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Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is at the southern end of the Tampa Bay Area, north of Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019 Sarasota had a population of 58,285. In 1986 it became designated as a certified local government. Sarasota is the principal city of the Sarasota metropolitan area and is the seat of Sarasota County. Long the winter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus, many landmarks in Sarasota are named for the Ringlings.
The Sarasota city limits contain several keys, including Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Otter Key, Casey Key, Coon Key, Bird Key, and portions of Siesta Key. Longboat Key is the largest key separating the bay from the gulf, but it was evenly divided by the new county line of 1921. The portion of the key that parallels the Sarasota city boundary that extends to that new county line along the bayfront of the mainland was removed from the city boundaries at the request of John Ringling in the mid-1920s, who sought to avoid city taxation of his planned developments at the southern tip of the key. Although they never were completed in the quickly faltering economy, those development concessions granted by the city never were reversed and the county has retained regulation of those lands.
The city limits had expanded significantly with the real estate rush of the early twentieth century, reaching almost 70 square miles (180 km2). The wild speculation boom began to crash in 1926 and following that, the city limits began to contract, shrinking to less than a quarter of that area.
The area is known today as Sarasota first appeared on a sheepskin Spanish map from 1763 with the word Zarazote over present-day Sarasota and Bradenton. From 1883 to 1885, The Florida Mortgage And Investment Company Of Edinburgh bought 60,000 acres for development in what is now the City of Sarasota. Many Scottish people began to arrive in Sarasota in December 1885. The municipal government of Sarasota was established when it was incorporated as a town in 1902. John Gillespie was the first Mayor.
Italian architecture and culture are quite strong in the area because of the Ringling Museum. An unusually large number of homes and buildings are designed in the Italian style, especially Venetian as influenced by Ringling's Cà d'Zan. Italian-inspired statues are also common and Michelangelo's David is used as the symbol of Sarasota.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota,_Florida
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
More realistic view of Trillium Pond with it perimeter of Black Locust trees. Their fragrant blossoms blooming and falling on the water's surface at the time of this paddle.
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28/100 paddles, 2016.
Speculation is rife about how a multi-ton boulder ended up on top of this granite outcrop.
Personally, I think that it is obvious - Gigantic alien beings from another galaxy picked it up like a pebble and placed it there. No other explanation makes sense!
This photo was taken by a Hasselblad 500C medium format film camera with a Carl Zeiss Distagon 1:4 f=50mm lens and Hasselblad/63 1xHz-0 drop in filter using Fuji Pro 400-H film, the negative scanned by an Epson Perfection V600 and digitally rendered with Photoshop.
People spend most of the time speculation upon what has already happened and what will be in the future. Sometimes it even seems that there are only two time spaces – the past and the future. Now and today – do not exist. But please, don’t think that I’m trying to reproach people with their superfluous love to the past and selfless dreams about the future. I only want to pay attention to the fact how little we think about the present.
Every person perceives the world in his own way. Our experience and memories make us unique. Everyone has his own path and story to tell.
I have a wonderful thing in my hands. A pure relic! There is a photo of my friend’s family from 1904. Can you imagine? 110 years! It is not actually a photo. It is a daguerreotype. Daguerrotypy was created in 1839 by a painter Daguer. Until 1851 it was the only way of practical photography. The process of creating photos was quite complicated. I think you can find the information about it in the internet, if you are interested. I only add that the process included silver copper plate, mercury vapor and sodium thiosulfate.
The objects with history have always been inspiring me. Vintage objects have indescribable charm. They preserve the story. I have a collection of vintage clothing that I use in my photography. Thanks to my friends who supply me with these treasures.When I touch such things I always wonder who was the owner? What was he dreaming of? What is his story?
Vintage objects have unusual scent. I strongly believe that the time smells. It has that very scent that one of my cream vintage dresses possesses.
I believe that everyone has a talent. Everyone has something that can be shared to make this world more beautiful. Each of us has his own story and path. It is a great ability to be able to tell your story. I will try to share mine today.
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For a few years now the speculation has been that 'this will be the last year of Class 20 operation on the Yorkshire/Humberside RHTT circuit'. However like ageing rockers the old stagers keep coming back for a final encore.
The class 20's (built between 1957 and 1968) still cling on, the key to survival being their ability to traverse routes with weight restrictions such as the Hull to Scarborough line.
20305 and 20303 restart (with associated magnificent noise), after a brief pause for a crew change at Gilberdyke.
It will almost certainly be a last time for the Gilberdyke semaphores. After many delays it looks like the re-signalling is finally due to take place before the close of the year.
25th October 2018.
© Stephen Veitch - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without permission.
There are quite a few great blue herons nesting at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. The heron on the left stands out from other herons because of the protuberances from his throat and jaw. There has been speculation among us photogs that he had his throat clawed and that caused the protuberance. Last year he was one of the last herons to find a nest. This year he was the only male I witnessed who staked out a nest, began building it, and then attracted a mate. His is not an easy lot and he has earned the nickname of "lonesome George."
This image was made last Tuesday. A heron from another island had flown over to try to cohabit with George's mate but George fought him off, returned to the nest, and had this "eye to eye" bonding moment with his mate.
Interestingly, I was there two days later when George made a trip from his nest to the nest of the attacker. Only the attacker's mate was in the nest, and George proceeded to have his way with her. Interesting behavior, interesting cause and effect.....
Norfolk UK. NWT Hickling Pectoral Sandpiper Juvenile, just dropped in. Maybe travelling from Siberia to America. But that's just speculation from my Collins guide. Very pleased to find it wherever its headed
Being able to ride the Monorail directly to Magic Kingdom and Epcot is quite awesome. While there was speculation in the past about expanding to the other parks, I don't believe that will be happening, anytime soon at least. What is cool about the Epcot line of the Monorail is that it takes you inside the parks and over Futureworld before looping back around to the station. I always enjoy a good journey on the monorail, do you?
Epcot
Walt Disney World Resort, Florida
Daily Disney Snapshots on Facebook by Cliff
Wang Photography
Institute of Disney Photography has launched a new website. Be sure to check us out at the following link:
The last time anyone saw old Wayne Wainwright was under this bridge. He was sitting there with his brown-bagged whiskey bottle screaming obscenities at passerbys. That same night there was an extremely high ocean tide and everyone figures Wayne became shark bait. The Brown Derby liquor store sure misses old Wayne's business.
Santa Cruz, California 2012
When GBRf purchased the ex-Colas class 60 fleet there was much speculation as to where they would go. The extra haulage capability would surely see them head to Peak Forest to work heavy stone trains. This might still happen but the first revenue earning workings seem to have been on the Tyne Dock - Lynemouth biomass workings.
In dull conditions 60047 gets a return empties working underway climbing out of Lynemouth towards Woodhorn colliery having brought the loaded train in during the afternoon.
The photo is taken from the embankment of the former Newbiggin-by-the-Sea branch which curves away from the Lynemouth line at this point.
Thankyou Rob for the tip off that the 60 would be on this working!
20th August 2018.
© Stephen Veitch - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without permission.
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in Sonoma County. Spectacular rarity for Northern California. It may be a monsoonal hitchhiker -- speculation, indeed.
Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. It has been the subject of much speculation and debate, but its true meaning remains a mystery. However, there is no doubt that Stonehenge is a remarkable feat of engineering and a testament to the ingenuity of its builders.
Here are some other facts about Stonehenge:
•The stones are aligned with the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset.
•The monument is surrounded by a ditch and bank.
•There are several smaller monuments nearby, including the Cursus and the Avenue.
•Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
•It is estimated that it took about 1,000 years to build Stonehenge (beginning around 3000 BC).
•The exact purpose of Stonehenge is unknown, but it is thought to have been a place of worship, ritual, or astronomical observation.
Stonehenge is a fascinating and mysterious monument that continues to fascinate people today. It is a testament to the ingenuity and engineering skills of its builders, and it is a reminder of the rich history of England.
Taken at Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England
Explore #04 (2024-10-08) - Thank you for stopping by and for your words of encouragement and favorites!
Read about this remarkable place on this earlier shot.
Dumfries, 2012.
Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances
Walt Whitman
Of the terrible doubt of appearances,
Of the uncertainty after all, that we may be deluded,
That may-be reliance and hope are but speculations after all,
That may-be identity beyond the grave is a beautiful fable
only,
May-be the things I perceive, the animals, plants, men, hills,
shining and flowing waters,
The skies of day and night, colors, densities, forms, may-be
these are (as doubtless they are) only apparitions, and
the real something has yet to be known,
(How often they dart out of themselves as if to confound me
and mock me!
How often I think neither I know, nor any man knows,
aught of them,)
May-be seeming to me what they are (as doubtless they
indeed but seem) as from my present point of view, and
might prove (as of course they would) nought of what
they appear, or nought anyhow, from entirely changed
points of view;
To me these and the like of these are curiously answer'd by
my lovers, my dear friends,
When he whom I love travels with me or sits a long while
holding me by the hand,
When the subtle air, the impalpable, the sense that words and
reason hold not, surround us and pervade us,
Then I am charged with untold and untellable wisdom, I am
silent, I require nothing further,
I cannot answer the question of appearances or that of
identity beyond the grave,
But I walk or sit indifferent, I am satisfied,
He ahold of my hand has completely satisfied me.
Much speculation as to what happened here. Either one of the local scalawags threw a hand grenade in before making a run for it or a caller dropped a MOAF (Mother Of All Farts) resulting in major structural damage. We'll never know, as all evidence has now been removed.
And yes, that pointy headed shadow does belong to my pointy head.
What is it and where did it come from?
Speculation about this odd-looking relic is rife, ranging from: Being a part of an alien spacecraft, with others concluding that it is a piece of a hyper-space drive unit designed to penetrate the time/space barrier between multi-universes.
Personally, I believe that it is part of an exhaust unit from a fast food restaurant.
Scientist are hard at work to solve the problem!
This photo was taken by a Kowa Super 66 medium format film camera with a Kowa 1:3.5/55mm lens and Kowa L39•3C(UV) ø67 filter using Kodak Portra 400 film, the negative scanned by an Epson Perfection V600 and digitally rendered with Photoshop.
Researchers say that the name of the city of Sochi came from the Adyghe tribe of Ubykhs. This tribe was divided into several communities, one of which the peoples of the Caucasus called "Soche", "Soatshe", "Sshychye" and "Shacha". There is speculation that the word "Shacha" mean translated from Ubykh language family, living by the sea.
The hazy mysteries of Ål Hallingdal invites to speculation about the supernatural, indeed - south Norway
For the entire human history there has been speculation about celestial beings visiting our planet. Some believed in benevolent godly entities resembling human form while other cultures depicted the entities as fiendish devils. Just for a moment, speculate that such alien entities might be in a form so different than us that they could be overlooked. Innocuously, they might slowly take over our world, unnoticed and ignored until it was too late to for us to respond . . .
This photo was taken by a Hasselblad 500C medium format film camera and Carl Zeiss Distagon 1:4 f=50mm T* lens with a Hasselblad/63 1xHz-0 drop in filter using Ilford Delta 3200 film, the negative scanned by an Epson Perfection V600 and digitally rendered with Photoshop.
I'd like to say Peeps can swim, but observation tells me with their lack of legs, they can float, but not swim. Upon further speculation, cold water causes the sugar to melt, but not the marshmallow. I think boiling water might be a problem.
Four burst shots later from the last post, one male queen butterfly had pushed another male queen butterfly off the flower. There is speculation in the literature that male butterflies of some species are territorial for flowers. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX. Sony A6000 and E55-210.
2/ With much speculation of courtship circulating between Mlle Vorontsova and Sheremetev (he is rumoured to appear at her music soirée), Yusupov’s event seemed to prove otherwise. Young Graf Yaguzhinsky was quite bold in his advances creating amusement for the other guests (except for her cousin and chaperon Dashkova).
Sheremetev seemed disheartened but not as affected as a lover should be… Perhaps, the courtship rumours are false? The two seemed to engage in pleasant conversation at the dinner table discussing the music program to be featured enthusiastically.
In fact, Vorontsova suggested him to bring his opera protegé Zhemchugova then!
Learn more about our "Royal Treatment" plotline (#21): docs.google.com/presentation/d/11w07wRtM64aT-slNCqxzs_0p8...
Learn more about our "Sheremetev in Love" plotline (#15): docs.google.com/presentation/d/1S1L8JesWESwnS1_1ehXmTyc3k...
Visit us: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Embers/159/124/3313
Apply today! goo.gl/forms/OOKPVDMN5V4SBGeT2
There has been much speculation for a while now, that Wrexham depot will shortly become a all single deck operation, and thus removing the quite impressive ADL E400City's off routes 1 and 5, a shame really.
They say things go in cycles, and this reminds me when the impressive R-AEY batch of Volvo Olympians were on route 1 and ended up been moved away and replaced by Darts, to make the depot single deck.
A very fast moving scene here, 1008 heads for Wrexham, whilst sister 1007 CX17 BYJ heads for Chester in the background. I did get some better focused scenes of these here, but I'll post this one due to two sisters working in the same scene. I was awaiting a target Pulsar on the X4 service (I'll post at some point).
Loadings do look poor here, but looks can be deceiving. Most passengers flows at this point were heading to Chester, whilst the Wrexham bound run would load up well in the villages between Chester and Wrexham. I have sampled these quite a bit over the years and quite like them due to been different, but for some reason wasn't as keen on the CX14/15 plate examples on the traditional E400 bodywork.
After 18 months of speculation, the first of the twenty five Enviro500 deckers finally arrived from Glasgow, heralding the end for over a third of the artic fleet and reintroducing the Bridges name to the 1&2 route as it was known for decades prior to coming the Red Line fifteen years ago.
38218 is seen here at King Street Depot showing off the red based Bridges branding applied to around half of the batch in Glasgow prior to them coming north.
With a number of buses due to have their tax expire after Monday perhaps we may see these in service next week?
Early yesterday morning, a friend and I went hiking up a remote canyon near Kanab. About 3 miles up, we found this very odd petroglyph. Most Indian writings are just stick figures and lack much detail. But this thing was just the opposite as it's very detailed and ornate and it's life size! There's speculation that it was either carved by the Spaniards or by a more modern native american. We'll probably never know.
Attention people using this image for rampant speculation (Brickset), aside from minifigs from existing sets we all already know about, I was not given any information regarding upcoming sets when I created this image. All depictions of as of yet unproduced figures are a by product of my own imagination, and as such, not a factual basis for any speculation or rumors.
Oggetto della cui funzione sono totalmente all'oscuro. An object which function i'm completely unaware of, one out of the many everyday's life "weird" objects , mostly boxes and closets of various sizes made of metal and/or plastic, or pipes made of the same materials, a world of seemingly isignificant things that nevertheless surrounds us and constantly plays a part in the continuum of the environment in which we live and move. Raised railway platform detail. Via Emilia Levante. Bologna 2016
Thence gathering plumes of perfect speculation,
To imp the wings of thy high-flying mind,
Mount up aloft through heavenly contemplation,
From this dark world, whose damps the soul so blind,
And, like the native brood of eagles' kind,
On that bright Sun of Glory fix thine eyes,
Clear'd from gross mists of frail infirmities.
From An Hymn Of Heavenly Beauty by Edmund Spenser (1552 - 1599)
Best Viewed Large On Black - Kapiti Island, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand [?]
• Available high res and unframed at tomraven.com
• Prints, Cards and Posters available at RavenRedBubble
By Farfahinne- manif des mal et des non loges a Paris le samedi 11 Octobre
farfahinne.blogspot.com/2008/10/francemanif-des-mal-et-de...
While there was speculation all weekend about who could be in the nu face lunch one thing we were all certain about was Elyse being the convention doll yet again. Between her being noted as Jason Wu's muse and the reception of the last non Elyse convention doll (the original Karolin) it made total sense for Elyse again.
In truth I've had a hard time warming up to this sculpt and even was determined to part with her instead of pack her initially but as the next week unfolded so did my affection for this doll and before I realized it I actually adored both her look - a miniature recreation that not only is embroidered but has POCKETS! And those earrings aee great - and Elyse herself so I can only feel glad that I kept her now.
Another late afternoon shot, this time at Thornham on the Norfolk coast. I took a bad picture here many years ago, so it was certainly time to return. :) These intriguing timbers inspire much speculation on-line and in books: Even the County Archaeological Department appears to be bewildered. One suddenly comes across them at the end of a tongue of land - the moment the harbour itself comes into view, having been hidden behind low banks. Despite being popular with walkers and bird-watchers, this feels a lonely, private place and the effect is very striking.
Gresham's law - that "bad money drives out good" - holds true for history. Drivel drives out fact. But, dear reader, this is not an inexplicable enigma, a petrified prehistoric forest or an ancient holy site. Yet it does tell a moderately interesting story :)
In 1786 the River Hun was diverted during land reclamation, entering the sea through a tidal creek at Thornham. This significantly enlarged Thornham Harbour. Two years later, George Hogg, a wealthy Lynn merchant, began commercial development. He built two granaries and a small warehouse. These timbers are the remains of a crude breakwater which protected the granaries on the seaward side. The ramshackle structure remained intact until the 1953 floods, when the buildings - which had long fallen into ruin - were completely swept away.
For a few decades in the early 19th century, the tiny ports of North Norfolk were relatively prosperous. Thornham’s trade - essentially grain out, coal in - was conducted on Billyboys - seagoing sailing barges based in Hull. Shaped just like an old wooden date box, these small craft could handle the shallow, sandy creeks and minute cargoes.
Thornham never stood a chance as a commercial harbour. Silt, railways and the collapsing price of grain doomed the Norfolk coasting trade, which was barely viable by the 1870s. The last Billyboys slipped away with King Edward.
All of which has been largely forgotten. Only these fragments remain.
In many parts of the British Isles stone circles and similar antiquities were “explained” as dancers turned to stone . “The Merry Dancers” are a traditional name for the northern lights and seemed to fit here. The North Sea ethos of this coast is not the least part of its magic.
I’m going to be away for a few days - when I come back I’ll be commenting :) Thank you for your tolerance :)
Thornham Harbour, Norfolk. Olympus OM-2n, Zuiko f2.8 35mm, Kodak T-Max 400, Orange Filter.
Discovery of another planet that might support life has given rise to speculation about intelligent life elsewhere in the universe – and whether such lifeforms would need the Gospel. But “if there is intelligent life on other planets, we definitely need to tell them Earth’s Gospel story and learn what their history is,” Nettles told Baptist Press in written comments.
mbcpathway.com/2016/09/25/intergalactic-missions/
Photo used with permission; however, reproduction is prohibited. For more information on this photograph, please email kennymccune@mobaptist.org.
The Silken whisper of Flickering Desires
A Chronicle
Adapted from the Final Entry Entitled:
Their Regal Gambit
Subtitled:
While Sherlock Holmes vacationed
The first score had been made, now for the Coup de Grace! So far their little operation had gone as smooth as silk, or in this case, satin. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then Mollie would let her husband know that with the coast clear, freeing him to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping an eye on all evening. The one who was wearing the exquisite necklace of fiery flickering diamonds, just daring someone to expertly slip it away the throat of its unsuspecting owner.
And therein lay the rub, She happily thought….
As Mollie made her way down the quiet corridor to the gentlemen’s smoking lounge, she lovingly played through her mind the series of unfortunate ( or fortunate?) events that had led her and her husband to this place. It had all began with an innocent one named Tabitha…….
Mollies’ Flash back
They had first come across Tabitha at a resort casino deep in the Catskills. Mollie and her husband had been there about three days, scoping out the grounds, and its wealthy clientele. At the casino they both spotted Tabitha at the same time. She was seated at a baccarat table, really standing out in an elegant dress of gold and black striped silk and velvet Her well-toned body displayed numerous pieces of expensive jewelry. A fat little purse dangled, unheeded by her side. Tabitha had held Mollie’s attention mainly due to the strong resemblance she had to herself. Tabitha’s jewelry, a flashy diamond journey style necklace, matching earrings, wide diamond tennis bracelet, and multiple gem encrusted rings, had held Mollies pickpocket husbands’.
Mollie went on to the bar and watched as her husband waited for the seat next to Tabitha to become vacant. Then he sat, asking for chips, while unobtrusively eyeing Tabitha’s bracelet. He began striking up a conversation with Tabitha, finding her to be an easy mark. He soon learned from the chatty girl that she was a divorced, upper executive for a well-known digital arts company servicing the movie industry. It was during this conversation that Tabitha babbled about the upscale, invitation only(you know), black tie formal ball she would be attending in England the next month. Now, as her husband was keeping Tabitha occupied Mollie had walked by the pair, ‘tripping’ into her husband, who palmed off to her , the diamond bracelet which had been ever so subtly slipped from around the unwary Tabatha’s’ wrist. Walking away with the bracelet secured in her purse, Mollie made her way to their small bungalow. Her husband did not break in his conversation with Tabitha; a mark would seldom suspect a friendly person of stealing from her.
Later that evening, Mollie wore the pricy bracelet while mutually admiring it over a bottle of merlot with her husband. They discussed the high-class affair Tabitha had been bragging about. Wistfully, Mollie admitted it was a shame they had not received an invite. Her husband smiled, and pulled a thickly embossed and crested envelope from his pocket. Easily adopting a British accent, he said “The silly little twit was carrying this in her purse!” The envelope revealed a pair of invitations to the Princess’s Jubilee Royal Ball. As the pair continued to empty the bottle of fine merlot, what had started as speculation, turned towards reality, and soon plans had been laid.
As they lay in bed later that night, Mollie turned to her husband, just think about the jewels that will be worn at the English Ball, she shivered with the delightful thoughts. Do you remember the last time we were in England? Mollie looked at her husband slyly, you remember, the Wriggling Whelp Whispering Wisk! She stated teasingly. Mollie knew the quickest way to get her husband’s goat was coming up with silly phrases to describe his more outlandish endeavors. Such phrases like The Tingling Touch Ice Melt, The Slippery Slick Taffeta Pull, The Glossy Gowned Dangling Peel, or her personal favorite, The Ticklish Wedge Clam Dip, never failed to get a response. In this case the response was a brief pillow fight leading into a romantic interlude, ending up with them in bed as they reminisced about the last time they had “visited” England a few years back…..
It had proven a fairly profitable venture with the jewelry alone netting almost 100,000 pounds. It all had culminated quite nicely at one of the posh events they had crashed that final weekend. Their final score had come about from a rambunctious doe eyed Fourteen year old in a shiny dress who had been oblivious to the valuably delicious gold pendent studded with small rubies and emeralds that sparkled ever so invitingly as it swung from her throat. A pair of matching dangling earrings dripped from her ears as she has run around unminded by her elders. Mollie had indignantly stated to her husband that the antique trinkets were simply just too expensive for a child so squirminly young to be trusted with. Her husband then went about the task to prove his wife correct in her statement.
After talking a bit about the English Girls parents reaction to the unsolved disappearance of their daughters ultra-pricey pendent , Mollie came back to the present and asked if the lady in the maroon silk that her husband pointed out the previous evening would be wearing the same jewels to the dance tomorrow night? Or better her husband replied sleepily, good Mollie pronounced, I did like her emeralds.
In Merry Ole England
They had arrived in England several weeks before the Royal Ball and began the preparations.
In an irony of fate, the profit they had realized from poor Tabitha’s bracelet had paid for a large chunk of their little excursion. Keeping his accent, and adding a trim beard, Mollies husband looked radically different from the man Tabitha had encountered. During the weeks following their arrival, the pair had practiced like they always did before undertaking a new venture. But this time it was with a more daring edge, they quite simply could not afford being caught red handed in a foreign country. Mollie assumed her practice the role. That of the richly dressed, well jeweled quarry. Her husband would stalk and attempt to relieve her of a piece of her jewelry as she went about her business, shopping! The idea being that, If he was able to do so without being caught by an obviously aware Mollie, than he should have no problem at the Royal Ball. As it usually happened when they practiced in this manner, her husband did incredibly well. Mollie had had several pieces of jewelry vanish from her person during the week, without her noticing how or when.
The final night of practice Mollie decided to dress to kill. Looking quite devastating in a glossy gold halter and a long brown velvet skirt with gold stiletto heels clicking as she moved. A diamond heart pendant hung down from her neck, swaying provocatively out from between her breasts. A bracelet, similar to Tabitha’s purloined diamonds, was wrapped around her wrist.
She left their penthouse and made her way to the street outside. Some type of festival was going on as she waded through the crowded streets to the nightclub. Her rings sparkled as they kept rhythm with her swaying diamond waterfall earrings. Just daring her husband to make a move for any of them.
Mollie drank and danced the night away with no hide or hair of her husband until she returned late that evening to their apartment. She found him in the hot tub, smirking. She undressed and joined him. Okay, how did u do it she demanded? I felt nothing, no one bumped or brushed against me all evening that I was not aware of. He opened his fist, allowing her heart diamond pendant to dangle freely in front of her. A magician never reveals his tricks my little cat, he purred, as the pendant swayed in a sparkling arch.
Cat was short for “Cat Lady”, a moniker he had placed upon her when she had broken into a sleeping woman’s room and removed the jewels from her gold case, and even managed to slip off a ring she was wearing. The fact that she was passed out in a drunken stupor, still dressed in her long party gown, didn’t count , or so her husband teased.
You should have been a surgeon! , my dear, Mollie exclaimed with pride. Then she leaned towards him, her green eyes gleaming in earnest, time for a real practice run Mon Cherie, she said in dead seriousness. Then Her eyes opened wide, I got it she exclaimed, I’ll call it The Slinking Sneaky Shearing Snag she pronounced joyfully, getting a face full of water in reply to her effort. Okay Cat, let’s get down to business he retorted, I know just the affair. Mollie listened intensively as her Husband described their next plans, derived while eavesdropping on a couple of ladies shopping in a jewelers.
The next weekend (two weeks to the evening before the Royal Ball) Mollie found herself at a quaint upscale wedding reception held in the large gardens of a country church. She was attired in the same bewitching ensemble that she had been wearing on the final night of practice. Her only jewels were a recently acquired pair of sparkly cascading earrings set with emeralds and diamonds. The affair of the plump piqued peacock plucking she had mused while getting dressed. The only other exception was that the long fiery red hair she had inherited from her Irish namesake grandmother had been cut and dyed blond. Blue contacts had also been added to the disguise to hide her vivid green eyes.
They soon targeted an older jewel laden snob at the reception. An older lady , well jeweled, of the arrogant know it all, obey me totally type whom everyone tries to avoid. While Mollie engaged the mark in a mostly one sided conversation(the older ladies) the lady had become so deeply engrossed about talking about herself and her ties with royalty, that she never detected being relieved of a heirloom antique gold chain and jeweled pendent by Mollies husband who had approached her unnoticed from behind.
It was all Mollie could do no to bring attention to it by looking at the wickedly expensive piece as it was slipped up and away from the Dowager’s ruffled heavy satin blouse.
This time it was mollies turn to keep chatting as her husband headed to the door. He had almost made it when two youths ran into him as they scurried away from a rather sullen looking tween girl they had been teasing, and now were in possession of her purse. Mollie stole a look as she saw her husband topple onto the chasing girl. He managed to extracted himself from the girls long slinky gown that she had probably been forced into by an overly conceited mother. He apologized, and left the girl to go after her antagonizes. Later, when Mollie had caught up to him she teased him about his clumsiness. He just smiled, and pulled out from his vest pocket the most exquisitely matched pearls that the youth had been openly displaying from around her throat and wrist at the reception!
They were, most definitely, ready. The fated evening could not come soon enough. But it finally did.
They had had no problem with using the fancy invitations to gain entrance. Security was heavy, as expected, but with a very lax atmosphere. Mollie was wearing the salmon coloured gown she had had especially made for such occasions, her new blond hair style and the blue contacts. In a coup foray of sorts, Mollie wore the pearls that had been taken by her husband during his run in with the sullen girl at the wedding reception. Her husband was wearing his usual tux with a hand tied bowtie. His ruffled sleeves easily moved up and down along his wrists.
Mollie and her husband split up, each spending the first few hours mingling solo, and taking it all in as they thoroughly enjoyed the Ball and all its many stimulating attractions. It had gone smooth as silk. Spending the first few hours prowling while the guests liquored up Mollie scoping out exactly the right candidates. Dangling jewels with easy clasps were everywhere!, it was surprising how the best of jewel makers skimped on the clasps required to keep the expensive pieces in place. Clothing also made a difference. Silks and satins were quiet and slipped easily. Taffeta could be whispery, more of a challenge. Velvet could easily snag as a piece was being lifted. But these were the costliest of materials, and the wearers would logically be wearing the costlier of jewelry.
Mollie and her husband regrouped several hours later, unobtrusively under the pretense of dancing. Gently discussing their plans. They settled on three likely prospects amongst the almost three hundred present. The first was an older spinster type wearing a luxurious dress of embroidered navy silk and displaying jewelry studded with diamonds and sapphires. The second was a middle aged snotty blonde wearing a shamelessly low cut green silk taffeta gown (which Mollie secretly liked)wearing a thick gold bracelet studded with vulgarly large rubies surrounded by a sea of small sparkly diamonds. She was alone, and a heavy drinker. The third was a longshot. A lanky , flighty brunette wearing immensely valuable jewels of blindingly sparkling Diamonds. Her necklace alone was in the upper hundred thousand range, with a clasp that was one of the easiest to coax open. The only problem was that she came with an obviously newlywed husband who doted on her every move. Both were heavy drinkers, and if he would only leave his wife’s side for, say about fifteen minutes, the necklace would be theirs!
They had decided that any one of the three would produce results worth a king’s ransom, appropriately enough, all things considered. The plan was for her husband to take his time selecting the easiest jewel to acquire from amongst the ones the three marks were displaying , make his move, and pass it off to Mollie who would leave forthwith, while her husband stayed a little while longer to make sure everything remained calm before making his exit stage right via the hallway.
As Mollie went to her station, she saw the Blue silken lady, along with her sapphires and diamonds, leaving with a rather unsavory looking male, eyeing her with a look Mollie knew all too well. Mollie decided to follow them, thinking to herself that some women are just prone to being victimized. Good luck with that one Mollie thought unkindly, as she stole one last look at the ladies glistening sapphires, hope he leaves her with something she sarcastically wished wickedly to the couple’s backside as they went out the exit at the end of the hall. One down and out she thought. Then she spied the husband of the newlywed pair heading down the hall towards her with an older, grey bearded man. Getting close she heard them talking about the Gentlemen’s smoking lounge. Mollie decided to give her husband a signal, but when she found him he was already in the arms of the blond. Molly immediately noticed the absence of the jeweled bracelet from his partners’ wrist. She went back to her table. Immediately she was set upon by some drunken snob asking her to dance. She allowed herself to be taken up into his arms. Spending a few unenchanting minutes with Mr. two left feet, before her husband tapped him on the shoulder cutting in. They danced, Mollie placing a hand into his pocket and feeling something cold and metal wrapped her hand around it. Looking him in the eyes she told him about the now unguarded bride, as she palmed the willowy blonde’s bracelet. They decided to go for it, and as the music ended, Mollie made her way to the hall, where she secreted the blondes bracelet safely away
One down, one more to go! An exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be nimbly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then to let her husband know that with the coast clear, he was free to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping a drooling eye on all evening. The one wearing the exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be so expertly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer.
She was able to see the groom in windowed room, the husband and his friend were smoking a pair of long cigars and drinking brandy in large glass snifters. Mollie passed unnoticed as she mad e her way to the ladies powder room. He was still there, only halfway through a long stogie as she passed again on her way back. Neither time was she observed. Mollie mad her way back to the Ballroom. She sat down at one side of the room, once again allowing the sights of so many bejeweled women to soak in. Her husband was dancing with a lady in a flowing red ball gown, jewels sparkling in abundance, not aware of the danger so close at hand, nor that even with her husband and his particular skill set so close to them, that at that moment nothing could be safer from his fingertips. Finally she caught her husband’s eye. Mollie innocently rubbed a finger along the side of her nose, a subtle signal that it was safe for him to precede.
Mollie was now uncharacteristically having butterflies in her stomach; it was a huge gamble, trying to get away with a pair of thefts in this inhospitable atmosphere. She kept second guessing herself, Bird in hand she kept thinking. But the lure was too great, and it was with a heavy sigh of relief when Mollie saw her husband finally kiss the hand of the young bride after their dance. Mollie could see that she was no longer sporting the thin silver necklace and its row of at least two caret diamonds that had been encircling her throat with their rippling flashy brilliance all evening. Molly stayed put, not daring to leave until her husband had brushed by her in passing and made his way out the hallway to the exit. She waited for a long fifteen minutes, then curling her hand around the necklace that had been dropped into her lap as he had passed; she gained the safety of the hallway. Just in time. For coming down the hallway was none other than the lady in the long luxurious gown and now bare throats groom and his distinguished looking friend. She passed by them, feeling the men eyeing her with roving wolfish gazes. Then she passed them, and proceeded unhindered to once again enter the ladies’ powder room where the necklace soon joined with the Blondes bracelet in its hiding spot.. Than calmly Mollie left, walking past two security Bobbies, virtually unnoticed. The Groom had been absolutely ignorant to the fact that his young Bride’s ridiculously valuable necklace had walked right past him out the door.
Mollie did not let herself really breathe until she had gained the safety of the street. She allowed herself to imagine the commotion as the news of the missing jewels were circulated around the cavernous Ballroom. There would be a flurry of activity, flashes and sparkles as the women checked themselves reassuringly that they were still in possession of their trinkets. Mollie would have loved to have stayed and watched, but obviously could not do so. She rejoined her husband at their meeting place and they drove off. They made their way to Ireland where they spent a cautious week touring before leaving for the states.
Once the profit was realized from their haul that eventful evening, including obnoxious Dowagers the jeweled antique pendent, and was added in to the modest amount they had already accumulated from previous adventures, Mollie and her husband were able to retire to Ireland and live quite an unpretentious life together in a small stone manor in the woods.
Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives