We successfully infiltrated a Separatist outpost, just to be stopped by a malfunctioning door. General Treym was taking up the rear when suddenly the door closed, separating us from him. Treym called out from the other side telling us that the control panel would not work. I could hear his lightsaber ignite as he told us to stay back. Suddenly his blade sliced through the door. As he started cutting away, a patrol of B1's came marching through. We made quick work of them, hoping no more would come.

Gallery Coming Soon. :)

F-4 Phantom – 5195 units produced, 63 years of production/service, dozens of monographs, modelling plans, etc., what can go wrong? Well, actually quite many things. Still, after a few setbacks, here it is, my latest model

About the jet

The history of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II started back in the mid 50’, with the first flight taking place on 27th May 1958. Initially, the F4H-1 (the initial designation before the tri-service unification) started as an unsolicited proposal from McDonnell Douglas, which actually didn’t get much interest. Only after the problems of other Navy fighters led to the necessity of acquiring a new general-purpose fighter, the Phantom as we know could get its chance. After winning the competition against the Vought’s F8U-3 Crusader III submission, the F4H-1 went to service in 1961, with a new designation of F-4B (starting in 1962). Even though F-4B was a revolutionary design for it time, it still had a number of deficiencies, with the most serious ones being slightly too high approach speed, and its AN-APQ-72 radar lacking the look-down, shoot-down capabilities, performing poorly against the ground clutter. As a consequence, after delivering 649 F-4B, in late 1966 McDonnell introduced a new, improved version – the F-4J. This version featured a revised and strengthened internal structure, more powerful J79-GE-10 engines (the smokeless, 10B version was introduced later in 1978), new, wider tires (resulting in bulges on the top part of the wings), a few aerodynamic improvements for decreasing the approach speed (changes to inboard leading edges and slotted stabilator), and most importantly, new AWG-10 radar, with solid-state elements and prominent look-down, shoot-down capabilities. The F-4J served through the Vietnam war until the late 70’, together with the F-4B, and later F-4N (upgraded F-4B). After that, starting from 1978, the selected 265 F-4J underwent an upgrade to F-4S standard (the initial idea was for 302, but the number was reduced), featuring smokeless J79-GE-10B engines, improved electronics, and leading-edge maneuvering slats, similar to those on USAF’s F-4E. In this variant, Phantoms served until 1987 in USN, and 1992 in USMC. In the meantime, 15 F-4J were also sold to UK, to fill the gap left by FGR. 2 Phantoms (F-4M) deployed to the Falkland Islands. These aircraft, known also as F-4J(UK) Phantom F.3s, served from 1984 to 1991. Interestingly, they were greatly appreciated by the RAF pilots, with most of them considering them superior to British Spey-engined variants, mainly due to the much faster response of the J-79 turbojets, in comparison to Rolls-Royce Spey 203 turbofans.

About the building process

While I’ve always appreciated the F-4, I was never a “Phantom Phanatic”. In fact, the idea for this model came to me by accident – I was a bit stuck with other projects, and thinking about different solutions, the idea that 2x3x1 curved slopes would make for an excellent Phantom fuselage went through my mind. I thought that these easy, boxy shapes of F-4 would make for a nice relax after the complex shapes of my F-14 and MiG-29, and so I started. Unfortunately, I made a huge mistake at the very beginning – I used the blueprints from the book, without validating their correctness first, which later cost me a lot of headaches.

Before going further, I should mention some of the F-4 models by other people, which were a huge inspiration to me. Of course, there is an excellent F-4B by Mad Physicist , a beautiful F-4B by Carl Greatrix , and a whole series of different F-4s by Justin Davies. However, from the viewpoint of my model, three Phantoms were of particular importance for me. The first one is F-4N by Jonah Padberg. Even though I’ve ended with a very different cockpit design, I’ve started with the modification of his 3-stud wide canopy and angled cockpit section. The next model, is a F-4B by Maks, who made an excellent, SNOT version of the Phantom, which to a large degree influenced some of my design choices. Lastly, there is a huge, 1/15 scale F-4J by crash_cramer, which might be my favorite LEGO model ever. Similarly as in the case of my F-14 Tomcat, I tried to emulate some of his techniques in a smaller scale.

The first assumption was to go for the 3-stud wide canopy, similarly as in my MiG-29. Such solution is much more accurate in this scale and makes the model look much more realistic in my opinion. In fact, I’m so pleased with the outcome here that I will likely rebuild my F-14 in near future to similar standard. The construction itself started with the wings. I’ve always came under impression that similarly to F-15, the angle for the leading edge is 45 degrees. Well, not really. Instead, the angle is 51 degrees, which effectively eliminates any plate-based solutions, leaving the brick-built wing as the only valid option. So instead of getting a nice, simple, sturdy 45 degrees wing, I had to go with a brick-built one, which combined with the main landing gear solution and folding mechanism, proved to be a nightmare. After figuring it out, the next challenge was to design the angled cockpit area. Here, the solutions from Jonah’s model were of great help. With those two pieces in place, the rest went relatively smoothly, leading to the stage presented in WiP pictures. And then, having 85% of a model ready, I checked the validity of my blueprints. I was able to get my hands on the original F-4 factory drawing on the Aviation Archives website, and all my drawings turned out to be off by a considerable margin. Fortunately, I’m not the only person dissatisfied by the quality of available blueprints, and I was able to find this awesome website, with a set of 100% accurate drawings, based on the factory ones, including the cross-sections. That was good news, the bad one was that my fuselage was too short, too high, and too wide. So I had to lower the whole fuselage by a plate, elongate it by 2 studs, and modify it from 10-stud wide, to 9-stud wide. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard, but after lowering the fuselage, it became evident that the angling of the front section is too steep. This, in turn, required a complete revision of the already most problematic section, consuming an awful lot of time. But after all these problems, I finally got a model, with which I am quite satisfied.

About the model

The model represents a McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II in a 1/33 scale. The camouflage is based on the F-4J from VF-96 squadron, BuNo. 155800, callsign “Showtime100”, deployed on the USS Constellation aircraft carrier in Vietnam, around 1972. This particular aircraft, on the 10th of May 1972, was credited with 3 MiG-17 kills, being flown by pilot Lt Randy Cunningham and RIO Lt(jg) Willy Driscoll. This effectively made them the only Navy aces of the Vietnam war, as they already had 2 kills on their account. You may also note that they flew a “borrowed” plane, as the name on the cockpit is that of Lowell “Gus” Eggert, who later commanded the USS Constellation from 1974 onward. As usual, the model possesses a number of features: openable cockpits, working flaps, foldable wings, working horizontal and vertical tails, retractable landing gear and tailhook. I’m rather pleased with the functionality, as most of the features, especially the landing gear, are much more reliable than in e.g. my MiG-29. The loadout comprises 4 AIM-7E Sparrows, 4 AIM-9G Sidewinders, and a centerline 600 gal. fuel tank. Also, under the wings, there are outboard pylons for two 370 gal. fuel tanks, which are visible on some of the photos. The credit for the stand design goes to Jerac. There is a small discrepancy in the camouflage – in principle nearly all USN phantoms had an all-white underside, with an exception of some late 80s’, extremely dull, low-vis versions. Unfortunately, due to the brick-built nature of the wing, I was unable to make them white on the bottom. For a moment, I contemplated utilizing huge white stickers, but it wouldn’t look all that great, and it would make the wings extremely modification-unfriendly. Still, the final effect is not that bad. So, please enjoy, and let me know what is your opinion on this model.

“I stop reading after half an hour.

I’ve had enough.

Humanity has hit a brick wall.

We’re facing our end, like the dinosaurs millions of years before us.

The only difference is we’ve got journalists on hand to document every blow and setback, cataloguing our rapid, painful downfall in vibrant, vicious detail.

Personally, I think the dinosaurs had the better deal.

When it comes to impending, unavoidable extinction, ignorance is bliss.”

(From "Demon Apocalypse" by Darren Shan)

This is a portrait of a green iguana...These creatures could be the last dinausors on earth today...

Join the photographer at www.facebook.com/laurent.goldstein.photography

© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.

Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).

The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.

Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Electric Shunter D2961 is one of a number of 165 h.p. 0-4-0 diesel shunters at the SVR, but is the only one with Diesel Electric transmission, producing a sound reminiscent of a tram in operation

The locomotive was built by Ruston and Hornsby ("R&H") of Lincoln as works number 418596 of 1957, and was delivered new to ICI Limited at Winnington, Cheshire, where it carried the name 'Stephenson'

In early 1965 418596 moved to T.H. Ward of Sheffield, and late in the same year moved on to Higgs and Hill, Contractors for Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. After returning to Wards, it moved to Tunnel Cement at Birsley, Flint in 1969.n

In 1972 the locomotive was sold to Tinsley and Lovatt of Trentham, Staffs for overhaul, after which it was sold to its final owners, Patent Shaft Steelworks of Wednesbury

In the first years of SVR preservation, shunting duties and engineering trains used steam locomotives, in particular the ex-industrials 2047 Warwickshire and 686 The Lady Armaghdale. However the ease of use of diesel shunters led to their early adoption, with Highflier the first to arrive in 1971. The Red Ruston, the first of the 165 h.p. R&H shunters was next to arrive in 1972, followed by Mary also in 1972 and Yellow Peril in 1975. All saw regular service at a time when the railway was developing and expanding to Bewdley, but with the exception of the Red Ruston they proved underpowered for the job.

The closure of Patent Shaft in 1980 gave the SVR the opportunity to acquire a further four 165 h.p. R&H shunters at 'bargain rates'. They were painted in a 'bilious yellow' and were rather battered in places, having apparently been in the habit of pushing their way through piles of steel plate. Diesel Electric 418596 (unnamed) was in better condition than the rest and was initially intended for P-Way use, while the plan for the three Diesel Mechanical shunters Alan, William and Archibald was that two would be allocated to the terminal stations allowing the third to be under repair at any given time. Two spare engines were also obtained.

When 418596 arrived on the SVR on 1 November 1980, it was owned by SVR(H) having been acquired at a cost of £1000. It was repainted in BR green livery with the later BR 'ferret and dartboard' emblem, and given the fictitious number D2961 in keeping with former BR fleet numbers. After receiving mechanical attention it was allocated to the P-Way department as intended. However by summer 1981 experience proved that it was better suited to yard work and it had become resident in Bridgnorth yard. It quickly transpired that William and Archibald, the latter owned by Pete Cherry, were not going to be kept long-term so ownership of Archibald and D2961 was simply swapped, with Pete Cherry becoming owner of D2961.

Both William and Archibald were subsequently cannibalised for spare parts.

D2961 was used as the principal Bridgnorth yard shunter until the arrival of the more powerful BR Class 08 D3586 in 1986, after which it continued in service at Bridgnorth performing movements in and out of the boiler shop and light yard shunts. However by spring 1997 D2961 was out of traffic due to a blown engine. A Gardner bus engine had been acquired to see if it was possible to achieve an easy engine swap[7] although with no success.

In spring 2003 a report from Trevor Davies in SVR News noted that the Class 08 Society were assisting with returning "the Bridgnorth boiler shop Ruston" to service by repairing and restoring parts, in addition to their main activity of restoring 08133. By winter of that year D2961 was at Kidderminster with repairs still incomplete.

After that time progress was slow for some years. By summer 2010 renovation work was still in progress at Kidderminster, although the diesel set had been started for the first time in several years during the preceding winter. This had required D2961's engine to be rebuilt from its crankshaft and also provided with a reconditioned fuel pump and injectors. At that stage it still required work on the brake and suspension systems together with a full electrical overhaul before being available for service.

By summer 2012 the overhaul of the fuel and brake systems had been completed after considerable effort by a small team of our volunteers, with a reconditioned brake valve being fitted along with a new safety valve. This had enabled the locomotive to move under its own power for the first time in many years. The next six months saw the wiring completed, new spotlights fitted, and generator traction motor guards made and fitted, although the locomotive suffered a setback in November when it was hit by an attempted theft whilst in Kidderminster yard.

Considerable work was also carried out on the bodywork during the renovation. The cab and its roof were almost completely replaced, as the original platework was well past its prime. The cab received all-new woodwork including the floor, and tool and battery lockers. New cab doors were fitted with '08' style door locks and handles, allowing all qualified shunt locomotive drivers to gain access.

D2961 eventually returned to service at Bridgnorth in 2013. Trevor Davies summed up the renovation in SVR News by noting "There is a lesson to be learned here, that is if you are not going to see a big repair project through, then please leave it in one piece, as it makes it easier for those who may wish to take up the baton at a later stage. Preservation is full of projects that started with good intentions, met with a dose of reality and as a consequence foundered."

As of 2023 D2961 is still based at Bridgnorth and is serviceable. It is still owned by Pete Cherry

New World Development Co. will demolish two towers at Hong Kong’s most popular housing development in decades and compensate buyers after finding unexpected defects, in a major setback for the real estate company.

The developer will pull down and rebuild the existing floors of Towers 1 and 8 at its Pavilia Farm III project near Tai Wai station after it found the concrete strength in some areas did not meet design requirements, the Hong Kong-based company said in a statement.

Shares of New World fell as much as 4.8% Thursday in Hong Kong, the most in more than seven months, before recovering to close 3.9% lower.

The demolition is a reversal of fortunes for New World, led by tycoon Adrian Cheng, just as property prices in the city are hovering near an all time-high set in mid-2019. The real estate company led the new residential market recently with the project, which was so popular that 88 buyers vied for one apartment -- making it the most in-demand development in the city since 1997.

The reconstruction will delay the date of occupancy by nine months and the developer plans to compensate the affected 846 buyers in the buildings with as much as HK$1.15 million ($148,030) for a home worth HK$15 million, the company said in a statement.

(20210708 Bloomberg)

I am so sorry that I haven’t been updating you about Sweet Pea over the last week; I am sure you have all been worried as to how she is getting on. I haven’t been feeling too good so I have pretty much just been sleeping, eating, seeing to Sweet Pea and then sleeping again. Getting up every few hours to check on her has just been so draining; it really has been hard work to nurse her.

So on June 22nd Sweet Pea was much brighter than she previously had been. She pottered about her cage a little and she took much more of an interest in food, it’s like she finally realised that she was hungry. She pouched a lot of food to take back to her nest which I was glad about, it was the first time we had seen her pouch food in a while. She also had a really big drink which I was pleased about; at least I knew that she wasn’t dehydrated anymore.

Her wound site looked perfect, it was clean, the stitches were intact and she hadn’t bled anymore which I was really relieved about, it seems that the steri-strips did the trick!

Sweet Pea continued to gain more interest in food over June 23rd. She started to take treats from our hands again; she would pretty much take and eat anything that was offered to her.

She just generally seemed a lot more alert, she was grooming herself more thoroughly, she was taking good care of her wound site and she was quite active. She kept standing at her door which is what she does when she wants to come out and play.

On Friday the 24th we took her to the vets for a check up. The vet was delighted with her progress and she was really happy to see her looking so well. The vet said her wound site looked brilliant and she was pleased with how well it had healed. She said that the stitches could only stay in for a maximum of 10 days so if they hadn’t dissolved by June 30th she would have to take them out otherwise they would inhibit healing. She also said that I needed to start slowly weaning Sweet Pea off the Metacam and Baytril because over time the meds can do damage to her liver and kidneys. She said that Sweet Pea didn’t need to go back for a check up unless the stitches didn’t come out, which was good news. Sweet Pea was a little star at the vets. She was such a good girl and she just sat on the table minding her own business, she wasn’t at all distressed like she was the previous two times we took her.

Over the weekend Sweet Pea carried on doing well. She was lively, she was eating plenty, drinking, grooming and urinating! On two separate occasions she decided that I was the toilet and peed on me! I didn’t mind though because at least we knew that she could pee and that she wasn’t dehydrated. It was also pretty funny too; everyone had a giggle at my expense!!

Her wound site still looked good as well, although you could see that the stitches were beginning to get tight as she healed.

On Monday when we woke up her for breakfast we noticed that Sweet Pea had taken it upon herself to nibble the stitches out. I guess they were getting pretty uncomfortable for her as they had tightened. The wound looked a little open and I didn’t want to risk it opening up completely so I put some steri-strips on her to keep it closed. Monday was also a really warm day here and everyone was irritable, including all three of the hams. Sweet Pea seemed especially irritable so she resorted to sleeping onto of her house instead of in it! The temperature got up to 29.5C which is much higher than we would expect for this time of year; we had to have two fans going in my bedroom with me and the hams! Fortunately it started to cool down in the evening so it was more comfortable overnight.

Yesterday was not so unbearably warm and everyone was less irritable. However we still needed both fans going to keep my bedroom cool.

Sweet Pea was much better with the cooler weather. Her appetite was excellent and she was a lot more active compared to the day before. Her wound had mostly knitted together which I was glad about. We put some clean steri-strips on it just till it heals a little bit more just to be on the safe side.

Today Sweet Pea has been up for her breakfast already which she ate in no time at all! Her wound still looks good but I will be leaving the steri-strips on for another few days to be certain that it has completely closed up. Overall she is looking a lot healthier, her coat has started to look much shinier and it’s also less patchy; she is acting more like a young ham should.

The pace of her recovery has slowed down over the weekend and the last few days. She isn’t progressing in big leaps anymore but she is still taking small steps in the right direction. I think it will be a while before she is fully over it all as the operation was so major, but everyday she does improve a little so she will get there in the end. I just hope that we don’t have any setbacks along the way.

Which, pretty much describes me these days. One of the reasons I haven't been commenting on all your amazing photos. Don't wanna spread the moroseishness, as it were. I hope everyone is well. We're good from a physical standpoint, other than a major setback in my RA, and constant headache for two+ months. If you know the species of the little birdie, lemme know. I did check the Cornell Ornithology Lab site, but, MEH.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart

Stuttgart (Swabian: Schduagert) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known locally as the "Stuttgart Cauldron." It lies an hour from the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest. Its urban area has a population of 609,219, making it the sixth largest city in Germany. 2.7 million people live in the city's administrative region and another 5.3 million people in its metropolitan area, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in Germany. The city and metropolitan area are consistently ranked among the top 20 European metropolitan areas by GDP; Mercer listed Stuttgart as 21st on its 2015 list of cities by quality of living, innovation agency 2thinknow ranked the city 24th globally out of 442 cities and the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranked the city as a Beta-status world city in their 2014 survey.

Since the 6th millennium BC, the Stuttgart area has been an important agricultural area and has been host to a number of cultures seeking to utilize the rich soil of the Neckar valley. The Roman Empire conquered the area in 83 AD and built a massive castrum near Bad Cannstatt, making it the most important regional centre for several centuries. Stuttgart's roots were truly laid in the 10th century with its founding by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, as a stud farm for his warhorses. Initially overshadowed by nearby Cannstatt, the town grew steadily and was granted a charter in 1320. The fortunes of Stuttgart turned with those of the House of Württemberg, and they made it the capital of their county, duchy, and kingdom from the 15th century to 1918. Stuttgart prospered despite setbacks in the Thirty Years' War and devastating air raids by the Allies on the city and its automobile production during World War II. However, by 1952, the city had bounced back and it became the major economic, industrial, tourism and publishing centre it is today.

Stuttgart is also a transport junction, and possesses the sixth-largest airport in Germany. Several major companies are headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, and Dinkelacker.

Stuttgart is unusual in the scheme of German cities. It is spread across a variety of hills (some of them covered in vineyards), valleys (especially around the Neckar river and the Stuttgart basin) and parks. This often surprises visitors who associate the city with its reputation as the "cradle of the automobile". The city's tourism slogan is "Stuttgart offers more". Under current plans to improve transport links to the international infrastructure (as part of the Stuttgart 21 project), the city unveiled a new logo and slogan in March 2008 describing itself as "Das neue Herz Europas" ("The new Heart of Europe"). For business, it describes itself as "Where business meets the future". In July 2010, Stuttgart unveiled a new city logo, designed to entice more business people to stay in the city and enjoy breaks in the area.

Stuttgart is a city with a high number of immigrants. According to Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany, "In the city of Stuttgart, every third inhabitant is a foreigner." 40% of Stuttgart's residents, and 64% of the population below the age of five, are of immigrant background.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart_Hauptbahnhof

Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is the primary railway station in the city of Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany. It is the largest regional and long-distance railway station in Stuttgart, the main node of the Stuttgart S-Bahn network, and, together with the station at Charlottenplatz, it is the main node of the Stuttgart Stadtbahn.

Located at the northeastern end of the Königstraße, the main pedestrian zone of the city centre, the main line station is a terminus, whilst the subterranean S-Bahn and Stadtbahn stations are through-stations. The station is well known for its 12-storey tower with a large, rotating and illuminated Mercedes-Benz star insignia on top; the tower and station building are city landmarks.

Plans for the controversial Stuttgart 21 project to convert the main line terminus station into an underground through station include the demolition of the side wings of the building, together with the elimination of the platforms, tracks, and apron of the terminus station. The planned underground through station is configured at a 90-degree angle to the present station. Construction is scheduled from 2010 to 2019.

In November 2009, preservationists of the International Council on Monuments and Sites nominated the building for inclusion in UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, an occasion that opponents of the Stuttgart 21 project picked to urge the city and Deutsche Bahn to stop the project which implies demolition of parts of the complex designed by Paul Bonatz.

The Wheel of fortune turns up in the Seeker’s life to expand and lift up the seeker’s experiences. It often shows up when you least expect it and it creates amazing changes you might not even be ready for. The Tarot says to prepare for the Wheel of fortune because if you don’t it can be a stressful experience. You might feel like you have been thrown into the deep end and you are unable to be the person you always dreamt of being. The Wheel of fortune will give you success, so get rid of your beliefs and feelings about being insignificant and small.The Wheel of fortune is the card for beings successful, and in love it denotes matchmaking done by the Universe. You will not be able to plan meeting your soulmate, it will just happen in the strangest of places. You will most likely meet through what looks like fate or destiny, rather than through other people. If you are already in a relationship then the Wheel of fortune denotes you were destined to be together. The Wheel of fortune tarot card love meaning is surely a very positive card. If you are single, it is only temporary. If you don’t want a relationship and the Wheel of fortune turns up then you might meet someone you will be unable to forget. The Wheel of fortune brings you people who you might not be able to turn away from. Fear of abandonment and commitment are all beliefs and programs that will have to be dealt with before the Wheel of fortune enters your life. Write down your fears on a piece of paper and burn it in a safe place. Imagine your fears dissolve with the flames and the smoke.Learn the traditional meaning of the Wheel of fortune tarot card here. With the Wheel of Fortune ends an old way of life. A part of your life if not most of your life will be completely renewed. In regards to love the Wheel of fortune tarot card says your partner will renew you. Someone will come and bring in a new way of life. Your partner might even be from a different country than you or you will move together to a new part of the world.

Most of the changes with the Wheel of fortune happens on the mental plane to bring in new people and events, even a new way to do your job. Sometimes the Wheel of fortune will push you in a completely new direction to put you around people you normally would never have met.

The Wheel of fortune describes relationships between soulmates who are destined to be together. This is the kind of relationship that will bring you the highs and lows of human emotions, and you will make great leaps forward towards a life you could never even imagine. There are plenty of adventures waiting.Wheel Of Fortune Tarot Card Love Meanings Summary: To sum it up: The Wheel of fortune denotes an adventure and action filled relationship between two people who are from different places and/or environments. The Wheel of fortune brings people together who usually would never have met. The Wheel of fortune tarot card is the cosmic matchmaker and you will be meeting your soulmate through what seems like complete chance. In a relationship the Wheel of fortune states your are destined to be together. The Wheel of fortune advises you to deal with limiting beliefs around success and achievements as the Wheel of fortune is always expanding and so will you under it’s influence.

www.tarotwikipedia.com/wheel-of-fortune-tarot-card-love-m...

Wheel of fortune is sometimes taken as a complicated tarot card, for it basically emphasizes “anything can happen”. This is true even in the situations of love and relationship. Look at the word “fortune”. What does that mean? Luck and wealth.

So if you have eyes on someone the appearance of this tarot card in a reading about them simply reveals that something will happen between you and them and that is also in a very shocking manner. In short, luck is with you and so you do not need to worry. In a reading about a relationship, Wheel of fortune tarot card tells you of good things happening or coming up for you. In reversed position, this tarot card is negative in nature because the devil and the monsters which were underneath the wheel before have now come on the top. As a matter of fact, if you closely look at the card you will see that the snake also is crawling upward. This simply signals that darkness has taken over your love life. So some setbacks should be seen in it or expecte.

www.priania.com/2013/07/wheel-of-fortune-in-love-and.html

Eugene Landry (Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe 1932-1988.)

Oil on board

20" x 24"

It is rare for artworks to be exhibited in damaged condition. But here the pigment loss and blemished canvas are central to the story of the painter Eugene "Gene" Landry. It emphasizes how extraordinary his body of work is given the precarious circumstances under which it was created and held after Landry’s death.

Not only did Landry continue to paint in defiance of debilitating ill health, his works were rescued from abandonment and obscurity after his death.

"When artist Judith Altruda found a lost art collection in the attic of an old building in Grayland, Washington, she knew she had to act fast. Stored for over two decades in an unheated building, many of the canvases were moldy and moisture damaged. There were at least 70 paintings and drawings by Eugene Landry stacked underneath dusty bed sheets. They had not seen the light of day since the mid-90s."

www.eugenelandry.com/

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Eugene Landry: An Artist, a Time and a Tribe

May 28-29, 2022

www.eugenelandry.com

Shoalwater Bay Heritage Museum of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Tokeland, Washington.

www.shoalwaterbay-nsn.gov/

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Portrait of an Artist

Eugene ''Gene'' Landry (1937-1988) was a noted Northwest Native artist, who painted from the confines of a wheelchair. His personal story is one of perseverance, of an artist who created despite setbacks, always with humor and style.

Landry's art offers a glimpse into a transitional and little-documented time in Northwest Native history. His paintings are important because they represent a Native artist's portrayal of his own people during a time when Native Americans were erased, marginalized, and misrepresented by stereotypes in media and public education.

Landry painted contemporary portraits of his people, depicting them as they were. As one of his models said, ''We're so small and isolated here. People think we're so different. At one time, we had a bunch of kids from Raymond come down, and they wanted to know where our feathers were."

Gene was born in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian

Reservation. His biological mother was Hoh and his father was Quileute and Swedish. As an infant, he was adopted by Myrtle (Charley) and Fred Landry and raised at Georgetown, Myrtle's reservation.

Identity

As the only child of Myrtle and Fred Landry, Gene was well provided for and deeply loved. His biological-mother, Isabelle Hudson, a full-blooded Hoh, is remembered as having dark reddish-brown hair. His father, Austin Rosander, was half Quiliuette and half Swedish. Although Gene was adopted as a baby, he maintained ties with his biological family, who lived in Grays Harbor and the surrounding area.

Gene's appearance did not conform to expectations of what an Indian was "supposed to look like." His bright red hair (sometimes referred to as "Hoh River blond") made him stand out. In high school, he styled his hair like James Dean and drove a red 1937 hot rod Ford coupe. He was a gifted athlete, known for his running and boxing prowess, but he wasn't

allowed to run track because he refused to cut his hair.

Gene's art training was not traditional to his culture. He reached advanced levels in art at Aberdeen and Ocosta High Schools, but there were no practitioners of Native arts around to mentor him. He explored and developed his talent using the means available, based on Western European art traditions. He would go on to create art with a native sensibility, using the tools available.

Art Student

Gene trained himself to use his non-dominant left hand to paint. In 1961, he enrolled at the Leon F. Derbyshire School of Fine Arts in Seattle. There was no wheelchair access, so Gene had to be carried up the stairs to the second floor classroom.

In 1962 Gene studied with noted Northwest sculptor Philip Levine at his Phoenix Gallery in Seattle. By 1964, Gene was showing his work and winning acclaim in the Pacific Northwest. Over the next four years, he exhibited at the Frye Museum, the West Coast Annual at the Seattle Civic Center, The Edmonds and Anacortes Art Festivals, and the La Grande All Indian Arts Festivals.

Gene met Sharon Billingsley, a model and painter who attended classes at Derbyshire, and they struck up a friendship that led to romance. The couple could often be found sketching street scenes side by side, Gene in his wheelchair, Sharon next to him on a folding stool.

Gene and Sharon married in California on May 28, 1965. They went to Paris to study art, then returned to the Northwest, living in Seattle, Tacoma, and Georgetown until their marriage ended in 1972.

Back to Georgetown, Washington

In the late l960s, Landry moved back to the Shoalwater Bay Reservation. He set up a studio inside a small cabin that had been moved to the reservation from North Cove's at Washaway Beach. A wheel chair ramp and wrap-around deck made it accessible for plein air painting. Situated on the shore of Shoalwater Bay, Gene painted still-lives utilizing objects that washed in on the tides: glass fishing floats, discolored rope, old bones, shells and feathers.

He also painted still lifes and portraits in oil, using his family and friends as models. These works span a pivotal time in the tribe's history, from near termination to federal recognition.

Fifty years have passed since Gene painted Winona Weber's portrait. When asked why Landry's art matters today, she replied:

“I am a historian at heart. Gene's art is part of our history. Also, a talent like his really deserves to be acknowledged. When I was working with the women's history project, I said I was happy to be breaking some stereotypes of native women. A woman said it should just be commonplace. But first you have to be visible to be usual. I would like to see Gene visible."

Later Years

Gene traveled throughout the Southwest, spending time in New Mexico and Arizona. He traveled to Mexico and the Philippines seeking native healers to help with his deteriorating health. He eventually lost function in his left arm but continued to make art, holding the brush in his teeth to reach higher places on the canvas.

In 1980 Gene moved to Santa Barbara. His house, perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, was filled with art, his own and others. He opened a gallery downtown and championed the work of local artists. In the mid 80s his business partner-who was also his care giver unexpectedly died. His own health declining, Gene returned to his parent's home on the reservation.

Gene Landry died April 7, 1988 at age 51. He is buried next to Myrtle Landry and his relations in the Indian section at Sunset Memorial in Hoquiam, Washington. The Shoalwater Bay Tribe’s Na ‘m ‘sc ‘ac Heritage Museum is located on the former site of the cabin and dome.

Illness, November 1955

The illness came without warning. When 17-year-old Gene suddenly lost consciousness, his parents wrapped him in blankets and drove two hours to Cushman Indian Hospital in Tacoma. There were closer facilities for emergency care, but they did not provide Indian Health services. Gene remained a patient at Cushman for two and a half years, undergoing treatment for tubercular meningitis. The disease paralyzed his legs, and he endured grueling physical therapy, but he continued to work on paintings from a hospital bed.

Gene's parents moved to Tacoma to be closer to the hospital. When Myrtle Landry raised concerns about his condition and the poor care, Gene was abruptly discharged. Myrtle Landry (Washington Women's Heritage Project 1980):

"One doctor said, 'Why don't you just go and leave him and forget about him?' I said, 'Just who do you think you're talking to anyway?' I said, 'I got feelings, even though I'm a full blood Indian, I got feelings.' He said, 'Well, he'll never amount to anything.' I said, 'Well, I'm sure as heck not gonna let him die here.' And boy I raised Cain with 'em. So they told us one day, 'You get out.'

And then the State decided they could do more for him than I could." The decision proved tragic. At a rehabilitation facility on Bainbridge Island, Gene fell while being moved by attendants and suffered a spinal injury. He lost the use of his right arm and the possibility of ever walking again. He was 21 years old.

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The Pythian Temple

architect: Thomas W. Lamb, 1927

architectural style: Art Deco, Egyptian & Assyrian Revival Temple

Built as the Headquarters of the 120 Pythian lodges of New York City.

Converted to residential use by architect David Gura in 1986.

Manhattan, Upper West Side

Lincoln Square neighborhood

135 West 70th Street

New York City, NY

Just a minor setback!

I used silver for his body, but it isn't really showing on the photo that well. I haven't embroidered in so long, so it was lovely to spend the afternoon just conjuring up something fun before I setback into bigger pieces.

I'll be back!

😎

We were hit by almost a foot of fresh snow.

Oh well that's Vermont for ya.

(update 4/2/07)

APRIL FOOL !!!

www.flickr.com/photos/63348497@N00/443533125/

.

Being a warrior king in a time of peace has some setbacks.. Rather than eating, drinking, and whoring himself into an early grave, King Steffon has gotten a taste for exploration and hunting.. Giving his Council the duties of ruling in his stead King Steffon and the Captain of the Guard, Chiswick, explore the Kingdom and enjoy the bountiful fruits it has to offer!!

Due to some real-life setbacks, I haven't managed to build as much for Lands of Roawia (LoR) as I would have liked.

However, when making Bricklink orders I keep an eye out for suitable minifig parts to expand my armies.

These tribesmen are the lighter armed farmers and petty nobles who take up arms to defend the icy north. The cheap but trusty spear is the weapon of choice for most, but the more wealthy members can afford swords. These men are brave on the first charge, but will not stand up to a prolonged melee, and may rout suddenly.

Finally was able to finish painting the sculpt and now it's all finished!

This fig started out very difficult, first I had sculpted a chest piece then found out I did it completely wrong, and then I had to remake the helmet and scrap the original. As said in the post of the sculpt Sander helped me out with this fig, so huge thanks to him and make sure to give him a follow! Here's a link to his flickr www.flickr.com/photos/thesandingblock But after my little setbacks it was quite easy to finish, not gonna say much more about it but let's go onto the paint job. The paint job on this fig was my first time using Citadels with their intended use, first doing a primer of just acrylic white, then doing a base coat of an apple barrel color, after than I did a wash using Agrax Earthshade then I used layer paint, then I did a back and forth of the Apple Barrel and Citadel layer until I got to a color I thought was good, then I did one final wash and then used my layer as the final coat. The sword is made fully out of Procreate and painted in the same way as the armor, thought it turned out pretty nice.

Onto the diorama, it was quite simple to make but a little time consuming, I first cut out the half circle and then applied the rocks, one set of them is real rocks the other (the one the sword is laying on), after I applied the static grass and the grass tuffs, then painted the road. Finally I made a quick little standing stone and plopped it down.

Overall this is probably my new favorite figure (I know I say that a lot :P) and I'm very proud with how it turned out! Comments and faves appreciated, stay tuned for my next fig, all I'm saying is that it's a Zelda fig!

2014 Thomas EFX: Ah yes, quality rolling trash on wheels. The well worn lemon that started and set a trend for these buses is back from the dead as a spare today after being OOS for the majority of this year. Todays duty was filling in for #60, a 2018 EFX. Definitely was not expecting this one to see another ray of light again after all it’s setbacks and issues. Pretty much remains untouched. A dangerous risk perhaps ? 😏😏😏

Setback.

No trains north of this location any more - at least connected with anything else. The Fox River train still operates out of Elkhorn to Harbinson and back, but the track south of Harbinson is gone and the track is closed just east of the Elkhorn Trestle. On this day, the Sacramento Weir was leaking into the Bypass, but the gates were still in. This may change after the next series of storms come through.

Eugene Landry

Lithographic Print

16" x 18"

Eugene Landry: An Artist, a Time and a Tribe

May 28-29, 2022

www.eugenelandry.com

Shoalwater Bay Heritage Museum of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Tokeland, Washington.

www.shoalwaterbay-nsn.gov/

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

Portrait of an Artist

Eugene ''Gene'' Landry (1937-1988) was a noted Northwest Native artist, who painted from the confines of a wheelchair. His personal story is one of perseverance, of an artist who created despite setbacks, always with humor and style.

Landry's art offers a glimpse into a transitional and little-documented time in Northwest Native history. His paintings are important because they represent a Native artist's portrayal of his own people during a time when Native Americans were erased, marginalized, and misrepresented by stereotypes in media and public education.

Landry painted contemporary portraits of his people, depicting them as they were. As one of his models said, ''We're so small and isolated here. People think we're so different. At one time, we had a bunch of kids from Raymond come down, and they wanted to know where our feathers were."

Gene was born in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian

Reservation. His biological mother was Hoh and his father was Quileute and Swedish. As an infant, he was adopted by Myrtle (Charley) and Fred Landry and raised at Georgetown, Myrtle's reservation.

Identity

As the only child of Myrtle and Fred Landry, Gene was well provided for and deeply loved. His biological-mother, Isabelle Hudson, a full-blooded Hoh, is remembered as having dark reddish-brown hair. His father, Austin Rosander, was half Quiliuette and half Swedish. Although Gene was adopted as a baby, he maintained ties with his biological family, who lived in Grays Harbor and the surrounding area.

Gene's appearance did not conform to expectations of what an Indian was "supposed to look like." His bright red hair (sometimes referred to as "Hoh River blond") made him stand out. In high school, he styled his hair like James Dean and drove a red 1937 hot rod Ford coupe. He was a gifted athlete, known for his running and boxing prowess, but he wasn't

allowed to run track because he refused to cut his hair.

Gene's art training was not traditional to his culture. He reached advanced levels in art at Aberdeen and Ocosta High Schools, but there were no practitioners of Native arts around to mentor him. He explored and developed his talent using the means available, based on Western European art traditions. He would go on to create art with a native sensibility, using the tools available.

Art Student

Gene trained himself to use his non-dominant left hand to paint. In 1961, he enrolled at the Leon F. Derbyshire School of Fine Arts in Seattle. There was no wheelchair access, so Gene had to be carried up the stairs to the second floor classroom.

In 1962 Gene studied with noted Northwest sculptor Philip Levine at his Phoenix Gallery in Seattle. By 1964, Gene was showing his work and winning acclaim in the Pacific Northwest. Over the next four years, he exhibited at the Frye Museum, the West Coast Annual at the Seattle Civic Center, The Edmonds and Anacortes Art Festivals, and the La Grande All Indian Arts Festivals.

Gene met Sharon Billingsley, a model and painter who attended classes at Derbyshire, and they struck up a friendship that led to romance. The couple could often be found sketching street scenes side by side, Gene in his wheelchair, Sharon next to him on a folding stool.

Gene and Sharon married in California on May 28, 1965. They went to Paris to study art, then returned to the Northwest, living in Seattle, Tacoma, and Georgetown until their marriage ended in 1972.

Back to Georgetown, Washington

In the late l960s, Landry moved back to the Shoalwater Bay Reservation. He set up a studio inside a small cabin that had been moved to the reservation from North Cove's at Washaway Beach. A wheel chair ramp and wrap-around deck made it accessible for plein air painting. Situated on the shore of Shoalwater Bay, Gene painted still-lives utilizing objects that washed in on the tides: glass fishing floats, discolored rope, old bones, shells and feathers.

He also painted still lifes and portraits in oil, using his family and friends as models. These works span a pivotal time in the tribe's history, from near termination to federal recognition.

Fifty years have passed since Gene painted Winona Weber's portrait. When asked why Landry's art matters today, she replied:

“I am a historian at heart. Gene's art is part of our history. Also, a talent like his really deserves to be acknowledged. When I was working with the women's history project, I said I was happy to be breaking some stereotypes of native women. A woman said it should just be commonplace. But first you have to be visible to be usual. I would like to see Gene visible."

Later Years

Gene traveled throughout the Southwest, spending time in New Mexico and Arizona. He traveled to Mexico and the Philippines seeking native healers to help with his deteriorating health. He eventually lost function in his left arm but continued to make art, holding the brush in his teeth to reach higher places on the canvas.

In 1980 Gene moved to Santa Barbara. His house, perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, was filled with art, his own and others. He opened a gallery downtown and championed the work of local artists. In the mid 80s his business partner-who was also his care giver unexpectedly died. His own health declining, Gene returned to his parent's home on the reservation.

Gene Landry died April 7, 1988 at age 51. He is buried next to Myrtle Landry and his relations in the Indian section at Sunset Memorial in Hoquiam, Washington. The Shoalwater Bay Tribe’s Na ‘m ‘sc ‘ac Heritage Museum is located on the former site of the cabin and dome.

Illness, November 1955

The illness came without warning. When 17-year-old Gene suddenly lost consciousness, his parents wrapped him in blankets and drove two hours to Cushman Indian Hospital in Tacoma. There were closer facilities for emergency care, but they did not provide Indian Health services. Gene remained a patient at Cushman for two and a half years, undergoing treatment for tubercular meningitis. The disease paralyzed his legs, and he endured grueling physical therapy, but he continued to work on paintings from a hospital bed.

Gene's parents moved to Tacoma to be closer to the hospital. When Myrtle Landry raised concerns about his condition and the poor care, Gene was abruptly discharged. Myrtle Landry (Washington Women's Heritage Project 1980):

"One doctor said, 'Why don't you just go and leave him and forget about him?' I said, 'Just who do you think you're talking to anyway?' I said, 'I got feelings, even though I'm a full blood Indian, I got feelings.' He said, 'Well, he'll never amount to anything.' I said, 'Well, I'm sure as heck not gonna let him die here.' And boy I raised Cain with 'em. So they told us one day, 'You get out.'

And then the State decided they could do more for him than I could." The decision proved tragic. At a rehabilitation facility on Bainbridge Island, Gene fell while being moved by attendants and suffered a spinal injury. He lost the use of his right arm and the possibility of ever walking again. He was 21 years old.

Manhattan, NYC

The last new photo taken in 2015. I had hoped to make the most of some decent weather at year's end, but I've had two medical setbacks and am out of commission again. All I can say is, I am so glad that 2015 is over!

This hermit thrush visits our back patio a couple of times per month, but as you can see by the 1/40th and 5.6 which has to be hand held, I never would have thought that I could be steady enough. But here I am, and there he was - sitting patiently.

Well, that and a healthy and Happy New Year to you all. I certainly had enough to cover us all. And yes I'm feeling better, and will comment as often as I'm "up to it." Commenting isn't like hiking, but being on the west coast, I wake up to 40-60 new pics every day, and just sitting is a bit of a chore. So, please excuse any delays...

Due to some real-life setbacks, I haven't managed to build as much for Lands of Roawia (LoR) as I would have liked.

However, when making Bricklink orders I keep an eye out for suitable minifig parts to expand my armies.

Here are some Skudae infantry. The one problem with a cavalry army is that clearing out well-organised spearmen can be a real issue. These troops are heavily armed with large protective shields and heavy crushing swords to punch through enemy spears and let the cavalry mop up the remaining troops!

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart

Stuttgart (Swabian: Schduagert) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known locally as the "Stuttgart Cauldron." It lies an hour from the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest. Its urban area has a population of 609,219, making it the sixth largest city in Germany. 2.7 million people live in the city's administrative region and another 5.3 million people in its metropolitan area, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in Germany. The city and metropolitan area are consistently ranked among the top 20 European metropolitan areas by GDP; Mercer listed Stuttgart as 21st on its 2015 list of cities by quality of living, innovation agency 2thinknow ranked the city 24th globally out of 442 cities and the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranked the city as a Beta-status world city in their 2014 survey.

Since the 6th millennium BC, the Stuttgart area has been an important agricultural area and has been host to a number of cultures seeking to utilize the rich soil of the Neckar valley. The Roman Empire conquered the area in 83 AD and built a massive castrum near Bad Cannstatt, making it the most important regional centre for several centuries. Stuttgart's roots were truly laid in the 10th century with its founding by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, as a stud farm for his warhorses. Initially overshadowed by nearby Cannstatt, the town grew steadily and was granted a charter in 1320. The fortunes of Stuttgart turned with those of the House of Württemberg, and they made it the capital of their county, duchy, and kingdom from the 15th century to 1918. Stuttgart prospered despite setbacks in the Thirty Years' War and devastating air raids by the Allies on the city and its automobile production during World War II. However, by 1952, the city had bounced back and it became the major economic, industrial, tourism and publishing centre it is today.

Stuttgart is also a transport junction, and possesses the sixth-largest airport in Germany. Several major companies are headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, and Dinkelacker.

Stuttgart is unusual in the scheme of German cities. It is spread across a variety of hills (some of them covered in vineyards), valleys (especially around the Neckar river and the Stuttgart basin) and parks. This often surprises visitors who associate the city with its reputation as the "cradle of the automobile". The city's tourism slogan is "Stuttgart offers more". Under current plans to improve transport links to the international infrastructure (as part of the Stuttgart 21 project), the city unveiled a new logo and slogan in March 2008 describing itself as "Das neue Herz Europas" ("The new Heart of Europe"). For business, it describes itself as "Where business meets the future". In July 2010, Stuttgart unveiled a new city logo, designed to entice more business people to stay in the city and enjoy breaks in the area.

Stuttgart is a city with a high number of immigrants. According to Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany, "In the city of Stuttgart, every third inhabitant is a foreigner." 40% of Stuttgart's residents, and 64% of the population below the age of five, are of immigrant background.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Museum

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is an automobile museum in Stuttgart, Germany. It covers the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand and the brands associated with it. Stuttgart is home to the Mercedes-Benz brand and the international headquarters of Daimler AG.

Built in 1931, this Art Deco-style building was designed by Hermann von Holst for Commonwealth Edison to serve as an electrical substation. The building is clad in red brick with limestone relief panels, decorative patterned brickwork, a massing that tapers with setbacks towards the roofline, metal-frame windows, an exterior metal fire escape at the north facade, a polished red granite panel base, and decorative trim surrounds at the entrance bays. The building today remains in use as an electrical substation for Chicago’s west side.

The old neon sign from Mary Allen College. Mary Allan College operated from 1887 until 1972 under a variety of names. All that remains is this sign and Mary Allen Hall (in the background). The building is in very bad condition. Most of the roof, floor and internal structure is caved in.

From the historical marker:

"In 1886 the Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, under the leadership of the group's secretary the Rev. Richard Allen, began planning for the establishment of a black girls' school in Texas. After a statewide survey, they chose Crockett as the school site because of the area's large black population and because of a local black parochial school operated by the Rev. Samuel Fisher Tenny, pastor of the city's First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Allen's wife Mary, for whom the school was named, was instrumental in raising the organizational funds for the new seminary. Dr. Byrd R. Smith became the school's first black president in 1924 and initiated a period of growth which included the adoption of new programs and the admission of male students. Transferred to the Missionary General Baptist Convention of Texas in 1944, Mary Allen College became a 4-year liberal arts institution. In 1972, plagued by a series of legal and financial setbacks, the school closed. Once the site of a 12-building campus and the home of a noted academic program of quality education and religion, this site serves as a reminder of the proud heritage of Texas' black population."

As always, your comments and faves are appreciated. Constructive criticism and suggestions are especially welcome as I believe they help to make me a better photographer. Thank you for taking the time to look at my photos.

Best viewed on black, so please press "L" to view large in Lightbox mode and "F" to fave.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

James Brindley was the chief engineer of the canal, which was part of his "Grand Cross" plan for waterways connecting Hull, Liverpool and Bristol. The Act of Parliament authorising the canal was passed on 14 May 1766. This created "The Company of Proprietors of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Navigation", which was empowered to raise an initial £70,000 (equivalent to £8,778,850 in 2015), with a further £30,000 (equivalent to £3,762,364 in 2015), if needed, to fund the canal's construction.

The canal was completed in 1771 for a cost that exceeded the authorised capital, and opened to trade in 1772. It was a commercial success, with trade from the Staffordshire Potteries southwards to Gloucester and Bristol, and trade from the Black Country northwards to the Potteries via the junction with the Birmingham Canal at Aldersley. The Company obtained a second Act of Parliament on 9 June 1790, authorising it to raise another £12,000 (equivalent to £1,293,159 in 2015), to improve the River Severn immediately below Stourport as far as Diglis, to improve navigation to and from the canal.

Trade declined when the newer Worcester and Birmingham Canal was opened in 1815, providing a more direct route between Birmingham and Bristol. To remain competitive, the company increased the hours when locks could be used, until by 1830 they were available 24 hours a day. Another setback occurred when the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal opened its new route to Chester and Merseyside, meeting the canal at Autherley Junction. This took much of the traffic from the section to Great Haywood. Faced with a high volume of trade using the half-mile stretch between Aldersley and Autherley Junctions, the company levied very high tolls.

In order to resolve the situation the Birmingham Canal Company and the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Company jointly promoted an Act of Parliament to authorise a short canal that would have left the Birmingham Canal at a higher level than the junction, crossed the Staffordshire and Worcestershire by an aqueduct, and then dropped down by a series of locks to join the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal north of Autherley junction. The canal company decided to reduce its tolls rather than lose the trade altogether.

Despite the competition, and later competition from the railways, the canal company paid dividends to its shareholders until the end of the 19th century, although profits fell steadily from the 1860s. It remained independent until the Transport Act 1947 nationalised Britain's canals on 1 January 1948. In its latter years the major trade was in coal from Cannock to a power station at Stourport. The power station closed in 1949, and after that, the only commercial traffic was on the stretch between Autherley and Aldersley Junctions.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart

Stuttgart (Swabian: Schduagert) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known locally as the "Stuttgart Cauldron." It lies an hour from the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest. Its urban area has a population of 609,219, making it the sixth largest city in Germany. 2.7 million people live in the city's administrative region and another 5.3 million people in its metropolitan area, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in Germany. The city and metropolitan area are consistently ranked among the top 20 European metropolitan areas by GDP; Mercer listed Stuttgart as 21st on its 2015 list of cities by quality of living, innovation agency 2thinknow ranked the city 24th globally out of 442 cities and the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranked the city as a Beta-status world city in their 2014 survey.

Since the 6th millennium BC, the Stuttgart area has been an important agricultural area and has been host to a number of cultures seeking to utilize the rich soil of the Neckar valley. The Roman Empire conquered the area in 83 AD and built a massive castrum near Bad Cannstatt, making it the most important regional centre for several centuries. Stuttgart's roots were truly laid in the 10th century with its founding by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, as a stud farm for his warhorses. Initially overshadowed by nearby Cannstatt, the town grew steadily and was granted a charter in 1320. The fortunes of Stuttgart turned with those of the House of Württemberg, and they made it the capital of their county, duchy, and kingdom from the 15th century to 1918. Stuttgart prospered despite setbacks in the Thirty Years' War and devastating air raids by the Allies on the city and its automobile production during World War II. However, by 1952, the city had bounced back and it became the major economic, industrial, tourism and publishing centre it is today.

Stuttgart is also a transport junction, and possesses the sixth-largest airport in Germany. Several major companies are headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, and Dinkelacker.

Stuttgart is unusual in the scheme of German cities. It is spread across a variety of hills (some of them covered in vineyards), valleys (especially around the Neckar river and the Stuttgart basin) and parks. This often surprises visitors who associate the city with its reputation as the "cradle of the automobile". The city's tourism slogan is "Stuttgart offers more". Under current plans to improve transport links to the international infrastructure (as part of the Stuttgart 21 project), the city unveiled a new logo and slogan in March 2008 describing itself as "Das neue Herz Europas" ("The new Heart of Europe"). For business, it describes itself as "Where business meets the future". In July 2010, Stuttgart unveiled a new city logo, designed to entice more business people to stay in the city and enjoy breaks in the area.

Stuttgart is a city with a high number of immigrants. According to Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany, "In the city of Stuttgart, every third inhabitant is a foreigner." 40% of Stuttgart's residents, and 64% of the population below the age of five, are of immigrant background.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Museum

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is an automobile museum in Stuttgart, Germany. It covers the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand and the brands associated with it. Stuttgart is home to the Mercedes-Benz brand and the international headquarters of Daimler AG.

Model: Mia Hutchinson

Location: Reynisdrangar, Iceland

The basalt stones are a recurrent phenomena all through the country of Iceland.

This is a volcanic rock that is formed through clotting of fast cooling magma. In Basalt the energy of earth & fire come together. It is known to give strength and stability and helps to drain negativity.

This is used as a symbol for the steps we take. Big or small, steps forward or setbacks. On our way to success we sometimes take huge leaps, but sometimes we fall a few steps down.

The Basalt rocks look like a rough and uneven formed stairs that I see as the steps we take to success.

Eugene Landry (Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe 1932-1988.)

Oil on canvas

20" x 16"

In 1962 Gene studied with noted Northwest sculptor Philip Levine at his Phoenix Gallery in Seattle. By 1964, Gene was showing his work and winning acclaim in the Pacific Northwest.

Over the next four years, he exhibited at the Frye Museum, the West Coast Annual at the Seattle Civic Center, The Edmonds and Anacortes Art Festivals, and the La Grande All Indian Arts Festivals.

Gene met Sharon Billingsley, a model and painter who attended classes at Derbyshire, and they struck up a friendship that led to romance. The couple could often be found sketching street scenes side by side, Gene in his wheelchair, Sharon next to him on a folding stool.

Gene and Sharon married in California in 1965. went to Paris to study art, then returned to the Pacific Northwest, living in Seattle, Tacoma and Georgetown until their marriag ended in 1972.

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

Eugene Landry: An Artist, a Time and a Tribe

May 28-29, 2022

www.eugenelandry.com

Shoalwater Bay Heritage Museum of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Tokeland, Washington.

www.shoalwaterbay-nsn.gov/

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

Portrait of an Artist

Eugene ''Gene'' Landry (1937-1988) was a noted Northwest Native artist, who painted from the confines of a wheelchair. His personal story is one of perseverance, of an artist who created despite setbacks, always with humor and style.

Landry's art offers a glimpse into a transitional and little-documented time in Northwest Native history. His paintings are important because they represent a Native artist's portrayal of his own people during a time when Native Americans were erased, marginalized, and misrepresented by stereotypes in media and public education.

Landry painted contemporary portraits of his people, depicting them as they were. As one of his models said, ''We're so small and isolated here. People think we're so different. At one time, we had a bunch of kids from Raymond come down, and they wanted to know where our feathers were."

Gene was born in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian

Reservation. His biological mother was Hoh and his father was Quileute and Swedish. As an infant, he was adopted by Myrtle (Charley) and Fred Landry and raised at Georgetown, Myrtle's reservation.

Identity

As the only child of Myrtle and Fred Landry, Gene was well provided for and deeply loved. His biological-mother, Isabelle Hudson, a full-blooded Hoh, is remembered as having dark reddish-brown hair. His father, Austin Rosander, was half Quiliuette and half Swedish. Although Gene was adopted as a baby, he maintained ties with his biological family, who lived in Grays Harbor and the surrounding area.

Gene's appearance did not conform to expectations of what an Indian was "supposed to look like." His bright red hair (sometimes referred to as "Hoh River blond") made him stand out. In high school, he styled his hair like James Dean and drove a red 1937 hot rod Ford coupe. He was a gifted athlete, known for his running and boxing prowess, but he wasn't

allowed to run track because he refused to cut his hair.

Gene's art training was not traditional to his culture. He reached advanced levels in art at Aberdeen and Ocosta High Schools, but there were no practitioners of Native arts around to mentor him. He explored and developed his talent using the means available, based on Western European art traditions. He would go on to create art with a native sensibility, using the tools available.

Art Student

Gene trained himself to use his non-dominant left hand to paint. In 1961, he enrolled at the Leon F. Derbyshire School of Fine Arts in Seattle. There was no wheelchair access, so Gene had to be carried up the stairs to the second floor classroom.

In 1962 Gene studied with noted Northwest sculptor Philip Levine at his Phoenix Gallery in Seattle. By 1964, Gene was showing his work and winning acclaim in the Pacific Northwest. Over the next four years, he exhibited at the Frye Museum, the West Coast Annual at the Seattle Civic Center, The Edmonds and Anacortes Art Festivals, and the La Grande All Indian Arts Festivals.

Gene met Sharon Billingsley, a model and painter who attended classes at Derbyshire, and they struck up a friendship that led to romance. The couple could often be found sketching street scenes side by side, Gene in his wheelchair, Sharon next to him on a folding stool.

Gene and Sharon married in California on May 28, 1965. They went to Paris to study art, then returned to the Northwest, living in Seattle, Tacoma, and Georgetown until their marriage ended in 1972.

Back to Georgetown, Washington

In the late l960s, Landry moved back to the Shoalwater Bay Reservation. He set up a studio inside a small cabin that had been moved to the reservation from North Cove's at Washaway Beach. A wheel chair ramp and wrap-around deck made it accessible for plein air painting. Situated on the shore of Shoalwater Bay, Gene painted still-lives utilizing objects that washed in on the tides: glass fishing floats, discolored rope, old bones, shells and feathers.

He also painted still lifes and portraits in oil, using his family and friends as models. These works span a pivotal time in the tribe's history, from near termination to federal recognition.

Fifty years have passed since Gene painted Winona Weber's portrait. When asked why Landry's art matters today, she replied:

“I am a historian at heart. Gene's art is part of our history. Also, a talent like his really deserves to be acknowledged. When I was working with the women's history project, I said I was happy to be breaking some stereotypes of native women. A woman said it should just be commonplace. But first you have to be visible to be usual. I would like to see Gene visible."

Later Years

Gene traveled throughout the Southwest, spending time in New Mexico and Arizona. He traveled to Mexico and the Philippines seeking native healers to help with his deteriorating health. He eventually lost function in his left arm but continued to make art, holding the brush in his teeth to reach higher places on the canvas.

In 1980 Gene moved to Santa Barbara. His house, perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, was filled with art, his own and others. He opened a gallery downtown and championed the work of local artists. In the mid 80s his business partner-who was also his care giver unexpectedly died. His own health declining, Gene returned to his parent's home on the reservation.

Gene Landry died April 7, 1988 at age 51. He is buried next to Myrtle Landry and his relations in the Indian section at Sunset Memorial in Hoquiam, Washington. The Shoalwater Bay Tribe’s Na ‘m ‘sc ‘ac Heritage Museum is located on the former site of the cabin and dome.

Illness, November 1955

The illness came without warning. When 17-year-old Gene suddenly lost consciousness, his parents wrapped him in blankets and drove two hours to Cushman Indian Hospital in Tacoma. There were closer facilities for emergency care, but they did not provide Indian Health services. Gene remained a patient at Cushman for two and a half years, undergoing treatment for tubercular meningitis. The disease paralyzed his legs, and he endured grueling physical therapy, but he continued to work on paintings from a hospital bed.

Gene's parents moved to Tacoma to be closer to the hospital. When Myrtle Landry raised concerns about his condition and the poor care, Gene was abruptly discharged. Myrtle Landry (Washington Women's Heritage Project 1980):

"One doctor said, 'Why don't you just go and leave him and forget about him?' I said, 'Just who do you think you're talking to anyway?' I said, 'I got feelings, even though I'm a full blood Indian, I got feelings.' He said, 'Well, he'll never amount to anything.' I said, 'Well, I'm sure as heck not gonna let him die here.' And boy I raised Cain with 'em. So they told us one day, 'You get out.'

And then the State decided they could do more for him than I could." The decision proved tragic. At a rehabilitation facility on Bainbridge Island, Gene fell while being moved by attendants and suffered a spinal injury. He lost the use of his right arm and the possibility of ever walking again. He was 21 years old.

Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 to the Carribean. Several voyages later with cross in one hand and sword in the other , they defeated the Aztecs in Mexico. It took from 1551 to 1697 to subdue the Mayan in central America. In 1532 they started on the Incas in Peru. One of their setbacks was here at Ollantaytambo. The Incas had incredible architecture which the Spanish would (in most cases) put the wrecking ball to break up and re-build their own design with the pieces. Notice the original joins on this rock where without mortar , you cannot fit a razor blade in the crack. It boggles the mind to think what they accomplished without modern tools.

Due to some real-life setbacks, I haven't managed to build as much for Lands of Roawia (LoR) as I would have liked.

However, when making Bricklink orders I keep an eye out for suitable minifig parts to expand my armies.

These heavily armed infantry are the Garheim elite. They typically form a shield wall, and a mixture of axes and swords ensure the enemy fears attacking their entrenched position. Unlike the tribesmen, these are mainly full time professional warriors and train year round to be in peak physical fitness for battle.

Anzac Memorial for the AIF dead of World War One.

Of concrete, the exterior is clad in pink granite, with Art Deco setbacks and buttresses. Adorned with monumental reliefs and sculptures by Rayner Hoff.

Completed 1934.

Designed by C Bruce Dellit.

Building contractors Kell & Rigby.

Commemoration ceremonies each year on Anzac Day and other important days.

And yes, They are all 100% purist. These took a really long time to make, and I had some major setbacks because some pieces I ordered for them didn't come.

From L to R

Black spider, Killer croc, Harley quin, deadshot and king shark.

After many setbacks, it is officially done. Thanks to all that made this happen!

Excerpt from www1.toronto.ca:

The number of the houses on the street can be identified as having distinct features of Edwardian Classicism with simple, balanced (if not symmetrical) designs, and many windows. This practical house type, often constructed of brick, displays robust but simple wood detailing. These homes present a degree of formality in contrast to the more causal bungalow styles on the street, but relate well through modest 2.5 storey massing, shared setbacks and rustic detailing.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart

Stuttgart (Swabian: Schduagert) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known locally as the "Stuttgart Cauldron." It lies an hour from the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest. Its urban area has a population of 609,219, making it the sixth largest city in Germany. 2.7 million people live in the city's administrative region and another 5.3 million people in its metropolitan area, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in Germany. The city and metropolitan area are consistently ranked among the top 20 European metropolitan areas by GDP; Mercer listed Stuttgart as 21st on its 2015 list of cities by quality of living, innovation agency 2thinknow ranked the city 24th globally out of 442 cities and the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranked the city as a Beta-status world city in their 2014 survey.

Since the 6th millennium BC, the Stuttgart area has been an important agricultural area and has been host to a number of cultures seeking to utilize the rich soil of the Neckar valley. The Roman Empire conquered the area in 83 AD and built a massive castrum near Bad Cannstatt, making it the most important regional centre for several centuries. Stuttgart's roots were truly laid in the 10th century with its founding by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, as a stud farm for his warhorses. Initially overshadowed by nearby Cannstatt, the town grew steadily and was granted a charter in 1320. The fortunes of Stuttgart turned with those of the House of Württemberg, and they made it the capital of their county, duchy, and kingdom from the 15th century to 1918. Stuttgart prospered despite setbacks in the Thirty Years' War and devastating air raids by the Allies on the city and its automobile production during World War II. However, by 1952, the city had bounced back and it became the major economic, industrial, tourism and publishing centre it is today.

Stuttgart is also a transport junction, and possesses the sixth-largest airport in Germany. Several major companies are headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, and Dinkelacker.

Stuttgart is unusual in the scheme of German cities. It is spread across a variety of hills (some of them covered in vineyards), valleys (especially around the Neckar river and the Stuttgart basin) and parks. This often surprises visitors who associate the city with its reputation as the "cradle of the automobile". The city's tourism slogan is "Stuttgart offers more". Under current plans to improve transport links to the international infrastructure (as part of the Stuttgart 21 project), the city unveiled a new logo and slogan in March 2008 describing itself as "Das neue Herz Europas" ("The new Heart of Europe"). For business, it describes itself as "Where business meets the future". In July 2010, Stuttgart unveiled a new city logo, designed to entice more business people to stay in the city and enjoy breaks in the area.

Stuttgart is a city with a high number of immigrants. According to Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany, "In the city of Stuttgart, every third inhabitant is a foreigner." 40% of Stuttgart's residents, and 64% of the population below the age of five, are of immigrant background.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannstatter_Volksfest

The Cannstatter Volksfest is an annual three-week Volksfest (beer festival and travelling funfair) in Stuttgart, Germany. It is sometimes also referred to by foreign visitors as the Stuttgart Beer Festival, although it is actually more of an autumnal fair.

The festival takes place at the Cannstatter Wasen from late September to early October, spanning a period over three weekends, ending the second Sunday in October. The extensive Wasen area is in the Stuttgart city district of Bad Cannstatt, near the river Neckar. A smaller variant of the Stuttgart festival, the Stuttgart Spring Festival, is also held each year in Wasen.

In the mid 1960s Škoda manufacturer AZNP started to think about a successor for the 1000 MB and the later 100/110 series. Ital Design founder Giorgetto Giugiaro (It., 1938) was asked for ideas. In June 1969 useful sketches were approved, and in Aug. 1969 the first model 740 prototype was presented.

After overcoming many problems and setbacks, production could finally start in 1976.

The Škoda Type 742 and 746 share the same body. They were available as 105, 120 and as 125, depending on the engine. The type designation 130 Type 743 was reserved for the coupe.

In 1983 renewed 742 versions were presented. They received rectangular head lamps.

In the UK these cars were sold as Estelle. In France as 1050, because Peugeot had claimed the rights of using the 105 model name for their own cars.

Note the round first version head lamps.

1046 cc L4 rear engine.

Performance: 46 bhp.

C. 900 kg.

Production Škoda Type 742 series: Aug. 1976-1989.

Production Škoda 742 series this 1st version: Aug. 1976-Sept. 1983.

Production Škoda Type 742 105 series version: Aug. 1976-1987.

Old Czech reg. number.

This car was for sale on March 15, 2017 in Dvůr Králové nad Labem (Czech). Asking prize was 20.000 Kč.

Found at rajveteranu.cz.

Original photographer, exact place and date unknown.

Amsterdam, April 14, 2017.

© 2017 Rajveteranu/Sander Toonen Amsterdam/Halfweg | All Rights Reserved

Today is definitely not going the way that it was supposed to go. Actually, it was to be yesterday ... but actually realized on Monday, which happened to coincide with my birthday. Confused yet? Let me explain ...

At 6 am EST this morning, I awoke in the comfy of my own bed in south Florida, As many of you know, Tom & I take what has become an annual trip to Alaska to bask in the glory of the Alaskan wilderness and all its beauty, but more importantly for me, so that I can visit with the amazing bears of Katmai and the like. We were supposed to leave at 6pm EST last night on our journey. However, I got delayed ... not by a flight, but by life issues. By now, I should have been landed and just getting to what would become our home away from home RV, throwing our stuff inside and crashing after a long nights travel. By tomorrow, I was hoping to be able to spend time with the bears, moose, sheep, caribou, wolves (if I was lucky), and who knows ... maybe even our annual sighting of lynx.

As many of you know, I have been very swamped in the last few months. Rest assured, Tom and I are fine. Rather, I have been playing the role of advocate and unofficial "case manager" for my stepfather, who has been dealt with a few medical setbacks to his overall health, which are easily overcome, but the rehabilitation process to return to normal functional abilities is much more of a struggle. That's his struggle ... and indirectly mine ... because the health care system that I worked in several decades ago doesn't exist anymore. Enough said about that other than to wish to everyone good health.

Long story short ... Tom & I had to make an easy decision, but albeit a heartbreaking one, to delay our return last night to Alaska. It would have been our 10th Annual (though I sort of cheated last year when I returned without Tom for a spectacular polar bear adventure). It's difficult to discuss, but as always, photography helps me out with my emotions, so I wanted to share what was going on in a photographic way.

To sum it up, I posted this image ... a grizzly bear co-existing with the people of Alaska or their visitors walking along the boardwalk designed for humans. Walking away is symbolic ... for that's how I feel. I want to yell out to it to wait for me ... want to click my heels and transport myself right there, right now ... for my heart has already done so 10 years ago. Rest assured, when the rehab is complete, we will return, there's no doubt about that. See, I believe that things happen for a reason. I've searched for clarity as to why, but have found no answer yet, though I know that I will when I'm ready to know. We're thinking that maybe we're meant to see Alaska in a very different season ... perhaps the winter for the Iditarod or the early spring for the aurora ... who knows. I'm sure it will be exciting!

Sorry for the rambling. I want to send my regards to all in Alaska, both the wildlife and all of the friends that we have over the years visiting. I also want to thank all of you for your friendship and support as well.

© 2013 Debbie Tubridy / TNWA Photography

www.tnwaphotography.wordpress.com

www.tnwaphotography.com

“I’m planning to pursue my dream of becoming an actor. It’s such a competitive industry, but I love it with every inch of my being. I’ve faced setback after setback, but I believe that if you’re passionate and determine enough, anything can happen”

“How have you gotten through all the setbacks?”

“Sometimes it can be so hard, but life isn’t meant to be easy, and I always try to remind myself that nothing worth anything comes easy. I have great family, partner and friends around who support me immensely. Recently, someone close to me lost their best friend and it was so awful to see someone you care about in pain, and that moment stood out because I’m sure they would love the opportunity to try something again. So, no matter how many setbacks I face I'm going to get back up and try and try again because life is so short and precious. Make the most of every moment you've got."

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May I introduce, the Palm Garden as glimpsed through a few desert succulents and the front row seat available for your viewing pleasure.

You can click on the collage in the comments to see a few more shots from various vantage points.

Here's a blurb from the Huntington Library website about the Palm Garden.

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Under the direction of William Hertrich, Mr. Huntington's superintendent, the palm collection steadily increased, but a number of setbacks were encountered. A cold winter in 1913, with temperatures dropping to 22 degrees Fahrenheit, destroyed half of the collection. Most of the lost trees were young or newly planted, which made them especially vulnerable to the freeze. More young specimens succumbed during the severe winter of 1922, and Hertrich began to doubt that an outdoor collection of palms was suitable for the region's climate. But the trees fared better in subsequent freezes, and by the late 1930s, after searching for palms in California, Europe, and Japan, Hertrich had a thriving collection of 450 plants, representing 148 species.

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Fortunately for us, he didn't have to deal with the Department of Agriculture.....I imagine building a collection like this today would be near impossible even for a large institution let alone a private citizen.

Side Note: I wish the bench wasn't dead center but alas, cropping does no good and loses the whole vibe so, rule breaking in effect... ;-]

HBM

Tofsvipa Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Öland, Sweden, 18 mars 2011. Weather setback in springtime can be hard, these made it all the way.

History of La Purisima Mission California State Parks

For thousands of years, the land containing present day La Purisima Mission State Historic Park served as home to the Chumash people, who spoke one of the Central Chumashan languages which became known as Purísimeño.

The Purísimeño Chumash lived in an area of narrow coastal terraces with rocky exposed shores, sand dunes, and small valleys. The interface of warm and cold waters, and coastal and inland plant communities created a rich resource environment. The Chumash lived in villages with domed dwellings called ‘ap. They hunted game and fished—using different fishing innovations for hook and line catches of larger fish. Important trade networks were developed with the Yokuts in the southern San Joaquin Valley along the Santa Maria and Cuyama rivers.

On December 8, 1787, Father Fermin Lasuén, the Franciscan successor to Father Junípero Serra, founded Misión la Purísima Concepción de María Santísima in the present-day city of Lompoc. By 1804 more than 1,500 Chumash who’d been removed from their land were laboring at the mission—constructing adobe dwellings, practicing agriculture, and raising livestock. La Purísima prospered under Father Mariano Payeras, who arrived in 1804. The mission began producing leading commodities to trade such as soap, candles, and leather.

At the height of its industry, however, La Purísima faced a series of setbacks. Between 1804 and 1807, smallpox and measles struck and several hundred Chumash died. Then, in 1812, violent earthquakes, followed by torrential rains, destroyed the mission’s original buildings. La Purísima was then moved four miles northeast across the Santa Ynez River to a place known to the Chumash people as Amúu and adjacent to El Camino Real, the “Royal Highway” that connected all the missions.

Using local Chumash labor, Father Payeras directed the rebuilding of La Purísima with four-and-a-half-foot-thick walls of adobe to resist the threat of future earthquakes. In addition to the church, padre’s residence, and Indian Apartments, the new mission also contained a blacksmith shop, tanning vats, and a garden that provided edible plants and medicinal herbs. An intricate three mile-long water system that included an aqueduct and underground piping was also added, along with abundant farming and grazing lands. In time, more than 20,000 cattle and sheep roamed the hills, along with hundreds of horses, mules, and other livestock. This remote but active outpost became the seat of mission government for all California missions from 1815 to 1823.

After Mexico took over California, promises of citizenship to indigenous people were slow to take effect, creating underlying frustrations. In February 1824, the severe whipping of a Chumash worker at Mission Santa Inés set off a revolt that spread to other missions. While many Chumash fled north, several hundred occupied La Purísima until soldiers recaptured the mission on March 17.

With the secularization of missions in 1834, the Franciscans lost control and many of the Chumash moved into pueblo communities to work at nearby ranchos. Subsequent smallpox epidemics decimated the Purísimeño population. A portion of the former mission lands were granted to Chumash workers Elceario and Pastor Choyama in 1845. The remainder of the mission lands, including the mission buildings, were purchased by Jonathan (Juan) Temple and later sold to Ramón Malo, who had been granted adjacent Rancho Santa Rita. After Malo’s death the property passed from owner to owner and the buildings eventually fell into ruin. The Federal government returned some of the decrepit mission property to the Catholic Church in 1874. The Union Oil Company bought portions of the land in 1903 and subsequently deeded parcels in 1933 to Santa Barbara County, which in turn deeded the land to the State of California. California State Parks The Spanish missions in California (Spanish: Misiones españolas en California) comprise a series of 21 religious outposts or missions established between 1769 and 1833 in what is now the U.S. state of California. Founded by Catholic priests of the Franciscan order to evangelize the Native Americans, the missions led to the creation of the New Spain province of Alta California and were part of the expansion of the Spanish Empire into the most northern and western parts of Spanish North America.

Following long-term secular and religious policy of Spain in Spanish America, the missionaries forced the native Californians to live in settlements called reductions,[3] disrupting their traditional way of life. The missionaries introduced European fruits, vegetables, cattle, horses, ranching, and technology. Significant reductions in Native American population occurred mostly through introduction of European diseases. In the end, the missions had mixed results in their objectives: to convert, educate, develop and transform the native peoples into Spanish subjects.

By 1810, Spain's king had been imprisoned by the French, and financing for military payroll and missions in California ceased.[4] In 1821, Mexico achieved independence from Spain, although Mexico did not send a governor to California until 1824, and only a portion of payroll was ever reinstated (ibid.). The 21,000 Mission Indians produced hide, tallow, wool, and textiles at this time, and the leather products were exported to Boston, South America, and Asia. This trading system sustained the colonial economy from 1810 until 1830. The missions began to lose control over land in the 1820s, as unpaid military men unofficially encroached, but officially missions maintained authority over native neophytes and control of land holdings until the 1830s. At the peak of its development in 1832, the coastal mission system controlled an area equal to approximately one-sixth of Alta California.[5] The Alta California government secularized the missions after the passage of the Mexican secularization act of 1833. This divided the mission lands into land grants, in effect legitimizing and completing the transfer of Indian congregation lands to military commanders and their most loyal men; these became many of the Ranchos of California. Wikipedia

Eugene Landry (Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe 1932-1988.)

Oil on canvas

16" x 22"

Collection of Kenneth J. Rosander

Eugene Landry: An Artist, a Time and a Tribe

May 28-29, 2022

www.eugenelandry.com

Shoalwater Bay Heritage Museum of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Tokeland, Washington.

www.shoalwaterbay-nsn.gov/

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Portrait of an Artist

Eugene ''Gene'' Landry (1937-1988) was a noted Northwest Native artist, who painted from the confines of a wheelchair. His personal story is one of perseverance, of an artist who created despite setbacks, always with humor and style.

Landry's art offers a glimpse into a transitional and little-documented time in Northwest Native history. His paintings are important because they represent a Native artist's portrayal of his own people during a time when Native Americans were erased, marginalized, and misrepresented by stereotypes in media and public education.

Landry painted contemporary portraits of his people, depicting them as they were. As one of his models said, ''We're so small and isolated here. People think we're so different. At one time, we had a bunch of kids from Raymond come down, and they wanted to know where our feathers were."

Gene was born in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian

Reservation. His biological mother was Hoh and his father was Quileute and Swedish. As an infant, he was adopted by Myrtle (Charley) and Fred Landry and raised at Georgetown, Myrtle's reservation.

Identity

As the only child of Myrtle and Fred Landry, Gene was well provided for and deeply loved. His biological-mother, Isabelle Hudson, a full-blooded Hoh, is remembered as having dark reddish-brown hair. His father, Austin Rosander, was half Quiliuette and half Swedish. Although Gene was adopted as a baby, he maintained ties with his biological family, who lived in Grays Harbor and the surrounding area.

Gene's appearance did not conform to expectations of what an Indian was "supposed to look like." His bright red hair (sometimes referred to as "Hoh River blond") made him stand out. In high school, he styled his hair like James Dean and drove a red 1937 hot rod Ford coupe. He was a gifted athlete, known for his running and boxing prowess, but he wasn't

allowed to run track because he refused to cut his hair.

Gene's art training was not traditional to his culture. He reached advanced levels in art at Aberdeen and Ocosta High Schools, but there were no practitioners of Native arts around to mentor him. He explored and developed his talent using the means available, based on Western European art traditions. He would go on to create art with a native sensibility, using the tools available.

Art Student

Gene trained himself to use his non-dominant left hand to paint. In 1961, he enrolled at the Leon F. Derbyshire School of Fine Arts in Seattle. There was no wheelchair access, so Gene had to be carried up the stairs to the second floor classroom.

In 1962 Gene studied with noted Northwest sculptor Philip Levine at his Phoenix Gallery in Seattle. By 1964, Gene was showing his work and winning acclaim in the Pacific Northwest. Over the next four years, he exhibited at the Frye Museum, the West Coast Annual at the Seattle Civic Center, The Edmonds and Anacortes Art Festivals, and the La Grande All Indian Arts Festivals.

Gene met Sharon Billingsley, a model and painter who attended classes at Derbyshire, and they struck up a friendship that led to romance. The couple could often be found sketching street scenes side by side, Gene in his wheelchair, Sharon next to him on a folding stool.

Gene and Sharon married in California on May 28, 1965. They went to Paris to study art, then returned to the Northwest, living in Seattle, Tacoma, and Georgetown until their marriage ended in 1972.

Back to Georgetown, Washington

In the late l960s, Landry moved back to the Shoalwater Bay Reservation. He set up a studio inside a small cabin that had been moved to the reservation from North Cove's at Washaway Beach. A wheel chair ramp and wrap-around deck made it accessible for plein air painting. Situated on the shore of Shoalwater Bay, Gene painted still-lives utilizing objects that washed in on the tides: glass fishing floats, discolored rope, old bones, shells and feathers.

He also painted still lifes and portraits in oil, using his family and friends as models. These works span a pivotal time in the tribe's history, from near termination to federal recognition.

Fifty years have passed since Gene painted Winona Weber's portrait. When asked why Landry's art matters today, she replied:

“I am a historian at heart. Gene's art is part of our history. Also, a talent like his really deserves to be acknowledged. When I was working with the women's history project, I said I was happy to be breaking some stereotypes of native women. A woman said it should just be commonplace. But first you have to be visible to be usual. I would like to see Gene visible."

Later Years

Gene traveled throughout the Southwest, spending time in New Mexico and Arizona. He traveled to Mexico and the Philippines seeking native healers to help with his deteriorating health. He eventually lost function in his left arm but continued to make art, holding the brush in his teeth to reach higher places on the canvas.

In 1980 Gene moved to Santa Barbara. His house, perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, was filled with art, his own and others. He opened a gallery downtown and championed the work of local artists. In the mid 80s his business partner-who was also his care giver unexpectedly died. His own health declining, Gene returned to his parent's home on the reservation.

Gene Landry died April 7, 1988 at age 51. He is buried next to Myrtle Landry and his relations in the Indian section at Sunset Memorial in Hoquiam, Washington. The Shoalwater Bay Tribe’s Na ‘m ‘sc ‘ac Heritage Museum is located on the former site of the cabin and dome.

Illness, November 1955

The illness came without warning. When 17-year-old Gene suddenly lost consciousness, his parents wrapped him in blankets and drove two hours to Cushman Indian Hospital in Tacoma. There were closer facilities for emergency care, but they did not provide Indian Health services. Gene remained a patient at Cushman for two and a half years, undergoing treatment for tubercular meningitis. The disease paralyzed his legs, and he endured grueling physical therapy, but he continued to work on paintings from a hospital bed.

Gene's parents moved to Tacoma to be closer to the hospital. When Myrtle Landry raised concerns about his condition and the poor care, Gene was abruptly discharged. Myrtle Landry (Washington Women's Heritage Project 1980):

"One doctor said, 'Why don't you just go and leave him and forget about him?' I said, 'Just who do you think you're talking to anyway?' I said, 'I got feelings, even though I'm a full blood Indian, I got feelings.' He said, 'Well, he'll never amount to anything.' I said, 'Well, I'm sure as heck not gonna let him die here.' And boy I raised Cain with 'em. So they told us one day, 'You get out.'

And then the State decided they could do more for him than I could." The decision proved tragic. At a rehabilitation facility on Bainbridge Island, Gene fell while being moved by attendants and suffered a spinal injury. He lost the use of his right arm and the possibility of ever walking again. He was 21 years old.

The start of our holiday in Brisbane. We spent 20 days in Queensland with the first in for two nights in Brisbane before heading to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.

One of the oldest cities in Australia, Brisbane was founded upon the ancient homelands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples. Named after the Brisbane River on which it is located, which in turn was named after Scotsman Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. The area was chosen as a place for secondary offenders from the Sydney Colony. A penal settlement was founded in 1824 at Redcliffe, 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of the central business district. That settlement was soon abandoned and moved to North Quay in 1825, and opened to free settlement in 1842. The city was marred by Aboriginal conflict between 1843-1855, and development was partly setback by the Great Fire of Brisbane, and the Great Brisbane Flood. Brisbane was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859. During World War II, Brisbane played a central role in the Allied campaign and served as the South West Pacific headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur. Today, it is well known for its distinct Queenslander Architecture which forms much of the built heritage of Brisbane.

For more Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane