Blue hand building... Grand Canary Island“Architecture is a social act and the material theater of human activity.” ~ Spiro Kostof (Architectural historian, 1936 - 1991)
More pictures of the strange -- "unusual" architecture found on the Grand Canary Island. These were photographed by my brother when he performed in an opera there a couple of years ago. The stunning shades of blue covering the stucco walls are eye-catching on their own; but then you begin to see three dimensional sculptured shapes on the sides -- hands!
(You may click the pictures to get a larger view)
These remind me of words or phrases delivered in sign language, however, my knowledge is limited to the ABC's. Molding surrounds some of the hands like picture frames. Honestly, at first, the sight of hand "gargoyles" protruding from the walls of a building creeped me out a bit; but with time, the beautiful positions with their touch of grace and poise gave a more fluid and soft look to the structure. You could say the hands "speak" to me. Perhaps that was what the architect and designer was going for.
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Carmi's Theme: "got the blues".
Blue Monday
Swinging the blues.... Mr. Rhett 
“Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the sky as I came through.” ~ George MacDonald
Dear Mr. Rhett with his blue eyes is the darling of women everywhere. He has had a difficult couple of years here, what with getting out and spending the night under the house during the construction of the sunroom and losing his sister, Scarlett last May. Still he is the most inquisitive cat on the planet and it still gets him into a pickle on occasion. Mr. Rhett is getting old as are we all, but he can still run faster than I can catch him. Hmm. Perhaps that says more about me than him. He has been losing weight for several years, but not so much as in this last year. He had lost two pounds since his last checkup and his fur coat was looking rank and disheveled. I could brush him and get almost as much hair as I do off the Ragdoll cats. But, he ate... he ate like he was starved to death. He would eat his wet food and the leftovers from everyone else in five minutes. So at his checkup this year they drew some blood to check his kidney function, since he is over 15 now and they checked his thyroid function. His T4 level was almost ten times the upper limits of normal, so now he is on a medicine to block the effects of the T4. A liquid, we put it in his food twice a day and he doesn't know the difference, but a difference it has made already. I believe he has gained some weight and his coat is back to being soft and lush. He does not seem as driven to constantly move and search for food.. yet, he still gobbles all he can get as fast as he can. At least he is on the right path.
Here he was swinging in the hammock with Nyssa... his blue eyes complementing the royal blue of the strings. I'm not sure if his expression is one of delight, fear or simply the desire to "be somewhere else".
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Carmi's theme ~ "Blue"
Blue Monday
Cornflower blue.... a memory long gone and a hope of spring.
(Click pictures to enlarge) "The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.." ~ Hans Hofmann
The light blue petals of a cornflower aptly named in paint forever... cornflower blue. It seems like such a long time since these brought beauty to the garden and swayed so softly in the spring breezes. Here by the east coast ocean we typically have cooler weather in the months of October and November and then in the low 50's in December. But this year we have been hard pressed to make it out of the 30's or 40's for almost a month now. The north winds blow and their sound next to my bedroom window on the north side of the house is even more ominous sounding than the summer storms moving in from the south. I think the word "blustery" best fits the sound and the mood. But, for the first time in a week we have sun... real sun.. with shadows and with blue skies and no clouds. No fluffy clouds, storm clouds, gray clouds, snow clouds, rain clouds... just clear cornflower blue skies.
The mad goldfinch!
Everyone has seen the famous picture of The Mad Bluebird, but this little goldfinch seemed very out of sorts at our feeder this weekend. Perhaps it was the wind howling in the trees and setting off a sway in the feeder system that has made him a bit seasick. Perhaps it was the rain that was supposed to be snow but was rain with occasional large flakes of snow mixed in. Perhaps it was the empty feeders and that we had left a bit of a cake that had gone wrong in the baking, instead of the expected sunflower seed kernels; although I did see him pecking at and eating a bit of the orange slices in the cake. I do believe it might be that I was standing inside in the warm house, next to the roaring fire and pointing a huge black lens at him, while he was trying to eat. Some creatures just don't like to be disturbed and have no fear of telling you off about it. Hey! Little finch.. it is Christmas and I have left full feeders and special treats of fruit and nuts for your Christmas feast... so tell your friends (if you keep that face on, I'm not sure you have many) to come and have a wonderful dinner... just don't tell the hoards of blackbirds.
These are my pictures for Blue Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday this week.
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Blue Monday
Carmi's Theme ~ Favorites of the Year
Black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Common Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus
(Click pictures to enlarge) "I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing. To me, that makes photography more exciting." ~ Harry Callahan
Gray days give better colored pictures... less glare and fewer shadows in the way, a softer light. But these Black-eyed Susans shine and gleam on their own as if they grabbed every tiny molecule of light on this cloudy day and concentrated it into the substance of their yellow petals; enough shine to make their own shadows. Sharing the stage are the small white fleabane, with tiny yellow suns dotting the background. I can imagine laying on the ground looking up at a canopy of these wildflowers overhead, smelling the warm fresh earth and watching as they sway hypnotically back and forth in the light summer breeze. What a joy to experience nature through childlike eyes!
Nicky...the Clark Gable of Cats
"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever . . . it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~ Aaron Siskind
I have a lot of cats, I've had a lot of cats down through the years and they have all lived to a relatively old age. They go through the stages of life as we all do. Kittens play and jump and tumble an are quick, often too quick for the camera.. little blurs running around. Then suddenly, they drop... sound asleep, like babies have to take small naps in between making large noise. In young adulthood the cat is most interesting to photograph; a bit slower with more refined movement, he is interested in everything and often provides moments of comic bliss to capture on film.
Now, my cats have entered the "golden years" of life; all five are over 11 years old and no longer enticed by the latest catnip toy. They have developed sophisticated wants... a certain banana shaped catnip toy, a certain ball and mouse... all others lay dormant and untouched. Life is slow... no more fast movements, high leaps or intense curiosity... except for Mr. Rhett.. but that is a different story. Now, the cats sit for portraits, sometimes I think you could leave the shutter open for four or five seconds and they wouldn't move; the most difficult task is getting them to open their eyes for a good look at those baby blues. You wouldn't believe how many shots I get with eyes half open.
Soon, all too soon, they will pass on to be with the others who have gone before and I cannot stop time... except in pictures. So, even if the portraits tend to look the same and they sometimes show less than suave perfect fur... I still try to see that little spark behind the eye.. that shows how different each cat remains even now. And they are...unique... beautiful... friends.
Sepia Serenity... Camellia (Norfolk Botanical Garden)
"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." ~ Ansel Adams
Sepia or black and white photos speak of age and wisdom. Our eyes and brains interpret what we see in color... and because of this, only the monochrome pictures can reveal mysteries that our eyes miss. These shots level the playing field for the flower... a lowly, dull, looked over plant brings as much beauty as the vibrant red rose. I love the colorful camellia flowers in our botanical garden.. they give life and warmth to the winter months here in Virginia. But I also love the delicate yet strong look that this sepia shot gives.
I chose three very different pictures for three different memes today... Mellow Yellow Monday, Blue Monday and Monochrome Maniacs (Monochrome Weekly).. these sites have many more participants with gorgeous photos. Please visit them to feast your eyes.
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Columbine bud...keeping me guessing.
(Click pictures to enlarge) "Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar."
~ William Wordsworth, 1798
Usually I try not to mix too many different memes into one post, but I have quite a bit to do today and if I can squeeze it in, I would love to visit the new butterfly outdoor garden and the indoor butterfly house at our botanical garden here in Norfolk. So, for my Mellow Yellow entry I have this beautiful yellow and white columbine that I just cannot get away from. What is it about this flower that intrigues me so? I haven't yet decided, but it grabs my attention, whether at the local nursery, in my cousin's yard, at the highly groomed and polished botanical gardens or in my own flowerbed. Its angles and curves never fail to surprise and it has that amazing shape that morphs constantly. Some flowers are plain and boring before they open and broadcast their beauty for only a short time, then wilt and die. Columbine, on the other hand, teases the spectator before blooming with its lovely green bud.. and throughout the process.. never gives the full hint of the final product. Columbine keeps you guessing!
..Until the final reveal, yellow and white columbine.
"To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of those things which it is far better to enjoy, than to attempt to fully understand." ~ Henry T. Tuckerman
But the final reveal is definitely worth the wait!
Plumbago auriculata,leadwort or skyflower.
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
"In the hope of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet." ~ Albert Schweitzer
I understand that these are best grown in Florida and perhaps that is why they flourished in the hot houses of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It is probably not feasible to yearn for these blooms here in Virginia... but we can hope. I am looking for a lovely vine to train up over a trellis that will attach to the new sunroom addition. My dream is to have wisteria for spring, but also to incorporate something that will give us color for the summer months as well. Who knows? My research is not yet complete.. nor is construction....I can only dream at this point.
So, for Mellow Yellow and Blue Monday as well as Macro Monday... enjoy!
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Left upper: April 12th... the nest is finished and one small egg.
April 26.... five small perfect blue eggs...but no mom.
(Click pictures to enlarge)"A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town." ~ Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
Bluebird Chronicles Part One: The ArrivalSeveral websites feature nest cams of different bird species including bluebirds. The bluebirds in Texas had built their nest and were happily laying eggs, while our crazy couple were fluttering wings at each other and trying to break into the "big" house. The last time I had checked on their nest it consisted of three pine needles.... and I was in despair. It seemed this misfit pair would never get it right... always late. So it was with much trepidation that I climbed the ladder and peeked into the house on Easter Sunday. To my amazement, the nest was actually finished and there in the middle lay one light blue egg. Of course, my next worry was... where is the mom? Why is she not sitting here?
Further investigation on the internet told me that the bluebird lays one egg a day until there are four or five eggs in the nest and she does not sit on the eggs until they are all in place. Yes, the house and nest are warm, but around Easter we were having unseasonably cold weather; we wore coats on Easter Sunday! We waited... I gave her several more days... two weeks in fact... to get her act together. When it seemed as if she were again hanging around the yard a little more than usual, I looked again. There they were all safe and sound... five little blue eggs....
"SO SIT ALREADY!!!"
Clockwise from upper left: Mom...not on the nest.
Finally sitting as she should. Nervous father waiting...
Bluebirds are not like robins who sit carefully and almost continually on their small eggs. Of course, bluebirds do use nesting boxes... but still. Some days it seemed that momma bluebird sat still in the box for less than ten minutes at a time. I know waiting and being still is boring, I had obligatory bed rest while pregnant (no, not now... a very, very, very long time ago)... but please... don't you want these eggs to hatch. It seemed as if she resented papa bluebird... he would hang around on the fence and sometimes bring her food, but I never once saw him go in and stay for an extended period. She sat with her head poking out the entry, looking as if she would fly off at a moments notice. Still momma bluebird was more calm than papa and didn't mind my presence as much as he did. I knew that the incubation period was between fourteen and nineteen days and we were getting close.
May 10th: A bunched up fuzz of babies.
Finally, one day I saw momma and papa bluebird carry small bugs into the house and when I tapped on the pole holding the house there was the barely audible high pitched cheep of tiny birds. I waited a day or two and then carefully opened the hinged door to see this intertwined tumbled mass of fuzz and feathers and the occasional open beak. I couldn't count them.. are there four or five... we will have to wait and see.
As for the two new parents.... now the real work begins.
To be continued........
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Blue Monday entry.
March 4th 2009: (clockwise from top right) Checking out the neighborhood,
she has a look at the kitchen, he has a look at the garage, I think they'll take it.
(Click pictures to enlarge)"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes." ~ Charles Lindbergh
Yesterday in my comments, someone asked if the bluebirds rented the property... yes they did. Now is as good a time as any to detail their saga. I had been under the impression that bluebirds were very particular about their homes... the box had to be a certain height and the opening pointed towards the northeast and there needed to be perching areas as well as open spaces. According to the books, the males migrate in February to pick out a possible home... then bring the females up a few weeks later. Last year the males showed up on time, but were several weeks late in bringing up the females.... As with the old adage, "The early bird gets the worm", the early bird gets the rental property....
March 2008: (top) Chickadee parents bring food for the young
(bottom) Four chickadee babies in a soft moss lined nest.
Yes, last year the chickadees found the nesting box before the bluebirds got back.. they worked diligently, building a nest out of soft green moss and by the time I discovered their work it was almost done and I just didn't have the heart to put them out. Their stay in the property was quite successful... Yes, the bluebirds finally got there but only found a nest full of babies and had to go on their way. I had to tell them..."Next year try to get here on time."
This year they did... the bluebirds that is... get here on time.. sort of. The chickadees also found the box this year, but I kept it cleaned out and kept apologizing as I did. Finally the chickadees got the hint and found other quarters. The bluebirds had put down a deposit of one pine needle and they kept coming back and going in and sitting on the roof but no one started putting any piles of pine needles in the box. The male didn't do his job... he was supposed to provide the needles. The female was supposed to build the nest....but for almost a month, unlike bluebirds everywhere else, she did this....
April 1st 2009: Mrs. Bluebird: "Hello! Hello! Is anybody in there?"
For up to forty-five minutes a day, Mrs. Bluebird would fly from tree to fence to birdhouse, to the gutter and finally to the window sill. She tried the high sills, the low sills, the bay window sills, living room sills, den sills... all of them. There she would sit and look in... flutter her wings, chirp, peck the window and flit up and down. Then she would fly to the bird house and back again. Those times when the male showed up and perched on the fence, she would fly to him and flap her wing at him chirping all the time.. then back to the window. Poor fellow, he looked confused... as if to say..."I have married a crazy woman!" She seemed to be telling him.. "I don't want this house... I want to go in THAT house." At the same time I am sitting there watching this peeping bird and thinking... "I should have let the chickadees have the property, this tenant is going to be a problem."
"Problem? Who are you calling a problem!?"
My first entry to Blue Monday... it does seem a bit strange to have a blue jay spying on the bluebirds... a little funny too.
PS: I felt bad about not letting Ms. Bluebird into our house so I told her she could visit the other birds over at Friday's Ark. I think she is happier now.
To be continued.....
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Blue hand building... Grand Canary Island
