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 visitingthe Globe Theatre in London(yep, even in the rain)The theatre was exactly how I imagined- in the round with an open-air thatched roof -They are a little leery of thatched roofs in Londonsince much of the city burned down in 1666due to those highl…

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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 agoI visited Charles Darwin's homeYou know when you learn so muchthat you need to put the informationthrough a sieve to see what gives the biggest impression?While walking in the footsteps of such an iconic scientist,here's a few things I took away from my visit1) Charles's father didn'…

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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 nowyou may get lucky and find yourself driving by a field of rapeseedin EnglandLike anticipating each holiday,I always look forward to seeing this cropbefore it is harvested for its vegetable oil(known as Canola in North America)Here is what it looks like from an airplaneHello, 'yellow brick r…

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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 PinterestHave 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 forwe had three months of blooming crushed into just one monthdue to the third coldest Spring on recordFrom camellias to primroses,daffodils to tulips,from rhododendrons to rapeseed fields,bluebells to buttercups- typically, each slowly savored -Nature has been pla…

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