PPF ==> Extravagance

This week’s theme was a bit hard for me – I don’t really do anything extravagant, haven’t really been anywhere very extravagant that I have pictures of; my life, to date, has been anti-extravagant, actually. But then I started to think about some of my hobbies, and the materials I have come to use for them – hand dyed fabric, silk floss, gemstone beads. And then it occurred to me – the one thing I have thought of as one of my favorite splurges for many years: silk fabric. I love clothing made of silk – it keeps you cool in the summer, it keeps you warm in the winter, it’s soft and shimmery, even the raw silk, and let’s face it – it just feels good! It has had trade routes named after it, areas of the world named for it, was a trading commodity, and was available to the aristocracy only for a very long time. It’s not the extravagance it once was, but is still not as available as cotton and, egads! synthetic fabrics! This is one of my favorite pieces, a shirt:

(click for larger picture)

For something that comes out of a worm's butt, it has some pretty amazing qualities - read here. I also took a second picture of several pieces, but this one was the best; you can see the other one here. Taken with my trusty Panasonic DMC-FZ5 and cropped.

And as I couldn't come up with an earworm for this week, I decided to pick a piece from The Bard - it's not actually about silk, but it does mention it :) And there might be an allusion or two in there slightly related to Extravagance:

Now all the youth of England are on fire,
And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:
Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought
Reigns solely in the breast of every man:
They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,
Following the mirror of all Christian kings,
With winged heels, as English Mercuries.
For now sits Expectation in the air,
And hides a sword from hilts unto the point
With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,
Promised to Harry and his followers.
The French, advised by good intelligence
Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear and with pale policy
Seek to divert the English purposes.
O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,
What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!
But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills
With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,
One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,
Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,
Have, for the gilt of France,--O guilt indeed!
Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;
And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
If hell and treason hold their promises,
Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
Linger your patience on; and we'll digest
The abuse of distance; force a play:
The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;
The king is set from London; and the scene
Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;
There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
We'll not offend one stomach with our play.
But, till the king come forth, and not till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

Exit

- William Shakespeare

The Life of King Henry the Fifth , Act 2 Prologue

-oOo-

P I C T U R E P E R F E C T

theme this week is

~ Extravagance ~

This is week 4 of our 10 week competition

Each week Ten of The Best photo's will be selected by the host. On Saturday a poll will go up and you all get to vote for 24 hrs... for who you think was the best/most effective for that theme. The winner will be announced once the POLL closes.

The one with the most votes (by you) will receive a special icon which they can proudly post on their site as Best PP Photographer in The World..for the rest of the competition

only ONE picture please and it should be YOURS

not off the internet, not a friends picture but your very own

No slide shows please, and no automatic music on the page

Then post a comment on this page
so that everyone can link to your blog and see your pic.

-oOo-

Just a Pic of the Pup

Took this this morning on the way out, thought it was cute. Somebody's a ham....

D-Day Anniversary

"You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely....The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

~ General Dwight D. Eisenhower

(Quote from a speech delivered while giving the D-Day order on June 6, 1944.)

Picture Perfect Friday ==> Curves

This hutch belonged to my grandmother on my father's side; as long as I can remember it being in Grandma Williams' house, I remember her telling me it would be mine one day, and so it is. Inside the curved glass and wood, on shelves cut to mimic the curves of the front, are 2 1/2 sets of Depression Glass that belonged to my grandmother on my mother's side, as well as several other knick knacks. Okay, one set, the gold, has square plates, but the corners are scalloped, so they are actually curvy. The red set has the regular round shapes :) And then, at the top, there is the curvy mirror and the beautiful scroll work and relief work. One of my most prized possessions. And curvy!

Picture Perfect

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Thursday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be just

ONE and ORIGINAL,

i.e not off the internet,

Then come back and post a comment on this page
so that everyone can link to your blog and see your pic.

By all means mention your camera and lens used, and if the picture has been altered or enhanced in anyway! Out of the box thinking is encouraged!!

Please open your page for viewing for all for that day...and then visit as many others as you can! Try and post a decent size pic on your blog page, so much is lost if the pic is too small or too big.

The entries will close at midnight on Friday

oOo

THE LAWS OF ULTIMATE REALITY

& Law of Mechanical Repair
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

& Law of Gravity

Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

& Law of Probability
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

& Law of Random Numbers
If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

& Law of the Alibi
If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

& Variation Law
If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

& Law of the Bath
When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

& Law of Close Encounters
The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

& Law of the Result
When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

& Law of Biomechanics
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

& Law of the Theater
At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

& The Starbucks Law
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

& Murphy's Law of Lockers
If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

& Law of Physical Surfaces
The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

& Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

& Brown's Law of Physical Appearance
If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

& Oliver's Law of Public Speaking
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

& Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

& Doctors' Law
If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.