You can find this photo and more on Photos of a Dutchess. At the top is a link to get back to Figments.

© Marion

For the ones who don’t want leave the safe environment of Figments , you can also watch the BBC film (five minutes) here. And admire a photo of the living bridges. And with ‘living’, I really mean living! I urge you to hit the ‘play’ button, for you will be thrilled. The people of Meghalaya are working WITH nature, not against it, finding ingenious natural solutions. I am in awe.

In search of the origins of the photo I used for this post, I came upon Malini Rajesh’ blog. There you will find more intriguing information on these bridges! 

Reblogged from Kitty bloger:

Let’s safe big cats… http://youtu.be/9M6uoz1b9D4

National Geographic – Big Cat Week

Indeed, let’s save them! The big ones as well as our house tigers.

Monday Joy

And I am so very honored and happy by that. In fact, I am bouncing in my chair.

Paula Calhoun:

I love life, and treasure it each day, because I have come so very close to losing it, more times than I can count! That’s not to say that I don’t get grumpy, so I’ve chosen this smiling Australian turtle photo to remind me when I need to remember just how wonderful life is!

I strive to improve in all aspectsof my life. Some days I’m more successful than others, in much the same way as my blog says, “some days are cloudier than others.” I live and love by the Grace of God. My wish, my prayer for everyone is enough. . .

Thank you, dear Paula. And you are right: Enough. Enough is perfect. For everyone.

Want to read more of Paula Calhoun?

• Blog: Reflections from a cloudy mirror
• Facebook: I Wish You Enough
• Twitter: Paula T. Calhoun

~Marion

I work mostly with personal- and commissioned projects. For me photography is just a way to collect material to realize the ideas in my mind. I get inspired by things around me in my daily life and all kinds of things I see. Every new project is a new challenge and my goal is to realize them as realistic as possible.

Want to see what this visual artist is capable of? Then click an image and…

© Eric Johansson

His website: Erik Johansson: Photo & Retouch, his portfolio.

© Valeria Paes

~

Made of thought and air

she floats into dreams, gently

wings into the haze

 ~

Feather light her touch

on your skin, she lingers soft

until the winds fade

~

© Iriloth

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Text haiku © Marion

“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach” - Henry Beston

ELEMENTAL – prompted by  

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Sweeping floors. Cleaning tiles. Purging Mind.

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Last week, tension prowled the work floor. The air was electrically charged with it, so my static hair kept hugging my skin. A thundercloud hovered over troubled faces, whispers floated in the air. One could say that balance and harmony were not exactly part of our academy. My brain decided to cramp up in a state of constant semi-migraine. I was so glad when the clock announced the arrival of the weekend.

In stead of visiting friends, I stayed home last night. Gladiator was on, an excellent movie, and the couch was warm and inviting. But even Russell Crowe could not battle my restlessness. In the end I powered up my computer and wrote about the artful things my uncle, Albert Driessen, designs. The post is called Vakmanschap! (craftsmanship); feel free to take a look at his creations.

Today was much better. It was still early morning when I woke… the first time. We got up around 10 am, had a relaxed breakfast and went for grocery-and-other-shopping. Then Vman – sweet man – braved a light drizzle and plowed the front yard, while I gathered up my courage and headed for the closet where I always lock up the dog.

He’s a feisty fellow, my dog. Whenever I try to take him for a walk, he fights the leash. And when I want to exercise him, he starts to growl and won’t stop until I give him a free rein. But I never give in to that nonsense and lead him exactly where I want him to go. He is a dog after all! And I am his calm assertive whispering mistress. Most of the time.

Well, my dog succeeded where others failed: he made me relax, forget about the stress and eased my mind, up to the point where I started to sing. While cleaning and swiping floors!

Have a Happy Weekend!

Photo © Marion

Nothing better than walking the ‘dog’ to clear the mind. 

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Want to play along? All that’s necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

<< Click the button for more Six Word Saturday.

The photos of Gregory Colbert are pure beauty, each is a brilliant piece of art in itself. Animals are nature’s living masterpieces. I’m speechless, so I’ll stop typing and watch in silence. The images will speak to you. Hurry, click!

You can find more photos at Gregory Colbert’s webpage Ashes and Snow.

Photos © Gregory Colbert

My enthusiasm for making and editing photos is rising sky-high, while I explore the many possibilities of my iPhone.

Hence a new blog on Figments of a Dutchess:

Photos of a Dutchess

Will you take a look?

Originally, Saint Valentine’s Day – or simply Valentine’s Day – is a holiday observed on February 14th. Saint Valentine’s Day was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, but was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. It is celebrated in countries around the world, mostly in the West, although it remains a working day in all of them. Yay, such a great holiday!

It is uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more early Christian martyrs of the same name.  The name Valentine, derives from ‘valens’ (worthy, strong, powerful), was popular in Late Antiquity. One of the Valentines was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded him be beaten with clubs. After that he was beheaded. The execution took place on the 14th of February, about the year 270. Saint Valentine was buried on the Via Flaminia, north of Rome. Yup, truly a day to celebrate…

The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer, the Father of English literature in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering candy and sending valentines (greeting cards).

We have come a long way from clubbing and decapitating to cupids and doves. And to be honest, I prefer the latter!

Have a Happy Day, whether Valentinial influenced or not!

Source: Wikipedia