I'm a Frog!

I found this Cute Animal Quiz over @ the Duchess's Garden...

You Are A: Frog!

Independent yet still part of a large community, frogs are unique creatures known for their distinctive sound and ability to hop. As a frog, you spend your days sitting on lily pads or climbing trees, searching for delicious insects to eat. While there are some frogs that aren't exactly cute, you are certainly not one of those!

You were almost a: Turtle or a Chipmunk
You are least like a: Puppy or a Monkey

Cute Animal Test!

So, I'm a Frog - err!
What I need is a Prince Charming to kiss & release me from the spell.
Any takers???

Camera Critters Sunday - Swans in Black & White!

Animals, dogs, infact any real wildlife; seem few & far between in my life right now - in truth non existent!
I do have Blackbirds in my Apple trees, several fighting for territory, but unfortunately can't photograph them; as @ the slightest glimpse of me & my camera, they take refuge in my gardens thickist Evergreen bushes!
So desperate was I, re a Critters topic, I almost, posted my review of the play "The Blackbird" again -LOL!
A terrific drama - I highly recommend seeing it -but, warn, it's not comfortable theatre!
However, have finally settled on a pair of re-vamped bird photo's.

My fine Black Swan, a very first sighting for me - is from the North Island Recovery Centre @ Errington, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
She posed nicely for me, being safe in her compound...Little Buddy & I visited there in June '07.
Their main goal is the rehabilitation of all the regional wildlife bought into their care, especially Bear Cubs!
I wrote about our fascinating tour around the Centre, in my post Saved BC Wildlife - their work is admirable.

My white Mute Swan close up, is more local; taken along the Isis River, this Summer.
She obligingly swam over to almost greet me, in the hope of food of course...To be honest, I'm not 100% sure whether this particular swan's a Cob, the male or a Pen, the female bird.
The way to tell in a fully grown swan, is by the size of the black nobule @ the top of the bill; it's much more pronounced in the male Cob.
But, this was a youngster, a fledgling from last year, as there where still traces of grey in the birds plumage, so I'm going for Hen as she was friendly!

For any who remember a similar looking 'Two Fer Tuesday', I promise, my Mute Swan is very different bird!
Camera Critter's host is Misty Dawn & the site is HERE! .

Bright Cards on a Dark Day!

Today's been on of those particularly grey, grim, cold damp days, that epitomises an English Winter.
However, for me it's been brighten by post, glorious post!
Now procrastinator me, still has to complete her Christmas Card List, let alone write her cards.
But, good friends are away ahead of me.

This delightful & oh, so appropriate 'Buddy' card came from Wilma... She's the cat lover & knows my doggy preference well!
I love it!

Samantha and adorable Border Collies, Holly & Zac sent me a photo of their winsome selves...Plus, this terrific card sold on the behalf of the International Sheep Dog Society...It's by a favourite animal artist of mine too; Pollyanna Pickering & is called 'Working the Fields'.

And, Simba, had his own cards designed as befits a King...Doesn't he make a cute Santa?
Just want to plant a kiss on his little black nose!

My mail didn't stop there, two colourful postcards arrived from BJ, with the note "Next time... meet you there?"
Oh, yes please!
I'd love to do a Judy Garland & meet her in St Louis, Louis...Both cards show the Gateway Arch, a magnificent 630 feet monument that's a symbol of the fact that the city is the gateway to the West!

I also, mustn't forget a postcard received earlier in the week, from closer to home!
Hollowhound Marvin & his Jeannie remembered my love of books & Book Shops.
This one's in Scotland's Capital cities Old Town...So, to ALL of you a huge THANKS for thinking of me and with such special cards!

Saturday Photo Hunters - Metal!

For this weeks subject from host tnchick, I'm going back to the Summer.
A walk along the River Isis's towpath lead me to Ifffey Lock, where the weir was undergoing repair work.
This photo is peering though the metal scaffolding @ the waters, gushing down stream...

Monochrome Mountain!

This morning, I went in search of my old Photograph Albums.
I was particularly, looking for the ones that related to the 3+ months, I spent in Western Canada, in the Summer of '85; as it was during that visit, that I took my helicopter ride!!!
Oh, I found my books alright, all three of them; BUT, what I was not prepared for was the state of the prints inside!!!
The albums pages, were of the kind with adhesive sticky backs & a fold-over cellophane film.
I discovered to my cost, that using them was a BIG mistake on my part!
The chemicals had, had the most adverse effect on the photo's - none of the colours are now true; all, have an appalling brownish tinge to them.
After scanning the ones I wanted into my Laptop, I've tried with my limited photo editing programme to rejuvenate them, sadly to no avail.
The best I can do for Blog re-production, is to go down the Black & White route!
Heavens know, whether Aileni will think they work, but here is the tale...

In June 1985, I took Winnie, a friend @ the time, to Canada with me for a holiday.
Whilst she was out, we hired a car & drove from Calgary, Alberta; through the Rockies & across British Columbia to Vancouver.
During our stay in this city, a fav. of mine, with its amazing back-drop of both mountains & sea; we took the 'Skyride' cable car up Grouse Mountain - website image...Then, rode the ski-lift to the Upper Slopes, where there was still deep snow on the ground...It was a gloriously HOT day - the sun was beating down, hence this very Odd Shot of me enjoying a crazy moment...Returning to the lower mountain level, we noticed that helicopter flights were available over the surrounds...Throwing caution & finances to the wind, we took to the air...As I said on my previous post for Sky Watch, it was a noisy but magnificent experience.
This image from Google, is what my shots originally, well - nearly, looked like...One more regret, apart from my photo albums present disastrous state:-
I wish, I'd repeated this adventure, when in the locality much more recently with Little Buddy!
Cann't help, but think of the photo's I might have captured then, on digital!

Sky Watch Friday - Fly me away!

On a brief moment of clear blue skies this week, snaped this helicopter going over...I have flown in one, over Vancouver's Grouse Mountain & surrounds, Brit. Columbia, Canada.

The flight was a thrilling, if an incredibly noisy experience!
Will try & find the prints taken back in 1985.
This exceedingly popular weekly photo memes home is to be found @ Skywatch!

True Colours Thursday, Take 2 - Seasonal Blues!

As this is MY meme I can play twice - LOL!

In town this morning, I spied this delightful BLUE tree, with reflection, in a stores window in the High.

It seemed right to post it today...And, seeing it, jogged my memory - I'd overlooked another appropriate seasonal photo, taken whilst visiting 'The Winter Wonderland' @ Notcutts Garden Centre, in Kent...

I would love a BLUE & silver Christmas theme, but nostalgia prevents me - too many, old much loved decorations!

All this, in turn; reminded me that it's nearly time to get my very special BLUE Christmas jumper out of the closet.

This 'creation' was given to me as a gift by Little Buddy's Mother, the year I spent the holiday in Prairieland, Canada...You either LOVE it or HATE it!

Now in truth, I would never have chosen it myself, but do enjoy wearing it because it is so novel.

And, I will defend it to the hilt, against any, who disparagingly ask, as it's so bright & pearly,"Do the Snowmen's nose light up too?"

That comment from so called friends, went down in the channels of my memory as a dark BLUE mark against them!

However, my favourite Winter Sweater is this cosy wool one - love the Fair Isle detail.

It was a charity shop find...If, anyone else has 'Seasonal' BLUE thoughts, do feel free to post again!

True Colours Thursday - BLUE!

Now, I imagine, most friends would think this weeks choice of colour, would be a 'piece of cake' for me, being the lover of BLUE that I am!
But no, quite the contrary, because I have that much BLUE in my life, where do I start???
Also I've recently posted Saturday Photo Hunters - Blue and there was a Favourite Thing Thursday - The colour Blue too.

I wear a lot of BLUE, as the photo with Jackson shows...

Poor boy looks a little shifty as NOT allowed on the sofa normally!

Anyway, last November when visiting him & J1, she mentioned a special art & crafts, fashion & design exhibition, on @ the Brighton Museum, in the Royal Pavilion Gardens, called "INDIGO: a BLUE to dye for!" - I went along eagerly.
It could have been staged especially for me!
Indigo, is one of the worlds oldest & most distinctive dyestuffs, once believed by many cultures to have 'unique talismatic properties'.

And it is, of course, the dye behind BLUE denim, of which I've lots - jeans, skirts & even a jacket!
I learnt that the Ancients extracted the natural dye from several species of plant as well as from one kind of Phoenician sea snails, but now a days, nearly all indigo produced is synthetic.
The exhibition spanned the colours rich history from BLUE burial robes in Roman Egypt, to 16-18th century domestic clothe, to present day Indian tie-dyed textiles.
A fascinating array of indigo-dyed artifacts from around the world & specially commissioned contemporary art works were on display.
By this stage, you're probably wondering why no BLUE photographs!!!
Well, before going through the exhibition, I enquired @ the museums Information Desk, as to whether I could take any.
"Oh, yes, no problem!", was the response, I received back.
Ha!
One, single flash from my camera, brought two curators down on me on me like a 'ton of bricks'
Oh, I couldn't take photographs, it wasn't allowed - infringement of copyright, damaging the dye etc, were quoted as reasons - all acceptable but I did feel bit peeved as I had asked before hand!
This is my one stolen photo of a stunning BLUE wall hanging... But, @ least I found some BLUE beach huts to admire along the sea front...

Now, I'd like my friends to join this photo theme, although I created it for solely selfish reasons.
All you need to do, is a post on today's color ie BLUE!
This weeks participants so far are:- Aileni, BJ, Dina, Phoenix, Samantha, Denise, Dragonstar, Rebecca & Molly, Sunshine, Eduardo & Fairy Mae

But, I have great hopes of Nonizamboni & Jonna participating later on during the today!!!

And, next weeks colour is... YELLOW!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Opps! - Looks like someone has... Hope all my American friends have a fine family feast today.
Roast Turkey & Pumkin Pie are real favourites of mine.
Here's wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wheelie Wednesday - Judy & the Chicken!

"Hi, it's me Judy!
I sometimes, really worry about Mummy, I suspect she was a 'Street Scavenger' in a previous life, as she's always coming home with the strangest of finds!
This odd looking metal creature's the latest...It seems, she found him sitting on the top of a builders refuge skip, just like she did Bailey's best buddy Skipper.
She get ever soooo angry about what people throw away needlessly.
To calm her down, I wheeled over & took a closer look...But, had to ask, WHAT was he exactly???
Mummy said SHE's a Chicken, a Egg Hen, and, you store eggs in her for use.
Mmm!
A likely story, I thought!
So, went & fetched some out of the fridge & helped Mummy fill her up... I'm not sure if Chicken is staying with us; she may find her 'Forever' home via the local Charity shop; but Mummy said she desevered a better life, than living with rubbish in a a Landfill - whatever that is!
Still, I've saved three, especailly nice brown eggs from her clutches for tonights supper, it's mushroom omelette - yum, yum... I just hope, she doesn't want any, cause Bailey sure will!
See you all again soon.
Foxy love & 'Wheelie' wishes!

PS - Seems, my signatures go AWOL!
Judy
xx
x"

ABC Wednesday - S is for...!

Initially, all I could come up with for this week letter of the alphabet was Dreamingspires own Sword in the Stone... It's inlaid into pavement, @ the entrance to Christ Church College's Memorial Garden, along with the inscription from John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress...
'My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage'.

Then, I remembered another bit of academia.
My S is Schools, as in the University's Examination School...Situated on the High, in the heart of the city, they were built in 1882, specifically for holding of exams & lectures.
Their busiest time being in June, when the School will each day, have 1,200 students seated for written examinations, plus orals.
All are required by tradition, which is strictly upheld, to be attired in full academic dress.
'Sub-fusc' clothing [black & white] entails for the men - dark suit, socks, shoes with white shirt & white tie; for the women - black skirt & stockings/tights & shoes with white blouse & black tie. All have to wear gown & cap, carnation or rose button hole is optional!
~

~
The School is not normally open to the general public, but as part of last years 'Heritage Open Days' across the UK, it did, briefly open its doors, even though viewing was somewhat restricted due to the presence of three serious scientific conferences.
Never the less, I went along & saw the quad with its clock tower...Several of the many downstairs 'oral' examination rooms, one was surprisingly painted a shocking scarlet - every single room in the School has a clock, to time the exams...Went upstairs too... Stopped there to see the wonderful plaster stucco ceilings...Admired the superb marble staircases & pillars that are special features of the building...The Schools architect Sir Thomas Jackson, on his honeymoon in Rome brought back marble for the purpose, and many of the inlay designs look very Desmond Morris - birds & flowers...During the 2 World Wars, when exams were suspended, the School turned into a busy military service hospital!

And, there is of course only one S choice for my dog, it has to be a sorrowful looking Springer Spaniel, waiting for his supper...For more ABC Wednesday sights visit the designated site HERE; it was set up by host Denise.

A Trio of Awards!

Yesterday Dina made my day with these...

They are all lovely - Thank-you!
But, the Share the Love one is particularly noteworthy.
It was created by Crystal of Memoirs of a Mommy, to honor the heart transplant donor that saved the life of her young son Noah.
The rules of this award are very specific.
Link back to Memoirs of a Mommy to learn to learn more of this touching story & ask your recipients to do likewise.
Then, share this award with all those blogs out there that you love.
All the people who make you smile.
All those that make you laugh.
All those that make your day.
All those that leave uplifting comments on your blog.

Now, I know many, many of my closest blog friends are all ready proudly displaying this award & the other two, but no matter, if your name appears in my blog roll - please accept them all over again from me; especially BJ, Maggie & Mitch, Molly & Taffy, Wilma & Jackson.
I will just make one further special mention, that of the only & only Marvin and his Jeannie
to celebrate the return of the much missed Hollowhound!

Two fer Tuesday - His Masters Voice!

Over the weekend I was sorting through STUFF.

That included, my late Mother's ancient 78 record collection!

Regrettably, I no longer have the wonderful 1930's wind-up, portable gramophone that delighted me as a child.

Whilst I was travelling to met Little Buddy & Mother was feeling bitter - some, smooth talking, Antiques Dealer pursued her to part with it - DAM!

But, I still have a case of old LP's, most of which, saw her through the War years, many are in mint condition...

Whilst others, mainly dance music are well worn & His Masters Voice record label features heavily amongst them...

Being the dog fan I am, I've always loved the image of Nipper, the familiar gramophone mascot of HMV!

It seems Nipper first appeared in a 1898 oil painting called "His Masters Voice"
The terrier was born in 1884, lived till he was eleven and was so named because of his tendency to nip the back of visitors legs!

You have to laugh @ that.

Now, Nipper is always presumed to be a Jack Russell, but, according to the site Jack-Russell-Terrier.co.uk, he was more likely a mixed-breed dog, part Bull Terrier with a just a trace of Fox Terrier.

Anyway, after his death, his former owner, Francis Barraud, a little known English artist, painted a picture of him listening intently to a wind-up Edison-Bell cylinder phonograph.

It was apparently, playing a home made recording of Francis's deceased brother Mark Barraud voice, he was Nipper's previous owner - hence the title of the piece...

In the original painting, both Nipper & the phonograph are thought to be shown sitting on what appears to be the lid of a said brothers coffin!!!

Barraud tried to exhibit the work @ the British Royal Academy of Arts annual Summer show, but it was rejected on the grounds, they couldn't understand what the dog was doing!
The following year in 1899, the painting was bought by the Gramophone Company, for the princely sum of £50, plus another £50 for the copyright.

They then, commissioned the artist to paint out the Edison-Bell machine, replacing it with one of their own modern disc playing gramophones...And it was this modified painting that became the now famous trademark of HMV [His Master Voice] records & RCA [Record Company of America]...Two fer Tuesday is friend Jonna's weekly theme.

Today, I've strayed badly from the idea of two or pairs of photo's - Sorry!

It's more a Three fer, but, @ least I have an even number of images in total!