Kansas, The Sunflower State
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Those moments that make you feel at peace. The stillness, the ducks slowly making their way across the pond.
This is why we get up early in the morning. I sometimes make up excuses to stay in bed and then regret it later.
Set your alarm, grab your gear and get out there shooting.
An evening sunset at the Headquarters of Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri with the WW1 Memorial towering in the background.
And finally, the last day of the trip. Started off the day at Pipe Spring National Monument, which was new to me, and ended with a glorious sunset in a favorite of favorites, Zion. Pipe Spring is a deeply unique park and one of a handful of units to have a working farm on it, complete with livestock. Beyond that, it interprets the history of the southern Paiute who inhabit the region, and the Mormon settlers that came to settle here and escape religious prosecution in the 19th century. The story details the cooperation and conflict that is a hallmark of the region. Such stories are vital to understanding the United States and how we can learn from our mistakes and build stronger communities for all. And what do I need to say about Zion? Although we only planned to drive through on our way to Vegas and our flights home, Patrick and I both can’t stand Vegas…so why rush through? We spent a fantastic and relaxing afternoon and early evening chasing the fading light through the canyon and marveling at the geological wonderland before us. What a perfect way to end a trip in which we had seen so much- with a day that encapsulated the trip with history and natural grandeur. And isn’t that what the very soul of the National Park Service is, too? Again, a day of perfect encapsulation and symbolism. When I started out on this trip, I was nervous as to what state I would find our National Parks in as they come under threat. What I’ve written during this trip certainly tells that story. What I found was heartening- people love their parks. People will speak up for their parks. People know that their parks tell the full story of the United States, from the bloody and brutal, to the grand and the naturally magnificent. This is engrained into our culture. National Parks are America in every sense of the word- they show what we are and they are part of what we believe what we should be. And what we should maintain and cherish and interpret. It’s going to take a lot more than this single administration of myopia to stop that. Keep fighting. Keep speaking up. These lands are your lands. These stories are your stories. And they always will be. If we keep fighting.
Our Home is found in the Journey of the Soul, ever changing and alone, in communion with the intention of following the Voice of an Age old calling ... Quotes by Patricia Bechthold
Having Faith Intuitive Reflexions
The 2 hallmarks of the Franklin Industrial Minerals Crab Orchard, TN operation are seen here moving empties west.
My Hallmark kissing bears that I have had for years. Their love is everlasting. :-)
To all my Flickr friends, I wish you joy and peace this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Hallmark Farm - Warrior, Alabama. Photographed through the passenger-side window of a moving car. Having no leaves on the tree in front of the barn was nice. Happy Fence Friday.
This photograph captures a small bakery, or panificio, in Catania, a vibrant city on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. The shopfront, with its weathered facade and hand-painted signage, exudes an authentic charm reflective of Catania’s everyday life. The structure is framed by crumbling plaster and volcanic stone, a hallmark of the city’s architecture, shaped by its proximity to Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The aged yet inviting aesthetic tells a story of resilience and tradition.
Catania's culinary culture is deeply rooted in its history, blending Sicilian, Greek, and Arab influences. This bakery likely offers local staples such as pane di casa (rustic bread) and arancini (fried rice balls), along with traditional biscotti. The mention of "Tavola Calda" on the sign suggests ready-to-eat hot dishes, popular among locals for a quick yet flavorful meal. Catania’s cuisine is celebrated for its rich flavors, with fresh ingredients sourced from the fertile volcanic soil of the region.
The architectural style visible here is emblematic of the baroque influence prevalent in Catania, particularly after the city was rebuilt following the devastating 1693 earthquake. The use of dark volcanic stone juxtaposed with lighter plaster is a defining feature of Catania's urban landscape. The storefront, although modest, carries echoes of this baroque aesthetic with its arched frame and detailed signage, blending practicality with artistic touches.
Today, Catania is a bustling city that preserves its historical roots while embracing modernity. Shops like this bakery are a vital part of daily life, serving both locals and tourists seeking an authentic taste of Sicily. The juxtaposition of historical decay and contemporary vibrancy seen in this photograph encapsulates the essence of Catania—a city where tradition and progress coexist harmoniously.
RX_02608_20240510_Catania
Low sun and long shadows - the hallmarks of dune photography around Sossusvlei and the dunes of the Namibia-Naukluft National Park.
Some memories from way back in 2017, when you could go places!
Green screen picture, that really isn't even necessary anymore. Mostly Photoshop with some light touches of AI, (the fireplace , books, plants.) Sorry for the low-res. I couldn't find a decent backdrop in HD. Doesn't look like much but took a long time. Sometimes it goes like that. ☻
The Headquarters of Hallmark Cards. Sunsets are my favorite part of the day. This capture has a little bit of everything that I love about photography. Sunsets, architecture, reflections, and water. The Liberty Memorial in the background is an added bonus.
Hallmark Cards, KCMO
Mike D.
Bert bought it for me at a local newspaper store.
It says: "hello, a small message" on the outside and "for you" on the inside.
I'm not one for these Hallmark moments--those perfectly polished slices of life that make us laugh, cry, and roll our eyes all at the same time. This is the best I got. Happy Valentines Day everyone.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Image imagined in MidJourney AI and finished with Topaz Studio and Lightroom Classic,
Detail of Marlow House, one of the 15 blocks in the Hallfield Estate, a mid-century housing estate in Paddington.
Initially planned by Tecton architects under Berthold Lubetkin and then designed by architect Denys Lasdun following the closure of the Tecton partnership. The estate was completed in 1955. It is listed Grade II by Historic England.
This capture is actually printed big and is in the wall of my god daughter's home (Rain - the cute kid in the picture).
Mission Hill, Kelowna
© photo rights reserved by B℮n
Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. Málaga is second-most populous city of Andalusia. Known to many as the capital of the Costa del Sol, Málaga is more than a seaside city. Málaga's history spans about 2,800 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded about 770 BC by the Phoenicians as Malaka. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of nearly 3,000 years. The Cathedral of Málaga is located within the limits defined by a now missing portion of the medieval Moorish walls. The Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in its Renaissance architectural tradition. It was constructed between 1528 and 1782. The façade, unlike the rest of the building, is in Baroque style. The tower is 84 metres high. A series of grand artworks fills the sanctuary, among them are the Gothic altarpiece of the Chapel of Santa Barbara and the 16th century tombs of the Chapel of San Francisco.
Málaga is one of the oldest cities in Spain and hallmarks of its rich past are scattered across Malaga: the cobbled streets of the old quarter, its mountainside Roman Amphitheatre, the Moorish citadels of the Alcazaba and Gilfarbaro. And even once the sight-seeing is done, there’s still a city full of rooftop bars, gleaming boutique stores and nearby beaches to explore. Cathedral of Málaga built between 1528 and 1782, the construction was never completed. Due to a lack of money, a second tower has never been built and that gives it a special, asymmetrical appearance. For this reason, it is popularly called "La Manquita"; the one-armed lady. Inside, the cathedral has three naves, two magnificent 17th century organs, and contains impressive mahogany and cedar wood choir stalls that houses 40 carved wooden statues of saints. It's without hesitation the most important monument of the city. Its different towers, its magnificient facade and its legacy makes it a master piece on its own.
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. Málaga is de tweede meest bevolkte stad van Andalusië. Málaga is bij velen bekend als de hoofdstad van de Costa del Sol en is meer dan een stad aan zee. De geschiedenis van Málaga beslaat ongeveer 2.800 jaar en is daarmee een van de oudste steden van Europa. Het werd gesticht rond 770 voor Christus door de Feniciërs als Malaka. De archeologische overblijfselen en monumenten uit de Fenicische, Romeinse, Arabische en christelijke tijdperken maken van het historische centrum van de stad een "open museum", met een geschiedenis van bijna 3000 jaar. De kathedraal van Málaga bevindt zich naast de ontbrekend deel van de middeleeuwse Moorse muren. De kathedraal is een rooms-katholieke kerk. Het werd gebouwd tussen 1528 en 1782. Uit geldgebrek is er nooit een tweede toren bijgebouwd en dat zorgt voor het bijzondere, asymmetrische uiterlijk van deze kathedraal. Om deze reden wordt ze in de volksmond ook wel ‘La Manquita’ genoemd; de eenarmige vrouw. De gevel, in tegenstelling tot de rest van het gebouw, is in barokstijl. De toren is 84 meter hoog. Een reeks grootse kunstwerken vult het heiligdom, waaronder het gotische altaarstuk van de kapel van Santa Barbara en de 16e-eeuwse graven van de kapel van San Francisco. "La Manquita" zoals bekend bij de inwoners van Malaga, is zonder aarzeling het belangrijkste monument van de stad.
First time I've used film in 23 years...
Taken on the iconic Olympus OM1 using Lomography Colour Negative 400 film
A recent addition to the Hallmark fleet is Wright Streetlite DF B37F SK18TLU seen in Walton-on-Thames in September 2018. It is one of 10 new Streetlites (6 WF & 4 DF) for Hallmark's Surrey services including the 458 Staines to Kingston.
Bags by 4 different illustrators are currently circulating in Hallmark stores across the country ... here's mine!
Photo by Alli Welter
Mindre guldvinge
Lycaena phlaeas
Familj: Juvelvingar – Lycaenidae
Underfamilj: Guldvingar – Lycaeninae
Tidigare namn: Liten guldvinge
Vingspann: (Mycket) Liten, 22–32 mm
Vingovansidor: Framvingar skimrande rödgula med ganska fyrkantiga svarta prickar och mörkbrun kant. Bakvingar mörkbruna med skimrande rödgul kant. Ofta små blå prickar längs bakvingekanten.
Vingundersidor: Framvingen orange med svart prickar och grå till ljusbrun kant. Bakvingen grå till ljusbrun med små svarta prickar och en röd båglinje längs vingkanten.
Miljö: Torrbackar och hällmarker.
Flygtid: Från mitten av maj till slutet av Juni och åter i juli–augusti.
Övervintringsstadium: Larv
Larvens värdväxt: Syror (Rumex), framförallt bergsyra (R. acetosella).
Framvingarnas fyrkantiga prickar och att undersidan av bakvingen bara har relativt diffusa små prickar skiljer den från andra guldvingar.
Honorna lägger äggen ett och ett på bladen av värdväxten. Hanarna försvarar parningsrevir invid kala jordfläckar där de väntar på honor.
Cate presents another item I bought at the Doll Convention in Wiesbaden yesterday – a Christmas Ornament Doll Case by Hallmark.
It was a busy day of rail replacement buses passing through Staines upon Thames today (27/02/2021) with 20 departures an hour heading for Hounslow, Windsor & Eton, Weybridge and Ascot.
There were 17 operators out and about which between them managed to put on a show of 37 buses to keep me busy! And it was lovely and sunny too!!
Hallmark Wednesdays at the Bijou Planks...
School is often about status. And a primo measurement of your cool factor is your lunchbox.
If you sit down at the table and pull out a plain green plastic tote... you're toast. You're not even in the conversation, man!
No, your lunchbox needs to be metal. That's right, you went all in. And, of top importance, who is on your lunchbox?
Are you gonna play it safe and have butterflies and flowers? That's only one step above the plain green. Is the lunchbox subject matter cool, like racing choppers, but generic? Well, you're headed in the right direction but you're far from home.
But when you break out the box with the licensed characters, you show yourself to be a kid who knows how to handle Mom! You marched Mom right past the plastic boxes, the no-name boxes, the knock-off boxes, to the higher priced beauties emblazoned with the registered likenesses of the coolest people and things on Earth!
But you've got to be smart here. A popular TV show can suddenly bomb and there, in the middle of a school year, you're lugging Joanie Loves Chachi around like a dork!
Sports are good! Even when others don't like your team, you have team pride. But, what if the team doesn't even exist any more? Everyone else is proudly setting their Dolphins, or Bruins, or Angels boxes on the table, and you have an XFL team??
But the top choice, the never fail, the sure thing, the always on like a chicken bone, is comic book super-heroes. No TV sitcom star is gonna hold a candle to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman!
Now, last, the Thermos. (Yes, for cool school, it needs to be Thermos. None of that Bubba or Yeti jazz.) It does no good to have a cool rockin' lunchbox if your Thermos is Scotch tartan.
The Thermos needs to match the subject matter! So be sure to check that the lunchbox comes with a matching Thermos and the next day at school, set that bad boy on the table and start unpacking all the envy!
__________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Hallmark
Keepsake
Super Friends
Lunch Box Set
Pressed Tin & Handcrafted 2000
Box Back:
"Superman returned to animated cartoons in 1966, after an absence of nearly 25 years. In the years that followed, he would be united with many of his crime fighting friends in a series of animated programs. In 1973 Superman joined Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin in one of the longest running animated programs, SUPER FRIENDS.
This lunch box ornament highlights some of the favorite DC Characters from that classic TV series, has the ability to open and close, and even includes a separate drink container ornament with coordinated characters."
What's the earth
With all its art, verse, music, worth —
Compared with love, found, gained, and kept?
~ Robert Browning
Hallmark Connections
Scania CK230UB OmniLink
30115 - YT61FEU
Seen on route 458 on Laleham Road, Staines.
When Hallmark took on its routes contracted to Surrey County Council in 2017, they originally used a mix of Scanias and Volvo Wrights from Bristol to operate their 458 and 555 services. Now, the routes are run by a fleet of newer Streetlites.
Taken 03/01/2017