Well I appreciate the positive comments about the picture of the Barn Owl I have to confess I wasn't tramping around the back roads. I had an opportunity to participate is a photo shoot at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center. These marvelous people rescue birds of prey. Those that can be rehabilitated and released are provided a second chance in the wild, and those that can't are given life in the sanctuary. The modest fee to photograph was well spent to hear about the birds and do their portraits. Here is a little red feathered Eastern Screech Owl who didn't look like he could be a real creature. So darn cute.

And Mad Mags, I love your "silver ball bearinga" capture!

On the trip around Lake Garda, I spotted these oddly shaped hedges from the window of the coach. (Shades of FarmVille for those who partake in that silly time-wasting. )



(Editted my yours truly to correct speeling mistake.)

spanishliz's shot in the "LITTLE" weekly thread of the old church amid the Toronto skyscrapers reminded me of this one I took of St. Patrick's in San Francisco last year. Dedicated in 1872, it's an earthquake survivor.

Martin, those look like European yews, Taxus baccata. Very old native European variety, gives gardens and landscaping a nice period flavor.

Tredici, that's the cutest owl ever. By the way, are there a baker's dozen of you?

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And Mad Mags, I love your "silver ball bearings" capture!

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Thanks Tredici! It was a slightly off focus closeup of a spider web that I was just about to delete, when I decided to play with it a bit. I don't tweak my photos much if at all, but I mega-tweaked this one, and decided I'd keep it.

Another one from my trip to Blackheath, this is the church in the middle of the village.

My sister and I were out in the country today, visiting some Christmas craft shows, and this old bell caught my eye.

The people of Costa Rica stand firm - even after an earthquake.


This work of art is a tribute to the people of CR, and stands outside the Banco Nacional in San Jose where the country's money is minted. This photo was taken yesterday on Friday the 13th just 12 minutes after a 5.1 earthquake. The citizens are very casual about quakes, as they happen so frequently.

Is there a story to the bell, Liz? Did it originally sit atop a building or is it meant to be on the ground?

sunset last night

I wish I knew the bell's story, but I don't. Sorry

I liked this shot of the town of Limone on Lake Garda with the sun glinting off the lake. Gave the view a very pleasing effect to me.

In case I'm not the only one fascinated by transport history, here's a lovely example of the old signs I collect, which were stopped in 1964 and despite rules to remove them all remain in many corners and a few major roads. This is in deepest Surrey.

A lone egret in amongst many geese at the nature reserve. Plenty of cormorants too, but they were too far away to photo.

Some lovely nature shots, enjoying them all. From the quiet serenity of the countryside to the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. The 5.1 earthquake that hit just 25 minutes before hasn't slowed things down any - life in the big city goes on.

We've had unseasonal rains and a cyclone alert this past week. Taken on a cloudy Sunday morning.

SO when you say you collect road signs, SatG, do you mean photos of them?
I used to collect road signs too until a police officer suggested ever so nicely, as a friend and I were pouring ourselves home one night, that we shouldn't ...

Here's the White Nanny having dinner with a feral rabbit.

Here's another picture from Lake Garda, showing a swan having a picnic on the shore with some ducks. It even brought it's own bottle of water. Obviously prefers spring water to the water in the lake.

Oh dear! No, I collect photos of signs- there are a handful of survivors from pre-1964 and definitely belong on the road. As it happens I got some more today, this is one of a number of types of subway signs which all had capital letters and the others were black on white. They are also meant to light up but probably not for decades. This is one of a set of four double sided in Hounslow.

Spotted this delivery bicycle during my 'drive-by shooting', in front of a meat and cheese store as we drove through downtown San Jose on Friday.

I'm really loving all of the pictures. Those statues are great, MadMags! Also liking the birds, goat, bunnies, signs and everything else.

It was a wonderful sunny, mild day again today, just right for going for a walk, so of course I did. Found a different part of town to explore, and spotted this rather interesting house.

An unusually shaped tree at the Colaba Woods.

A shopper in the market district of San Jose, seen as I was driving by.

A creeper growing on a coconut tree.

for some reason I find that kind of creepy, Zorba. Looks like a centrepede climbing the tree!