CERAMIC WEDDING DRESSES

Recently we went to see the fantastic Wedding Dresses on display ( we weren't allowed to take any photos )

The beautiful dresses were from centuries ago, until modern times

Many of these old dresses were made from silk, and hand made

The shoes were exquisite, and so tiny,

The mens suits were gorgeous too, with embroidered shirts etc

The next Exhibition to be held at the Bendigo Art Centre ( Australia ) will be the "Grace Kelly Collection"  My camera will be trying to escape from my carry bag.

But opposite the Art Centre, are a row of specialty, exquisite shops

My camera finally escaped from my bag, and took photos through the glass window ,

of these unbelievable CERAMIC WEDDING DRESSES

They were like fine china and to me, and they are ART MASTERPIECES

CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR BOLLARD - 1 OF MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

I have started, HURRAY

1 of my New years Resolutions was to cover a bollard !

 A CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR, MOSAIC BOLLARD

This will eventually be placed in my red garden, standing nearly 6 feet tall.      

My niece Wendy has just bought me some burgundy - red rippled glass panels,  THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL. My daughter and l have been around all the thrift shops ( op shops ) and found some Christmas mugs and plates.

Dennis and Yvonne at our great little Antique Shop, have given me a box of green glass bits and pieces.

Tomorrow is a free day,------- and l shall be  working on it all day

l shall have a weekly blog on it's progress

QUIRKY PHOTO OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY

 Have you ever been told that each generation of people are bigger than the last ?

I have been told many times, and I've also read it somewhere.

I think the photo below is a fine example, and proves the theory.

YES --- This is my husbands sexy foot, in our Grandsons Shoe !

ST VALENTINES DAY - WHERE DID IT ORIGINATE ?

To-day is St Valentines Day.
Where did it originate ?
I looked up the internet, and google was very helpful.
There were a number of storys, but l'm sure this is the correct version.

The Real " Saint Valentine" was a Roman Catholic Priest

A defiant Priest,  from the 3rd Century A.D., named Valentine

The Emperor Claudius, was a Vicious Ruler.
His vast army of men, were away from there loved ones for months on end, and as a result were very homesick.

So the Emperor banned marriages, as LOVE was weakening his army of men

The defiant Priest Valentine would secretly marry young couples, as he thought Emperor Claudius
was unjust. ----           Eventually Claudius found out and the Priest was imprisoned,  awaiting execution.

While waiting in his cell, many young couples, and grateful people would push flowers, roses and letters through the cell bars.

During this time he fell in love with the Jailers Daughter.

The Priest Valentine was executed on FEBRUARY the 14th

Before he died he wrote a letter to the women he loved signed " YOUR VALENTINE "

I think this is a lovely romantic story and I shall appreciate St Valentines Day more,
as its not really a big day here in Australia, as it is in America.

 My husband says he doesn't believe in it, as its so commercial  But on the 14th of February every year, he places a lovely rose from our garden, ( preferably a red one ) in a vase on our kitchen table.
I don't care if it doesn't match the vase, or its not a bud and only lasts a day. I love it and look forward to it every year.

FEBRUARY, HUG OF THE MONTH

I love this photo,even though its a few years ago, l think it's such a happy

care free hug,  ( Our grandson, Ashley hugging his Granddad.)
Definitely, hug of the month, even though the photos weren't as clear then.

l can't remember who's Birthday it is ?
Little Cody in the middle looks happy, but so does Caitlyn, holding up some fishies.
Ashley might be giving Granddad a big hug, but he's got 1 eye on the football .

WOODPECKER TRIVIA

Why doesn't a WOODPECKER get a HEADACHE,  or have BRAIN DAMAGE  ?

the redhead woodpecker , (above) pleated woodpecker with her babies - (below)

Researchers have discovered 4 structures of the woodpeckers head

that make it shock - absorbent -

1 - A strong yet flexible bill

1 - A hyoid - a structure of bone and elastic tissue that wraps around the skull .

3 - An area of spongy bone in the skull

4 - Little space for cerebral - spinal fluid between the skull and the brain.

Each of these elements absorbs machanical shock, allowing the woodpecker to strike a tree at a rate of up to 22 times per second with no injury to the brain.

the golden olive woodpecker 

nest-site woodpecker

common flame back male 

INTERESTING FACTS !

Inspired by the woodpeckers head, researchers have developed a casing that can withstand a g- force of up to 60,000. Their success may lead to among other things, better protection for aircraft flight recorders, which can currently  withstand a g-force of only 1,ooo. Kim Blackburn, an engineer at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, says that what has been discovered about the Woodpeckers head provides " a fascinating example of how nature develops highly advanced structures in combination, to solve what at first seems to be an impossible challenge

Life is a Mystery ?
There are so many species of woodpeckers, I have chosen just a few.

Have you ever seen " Woody Woodpecker " the cartoon.?

Mum used to sing us the song from the cartoon, actually it was a hit on the radio , Danny Kaye used to sing it. "The Woody Woodpecker Song"

pleated baby woodpecker

 nuttalls woodpecker

 arizona woodpecker