Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Unexpected

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I was surprised how much I thoroughly enjoyed visiting</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Globe Theatre in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">(yep, even in the rain)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoQyN8lgqCHjRj9HN76L0oLBGD93Ff2KjO_hylDTxyE_V4a5QaWdXNc26PcP0JMa79G3eZxPfGjpTeiJbx5EJvkICytoaXh5rW9K0StXrqPaeKXPs-MEg0Eq6qjGR2sBMGASQVwPwtULn/s1600/photo+5+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoQyN8lgqCHjRj9HN76L0oLBGD93Ff2KjO_hylDTxyE_V4a5QaWdXNc26PcP0JMa79G3eZxPfGjpTeiJbx5EJvkICytoaXh5rW9K0StXrqPaeKXPs-MEg0Eq6qjGR2sBMGASQVwPwtULn/s640/photo+5+(9).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The theatre was exactly how I imagined</div><div style="text-align: center;">- in the round with an open-air thatched roof -<br /><br />They are a little leery of thatched roofs in London<br />since much of the city burned down in 1666<br />due to those highly flammable sedge, straw or reed roofs<br />Therefore, the Globe has the only thatched roof in London today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Globe is a modern reconstruction of the original theatre<br />which burned in 1613 due to a rogue ember<br />from a cannon used in the play 'Henry VIII'<br />Miraculously, no one died although the theatre was full<br /><br />The current theatre opened in 1997</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the theatre is outdoors, performances run April through October</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can buy £5 standing tickets in the 'yard' or pricier seated ones</div><div style="text-align: center;">(standing tickets are uncovered)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it was utterly fantastic!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The actors were hilarious and talked so comfortably in Shakespeare's English</div><div style="text-align: center;">that I understood the majority of it<br /><br />I now understand why they say Shakespeare should be <i>seen</i> rather than <i>read</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />We toured the Shakespeare exhibit</div><div style="text-align: center;">which demonstrated typical Elizabethan clothes,<br />including the corset and 'bum roll' to make hips look attractively larger<br />- think exaggerated muffin top :) -<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhAYVOscuU9nzFzdLgtxiiuhDxH24_OGBth1bCHWQyOvdFzdSI_9j4pcYW_zmFaWTxAyEWTqMCaylqYGzIcnuT0-qAfr6pwqHKJiv53Ngf7bHBlsslMWBcyTEsmIPpesWS8d8rAmeTq14/s1600/photo+1m-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhAYVOscuU9nzFzdLgtxiiuhDxH24_OGBth1bCHWQyOvdFzdSI_9j4pcYW_zmFaWTxAyEWTqMCaylqYGzIcnuT0-qAfr6pwqHKJiv53Ngf7bHBlsslMWBcyTEsmIPpesWS8d8rAmeTq14/s640/photo+1m-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />It was fascinating to learn more about the printing press of the time<br /><br />When the printer guy miscalculated how many lines fit onto a page,<br />he omitted punctuation, letters, sentences, and stage instructions<br />to make the text fit the page<br /><br />To think of the changes of meaning due to the printing process!<br /><br />There also were some 'bootlegged' copies of Shakespeare's work<br />which cause scholarly dispute as to which versions are the originals<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIhKTQOt1iDBfoVS8H1dnsoEeDnCU1S0UU3wVYHNaAkEpPKTsLzJFuubWC5o7DgyDauRn4psuEAJU8kZDhyqmTq9wZA10cgvJXB_bV_KpWgZIbKHscYZUHPzH2t0iYh9E6mG-Qoa6uBIC/s1600/photo+3+(4)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIhKTQOt1iDBfoVS8H1dnsoEeDnCU1S0UU3wVYHNaAkEpPKTsLzJFuubWC5o7DgyDauRn4psuEAJU8kZDhyqmTq9wZA10cgvJXB_bV_KpWgZIbKHscYZUHPzH2t0iYh9E6mG-Qoa6uBIC/s640/photo+3+(4)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />In the photo, see the wooden cases on the left holding the block letters?<br />Capitalized letters were held in the 'upper case'<br />Lower case letters were organized in the 'lower case'<br />That's how those terms came to be<br /><br />Ink was made from a mixture of walnut oil, soot, and turpentine<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving on, we also toured The Rose Theatre</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaH8mrGQ77Txp4fguCxi9hoTFaLHkg6jJHLn_pO5WyCorL72dqxeZsWb4plYoGHdOB4Cgfi35v9SZBmNs1kUUudmWJSBkr2vVJNPiw045a9uqYbjDGNoejAllPyE4IIoSoXq7-bqmHQQr/s1600/photo+2+%252821%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaH8mrGQ77Txp4fguCxi9hoTFaLHkg6jJHLn_pO5WyCorL72dqxeZsWb4plYoGHdOB4Cgfi35v9SZBmNs1kUUudmWJSBkr2vVJNPiw045a9uqYbjDGNoejAllPyE4IIoSoXq7-bqmHQQr/s640/photo+2+%252821%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This theatre also made a huge impression on me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it doesn't look like much,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is an archaeological site</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When it was partially excavated, </div><div style="text-align: center;">they started to notice the wooden beams were starting to crack</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So as excavation funds dried up,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they decided to flood the site with water to preserve it from more damage</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The water is constantly monitored</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxC28gLl00HV27K4tVHG4p6PQ_ASJNZeIpEbM1OhVHuATr692mG2o8u7QVNEKiBj3dasxwOs3_a49jYMC2rUP7P9YnjL22-FMqguNK-NG_ACs3JT4coQco-B5qDd4uwrqNayiEuw8QJDZ/s1600/photo+3+(29).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxC28gLl00HV27K4tVHG4p6PQ_ASJNZeIpEbM1OhVHuATr692mG2o8u7QVNEKiBj3dasxwOs3_a49jYMC2rUP7P9YnjL22-FMqguNK-NG_ACs3JT4coQco-B5qDd4uwrqNayiEuw8QJDZ/s640/photo+3+(29).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The red lights are in the water and </div><div style="text-align: center;">indicate where the structure walls are located</div><div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise, the room is black except for a few lit placards</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Totally unexpected</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also unexpected,<br />my daughter wanted to pick up a few Shakespeare books<br />in the library<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mQyjO1EoYt38EaU1PvEAKHxY3hp7cd00hzJVFIIAb4nkc58-YTmfhT9fSSJEBoTR_i94KPv8B1rXtFgk2mo0pIC5PubbhcTOKZ4Q_BXWtwvTPDlY1AArNHCBIErFyiurFnVRpCBj5Jpe/s1200/71q8JCgRWfL._SL1200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mQyjO1EoYt38EaU1PvEAKHxY3hp7cd00hzJVFIIAb4nkc58-YTmfhT9fSSJEBoTR_i94KPv8B1rXtFgk2mo0pIC5PubbhcTOKZ4Q_BXWtwvTPDlY1AArNHCBIErFyiurFnVRpCBj5Jpe/s400/71q8JCgRWfL._SL1200_.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-Shakespeare-Graphics/dp/1434234495/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1372406013&sr=8-8&keywords=graphic+midsummer+night%27s+dream">Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I love how literature is so kid-friendly here<br /><br />My last 'Great Un-Expectations' was this guy singing<br />at low-tide on the River Thames<br />- I've never seen that before -<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt6nKwUzKERDa3RpTVfQTb9wYicXJqn7Piq7YE1LMEF7nLoSIN3HHKQJg4ah-iyES7MoNKUDD6wdssXxMnco01-zqb807rTq8e0MiztT3mtiXFE_virnd70qP4n6WpkifP33aBNpnXyym/s1600/photo+3a-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt6nKwUzKERDa3RpTVfQTb9wYicXJqn7Piq7YE1LMEF7nLoSIN3HHKQJg4ah-iyES7MoNKUDD6wdssXxMnco01-zqb807rTq8e0MiztT3mtiXFE_virnd70qP4n6WpkifP33aBNpnXyym/s640/photo+3a-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />As there was no hat nearby to drop money,<br />I imagine he was just doing it because he could<br /><br />He'd make an interesting Shakespearean character :)<br />Perhaps thou art a Romeo with thy modern lute?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Although the performances are seasonal, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">the tour/exhibition is available all year. If you visit during the performance season, take a tour in the morning so you can see the theatre. Tour tickets can be purchased at the door, but buy performance tickets well in advance. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">For more info: </span><a href="http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/" style="font-size: small;">www.shakespearesglobe.com</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(An unsponsored post)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Unexpected

I was surprised how much I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Globe Theatre in London (yep, even in the rain) The theatre was exactly how I ima...

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I Spy

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...the unusual and blooming Handkerchief Tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Davidia involucrata)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LZ8xiESXv83ftranPx6Nizw3KpKHjCmODKhoWOP7V5SH9MkchQGD9uyvYejr13T1_F0-s4hSRfm1o3Q2rTbkQPx0WJHFxtT3RKCjZR1KHZR-Q66_D0HA0sGWuwHyIZxUM3xM3vTuZMPX/s1600/photo+(8)5-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LZ8xiESXv83ftranPx6Nizw3KpKHjCmODKhoWOP7V5SH9MkchQGD9uyvYejr13T1_F0-s4hSRfm1o3Q2rTbkQPx0WJHFxtT3RKCjZR1KHZR-Q66_D0HA0sGWuwHyIZxUM3xM3vTuZMPX/s640/photo+(8)5-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, just loving summertime</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photo by me -</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

I Spy

...the unusual and blooming Handkerchief Tree (Davidia involucrata) Ahhh, just loving summertime - photo by me -

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Charles Darwin's Home

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">A few months ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">I visited Charles Darwin's home<br /><br /><div>You know when you learn so much</div><div>that you need to put the information</div><div>through a sieve to see what gives the biggest impression?</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOjx-oJ7Anqv8vg-fyK_4lnHwGHOlFP-GEkb2SzD0FvsYFihYlo0uSFOfhBCiKyhVNq6FEvCTg7saK9FhSf7rF_7Lx2ob9bXaAqzcOEkrqXrNhPTT17vP8kBCtFFKEWSLtseG0i5zshD3/s1600/photo+(4)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOjx-oJ7Anqv8vg-fyK_4lnHwGHOlFP-GEkb2SzD0FvsYFihYlo0uSFOfhBCiKyhVNq6FEvCTg7saK9FhSf7rF_7Lx2ob9bXaAqzcOEkrqXrNhPTT17vP8kBCtFFKEWSLtseG0i5zshD3/s400/photo+(4)-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While walking in the footsteps of such an iconic scientist,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's a few things I took away from my visit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1) Charles's father didn't want him to go on the Beagle voyage</div><div style="text-align: center;">out of parental fear of the unknown</div><div style="text-align: center;">(who can blame him?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But look at what was accomplished by Mr Evolution<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2) Charles had boundless curiosity,</div><div style="text-align: center;">including a passion for studying barnacles and earthworms<br />(who knew?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While he was studying earthworms and plants at home,</div><div style="text-align: center;">his wife insisted she have a proper flower garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">that he had to leave alone<br /><br />3) When Darwin received a particular Madagascar orchid from a friend,<br />Darwin predicted that there must be an unusual moth with a proboscis 14'' long to pollinate it<br /><br />Sure enough, the Hawk Moth was discovered forty-one years later<br />- aka <i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-align: start;">Xanthopan morganii praedicta</i> ('praedicta' since Darwin predicted it) -<br />and is the sole pollinator of the orchid <i>Agraecum sesquipedale</i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOIv5UrKIKFhkyj6uycGbGQiEzuzLb7jpvuuJKH32YWKYy65vuq3rYFUHheyhDZtMPf_n0zbpm2jo0HzkGdn_a-5wYRVUd5CnuIKfn17VX7nZPbcKVejYknvIguYFU4LEkVhsQSbz89ra/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOIv5UrKIKFhkyj6uycGbGQiEzuzLb7jpvuuJKH32YWKYy65vuq3rYFUHheyhDZtMPf_n0zbpm2jo0HzkGdn_a-5wYRVUd5CnuIKfn17VX7nZPbcKVejYknvIguYFU4LEkVhsQSbz89ra/s640/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4) Darwin knew his theory of evolution would be very controversial</div><div style="text-align: center;">and kept his theory a secret </div><div style="text-align: center;">until another naturalist formed the same idea</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5) Darwin had 10 children </div><div style="text-align: center;">and he was unwell much of the time</div><div style="text-align: center;">(possibly due to an illness he picked up on his travels)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of his children survived childhood </div><div style="text-align: center;">and became quite successful in a variety of careers</div><div style="text-align: center;">(his grandmother was from the porcelain Wedgewood family)<br /><br /><span id="goog_223261422"></span><span id="goog_223261423"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-2ShFfU4vxGrYIZwM-go-5hI6wDok1BJr3NY2WbMKiU1iX2sSSpIqxAFfX7khtPWahhL6q1Z9XetJANafub3oPFacMrzTQog4MS5OKM6Jjj_CaXbK3REA5aSl0S0g-OAAHVIvzt3p4pq/s1600/photo+(5)-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-2ShFfU4vxGrYIZwM-go-5hI6wDok1BJr3NY2WbMKiU1iX2sSSpIqxAFfX7khtPWahhL6q1Z9XetJANafub3oPFacMrzTQog4MS5OKM6Jjj_CaXbK3REA5aSl0S0g-OAAHVIvzt3p4pq/s640/photo+(5)-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I loved visiting Down House in Kent, where Darwin raised his family,</div><div style="text-align: center;">wrote, and conducted experiments and observations</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I would not recommend it for younger children per se,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the inner child in you will connect with Darwin's youthful curiosity and energy<br />and appreciate his life story</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Visitor information: <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/">English Heritage</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Charles Darwin's Home

A few months ago I visited Charles Darwin's home You know when you learn so much that you need to put the information through a sieve to...

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Yellow Country Lanes

<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Right now</div><div style="text-align: center;">you may get lucky and find yourself driving by a field of rapeseed<br />in England<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qKPlLT2uuozAR14EJZfBhDb5igJeW9_0KMie77aPXrCe_G8eL2yYd4XmYplLwf0GgmvWd8v9ne7P5PnUGR2pq_BaKEGlKBkt94k74mUQ9qmhSpvMmRrbCYvKw-EVd-VxV3LcXArwKbhx/s1600/DSC06231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qKPlLT2uuozAR14EJZfBhDb5igJeW9_0KMie77aPXrCe_G8eL2yYd4XmYplLwf0GgmvWd8v9ne7P5PnUGR2pq_BaKEGlKBkt94k74mUQ9qmhSpvMmRrbCYvKw-EVd-VxV3LcXArwKbhx/s640/DSC06231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like anticipating each holiday,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I always look forward to seeing this crop</div><div style="text-align: center;">before it is harvested for its vegetable oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">(known as Canola in North America)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is what it looks like from an airplane<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL4D0ZRZTEIhm5x-HcavWPGl5xGTk6x21ILtUnN7rA2Sj_sJI14CMkvpdsfyhTr5pfVzARkAFbK1gaQMjf8zYllQPDdRbfd0VtB8Fr-IgIswSV9X-av0rgME3Vkm_7tssj7qZ3JiRIfdX/s1600/photo+2+(5)-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL4D0ZRZTEIhm5x-HcavWPGl5xGTk6x21ILtUnN7rA2Sj_sJI14CMkvpdsfyhTr5pfVzARkAFbK1gaQMjf8zYllQPDdRbfd0VtB8Fr-IgIswSV9X-av0rgME3Vkm_7tssj7qZ3JiRIfdX/s640/photo+2+(5)-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello, 'yellow brick road'...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyyrsRakc4XhwVCV0CZvN9fYPjoglRxo0SxVt_tP1gLrZ2XzTW5LVacXcC6AAuPrReJUFETXEg4E8b1pNZrWMxP2ChdVhPsnjNOOJTD9fdcCLgTkMGNcALRqr8F-K60ebqojPG0lW_xrV/s1600/DSC06230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyyrsRakc4XhwVCV0CZvN9fYPjoglRxo0SxVt_tP1gLrZ2XzTW5LVacXcC6AAuPrReJUFETXEg4E8b1pNZrWMxP2ChdVhPsnjNOOJTD9fdcCLgTkMGNcALRqr8F-K60ebqojPG0lW_xrV/s640/DSC06230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The word 'rape' in rapeseed comes from the Latin word '<i>rapum</i>' meaning turnip</div><div style="text-align: center;">Turnips are in the <i>Brassica</i> family, along with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, rapeseed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and mustard (which resembles rapeseed)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While fragrance is not rapeseed's forte,<br />visually, it will knock your socks off when growing en masse</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9t2e2C9v0akd_LiaE7F4i7CCh7cHSBZwvWJ5PS0QtqJloY-gaTQ4RCkKprIqb_gbIn6Woy7Mjz6erFen6WpPQzGTyedTiaPdqkdanBWKKlhy1kl8Th6mBg3oUh9y_b0k3WxkSYbH92Rd/s1600/DSC06234-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9t2e2C9v0akd_LiaE7F4i7CCh7cHSBZwvWJ5PS0QtqJloY-gaTQ4RCkKprIqb_gbIn6Woy7Mjz6erFen6WpPQzGTyedTiaPdqkdanBWKKlhy1kl8Th6mBg3oUh9y_b0k3WxkSYbH92Rd/s640/DSC06234-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although there is no indication as such,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've wondered if English singer-songwriter Sting was thinking of rapeseed</div><div style="text-align: center;">when he sang 'when we walked in fields of gold'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sting, feel free to drop me a line to confirm :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canola">Factual tidbits: Wikipedia</a></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Yellow Country Lanes

Right now you may get lucky and find yourself driving by a field of rapeseed in England Like anticipating each holiday, I always look forwar...

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A Little Garden Humor

<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Too cute not to share...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDUPQy2uEGODSh6TxRrfu0elvict_3sAm_U_tFQtNouaVDLYqKcXC0rsGEo1-jj6_CkfrqbVY6YYRqcGn85tBI82QRRhOl1zB7ONUBMcYoeL-pZ1FrtIg3wFYnpFh5p-MjisC8bWn20j/s1600/868b73b4fa32e8352e9495a2ad21ede5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDUPQy2uEGODSh6TxRrfu0elvict_3sAm_U_tFQtNouaVDLYqKcXC0rsGEo1-jj6_CkfrqbVY6YYRqcGn85tBI82QRRhOl1zB7ONUBMcYoeL-pZ1FrtIg3wFYnpFh5p-MjisC8bWn20j/s400/868b73b4fa32e8352e9495a2ad21ede5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://m.pinterest.com/pin/296533956684296395/">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great weekend, y'all!</div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Little Garden Humor

Too cute not to share... via Pinterest Have a great weekend, y'all!

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In Bloom

<div style="text-align: center;"><br />My camera was very busy last month for</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>we had three months of blooming crushed into just one month</div><div>due to the third coldest Spring on record<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0yt0w5n5HFqO-XFghnzNku0R24XqYhWDlYMyqsyPJErI50AAzxa7zX6JDDrFAniG3QD18Ec-_zI9OAhf1oLHJmvEC8MUzAQxaJvYWrPuiUA0Kqy6eGPnHvbxr3Dynui_G5ru-bqcMTXw/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0yt0w5n5HFqO-XFghnzNku0R24XqYhWDlYMyqsyPJErI50AAzxa7zX6JDDrFAniG3QD18Ec-_zI9OAhf1oLHJmvEC8MUzAQxaJvYWrPuiUA0Kqy6eGPnHvbxr3Dynui_G5ru-bqcMTXw/s640/photo+(8).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">From camellias to primroses,<br />daffodils to tulips,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlfsX5aNaNELaWouJuB5oPU13ATLUz0adgTQHh5D6o4lKDZDCRAXcMvHypfHXzUHWeMEa2FHCG74FLq9_E3I9xHxy1GDQ_p3_9Pl1mv07O2UnZfkuX0hGuRt9LjRigTqU0Td4H_t7dHpU/s1600/DSC05595-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlfsX5aNaNELaWouJuB5oPU13ATLUz0adgTQHh5D6o4lKDZDCRAXcMvHypfHXzUHWeMEa2FHCG74FLq9_E3I9xHxy1GDQ_p3_9Pl1mv07O2UnZfkuX0hGuRt9LjRigTqU0Td4H_t7dHpU/s640/DSC05595-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div>from rhododendrons to rapeseed fields,<br />bluebells to buttercups</div><div>- typically, each slowly savored -<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaiYvnxUACRAgXmAC6G1IkpMqJL-sg8lTh3IYFXc4ShtmL2BGLErZKx6OZeG2HghgyK0z2i9vk0p4lUgnD6LmWuHsbcc_y2bYgrFCoSpNYnyWHKY1bDIVoa32RgbSVHpYa8EbeZ3dJU86/s1600/DSC06300-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaiYvnxUACRAgXmAC6G1IkpMqJL-sg8lTh3IYFXc4ShtmL2BGLErZKx6OZeG2HghgyK0z2i9vk0p4lUgnD6LmWuHsbcc_y2bYgrFCoSpNYnyWHKY1bDIVoa32RgbSVHpYa8EbeZ3dJU86/s640/DSC06300-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Nature has been playing a game of 'catch up'...</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQMohcP-kE4LvG90MQXxGQka2NInlhUnf_AWlXeUJP_m9evHov68zfTBSxYZvWno9ge-1cLbgLeM_tp74LBXWUUI94KRed3eimC_527F_v78BuuHzorioumFvKd6Lk3Bjun737rWSAOVF/s1600/photo+2+(8)-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQMohcP-kE4LvG90MQXxGQka2NInlhUnf_AWlXeUJP_m9evHov68zfTBSxYZvWno9ge-1cLbgLeM_tp74LBXWUUI94KRed3eimC_527F_v78BuuHzorioumFvKd6Lk3Bjun737rWSAOVF/s640/photo+2+(8)-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>providing an unusual display </div><div>of overlapping blossoms</div><div>within the last 31 days</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHYyMGrS-nLaq9-402xYAYh9WWmMZ9Quy5Vvog398Pvu4N0TXxBGdqkBODDo7vte0necuw92-QgZGbs4VzkcyrN4xEfdNVuVnSikj5HqypV-YByT9qyZBo422BxhbaUfi2gw3Hu1poIF/s1600/DSC06336-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHYyMGrS-nLaq9-402xYAYh9WWmMZ9Quy5Vvog398Pvu4N0TXxBGdqkBODDo7vte0necuw92-QgZGbs4VzkcyrN4xEfdNVuVnSikj5HqypV-YByT9qyZBo422BxhbaUfi2gw3Hu1poIF/s640/DSC06336-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />England is now humming with life<br />and has pretty much caught up with the season<br /><div><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptLELOSmQPcqxBD1d8llj0_XhCe5YdXy2IyEkMvviqrPXwDuX9Ej9Wavno1OqKqQNjf865aMckEJ0A9_gZJB78yNEnPDlySBR90gFy_J7UPhy49WWF6ic8a9gbpBhWgtSEX3roEuZqCWU/s1600/DSC06355-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptLELOSmQPcqxBD1d8llj0_XhCe5YdXy2IyEkMvviqrPXwDuX9Ej9Wavno1OqKqQNjf865aMckEJ0A9_gZJB78yNEnPDlySBR90gFy_J7UPhy49WWF6ic8a9gbpBhWgtSEX3roEuZqCWU/s640/DSC06355-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The month of June enters<br />with its crazy long days of sunlight,<br />lavender and roses on the cusp of blooming<br /><br />Ah, the adventures of living on a garden island...<br />Joy :)<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

In Bloom

My camera was very busy last month for we had three months of blooming crushed into just one month due to the third coldest Spring on record...

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