The afternoon garden was full of the buzz of many types af bees.

Copied from original RTW garment in Miss V's closet.

Reflections in the glass of The iconic Point, in Milton Keynes. It was the UK's first multiplex 10 screen cinema when it opened in 1985, but now the demolition hammer is hanging over it's head:(

Suricato en Faunia (Madrid)

Hooman! Guess what?

What Barney?

I've decided what I want to be when I grow up!!

Erm... I hate to break it to you Barn, but you are grown up!

Pfft. Well, OK, then, it can be... an early New Year's Resolution...

Oh yes?

Yes. Hooman. I am going to be a badger. An' live in the woods. An' dig a den, under this 'ere tree stump.

Badgers have "setts", not "dens" & I, umm, I don't think you can be a badger. I don't think you'd like being one either!

But I'm the right colours, sorta, an' I like the woods, an' I like diggin' an' stuff?!

But do you like... eating worms and bugs and things like that?

I like stomping on spiders an' killin' flies!

You also like a nice bowl of dog food twice a day though, don't you?

Ye-es... but...

And you like a nice comfy bed by the fire?

Ye-es.... but...

And you like me to throw toys for you?

Ye-es... but...

And you DO want a doggie Christmas present don't you?

Yes!

Well, badgers get badger Christmas presents... only good dogs get doggie Christmas presents.

Are doggie Christmas presents better than badger Christmas presents?

Pretty sure they are!

Hmm... hooman, I'm a good dog. I think being a badger is over-rated. Come on, lets go home an' you can get me a bowl of dog food.

Haha, come to think about it, Barney would probably be quite a good badger actually... he does enjoy digging, night-time strolls, snuffling about in the undergrowth & has a genuine, slightly disturbing love for stomping on bugs (although spiders are his favourite), so probably wouldn't mind eating insects & worms for tea! Still, I think he makes a better dog :)

Wheat

I moved the camera around until the flower was against the dark shadows of leaves of the monbretia. Once on the computer I cloned out the lighter leaves, leaving just the shadows, and added a slight shadow contrast to make it even darker.

Just time for one more ... cup of tea... and photo!

Photo edited using Orton effect in PicMonkey to make it "bloom".

Plotting and waiting... patiently...

... a two inch high knitted character, made by the mother of a Flickr friend, and one of my favourite items in my office.

Worked with a nude model to capture her shape and form. Thank you for your appreciation, Gail

.. and old clematis, but still gives wonderful blooms.

White Butterfly

... Granny's bonnet.

Aquilegia 'Crimson Star'

We had a thunderstorm that lasted about an hour yesterday. The electricity stayed on, but we lost the Sky Box for about 40 minutes! Too much static interference, I guess.

Please View In Black.