Category: life

Categories
life natural world

Intermission 22i – Autumn

Autumn has offered yet more fantastic sunsets, no clouds no rain and more blue skies than a typical year
This sunset had some interesting mixes of oranges and reds
York recently hosted a balloon festival – going aloft on a fine day is this impressive multi coloured balloon
Up up and away
This time of year there is still pollen about and this particular shrub is vital for sustaining insects into the winter. Its the common ivy and on a warm day it can be literally humming with activity
Leaves are the feature of Autumn along with fog and the first frosts. Some trees like this Acer give you only a day of green to red before turning crinkly brown. Already the buds are set for next years greening.
Not the end but the beginning! This Witch Hazel is just getting ready to flower over the winter.
This Hornbeam offers up yellows and golds while the Acer above hangs on to its vibrant green leaves.
I will finish with another sunset.
Categories
life natural world

Intermission 22h

This summer has been great for sky – blue sky and clouds as well as sunsets.

First up the type of low cloud in the west – here its wales – that has given us sublime sunsets in the east………….
Look no balloons (my last post was almost ballooning with balloons) – York Racecourse bereft of Balloons – yet that little cloud may promise an evening of interest….
rich grey and orange
pink and some bluer greys

The rest of the images were taken in one evening

eventually the sun drops further and more muted cooler pinks and greys return……..

Categories
natural world

Intermission 22g

More Sky pictures………… three different sunsets

Categories
life Military History

Intermission 22f

The Giro offered up some interesting castles this year. And as usual Italy is replete with historical narrative.

Hawkwood fighting for the Pope oversaw a massacre by his condottieri here in 1376
The main fortress remains imposing

Next up Julius Ceasar would have to queue these days to cross his famous river

Crossing the Rubicon – its a bit busier these days……

Another city in the “Romagnol” also has fine surviving medieval fortress

Forlimpopoli

Forlimpopoli suffered in medieval times – it was a battleground for Papal control of the area.

Forli another city on the Via Emilia where in medieval times the Ordelaffi family fought the Popes for its control, finally being dominated after it was siezed by Cesare Borgia.

And Faenza too……..dominated in the 14th Century by the Guelph Manfredi

Into the mountains and we switch to Napoleonic themes

Rocca d’Anfo initially a Venetian fortification was expanded by Napoleon in the 1800’s

Not quite as many images this year but these aerial shots give a different perspective on some amazing historical sites across Italy.

Categories
life natural world

Intermission 22e

Start of the hottest day on record ?

The morning cloud formations are interesting though…..

Sunrise
Categories
life natural world

Intermission 22d

Its Spring and a flurry of colour…………….

A blaze of yellow
Glorious Tulips
Primrose
Dark to Black Tulips are not everyones cup of tea but the edges on these are fantastic
this flowering alpine green leaves really set off the miniature pink and yellow flowers
More Pink – this time a spikey Tulip

And even the trees are beginning to bud

ok so this is a mediterranean pine tree – after 15 years in a pot – grown from seed you get these neat little cones – tree fruit if you like.
Categories
natural world

Intermission 22c

Natural Colour

Next up will be more on Italian Wars of Independence.

Categories
life

Sunflower Seeds

Heroic Women – The Ukrainian Woman offering sunflower seeds to a Russian Soldier.

Hopefully Russia will listen to their own soldiers words.

“lets not make this worse than it already is”

Yes it is never too late to change direction.

President Putin can use his absolute power to withdraw his troops unilaterally, at a stroke of a pen.

The question is, is he brave enough?

Amnesty International have a quote

“it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness”

Categories
life natural world

Intermission 22a: Winter Branches

Even in the midst of winter some plants are already preparing for spring and summer.

And yet it is still a time of its own like admiring the bare branches of trees.

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Winter Branches

And some trees and shrubs are already in flower – of the winter kind.

Witch Hazel flowers
Winter Jasmine
Pirus always taking the chances with frost but very early this year!

Amazing Nature!

Categories
life wargaming

Improvise!

I am not a snow scenery person so you will have to forgive this small quirky offering.

Merry Christmas One and All!

Veteran Minifigs from 1970’s to the front and a kit theatre from the Norman Palace in Parlermo – its side frames show off the famous marionettes or puppets – a theatrical tradition stretching back to the 13th century.