Greater Akron-and NE Ohio- As Known by the Locals ~ Post Often
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After a grey Saturday the weather improved significantly so that we used Sunday for an extended trip to locations north of the Wiehengebirge to visit the Große Torfmoor, a wildlife sanctuary between Lübbecke and Minden in East-Westphalia. The area is a mix of moorland, lakes and small forests and performs perfect Autumn colours at the end of October.
If you are going to live in agreement with Patagonia, bring a coat : )
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Perito Moreno Glacier
Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
It is one of the most significant attractions in the Argentine Patagonia.
Area: 96.53 mi²
Length: 30 km (19 mi)
Los Glaciares National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Created in 1937, Los Glaciares National Park is the second largest National Park in Argentina, comprising more than 1,700 square miles and 50 Glaciers. These Glaciers are fed by a giant icecap that begins in the Andes Mountains.
(iPhone 13 Pro Max, 1/11400 @ f/1.5, ISO 50, edited to taste)
This very MOOtiful double act were busy posing just outside my brother's property near Orange in New South Wales.
Cattle—colloquially cows—are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos taurus.
Cattle are commonly raised as livestock for meat (beef or veal, see beef cattle), for milk (see dairy cattle), and for hides, which are used to make leather. They are used as riding animals and draft animals (oxen or bullocks, which pull carts, plows and other implements). Another product of cattle is dung, which can be used to create manure or fuel. In some regions, such as parts of India, cattle have significant religious meaning. Cattle, mostly small breeds such as the Miniature Zebu, are also kept as pets.
Around 10,500 years ago, cattle were domesticated from as few as 80 progenitors in central Anatolia, the Levant and Western Iran. According to an estimate from 2011, there are 1.4 billion cattle in the world. In 2009, cattle became one of the first livestock animals to have a fully mapped genome.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle
One of the most common and widespread sparrows in North America. Fairly large with a long, rounded tail. Overall coarsely patterned with gray and brown, usually with more reddish-brown wings and tail. Look especially for thick brown streaks on the underparts and a broad dark mustache stripe. Significant variation in plumage geographically: relatively pale and rusty in the southwestern U.S.; blacker streaking in California; overall dusky in the Pacific Northwest. Larger, longer-tailed and usually more rusty than Savannah Sparrow. Found in a variety of scrubby habitats both near and far from human development, especially edges of fields, often near water. Listen for husky "chimp" calls and melodic song with chips and trills. (eBird)
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I was convinced that this juvenile Song Sparrow was actually a Lincoln's Sparrow because of the buffy cheeks and fine streaking. However, I was proven wrong by local experts (again). Juvenile sparrows are so hard to ID. Doesn't matter - I love Song Sparrows and am happy to see another one has survived to brighten my day.
Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. August 2022.
With the first significant snowfall of the season in the forecast for where I live on Monday, this shot from the archives seemed appropriate for today.
Happy Early Winter to those who are experiencing it, and a salute as well on this Veterans Day to all who have served!
Elora is a community in the township of Centre Wellington, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its 19th-century limestone architecture, its artistic community and the geographically significant Elora Gorge 788 Full Monte
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The Western Wall, also known as the "Wailing Wall" or the "Kotel," is one of the most significant religious and historical sites in Jerusalem, Israel. It holds deep spiritual and emotional importance for Jews worldwide, and it has also become a symbol of the complex and often contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Western Wall is a remnant of the ancient retaining wall that once surrounded the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. After the temple's destruction, the Western Wall became the closest accessible site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage. For centuries, Jews from around the world have come to this sacred site to pray, lament the destruction of the temple, and express their connection to Jewish heritage.
The name "Wailing Wall" originates from the 19th and early 20th centuries when Jews would gather at the site to mourn the destruction of the temple and express their sorrow through prayers and tears. The term "Kotel" means "wall" in Hebrew and has become a popular and endearing name for the site.
Over time, the Western Wall has evolved into a focal point of religious and nationalist tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The site is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is also part of the contested area between Israel and Palestine. Its significance to both Jewish and Muslim communities has led to disputes and occasional clashes.
The Western Wall plaza is divided into two sections: one for men and the other for women, following Orthodox Jewish tradition. The prayers and rituals conducted here are a mix of individual devotion, communal worship, and celebrations during religious holidays.
In addition to its religious importance, the Western Wall draws millions of tourists and visitors from various backgrounds each year, offering them a glimpse into the rich history and cultural diversity of Jerusalem.
Despite the ongoing complexities surrounding the Western Wall and its geopolitical context, it remains an essential and cherished place for Jewish people, symbolizing resilience, faith, and the connection to their shared heritage.
A couple of years ago, the water level of Lake Argyle was significantly lowered for work. The eerie-looking remnants of tree stumps dotting the new shoreline were well underwater before that. Obviously, fish that had been using these stumps as guideposts had to find new haunts... compelling fishermen to change their tactics as well.
_DSC8479
Copyrighted Stephen L. Frazier. All Rights Reserved. Duplication, printing, publication, or any other use of these images without written permission is prohibited.
is a significant natural feature of South Africa, located in Mpumalanga, and forming the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment.
It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length and is, on average, around 750 metres (2,461 ft) deep.
The Blyderivierpoort Dam, when full, is at an altitude of 665 metres (2,182 ft).
The canyon consists mostly of red sandstone.
The highest point of the canyon, Mariepskop, is 1,944 metres (6,378 ft) above sea level, whilst its lowest point where the river leaves the canyon is slightly less than 561 metres (1,841 ft) above sea level.
This means that by some measure the canyon is 1,383 metres (4,537 ft) deep.
@Wikipedia
The great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) is found throughout Northern Europe, Northern Asia and a significant proportion of North America. They are quite large birds, rivalling the Eurasian Eagle Owl in size. The great grey owl has a large, rounded head and yellow eyes, with light underparts mottled with darker grey feathers. Their wings and back are darker grey with lighter bars.
The great grey owl has a large "facial disk." The facial disk is a concave circle of feathers around the eyes of the bird. It helps to collect sound waves and direct them toward the owl's ears, helping the owl to locate its prey by sound. The great grey owl has the largest facial disk of any bird of prey.
Their diet consists mainly of small mammals and their preferred prey is voles, however they will also eat gophers, weasels, squirrels, rabbits, rats and mice. They nest in dense coniferous forests in most of the northern hemisphere.
The female will lay between two to six eggs at one- to two-day intervals. The female does all of the incubation, which starts when the first egg is laid. After four to six weeks the chicks hatch. The male provides all the food for the young, which is torn into smaller pieces by the female. When food is scarce the female great grey owl will often starve herself in order to feed her chicks, and may lose up to a third of her body weight. The chicks will leave the nest after approximately a month and can fly well after two months. The young stay close to home and are cared for by the female for some time after leaving the nest.
Greenfinch - Chloris chloris
The European greenfinch, or just greenfinch (Chloris chloris), is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.
This bird is widespread throughout Europe, north Africa and south west Asia. It is mainly resident, but some northernmost populations migrate further south. The greenfinch has also been introduced into both Australia and New Zealand. In Malta, it is considered a prestigious song bird, and it has been trapped for many years. It has been domesticated, and many Maltese people breed them.
Woodland edges, farmland hedges and gardens with relatively thick vegetation are favoured for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes, laying 3 to 6 Eggs.
This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other finches and buntings. They feed largely on seeds, but also take berries.
The protozoal parasite Trichomonas gallinae was known to infect pigeons and raptors but beginning in Britain in 2005, carcases of dead European greenfinches and common chaffinches were found to be infected with the parasite. The disease spread and in 2008 infected carcases were found in Norway, Sweden and Finland and a year later in Germany. The spread of the disease is believed to have been mediated by chaffinches as large numbers of the birds breed in northern Europe and winter in Britain. In Britain the number of infected carcases recovered each year declined after a peak in 2006. There was a reduction in the number of greenfinches from around 4.3 million to around 2.8 million but no significant decline in the overall number of chaffinches. A similar pattern occurred in Finland where, after the arrival of the disease in 2008, there was a reduction in the number of greenfinches but only a small change in the number of chaffinches.
Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but increased dramatically during the 1990s. A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease which prevents the birds from feeding properly.
Population:
UK breeding:
1,700,000 pairs
The great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) is found throughout Northern Europe, Northern Asia and a significant proportion of North America. They are quite large birds, rivalling the Eurasian Eagle Owl in size. The great grey owl has a large, rounded head and yellow eyes, with light underparts mottled with darker grey feathers. Their wings and back are darker grey with lighter bars.
The great grey owl has a large "facial disk." The facial disk is a concave circle of feathers around the eyes of the bird. It helps to collect sound waves and direct them toward the owl's ears, helping the owl to locate its prey by sound. The great grey owl has the largest facial disk of any bird of prey.
Their diet consists mainly of small mammals and their preferred prey is voles, however they will also eat gophers, weasels, squirrels, rabbits, rats and mice. They nest in dense coniferous forests in most of the northern hemisphere.
The female will lay between two to six eggs at one- to two-day intervals. The female does all of the incubation, which starts when the first egg is laid. After four to six weeks the chicks hatch. The male provides all the food for the young, which is torn into smaller pieces by the female. When food is scarce the female great grey owl will often starve herself in order to feed her chicks, and may lose up to a third of her body weight. The chicks will leave the nest after approximately a month and can fly well after two months. The young stay close to home and are cared for by the female for some time after leaving the nest.
Hopefully not the best Osprey shot I upload this year... But it will the most significant Osprey shot I'll upload this year
Why? ... Because it's the first
During the weeks of lock-down there were moments when I wondered if I'd even get to see one of these magnificent birds this year
Thankfully those fears were soon put to rest...
Now can I have one with a fish please Mr 'O'?
The Smooth-billed Ani is a widespread resident of scrub and forest clearings from the Caribbean and Costa Rica south to Uruguay and northern Argentina; it also occurs in south Florida, although the population there has declined significantly in recent years. Smooth-billed Anis live in small flocks and eat a variety of insects, small vertebrates and fruit.
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/overview...
Cley-next-the-Sea's windmill and reed beds before the drought and high temperatures took their toll.
Cley in North Norfolk was a significant wool port in the middle ages. Now, extensive - and beautiful - salt marshes separate it from the sea although there is a channel for small vessels.
The mill is first described in an 1819 for sale notice "New erected tower windmill with fan tail, two pairs of French stones, flour mill and jumper, all in the most complete repair....". It is now converted to a three story guest house.
More images:
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/52141090184/in/dateposted/
It had snowed significantly here in Storkow(Mark) and with Bobby in tow we ventured out into it, he loves snow, probably from the fact he is a rescue dog from Romania, his story is pretty hellish, aren't they all?! But this one particularly hard, we are not too sure when exactly or where he was born other than somewhere in Romania, he was left behind by his first family who moved away and left him outside in the garden, he stayed by the backdoor the entire time, (By the way, even before I am a Vegan, it's my determination that if you ever abandon an animal of any description for any reason, then you deserve an instant custodial sentence! Simple as!) the new family I believe threw him out onto the streets, he luckily survived only to be picked up by a dog catcher and thrown into a killing shelter (Dogs go there to be killed, because so many humans are penniless and politicians (assholes) keep cutting budgets).
Bobby was then discovered by a charity called "Friends For Life" - who put him into their shelter, that's when he was advertised of needing a forever home and that's when my Partner discovered him, she told me his story, I blubbed up and agreed we should buy him, since then he has been the love of our lives!
He is not without his scars, he's incredibly curious about everything, absolutely is a complete Teddy Bear, loves treats, he has a neurological injury to his back leg which causes it to become stiff and walking can be sometimes a slow affair, other than that he is a beautiful box and all he wants to do is love and be loved. No matter how long an animal may live for, you are their entire life, never forget that!
I hope everyone is well and so as always, thank you! :)
PS: By the way, if you want to donate to Friends for Life please go here...
PPS: The expression in Bobby's eyes reminds me of the song "True Belief" by Paradise Lost:
52 weeks of 2017 ... then and now ...
... On the right is a picture of the Station from around 1900 on the left a picture of how it is now ... the building is almost the same, but the surroundings have significantly changed ...
for a bit of history (in Dutch) click here
LIMG_7171_lr
is a good crop :-)
Ansel Adams
HPPS! Ukraine Matters!
cercis, dark flowered texas redbud, 'Oklahoma', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina
The Tarkine is a vast and significant wilderness in north-west Tasmania, an area of stunning natural beauty and the largest Gondwanan cool-temperate rainforest in Australia. This is our get away destination for today.
I took a cruise on the Pieman River where we saw nature up close and personal, Eagles followed our boat and the photo opportunities were boundless. We had lunch on the river bank and were turned loose to explore the rainforest where I took this, and many other photos.
As ever in Australia, The Tarkine is under threat from mining interests, and the timber industry. Between them they want to build roads, cut down trees and dig a nice mine in this pristine wilderness. Conservationist on the other hand, want The Tarkine declared a national park: fat chance they've got. There's gold, tin and trees in The Tarkine. Get to The Tarkine before it's all gone.
A view of two beautiful, late-nineteenth century Italianate buildings in the 400 block of Pulaski St, catty-corner from the Logan County Courthouse in downtown Lincoln. Both buildings lie within the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The corner building at 429 Pulaski St. was constructed around 1885 and is a contributing building in the district. The two-part commercial building next to it at 425-427 Pulaski St. dates to 1890. With its cast iron front, second story windows with decorative hood molds and a heavy, metal cornice, the structure is identified as a significant building in the district.
Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.
"The Ballona Valley (pronounced "Bah-yo-nuh") features one of the largest remaining expanses of Los Angeles Basin-floor habitat, and the most significant coastal wetland in Los Angeles County, being the only natural saltmarsh between Point Mugu in Ventura County and Los Cerritos Marsh on the Orange/Los Angeles County border (both IBAs)." audubon
A view of the 200 block of S. Sangamon Street as seen from Pulaski St. on an overcast autumn day in late 2020. Remove the automobiles from this photo and one might easily imagine this photo having been taken decades earlier. This part of Sangamon St. is on the western edge of the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The three buildings shown here were all built between the 1890s and 1920s. The buildings on the right and left are contributing properties in the historic district, while the Italianate style Richarts Building (center) is a significant property.
Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.
Denali has two significant summits: the South Summit is the higher one at 20,310 feet (6,190 m), while the North Summit has an elevation of 19,470 ft (5,934 m). They are both in view here.
A few more perspectives of the highest mountain in North America in comments.
Friday's here! Enjoy!
2016 will be marked at his very begining by significant losses...
Michel Delpech (I grew up with his songs), David Bowie (his music has been and still is my best companion), Alan Rickman (fully present until recently with his movies), Glenn Frey (who hasn't danced at "Hotel's California rhythm!!) and many more
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2016 :(
Not to forget all the victims (daily!!) due to constant violence... :-(((
They all left us for a happier land, that is for sure.
But let's make our world a happy land also! WE CAN!!
Michel Delpech:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrn0MsKAWDU
David Bowie:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QiEna_1L1E&list=LLgp6_-0sAJl...
Alan Rickman:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=754D-AaslPU
Glenn Frey:
This is a very common butterfly here, and elsewhere across North America. It is especially hardy, and what better proof of that than the one I saw here in early November. They are steady fliers and significant pollinators - the French name situates them on clover or trefoil, where they lay their eggs.
One of the keys to identifying the various Sulphurs one sees - I always assume it is a Clouded until I find evidence that points me in a different direction - is the semi-circle of black dots on the outer wing. This is a species that only very infrequently opens its wings when resting, so the ventral side is the key to identification.
One of the really cool things about them is that they are conventional migrants: the vast majority of them fly south, as far as Central America, at a rate of about 15 kilometres a day. Vast swarms of migrating Sulphurs appear in records as far back as Darwin. And then there is the northbound migration: like Monarchs and other migratory fliers, this is a multigenerational exercise, with butterflies getting part way back to Canada and then laying eggs that will carry out the rest of the journey.
Cremona : The elegant loggia of the soldiers .
One of the most significant buildings of Gothic civil architecture in Lombardy, dates back to 1292. It is all in bricks, it consists of a portico with ogival arches, above which there are three large three-mullioned windows surmounted by battlements. of foundation with carved the banner of the municipality and the four quarters.
Uno dei più significativi edifici all'architettura civile gotica in Lombardia , è del 1292 .
Tutta in laterizi , consta di un portico ad alte arcate ogivali , sopra il quale si aprono tre grandi trifore decorate sormontate da merlatura .Tra le arcate della fronte ,la lapide di fondazione con scolpito il gonfalone del comune e dei quattro quartieri .
The Columbia- Wrightsville Bridge is nothing less than one of the most historically significant concrete bridges in the United States. The bridge was the longest multi-span concrete arch bridge in the world when built, and even today it at the very least remains among the longest examples. In addition to its jaw-dropping 28 arch spans each spanning an impressive 185 feet, an additional 20 approach spans (mostly curved t-beams) complete the bridge which is over a mile long in total length. Also, with a 48 foot wide out-to-out deck width containing a 38 foot roadway, this is also a fairly wide bridge for its age as well. The length of the bridge coupled with its width results in a bridge with a footprint of about eight acres!
The landscape of Holy Island, while significant from a religious perspective, is quite bleak, windswept and cold. Very few trees grown there and the tide is huge, cutting the only road onto the island twice every day.
For a high resolution full screen view of my photos, please visit: www.pictographica.net
UPDATED: 14th November, 2018
An artistic creative abstract version of Anemones in my garden.
Edited with a triple white matte frame and texture added.
The most significant anemone flower meaning is anticipation. This is because the anemone flowers close up at night and open back up in the morning. Due to its wild nature, the flower specifically symbolizes relaxation and serves as a reminder to enjoy the moment in order to take in opportunities at the right time.
Northern class 150 unit 150104 (partnered with 150138) departs Blackpool South with the 3.16pm to Colne (2N78).
With a scheduled 4 minute turnaround at this terminus, there's barely time for the driver to walk from one end of the train to the other before setting off again. On this day the turnaround was even tighter seeing as arrival from Colne was 2 minutes late.
Blackpool South, with its single platform and evidence of former glories en route, is very much the Cinderella line into this popular northern seaside town. In fact a significant part of the remaining platform has been abandoned to nature, as seen in this shot. By contrast Blackpool North is vibrant, recently electrified, and boasts fast direct services to London Euston. No surprise It also handles the vast majority of passenger arrivals and departures.
I arrived into this station on a sunny Sunday afternoon and walked the two miles or so along the bracing, enjoyable and ever vibrant promenade before waltzing back inland to North Station for the rather faster ride back to Preston.
A bit of a record shot so I'm not expecting a ten from Len. Sure I spotted Madge though.....
3.17pm, 10th October 2021
for murdering mice......actually the wonderful dolt just plays with them, undoubtedly terrifying the deer mice out of significant growth (they're all in counseling) carrying them about then leaving them covered in saliva to scurry into hiding.....for another day of fun.
This is our 100 year old Forest Service Summer Cabin that, at 6800 ft. elevation is now buried in several feet of snow (hooray!....wet snow). We used to ski or snowshoe in during the winter, and have had numerous Christmas visits in the past, but are too old to go to the effort now. Good memories!! and a 20 minute drive to Lake Tahoe and it's glorious views. And the really nice part is that when we tire of the snow, we bundle back in the car and the 3 hour drive puts us back in clear snow-free sunny NapaSonoma hillsides. The wine tastes good in either place.
The cat is thinking.....'there are mice out there...I Know It!'
COMMENTS & INVITATIONS with AWARD BANNERS will be respectfully DELETED!
A view of the commercial buildings on the north side of Lincoln's historic courthouse square. This view looks to the east from the intersection of S. Kickapoo St. and Broadway St., and shows the entire 600 block of Broadway St., along with Lincoln's City Hall and Fire Department building on the northeast corner of Broadway and N. McLean St. All of the properties in this view lie within the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Of the eight buildings shown above, the former Lincoln Savings and Building Association building (c. 1914, Neoclassical) on the near corner and a two-story commercial building at the opposite end of the block (c. 1895, Italianate) are contributing properties in the historic district. City Hall (c. 1886, Romanesque Revival) which sits in the 700 block of Broadway St. across McLean St., is a significant property in the historic district.
The buildings between the former Lincoln Savings and the two-story commercial building at the opposite end of the block are a mix of newer mid-century commercial buildings, and older buildings that have been modernized to the extent that their historic architectural antecedents are basically unrecognizable. These buildings are non-contributing properties within the historic district.
First settled in the 1830s, Lincoln is the only town in the United Stated that was named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president. Mr. Lincoln practiced law here from 1847 to 1859. Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The population of Lincoln at the 2020 census was 13,288.
It's actually remnants of a Moon Snail's shell. I found it while collecting seashells at Sanibel Island in Florida several years ago. This theme is a wonderful challenge: it wasn't until I had been looking for a pareidolia for a few days until I remembered this shell!
photo size: 2.37"W by 1.52"H and 6.03cm W by 3.87cm H
Theme: "Pareidolia" The human brain can create meaningful and significant shapes from patterns and textures. Take a photo of a pareidolia you perceive.
Thank you for taking the time to view this photo, and for the faves and comments you make, thank you.
South Africa
officially the Motlatse Canyon is a significant natural feature of South Africa, located in Mpumalanga, and forming the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment.
Located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, it is 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length and is, on average, around 750 metres (2,461 ft) deep.
The Blyderivierpoort Dam, when full, is at an altitude of 665 metres (2,182 ft). The canyon consists mostly of red sandstone.
The highest point of the canyon, Mariepskop, is 1,944 metres (6,378 ft) above sea level, whilst its lowest point where the river leaves the canyon is slightly less than 561 metres (1,841 ft) above sea level.
This means that by some measure the canyon is 1,383 metres (4,537 ft) deep.
@Wikipedia
Gangly heron with significant variation in plumage. Distinct dark morph is slate-gray with a white throat, while the palest morph is white with a yellow bill and lores. Pale gray intermediate morphs can also be found. Little Egret can look similar, but it has a darker bill than the white morph of the Western Reef-Heron. Primarily a coastal inhabitant, foraging on shorelines and in estuaries, but can also be found at some inland water bodies. (eBird)
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There were four adults at the wetland. Perhaps parents to the young bird posted here?
Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai, UAE. March 2024.
tran·scen·dent \-dənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin transcendent-, transcendens, present participle of transcendere
Date: 15th century
1 a : exceeding usual limits : surpassing b : extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience cin Kantian philosophy : being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge.
2 : being beyond comprehension
3 : transcending the universe or material existence
4 : universally applicable or significant "the antislavery movement…recognized the transcendent importance of liberty — L. H. Tribe"
According to local legend, Helfštýn is named after the robber Helfried of Linva, who founded it. The castle was probably built in the last quarter of the 13th century. Around 1320 Vok of Kravař, a member of a prominent Moravian noble family, became the owner of the castle. Helfštýn remained in the possession of the Kravař family for more than a hundred years and underwent far-reaching structural changes during this period. Construction work began on a larger scale in the first half of the 14th century, but the main reconstruction of the castle into a Gothic fortress did not take place until the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. The Kravařs mainly improved the fortifications of Helfštýn. They replaced the makeshift fortification of the old parkland with a thick stone wall with four bastions, built a prismatic tower over the entrance to the castle itself and secured it with a drawbridge, built a fortified forecourt on the south side and cut the ridge of the hill with a moat carved into the rock.
The era of the Pernštejn family
In 1474, William of Pernštejn took over the castle estate and proceeded to its further reconstruction. In the last quarter of the 15th century,
Helfštýn Castle was enlarged with a thoroughly fortified, extensive farm forecourt (completed in 1480) and another forecourt, which formed a new outpost defending the entire enlarged building. At the same time, the fortifications of the old Kravaře castle were improved with bastions and a new system of towers and gates. The castle's ground plan was definitively given an elongated shape, and in its external form the perfect fortification system significantly overlapped all the other architectural elements.
Renaissance reconstruction
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the inner core of the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. The old castle palace was demolished, along with part of its original Gothic fortifications, and a magnificent Renaissance palace was built on the vacant space, in sharp contrast to the extensive system of late Gothic fortifications that surrounded it.
The destruction of the castle
In 1656, quite extensive demolition work was carried out, which, although it did not damage the fortifications of Helfštýn too much, definitively deprived it of the character of a manor house. And thus began the long-term destruction of the castle. The destruction was accelerated in the second half of the 18th century by the Ditrichstein family with demolition works. These attempts culminated in 1817, when part of the inner castle was destroyed by artillery fire.
Present day
The present-day character of the castle is that of a fortress with six gates and a series of 18th-century buildings and ramparts. Since the 19th century, the castle has been presented as a tourist and heritage site. Nowadays it has become a natural cultural centre of the region, with various cultural events taking place here throughout the season
Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Himeji, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The castle is frequently known as Hakuro-jō ("White Egret Castle") or Shirasagi-jō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight.
Himeji Castle dates to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex.
Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618. For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan's three premier castles. In order to preserve the castle buildings, it underwent restoration work for several years and reopened to the public on March 27, 2015. The works also removed decades of dirt and grime, restoring the formerly gray roof to its original brilliant white color.
Although doing a "365" is not for everyone, for those that do enjoy it, there is a real sense of satisfaction when number 365 comes around. This is my sincere congrats to all of you in this global community for your significant achievement – you've inspired me, made me smile and laugh, taught me about and showed me new parts of the world, invited me into your journey, pulled at my heart-strings, and given me much to be thankful for.... It's wonderful to be a part of this community. I thank each of you (too many to name) for your faves, and likes, and comments along the journey. From Kamloops, BC, Canada, I wish you all in 2023 a New Year with much laughter, meaningful experiences, and a peace deep in your inner heart. Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you along the way as the new year unfolds.
Churfürsten is a mountain range in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
They form the natural boundary between the canton's Toggenburg and Sarganserland districts. They are the southernmost range of the Appenzell Alps, separated from the Glarus Alps by the Seez river and Walensee. They consist of a limestone ridge running east to west, with the individual peaks formed by erosion. The ridge is defined much more sharply to the south than to the north, with an almost vertical drop of several hundred meters towards Walenstadtberg and eventually Lake Walensee at 419 m. The southern slope of the range was significantly formed by the Rhine Glacier during the Würm glaciation.
The name is a plural, indicating the peaks forming the historical boundary of the bishopric of Chur.
It has historically also been folk-etymologized as Kurfürsten, i.e. the 7 prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire who in the later medieval period (until 1648) numbered seven, which in turn encouraged the count of seven main or "official" peaks.
The significant other half decided to make bread for lunch yesterday. As his bread was still proving, not quite ready for the oven, I decided to make some cakes.
The mixture was hastily put together as my immobility does not allow me to stand for long in the kitchen:
6ozs SR flour + 1 tsp baking powder, 4 ozs sugar, 4 ozs marge, 2 eggs - combined in an electric mixer. 4 ozs dried fruit mixed in, mixture put into 12 small paper cases and cooked at 320 for 15 to 20 mins.
Nearly forgot - sprinkled a few flaked almonds on top befpre cooking.
They smelt so good when cooked and as the bread was still cooking, we had a back to front lunch and ate cake first and soup and bread second.
What was is it that Marie-Antoinette said?!
A view of the businesses on the south side of Lincoln's historic courthouse square. This view looks to the east at the 500 block of Pulaski St. from S. Kickapoo St. the 100 block of S. Kickapoo St. in downtown Lincoln. All of the properties in this view lie within the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
On the corner is the former First National Bank Building, which more recently has been used as a senior center. This neoclassical style building was constructed about 1915 and is one of two architecturally significant buildings in this block. The third building from the corner, known as the Arcade Building, is the other structure in this block that makes a significant contribution to the historic district. The Mission style Arcade Building was constructed in 1929 and is the design of architect John M. Deal. The building features terra cotta and tile trim, with shops open off the interior arcade as well as off the front part of the structure.
The remaining structures on this block are late 19th century Italianate and early 20th century commercial buildings. All but one at the opposite end of the block are contributing properties in the historic district.
Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.
In the early 1990s Swansea Docks still generated significant rail traffic, with both export coal and steel traffic operating. In addition the wagon works at Port Tennant as well as the Ford plant adjacent to the Docks kept the railway busy.
Here 09013 passes the remains of Kings Dock Junction with empty coal containers returning to Swansea Burrows Yard. The coal was railed from Coedbach washery, and was exported to Ireland.
Kings Dock Junction signal box was located just behind the first container, in front of the precariously leaning pole. For more information, see here: www.roscalen.com/signals/SwanseaDocks/
One of Paul Gauguin's most treasured possessions was a painting by Cezanne,Still Life with Fruit Dish,which he emulates in this picture.Within a similarly compressed space,Gauguin substituted mangoes for Cezanne's apples and a Tahitian styled print cloth for a French floral wallpaper design.One significant departure is the human figure in the upper right glimpsed through a door or window.The year after he completed this work Gauguin's finances were so dire that he arranged for the sale of his prized Cézanne.
This tributary crossing serves as a significant landmark leading to the side trails of Rich Falls, Big Falls and Dome Falls. On this day, my objective was to reach Rich Falls. According to the research info I had, the trail should have been 10 to 15 minutes past this crossing on the left. Well...I walked 10 to 15 minutes and didn't see a trail. I kept going. As a matter of fact, I kept going to a place on the trail where I could hear Big Falls raging and "raising a ruckus" like you wouldn't believe in the gorge below. I turned around to backtrack hoping to see the trail and instead ended back up at the tributary again with no results. Knowing full well how dangerous the descents down into the gorge are after this point and to avoid attempting a bushwhack (let wisdom prevail), so I headed back across the tributary. Not long afterwards I encountered Charlie, an experienced hiker on the trail who was on his way to Big Falls. I explained about not being able to locate either trailhead, and he obliged to lead me right to where the trail to Rich Falls began. We ultimately reached the trailhead, about 30 minutes after the tributary crossing which was rarely used and was hidden underneath the fallen leaves. Charlie spoke about some of the steep sections of the trail, and I thanked him for the info and assured him I would be fine after I had started. After sharing some friendly parting words, he headed off towards Big Falls and I headed down the trail to my destination.