tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74114007131728250052024-03-14T04:00:52.905+01:00art of natureeleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-2729269425899797182011-12-30T22:42:00.001+01:002011-12-30T22:45:05.860+01:00<script src="http://www.craftcult.com/js/trwi.js?s=1&l=NTg1NTA4OHwxNjU2MjI2NzUz&r=41055&t=s&m=0&u=5855088&"></script>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-84052691395878374882011-12-30T22:40:00.000+01:002011-12-30T22:41:03.929+01:00<script src="http://www.craftcult.com/js/trwi.js?s=1&l=NTg1NTA4OHwxNTg4MjY5NTEz&r=41053&t=s&m=0&u=5855088&"></script>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-89917120142707735292010-10-31T22:07:00.006+01:002010-10-31T22:36:41.508+01:00The Woman Behind The MannequinsI recently had an extended conversation with Steve from <a href="http://www.photogrunt.blogspot.com/">PhotoGrunt</a> who featured my work on the POE (Photographers Of Etsy) Blog:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Focus On: Eleanors</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/TM3d4WFCwPI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ccBtZn2bO8g/s1600/The+Look.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/TM3d4WFCwPI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ccBtZn2bO8g/s400/The+Look.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534323477177352434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Look</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Many, if not most or perhaps even all of us strive to comment on the human condition with our art. Some do that by focusing on things humans have built, some by focusing on things humans have cultivated, some by focusing on things humans find beautiful and some by focusing on actual humans. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there's Eleanors, a photographer based in Vienna, Austria that focuses on ersatz humans in the form of mannequins. If you haven't seen her work, you're about to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Steve: Eleanor, there are any number of words that could be used to describe your work: "artful", "edgy", "dark", "macabre", "glamour", "reflective"...these are but a few that came to mind when I thought about it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>What words would you use to describe yourself? ... <a href="http://photographersofetsy.blogspot.com/2010/10/focus-on-eleanors.html">read more</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-4309798982179673212010-05-19T18:40:00.009+02:002010-05-19T19:06:17.295+02:00Underground<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QV48bDGSI/AAAAAAAAAXg/1ubXGpabDPk/s1600/Fine+Art+Mannequin+Photo+8x10+-+Underground+No6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QV48bDGSI/AAAAAAAAAXg/1ubXGpabDPk/s400/Fine+Art+Mannequin+Photo+8x10+-+Underground+No6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023515198429474" border="0" /></a>Underground No6 (2010)<br /></div><br />Being busy with working on film for months prevented me from blogging. Nonetheless I have managed to continue investigating the "underground" of stores searching for currently unemployed mannequins. Luckily I discovered some exciting places.<br /><br />Today I´ll introduce you to one of these beautiful old basements with raw brick walling. A wonderful contradictory background for it´s attractive residents.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVdezPY2I/AAAAAAAAAW4/npdtu5wiMr0/s1600/Underground+No1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVdezPY2I/AAAAAAAAAW4/npdtu5wiMr0/s400/Underground+No1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023043390366562" border="0" /></a>Underground No1 (2010)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVdriC_rI/AAAAAAAAAXA/GnbGuAFTo6I/s1600/Underground+No2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVdriC_rI/AAAAAAAAAXA/GnbGuAFTo6I/s400/Underground+No2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023046807912114" border="0" /></a>Underground No2 (2010)<br /></div><br />These mannequins stand out due to long legs and buxom curves. Being undressed their intrinsic postures appear even more bizarre.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVejggiRI/AAAAAAAAAXY/AKJeL-0mcUU/s1600/Underground+No5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVejggiRI/AAAAAAAAAXY/AKJeL-0mcUU/s400/Underground+No5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023061833845010" border="0" /></a>Underground No5<br /><br /></div>Together with their pale companions with heavily made-up eyes this scenery let me think of a secret underground party. I am definitely lucky to have been invited!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVeYCRnhI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/0PomwLuHzB0/s1600/Underground+No4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVeYCRnhI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/0PomwLuHzB0/s400/Underground+No4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023058754248210" border="0" /></a>Underground No4<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVd3kBR7I/AAAAAAAAAXI/aLLDrWElHys/s1600/Underground+No3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S_QVd3kBR7I/AAAAAAAAAXI/aLLDrWElHys/s400/Underground+No3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473023050037413810" border="0" /></a>Underground No3<br /><br /></div>I have created a small collection called "Underground" that as from now will be available in my etsy shop.eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-64185796699863279212010-01-27T15:16:00.003+01:002010-01-27T15:29:42.231+01:00Pink<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S2BMOtPGI9I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8CIfyKPdq08/s1600-h/Pink.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/S2BMOtPGI9I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8CIfyKPdq08/s400/Pink.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431424966153610194" border="0" /></a><br />Cotton candy, bubble gum, babies, little girls, cute, cozy, romantic, charming, sugar and spice and everything nice. In Western culture these terms are commonly associated with the color pink. Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color.<br /><br />Did you know that from the 1920s until the 1940s, pink was considered appropriate for boys, while blue was considered appropriate for girls because it was the more delicate and dainty color, or related to the Virgin Mary? Since the 1940s, the social norm apparently inverted, a practice that has continued into the 21st century.<br /><br />I can´t think of any other color being afflicted with such a variety of connotations ranging from the pink ribbon as the international symbol of breast cancer awareness to the "pink economy" (often used for the gay market).<br /><br />However it was interesting to create my first photograph displaying the color pink, the "sweet side of red". An image intended to let one´s mind wander. And I actually took a fancy to work on further.eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-1171718551455802102009-12-10T15:15:00.006+01:002009-12-10T16:11:22.138+01:00Little Sun<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>She is born at the beginning of May 2009 in an old barn in a small Hungarian village. As her mother stashes her away for a long time I meet her the first time when she is ten weeks old.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfsclFUI/AAAAAAAAAWI/Fq_GqAaYZ2o/s1600-h/5_120709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfsclFUI/AAAAAAAAAWI/Fq_GqAaYZ2o/s400/5_120709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413612070117905730" border="0" /></a><br />She is terribly shy and hardly dares to come out of the outbuilding where her mother has accommodated her and her four sisters. Still a huge personal curiosity arouses a strong interest in strange creatures like us.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfbEt1OI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RckjHsq3Z8k/s1600-h/3_120709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfbEt1OI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RckjHsq3Z8k/s400/3_120709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413612065454413026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfHqvigI/AAAAAAAAAV4/uzWv18QLBuk/s1600-h/4_120709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDfHqvigI/AAAAAAAAAV4/uzWv18QLBuk/s400/4_120709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413612060245199362" border="0" /></a><br />Little Sun is out of the ordinary. Not only her coat looks quite different from the others, but also she is the first one getting in touch with her new housemates. Whenever we are working in the garden she soon comes hurrying along, sitting and watching us curiously. It takes a few weeks, and she approaches to be petted.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDe9mJCBI/AAAAAAAAAVw/QbKq4Sjwbz4/s1600-h/7_020809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDe9mJCBI/AAAAAAAAAVw/QbKq4Sjwbz4/s400/7_020809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413612057541543954" border="0" /></a><br />She turns out to be a passionate and successful huntress as well as a real tomboy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGhUmbJI/AAAAAAAAAVo/LcNL55NiHUg/s1600-h/10_200809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGhUmbJI/AAAAAAAAAVo/LcNL55NiHUg/s400/10_200809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611637634919570" border="0" /></a><br />Apart from that Little Sun is such a decent young lady. When waiting for breakfast or dinner she´s lying on the stair looking towards the door.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGdkrv2I/AAAAAAAAAVg/SX9MFyejGKg/s1600-h/9_090809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGdkrv2I/AAAAAAAAAVg/SX9MFyejGKg/s400/9_090809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611636628635490" border="0" /></a><br />She likes to be with her sisters, and goes her own way nonetheless.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGAEwNZI/AAAAAAAAAVY/IdTRE4vpf1Q/s1600-h/11_181009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDGAEwNZI/AAAAAAAAAVY/IdTRE4vpf1Q/s400/11_181009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611628710081938" border="0" /></a><br />It often occurs that Little Sun is still roaming the neighborhood when her sisters have a rest already.<br /><br />After her mother separates from her daughters Little Sun turns out to be a real companion. She is the first to welcome us when we arrive from Vienna. Her compelling bright and sensitive nature becomes more and more apparent. As a sign of agreement she is looking straight into your eyes and starts with slowly blinking.<br /><br />To make their hard life easier all kittens are being spayed at the beginning of November. It´s quite an exhausting experience, and Little Sun defends herself like a real tiger. After the vet has removed the stiches two weeks later we recognize a significant change in the way Little Sun behaves. She doesn´t play with her sisters, she rejects food, she coughs, and her eyes start to water. I consult the vet at once, and we take her to Vienna to care for her.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDF6Uld8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/gfS-K-my7tI/s1600-h/8_020809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDF6Uld8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/gfS-K-my7tI/s400/8_020809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611627165874114" border="0" /></a><br />She is incredible courageous on her first long trip by car, she takes her antibiotics twice every day, and hardly leaves her place to stay. Sometimes she approaches to lie on my desk behind the computer or sit under the desk light in my studio.<br /><br />The antibiotics don´t help. Whatever we do she´s getting weaker from day to day. After one week it turns out to be a battle of life and death. Little Sun has lost the battle. She died on Sunday, five minutes after I called another vet, at the tender age of seven months.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDFfY1YUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/gzDXt9m4Efk/s1600-h/12_181009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SyEDFfY1YUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/gzDXt9m4Efk/s400/12_181009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611619935936834" border="0" /></a> Last family picture Oct 19th<br /></div><br />There is just sadness, and a lot of questions remain.<br /><br />P.S. Little Sun gets her last home in the garden where she used to be a bright young lady full of beans.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmojewugvGbvj5Dr9q127_lIDQpVJzLUoKaK8jVKHgLrovOncbHol075I6q0iyxTINjq1lzmpxE1z7SrGOYw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-20713072698663524962009-11-20T14:44:00.004+01:002009-11-20T14:57:18.944+01:00Getting Prepared<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>I ask him what we have decided last evening. Are we going to lock her up or not? There is no answer. He is in bad mood. When plucking dried herbs I hear the crunching of a door that makes me feel like living in the middle ages. I realize that he is busy with preparing the dungeon. One hour ago I have furnished the box to put her in for transport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwsB-PII/AAAAAAAAAU4/MWQsR0msUA4/s1600/door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwsB-PII/AAAAAAAAAU4/MWQsR0msUA4/s400/door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406181862483573890" border="0" /></a><br />Have you got scary? To be honest, I am! We finally decided to get our semi-feral cats being neutered. The mother cat at first, afterwards the kittens. It´s an awkward situation for both of us. Whereas my husband tends to go through with this as quick as possible without batting an eye, it is my turn to tackle things in a well thought-through manner. Unexperienced in how to deal with pets I am doubtful which kind of handling would be the best, and I change my mind several times. That drives him nuts. He is the one who has to remount the door of an outbuilding, and he is just about to finish the new jail for the poor mother cat.<br /><br />We already have fixed the surgery, and the vet told us to take away food and water twelve hours before. Not an easy undertaking with a strawing animal! Not being used to stay indoor, we will have to lock her up the whole day. My thoughts are revolving around how she would behave in that situation. Maybe it´s better to find another way to manage it? ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwWtaS2I/AAAAAAAAAUo/lYl4zdSPSAk/s1600/_DSC0264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwWtaS2I/AAAAAAAAAUo/lYl4zdSPSAk/s400/_DSC0264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406181856760187746" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning the cats are waiting for breakfast in front of the house as usual. My husband puts on his work gloves and approaches the unsuspecting mother. As I am watching the scenery with excitement, he crabs her neck carrying her to the newly-created prison. What a surprise, the cat doesn´t move at all! As soon as she gets locked up I feel guilty, and I have such a pity on her since I was the one who came up with the "neuter project". I am listening, she doesn´t even meow.<br /><br />Two hours later I call the vet to tell him that we sucessfully caught the cat and locked her up, only to get informed that he will have to cancel the surgery today and doing it on another day next week!<br /><br />I am really pissed off but also somewhat relieved. I run into the kitchen to prepare a big breakfast which she enjoys. But cats are not silly. The following days she visits us rarely, and whenever she sees my husband with his gloves on she is running away. This time I am not aware of the fact that this is just the beginning of an even bigger challenge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwrssL8I/AAAAAAAAAUw/yQLTgkdvdOU/s1600/_DSC0591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SwadwrssL8I/AAAAAAAAAUw/yQLTgkdvdOU/s400/_DSC0591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406181862394310594" border="0" /></a>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-13819352653664701982009-11-09T13:57:00.005+01:002009-11-09T14:15:33.688+01:00Miniature Art Extravaganza VI Seattle<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>My Miniatures Series has savely arrived in Seattle, WA. It will be on display at MINIATURE ART EXTRAVAGANZA VI exhibit from Nov. 13th, 2009 until Jan. 3rd 2010.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvgSwq-2OaI/AAAAAAAAAUg/kO7LUxSqzG0/s1600-h/Miniatures.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvgSwq-2OaI/AAAAAAAAAUg/kO7LUxSqzG0/s400/Miniatures.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402088380411820450" border="0" /></a><br />Laurie Kearney from <a href="http://www.gossamercollective.com/">Gossamer Collective</a> has been organizing mini-shows over the past several years. In her own words she is obsessed with Miniatures, and making art so accessible to people is her passion as well. Every piece of artwork to be hung from artists all over the world is limited in size 4"x4"x4". What a brilliant idea!<br /><br />The show will be spread out over 3 venues (Stylus Salon, Gossamer Collective and Solo Bar). If you happen to be in the Seattle area check out some more info <a href="http://9-lives-studio.blogspot.com/2009/10/miniature-art-extravaganza-vi.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here</span></a>.<br /><br />Thanks for inviting me and good luck!eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-69537944429353815212009-11-06T11:19:00.009+01:002009-11-08T23:20:40.803+01:00Real Or Not ?<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6EtEy_SI/AAAAAAAAAUI/enOd7tkoNCA/s1600-h/Pure.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6EtEy_SI/AAAAAAAAAUI/enOd7tkoNCA/s400/Pure.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400935336873491746" border="0" /></a>Pure 2009<br /></div><br />I am kind of agitated and satisfied as well. The first part of my new mannequin series is in the can! I take a short look at the pictures after uploading to the computer and leave them on the back burner for a while to step back. During this time of "breeding" I´m open to particular images flashing automatically upon my inward eye. Before clicking the file two weeks later I get pretty nervous with a queasy feeling, just realizing a few minutes later that I am actually pretty confident which pictures are most captivating and worth to work on further.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6FKkZEII/AAAAAAAAAUY/wAHc6dyb0B8/s1600-h/Airy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6FKkZEII/AAAAAAAAAUY/wAHc6dyb0B8/s400/Airy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400935344790638722" border="0" /></a>Airy 2009<br /></div><br />I´ve been fascinated by capturing mannequins since years. Provided they are realistic, well done and a bit shabby already, they draw my attention. Made to give to a shop window credibility and humanity in the stage setting of its products, mannequins have always been considered as the reflection of the "ideal beauty" during the time that they were manufactured.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6Evw7GjI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fAh05bpV_KE/s1600-h/Paris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6Evw7GjI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fAh05bpV_KE/s400/Paris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400935337595443762" border="0" /></a>Paris 2009<br /></div><br />Especially when damaged, their humanoid appearance emerges even more, and I try to emphasize this effect in my images. I make my mind a blank and forget everything I know or associate with the object and try to see it with new eyes. I somehow communicate with the models, looking at them from different angles and lighting conditions.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP4_gelnrI/AAAAAAAAATY/nWUfOrq053E/s1600-h/Locked+to+the+View.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP4_gelnrI/AAAAAAAAATY/nWUfOrq053E/s400/Locked+to+the+View.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934148081032882" border="0" /></a>Locked to the View 2009<br /></div><br />At the end you can find one single model in a variety of moodes. She may look like being sad or pensive,<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP4__11CGI/AAAAAAAAATg/yY4QYbkE6aA/s1600-h/Memories.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP4__11CGI/AAAAAAAAATg/yY4QYbkE6aA/s400/Memories.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934156500011106" border="0" /></a>Memories 2009<br /></div><br />showing confidence by throwing a piercing glance at the viewer,<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6E7zH4DI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/TQFvi6F5SdQ/s1600-h/Suburbia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP6E7zH4DI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/TQFvi6F5SdQ/s400/Suburbia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400935340825894962" border="0" /></a>Suburbia 2009<br /></div><br />or "behave" like a shy deer.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AT30hjI/AAAAAAAAAT4/R2cHu18_ZkE/s1600-h/Out+of+Order.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AT30hjI/AAAAAAAAAT4/R2cHu18_ZkE/s400/Out+of+Order.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934161877075506" border="0" /></a>Out of Order 2009<br /></div><br />Being amazed at the images being as different as day and night, I am seeking to boost even more the specific atmospheres at post processing. When watching the faces it also may occure that an utterly artificial picture comes to my mind that I want to turn into reality.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AAK0t6I/AAAAAAAAATo/kZ69cANo2WE/s1600-h/Moonlit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AAK0t6I/AAAAAAAAATo/kZ69cANo2WE/s400/Moonlit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934156588070818" border="0" /></a>Moonlit 2009<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AAUtIZI/AAAAAAAAATw/kdHUsvOxRpE/s1600-h/Nightmare.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SvP5AAUtIZI/AAAAAAAAATw/kdHUsvOxRpE/s400/Nightmare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934156629516690" border="0" /></a>Chimera 2009<br /></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-43550061242587979062009-10-29T11:12:00.005+01:002009-10-29T11:27:07.190+01:00As Autumn Wanes<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJX_SFmI/AAAAAAAAASo/QxL0pR7D1II/s1600-h/Fall+Breeze.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJX_SFmI/AAAAAAAAASo/QxL0pR7D1II/s400/Fall+Breeze.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963437182686818" border="0" /></a>Fall Breeze 2008<br /><br /></div>Everything changes over night. A storm comes up suddenly and unexpectedly. Heavy rainfall turns the warm colors into cold light. Strong wind defoliates the trees, and the last walnuts are falling to the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrbgC6AcI/AAAAAAAAATQ/GuMNeqQsUaI/s1600-h/walnuts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrbgC6AcI/AAAAAAAAATQ/GuMNeqQsUaI/s400/walnuts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963748583014850" border="0" /></a><br />We have to remove a vast number of walnut leaves from the grassland. It´s getting rather cold for this time of the year. Even lemons are watching out for cozy little places to warm themselves.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJvYOYeI/AAAAAAAAASw/X-C5lNr4Bpc/s1600-h/Lemons-Excursion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJvYOYeI/AAAAAAAAASw/X-C5lNr4Bpc/s400/Lemons-Excursion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963443461317090" border="0" /></a>Lemon´s Excursion 2008<br /><br /></div>Swallows migrated already. Beetroot, black radish, salad, mangel and onions still find theirselves in the patch. Basil and sweet peppers are getting killed or damaged by frost. In the larder I find some jars with stewed fruit which have got moldy already. All the work for nothing, it´s enough to cry me a river.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJ4T3aqI/AAAAAAAAAS4/AFwl0ip1tOQ/s1600-h/Taking+Wing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrJ4T3aqI/AAAAAAAAAS4/AFwl0ip1tOQ/s400/Taking+Wing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963445858953890" border="0" /></a>Taking Wing 2008<br /></div><br />My back hurts, and I hardly can move. I have been running into this situation through my own fault. A lot of stooping, kneeling and photographing in bad posture without going in for sports ... winter is just around the corner. Two new pictures I just have finished somehow correspond to that certain kind of seasonal mood:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrKN3aReI/AAAAAAAAATA/E1sba6qOM60/s1600-h/Boundaries.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrKN3aReI/AAAAAAAAATA/E1sba6qOM60/s400/Boundaries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963451645183458" border="0" /></a>Boundaries 2009<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrKNJjb2I/AAAAAAAAATI/zwQzraVmJ4M/s1600-h/Uncertainty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SulrKNJjb2I/AAAAAAAAATI/zwQzraVmJ4M/s400/Uncertainty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397963451452845922" border="0" /></a>Uncertainty 2009<br /></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-8210581999355516402009-10-23T20:05:00.005+02:002009-10-23T20:27:12.192+02:00Indian Summer<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbMfn-3I/AAAAAAAAAR4/hxHBMnTpoNs/s1600-h/Autumn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbMfn-3I/AAAAAAAAAR4/hxHBMnTpoNs/s400/Autumn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395859278079196018" border="0" /></a>Autumn 2008<br /></div><br />The last warm und sunny days. Leaves just started to turn into red brown and yellow. Jars full of collected seeds from withered flowers and blooming herbs everywhere.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbpXUY0I/AAAAAAAAASI/c-9Anb1xDrk/s1600-h/dried-sunflowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbpXUY0I/AAAAAAAAASI/c-9Anb1xDrk/s400/dried-sunflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395859285828985666" border="0" /></a><br />Sunflower seeds expected to be fed to birds in winter. Which probably won´t come anymore since four young cats, masters of climbing up trees, are populating our backyard.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbSJs-LI/AAAAAAAAASA/gFm4g6n4V1Q/s1600-h/dried-marigold.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbSJs-LI/AAAAAAAAASA/gFm4g6n4V1Q/s400/dried-marigold.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395859279597861042" border="0" /></a><br />Calyxes of marigold which gave the vegetable patch a vibrant touch of orange and yellow for a long time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbzRFTsI/AAAAAAAAASQ/8zlAXf5hUCs/s1600-h/beans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxbzRFTsI/AAAAAAAAASQ/8zlAXf5hUCs/s400/beans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395859288487186114" border="0" /></a><br />Green beans got dry too soon in a hot summer with little rain.<br /><br />And I´m lucky to start off with a new series of mannequin photographs. I use a slightly damaged torso of a vintage mannequin as a subject. Unlike my "Secret Society" collection of black and white mannequins which I shot in a storeroom in a more documentary way, I`m now experiencing with a single body put on stage. I´ll write more about the new series in the next couple of weeks when work will be progressed quite a bit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxcK-plsI/AAAAAAAAASY/OIX6pqQZHYw/s1600-h/Secret-Society-No17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHxcK-plsI/AAAAAAAAASY/OIX6pqQZHYw/s400/Secret-Society-No17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395859294852323010" border="0" /></a>Secret Society No 17<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHzhNkhDDI/AAAAAAAAASg/6fi4-anDOBU/s1600-h/_DSC0343-Kopie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SuHzhNkhDDI/AAAAAAAAASg/6fi4-anDOBU/s400/_DSC0343-Kopie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395861580470619186" border="0" /></a>"under construction"</div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-66205336314604757182009-10-16T12:15:00.006+02:002009-10-16T12:29:22.843+02:00Growing Our Own Food III - Crazy Harvest<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthId_clQWI/AAAAAAAAARI/Fub9KdbRy70/s1600-h/vegetable-patch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthId_clQWI/AAAAAAAAARI/Fub9KdbRy70/s400/vegetable-patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140233860890978" border="0" /></a><br />After two years of random planting and yielding a large crop however, this summer and autumn our garden provides some surprising new experiences. I shall learn more about unpredictable circumstances, preferences of little animals, cryptic processes of nature and first of all, my own greenness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIeinqqnI/AAAAAAAAARY/fWVk-qSiTao/s1600-h/carrots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIeinqqnI/AAAAAAAAARY/fWVk-qSiTao/s400/carrots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140243302623858" border="0" /></a><br />These carrots look quite different to those you get in a supermarket, don´t they? If you watch them closely you can notice a lot of grooves and swellings caused by every single hard step they take to permeate the soil. We are lucky to lift only a few like the short one in the middle this year. It takes some time until the compact soil gets more crumbly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIeJmwzUI/AAAAAAAAARQ/lr6Wt-A_1ZI/s1600-h/beetroot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIeJmwzUI/AAAAAAAAARQ/lr6Wt-A_1ZI/s400/beetroot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140236587945282" border="0" /></a><br />I love beetroots, especially beetroot salad in winter. Maybe that´s why I couldn´t wait to seed them as early as possible. Now we´ve got quite a number of them at the beginning of august instead of autumn as expected.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthI9xGZNlI/AAAAAAAAARw/dpQprz6euqk/s1600-h/riping-tomatoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthI9xGZNlI/AAAAAAAAARw/dpQprz6euqk/s400/riping-tomatoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140779765544530" border="0" /></a><br />Tomatoes actually have been playing a joke on me. Growing like crazy last summer, I decided to plant only two bushes this year. At the end there were eight growing in the vegetable patch like by an invisible hand. Since our compost heap originated insufficient heat, this spring unsuspectingly with the garden mold we brought onto the patch a lot of tomatoe seeds still as fresh as daisies. At lower temperatures I cut the fruits still unripe together with the stems and hang them on nails in front of the south-facing hayrick wall where they get red or yellow mostly within a week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIfAlIGVI/AAAAAAAAARg/2bosSQ1TwGg/s1600-h/drying-chili-peppers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIfAlIGVI/AAAAAAAAARg/2bosSQ1TwGg/s400/drying-chili-peppers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140251345033554" border="0" /></a><br />Chili peppers are drying in the sun. Unfortunately we mixed up sweet and chili pepper seeds. Now we enjoy the sweet ones like a rare delicacy and will be able to cook hot dishes for ages. Anyway, I love them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIfZrdonI/AAAAAAAAARo/4jHPhit6VxI/s1600-h/grapes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SthIfZrdonI/AAAAAAAAARo/4jHPhit6VxI/s400/grapes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393140258082497138" border="0" /></a><br />We really have been looking forward to pick these delicious grapes in September and decided to purchase a grape press. The juice tasted good, somewhat sour as we tried hard to beat the wasps and birds to the draw which devoured the fruits for the most part.<br /><br />I am an accurate person and know my own mind. I´m sure that natural gardening is a good exercise program to learn to let things rip.eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-12943344894499702502009-09-22T00:26:00.005+02:002009-09-22T00:35:02.685+02:00Black and White<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>The last days I have been working on a double portrait of a black and a white kitten featuring The Investigator and The Inapproachable. I took the photographs when they were looking through the window from outside awaiting their breakfast.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Srf9_zuXveI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/rjI4FpdUapM/s1600-h/Black+And+White+-+Black.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Srf9_zuXveI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/rjI4FpdUapM/s400/Black+And+White+-+Black.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384051152203005410" border="0" /></a>Black And White - Black 2009<br /><br /></div><br />I like the dust and scratches of the window which let the portrait of the black one look very picturesque. The white one is looking through a fly screen which I used to boost the soft tone of the image.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Srf-ABklbYI/AAAAAAAAARA/CC55ZB2MLSE/s1600-h/Black+And+White+-+White.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Srf-ABklbYI/AAAAAAAAARA/CC55ZB2MLSE/s400/Black+And+White+-+White.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384051155920055682" border="0" /></a>Black And White - White 2009<br /></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-2666675553477643432009-09-14T20:08:00.011+02:002009-09-14T21:15:11.303+02:00Under Siege<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I1oyi3uI/AAAAAAAAAP4/s8b_g40TgUA/s1600-h/_DSC0256.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I1oyi3uI/AAAAAAAAAP4/s8b_g40TgUA/s400/_DSC0256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389059818184418" border="0" /></a><br />I couldn´t have imagined to write about cats one day even in my wildest dreams. Formative experiences with yowling and wounded cats in my childhood got me to forgo this particularly popular species.<br /><br />Later on I often noticed people adopting cats or dogs in case the partner refused to start a family. Furthermore, watching lonely cats looking out of appartment windows almost bring me to burst into tears. No desirable examples to emulate as well.<br /><br />At the moment I am watching a female person studying diet plans and social behaviour of feral domestic cats, lurking around in the backyard to check the stools of four kittens and getting annoyed when being attacked by a bunch of hungry wannabee tigers.<br /><br />Being fed about three days a week, and being left to their own resources the remaining days, they decided to stay anyway and to reside in front of our door.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6IMm3KiVI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/F16zCbxpQ9s/s1600-h/_DSC0213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6IMm3KiVI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/F16zCbxpQ9s/s400/_DSC0213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388354926053714" border="0" /></a><br />They love the warmed-up stairs and have learned that food comes out of that green door.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I2BJWjZI/AAAAAAAAAQA/FwCrnKsKpX0/s1600-h/_DSC0262.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I2BJWjZI/AAAAAAAAAQA/FwCrnKsKpX0/s400/_DSC0262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389066356297106" border="0" /></a><br />Now the kittens are about four month old and have grown distinctive characters.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Inapproachable<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JL6BZ-rI/AAAAAAAAAQw/V6RMSK4oIfY/s1600-h/_DSC0406.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JL6BZ-rI/AAAAAAAAAQw/V6RMSK4oIfY/s400/_DSC0406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389442401041074" border="0" /></a><br />She is the most experienced one especially in climbing up high trees and hunting. She loves to be on her own and seems to look down on human beings.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JLU9p1MI/AAAAAAAAAQo/znj6eDIv5eU/s1600-h/_DSC0398.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JLU9p1MI/AAAAAAAAAQo/znj6eDIv5eU/s400/_DSC0398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389432453190850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6IORQosQI/AAAAAAAAAPw/flmo0aAHBlI/s1600-h/_DSC0251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6IORQosQI/AAAAAAAAAPw/flmo0aAHBlI/s400/_DSC0251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388383487045890" border="0" /></a><br />In the morning she enjoys sunbathing at the top of our shortened apricot tree.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INO2I56I/AAAAAAAAAPY/TYKBfVcz7lc/s1600-h/_DSC0224.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INO2I56I/AAAAAAAAAPY/TYKBfVcz7lc/s400/_DSC0224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388365659170722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Philosopher<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I22V8u-I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/6Q2CjftmPVo/s1600-h/_DSC0317.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I22V8u-I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/6Q2CjftmPVo/s400/_DSC0317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389080636210146" border="0" /></a><br />You never know what this calm little black one is thinking about. He behaves like an odd man out and mostly surprises us with a ruminant look.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Companionable<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I3WSnxXI/AAAAAAAAAQY/OwrABJUlEfw/s1600-h/_DSC0320.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I3WSnxXI/AAAAAAAAAQY/OwrABJUlEfw/s400/_DSC0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389089212188018" border="0" /></a><br />This little tabby seems to be full of sunshine and was the first one who sometimes allowed us to touch her. Being convinced that she is a tomcat, I had to learn that I was wrong with that. But I am still not sure.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Investigator<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INmbrCoI/AAAAAAAAAPg/OpuUSkQOfhA/s1600-h/_DSC0241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INmbrCoI/AAAAAAAAAPg/OpuUSkQOfhA/s400/_DSC0241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388371990612610" border="0" /></a><br />For some month he was the smallest and the most shy one of the kittens. Maybe being a good eater encouraged him to act in the line of fire at breakfast, lunch and dinner time. Jumping on the door, pacing up and down in front of the window together with striking meowing and a piercing glance let him stand out in the meantime.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I2v6SDjI/AAAAAAAAAQI/lkyjigxoKnc/s1600-h/_DSC0280.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6I2v6SDjI/AAAAAAAAAQI/lkyjigxoKnc/s400/_DSC0280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389078909554226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Mommy<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INyyxMiI/AAAAAAAAAPo/-Ddu-qGaZek/s1600-h/_DSC0247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6INyyxMiI/AAAAAAAAAPo/-Ddu-qGaZek/s400/_DSC0247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388375308710434" border="0" /></a><br />The kittens couldn´t have asked for a better mother. Waiting next to the feeding bowl until the babies have finished their meal, she is satisfied with what they have left. Or speeding them up to go on excursions by jumping and behaving like a kitten herself, are just a few qualities of that mysterious creature. Looking after them for such a long time she now disappears more frequently. At the moment we see her rarely - will she leave us alone with the kittens?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lost<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JLFzkTYI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EHHPNB7lYUo/s1600-h/_DSC0332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/Sq6JLFzkTYI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EHHPNB7lYUo/s400/_DSC0332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381389428384353666" border="0" /></a><br />Primarily the four kittens have got another brother or sister which is unfortunately lost since a month. She was so cute and extremely shy, watching us all the time, whatever she did. Can´t think of what might have happened to her. In the picture above she´s playing with her brothers and sisters.<br /><br />We still aren´t sure about the sex of "our" kittens. As they are not used to get handled or touched, we found out a feasible manner to inspect them: when fed by their mother you can do whatever you want, they don´t care, even if a human being is lying on the floor to lift their tails. Not experienced with investigations like that, we consistently mistrust our results : - )eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-17790084521949012762009-09-06T19:35:00.008+02:002009-09-14T21:22:09.196+02:00Shades Of Green<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Today Pam from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5510343">alwaysartistic</a> included one of my photographs in her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=80346">treasury</a> displaying works by <a href="http://photographersofetsy.blogspot.com/">POE</a> (Photographers of Etsy Street Team) members. The photographs are featuring different shades of green. It´s quite a gorgeous selection all around. Congrats Pam and many thanks for including Glassy Landscape!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqP09rGF-jI/AAAAAAAAAPI/AfFB8nk0f_8/s1600-h/treasury+green.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqP09rGF-jI/AAAAAAAAAPI/AfFB8nk0f_8/s400/treasury+green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378411720387983922" border="0" /></a>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-80148741458695810222009-09-04T21:12:00.008+02:002009-09-14T21:27:36.299+02:00Growing Our Own Food II - Apricots<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>It´s a shame. Last weekend my husband has shortened our one and only apricot tree by more than a half without taking a picture of it as a whole before (to be honest, this should have been my job). After yielding large crops of delicous apricots for a couple of years, we had to come to that sad decision. The tall tree had been pollarded lengthwise by a severe storm just after we had moved in. Gale-force winds are blowing frequently in this area, and it was to be expected that the remaining half of the beautiful tree would fell as a whole some time. Furthermore it already had got too high to pick the fruits. Falling on the ground most of them got damaged and had to be cooked at once.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnVH3vV1I/AAAAAAAAAIo/4mr_CgSmRHA/s1600-h/apricot-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnVH3vV1I/AAAAAAAAAIo/4mr_CgSmRHA/s400/apricot-tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377693042644834130" border="0" /></a><br />We met the challenge and got rather busy with cooking apricot dumplings, cakes, jam, chutney, sirup and something special called "Marillenröster" (Marillen = apricots). We also experimented with air-drying apricots in the sun. A bold and funny venture: my husband climbed a ladder every morning to place the baking sheets with the apricots on the roof of the house and removed them again in the evening or when rain was emerging.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnWZBEGiI/AAAAAAAAAJA/T8lZHKOFAI8/s1600-h/roof.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnWZBEGiI/AAAAAAAAAJA/T8lZHKOFAI8/s400/roof.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377693064427215394" border="0" /></a><br />The effort payed off: I never ate dried apricots with such phantastic flavor.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnViYsHgI/AAAAAAAAAIw/AisFLeHImAI/s1600-h/dryed-apricots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnViYsHgI/AAAAAAAAAIw/AisFLeHImAI/s400/dryed-apricots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377693049762356738" border="0" /></a><br />Have I whetted your appetite? Then I will betray to you how to cook this special something called Marillenröster, a traditional Austrian kind of stewed fruit which tastes delicous when mixed with natural yoghurt, the perfect stuff on hot summer days:<br /><br />Wash the apricots, cut them in half, remove the kernels and put them in a large cooking pot. Add a bit of water and bring to the boil. Stir occasionally. Simmer until the peel of the apricots gets puckered. Skim any foam or scum off the top (you can eat it, it tastes like jam). Add sugar (300 to 400 g for 1000 g of fruits) and let it simmer shortly until the liquid gets limpid. If you like, add some fresh mint. Leave to cool a little, then pour into clean jam jars and cover them.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnVwQjXGI/AAAAAAAAAI4/6n3UPlsLN8w/s1600-h/jams.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 161px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFnVwQjXGI/AAAAAAAAAI4/6n3UPlsLN8w/s400/jams.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377693053486324834" border="0" /></a><br />If you want to eat it within one week, allow to cool completely and place the jars in the fridge. If you want keep it for a longer time you have to sterilize - don´t be afraid, it´s quite simple: Put the jars in a large cooking pot filled with cool water (the jars should be almost covered with water). Bring to boil slowly and simmer for about 10 minutes at 70 to 80 degrees. That´s it! The Marillenröster will keep for about a year, but will be long gone before then!eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-55672684189467121692009-08-25T11:18:00.008+02:002009-09-14T21:28:24.742+02:00In Motion<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>As a kid growing up in the country, I lived life outside: alpine skiing, skating, cycling, running, jumping, swiming and climbing up mountains. In my teens, that meant also playing tennis, competitive track and field as well as playing volleyball. But it was in high school, that I gravitated away from track and field and alpine skiing and I found my way into dance, a long standing wish since childhood. I spent several years attending jazz- and modern dance classes as well as pantomime.<br /><br />The discipline I learned through sports pushed me to participate in new things. I always had an insatiable love for trying new things and discovered a passion for photography and filmmaking. At that time I consequentially learned to "dance" with my camera. At first with small movie cameras, later on with a photo camera I enjoyed experimenting with all kinds of movement whenever possible.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrEYdFqqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UGez_J6cAQA/s1600-h/As-Autumn-Wanes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrEYdFqqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UGez_J6cAQA/s400/As-Autumn-Wanes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377697153085188770" border="0" /></a>As Autumn Wanes 2008<br /></div><br />Evanescence of life and beauty in mind I shot this portrait of a morello cherry tree by moving the camera with a long shutter speed at low light, so that the tree appears in disintegration.<br /><br />When cutting a film I spend a lot of time looking closely to any single of the 24 or 25 photographic images of which one second of motion picture exists. And I get absolutely impressed with these usually unseen and often blurry jewels of film frames.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFshWGS0zI/AAAAAAAAAJw/gSPNM5qz3LA/s1600-h/Noir.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFshWGS0zI/AAAAAAAAAJw/gSPNM5qz3LA/s400/Noir.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377698750180545330" border="0" /></a>Noir 1987<br /></div><br />Life consists of movement. If we see something wonderful or remarkable most of us like to capture it in a photo. It can be interesting to watch a picture of such a single moment where life gets "frozen", and we are able to study the details. I still remember my amazement about gazing at an ordinary bee approaching a flower.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrFFy9H1I/AAAAAAAAAJY/Vv_hh6hZZhk/s1600-h/Approach+For+A+Landing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrFFy9H1I/AAAAAAAAAJY/Vv_hh6hZZhk/s400/Approach+For+A+Landing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377697165256499026" border="0" /></a>Approach For A Landing 2008<br /></div><br />However looking at a picture "in motion" the details of single moments become indistinct and get transformed to a bigger something. It´s somehow an illusion of visible reality and often provokes different kinds of emotion.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrEhgtFBI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Aw3fiuuOI4E/s1600-h/Momentum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrEhgtFBI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Aw3fiuuOI4E/s400/Momentum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377697155516273682" border="0" /></a>Momentum 2009<br /></div><br />The picture above consists of two photographs. I took the first one during our perseverative trips between Austria and Hungary. This strip of land on the Hungarian side of the former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_curtain">Iron Curtain</a>, also known as border zone, is covered with deep forests full of mystery which still remind me of all the anxiety when crossing the border to a Eastern European Country in the past. Times changed and due to the European Union we are now allowed to go to any member country without any passport control. I liked the blue and green colors of the wood passing by but also wanted to add some bright color. As you also can find yellow canola fields in this area which emanate warmth and cheerfulness, I combined these two images to create a whole new one.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrGJ2ze3I/AAAAAAAAAJo/41PsOqBuIVU/s1600-h/The+Vineyard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFrGJ2ze3I/AAAAAAAAAJo/41PsOqBuIVU/s400/The+Vineyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377697183526255474" border="0" /></a>The Vineyard 2009<br /></div><br />Only some miles away, when crossing the border to Austria, you will find a totally different aspect of the same landscape. Few if any forests or trees between the huge fields, acres and vineyards. Every single square mile seems to be cultivated by human hand. Strict geometrical structures dominate and nature´s charming wilderness has already disappeared. Nonetheless I like this picture of a vineyard "in motion" very much as it corresponds to my preference for playing with geometrical structures very well.eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-11667011692814618052009-08-05T14:44:00.010+02:002009-09-04T21:58:45.396+02:00Growing Our Own Food I - "The Grave"<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsQNULAI/AAAAAAAAAKI/qd-FV2k2JkU/s1600-h/erste-ernte.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsQNULAI/AAAAAAAAAKI/qd-FV2k2JkU/s400/erste-ernte.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377703335624453122" border="0" /></a>First Harvest<br /></div><br />I can´t remember how long ago I decided to prefer organic food. Being vegetarian since childhood my bill of fare for a long time was limited on mashed potatoes, rice, bread, polenta and various kinds of deep frozen vegetables. I am still horrified thinking about the times when searching the menu in a restaurant without finding anything eatable aside from cut-up and sugared pancake with raisins and apricot dumplings. Time passed by until dumplings with egg and baked mushrooms showed up on menus, on which I wasn´t keen anymore after stuffing myself with it for years. Finally I have learned that I just had to accept my fate growing up in a culture being obsessed with meat.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsveyxoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/rXsxgr7lQnA/s1600-h/Lemons-Excursion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsveyxoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/rXsxgr7lQnA/s400/Lemons-Excursion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377703344019261058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26967391">Lemon´s Excursion 2008</a><br /></div><br />The situation turned out to become even worse when I noticed that apples didn´t taste like apples anymore, that apricots tasted like water with a whiff of bitter citron. Not really a surprise after being picked unriped and travelling hundreds and thousands of miles cooped in refrigerators. Even simple bread wasn´t made from flour, salt, leaven and water anymore. More and more bakeries converted to convenience blends.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsyu96DI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ISSxBqJ5gdQ/s1600-h/Windfall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwsyu96DI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ISSxBqJ5gdQ/s400/Windfall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377703344892405810" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19768029">Windfall 2008</a><br /></div><br />For whatever reason it was obvious to grow our own food when we came to Hungary. And this is how we started:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwrgK2d6I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ovYSurO_guA/s1600-h/beet-einzeln.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwrgK2d6I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ovYSurO_guA/s400/beet-einzeln.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377703322729215906" border="0" /></a>"The Grave"<br /></div><br />Whenever I am talking about animals my husband´s thoughts are focusing on how they would taste being roasted. He is confident of driving me crazy about that. Now, even though drenched in sweat, he is digging over the black and fertile but compacted soil bit by bit. It´s hard work and at the end a tiny acreage occurs, looking quite ridiculous (and also a bit like a small grave - to be honest : - ) amidst the former large acre. But it was just a modest beginning. At this time we predominantly were busy with renovating the houses. After removing a lot of junk from the compost heap the former owners had left, we cover the patch with compost soil.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwr3eo6YI/AAAAAAAAAKA/6eUI7cHSpTE/s1600-h/Compost-Junk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFwr3eo6YI/AAAAAAAAAKA/6eUI7cHSpTE/s400/Compost-Junk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377703328986229122" border="0" /></a>Compost Heap left behind<br /></div><br />My husband grew up on a farm and has learned much about farming in early life. But I am just a rookie and never wouldn´t have dreamed of gardening or farming. Now I hold some small bags of vegetable seeds in my hand, waiting to plant the first carrots.eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-88175917141104817612009-07-29T10:37:00.010+02:002009-09-14T21:29:22.417+02:00Summer Travel<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>A cloudless blue sky,<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">the air shimmering over wide open spaces,<br />scorching heat with a gentle breeze,<br />a summer break.<br /></div><br />Time to dive oneself into breaking waves and being washed ashore:<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFyb-CMIhI/AAAAAAAAAKw/u_ZaR4U3MiI/s1600-h/Blue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFyb-CMIhI/AAAAAAAAAKw/u_ZaR4U3MiI/s400/Blue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377705254891299346" border="0" /></a>Blue 1995/2008<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Time to rest at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre">shady and quiet place</a>, dreaming of fresh fruits:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFybCSzlVI/AAAAAAAAAKg/LB7HqrvXVMo/s1600-h/Italian-Impressions.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFybCSzlVI/AAAAAAAAAKg/LB7HqrvXVMo/s400/Italian-Impressions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377705238854866258" border="0" /></a>Italian Impressions 1995/2008<br /><br />Time to have a little chat and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfama">let things pass by</a>:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFybu-mk8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/fEgi_9BfYlk/s1600-h/Seven-Hills.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFybu-mk8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/fEgi_9BfYlk/s400/Seven-Hills.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377705250849723330" border="0" /></a>Seven Hills 1997/2008<br /><br />Time to celebrate the charmingly scent of salt and of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_%28Spain%29">big wide world</a> during a walk along the beach after sunset:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFycI0SF7I/AAAAAAAAAK4/A7kHBoKGVYw/s1600-h/Open-End.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFycI0SF7I/AAAAAAAAAK4/A7kHBoKGVYw/s400/Open-End.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377705257785759666" border="0" /></a>Open End 1999/2008<br /><br />I hope you´re having a great summer!<br /></div></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-15049254570205930052009-07-14T16:17:00.017+02:002009-09-14T21:29:50.627+02:00To Our Great Surprise<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>I am passing the doorway carefully to make sure not to frighten the two kittens. As mentioned in an <a href="http://eleanors-artofnature.blogspot.com/2009/07/babies.html">earlier post</a> one week ago the cat got her eight week old babies from their hiding place to our house. Nobody is seen. I get out of the car and squat at some distance from the outbuilding where they newly reside. While I am waiting and getting afraid that they may have been disappeared, I suddenly get a glimpse of a small curious looking face appearing behind the hole of the door. I wonder why this one looks tabby while we got introduced to a white and a black young guy last week. Is this caused by the daylight? No, that´s impossible. I don´t know any light that turns deep black fur into tabby greybrown. I feel quite confused!<br /><br />As we unload the car, the cat comes out of the hole of the "house of cats", accompanied by three! kittens. A black, a white and a greybrown tabby one. I am right so: I don´t know any kind of light that ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz7gZ-JkI/AAAAAAAAALI/wsJyJLARgfA/s1600-h/graues_kaetzchen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz7gZ-JkI/AAAAAAAAALI/wsJyJLARgfA/s400/graues_kaetzchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377706896205424194" border="0" /></a><br />A quarter of an hour later I look out of the window, getting even more confused. The kittens are playing in the backyard. Only there a two! white kittens now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF0ozqNF7I/AAAAAAAAALo/pYlvA5DWd_4/s1600-h/weisse_kaetzchen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF0ozqNF7I/AAAAAAAAALo/pYlvA5DWd_4/s400/weisse_kaetzchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377707674467899314" border="0" /></a><br />It makes me speechless, and I am hurrying away for my husband, who unsuspecting is examining the vegetable patch, to tell him that we have got four! kittens now. Once more I turn in disbelief. Now you may think that I am crazy, but I can assure you: in the meantime also the black kitten has duplicated!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF05ue8zNI/AAAAAAAAALw/eyCsu0-Cx0w/s1600-h/schwarze_kaetzchen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF05ue8zNI/AAAAAAAAALw/eyCsu0-Cx0w/s400/schwarze_kaetzchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377707965136293074" border="0" /></a><br />Instead of telling my husband that we have got four kittens now, I say: "And now, brace yourself ..." He just stares at me.<br /><br />In the evening we are discussing farther reaching consequences of having six cats, eventually two or three of them ladies, each giving birth to five babies twice a year ... hope you are well trained in mathematics!? Right now actually we are trying to block it out and enjoy the enchanting theatrical performances.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz8wBHPhI/AAAAAAAAALg/H_XdH2psS3Y/s1600-h/katzenfamilie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz8wBHPhI/AAAAAAAAALg/H_XdH2psS3Y/s400/katzenfamilie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377706917575998994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz8RS8LMI/AAAAAAAAALY/1yGuHaVFTEM/s1600-h/katzen_weiss_u._grau.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz8RS8LMI/AAAAAAAAALY/1yGuHaVFTEM/s400/katzen_weiss_u._grau.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377706909329272002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz7euy_SI/AAAAAAAAALA/ad-qihXYP3I/s1600-h/graue_katze_buckel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz7euy_SI/AAAAAAAAALA/ad-qihXYP3I/s400/graue_katze_buckel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377706895755902242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF1iyh43AI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CIJC7ZAsP_w/s1600-h/katzen_saugen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF1iyh43AI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CIJC7ZAsP_w/s400/katzen_saugen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377708670596996098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz76BnfhI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pyy9OvL-LgI/s1600-h/katzen_vater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqFz76BnfhI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pyy9OvL-LgI/s400/katzen_vater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377706903082597906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Their shy father pays a short visit about three times a day.<br /></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-84023953462597503422009-07-09T12:16:00.022+02:002009-09-14T21:30:32.216+02:00Colors Are Finding Their Way<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>I am so excited. Our efforts to recultivate the old garden are rewarded by regrowing grass and flowers in multiple colors. Instead of removing the soil as proposed by "experienced gardeners", we covered the ground with grass clippings several times to convey soil organisms. This turned out to be the perfect treatment and saved a lot of money. Now one plant is paving the way for the next one. The following year the grass already is growing vigorously.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3jCM0SAI/AAAAAAAAAMI/elUYXxKbB3A/s1600-h/garten-ohne-gras.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3jCM0SAI/AAAAAAAAAMI/elUYXxKbB3A/s400/garten-ohne-gras.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710873826838530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3ikzRUJI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bRxlmoEfKEg/s1600-h/garten-gras.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3ikzRUJI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bRxlmoEfKEg/s400/garten-gras.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710865935061138" border="0" /></a><br />Nature definitely has a will of it´s own and a big sense of humour! It happened at the end of May that we discovered little sunflower plantlets all over the garden without having planted them. Why did this happen? Maybe for several reasons. First we were feeding birds with sunflower seeds in winter. Some of the seeds tumbling down the birdhouse found proper conditions to grow. Second some seeds ended up on the compost heap and have been disseminated again together with soil. Since June small and big ones are taking pleasure in life and are savouring the sun. Here are some of them:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4VIf-7lI/AAAAAAAAAMo/gkPoaNnbtdU/s1600-h/Sunflower+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4VIf-7lI/AAAAAAAAAMo/gkPoaNnbtdU/s400/Sunflower+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377711734511300178" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=27576247">Sunflower I</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4Vqz62CI/AAAAAAAAAMw/kkREg5XhoHw/s1600-h/Sunflower+III.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4Vqz62CI/AAAAAAAAAMw/kkREg5XhoHw/s400/Sunflower+III.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377711743721723938" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28505477">Sunflower III</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love the fun poses they often display:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4VyGtJRI/AAAAAAAAAM4/MX5m1Co2VlI/s1600-h/Sunflower+II.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF4VyGtJRI/AAAAAAAAAM4/MX5m1Co2VlI/s400/Sunflower+II.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377711745679566098" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27800648">Sunflower II</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In front of the garden wall long-established coneflowers are flowering again:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3j5v3zBI/AAAAAAAAAMY/IWMhTB345mI/s1600-h/Indian+Summer+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3j5v3zBI/AAAAAAAAAMY/IWMhTB345mI/s400/Indian+Summer+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710888737819666" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27722720">Indian Summer I</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3kEJm8PI/AAAAAAAAAMg/WGO7YTVsDd4/s1600-h/Indian+Summer+II.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3kEJm8PI/AAAAAAAAAMg/WGO7YTVsDd4/s400/Indian+Summer+II.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710891530121458" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28463308">Indian Summer II</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Daylilies have been successful flowers in rural gardens for a long time. They flower for one day only. But new buds keep developing - producing a long run of simple, elegant trumpet shapes. I took some of them growing in front of the house and replanted these robust beauties inside the garden in a light woodland setting. I gambled but were quite sucessful in the end:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3jQqNfeI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/aCJgfCTrgys/s1600-h/Day+Lily.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF3jQqNfeI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/aCJgfCTrgys/s400/Day+Lily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710877708221922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28406159">Day Lily</a><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-27618943706757700442009-07-08T11:41:00.016+02:002009-09-14T21:31:06.741+02:00Poppies<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>When we first came to Hungary, the backyard of our house looked very poor. The former owners, overwhelmed with work, tried to eradicate the exuberantly sprouting flora. All the more we were extremely happy about any little flower which jumped the hurdle - mainly poppies in different colors. They grew in small red groups or standing alone, long stemmed with white and purple colored petals. I fell in love with these courageous beauties and invited them to some shootings.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6A-xKEWI/AAAAAAAAANY/jLSe_I-hnuk/s1600-h/Reach+For+The+Sky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6A-xKEWI/AAAAAAAAANY/jLSe_I-hnuk/s400/Reach+For+The+Sky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377713587324850530" border="0" /></a>Reach For The Sky 2008<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF5_u2tCeI/AAAAAAAAANA/2JGrI78n1_I/s1600-h/White-Coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF5_u2tCeI/AAAAAAAAANA/2JGrI78n1_I/s400/White-Coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377713565873277410" border="0" /></a>White Coffee 2008<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This lovely couple was nestling up against each other, and I witnessed their growth throughout the whole summer and autumn, sometimes experimenting at post-processing.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6BNb9oLI/AAAAAAAAANg/a0xXhGtjs0w/s1600-h/Strong-Company.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6BNb9oLI/AAAAAAAAANg/a0xXhGtjs0w/s400/Strong-Company.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377713591262486706" border="0" /></a>Strong Company 2008<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6AMKDJdI/AAAAAAAAANI/NZlO-EGOa28/s1600-h/Love+17x19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6AMKDJdI/AAAAAAAAANI/NZlO-EGOa28/s400/Love+17x19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377713573739046354" border="0" /></a>Love 2008<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After collecting seeds last year and sowing them in early spring this year, this one surprised me after a heavy rainshower. My newest creation:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6AU-hiRI/AAAAAAAAANQ/ex__-vtk_kU/s1600-h/Raindrops+On+My+Head.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF6AU-hiRI/AAAAAAAAANQ/ex__-vtk_kU/s400/Raindrops+On+My+Head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377713576106625298" border="0" /></a>Raindrops On My Head 2009<br /></div></div></div></div></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-55250546649486943902009-07-07T22:43:00.018+02:002009-09-14T21:31:54.957+02:00The Babies<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>After a busy week in Vienna we arrive in Hungary on friday evening. The cat is just crawling under the doorway, being scared as my husband gets off the car. Only now when he opens the door she recognizes him and runs after him like lightning. It´s the same play as ever. Instead of watching the changes in the garden, I am hurrying to prepare the meal for the cat first, though she doesn´t look famished. Meowing undeviatingly she has me in her grip.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8R58ey7I/AAAAAAAAAOA/dsm1DxuTRbw/s1600-h/nacht.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8R58ey7I/AAAAAAAAAOA/dsm1DxuTRbw/s400/nacht.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377716077111200690" border="0" /></a><br />Heavy rain alternating with hot and sunny days in the last couple of weeks transformed the backyard into boondocks. After nightfall we sit in the backyard repelling moscito attacks. The cat approaches slowly. This time she is not alone. When she comes nearer we remain in unbelieving amazement. She´s accompanied by her two 8 week old babies. Being scared when seeing us the kittens run away several times. It´s hard work for their mother to bring them back again and again, running back and forth along with a variety of vocalizations. They run across human beings for the first time in their life. Finally they rest, convinced by the existence of a feeding bowl.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8REi1l6I/AAAAAAAAANw/cRlWkf95dBw/s1600-h/katze3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8REi1l6I/AAAAAAAAANw/cRlWkf95dBw/s400/katze3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377716062776563618" border="0" /></a><br />The following day we take notice that the cat definitely brought her babies to the new home. The three of them have spent their first night resting on the doormat right on our doorstep. But they soon find the right place to stay in a storeroom. The whole day we have a lot of fun watching the shy guys exploring their new home. We are just wondering: who is the girl and who the boy?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8Q70XOZI/AAAAAAAAANo/Zqzke9Aqzks/s1600-h/katze2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8Q70XOZI/AAAAAAAAANo/Zqzke9Aqzks/s400/katze2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377716060434151826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8Rn4WGYI/AAAAAAAAAN4/txdufjmTJRQ/s1600-h/katze5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF8Rn4WGYI/AAAAAAAAAN4/txdufjmTJRQ/s400/katze5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377716072262015362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SlO4vGt217I/AAAAAAAAACM/ysLDrnylxtQ/s1600-h/katze1.jpg"><br /></a>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-32144227446077747692009-07-01T21:27:00.010+02:002009-09-04T22:53:09.542+02:00Wild Lady<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF9gFehwkI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/603GPa5O1MI/s1600-h/katze1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF9gFehwkI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/603GPa5O1MI/s400/katze1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377717420236587586" border="0" /></a><br />She approaches slowly and tentatively, looking into my puzzled eyes. Faint-hearted meow is raising. Day and night a lot of cats are banging around in our backyard. All of them extremely shy. This white and grey colored lady, apparently pregnant, doesn´t give a damn. Where does she come from? After pigging out she will stalk us forever. Her babies were born at the beginning of May and live hidden in an empty neighboring house. Last week she apparently invited us in, being frustrated as we were not able to follow her through the tiny hole.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF9fQGJSQI/AAAAAAAAAOI/K6vk5HWwuWI/s1600-h/katze-mit-kater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF9fQGJSQI/AAAAAAAAAOI/K6vk5HWwuWI/s400/katze-mit-kater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377717405907241218" border="0" /></a><br />We call her "the cat", and since her shy hubby is showing up of late (we call him "the black"), we have a lot of fun with that crazy couple, at least three days a week. Back in Vienna, I am thinking of her hoping she is doing well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mind The Gap<br /><br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwe_858A5DdOgkJa7SOix1Joyt04Dd9cLT103vGBz54okMLIgXdG2NVXjjJeCm9jrTDTa_2-guQgUThjfwWxA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411400713172825005.post-82027694894999514012009-07-01T15:06:00.013+02:002009-09-14T21:33:22.897+02:00A Dream Come True<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Only 2 weeks later, still residents of Vienna, we are now proud owners of an old farmhouse and a huge backyard in a lovely Hungarian village next to the Fertö-Hanság National Park. A fabulous place still a tough piece of work.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-7d0tzqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/SB7zs48FtWc/s1600-h/haus-08_2007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-7d0tzqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/SB7zs48FtWc/s400/haus-08_2007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377718990140198562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-78sUkUI/AAAAAAAAAO4/8TmLWUIlPng/s1600-h/garten-08_2007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-78sUkUI/AAAAAAAAAO4/8TmLWUIlPng/s400/garten-08_2007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377718998426489154" border="0" /></a><br />In the next couple of years I will learn that:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">tree frogs indulge in sunbathing and throw wild parties<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-6zltO9I/AAAAAAAAAOg/b82slVb6YNQ/s1600-h/froesche.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-6zltO9I/AAAAAAAAAOg/b82slVb6YNQ/s400/froesche.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377718978802957266" border="0" /></a><br />ants milk aphids, and aphids eat a whole peach tree for breakfast<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-6bt6IuI/AAAAAAAAAOY/TEAmK7Eej1s/s1600-h/blattlaeuse2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-6bt6IuI/AAAAAAAAAOY/TEAmK7Eej1s/s400/blattlaeuse2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377718972394906338" border="0" /></a><br />I am totally addicted to fashion like that<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-7NP6yiI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ipvp10_OdJU/s1600-h/gummistiefel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SWeHbhzK7CE/SqF-7NP6yiI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ipvp10_OdJU/s400/gummistiefel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377718985690892834" border="0" /></a><br /></div>and much more!<br /></div>eleanorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187048890507941256noreply@blogger.com0