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“I try to talk to you, but I don't know what to say. I am afraid you don't want me to say anything. So I don't. But inside of me there are words waiting to come out.And tell you how I feel-like how I miss you. And how I love you despite my broken heart.And how I need you in my life. And especially how much I want you.But those words may forver stay in my heart-locked inside.Sometimes I wonder if there are words locked inside you too... but I'll never know.”
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day."
—A.A. Milne
(For Poetography, Theme 87—Journey; Literary References in Pictures; ODT—Flow)
Across the street from my home, the Fox River runs northeast to the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and empties into Green Bay itself, a part of Lake Michigan. From there, its waters mingle with Lake Huron and Lake Superior, which filters down from the north through the St. Mary's River. All of that mixing and mingling continues through to Lake Erie, the Niagara Falls, then Lake Ontario, where it merges into the St Lawrence River and heads northeast with Canada to the north and the U.S. to the south. All of that water eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean up around New Brunswick, Canada. Quite a journey.
Viewed this way, the Great Lakes basin, a huge North American watershed, seems like one big, long river, one that I hope, in the distant future, my late wife and I can travel. Her ashes and mine are to be commingled in the Fox, from where we shall make the journey to the Atlantic, leaving molecules of ourselves along the way. There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
I think I know where JW Turner got his inspiration from for his style of Impressionism; looking at the back of gravestones.
Jay and I have a fondness for what we call, with our weird sense of black humour, stalking the dead, i.e., visiting graveyards and cemeteries. We find them fascinating and strangely soothing places to be in…and a target rich environment for photography. It's possible to spend hours in them, finding all manner of subject matter to capture.
The above gravestone is located at a small village chapel tucked away on the slopes of Bickerton Hills. Fortunately, for the lichens that adorn the gravestones, and for we as photographers, there's a large mature stand of pine trees that shields the backs of the gravestones from direct sunlight thereby giving the lichens a perfect environment to grow in. Most important of all, though, unlike a lot of gravestones which are made from granite/marble, those at this graveyard are made from the local sandstone, which means they have a rough, porous surface which holds moisture and gives the lichens the best surface to grow on.
It was while I quietly walked amongst the graves searching for subjects that I saw this gravestone from behind. It stopped me in my tracks. I was stunned by the colours, textures and sheer variety of lichens on display but it was the Impressionistic quality that made me catch my breath. I immediately sat down, put my camera to one side and just stared in astonishment. It was like looking at a Turner painting, done at his most wildly Impressionistic! My imagination went into overdrive, to my eyes I saw woodland ablaze with green flame and smoke…
Slowly coming to my senses I picked my camera up and took this shot. I then spent the next 30 minutes checking the backs of all the other gravestones and shooting what I could before the light died. My face hurt from the stupid grin that was plastered to my face. I resolved there and then to create a series of images of these wonderful, living natural art creations. I'm fortunate that there are many similar chapel graveyards in the area so I should have quite a choice of subject matter to choose from.
you know these days where you feel pretty and the next day it's totally different.
today was one of these different days but i still wanted to take pictures because i missed it yesterday.
and i can't believe i'm uploading this but even if i don't like it i don't want to skip another day and i should definitely gain more confidence.
it's better on black.
and please don't mind my weird expression.
© eva.photography all my photos may not be blogged or used in any way without my written permission!
i know long time no photos, I was too busy lately i miss flickr and i miss all my flickr freind i hope u all doing fine ;)
i just want 2 tell ya that today 21/5/2010 i became a wife for the most lovely man "الحمدالله" ;),, I feel i am still too young to this thing, but I hope I can handle this responsibility ;)
this photo present to my husband hope he like it ;)
ادعولي ;)
♫U are my life
Please forgive me for revisiting this saga so soon. For the thoughts of that witnessed moment in time which planted a seed for a story, still remains, still ticklingly entices my imagination..
And I think most of us know what a bugger an inkling like that can be...!
And the Chatwick in me had a yearning, actually no, a compelling, need to appease, so to tell the same story in a bit different take on the observed actions of the young lad I called the Hugger Mugger… had to be forthcoming post haste …
And So we Have.....
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The Importance of paper mache Princesses
Lucidity of Providence
I first noticed the lass whom I came to call the paper mache princess, as she slithered and swished about in the quite devastatingly pretty gown she was so winningly wearing along her youthful, but yet well appointed figure.
The gown was dyed the shade of fresh spring lavender, the satiny material, probably soft as a new borne downy chick, freshly shimmering and glistening as she stunningly exhibited it whilst wriggled in from the serving room.
My fancy was tickled by this, for my Sister had once worn a very similar dress , and I carried quite pleasant memories of the fun we had had shared that particular evening…..
But I only noticed this new lass’s apparel briefly though, for once I had her properly in my sights, her adorning jewels(rhinestone?) totally commanded my full and undivided attention.
For, see in my humbled opinion, it was silly for one so obviously saturnine, so quite gullibly young, to be wearing such shimmering sparklers! Though to truthfully admit, I had no real issues along those lines!
The sparkling jewels consisted of a thin silver plated necklace, matching dangling earrings and a thin bracelet worn around her satin gloved clad wrist.. , all were set with the fiery brilliance of (rhinestone?) diamonds.
Twas a pity someone darkly moody like that would be in possession of jewels so pretty.. She obviously had no inkling or care about em, in my observation of her, she probably could care less that she was wearing them, and probably had whined miserably about putting them on!
A hallowed mockery of all that is truly feminine.
An aloof paper mache princess who deserved to look more of a pauper in me own personal opinion...!
And that thought, I found to be quite enticingly entertaining on a personal level! Admittedly though, at that time, I was finding a great deal of my surroundings to being quite vexing.
But there was also a reason for my interests, for I will have to admit to possessing a bit of a rascally bird like, Magpie keen, interest in all things shiny!
And my curiosities had already been at peek height due to several other observations I had made upon my first arrival at the wedding reception: Including one subject in particular!
First off, the wedding was definitely upscale, and the wealthy Bride had chosen a rather unique venue for her reception.
Located in a rather daringly wrong side of the tracks area. The place was the site of an old brick, eel tinning factory that someone had cunningly restored and was princely offering as a uniquely posh reception venue for those rich enough to pay out the nose for something out of the ordinary. To me it looked like someone had extravagantly decorated up an old slummy red brick alleyway.
And as to why I was there..?
Well my friends, that’d be another whole tale in the tellin....
So, only tellin one tale at a time then......
Anyhows, there I was, dressed up in my best, and starting to do a bit of visually opportunistic prowling about amongst the well heeled guests who were making merry in the venues’ rather dubious surroundings…. When I saw him...
Him, the laddie, a young male of about 13, scampering happily about at the reception hall .
Something about his mannerisms drew my mind to him, so I discreetly asked around.
I soon found out he was the son of a single mother, both the bride’s sister and maid of Honour. So he was pretty much being left to himself, which explained things a bit.
The lad was also obviously across the threshold of young puberty: as was witnessed by some of his antics, not only with the touchy teasing of the younger girls present, but also in the way he was treating certain poshly dressed adult females, especially in sneaking up and giving his darling grandmother hugs from behind.
She though, thought it was cute and just laughed, and squealed happily, “look another drive by hugging”, or “thanks for the warm hugging honey, just lovely”, encouraging to no end the youth to keep his voyeuristic advances up.
But the grandmother was a short lady, his size, and I knew what was going on, even if the silly twit didn’t have a bloody clue.
The Lads arms, as he hugged his grandmother’s warm figure before running off, were brushing just under her perk breasts, molded nicely by the tight fitted mother of the bride gown she was attired in.
I also knew that , along with copping a titillating feel, he was also enjoying the tingling sensation from the slick thicke material of the lengthy, swishing gown the rather youngish ,stylish grandmother was wearing…
I watched, the lad as he performed this trick several times, holding onto the warm sweaty figure of his still perky, grandmother, before I would finally admit to the fact, I was jealous!
Jealous, for she was wearing some rather pretty jewelry of diamonds, real ones too judging by the fiery pinpricks of flashes they was giving off. Grandad must have spent a bloody mint on them.. For an Anniversary or an apology? There laid the rub..
And I would have given anything for a closer gawk at the ladies finer points, if one gets my drift, eh ?
Nudge, nudge... as they say...
It was while watching the lad yet again going and performing his hugger mugger routine from a bar stool, that my I first laid my eyes on the young paper mache princess in the lavender gown and wearing her own set of diamonds( rhinestone?). I don’t know when she had entered the reception’s proverbial stage, but she was one of the last lot to be leaving the room where the food service was laid out.
She was all of 16 years old, probably bitter sweet, and most definitely, caustically, immature!
She was with a second girl, 14 years I would guess, possibly a younger sister, clad in a thin dress of red silk that poured out dancingly below a matching jacket of velvet. She was wearing a glistening set of, faux?, pearls, and a (rhinestone?) brooch on her jacket, the bauble shaped like a colourful humming bird set with coloured gemstones.
They both stopped at the doorway, watching the dance floor with a peaking interest .
The live band had started up, and a group was upon the floor, swishing and swirling about in a quite pretty display of both colour and glitter that was being caught up in the dim incandescent lighting of the olde re-imagined factory.
I allowed my interest to follow this action for a bit, before curiously allowing my eyes to again seek out the pair of lasses.. Sneaking in close by the bar for a better, keener look over as I did so.
When I found them I saw that they had been joined by the huggy strap of a lad. He was standing close to them, and I caught him gingerly sliding his hand up behind the paper mache princess , chubby fingers tentatively rubbing along the waistline of the slick lavender gown being worn so winningly by the vixen of a sixteen year old.
She giggled and turned to him, her eyes giving an “oh, its you” look to the lad. Oblivious to the look, he started talking the pair up, and I saw them both shake their heads no at whatever he must have been suggesting.
Both girls petite earrings’ swaying in the light as their heads moved side to side . The Paper Mache Princess’s inset diamonds of her earrings sparkling madly, while her smaller friends bobbling earrings of Faux pearl gleamed a glistening pure white.
The pair turned dismissively back to the dance floor, and he stared them down from behind their glimmery sleek dresses for a few seconds, before he walked away, head bent down like something of an admonished puppy!
I felt sorry for the young git, red faced, as he was walking away,.
Then I suddenly realized that his course was taking him right past me.
Not sure why at the time, but suddenly I wanted to capture this lad’s attention. For I was Bored and feeling peevishly mused to try and do something to quell those copious desires I had been mulling..!
So I played it by ear... Something which in my profession that I tend to do a lot of!
Now, since, sleight of hand and misdirection are a couple of me talents, I reached into my pocket , thoughtfully fingering one of my ever-present coins of the realm.
As the lad , sad head down, sauntered droopily by me, I caught his attention by dropping a penny.
He obligingly retrieved it for me, and as he handed it back, I turned down my wrist, then took my hand to his ear, appearing to change the penny into a twenty pee piece… Which I handed the coin to the amazed lad for keeps. Thereby also gaining his full and undivided attention.
“Want to see another?” I asked, and he shook his head yes eagerly. I pulled out an also ever-present deck of cards, and had him ruffle them up a bit. Talking it up to him as I did.
The simple card trick would allow me to banter and hopefully my words would thus stoke the id of his sexually driven impulses whilst the ego thoughts in the lad’s head where following the cards. With my intents to flaring up the lad’s super – located in the deep recesses of his mind were certain male thoughts are often guiltily , forcibly, kept alone to themselves.
The first trick was an easy one that had him picking his own card from a group laid out on the bar. It was as I went through the motions, and watching his focus on the cards, I mentioned how pretty I had thought some of the dresses worn by the girls here were.
That opened him up royally...
I soon had him chatting away, eating out of my hand as I told him a subtly suggestive story of my youth, centering around the true enough episode where I had danced with my sister who had been wearing a dress very similar to the one worn by the paper mache princess....
A tid bit of a description that I knew would send his little pubescent desiring mind whirling .
I then, also with casual finesse, asked him quite a few questions about himself, about the reception, and particularly centered around finding out a bit more about the paper mache princess.
He readily came out with the fact that the paper mache princess, the one I had truthfully said was dressed like me sister had been , was nothing more than his cousin. He also volunteered tid bits about her that led me to believe that she could be a bit fey, but liked to pretend and daydream.
He also chimed in that he liked to play games like hide an seek with her and her friend’s, when she allowed him to!
Not playing now I asked? Seeing a light opening up at the end of a certain tunnel of my thoughts.
No he said, she said that she did not want to get dirty, her friend either.. Too interested in acting like proper ladies, dancing and watching, he added sadly..
“Quite boring.. he also added quite drearily ..”
That was all I needed to hear! So, agreeing with the boring part, I drew him close in the confidence of a co-conspirator.
Tells you what kiddo, let me explain how we used to play tag games when I was your cousins age.
I bet she will change her mind to play this version with you today! ( Actually, I know she would have no choice but to play his game once we were done with her!)
Really, he said, his eyes wandering and latching onto the two swaying young vixens, looking them up and down as I spoke.
Certainty ‘Mon garçon’ I said, and began to explain, taking certain inventive liberties with the details to ensure capturing this young man’s burgeoning lusting fantasies !!
I explained that as lads we would play tag by having the crooks steal something, then the person who was robbed would chase us like a copper until we either got away, or placed in “prison”
Cops and robbers see.. ever hear of the game.?
He nodded his head assuredly that of course he knew the game..!
I could also see I had grasped a craving interest within him, so I then happily continued on
“Now, the girls in our group would sometimes dress up and wear ‘cheap’ play jewelry, like your cousin and her friend over there. “ I lied convincingly.
He turned to watch the pair of proper appearing princess wanna-bees, both with eye appealing resplendence in their gowns, jewels and fine frills..
“Then us boys would sneak up and try to distract them, so we could teasingly come away with some of their play jewels without them catching on to what we were on about.
Then we would point out their loss after a bit, and the girls would give chase to us trying get them jewels back !”
He smiles, liking the idea.
I could see he was chewing on my words while still Drooling over the two pretty young lasses and their shiny frocks and ample shimmering jewels.... rather convenient having the real thing in sight when telling my stories I devilishly thought.
I had captivated his interest, and could see that he was earnestly watching his cousin ( whose necklace I should mention, was quite invigoratingly rippling small sparkles of fire around her throat as she was swaying to the music.)
I began with renewed relish, allowing the seed I had planted to grow, by explaining in detail how to draw his pretty lass of a cousin into the “Game”!
Both his and mine!
Using as an example, a story on how I had played this same game I was proposing on, while dancing with me own lavender gown wearing sister for reference. Actually it was a true enough story, only the young lass I had played it out on had not been me sister, and the gown, which most definitely had been soft as a new borne downy chick, had been of a shiny ripe peach colour!
I explained in simple detail how to approach his cousin, and what words would work best in convincing her that a dance was in order.
Then once they were into the dance, I explained in easy detail, the next steps to be taken to ensure his cousin would be a player for the next phase of the game, namely the catchy, touchy, tag part of it.
I could see the laddie was doing quite well, grasping the rudimentary idea of it all. And as he shook his head vigorously yes when I asked if ready. I gently pushed his back, propelling his quite noticeably Horney figure loose towards his innocent victim.
Go get em tiger....
I watched with growing anticipation as the lad moved in, eagerly approached his victim, then again sliding a hand on along her waist, successfully prying and fully capturing his cousins attention away from the dance floor. He started talking affably and I could see her dart a look back to the dancers,then to her 14 year old friend, then finally back to her cousin. Her jewels nicely sparkling in the low lights as she carried out this performance.
Then, bless the faux pearl laden pixie, for as I watched, the paper mache princess’s young friend most advantageously helped out our cause. Chirpily chiming in her two cents worth. saying something excitedly as she tugged at the cousins dress whilst pointing to the lad and the dance floor!
And ‘Bob’s your uncle!’ a few minutes later the pair of them were on that polished wooden dance floor, looking exceptionally cute as a couple, as they danced to a romantic slow tune whose name has since slipped my mind. The young darlings mimicked the adults around them by embracing closely against one another.
I waited and watched with baited breath, so many things could go wrong, and there was no good reason they shouldn’t. I began to think my ideas had been quite folly. Draining my drink, I made my plans for a quick get away to avoid any attention and have to answer rather awkward questions if things went awry.
But they didn’t!
As he had been directed, he bided his time, no hurry.
I watched with baited breath as finally his hand cunningly started the process of snaking up along the back of her sensuous dress, a bit quick perhaps, but maybe his partner was feeling his hormones actively running wild and was responding in kind.
For she had no issues dancing close, and no notice of the shenanigans of the creeping male fingers nimbly reaching up her back. I could see that her own gloved hands were firmly grasping her dance partners waist. The diamonds on her thin bracelet merrily winking back at me!
She seemed so happy, her eyes closed shut as she was into what ever fantasies young sixteen year old paper mache princesses, wearing pretty gowns and flashy jewels, have going on!
But I was also fairly certain that those fantasies of hers did not dwell any where’s near the reality of what was being played out on her in real life at that moment!
I looked around, Nor were any of the adults paying the pair any heed..
Even the Sixteen year old’s young Faux pearl wearing pixie of a friend was watching something away from the dance floor, her own fingers idly playing with the shimmery rhinestone brooch on her velvet jacket as she, with no shyness, was ogling a bloke in a tux snogging with one of the bridesmaids in a secluded corner!
I perked up, setting my empty glass down, casually picking out a handful of pub nuts from a jar at my elbow, I thought, this trick may actually bloody work!!
His fingers finally reached the victim’s primed objective, the one I had suggested, namely the thin gem studded necklace. The pretty jewels that laid flickering around the high, glossy neckline of his victims gown. That fiery necklace had been dangling and moving about with an easy sliding fluidity along down the smooth satin of its’ wearers gown, making it a fairly easy pluck for any amateur’s game!
The gem stones were set in a finely woven silvery chain, there should be no telltale snagging, no matter how jerky the chubby fingers were in making the attempt the lift them!
Obviously I had been thinking this through as I had been carefully watching my pretty paper mache princess. And just as obviously I was now vicariously living those day dreams through the lads antics!
So it was with an unabashed delight, that I watched as his fingers glided along the pretty baubles chain till the necklaces hook in eye clasp was located, and pulled up ever so lightly!
He did fumble a bit with the clasp,( his first time after all) but I saw him carefully peeking over her shoulder for a better look, and using one hand he managed to delicately unhook the two ends on his second attempt.
The fraternal twin ends lay loose there, glimmering for a few seconds, as they hung freely unclasped down her back. His fingers slipped back over her shoulder and slyly lifted a sparkly end up.
He then methodically began to slide the long necklace up along the front of his dance partners rich, lubricious, satin gown! It was easily slipped away, slither inly over her shoulders’ satin sleeve and free fell down behind her back where it dangled for a few precious seconds in his chubby fingers, before the lad secreted the shimmering thing of beauty into his pocket ..
I released my breath not realizing I had been holding it.. He had gotten away with it, pretty as one pleases. His fantasizing, gorgeously dressed cousin, hadn’t a bloody clue as to what had just transpired as she and her glittery necklace were naughtily being parted!
And just as important, no one else had noticed my little hugger mugger in action either!
His victim still had her eyes blissfully closed, and was leaning her head back in what can be best described as dreamy happiness.
Her earrings and bracelet sparkled on, as noticeable in their positions, as the place her necklace had been, now was not!
Her male partners eyes were wide, and darting around. I was worried that he may end up alarming the girl, so I rose, and managed to catch his gaze, and smiled giving a thumbs up. This made him grin, and settling down a bit, grasped his partner close and twirled on.
I smiled, feeling rather excited meself, for watching the lad in action had been like reliving the somewhat similar, long past, incident that I had used as an example, lying to him that I had played the game on me sister!
^^^^^^
Well , they finally finished the dance, it seemed like an eternity, but it was thrilling to try and catch glimpses of the cousins’ now bare neckline!
Finally they broke apart and he walked off with her to the opposite edge of the dance area from where they had started. I held my breath again, but he seemed to inherently realize that as part of the game, he didn’t want her suspicions raised by being quick to leave. God bless his natural budding adult male like deviousness!
When he finally left her and came over , he was grinning ear to ear like some Cheshire Cat.
“Well done lad, you played that brilliantly! Fun Like I said it would be” I praised and questioned?
He nodded , quite pleased with himself, and that pleasure was evident in more places than just his face!!
He most definitely was getting a “titillating feel” for the playing the game. A feeling I could very well understand from me own personal experiences!
I turned him around to face his cousin, his back now to me.
The young paper mache princess was back to aloofly standing, watching, on the outer rim of the dance floor. As we watched, we saw her young friend returning, regaining a position up alongside her
I gripped my hand upon the lads shoulder, speaking into his ear as he conveniently faced away from me..
I explained that he needed to go up and do next ..
Sneak up and hug his cousin from behind( I could tell he liked that!) , then as you tickle her a bit, say something like “now catch the tickle thief” , and then, see that door just off the loo?
He turned his head over to where I was pointing.
I knew that the door was an exit, leading upstairs, then outside to a small park.
“Break away before she can catch you,, and RUN! through that door, then out into the park .”
I turned him back around to face me , I wanted to really drive home the last bit…
I was smiling mischievously in his eyes, which brightened up as he warmed up to the ideas I was planting.
“Then in the woods you can hide and touch tag as she tries to get her necklace back!”, and I tapped his pocket with my free hand, jingling the contents.
“But remember laddie, the trick is not to show her what you took. Make her chase you, and if she finally catches you, make her search you for it, or have her cry Uncle before handing it over!”
“And as she is so occupied, try for an earring or bracelet to keep the game on. Or if her friends is close enough then snatch…..”
But I stopped, I could see all too well in his wide eyed glazed over look, that he had caught onto the gigs gist, and there was no need to say more with out risking my hugger mugger to become too prematurely excited before playing it out.
I looked up over his head to make sure the stage was still set…
I suddenly stiffened....
Ere now, look lad, I think your game is beginning, she is noticing the loss.
We both looked, the young friend of the sixteen-year-old was pointing to the paper mache princess’s bare throat. No need to hear the question.
Then as We both gawked ,the cousins gloved hand shot immediately up to her throat ,fruitlessly feeling around as her face contorted up in a horrifying gasp.
“Now lad I said turning him back around so he was facing the dance floor., quickly toddle up behind and give your cousin that hug to start it off! That’s a good lad!”
“I guarantee you she is going to play into your game now.” I said, sending the words off after him as he scurried stiffly off.
He was definitely carrying off with him a quite “hard” vested interest in the game at hand.
He approached the pair, both of whom were now looking about their feet for the missing necklace.
I saw him readily grasp, then pull up his Cousin into a slippery hug..
She jumped a bit ,alarmed!
But no blaming the sullen looking lass. Worries about her missing necklace combined with someone unexpectantly grasping her from behind, then feeling something hard being pressed up against her, would cause a bit of inherent distress for any poshly attired damsel!
Startled as she was, she stood stiffly in her fast waning shock, as her male cousin whispered into a bejeweled ear, then letting her go, the lad dashed off towards the exit as planned.
The two girls looked at each other questioningly, the pixy was holding her faux pearled necklace, the cousin a hand to her bare throat. They then stared at the fleeing cousin, before, in a shimmering, swishing, fluttering, flurry, taking off after the escaping lad.
I turned away and watched as he disappeared through the exit door by the loo.
The female cousin and her similarity dressed young friend, were following almost upon the lad’s heels, gowns whirling , and they too slipped through the closing door. I, probably for the last time, admired her taunting bracelet, as it flashed and sparkled, while she gripped to hold open the closing exit door..
All three had now disappeared from the venue without anyone a noticing.
I believe free booze, and the length of drinking time that the adult guests had been imbibing played a rather big part in that the trio of escapees were not paid any heed!
Babes in the woods, going beyond the security of the pale. I thought, making my way through the thronging crowd of merry guests .
I headed out towards the main exit located on the opposite side of the building from the restrooms.
Just before taking my permanent leave I looked around the venue again. The dim lighted red brick lined walls of the old ell tinning factory did indeed resemble an olde alleyway. And one can just imagine the types of mischief that would be going on in olde alleyways!
Reaching the outer walk I forced meslf to meander on till I had safely gained some distance, stopping as I came up to a patch of woods.
Where, next to an ancient Wytch Elm tree with its grotesquely reaching branches, started a thin path leading off amongst the trees towards the other side of the olde eel tinning factories building..
I stood there, and after checking around me, Pulled a chrome flask from a vest pocket.
I took a good long swig of ginger brandy in celebration of the moment!
“The path less travelled today mate! .”
Replacing the flask, I reached a hand in my suit coats pocket for me pipe and tobacco, .
Feeling as I did the now cold hardness of the quite genuine, quite expensive, diamond necklace that I had so quite easily lifted from the youths jacket pocket ( pickpocketing - another of my skills)
As I packed my pipe and then cupped my fingers as I struck a match to get it going, I allowed my mind a quick remembrance….
I played out how pretty that young lass had been in her peach satin gown. We both had been around 14 years, socially awkward as youths that age can be.. She had suggested the dancing, and I was amazed at the feel of her in my arms. Never had I felt anything so warm, so incredibly soft. And how sparkling her necklace had been. As we danced, and as I secretly admired her necklace, I remember meself subtly lifting the pretty thing up from her throat. Then it had suddenly unclasped, and I found meself pulling it off from around her throat and stuffing it in a pocket. She had had no clue, and I and me mates had used it’s loss to tease her before giving it back.
It had been a most satisfying newly acquired feeling for me at that age.... Which I had gambled would be the same feelings my young hugger mugger lad would also feel.
With a wry smile I wondered what my hugger mugger lad’s reaction would be as he would finally was made to give back the necklace. And what the overall reaction of the group would be when instead of the paper mache princess’s pricey diamonds in his pocket, he finds the small bits of pub nuts I had switched out with the necklace.
What I would have given to be able to witness that moment in time I thought , as I threw away the match and began puffing smoke from the lit pipe. I imagined what the three youths puzzled, gasping expressions would be like..!
Indeed, whose game had they been playing at?
I wondered if anybody would ever figure it out, or would it remain a mystery?
After a few puffs I looked in the direction of the park.. where I imagined the three were have gleeful adventures, for a bit anyways., and hopefully no further mis adventures...
I gave another long , thoughtful pull at me pipe...
Now, Just down that path would be that very park where at that very moment, a young lady clad in sleek lavender satin and sporting the remains of her dazzling collection of expensively brite sparkling diamonds ,was running about willy nilly in the woods.
Her eye catching gown and glistening, baiting jewels unsuspectingly openly exposed to the wilds outside, and fully unprotected by any observable means...
Not to mention there is also a spare, herself fetchingly attired in red silk and velvet. Herself wearing spiffen faux pearls and a glistening rhinestone hummingbird brooch!
It could very well be like taking away the proverbial candy from silken clad Babes...
Hmmm, a rather treasure trove of an opportunity indeed!
After a few minutes ponderings, I finally Let out an exasperated puff of smoke, as I regrettably shook my head NO..., no teasing my recently bestowed acte of providence, not by this Bloke.... and certainly not this evening !!
One in hand, I scolded meself ..
So, let it be Cheerio, I thought nodding down the side path of the woods towards the park in a solemn’ fare thee well’ salute..
And walking out into the glooming twilight of the evening, strode down the side walk to disappear into the misty aire..
Taking the smoking pipe from me mouth, I began Whistling the tune ...
‘Who put “Bella in the Wytch Elm”?
After all, who does not like coming up across a mystery?
“vade ad victor spolia”
Fini
I know, I know! Your deja vus are having a bad case of deja vu, but this photograph of Harcourt Street Station was too good to pass. There is so much to see here, the station itself, the luggage trolleys, the fashion, and the advertising hoardings. The messenger boy’s bicycle parked at the footpath is a real reminder of days gone by, and cheeky devils flying about the streets with their loads for delivery!
+++ UPDATE +++
Gorgeous posters in this one! And very helpful they were too. Dates for the fillum Monte Carlo (“As Intimate as a Lady’s Boudoir”, if you don't mind!) in the Irish Times and an excursion to Tramore gave us a really close date of in or around early August 1931.
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: between 1900-1939 Early August 1931
NLI Ref: Eas 1718
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Fine art model Chelsey Starr gives us a peek at a tattoo on her collarbone that reads: "Just Know I'll Save You."
Thank you for keeping your comments respectful to my models and appropriate for safe groups.
© Camile Eon Productions
All Rights Reserved
As everyone knows the xmas period was a total washout as far as photography was concerned meaning i spent most of the holidays mainly talking about it rather than doing it or when i took a chance and went out it was crap! Anyway theres been some great sunrises this week so they say (while ive been at work) so i couldnt not go out this Sunday. After speaking to Allan England we agreed to meet up at the Haven at Tynemouth, a place where ive wanted to go for so long and had actually had my first visit on New Years Eve with the wifekins. As i had enjoyed it so much i just had to try again with the hopes of a better sunrise this time.
It started of looking promising but then went totally flat as there wasnt much cloud above but then all off a sudden i looked behind and shouted to Allan, look at this cloud coming. Within a few minutes whammo, the sky just lit up bright pink :D
We were getting messages off different togs dotted along the coast who were all loving the showing so im glad plenty of people were out to witness it :)
Filters : Kood ND4
Hitech 0.9 Reverse Grad
Lee 0.9 Soft Edge Grad
you know when you pass by someone and just a few seconds later something strikes your mind as if it was someone you once met? you don't know where not even when... you just know. I'm sure that's what happened to her in this exact moment... I Know, I saw it!
Girls' Romances ( DC Comics )
160 issues, from Feb-Mar 1950 to Oct. 1971
COVER GALLERY >> Girls' Romances
comicbookdb.com/title_covergallery.php?ID=722
AND
www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=211861
AND
www.comics.org/series/698/covers/
AND
UPDATE – Oct. 14th
I know it’s been a LONG time since I’ve posted something on here, and I know people have been asking for updates (rightly so) – so I figured I’d provide some in a simple post here.
Two things must be made clear first – 1) my printer, who I’ve worked with forever and who produces the best prints of any printer I’ve worked with, has become very successful this past year and as such is trying to catch up with the growth of their business. As such, their times to process orders has more than tripled since the beginning of the year. This has caused many of the prints and test prints, etc. to be delayed by more than 2 months each. So things are slower to get printed now than ever before. 2) we are very close to getting our setup exactly as we need it with the injection mold company that we work with so that our parts are to the exact specifications and quality that we want, and that you expect. The injection molding process, and learning what is needed to create good parts, has been a huge learning process for us. The good news is that after months and months of working and tweaking things, we are very close to having our first parts (for Night Crusader and Original Super Soldier – and 1 surprise figure) ready to send to the printer.
With that being said, here’s some updates on some figs coming soon…
Homemade Arachnid Hero
Our first update will be for all those who ordered the Homemade Arachnid Hero. We are anticipating that this figure will be sent out to our presales customers and resellers the last weekend of October (2 weeks from now) and will go on sale on the website a week or two after that. We will try to post pictures as soon as he arrives.
Night Crusader
The test prints for the Night Crusader have been finalized and approved and we are all ready to go to print it. I usually don’t share pictures of the figures before they are completed, but since you all have been waiting so patiently for this figure, I thought I’d bend at least one rule to make you feel confident in your upcoming fig). However, we are awaiting the injection molded parts to arrive, so that we can align the head print exactly with the cowl part (we want to make sure his eyes are aligned correctly in those hole). We received the most recent samples from the mold and we still need to make a couple of final adjustments, so that it is to the exact quality that I know we all expect from the top customizers. He should be completed before Black Friday (week of Thanksgiving), if everything goes to plan. I will post an update if that is any sooner.
Original Super Soldier
The custom helmet part is being completed at the same time as the Night Crusader cowl, as they share the same mold, and as such is facing many of the same needs for updated changes. However, we are still also processing the prints still for this figure. The hope is that this will be available a couple weeks after Night Crusader is released.
Surprise New Figure
Along with the Original Super Soldier, we will be releasing a third, not yet published custom figure that will include 1 custom headpiece and a printed accessory. I think you guys should be very happy and surprised by this guy – can’t wait to show you! When the part is completed and we send him in for printing, we’ll provide a render of him to let you know what’s coming!
That’s all for now. I would first and foremost like to thank you all for your unwavering patience and kind understanding while I bring Phoenix Customs to a new era of custom figs. However, this kind of growth is not without hiccups and challenges, that is for sure. What IS for sure, is that we are not going to be bringing about products that can’t compete with the best out there. We will NOT sacrifice quality. We want to bring our figures to the next evolution, where unique custom parts and top quality printing go hand-in-hand. We can’t wait to bring these pre-ordered figs to life in the next couple months and to show you what we have in store for the coming months of the new year! So many good figs that I can’t wait to release!!
Take care!
Adam
Lina knows her place - lovely to have a carpet though. Luxury!! I couldn't get a photo but across the room was a beautiful golden retriever!
I know, how cliché - a picture of the Eiffel Tower while in Paris 😊
But did you know that Gustave Eiffel was an engineer and an architect in his own right - with several engineering and architectural accomplishments under his belt long before he conceived of and designed the Eiffel Tower?
« An engineer by training, Eiffel founded and developed a company specializing in metal structural work, whose crowning achievement was the Eiffel Tower. Bridges, and in particular railway bridges, were his favourite field of work, but he also won renown for his metal structural work and industrial installations.
His career was marked by a large number of fine buildings, among which two of the most outstanding are the twin edifices of the Porto viaduct and the Garabit viaduct in the Cantal region of France. Equally outstanding are certain other structures in which the pure inventiveness of Eiffel's company was allowed free rein, such as the "portable" bridges sold around the world in "kits", the ingenious structure of the Statue of Liberty in New York, and of course the Eiffel Tower itself.
Born in Dijon in 1832, he graduated from the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in 1855, the same year that Paris hosted the first World's Fair.
He spent several years in the South West of France, where he supervized work on the great railway bridge in Bordeaux, and afterwards he set up in his own right in 1864 as a "constructor", that is, as a business specializing in metal structural work.
His outstanding career as a constructor was marked by work on the Porto viaduct over the river Douro in 1876, the Garabit viaduct in 1884, Pest railway station in Hungary, the dome of the Nice observatory, and the ingenious structure of the Statue of Liberty. It culminated in 1889 with the Eiffel Tower. This date marks the end of his career as an entrepreneur. »
I don't know exaclty what kind of bird this is, but I'm sure I'll find out once these are posted.
I've noticed that there seems to more of them around than there used to be.
If you like my work click the "Follow" button on Flickr.
Other places to see my work rumimume.blogspot.ca/, Google+ google+, twitter
I know I could look redundant, but this is really what I often find on my path .... and I love it :)
We are living in times of great destruction of the world as we know it, earth changes, fires, floods, earthquakes.
Here alone in Australia we sit in horror at the extent of the fires rampage across the country. Unprecedented fires and weather in the history of our existence (well what is on record)
Whilst horrific - the earth we live on has always been full of cyclic changes.
Ancient cities have been discovered under the sea, we are naive to think that the world as we know it will remain the same.
What continents exist now may no longer exist. What coast line exists now is slowly being swallowed up by the ocean.
Volcanic eruptions are changing the face of the planet as are earthquakes - the list is long.
We cannot stop the force of Mother Nature. We live on a planet that has always endured such destruction.
We have pole shifts taking place - all kinds of catastrophic events happening across the Globe. We are but a spit in the ocean to the wide Galaxies that we know of. Yet we think we are precious in some way.
I cannot help but wonder why I was so drawn to create this "Black Winged Goddess" let alone give her the name of Black Winged Goddess. But I was drawn, my soul was pushing me for weeks with a "slight vision" of what I needed to create. It now makes total sense to me why I was so drawn to create The Black Winged Goddess, given the state of our world and humanity.
My soul as always when I listen guides me with powerful messages and reminds me to just 'be' to accept 'what is'.
We may not like the current state of our world but it is what it is and all we can do is stay strong within ourselves and hold the power of 'love' in our hearts despite seeing so much being played out on the planet.
Kali (Hindu) - was known as a deity of the Fearsome Demon destroying Goddess who represents death and rebirth - so her name means "Black One".
We can never truly comprehend or understand the power of mother nature - we have abused her for centuries, taken her for granted and she is a living breathing consciousness so powerful that we dare not go up against here.
In recent years we have seen the influence of the feminine energy on earth which for eons has been dominated by the male energy.
So it makes complete sense to me that we are witness to so much destruction on the planet.
We are witness to the destruction of our societies as we know it, breakdown of families, law, politics.
So much of humanity is at war with the 'system', the injustices, and the lack of balance within our society. The homeless, the abused, the forgotten souls, the mental health issues that seem to have become rampant, the rise of Corporate wealth while humanity is trapped in slavery. We have learnt nothing as a humanity over the past how many hundred years?
In order for rebirth, for new growth, a culling needs to take place - hence the energy of the Black Winged Goddess she is both the Destroyer and the Giver of New Life.
We have elected to be here at this time on the planet - despite the suffering we witness or endure - I know at a higher level it is absolutely necessary for real change to take place.
Our world is a very different place to the one we have known - and whilst we have believed we have had a safe and reasonable planet in which to live, the reality is much Evil has existed and people have been brainwashed to the point of being zombies. There has been so much suppression imposed upon humanity even to the extreme of vaccinations and fluoride to our water supply. All of these chemicals act as suppressants to our brain! It has been a deliberate agenda of the existing power on earth. Their agenda has always been to rule, control and suppress the populous.
Humanity is awakening and with this will be uproar, dis - ease, a culling if you like. It is time for humanity to step out of fear and into their true power which is within each and every one of us.
New growth, new beginnings but not before the dismantling of the old - it has to be this way.
These times we are living through were written in history.
So I have created "The Black Winged Goddess" she is available in different styles, inside a Dome with beautiful etched glass or stand alone. She will rotate or can be static.
She is available on MP in the Stand Alone version (rotating) or can be seen in world at my store.
I hope you enjoy and embrace 'The "Black Winged Goddess' and rather be in fear of her - understand she brings 'New Life" but first the old has to die for the new to be born.
How appropriate for a New Year of 2020 fast approaching.
Interestingly and unconsciously I created 4 of these Black Winged Goddesses.
The year 2020 equates to the number 4 in Numerology.
The #4 represents a Universal energy. (see below for a deeper understanding of the #4)
The # 2 - Is the most feminine and often underestimated when it comes to power and strength. She is always gentle, tactful, diplomatic, forgiving and understanding. She likes to keep peace and likes to avoid confrontation. # 2 is the survivor and extremely resilient force. Her shape looks as though she is bent back on a knee with head bowed in humility and service. However when enough pressure is applied to the # 2 energy. Some would perceive her as weak and powerless due to this servitude shape. However never underestimate the power behind #2 because she represents the power (double) #1 who is the all powerful warrior who will shake and destroy no matter what. So #2 brings the balance but never underestimate the power of 2 Energy.
The #4 Energy in more detail
The 4 is without a doubt masculine, reflecting strength and stability. His chief characteristics are dependability, productivity, punctuality and obedience. He is trustworthy, patient, conventional and a traditionalist.
Tend to be rule followers. 4 is the area of sciences, upholding the law (such as Government and the military). The #4 represents Disciplined, systematic, Dependable, Strong. Loyal
Four is the basis of all solid objects. Four points are used in constructing the simplest solid and thus four is the number symbolizing the way of construction. In many religions, four is seen as the number for earth, and representing the four elements, Air Earth, Water and Fire.
At its extreme 4's can tend to overreact to violence.
So 2020 seems to have more challenges ahead and I suspect we will be seeing more uprising across the planet (#2 energy) with totalitarianism (#4 energy) being played out like never before. Perhaps more of what the world has witnessed in Hong Kong this year.
It is as if the two energies Masculine & Feminine are battling against one another. But at the same time I cannot help but feel and acknowledge UNITY - and this is what I will remain focused upon during the year ahead. We must stand united. We are after all 'one humanity'
We are without doubt living in very challenging times.
May peace be with you!
Taxi
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20Of%20Currents/243/2...
.. and never let me go!
#1 --> If a hug represented how much I loved you, I would hold you in my arms forever : - Mandy Hampton..
#2 --> I know, the detail is not so clear, but I just love the cricket's pose.. Happy hugging!! :D
Girls' Romances ( DC Comics )
160 issues, from Feb-Mar 1950 to Oct. 1971
COVER GALLERY >> Girls' Romances
comicbookdb.com/title_covergallery.php?ID=722
AND
www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=211861
AND
www.comics.org/series/698/covers/
AND
You know those guardian wolf pics I've been drawing? This is from those books. He's one of the main bad-guys in the story we're (Tobi and I) writing. =D he got his scar from his brother, Damien (who ironically looks redish-black instead of bleuish-black and has a identical scar on the opposite side of the face X3)
Have you notices that there's like five billion pictures of an animal standing behind a pine tree and probably with a scary look on their face? I didn't copy this picture or anything, but I'm sure there's a lot out there like this X3
Drawn on- GIMP 2.6
Time taken- about 4 hours (YES REALLY.)
I should know better than to trust weather forecasters, yes? Today they promised sunny, Saturday (my next day off) they promise clouds. Without a good, cloudy sky today, I decided to save the beach for Saturday - today I would check out a new location (new for me), Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. So of course, the entire time at the refuge I'm seeing really great cloudy skies - and thinking about all the long exposures I could be doing. I thought of dashing down to the beach but decided against it. I figured as soon as I did the clouds would break and I did want to explore Bombay Hook. I'd had enough after five hours and almost headed home - then thought, oh what the hell, the beach was an hour away. I had time, I might not get clouds but I had time.
Well, the clouds did break a little, not as dramatic as they had been earlier. But as I walked onto the beach, I saw that I'd caught low tide. As many times as I've been to this spot, I have never managed to catch it at low tide - I always thought there were just six of these pilings. I'm glad I didn't give in to my pessimist! :)
Yeah, I know, I see silly things. I'm going to blame my Mom because when I was younger she and I would find shapes in our food. It made my engineer Dad so frustrated that we "played with our food" and he would only ever reluctantly admit that some piece of food looked like a whale or a frog. I don't see an animal here, but it looks like some sort of alien probe reaching out and looking for signs of other life. Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday.
I know i have posted images of this place before but i really wanted to make a new one to improve my processing and make a more natural photo. I love this place.
A hidden treasure. I can only express myself this way about this place. In Chile, everytime you head to the mountains you find the most beautiful locations; No matter if it´s in the north or in the southern Territories, or like in this case, in the central areas of my long country.
The Lioness fall was a hidden treasure i found in this place without thinking it was actually there. What a surprise being above in the forest and suddenly look down to the river and find this precious view. My heart just started to beat faster by the emotion. !!
______
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal. Unauthorized use, copy, editing, reproduction, publication, duplication and distribution of my photos, or any portion of them, is not allowed.
It’s a hazy light overcast morning in rose tinted rural Devon. Arthritic Arthur builds up courage to swing the water filler pipe around to Clive stood on the engine. As usual Clive is looking at his wretched notebook. He’s always looking at it, and is so absorbed he’s often blissfully unaware of the world around him. Poor old Arthur suffers with his arthritis, but he won’t let it get in the way, especially now he’s dating local award winning custard maker Nelly Nibbles who is a good 25 years younger that him. But she keeps him active stirring pots of finest custard for various competitions, with tonight being the highlight of the East Devon & District Custard & Cottage Cheese Society’s annual gala at The Half Moon. How Arthur will keep up after a full shift on the railway, Devon knows.
"Do you know... the giants? The silver one... and the black one.
"The air itself tore open in a cataclysm over the arid lands and the giants fell through. The foreign lands phased the silver one, but they say the black one was prepared, for they took battle right away. They were not satisfied and they would fight to the end.
"They fought through the night. They were large and powerful, destroying the grounds in the wake of their battle. Their might echoed across Maanos.
"...But every battle comes to an end. The black one won at sunrise, but in an act of mercy forgave his opponent. The titans reconciled... and vanished.
"Their fate unknown, they marked the rise of the ones in the shadows. Unheard of, forgotten, solitary. Entities rose far and wide, each seeking their own ends.
"The mad scavenger of the keep: The Leech.
"Cultists dedicated to the realms of the mind: The Dreamers.
"...And the reclusive warriors of the Sanctum: The Divided.
"But... life was in peril. The dead were restless, the living refused to die, the inanimate wouldn't remain unmoving... And when natural order is not contained, wardens will rise..."
--------------------------------------
So, Monarth is turning 7 years old today. He's been my selfmoc that long and honestly it feels special to upgrade him to new heights for the occasion.
He's gone through so many changes over the years. This marks as his V12, disregarding the spin-offs I've made. It is also his third version of his warden form.
I almost completely overhauled him for this version. Some minor elements have stayed, but his aesthetic is brand new. I'm very satisfied with the inventions I made for the build: 5-digit hands, posable mouth with teeth, etc. I'm happy that I managed to give him sturdy joints, which are very often a point where I fail.
Overall, I'm very happy with his build and look, and I truly wish you enjoy him =]
You know I love to become a woman, I absolutely love it! I have no real understanding of this desire and powerful motivation apart from the certainty I really enjoy taking on a female appearance.
I enjoy a lot of things about cross-dressing as a woman. I love the sheer thrill of being a man daring to engage in the attempt to to look like a woman. I get a buzz from the prospect of seeing if I can actually act as if I was female and respond and behave as an heterosexual woman…such an adventure and with undoubted erotic overtones.
It’s almost like a drug, can I fool others into believing I am female and play the role convincingly? There are other aspects though. I will freely admit I love wearing make-up, I enjoy shaving my legs and wearing a skirt or a dress and high heels and really love wigs and experimenting with hair styles. I know I just enjoy the delight of dressing up as a woman and feel comfortable in the portrayal.
But why should I enjoy trying to look like a woman? After all, I am a man. I believe transvestism is a fundamental part of people who have this urge, this desire maybe it is a need? Why do I get such a thrill and emotional and truly joyous reward from cross-dressing? I do now understand that part of me feels this is how it could have been as part of me does desire to be a woman full time. As a teenager this was all consuming but as I’ve got older I have settled into my life as a man and would not actually like to transition.
As a young person I had a very black and white view on life and now I realise that was an immature way of thinking as very little in life is black and white. That neat view is too simplistic. I am indeed a man but part of me desires to be female. Could this be the trigger for my undoubted love and passion for dressing up as a woman and acting the part of one? Maybe! Maybe it is.
I also know that a big part of me is excited by the whole thrill and adventure of the acting and performance required to be a transvestite. To be a man that creates a female alter-ego is an addictive trait and quite an amazing experience and can provide reward on many levels. Yet such activity comes at a price. That price is for me fear. I feel genuine terror at the exhilaration and delight I experience when I dress up and pretend I am a woman. I know just how much I like it and just how willing I am to embrace being that woman and deep down I like the idea of making her real and becoming her exclusively to my male self. Yet, this desire to be female is given extra excitement by knowing I am a man engaging in an illusion and acting as the opposite gender. Surely that’s not transsexual? That's vanity, it is ego, it is somehow liberating in many areas such as emotionally and sexually, I feel free and empowered.
Despite the sheer intoxicating experience of cross-dressing I am fully aware it is the temporary nature that gives it the frisson. The fact I have spent several hours transforming myself and getting into the persona and the biggest thrill of all, daring to act as a woman…it is powerful and euphoric to dare to do this as a man.
My ambition is to become accomplished enough to be able to carry off the appearance and behaviour of a woman in a completely convincing way, that no-one is aware I am a man. I am willing to commit myself to that performance totally. How thrilling would that be?
I love the idea of being taken to dinner as a woman with a man and treated as a lady all evening and it is assumed I am female, that would fulfil me emotionally on quite a deep level. I know I would enjoy the experience. It is a selfish ambition as I am purely thinking about what I want to achieve, the male dining companion would be relegated to the status of being merely a prop for my ego’s indulgence. How shallow I am!
I cannot deny I feel very comfortable in make-up, wig, high heels, lingerie and wearing a lovely dress with painted nails, ear rings and perfume, oh how I adore it…I like being a woman, I really do. I cannot quite work out why when I dress up as a woman I feel more confident and enjoy attention, as a man I never have such inclinations. Get me in a dress, a bit of mascara and lipstick…I feel good, very good.
Maybe it’s a freedom? Maybe its a release of the transsexual aspects of me? Maybe it’s just the thrill of doing something daring compared to my male life? One thing I do know it is truly thrilling and so exciting and the adventure imagine is likely too ambitious for my abilities so unlikely to ever turn into a real experience.
It is good though to have hopes and dreams and to attempt to follow them. If I was not a transvestite I doubt would have enjoyed such wonderful experiences as I have in getting to dress as a woman and try and act like one, I love it!
We know that God loves gardens ... and I am thankful that one private gardener here in Georgia, Jim Gibbs, opened his acres of world-class gardens for all of us to enjoy. Here's a story I just read of two 5-year-olds and one very special garden in heaven - hope you all enjoy it.
The Beautiful Arbor Pathway:
At 5 years old, Margret died of a burst appendix and found herself in heaven - walking down a path surrounded by towering flowers that smelled ... heavenly. She survived to tell the story and when she was in her 60's, decided at last to paint a picture of that beautiful arbor. She was telling her doctor of her experience so many decades ago, and he asked if he could hang a copy of her painting in his office. A few weeks later another patient, Mary Olivia, came to his office as she was facing a terminal illness:
"When Mary saw the painting in the doctor's office, she just stood and stared for several minutes before exclaiming to the doctor, "I know where this is." He said, "You know what that's a picture of?" "Of course I do. I walked along that path when I was five years old and almost died." Mary relayed how THE MAN (capitalized at her request) said he would always be with her as they walked beneath the arbor's beautiful flowers. Did two five-year-olds really walk through the same flower-lined arbor in Heaven? Margret feels God led her to paint that picture because Mary Olivia needed to be reminded "I'm always with you." (Matthew 18:20)"
{from "Imagine Heaven" by John Burke, 2015}
Have a wonderful day!
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
she said love only knows
love only knows if we'll give into fear and choose life undercover
she said love only knows if its special enough that we'll
choose one another
choose each other
-Josh Groban
Yes, I know it was yesterday, but I am celebrating a bit late. Consider it the New Year hangover ;-)
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
(I just read that Chinese government gave Taiwan two Panda! Wow, I thought they were fighting! That is just great news! Anyway, Taiwan brought those two Panda out for the Lunar New Year celebration and everybody was very happy! I wish peace and Happiness to them all). Here's the link to that news I read Pandas to debut at Lunar New Year
Smew
Scientific name: Mergellus albellus
This small duck is an uncommon winter visitor to the UK, where they're usually found on lakes, reservoirs and gravel
The smew is a small sawbill, a group of ducks named for their serrated bills. They're diving ducks, which spend a lot of time under the water hunting for food - mostly aquatic insects in summer and small fish in winter.
Smews are winter visitors to the UK, with most birds not arriving until at least December and leaving again by the middle of March. They spend the summer in the taiga forests of northern Scandinavia and Russia, where they nest around lakes, ponds, rivers and other water-logged places with lots of trees. The females lay their eggs in holes high up tree trunks, lining their nest with soft down feathers. They often use old cavities excavated by black woodpeckers, though they'll happily use large nest boxes instead. The ducklings will jump down to the ground at just a day or two old and make their way to the nearest water.
Outside of the breeding season, smews can sometimes form large flocks but are usually found in small groups. In the UK, most sightings of smews involve single birds, or very small groups. The best place to look for a smew is on a lake, reservoir or gravel pit; often places that hold wintering goldeneyes can also attract a smew. Some sites reliably host a smew or two, or even a small flock, every year. Most of the smews that make it to the UK are females or young bird, as the adult males tend to stay closer to their breeding grounds.
The number of smews reaching the UK each winter has decreased dramatically in recent decades and they are now considered a scarce visitor. In the mid 20th century, hundreds would spend the winter here, with a record 144 counted at a single London reservoir in 1956. By contrast, in 2019 it was estimated that only 130 smews wintered in the whole of Britain. This decrease has been attributed to the effects of climate change, with warmer winters meaning the birds don't need to travel as far from their breeding grounds to escape freezing conditions. However, smews are very prone to move around in winter in response to the weather conditions, so spells of very cold weather on the continent can push more across the North Sea to the UK.
Adult males are unmistakeable, with a striking black and white plumage. They're mostly white but with a black back, grey flanks, and narrow black lines on the sides of the breast and rear of the head. They also have a black patch around each eye that reaches the base of the short, dark bill. They have longer feathers on their crown that form a drooping crest.
Did you know?
Male smews are sometimes known as 'white nuns' because their crest and pale plumage gives them the impression of wearing a white hood. Females and young birds are referred to as 'weasel-coots', or more commonly 'redheads', due to the chestnut colour of their head.
I know people have been curious about my cyr wheel, so I thought I’d post a brief outtake from an upcoming promotional video. I’ll be posting more things on a new website in January, but in the meantime, if you’re intrigued by this, or interested in some of my other photo work, I’d love to have you visit my professional Facebook page!
You know sometimes despite being a man you feel you've just got to get into a dress. I admit my desire to wear a dress does go a bit further as I also enjoy wearing makeup, a wig, high heels and shaving my legs and chest...I rather love to pretend I'm a woman.
This is a self timer shot I took in August 2008 capturing a moment of real transvestite delight as I had seen this dress and knew I simply had to buy it and wear it. Most men do not desire this but some of us do and I simply could not resist.
God's Utterance "How to Know God’s Disposition and the Result of His Work" (Part Five)
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/how-to-know-gods-disposit...
God’s words in this video are from the book “Continuation of The Word Appears in the Flesh”.
The content of this video:
Man’s Fate Is Decided by His Attitude Toward God
The Starting Point for Fearing God Is to Treat Him Like God
Those People Who Are Not Acknowledged by God
Words of Admonishment
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
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she's a black belt in karate...
Don't let her cute exterior fool you! Yoshimi is a mischievous girl at heart. She is one of my newest tinycutethings customs and I am smitten. I love her cheeky smile, she looks like she is up to no good, hehehe. Her grumpy sister Ryo will be making an appearance here soon. :)
Thank you Nancy for all your hard work! I know Yoshimi proved to be a tough one to work on! ;D
As seen on the 1 year anniversary of the storming of the Capitol.
There were more reporters there than demonstrators or tourists.
It is not what you expected of my first day in Jasper since the world broke, but it is the one I like most.
or, maybe a girl; who knows with magpies....
It's already up to +26C and going to +31C or so today. A perfect way to cool off and have some fun.
I think this is the same little guy who had some fun with the underground sprinklers last week. He was in the front yard when they popped up and he chased all around several of them and jumped in and out of the main spray ...following it around the yard.... it was pretty entertaining.
This morning, I was watering a small area in the back and heard a young one so went to look...and, sure enough there he was ...having a splash in the sprinkler and even in the wet grass... pretending the whole lawn was his own private birdie bath.... every so often he sqeaked with total delight. You just knew he was having great fun....
He stayed for quite some time as I had to get the camera and change lenses and find a vantage point and adjust the blinds, etc....he would go in and out of the main spray area and even onto the mulch to jump around after getting good and wet... then, back in he went...for more showering ... he loves that sprinkler. ...
Later he came back (with a friend or sibling) and wondered where it went...he marched around the whole back yard looking for 'his' toy..... I'm sure he was having to explain to the other one that he was not telling tales...it really had been here ....
Do you know that the Passion Flower has Christian symbolism?
The blue rays represent the crown of thorns, the three stigmas look like three nails of the crucifixion, the five anthers represent the five wounds and the sharp leaves represent whips and spears. That is why it is called Passion flower.
Thank you to Hornbeam Arts for the information.
Thank you for your favourites. :O)