As a personal diversion, I still do some political editorial-writing … but not here on NT (as I do not wish to "argue" with friends); so, the only metaphorical "hornet's nest" I will stir up herein, will be the photographic kind.
Just in for a minute. Library Park Party is today, marking the end of the local library's summer reading program. Lot of cool stuff, including the Fire Department bringing a tank truck over with a water cannon and the largest sprinkler that I've ever seen. Over five feet in diameter and fed by a 2 1/2 inch hose. The kids love it, also love the pizza and ice cream.
Unfortunately, my last functioning camera is no longer functioning (screen cracked). I have another on order and should get it within a couple of weeks. Polaroid digital with 18mp and a 30x optical zoom. It's the same model with which I got the shots of the hummingbirds last summer.
A bit off topic but I do want to spread the word. Several of us are starting the preliminary work involved with setting up a cooking and recipe group. I should have a blog up within the next couple of days so that we can go over structure etc. Anyone with suggestions is welcome to come.
Dang Mac, wish I knew how to get such beautiful insect pictures. They always fly away when I try to get close.
Ocala is 67 feet above sea level. The Rainbow River is close to the house, about 15 minutes. A beautiful river with a bit of danger if you chose to do some swimming.
We have lunch at Swampy's on the River a couple of times a month.
Ahhh.....just what I need on a 103 degree day with tropical humidity. Gonna be like this through Monday. So I will be coming back for a visual cooling off spell.
You know that syndicated roasting fireplace you can gaze upon around Christmas time each year on some cable networks? Now this is a welcome summertime substitute.
Imagine this scene of a cool, snowy, stream of flowing water playing on televisions during the scorching days of summer! STELLAR.
I am able to use this as a desktop personal background! It looks great! Now on the hot days I can just stare at it and be mentally enveloped into its beauty, calm, and cold.
Something a bit different this week. My creation for this week is a Squash Blossom Necklace and matching earrings that I made out of silver safety pins and Turquoise and silver beads. It took a great deal of time and patience to complete, but, for me it was worth it.
Here is an overall photo of the Turquoise Squash Blossom necklace and earrings set;
And a close-up of the main part of the necklace;
I have also made some with variations of Pine Nut and Pinion Nut beads, and Turquoise beads. Some were made with Heishi beads as well. I gave the various necklaces and earring sets as gifts to Friends and family.
Thank you Kavika. It was my first time trying this kind of artistry. Needless to say, my fingers were were as red and fat as pin cushions from all the pin pricks.
Thank you dev. Many of the Native American jewelry craftsmen still make them as in the old days. It is fascinating to watch them. Even without using modern technology they make their jewelry look so beautifully well done. Beadwork is another wonderful work of art. During the years I lived in Pawhuska OK and lived with a Cherokee family on the Reservation during the summers, I also learned to do beadwork and made various types of items, moccasins, herb pouches, belts, etc. It was one of many various things I learned from the Cherokee Grandmother and her family during that time.
Fascinating. Apparently I was under the mistaken belief that turquoise jewelry was the exclusive domain of the Navajo and Hopi peoples. My granny left her entire turquoise jewelry collection to my daughter, her only great grand daughter at the time. It included a squash blossom necklace that seemed to weigh like 10 pounds. My daughter was a bit hohum about it until she found out how much it was worth. Now that jewelry is becoming trendy again and my daughter now proudly wears some of it.
Apparently I was under the mistaken belief that turquoise jewelry was the exclusive domain of the Navajo and Hopi peoples.
Indeed Turquoise is mainly found with the Hopi and Navajo. However, other types of medium are used in making jewelry by other Tribes, subject to the type of medium that is native to their area.
Not all Native nations. It depended on what was available in their area. Some made jewelry out of various types of stones that were native to their area. Some were made using seeds and other types of mediums.
Each Tribe had their own unique way of making their jewelry that was native to the land in which they lived.
Love the expressed intimacy between the bee and the flowers. The close-up gives great detail of both, while the dimmed background makes them stand out even more. Well done!
Beautiful scenery EG. The varied colors of the early morning sunrise and dark shadows are a wonderful contrast to the glistening sunlight on the distant water. Nicely done!
As a personal diversion, I still do some political editorial-writing … but not here on NT (as I do not wish to "argue" with friends); so, the only metaphorical "hornet's nest" I will stir up herein, will be the photographic kind.
Post your creative work, thoughts, etc. .
Just in for a minute. Library Park Party is today, marking the end of the local library's summer reading program. Lot of cool stuff, including the Fire Department bringing a tank truck over with a water cannon and the largest sprinkler that I've ever seen. Over five feet in diameter and fed by a 2 1/2 inch hose. The kids love it, also love the pizza and ice cream.
Unfortunately, my last functioning camera is no longer functioning (screen cracked). I have another on order and should get it within a couple of weeks. Polaroid digital with 18mp and a 30x optical zoom. It's the same model with which I got the shots of the hummingbirds last summer.
A bit off topic but I do want to spread the word. Several of us are starting the preliminary work involved with setting up a cooking and recipe group. I should have a blog up within the next couple of days so that we can go over structure etc. Anyone with suggestions is welcome to come.
Dang Mac, wish I knew how to get such beautiful insect pictures. They always fly away when I try to get close.
I always employ actor-insects ... and of course, pay them union wages.
Yep. Me too.
Roses overlooking Table Rock Lake, MO.
That's a beautiful shot, Kavika. I love all the color variations and amazing views. Great shot!
Again, you rose to the occasion!
It appears you did so effortlessly and successfully, so, I feel safe in concluding the endeavor did not cause you to feel bushed.
Well done! Do you miss the lake?
Not really, we have plenty of lakes and rivers around here.
Wait, Kav.
You are basically out on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, in the 3rd wettest state in the union
that has an average of 98 feet above sea level
and has a high point of 345 feet above sea level.
Sooner than later, that old Lake Okeechobee is going to expand and join the Everglades
to become part of the Gulf of Mexico while the Keys disappear one by one....
You won't be missing any lakes.....
Ocala is 67 feet above sea level. The Rainbow River is close to the house, about 15 minutes. A beautiful river with a bit of danger if you chose to do some swimming.
We have lunch at Swampy's on the River a couple of times a month.
Gators are usually docile, crocs are just mean spirited..........lol.
If this is a typical burger at Swampy's, you'd have to have a mouth like an alligator to bite into it.
Eww........looks like it could crawl off the table.
It is definitely a Swampy's dish. Let's ask Kavika if he's ever eaten it.
The world-famous Swampys burger. Yup, I've eaten it...
Swampy's' allows dogs so Wiki is a frequent customer as well. She loves their french fries.
Their fries look pretty good as well:
Those fries do look good. So does the shrimp! Yum!!
A big hello to all my deer friends (hahaha!) Remember to look both ways before crossing the road.
Looks like Mama deer is teaching her little one how to safely cross the road. Great photo.
Nice shot. I tried to get one last week but I wasn't fast enough.
try taking both hands off the wheel next time /s
A week in the life of a Gerbera Daisy during a 100 degree spell in Texas.
The last two pictures were only in the mid 90's and the plant looks happier.
Several days las week in Philly, we had heat indices at 110-115 degrees!
Soooooo … how's this?
© A. Mac/A.G.
Pennypack or Tookany, lol?
Ahhh.....just what I need on a 103 degree day with tropical humidity. Gonna be like this through Monday. So I will be coming back for a visual cooling off spell.
Pennypack Creek about a half mile off of Veree Road; good call!
Ahhhhhh. It is hot here today! So good, so creamy-looking. So inviting. Thank you.
You know that syndicated roasting fireplace you can gaze upon around Christmas time each year on some cable networks? Now this is a welcome summertime substitute.
Imagine this scene of a cool, snowy, stream of flowing water playing on televisions during the scorching days of summer! STELLAR.
Wasps are not my things.... since anyone of those buzzards could take me out.
But this is a lovely photo Mac.Funny thing about winter. I enjoy looking at it.. even being there for limited times... but I am not missing it yet.
With 90 degree temps here today, that is a very nicely cooling photo.
Super clean and super sharp. Great image!
I am able to use this as a desktop personal background! It looks great! Now on the hot days I can just stare at it and be mentally enveloped into its beauty, calm, and cold.
Beautiful now Buzz, but what kind of shots will we want in January? Mac, have you got a few pictures of Death Valley salted away?
LOL
104 degrees Here to day.....so this picture does a nice job of visibly cooling me down some.
Beautiful flowers and photos, SP.The one at the bottom does look like it is smiling.
In the top three photos you can see a slug or caterpillar eating the upper left hand leaf.
The plant reacts by surrendering the leaf and turning others to fill in the gap...
Fascinating...
Really good time lapse sort of.. Interesting watching them bloom. Great job!
Something a bit different this week. My creation for this week is a Squash Blossom Necklace and matching earrings that I made out of silver safety pins and Turquoise and silver beads. It took a great deal of time and patience to complete, but, for me it was worth it.
Here is an overall photo of the Turquoise Squash Blossom necklace and earrings set;
And a close-up of the main part of the necklace;
I have also made some with variations of Pine Nut and Pinion Nut beads, and Turquoise beads. Some were made with Heishi beads as well. I gave the various necklaces and earring sets as gifts to Friends and family.
Beautiful
Thank you Kavika. It was my first time trying this kind of artistry. Needless to say, my fingers were were as red and fat as pin cushions from all the pin pricks.
Beautiful Raven, and what workmanship. You are quite the talented lady.
Thanks Perrie. I had a lot more patience back then. But, it was a fun experiment.
very nice. it makes you appreciate the hours of labor put into these creations by those that didn't have access to modern tools.
Thank you dev. Many of the Native American jewelry craftsmen still make them as in the old days. It is fascinating to watch them. Even without using modern technology they make their jewelry look so beautifully well done. Beadwork is another wonderful work of art. During the years I lived in Pawhuska OK and lived with a Cherokee family on the Reservation during the summers, I also learned to do beadwork and made various types of items, moccasins, herb pouches, belts, etc. It was one of many various things I learned from the Cherokee Grandmother and her family during that time.
Fascinating. Apparently I was under the mistaken belief that turquoise jewelry was the exclusive domain of the Navajo and Hopi peoples. My granny left her entire turquoise jewelry collection to my daughter, her only great grand daughter at the time. It included a squash blossom necklace that seemed to weigh like 10 pounds. My daughter was a bit hohum about it until she found out how much it was worth. Now that jewelry is becoming trendy again and my daughter now proudly wears some of it.
Sorry about the derail Mac.
No derail at all; conversations evolve and often enhances discussion!
Indeed Turquoise is mainly found with the Hopi and Navajo. However, other types of medium are used in making jewelry by other Tribes, subject to the type of medium that is native to their area.
was bead work with semi-precious stones common across the native nations?
Not all Native nations. It depended on what was available in their area. Some made jewelry out of various types of stones that were native to their area. Some were made using seeds and other types of mediums.
Each Tribe had their own unique way of making their jewelry that was native to the land in which they lived.
sounds like some very interesting art history
And your creativity extends to yet another talent. I always loved turquoise jewellery.
Thanks Buzz. Turquoise has always been one of my favorites as well. And the color for clothing and other things besides jewelry too.
Nice photo A. Mac.!
Cheers my friend!
A deeply felt "thank you" to all who have come to this thread … and the hope that you and others will keep coming.
And how 'bout another bug pic?
Cabbagewing Butterfly on Purple Loosestrife Flower Spike
© A. Mac/A.G.
Beautiful butterfly, Mac. Lots of detail, and the bright colors of the flowers and background really makes the butterfly stand out.
The scope, taking in a panoramic view, is one of the things that makes that photo exceptional.
Following our leader, a bee close up, and a cold distant mountain.
Love the expressed intimacy between the bee and the flowers. The close-up gives great detail of both, while the dimmed background makes them stand out even more. Well done!
A look over the St Louis River where it meets Lake Superior just after sun up.
Beautiful scenery EG. The varied colors of the early morning sunrise and dark shadows are a wonderful contrast to the glistening sunlight on the distant water. Nicely done!
Not sure what the 'hopper' is doing, but, it's a nice close-up of it and the flower. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Raven. It's a Katydid.
Ahhhh....I have not seen one of those in many a year and I forgot what they looked like. Thanks for the clarification.