Portraits:

flic.kr/s/aHsmRXBaux

Thanks for visiting, stay healthy and hopeful! #BeNice

Tommi's Burger Joint, Berlin, Germany.

Justin

www.justingreen19.co.uk

OUH LALA Event

August 14 -Sept 8th

🚗 : Taxi to the Event

🌸STMARK - Backdrop Moonwolf Gateway

linktr.ee/STMarkSL?

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

💔 [Rezz Room]

✨ [Rezz Room] Box Japanese Dragon Animesh

🏬 Store

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20City/170/138/26

Flickr

www.flickr.com/photos/138635819@N06/

️ Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/fr-FR/stores/193890

🌿 Linktree

linktr.ee/rezz_room

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

💕 Analogic 💕

❣ Analogic - Benice Dress

👉Store maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bliss%20Kingdom/177/69/1001

👉 Market marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/208447

👉 Facebook: www.facebook.com/Analogicstore

👉 Primfeed: www.primfeed.com/jessica.azalea

👉 Instagram: www.instagram.com/analogicstore/

👉 discord.gg/pp7Qd46s6

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💙 Amitie 💙

⭐ Amitie Blind Lights Pose Set

💕 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Breezy%20Isle/48/115/21

💕 www.flickr.com/photos/belenackland/

💕 Flick: www.flickr.com/groups/2749723@N24/

💕 www.primfeed.com/belen.ackland

💕 www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013615692580

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

💙 We love roleplay event 💙

💕 : CULT : 💕

✨ : CULT : Cressida

📷 Flickr

www.flickr.com/photos/147624141@N02

👥 Flickr Group

www.flickr.com/groups/4452699@N20/

🏬 Mainstore

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Champ/201/150/1504

Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/fr-FR/stores/199625

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

💙 Collabor88 💙

💕 [ AYO ] 💕

💔 AYO // Bloom Horns

📍 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wana/206/57/1503

🌸 Flickr

www.flickr.com/photos/191018333@N07/

WEBSITE.

INSTAGRAM. @hollographic

7.14.23

Location: Monaise Private Home, Serendipity Lake

Pose: RK Poses, Jude 5

Credits:

Her: Maitreya Lara Mesh Body, Lelutka Stella Mesh Head v. 1.6, Glam Affair Clary - America Tone, Magica Hair - Cardigan, Vinyl - Bean Babydoll Dress w/belt, Ingenue - Natala Heels Berry (Gacha), Minimal - Camera necklace *rosegold*

Decos:

Second Spaces Kitchen Collection (Gacha) - knife block, seasoning, napkins & towels, wall rack RARE, cutting boards, recipes RARE

Second Spaces Well-stocked Pantry (Gacha) - baskets of raw goods, spices, pots, oils, snacks RARE, dry goods

Second Spaces Preparing for a Feast (Gacha) - cranberries to roast, carving station, roasting and basting, potatoes to mash, electric mixers, apple peeler RARE

Glam Affair (Gacha) Grilled Salmon with Asparagus, Baked Kitchen RARE, Duchess Potatoes

Toro (Gacha) - Milk Bottle

{what next} Laurel Cottage Kitchen Utensils Pot & Dispenser, Sugar Shaker, Milkshake Mixer (red)

Dust Bunny (Gacha) - pastry rack, toaster, coffee machine, silverware basket

Apple Fall Neva's Antique Scales, Retro Fridge (Snow), L'Olivier

Kunst (Gacha) Don Perdigon open bottle/Rose + glass #1

8f8 - Green Grocers (Gacha) - Tomato Crate, Strawberry Basket, Leek Paper Bag, Bell Pepper Paper Bag

8f8 - Mange Destin (Gacha) - Lolly swirl candies, Rich chocolate truffles, Milk chocolate stones

The Loft - Pot Rack Dark

Sari-Sari (Gacha) Kitchen Essentials - Toast

Floorplan. baking canisters / white

BHL (Brook Hill Living) - The Tisburry Pendant Lamp Copper 1.0

*YS&YS* Iron&Wood (Gacha) - Shelf Big, Shelf BeNice, Shelf Medium,

NX-Nardcotix (Gacha) - Le Confiserie Candy Jar Maritos, Nutters, Howlers, Puffles

One of six photos taken yesterday while I walked with two of my grandchildren in the Humber Bay Shores area, near to our home.

"Grebes small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land." - Wikipedia

Thanks for visiting, enjoy each day. #BeNice

...it's okay....

I have some pens and pencils.

A moleskine.

And a head full of quotes, lyrics and the like.

Come and see them at quoteskine.tumblr.com