tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89514259236547719672024-03-05T19:35:25.852+01:00retrodesigningUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-23263553156060313142016-03-04T08:26:00.000+01:002016-03-14T08:04:42.916+01:00Art Deco Butterfly Freebie<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It looks as if Spring is on its way at
last. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining, the birds are
singing and the daffodils are blooming all over the garden. All
that´s missing are the butterflies.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sorry. My mistake. Here they come fluttering by.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVbTydn20r-VW69ELBokCz0EdXpZy494UTaUvygxk2SN_18RTgj1DRgiIdChPs-DjB_Lg86JNAVMYbzG170rCm9bcVxaTffUdHB6Dl9q8juR9zaXLrspvv-NxLDMxnlZ32qBTJ-KdzqDe/s1600/ArtDecoButterflyFreebiePreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVbTydn20r-VW69ELBokCz0EdXpZy494UTaUvygxk2SN_18RTgj1DRgiIdChPs-DjB_Lg86JNAVMYbzG170rCm9bcVxaTffUdHB6Dl9q8juR9zaXLrspvv-NxLDMxnlZ32qBTJ-KdzqDe/s400/ArtDecoButterflyFreebiePreview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If you´d like this little celebration
of Spring, you´ll find the link <a href="http://retrodesigning.blogspot.de/p/kit-previews.html" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-73745667385071141792016-01-17T10:24:00.000+01:002016-01-18T12:31:25.095+01:00Wha´s Like Us?<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ve just been listening to a BBC
documentary in which James Naughtie tells the story of an audacious
raid carried out on Christmas Day 1950. Three young men and one woman
removed the Stone of Destiny from under King Edward I's Chair in
Westminster Abbey, where it had lain since its removal from Scone in
Scotland in 1296. The exploit brought the cause of Scottish
independence to the front pages. To this day, the Stone, now
installed in Edinburgh Castle, remains a symbol of the pride of
Scotland in its nationhood. It roused my Scottish blood and reminded
me of this toast by our national poet, Robert Burns, which usually
precedes the imbibing of large quantities of our most famous
alcoholic beverage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here’s tae us.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wha’s like us?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Damn few,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And they’re a’ deid,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mair’s the pity!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
May those who live truly be always
believed,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And those who deceive us be always
deceived.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here’s to the men of all classes,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Who through lasses and glasses</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Will make themselves asses!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I drink to the health of another,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And the other I drink to is he,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the hope that he drinks to another,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And the other he drinks to is me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Each man a glass in hand,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And may his great prosperity</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ne’er fail in old Scotland!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This inspired the following list of the
many inventions and innovations created by Scotsmen. If you´re not Scottish, some of these
may surprise you!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8FaSwReG63qPjRch7CzddKQeDbIRrSMyszZqDqOrvHFOLpDsjnq7phyphenhyphenrTi8SXhqrkgD1c0z-qhvbuu1_tZ-8nPgE-QP4NxyWj5EgUd8V_PoILjxa4pGLSOhK9hQUWzbEhT6unTQQnpdC/s1600/Whas_like_us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8FaSwReG63qPjRch7CzddKQeDbIRrSMyszZqDqOrvHFOLpDsjnq7phyphenhyphenrTi8SXhqrkgD1c0z-qhvbuu1_tZ-8nPgE-QP4NxyWj5EgUd8V_PoILjxa4pGLSOhK9hQUWzbEhT6unTQQnpdC/s400/Whas_like_us.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Click to enlarge<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here´s the unadorned list:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the raincoat</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
tar road surface</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
car tyres</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the telephone</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the bicycle</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
television</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the U.S. Navy</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the first authorised translation of the bible</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
whisky</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the breech-loading rifle</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
penicillin</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
chloroform</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the Bank Of England</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wha´s like us?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Damn few and they´re
a´deid.....indeed!</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-12926179145428523532016-01-01T10:38:00.000+01:002016-01-01T10:40:32.667+01:00Calendar Girl<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is the front of this year´s Dora
calendar. I have one made for her doting daddy every year. Last year
was very stressful for him so this year I hope that he´ll have more
peace and relaxation. I wish the same for you.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgAWqrs_pjoKvkiSPJP9OhmAiufc3WrrD_iN3MFQfotLRis8oDledp1TZ6DQD9q_YdFULwWVH78SGYtoDg1YVVhIV1K4d6v8tDUZGVrE6D2zY36WMKFoH-YaBmFbXzftG8LPmkqbKxJxX/s1600/PeacefulYear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgAWqrs_pjoKvkiSPJP9OhmAiufc3WrrD_iN3MFQfotLRis8oDledp1TZ6DQD9q_YdFULwWVH78SGYtoDg1YVVhIV1K4d6v8tDUZGVrE6D2zY36WMKFoH-YaBmFbXzftG8LPmkqbKxJxX/s400/PeacefulYear.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-49029406808723146682015-12-21T09:28:00.000+01:002015-12-21T09:28:29.958+01:00Won´t You Guide My Sleigh Tonight?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIok5nXrXfczkmMPe8s8W6VocumgjNswt5sgUCXL5NzWZoju6JrGbVhxmPhsQwsx-RVwu6rYzHcZap8KQp1TKoesMuS4qJu5Thix1gncSQKarobjDzTAsNEcGBEBTXuGlVMcrEYf1qsvp/s1600/MerryChristmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIok5nXrXfczkmMPe8s8W6VocumgjNswt5sgUCXL5NzWZoju6JrGbVhxmPhsQwsx-RVwu6rYzHcZap8KQp1TKoesMuS4qJu5Thix1gncSQKarobjDzTAsNEcGBEBTXuGlVMcrEYf1qsvp/s400/MerryChristmas.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZxexRWeTu82wCRLMhJCeVggQ8riziuas5uIRPofEe5xZMuuBZRME58k1nj8AlFlqRE0S7h-ay22B6LM6iLwyTXyetS180UA77gaaUkJg-mX6LNoWJNmWtcXSlPAeCFaTKrR82xoGGQ2w/s1600/Santa+mad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZxexRWeTu82wCRLMhJCeVggQ8riziuas5uIRPofEe5xZMuuBZRME58k1nj8AlFlqRE0S7h-ay22B6LM6iLwyTXyetS180UA77gaaUkJg-mX6LNoWJNmWtcXSlPAeCFaTKrR82xoGGQ2w/s400/Santa+mad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-44786191875802622332015-12-16T09:32:00.003+01:002015-12-16T10:18:26.366+01:00The Red-Nosed What?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFzw-71iXS0HGKKqH3sNPEvaOle49ajrsnglz_h7ueSszca98TFK0BbwIWjQhly7x7fv_Ysim-H53fr7WwJ5LPIywQux-kPC6v8PpqrKuMVyV3t15ze_gz4iEyj-7PXPS8lWGwUPgroSa/s1600/Wish+List2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFzw-71iXS0HGKKqH3sNPEvaOle49ajrsnglz_h7ueSszca98TFK0BbwIWjQhly7x7fv_Ysim-H53fr7WwJ5LPIywQux-kPC6v8PpqrKuMVyV3t15ze_gz4iEyj-7PXPS8lWGwUPgroSa/s400/Wish+List2.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-17439688241512182622015-11-27T10:39:00.001+01:002015-11-27T10:39:10.744+01:00Christmas In August
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As some of you may know, I spent much
of the summer laid up with sciatica. The only place this condition
was tolerable for me was in the garden where I spent a lot of time in
a mainly reclining position alternately blessing my iPod and my ebook
reader for providing distraction from boredom and discomfort. After a
while though even that wasn´t enough for me so I hobbled back into
the house, hunted out my needles, threads and patterns and started
cross stitching some Christmas cards. I suppose it seems strange to
even think of Christmas in August but even these little motifs take some
considerable time to stitch, especially for someone like me who can
never stick to the colours specified in the colour key or even to the
chart itself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Take this chart for example. It´s
supposed to be an angel but whoever designed it seems to have got a
little confused because it´s the only Christmas chart I have in which the
angel is carrying a magic wand.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9BnHqu-3tfsY-Fw7Yp1oSgVw0sRDGzQSh60dOTG2f_HnLraImqo1vS_XjjMlhoSt9oIaoS4GqwpzxUlddrsGuo0N2JMrJmIZM6dC1eqENhg3ifBoadUPVvn2SX2HaWRbXkUToeUdNJGT/s1600/VariationAngelChart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9BnHqu-3tfsY-Fw7Yp1oSgVw0sRDGzQSh60dOTG2f_HnLraImqo1vS_XjjMlhoSt9oIaoS4GqwpzxUlddrsGuo0N2JMrJmIZM6dC1eqENhg3ifBoadUPVvn2SX2HaWRbXkUToeUdNJGT/s400/VariationAngelChart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That was easy to alter with a wave of
my own magic wand.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-tYLTE2IroOsElarSWQMkYcUHkSUl43IJdYKzUWLI2L7EzgGVVdAC4rHu-sr3R-YhlZr2eDs9ByNyU4D1fHhgSsGbAs45jQ4YpuM7Tgwcf9D3-Ugf4tjkTw-ANWfjT0nVhzyEPmrdCVU/s1600/VariationAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-tYLTE2IroOsElarSWQMkYcUHkSUl43IJdYKzUWLI2L7EzgGVVdAC4rHu-sr3R-YhlZr2eDs9ByNyU4D1fHhgSsGbAs45jQ4YpuM7Tgwcf9D3-Ugf4tjkTw-ANWfjT0nVhzyEPmrdCVU/s400/VariationAngel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I liked the result so much that I ended
up making several, though as you can see, I hardly stuck to the
colour key at all. These are a few of the finished cards.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzUEQo3YxQppGKt8HBESovql2OK9FTAD4kRXq-LhwJq_xCAei6N8hZKctqD-n3YQa70gLFlk2fZVl1RqJG_ruDPS4xlJ9klJHNNVXBeKvec6ST-LfQ9DuQT87kaEddpTuaA7s3BEvnhXU/s1600/VariationAngels.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzUEQo3YxQppGKt8HBESovql2OK9FTAD4kRXq-LhwJq_xCAei6N8hZKctqD-n3YQa70gLFlk2fZVl1RqJG_ruDPS4xlJ9klJHNNVXBeKvec6ST-LfQ9DuQT87kaEddpTuaA7s3BEvnhXU/s400/VariationAngels.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another motif I enjoyed stitching was this one.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY35tBzjPLJ-ottdR4zzg7vrnHQdA2O9LPwaExQAqy3BCR0WQRR3-HJWLpWtkEUENidmZpDG50k2R6N0Y68KNjEr5lSa3gWkYgAwrwg4xjY5suT-5HqCY-smOe-sPTPfll3Na346uzDIbi/s1600/VariationTreeChart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY35tBzjPLJ-ottdR4zzg7vrnHQdA2O9LPwaExQAqy3BCR0WQRR3-HJWLpWtkEUENidmZpDG50k2R6N0Y68KNjEr5lSa3gWkYgAwrwg4xjY5suT-5HqCY-smOe-sPTPfll3Na346uzDIbi/s400/VariationTreeChart.jpg" width="396" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It offered so much scope for change
that I got a bit carried away. First of all I decided to add a
glittering star to each tree and also to add sparkly thread to the trees themselves. Unfortunately the effect doesn´t show up on a
scanned image so you´ll have to take my word for that. Here´s the
first one I made.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKssnhCz5ibcaQInrVcscfiIA3YJZg186BojmGF5WaMGUzp0lW0VFX7iMl6D87wwIP9tL4cdsVmoo2luZ5QPy6aDZl1-gWYuygM8iX28s8FGD1UjJBtI7LFv4ao6pn-njMJreWgS5or3g/s1600/VariationTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKssnhCz5ibcaQInrVcscfiIA3YJZg186BojmGF5WaMGUzp0lW0VFX7iMl6D87wwIP9tL4cdsVmoo2luZ5QPy6aDZl1-gWYuygM8iX28s8FGD1UjJBtI7LFv4ao6pn-njMJreWgS5or3g/s400/VariationTree.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I went on to make quite a few after
that simply because I enjoyed changing the colours each time.
These are just a few of them all framed and ready to go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETbjMAzLUM5Xq1DYJIayZGug6ZxHRHZ_SoQLuZQKWKjztaCyxMjl6egLkF4oO8L9_PAVNnGLj4mhwvXCPeNfHMxzM8aSbmgC4Ql1mE5zmlQxt4hOUu7vweb6Za1Jor8EAqZcHCk_g37tr/s1600/VariationTrees.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETbjMAzLUM5Xq1DYJIayZGug6ZxHRHZ_SoQLuZQKWKjztaCyxMjl6egLkF4oO8L9_PAVNnGLj4mhwvXCPeNfHMxzM8aSbmgC4Ql1mE5zmlQxt4hOUu7vweb6Za1Jor8EAqZcHCk_g37tr/s400/VariationTrees.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of course, stitching them is the fun
part. Actually finishing them i.e. washing, pressing, lining, cutting
them out and finally creating cards to frame them is something else
again so I´ll draw a veil over the hard part!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Creating these little motifs was a sort
of therapy for me. It helped me to feel as if I was doing something
useful and not just self-indulgently lounging around on the lawn all
summer. Which reminds me, even in November the lawn is beckoning me.
Well, not so much the lawn itself as Dora who´s waiting there for me
to join her in a game of her own invention called something like
I-might-let-you-kick-this-football-but-only-if-you-ask-nicely. I
always do and she usually does...</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-28444993798394588352015-11-17T13:45:00.000+01:002015-11-17T13:49:54.094+01:00Surreal Blending Effects<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I love creating photo collages and I
particularly enjoy extracting parts of photos, adding them to others
and experimenting with the various Photoshop blending options to
transform them into something more interesting than any of the
original photos. I find that many of these photo collages can turn
into something quite spooky and surreal simply by changing either the
blending mode and/or the opacity. Add to that my enjoyment of taking
photos in Scottish cemeteries and the obvious conclusion is that many
of my photos lend themselves to the creation of layouts that reflect
the more sinister aspects of Halloween. Don´t get me wrong. I´m no
ghoul but the ancient Celtic crosses to be found in old cemeteries
are so intricate and beautiful in a stern sort of way that I can
never resist the temptation of adding yet another to my collection of
Celtic art. At this point I´ve got to say that I´m no expert and
what looks fairly easy to achieve is often the result of painstaking
experimentation. The Halloween collage in my previous post is a good
example of this. If you´re a beginner and if you also enjoy the
challenge of creating collages and would like to find out how I went
about it, read on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I started off with a white background
to which I added the Lightning background paper from an old kit of
mine called Fright Night which I long ago consigned to my virtual
attic to – appropriately – gather dust and cobwebs. I´ve since
blown off the dust and frightened the spiders away in order to use
various parts of it in this layout, the following background paper
for example.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMYY_K5fn0g9s9PNqCyegcGbO2xNPHf8j2NZpx30UFxqWcZ2bydeeW7x0AysDlontMEPxiu2KUilk3BK0QeuY46YWaGCRXq6PNMKZEkw_hR7u55vzvF63U_CEE3qc3daGZQ4pGXwUiw5V/s1600/01HalloweenLightningBG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMYY_K5fn0g9s9PNqCyegcGbO2xNPHf8j2NZpx30UFxqWcZ2bydeeW7x0AysDlontMEPxiu2KUilk3BK0QeuY46YWaGCRXq6PNMKZEkw_hR7u55vzvF63U_CEE3qc3daGZQ4pGXwUiw5V/s400/01HalloweenLightningBG.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I didn´t want it quite so dense and I also wanted to discard the colour so I
altered the blending mode to Luminosity.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KoaSnAYf6pP0T2l1R4Sytxgh2MP4ziR3nXnZ0njne0eqS1udiz-g37v0GqnWtw7gB6dqN6Yx6s7BgssYByJdqvMARvprYjZIFH04RT4l3gFpiv0LWSWQfHmmcqKnrz5AGKxlSfVF5-zj/s1600/01aHalloweenLightningBG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KoaSnAYf6pP0T2l1R4Sytxgh2MP4ziR3nXnZ0njne0eqS1udiz-g37v0GqnWtw7gB6dqN6Yx6s7BgssYByJdqvMARvprYjZIFH04RT4l3gFpiv0LWSWQfHmmcqKnrz5AGKxlSfVF5-zj/s400/01aHalloweenLightningBG.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then, from the same old kit I added a
full moon.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjECm0HRS0BniQCtQf0IwjszYDqRdfkxXu0S-8iT9uFHwlzEug0NIbNLmmjS4bejrHqwfeeS3aEbuWjNtMVD8VpnESFWDybP3g_i-qbUFy_LAgvdz7kWmAL-lCpOvxn7J2VQl6Li0sppn/s1600/02HalloweenMoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjECm0HRS0BniQCtQf0IwjszYDqRdfkxXu0S-8iT9uFHwlzEug0NIbNLmmjS4bejrHqwfeeS3aEbuWjNtMVD8VpnESFWDybP3g_i-qbUFy_LAgvdz7kWmAL-lCpOvxn7J2VQl6Li0sppn/s400/02HalloweenMoon.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Now
I´m putting the cart before the horse because
I also used the following very underexposed photo of the Glasgow Art
Galleries...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcT-HbKPd0-_ACr4a8txo9D7McOLdC54iskLBwDpD1bgcIBabr0S_cFBK4jPE66ZSQMOWS8ypt5f42ra8Z3nme6XOfukwAQd9bF_9HkYFPgOUaSYyu5SLk1kZDNJ21yP9TDetl7-wPwmyp/s1600/02aArtGalleries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcT-HbKPd0-_ACr4a8txo9D7McOLdC54iskLBwDpD1bgcIBabr0S_cFBK4jPE66ZSQMOWS8ypt5f42ra8Z3nme6XOfukwAQd9bF_9HkYFPgOUaSYyu5SLk1kZDNJ21yP9TDetl7-wPwmyp/s400/02aArtGalleries.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">...but
I didn´t actually use it immediately. It was just a part of the
ongoing experimentation process throughout this collage. Here I´m
simply showing you the various layers in the order in which they
appear in the finished layout so at this point it´s going to look strange and
out of place. However, if you´ve got this far you may have the
patience to stay with me a little while longer to see what effect
this photo eventually has. After I changed the blending mode to Pin
Light at 80% opacity this is what it looked like.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqP7kma78ejAH4y8qPY15sLeOzyJ7OpioFOVh6vijiLfk-vz2XYejrUtCQAykDChFf6epehriLUV3LqOmgf7hNwXRfsTR8mUXMUN2H9sAkDsFDeypz-_xjmJD8eAJRKihzsr_nEoK02Tf/s1600/03ArtGalleries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqP7kma78ejAH4y8qPY15sLeOzyJ7OpioFOVh6vijiLfk-vz2XYejrUtCQAykDChFf6epehriLUV3LqOmgf7hNwXRfsTR8mUXMUN2H9sAkDsFDeypz-_xjmJD8eAJRKihzsr_nEoK02Tf/s400/03ArtGalleries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">(Not
impressive but I did warn you The surprising effect comes later.)
Directly above that I placed the following FN background, Stonehenge
which looks like this.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpihGnDwjCLA7fWo07SD3AFVLSBm5MDQ0SZlknc-usCj0tBJtSi2AnpnTe2vbEphwjZGF5SpRwUCOpVHg2uBdo6fvSiFZxzjUrNIHk6vh0HpMbn1dK9MVN9SYjse-qWE3FmXiG9ZJS_0jf/s1600/03aStoneHengebg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpihGnDwjCLA7fWo07SD3AFVLSBm5MDQ0SZlknc-usCj0tBJtSi2AnpnTe2vbEphwjZGF5SpRwUCOpVHg2uBdo6fvSiFZxzjUrNIHk6vh0HpMbn1dK9MVN9SYjse-qWE3FmXiG9ZJS_0jf/s400/03aStoneHengebg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">As
you can see it has its own full moon which is why I placed the
additional one from that old kit in the same position. Once I´d
added that background paper I changed its blending mode to Overlay
and the opacity to 50%.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu13iF5N_5IK2R0qgvx8pQImT7zFqqSOeUy2VoPxMyEqNYpIuIr6jWul33IeA3AgYXV1ERu8m3XJOih4LRcQLw4x2P9c6v9Mojy9o7d2B9ykewNFNSLLRvyHQQ3FfRQlkyJ8Jgzi68OPC/s1600/04Stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu13iF5N_5IK2R0qgvx8pQImT7zFqqSOeUy2VoPxMyEqNYpIuIr6jWul33IeA3AgYXV1ERu8m3XJOih4LRcQLw4x2P9c6v9Mojy9o7d2B9ykewNFNSLLRvyHQQ3FfRQlkyJ8Jgzi68OPC/s400/04Stonehenge.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Yes,
I know that photo at the bottom still looks annoyingly out of place
but I´m gradually, if infuriatingly slowly, coming to that. The next
step was to add a photo of a Scottish cemetery which, luckily,
included its own crow and, unfortunately, a huge ugly pylon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh2HrFw4eaIYhJuMVi1fMPBzeWm6bTbL3TP341JoRceqACDPo0fH6qSgEk1eMNVmlxK5sxB_IvIJMUVJBBZeZWoHnQu3fr3ambqLtQ90arGatMl4vV5-oftnM__02601D1d-XQ09O99Rn/s1600/04aCemeteryPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh2HrFw4eaIYhJuMVi1fMPBzeWm6bTbL3TP341JoRceqACDPo0fH6qSgEk1eMNVmlxK5sxB_IvIJMUVJBBZeZWoHnQu3fr3ambqLtQ90arGatMl4vV5-oftnM__02601D1d-XQ09O99Rn/s400/04aCemeteryPhoto.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">After
cropping this photo and using the clone tool to remove the pylon, I
placed it on the layout using the Multiply blending mode</span>.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gUr5joIYuV1FfYEMVMFwgIlUxb4TLeZCMhroVRIp7TdKia1FnmhOGlATwndyB-ji6-5uOhHq7pc70WhnMaZGJC7orWHqtNlXAXXrNqiSKO4poXasQOps2JQyBl_Hi23mn6kIr6vNLO8t/s1600/05Cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gUr5joIYuV1FfYEMVMFwgIlUxb4TLeZCMhroVRIp7TdKia1FnmhOGlATwndyB-ji6-5uOhHq7pc70WhnMaZGJC7orWHqtNlXAXXrNqiSKO4poXasQOps2JQyBl_Hi23mn6kIr6vNLO8t/s400/05Cemetery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Now
at last you can see the effect of that annoying photo which now
appears to reflect the light cast on the tombstone by the full moon.
I suppose I could have left it at that but I can never leave well
alone and, besides, I wanted to add one of my favourite images, the
angel which appears in another Halloween layout.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oKIZHNrXIsxe7bd0b5EqniW8qBtARN-G7E8nouI3Cz0Ss5GcE6xjJQaQkvWRJKqtB0Q1yYero_kGvV8HeTD9QEnQdqwUTqBgSG8OZkCm5sDGeL7D1bjYw1O4II_C-Knf3zB7TjS7ssvn/s1600/05aAngelLO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oKIZHNrXIsxe7bd0b5EqniW8qBtARN-G7E8nouI3Cz0Ss5GcE6xjJQaQkvWRJKqtB0Q1yYero_kGvV8HeTD9QEnQdqwUTqBgSG8OZkCm5sDGeL7D1bjYw1O4II_C-Knf3zB7TjS7ssvn/s400/05aAngelLO.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Luckily,
I´d saved the original extraction (always a good idea, especially
for image hoarders like me) so I erased the tombstone, softened the
outline a little and added her to the layout as a forlorn little
ghost using the Exclusion blending mode at 30%.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueEexvmLipSb2XBk1RmjmkISbNygOZhSoBiQNo2DCIKDRho3PLxMLmRHlI9zVdvC36Hj8uVO5PJxDf59hhRbP_HaCPCphPKZzAwTXROsnd0Tf9q7NCQNhBQU-NHGl5zP0pyS9dx6Ks1bm/s1600/06Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueEexvmLipSb2XBk1RmjmkISbNygOZhSoBiQNo2DCIKDRho3PLxMLmRHlI9zVdvC36Hj8uVO5PJxDf59hhRbP_HaCPCphPKZzAwTXROsnd0Tf9q7NCQNhBQU-NHGl5zP0pyS9dx6Ks1bm/s400/06Angel.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">At this point I
added the crow on the left which I´d extracted from another photo.
For him I used the Hard Mix blending mode at 80% opacity. Then I
thought that another crow flying across the moon would be a good idea
in order to lead the eye down to the main focus of the page, ie the
tombstone and the ghost, so I dug around among my various bitmaps
until I found the perfect crow silhouette and added it at 90% opacity
with the Soft Light blending mode.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiTve5CTATLmdQYLKdDpO3cO0EihxhbCKKOxZqpVRl15q7pWOw7hT1SlPxAhqzbqOTemHrN497lc3GVzBpXLsBbyNIskGdBPl_J7P5SafnN_Dzj-E1NRiSSX03FhjKp1_8f73AxRzd20C/s1600/08BothCrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiTve5CTATLmdQYLKdDpO3cO0EihxhbCKKOxZqpVRl15q7pWOw7hT1SlPxAhqzbqOTemHrN497lc3GVzBpXLsBbyNIskGdBPl_J7P5SafnN_Dzj-E1NRiSSX03FhjKp1_8f73AxRzd20C/s400/08BothCrows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Again, I could
have left this as it is but it was a Scottish cemetery after all so I
really wanted to add a Celtic cross. Here´s the finished layout with
the cross added using the Overlay blending mode. I didn´t even have
to alter the opacity in order to allow the lightning to strike right
through it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUfuz_nLI40_249-6kNc-cJyzWOR3h-OZcbgCqmKFqsdxamODqpmTQWQ6-fqeP7qLyT3gFivv4jolq9vaXGBwGXUFePdp95elgzEELlgR85nkdiVOSCac1niijU02X9MGabQfxDWvPrdB/s1600/10Layout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUfuz_nLI40_249-6kNc-cJyzWOR3h-OZcbgCqmKFqsdxamODqpmTQWQ6-fqeP7qLyT3gFivv4jolq9vaXGBwGXUFePdp95elgzEELlgR85nkdiVOSCac1niijU02X9MGabQfxDWvPrdB/s400/10Layout.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">If you´ve got
this far I admire your patience and perseverance! On the other hand,
I find that these characteristics are exactly what one needs in order
to actively enjoy experimenting with these wonderful PS blending
modes. I hope that any beginner reading this will be inspired to try
them out. It´s a good way to spend a dreary overcast day. I´m off
now to do the ironing, not the best way to spend any kind of day,
dreary or otherwise. I´m so glad that I´ve got Stephen King´s Pet
Sematary in my iPod to distract me from that tedious chore.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">PS You know,
after reading the book I´ve found it almost impossible to spell that
word correctly without using the spell check....</span></div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-82287953696653775252015-10-31T08:46:00.002+01:002015-10-31T08:46:13.941+01:00All Souls´ Night
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The origins of Halloween, also known as
All Souls´Night, lie in the Celtic festival of Samhain, (a Gaelic
word meaning summer´s end) which marked the end of summer and the
harvest. Bonfires were lit, often to provide light for those bringing
in livestock from the fields or mountains to be slaughtered for
winter. On this day, the Celts believed that the door to the
underworld was opened, letting in spirits. They would hold a feast,
setting a place for any deceased relatives, as they were believed to
visit home on this day. Malevolent spirits entered the earthly realm
as well and people would dress in costume in order to confuse these
spirits. This evolved into the custom of visiting houses to collect
food for the feast while in costume, a precursor to
trick-or-treating.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I don´t know exactly when Halloween
became sanitized, commercialized and family friendly but a poem
written by the American Edith Wharton in 1903 seems to indicate that
it still retained its most sinister connotations around that time.
Read the first verse and judge for yourself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://poetry.about.com/od/poemsbytitlea/l/blwhartonallsouls.htm" target="_blank">All Souls</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
by</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Edith Wharton</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A thin moon faints in the sky o’erhead,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And dumb in the churchyard lie the
dead.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Walk we not, Sweet, by garden ways,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Where the late rose hangs and the phlox
delays,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But forth of the gate and down the
road,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Past the church and the yews, to their
dim abode.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For it’s turn of the year and All
Souls’ night,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the dead can hear and the dead
have sight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I wonder if she had something like this
in mind.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjztiSOB0mBZjgT1isbvLZx9OvsPQwCkGKW3zmvdnx3AXwVN6bTUa8NyhTh8xDGBXJUQHBd8caLf-juWxc47FL1JPtN9hTXzUKNLXI_IkdxG_JjtJiX4aNdMlZbvnO19bAWNF4DrTZxlJ/s1600/GraveyardAtMidnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjztiSOB0mBZjgT1isbvLZx9OvsPQwCkGKW3zmvdnx3AXwVN6bTUa8NyhTh8xDGBXJUQHBd8caLf-juWxc47FL1JPtN9hTXzUKNLXI_IkdxG_JjtJiX4aNdMlZbvnO19bAWNF4DrTZxlJ/s400/GraveyardAtMidnight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By the way, if you´re a beginner and
would like to know how relatively easy it was to create the above collage, watch this space and I´ll show you....
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-52168090252719374692015-09-04T09:33:00.001+02:002015-09-12T16:11:23.503+02:00Advice From A Cow<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ve been missing in action, or rather
in inaction, since
July when I was struck down and brought to a standstill, or rather a
lie still, by a particularly vicious bout of sciatica. At first I
resigned myself to lying around on the lawn alternating between
reading and enjoying the garden but after a while reading began to
pall, the garden and the house began to look neglected, the laundry
remained unironed and I began to fret. It was around that time that I
came upon this poem...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9BLZRuW8PckQm7TJ9nO_iho3ERyzlGYnBDDYYgN2Df45ah71zvC2ZeW2YkWwekwypZAexqMy-TBed_hsw_XvsR_cSgQvVpFc9Ce_x3php-PAV9Z6K8oqVUaaeLMm0Ku92YbivVwLSP15/s1600/Cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9BLZRuW8PckQm7TJ9nO_iho3ERyzlGYnBDDYYgN2Df45ah71zvC2ZeW2YkWwekwypZAexqMy-TBed_hsw_XvsR_cSgQvVpFc9Ce_x3php-PAV9Z6K8oqVUaaeLMm0Ku92YbivVwLSP15/s400/Cow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
ODE TO A COW</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
When life seems one too many for</div>
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you,</div>
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Go and look at a cow.</div>
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When the future’s black and the</div>
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outlook blue,</div>
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Go and look at a cow.</div>
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For she does nothing but eat her</div>
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food,</div>
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And sleep in the meadows entirely</div>
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nood,</div>
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Refusing to fret or worry or</div>
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brood</div>
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Because she doesn’t know how.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Whenever you’re feeling bothered</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
and sore,</div>
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Go and look at a cow.</div>
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When everything else is a fearful</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
bore,</div>
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Go and look at a cow.</div>
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Observe her gentle and placid air,</div>
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Her nonchalance and savoir faire,</div>
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Her absolute freedom from every</div>
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care,</div>
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Her imperturbable brow.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So when you’re at the end of your</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
wits,</div>
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Go and look at a cow.</div>
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Or when your nerves are frayed</div>
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to bits,</div>
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And wrinkles furrow your brow;</div>
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She’ll merely moo in her gentle</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
way,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
Switching her rudder as if to say:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
“Bother tomorrow! Let’s live</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
today!</div>
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Take the advice of a cow.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not only did I find this advice
a-moo-sing but I started thinking about it and realised that I was
worrying needlessly and spoiling<span style="font-style: normal;"> a
lovely peaceful summer by feeling guilty about neglecting my chores.
I don´t mean that I took the advice literally and just lay there
chewing the cud and staring placidly into the distance but I finally
started to enjoy my enforced inactivity rather than brooding on it. I´ve
since had the first appointment with my osteopath and feel a little
better already. I´ve even managed to sit rather than recline for
long enough to swap my book for needle and thread.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz16-A_lJjw9Pwa0dy7_Rd1PdiYrqfvuCjbLHV1zaDFDEdzARv2pLnx87jH_CEkWPZjblnQeSRUDB4g1JRbmwEMLlKdpu2lAjbX-dkmChOVg6UtmD5iTxmV1FD7soOvFeYtA0n2iGr4E9/s1600/Moo_cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz16-A_lJjw9Pwa0dy7_Rd1PdiYrqfvuCjbLHV1zaDFDEdzARv2pLnx87jH_CEkWPZjblnQeSRUDB4g1JRbmwEMLlKdpu2lAjbX-dkmChOVg6UtmD5iTxmV1FD7soOvFeYtA0n2iGr4E9/s320/Moo_cow.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">So this page is my tribute to the wise old cow and also my thank you to Diane who
gave me her permission to use a photo of her beautiful Lilly with her
first calf, the equally beautiful Gabby. Hope she´ll forgive me for
altering that perfect photo ever so slightly to give it a painted look to go with
the background. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Try to
take that advice to heart. Enjoy what´s left of the summer and leave
the chores for a rainy day. </span>
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-25249301466656180722015-06-19T11:41:00.000+02:002015-06-19T11:41:23.656+02:00Off To The Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoSP-K3staaAbZAFy3PAHHPNf81tLbiWPR0HDZnMrWM_01zPalNupvjc3qxp86lfqDvIz20odjh1WErz47w4GSuceccNzAwcMiBryB2IytWCrUHdtCN7_vIkNq13nPYCHSL8D5j6ozH45/s1600/OffToTheCoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoSP-K3staaAbZAFy3PAHHPNf81tLbiWPR0HDZnMrWM_01zPalNupvjc3qxp86lfqDvIz20odjh1WErz47w4GSuceccNzAwcMiBryB2IytWCrUHdtCN7_vIkNq13nPYCHSL8D5j6ozH45/s400/OffToTheCoast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-53002045639695626022015-06-04T09:06:00.000+02:002015-06-04T09:06:37.609+02:00Sitting Pretty
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I love and treasure all my old sepia
photos. I find it incredible that they´ve survived for so long and
how amazingly detailed they are when you consider how relatively
primitive old cameras were. Of course they´ve faded somewhat over
time but Photoshop can bring them back to radiant life with just a
few mouse clicks and any little imperfections can be just as easily
camouflaged. Something else I like about them is that it´s such fun
to imagine what they´d look like in colour...and then just go ahead
and use any colour I want. When I colour sepia tinted clothes it
reminds me of the dressing dolls I used to play with as a child and
it´s so enjoyable that it goes some way to making up for the fact
that in many cases I´ve no idea where and when the photo was taken.
In the one below all I know is that it´s one of many I have of my
Aunt Lucas – in case you don´t already know, that´s the elegant
lady sitting at the top of this blog – but I have no idea who her
friend is, when or where the photo was taken or by whom. I think that
she´s wearing the same coat as above, but as I haven´t a clue what
colour it really was, I´ve made it green this time though I suppose
I could have used purple or brown or anything else that took my
fancy.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(And, before you ask, yes my aunt was
really called Lucas. All I know is that it´s an old family name and
I can only assume it was originally Lucasta which apparently dates
from the 17<sup>th</sup> century and means pure light.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So here she is, my elegant aunt and her
friend, sitting pretty and trapped in a brief moment in time (can it
really be?) over 3/4 of a century ago.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUtWXo7McNrBmbItZQLmjOPgjlRompJjNH1Q99GlGwZeBtaCBCw45lkIaTmmsOADLEkK8hYzgsa32AO-1AqvWXV-mGoJfIw3NTkWqVpwhMIGSixWFL4s8ptfs9hhWVZMWjQbFoNWj3mNN/s1600/SittingPretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUtWXo7McNrBmbItZQLmjOPgjlRompJjNH1Q99GlGwZeBtaCBCw45lkIaTmmsOADLEkK8hYzgsa32AO-1AqvWXV-mGoJfIw3NTkWqVpwhMIGSixWFL4s8ptfs9hhWVZMWjQbFoNWj3mNN/s400/SittingPretty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-60051233861467923192015-05-01T10:04:00.001+02:002015-05-01T10:04:24.468+02:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIANE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDrpQFOA2J0rPQJJi4wJAx6dnkbjHJ5GFe61CyYXZWy5odIWaba79wfbsx12dEXxk9femCUjm3xKwNs8qliZ_lBrVmwYVxzw-WYewZHDb7JCgmtwkkl2WTWMLstQ_AScNb66uUeOcS3c4/s1600/StressFree_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDrpQFOA2J0rPQJJi4wJAx6dnkbjHJ5GFe61CyYXZWy5odIWaba79wfbsx12dEXxk9femCUjm3xKwNs8qliZ_lBrVmwYVxzw-WYewZHDb7JCgmtwkkl2WTWMLstQ_AScNb66uUeOcS3c4/s1600/StressFree_72.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-29733153961133282312015-04-09T08:57:00.001+02:002015-04-09T08:57:12.082+02:00You Were Right, Joyce
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Joyce Grenfell, 10 February 1910 - 30
November 1979, is known and loved mainly for her comic monologues.
Her most famous catch phrase, “George, don´t do that!” (
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXhHFgDRNBQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXhHFgDRNBQ</a> ) is instantly
recognisable to all her fans. What I didn´t know until today is the
fact that she wrote some of the most beautifully evocative nature
poetry I´ve ever heard. I say “heard” because the following poem
was never published and I´ve only just heard it on BBC radio.
Luckily, it was on the Listen Again feature so I was able to write it
down. I´m sure you´ll agree that it captures the very spirit of
Spring.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKX4kg3eHQ7JI_PW_CdT9LAir618XVTnpQPOfGfgob7FPAdB_W_3jT-3IP0zyLrv45HQH4JIhojBWCiEpOvPOCBYvv3ptt3smGldtHtEM_UtQt_D-sW2JLlgscmXLxhpJsG8GDLO5VEqo/s1600/Joyce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKX4kg3eHQ7JI_PW_CdT9LAir618XVTnpQPOfGfgob7FPAdB_W_3jT-3IP0zyLrv45HQH4JIhojBWCiEpOvPOCBYvv3ptt3smGldtHtEM_UtQt_D-sW2JLlgscmXLxhpJsG8GDLO5VEqo/s1600/Joyce.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Taut as a tent the heavenly dome is
blue,
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Uncrossed by cloud or tossing twig or
plane,</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>A measureless span infinitely new,
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>To fill the eye and lift the heart
again.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Deep in the wintered earth the shock is
felt.
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Glossy sweet aconite has shown her
gold,</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>And strong straight crocus spears where
late we knelt,
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>To lodge their bulbs are waiting to
unfold.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>The ragged rooks like tea leaves in
the sky,
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Straggle towards the earth with awkward
grace.
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>A robin in a silver birch nearby,</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>Thrusts up his carol through the naked
lace.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>I´ve known this day for thirty years
and more.
</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<i>It will go on as it has done before.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You were right, Joyce. It has.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-81470634175116001542015-03-23T09:25:00.001+01:002015-03-23T09:28:08.492+01:00Not Just Graffiti<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One day recently my friend, Eileen, and
I were walking back from a morning spent visiting, and in some cases
revisiting, a few of Glasgow´s many historical sites (including its
oldest house, built would you believe, in 1471..but that´s another
story) when I was stopped dead in my tracks by one of the most
amazing murals I´ve ever seen. I say “mural” advisedly because
although it´s painted on crumbling walls at the rear of a parking
lot in Ingram Street it´s certainly not just graffiti. Here are just
a very few close ups so that you can see the astonishing
photo-realistic detail in it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfD_3-c_z6sCuP06EK8sMhVdz69aWAHnECpBYmQqwhGv_kKX5LEZy_3S5_Uxz6YsrQ_USnbpCCcMytfjVCX4PLJqqUK-qc2WH0xqqn331iq0aUoNap1hhHtLiaPgNb2bOHsk9Arfz1HBe/s1600/NotJustGraffiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfD_3-c_z6sCuP06EK8sMhVdz69aWAHnECpBYmQqwhGv_kKX5LEZy_3S5_Uxz6YsrQ_USnbpCCcMytfjVCX4PLJqqUK-qc2WH0xqqn331iq0aUoNap1hhHtLiaPgNb2bOHsk9Arfz1HBe/s1600/NotJustGraffiti.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
I later discovered that it was
commissioned by Glasgow Council in celebration of The Commonwealth
Games hosted by the city in 2014 and was painted by graffiti artist
Sam Bates aka Smug. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
I found it frustrating not to be able
to photograph many parts of the mural as they were blocked, not
surprisingly, by various vehicles. However, I was lucky enough to
find a couple of less cluttered photos on the Web. This one of a
kilted figure among autumn leaves and fungi is particularly
ingenious. Note the shadows which imbue this part of the mural with a
trompe l'oeil 3D appearance. It´s hard to tell which of the leaves
are part of the tree and which are painted. I also love the way the
leaves and the fungi are a recurring theme throughout the entire
mural.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCuxBUVMPmszq1T6IbrY6efpll6KzKgKHYnbBabsO7270nFX1hgMd-AgRVSzj1KtqY5auhyq2HUvXqLvT0ODiVKrMPKnH285z8p0vfThwHLmbV093zGshZYZ3zpWLTjmaeNWW05s0-9vR/s1600/NotJustGraffiti1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCuxBUVMPmszq1T6IbrY6efpll6KzKgKHYnbBabsO7270nFX1hgMd-AgRVSzj1KtqY5auhyq2HUvXqLvT0ODiVKrMPKnH285z8p0vfThwHLmbV093zGshZYZ3zpWLTjmaeNWW05s0-9vR/s1600/NotJustGraffiti1.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This part depicts a lovely selection of
Scottish wildlife including a black grouse, a red squirrel and a
robin. There are even a few scattered rowan berries from Scotland´s
most prolific tree, a source of winter food for many species. I, like
many Scots, have one in my garden. Traditionally, the rowan is
supposed to ward off witches. I haven´t seen any since I planted it so it seems to
work... I love its inclusion in the mural. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTFaH2lBV0swy7fWcKFNAkl4Q6kNTLrV9YeVwKS8Zo6-pp81hNkxrxLUAED453YQeIz1afXYkRGxpIAoM5JY71HLKbii9vq0dSc4Qz23HDBrJ7tA320KdEzEZdFcaLrF6-d9ZJtntCCES/s1600/NotJustGraffiti2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTFaH2lBV0swy7fWcKFNAkl4Q6kNTLrV9YeVwKS8Zo6-pp81hNkxrxLUAED453YQeIz1afXYkRGxpIAoM5JY71HLKbii9vq0dSc4Qz23HDBrJ7tA320KdEzEZdFcaLrF6-d9ZJtntCCES/s1600/NotJustGraffiti2.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Coming upon this stunning work of art
simply confirms what I´ve always thought about my home town. Glasgow
is a wonderful city full of surprises.</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-14247936038890101222015-02-28T08:12:00.000+01:002015-02-28T08:12:55.552+01:00Off To Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKvCUkjymcbmZCoRMxRCUVlJPPp1pcHGqUJEbjNgHGZuFiWY0ulmCIjjJtqs_wih-r_k-SMXLgGukfisc1IN6-gYMUKWTphPIT_rvI565m4NGk1np5LBnEHAfRcdqehB55UKsJAPz5xqN/s1600/Scotland.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKvCUkjymcbmZCoRMxRCUVlJPPp1pcHGqUJEbjNgHGZuFiWY0ulmCIjjJtqs_wih-r_k-SMXLgGukfisc1IN6-gYMUKWTphPIT_rvI565m4NGk1np5LBnEHAfRcdqehB55UKsJAPz5xqN/s1600/Scotland.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-48523251146991697802015-02-04T11:06:00.000+01:002015-02-05T22:13:42.598+01:00Sadly Glittering<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ll admit I´m a magpie. I love
anything sparkly. Well, practically anything...<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOxOuUcSsIbCP_RlQsdgBWXtsUWWKVq5ByrL3zZwiAwzbhDW01gFDqZYebIsH79VnshmfO1fIs_J9X4qTqvJE8rkFTchDOfOEXFGGpzQgsADvyj_sDbEWcIrwa2uxP27N3eyJQOV1DfHA/s1600/GlitteringSucculent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOxOuUcSsIbCP_RlQsdgBWXtsUWWKVq5ByrL3zZwiAwzbhDW01gFDqZYebIsH79VnshmfO1fIs_J9X4qTqvJE8rkFTchDOfOEXFGGpzQgsADvyj_sDbEWcIrwa2uxP27N3eyJQOV1DfHA/s1600/GlitteringSucculent.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click on image to enlarge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Journalling: “I bought this plant
recently in a supermarket, mostly because I felt sorry for it. I find
succulents beautiful just as nature intended. They don´t need – or
deserve – to be “embellished” with turquoise glitter.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Having got my poor sparkling succulent
home I put it among my small collection of unadorned succulents where
it stuck out like..well maybe not like a sore thumb, more like a
glitzy gewgaw. The sight of it bothered me so much that I wrote to my
favourite specialist website and was relieved to get the following advice <a href="http://www.drought-smart-plants.com/waxy-green-leaves-forming-a-rosette-like-an-echeveria.html#comments"><b>HERE</b></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So this is my thank you to Jacki, the
green-fingered lady who knows all the answers!
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-24056057950134326162015-01-22T17:44:00.001+01:002015-01-22T17:44:45.812+01:00Happy Belated Birthday, Helen<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh my goodness...where has the month of January gone. It is just flying right by as fast as the 35 mile per hour wind outside my window. It just hit me like a ton of bricks...the wind must have blown that stack of bricks by the edge of the woods right inside the house and aimed it right at the top of my head. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, HELEN I actually thought about your birthday when I renewed the store's domain in December....remembering that the store was your birthday gift several years back. Making a mental note when I'm celebrating Grandson Jase's birthday on January 10th, that Helen's birthday is just three days away! Thought we would revisit your birthday room once again for a nostalgic yet belated celebration of your birthday.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d71JwR31Gw8flye0zMJwuUvoTSqnrkHAJSL6ft7gAGHnpubBaIqiSwCUL8yD_CdELvSZkMEROuqKbupyFhQ6NStzzhMCouK0o5b5olm9sBqYLq24Q8HoyukYNnkYK53UK9qkgizzk2Oj/s400/Birthday+Room+600.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To be truthful, Jacquie Lawson, sent a notice of a new birthday card to my e-mail...so that set off the ton of bricks that flew right through the walls of the house! So, you can look for an e-mail card today as well.<br />
<br />
Happy Belated Birthday, my friend...I hope you had a perfect day!!!
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-23420950117198902912015-01-14T11:48:00.001+01:002015-01-14T11:48:36.328+01:00Dog Rules
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ve always known that boxers are
clowns and, judging by the the huge number of silly, not to say
ridiculous, photos of boxer antics I´ve found on the Web I´m not
the only one. Here are just a few which, along with the constantly
amended list of dog rules, are guaranteed to put a smile on anyone´s
face, also hair and slobbers on your pillow if you´re besotted
enough to abide by the utterly ludicrous rules set down by what you
were foolish enough to allow to become the leader of the family
pack...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp84iKpmTOWFt9TbS570KpfQ3lgmz6kFCDxMqRPiBFYCchuBB7Z5OryGN-BnaXl1-TLUVuv3xbFfQJ8yp-OCAJTFSpi5JgImWg9cs56pvWSmKdzfzyxtNLYz7965aavLYcC5rIsS8Zeh9V/s1600/Dog_Rules_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp84iKpmTOWFt9TbS570KpfQ3lgmz6kFCDxMqRPiBFYCchuBB7Z5OryGN-BnaXl1-TLUVuv3xbFfQJ8yp-OCAJTFSpi5JgImWg9cs56pvWSmKdzfzyxtNLYz7965aavLYcC5rIsS8Zeh9V/s1600/Dog_Rules_72.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmK5_1531hOY_VhXRZ0PWP9s6cFbf65NDrwCV-ncAnQr42MqwyIlk_3LL7-CwhUbTyh4cpNoyxKykIkQLgfPi4L6RwZwWNe7PCbWqcBa0gIWx2BhhLALpZTumIEfov1DgsdVwzJiI_uyy/s1600/DOG+RULES_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmK5_1531hOY_VhXRZ0PWP9s6cFbf65NDrwCV-ncAnQr42MqwyIlk_3LL7-CwhUbTyh4cpNoyxKykIkQLgfPi4L6RwZwWNe7PCbWqcBa0gIWx2BhhLALpZTumIEfov1DgsdVwzJiI_uyy/s1600/DOG+RULES_72.jpg" height="640" width="235" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Even if you´re a dog owner but don´t
have a canine clown, does any – or all – of this sound familiar?</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-5938822670534891772015-01-05T13:19:00.000+01:002015-01-06T17:06:20.986+01:00Distance Lends Enchantment<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As soon as my mother was old enough she
joined the Women´s Land Army which was a British civilian
organisation created during the First and Second World Wars which
enlisted young women of 18 and over to work in agriculture to replace
men called up to the military. She was sent to Argyllshire in the
Highlands of Scotland to work on the estate of the Duke of Argyll,
chief of the clan Campbell. For a city girl this must have been quite
an adventure though I suspect that it didn´t entirely live up to her
expectations. Knowing my mother and her love of animals, I imagine
she´d pictured herself tending to cuddly lambs and petting
sheepdogs. However, the closest she ever came to an animal was too
close for comfort when she had to lead a large and very bad tempered
bull from a field to a barn during a thunderstorm. I remember her
recalling this episode with a shudder when she described how he
tossed his head so wildly that he managed to get one of his horns
into a sleeve of her plastic raincoat and would have shaken her about
like a puppet if the sleeve hadn´t ripped from elbow to wrist and
released her. As for lambs and sheepdogs, the former were far too
skittish to allow themselves to be cuddled and the latter were mainly
vicious and untrustworthy. Even so, she always looked back to that
time in her life with great nostalgia. As the poet said, “Distance
lends enchantment...” </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This photo shows her with one of her
colleagues. I sincerely hope that the implement she´s holding is a
hoe or a spade and not a pitchfork. Apparently, on days when working
in the fields was not a priority the girls were sent into the barns
to kill rats and the weapon of choice was invariably a pitchfork.
According to my mother, she always shut her eyes tightly before
thrusting the pitchfork randomly into the straw. She said this was
the most effective way of <u>not</u> killing anything!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3SveFxV8VHoIDWXWHw18BnBLA9y2Hp7dfIPRMSveWDsvU7Cxi5H3d03aofW9O4ZNcLWNhjZB1wnp2OP3pPIfqcCfTqtSaWFmTyOaakRy04ttHr7vet7QLHps_yEalEqzuW3tbKb9tNZV/s1600/Land_Army.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3SveFxV8VHoIDWXWHw18BnBLA9y2Hp7dfIPRMSveWDsvU7Cxi5H3d03aofW9O4ZNcLWNhjZB1wnp2OP3pPIfqcCfTqtSaWFmTyOaakRy04ttHr7vet7QLHps_yEalEqzuW3tbKb9tNZV/s1600/Land_Army.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of the 2 smaller photos, one is of
Inverary Castle, the seat of the clan chief and the other is the
original photo of my mother which is, as you can see, not in
particularly bad condition, just a little faded with some slight
damage at the bottom edge. I thought I might have to experiment quite
a lot to both brighten and darken it but actually “Auto Contrast”
worked like a charm and the damaged edges were easily repaired using
the clone tool and the healing brush tool. Having done that, I sampled an off white shade from the photo and used it in creating a new border.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Off now to tackle something more
challenging. </div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-23062341277416794462014-12-24T07:56:00.000+01:002014-12-24T10:47:42.694+01:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBkrjaptQoOGRPcTB4KKTj-40qVtvcEBlh-lFQHsCsaL4yCBEpKPKwzZ4qny5F_sbiARoIYDRGqZy4zKcSeg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lajuana has sent me this poem and the picture of Santa which
fit in so well with Dora´s greeting, I just had to share them with you.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(BOXER VERSION)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Twas the night before Christmas
<br />
And all through the house <br />
The puppies were squeaking <br />
An
old rubber mouse <br />
The wreath which had cheerfully <br />
Been hung on
the door <br />
Was scattered in pieces <br />
All over the floor <br />
The
stockings so lovingly <br />
Hanging in rows <br />
Now boast of a hole <br />
In
each of the toes <br />
The tree was subjected <br />
To many bright eyed
whims <br />
And now although splendid <br />
Is missing some limbs <br />
I
catch them and hold them <br />
Be good, I insist <br />
They lick me, then
run off <br />
To find what they missed <br />
And now as I watch them <br />
The
thought comes to me <br />
That theirs is the spirit <br />
That Christmas
should be <br />
Should children and Boxers <br />
Yet show us the way <br />
And
teach us the joy that <br />
Should come with this day <br />
Could they
bring the message <br />
That's written above <br />
And tell us that, most
of all <br />
Christmas is LOVE!! <br />
~~ Author unknown<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgyqE5D86kVoAw6ZdZ3jedhZ_8bjvMqXS2-sLuy8g4FafT3lR3o0P_fRRry88BWw1ETV1mobQO0xJFtlDoZRlq-xiqjTiaNTjO3iw9QD5da4Dy9PeXb6ocmnAGHbWxK8ZEy1EBOHzom0y/s1600/Santa+and+Boxers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgyqE5D86kVoAw6ZdZ3jedhZ_8bjvMqXS2-sLuy8g4FafT3lR3o0P_fRRry88BWw1ETV1mobQO0xJFtlDoZRlq-xiqjTiaNTjO3iw9QD5da4Dy9PeXb6ocmnAGHbWxK8ZEy1EBOHzom0y/s1600/Santa+and+Boxers.JPG" height="400" width="397" /></a></div>
Merry
Christmas, Dora.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Thanks, Lajuana! </div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-62555136208656847742014-12-15T12:08:00.000+01:002014-12-15T12:08:14.504+01:00Digital Christmas Tree
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ve just about finished my Christmas
preparations. I´ve posted all my cards and wrapped all my presents
and either sent them off or put them under the tree. I´ve also hung
all my baubles and beads on the Christmas tree although that´s
always an ongoing project due to Dora. Unlike one of her naughty
predecessors, she doesn´t wait till I´m in bed and then start to
demolish it. In fact she always pointedly ignores it. It´s just that
several times every day with one swipe of her joyfully wagging tail
she manages to dislodge and scatter at least one bauble and, worse,
cause the carefully draped gold bead garland to rat-a-tat onto the
floor. Since I can´t tell her to take herself and her tail away and
go off and be happy elsewhere, this is something I´ve had to accept.
All the more reason to create this digital Christmas tree well out of
reach of Dora and her wagging tail.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vi-HQEMjkcGV54M3U7CzD9QqTF0SwMSHrkrT60KjTU4mFOZ8jy2HUQ_5dfIXWShL484Cyp31TANejcGMajAa_2FkEuoe2k0UMzpSZhRp2rkbIJSpt0fekol9aWNboH-ERS95sDH6dFbK/s1600/ChristmasBaublesFreebieAni2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vi-HQEMjkcGV54M3U7CzD9QqTF0SwMSHrkrT60KjTU4mFOZ8jy2HUQ_5dfIXWShL484Cyp31TANejcGMajAa_2FkEuoe2k0UMzpSZhRp2rkbIJSpt0fekol9aWNboH-ERS95sDH6dFbK/s1600/ChristmasBaublesFreebieAni2.gif" height="400" width="313" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If you´d like to have this festive gift,
everything you can see on the above tree is available for download
<a href="http://retrodesigning.blogspot.de/p/kit-previews.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ-60CNnQhAVBKhxqWac-SBI1F2QBftJOMeWCMwtkumvliRTGku7Zep3R767hyphenhyphenj6-VhvOYEG7OFDM4D9FEv_QcIuXgz55_1Qy2tPZmt9mPONCJOYeHHvXyXlQY_eoydQ3vEdMZQmsd2qm/s1600/Christmas+Baubles+Freebie+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ-60CNnQhAVBKhxqWac-SBI1F2QBftJOMeWCMwtkumvliRTGku7Zep3R767hyphenhyphenj6-VhvOYEG7OFDM4D9FEv_QcIuXgz55_1Qy2tPZmt9mPONCJOYeHHvXyXlQY_eoydQ3vEdMZQmsd2qm/s1600/Christmas+Baubles+Freebie+Preview.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span>
</div>
As you can see from the preview, this is a DIY project as you have to assemble your own baubles. I thought it would be more fun and also more versatile to create separate layers so that you can choose which bow to add to your bauble - you could also alter the baubles´ transparency - or just use the bows themselves as deco.<br />
<br />
Have fun!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-87290948593044744772014-11-29T12:32:00.000+01:002014-11-29T12:32:19.243+01:00A Dora A Day...
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A Dora a day may not keep the doctor
away but she definitely keeps the blues away with her antics. That´s
the reason I always order a Dora calendar for Herbert as a Christmas
present so that even while he´s at work she can still put a smile on
his face. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´ve just finished uploading a
selection of this year´s photos. It´s such a difficult task to
choose which I like best I always wish there were more than 12 months
in the year. While I was uploading them I took some screen shots.
Here are just a few which are so typical of Dora I thought I´d share
them with you on a dull November day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
January shows Dora in an unusually sad and
reflective mood because, for our playful Dora, a day without a ball
is a day without sunshine, especially when she´s on holiday in
Domburg.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZGfnMtyYZPy3lQSi3nh1bLBM4DFOjHJGrBXOgVKWGEzebu1soadXZkpWsgPnydrUhWzg5vwyeaPgM4EkZgezzuXBLrp11R4WS47BbdP4UAAk38a4qMd6CriuO4WiBBk_HjHdZnjVosFk/s1600/1_January.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZGfnMtyYZPy3lQSi3nh1bLBM4DFOjHJGrBXOgVKWGEzebu1soadXZkpWsgPnydrUhWzg5vwyeaPgM4EkZgezzuXBLrp11R4WS47BbdP4UAAk38a4qMd6CriuO4WiBBk_HjHdZnjVosFk/s1600/1_January.jpg" height="400" width="272" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In February she´s still in Domburg and
she´s got not just one but two but she´s still not happy because
her ball-thrower is more interested in reading his newspaper than
playing with her.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6brVw4_dXkBfE9xFfSHTvR1rmvRH01V0aV56HdgXCKBuTCE0bJSUOkB620zpnNenbR8PcejbpMdIUzk8BmDlhng0ik8lqMoqB3ZOR_hIFnZsi4MNZzR42u7xTDSRbxU2ZujcFwOeCkDB/s1600/2_February.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6brVw4_dXkBfE9xFfSHTvR1rmvRH01V0aV56HdgXCKBuTCE0bJSUOkB620zpnNenbR8PcejbpMdIUzk8BmDlhng0ik8lqMoqB3ZOR_hIFnZsi4MNZzR42u7xTDSRbxU2ZujcFwOeCkDB/s1600/2_February.jpg" height="400" width="272" />
</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It´s so typical of Dora that once
she´s finally got her playmate to participate she does her utmost to
make sure that he can only do so once...Notice the determined way she
holds one ball down with her
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
paws and the other with her nose while
the third is tucked right under her chest.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajFzyscI6Zcz7l-lAREGzy2C6c3RR30M1JcHc6Z53nkrzDqr7ao-fWQAl1ZTBLfzR4CKn-xrEuEyGGONHD9MSpiJZ6kwXCn6FCmcaLqVznAZCNJyZx3NcneJ6s9nf90SHS2t4cbzQu-tr/s1600/3_March.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajFzyscI6Zcz7l-lAREGzy2C6c3RR30M1JcHc6Z53nkrzDqr7ao-fWQAl1ZTBLfzR4CKn-xrEuEyGGONHD9MSpiJZ6kwXCn6FCmcaLqVznAZCNJyZx3NcneJ6s9nf90SHS2t4cbzQu-tr/s1600/3_March.jpg" height="400" width="272" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
August shows Dora in a typical awkward
situation where she´s got a hold of her ball-on-a-string and has
dragged Herbert all the way down the lawn until she´s stopped in her
tracks by the prickly bramble bush. (called blackberries by
non-Scots) At this point Herbert knows that it´s stalemate and he
only has 2 alternatives. Either he lets go of the ball and Dora is
propelled backwards into the prickly bushes and then shoots off down
the lawn as if she has a bee under her skirt, or he just keeps hold
of it. This is <u>not</u> a good strategy as he could miss dinner
that night and possibly even breakfast the following morning. Dora
can be very determined.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJz7vlBYPa-88IqR9WN6LSOeCGLuW-h4FFtGDOs3seC3C8A_3r2dyeRZ9p0ocEdnbKwmd5PUO6dEByQ3gw8Sl8oafiaVc-rWaTlvlThkv8Itc7qjz7Sew08QDRkLSfQHqVejtbnCFuhzl/s1600/4_August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJz7vlBYPa-88IqR9WN6LSOeCGLuW-h4FFtGDOs3seC3C8A_3r2dyeRZ9p0ocEdnbKwmd5PUO6dEByQ3gw8Sl8oafiaVc-rWaTlvlThkv8Itc7qjz7Sew08QDRkLSfQHqVejtbnCFuhzl/s1600/4_August.jpg" height="400" width="272" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you can see by November´s photo,
once Dora has got her favourite toy she´ll guard it with her life.
Don´t be fooled by the butter wouldn´t melt look. Make one false
move and the nose goes down and the front paws tighten up and you´ve
no chance at all of getting it away from her until she graciously
allows you to throw it for her again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gFstngWsbNwjrbzditAEsyyuXsVzyYnkMihUmyhTcDA3LQOFnE4WX3RZdio7FcFrML7vlZcN6VQjkE53_3R1hEVgsWKwhqr_Ttjl3Xjsd5wgFxz0HwCsp_ljbL0JEeXK05BOM_BxeWwo/s1600/5_November.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gFstngWsbNwjrbzditAEsyyuXsVzyYnkMihUmyhTcDA3LQOFnE4WX3RZdio7FcFrML7vlZcN6VQjkE53_3R1hEVgsWKwhqr_Ttjl3Xjsd5wgFxz0HwCsp_ljbL0JEeXK05BOM_BxeWwo/s1600/5_November.jpg" height="400" width="272" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There are times though when a human
participant can be essential not just as a ball-thrower but as a
ball-retriever. To explain April´s rather strange photo, on her
walks Dora has the uncanny knack of finding toys which other dogs
have either lost or abandoned. Herbert lets her play with them for a
while before putting them out of reach in a tree so that other dogs
can also play with them or the original owner can get his/her ball
back again. Sometimes when he forgets to bring a ball with him he
resorts to picking these strange fruit. The way Dora looks at him in
this photo says it all even without the caption.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMf5iYQZTJA4SqBQjBF7M7A4JdVPn1bBREgKP0Rgij9vYLf4X5PAiWhiBigv9zfwDYF8xWRLRdrLhCszmBEtgAM7gmBh4VxTPK0ZfIH6ysdfI3BT0E8ZrhLAX3L9aNoG4W84aku4yNpSF/s1600/6_April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMf5iYQZTJA4SqBQjBF7M7A4JdVPn1bBREgKP0Rgij9vYLf4X5PAiWhiBigv9zfwDYF8xWRLRdrLhCszmBEtgAM7gmBh4VxTPK0ZfIH6ysdfI3BT0E8ZrhLAX3L9aNoG4W84aku4yNpSF/s1600/6_April.jpg" height="400" width="272" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following photo is also typical of
Dora although it has absolutely nothing to do with her favourite
occupation. See it from her point of view. She´ll be lying quite
happily on the lawn when I´ll sneak up on her with “that annoying
clicking thing.” She´ll immediately turn her head away and put on
her long-suffering here-we-go-again look.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAQmHFncke65q0_-WFv8DJ33iQmEkefehRpBj4BOkOhD9QZRnAkUWqoH0Cb3wCQMOTQiG9PX5345alOzB_uCWgeXt4I_-t79gmuxeBl8qhSThPu5EExG5Lu-3WP35704AVk9JDPOQSlcU/s1600/7_December.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAQmHFncke65q0_-WFv8DJ33iQmEkefehRpBj4BOkOhD9QZRnAkUWqoH0Cb3wCQMOTQiG9PX5345alOzB_uCWgeXt4I_-t79gmuxeBl8qhSThPu5EExG5Lu-3WP35704AVk9JDPOQSlcU/s1600/7_December.jpg" height="400" width="266" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As a last resort she´ll get up, give
me a withering look and stalk off indignantly to her favourite
retreat under the Russian vine where she´ll lie watching me quite
convinced that she´s safely in hiding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDo-zqTYC7-QTBzpMtq9MfC8knWryMwLgGmubRCkbsSIacNMR3iUW2_a2-T2e_whsd_XvokU7p4vZypvBDxmRMc7Ne0S5cyGpsa7XYajv9xmNHC9uUBa8qlTqXhELwmg4AzcdG63_Y9X3/s1600/8_October.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDo-zqTYC7-QTBzpMtq9MfC8knWryMwLgGmubRCkbsSIacNMR3iUW2_a2-T2e_whsd_XvokU7p4vZypvBDxmRMc7Ne0S5cyGpsa7XYajv9xmNHC9uUBa8qlTqXhELwmg4AzcdG63_Y9X3/s1600/8_October.jpg" height="400" width="272" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I´m so looking forward to the arrival
of this year´s calendar but in the meantime I hope that Dora has
brightened your day as she always brightens ours.</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-7808400664491332882014-11-13T09:26:00.000+01:002015-02-06T12:53:28.744+01:00The Fairy Tale Meadow Revisited<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My workroom is a mess at present.
Usually I diligently clear it up after I´ve finished each project
but just recently one project has run seamlessly into another and
searching through the resultant chaos for anything has meant that
while looking for one thing I´ve been totally distracted by finding
something entirely unrelated. My most recent diversion came when,
quite by chance, I discovered this photo in a folder hidden under
piles of paper and magazines. It shows my husband, Herbert, (front
right) crouched beside his older brother, Manfred who´s next to
their cousin, Karl-Heinz. The young man at the back is his oldest
brother, Wolfgang. Herbert seems to have a mental blackout regarding
the other children in this photo and just says vaguely that they´re
“probably” assorted cousins though they “may” be just
friends. He does, however, remember who took the photo, namely a
close family friend the children called Tante Luzie. More about her
later. Here´s the original photo which I scanned at 300 dpi.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PR9rY6_GSR_iObXm5FGHAdEY67Dqu_0UuvHAbMqUyaP4suwCH6HcF_pUjCxLISvlNclDyz9bZol66C9SqEQcK-DyFfod33Srbkc_QNjC0SoPh32iu8G10e41r0-QhwghP5c0QH12WdNW/s1600/Family+group_1_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PR9rY6_GSR_iObXm5FGHAdEY67Dqu_0UuvHAbMqUyaP4suwCH6HcF_pUjCxLISvlNclDyz9bZol66C9SqEQcK-DyFfod33Srbkc_QNjC0SoPh32iu8G10e41r0-QhwghP5c0QH12WdNW/s400/Family+group_1_original.jpg" width="400" />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I like this photo for several reasons
apart from the obvious. First of all it´s the background which I
find fascinating. It may look as if it was taken in a studio with a
backdrop but what looks artificial is actually the view from what the
children used to call <span lang="de-DE">“Die Märchenwiese”
</span><span lang="en-GB">which translates literally as The Fairy
Tale Meadow and, believe me, it really has an enchanted atmosphere. I
know because I´ve been there and it hasn´t changed much in the
years since my husband was a little tot. Its high up in a clearing in
the Spessart Forest, quite a climb, but worth it for the spectacular
view of the surrounding hills and woodland. Another interesting
feature is that all the boys in the foreground, apart from the little
fellow in the sailor suit, are wearing so-called </span><span lang="de-DE">Lederhosen,
</span><span lang="en-GB">the typical leather shorts of the Alpine
regions and Bavaria. In the days before washing machines were
considered essential these shorts must have been a blessing to busy
mothers when dealing with messy little boys, the cleaning procedure
being just to wait for the mud to dry before simply brushing it off.
I´m amused to see that the little girl is wearing a light coloured
dress with puff sleeves which must have been difficult to keep clean
while battling her way through the forest to reach the clearing.
Ditto the sailor suit and the smart outfit worn by Wolfgang. The
excursion was obviously planned in advance for the sole purpose of
taking this photo. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">
</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I find the photo striking
as it stands. The very fact that it´s underexposed and faded adds to
its vintage feeling of days gone by and the magical quality of the
scenery. However, I still felt a need to add some contrast to the
foreground while retaining at least some of the fading in the
background. It was at this point that it dawned on me that this seemingly simple project was
going to be quite tedious and time-consuming as the only way I could
imagine doing this was by creating 2 layers and working on them
separately. I do not enjoy making complicated extractions any more
than you do. On the other hand there are people, mainly woman, who
actually like ironing so maybe I´m wrong...Anyway, I digress. Before
I could change my mind and restart my search through the chaos to
find the project I´d originally planned, I gritted my teeth and made
a rough extraction around the group in the foreground. I deliberately
didn´t zoom in to do this otherwise I´d have been too meticulous
and I´d have been at it all day! Then I feathered it and copied it
onto a new layer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJR7CH1QvCrDSqmdnH18YoCToqeJH_MnLI2p441KT_ASHHiSL4haEX6MVVJ4gmeqxWrgyXAiErn-O6AyyX29fQseXs8Qrr3l-MnlgcG1vDRy6p_m2YP6SoSyYsDQ1iKEfzi-hIzmwvcme/s1600/Family+group_2_selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJR7CH1QvCrDSqmdnH18YoCToqeJH_MnLI2p441KT_ASHHiSL4haEX6MVVJ4gmeqxWrgyXAiErn-O6AyyX29fQseXs8Qrr3l-MnlgcG1vDRy6p_m2YP6SoSyYsDQ1iKEfzi-hIzmwvcme/s400/Family+group_2_selection.jpg" width="400" />
</a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I tackled the new layer
first by increasing the contrast and altering the tone a little.
After that I tidied up some of the lighter parts around the figures
I´d missed during the extraction and cropped the photo to remove the
distracting edges. At this point I also used the clone tool to disguise some
of the white blotches in the background Here´s how it looked at this
stage.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ncjf_4b87tJqSZbE-xHNrc89YqPm1OHgZb39WB2zPatZgnGEG6NKrkU_VBOQ1_sKX8hkY6UM-X9px_YYzb-vI8WT21nF-6OBELABr91X2YdADzQDwebzKhVoySLN8MerqjZ68Gc3_xMv/s1600/Family+group_3_foreground_only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ncjf_4b87tJqSZbE-xHNrc89YqPm1OHgZb39WB2zPatZgnGEG6NKrkU_VBOQ1_sKX8hkY6UM-X9px_YYzb-vI8WT21nF-6OBELABr91X2YdADzQDwebzKhVoySLN8MerqjZ68Gc3_xMv/s400/Family+group_3_foreground_only.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you can see this
brought out a lot of the detail in the foreground but then the
background was still so faded that the figures looked like cardboard
cut outs so I darkened the background using Curves, adjusted the tone
a little, flattened it and ended up with this.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-lCjiH81-oWdFn9GrKwZICt4uGf2tK2dEbnUBsxgL69gEhSp2i6Bhtdi37Fikkkz4FxZBql01xf6qIM8jhSVXiW2Q-mFsorKKuItVdvy4wG7O4DLzayacHkti5Zr3xHZtmHbsD6O-ng7/s1600/Family+group_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-lCjiH81-oWdFn9GrKwZICt4uGf2tK2dEbnUBsxgL69gEhSp2i6Bhtdi37Fikkkz4FxZBql01xf6qIM8jhSVXiW2Q-mFsorKKuItVdvy4wG7O4DLzayacHkti5Zr3xHZtmHbsD6O-ng7/s400/Family+group_4.jpg" width="400" />
</a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I suppose I could have
been reasonably happy with this result but anyone who knows me is
aware of the fact that I just can´t leave well alone. Something
bothered me about it so I went away and unpacked a parcel which had
just arrived and when I looked at the photo half an hour later with
fresh eyes it was immediately obvious what was wrong. It was simply
too much like a discoloured black and white photo so I added the sepia
photo filter at 15% rather than the default 25%....and voilà!</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl2PH0_5G6r5koBVGu7tKm5YcIigGvDBNav4awkurNxyDbTVKyBOgSseOCVkakLPSfnfUWjMDFS3m2Kbxfb6U3SQi79PQdODMeKUlo5fHDQE_t9EucR-yk37lg6F57W2RNsyulMycZ0Q_/s1600/Family+group_5_photo_filter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl2PH0_5G6r5koBVGu7tKm5YcIigGvDBNav4awkurNxyDbTVKyBOgSseOCVkakLPSfnfUWjMDFS3m2Kbxfb6U3SQi79PQdODMeKUlo5fHDQE_t9EucR-yk37lg6F57W2RNsyulMycZ0Q_/s400/Family+group_5_photo_filter.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">I´m still not
entirely happy with it but I´ve kept the layers so I may tinker with
it a bit more when I have the time. Right now I´m off to play with
my new toy robot which has been charging its battery while I´ve been
sitting here agonizing over what to inflict on this image next. I
wish this little robot could do my extractions and/or my ironing but
it won´t. What it </span><span lang="en-GB"><u>will</u></span><span lang="en-GB">
do is the next best thing. It´ll whiz around the house sweeping the
floors and probably giving Dora a nervous breakdown in the process! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">
</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
PS Almost forgot to
mention Tante Luzie again. She was quite a character. I first met her
shortly before our wedding and found her to be a delightfully
eccentric and very sprightly 80 year-old. She always kept a hip flask
somewhere about her person from which she took a nip of brandy every
so often after which she invariably announced triumphantly in German,
“Schnapps is good for cholera!” After the reception we all went
back to my parent´s house where my mother was astonished when she
walked past the open bathroom door to find Tante Luzie spraying her
hair abundantly with air freshener. She didn´t have the heart to
tell her and for the rest of the day the old lady went around taking
swigs from her flask quite unaware of the fact that her hair was
dripping wet and smelt strongly of pine disinfectant.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"> </span>
</div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-38267018127276334392014-10-31T09:37:00.000+01:002014-10-31T09:37:45.519+01:00Mickey Mouth
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mick Jagger would definitely get no
satisfaction if he could see what Frank N Furter has done to his face
during one of his failed experiments. It serves you right, Mickey
Mouth, for having refused to let one of our friends take a photo of
you in the days when you looked a lot better than this!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dRLHhqlsvvp4oGD1TL7m8WtuLiT_OwxM-CsX2T8KtbPsb40CK-Yz9kfUnmMqHuU2KuIDaQHXQePcMQA-PG6nzUc9hOJJ1Ko39fDyDsaw7deFZT9x88r-PnDmr9AWlDkZhNnYoqRwtIFt/s1600/Halloween_2014_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dRLHhqlsvvp4oGD1TL7m8WtuLiT_OwxM-CsX2T8KtbPsb40CK-Yz9kfUnmMqHuU2KuIDaQHXQePcMQA-PG6nzUc9hOJJ1Ko39fDyDsaw7deFZT9x88r-PnDmr9AWlDkZhNnYoqRwtIFt/s1600/Halloween_2014_72.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqWo7VahPuDWoWS7gWTxpPygBrWPptfv0OjPXPaHq2nuUi2xN9qYs9VAr7NtiGcCp3yOtJmlGipHJB5aPCKB1oC30PvQpxFwllPQmjgFx_jpYezEjIz0Fhkz4rbV6KvnpUsCXrSRDZ1O-/s1600/HALLOWEEN+text2_72.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqWo7VahPuDWoWS7gWTxpPygBrWPptfv0OjPXPaHq2nuUi2xN9qYs9VAr7NtiGcCp3yOtJmlGipHJB5aPCKB1oC30PvQpxFwllPQmjgFx_jpYezEjIz0Fhkz4rbV6KvnpUsCXrSRDZ1O-/s1600/HALLOWEEN+text2_72.png" height="127" width="400" /></a></div>
retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8951425923654771967.post-59206405582663197862014-10-22T12:23:00.000+02:002014-10-22T12:23:38.087+02:00Seventy Years Ago
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My mother survived my father by 19
years. It´s sad to think that neither of them lived to celebrate the
70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of their marriage this year. I only have
2 photos of the occasion, one of which I´ve had for many years and
another which I found at the bottom of a drawer after my mother´s
death last Christmas. Mine is framed and in pristine condition. My
mother´s is dog-eared, faded and worn looking like many of the old
family photos. I´ve often wondered why this should be and have
decided that it´s probably partly due to the fact that my mother,
like her mother before her, lived for the present and didn´t dwell
on the past. Also, although I often told her that she was remarkably
attractive in all her photos, she always laughed and denied it. The
only framed photos in her house were of her mother, her husband and
her children, so being the selfless person she undoubtedly was,
perhaps that reflects what was most important to her. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following page is a memorial to
both of my parents. It may look at first glance as if I had quite a
few photos but in reality there really are only the two plus a couple
of little sketches created using an action I made a while ago.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EfGpBJoPhvVYygIg-ic2TTmyUCpT3wF039Y_F9JVE4tjfdL_fqaOzD2eh4lZSCeG84nvrvJhTIdbQODfWFXOHvWfYKq9y6nWD36SLqTECkAVZqSX65CfkUpPOqGc07W4uu_eKI6mXmCV/s1600/Wedding_1944_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EfGpBJoPhvVYygIg-ic2TTmyUCpT3wF039Y_F9JVE4tjfdL_fqaOzD2eh4lZSCeG84nvrvJhTIdbQODfWFXOHvWfYKq9y6nWD36SLqTECkAVZqSX65CfkUpPOqGc07W4uu_eKI6mXmCV/s1600/Wedding_1944_2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I created the above page using the kit
I´m presently working on, unnamed as yet though suggestions would be
gratefully received.
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retrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474071051744215822noreply@blogger.com4