This is the northern rose window from Notre-Dame de Paris. I was there not that long before the fire. Amazingly, it seems as though all the stained glass in this photo actually survived the conflagration. This window was first made in about 1250, and most of the original glass is still in place.
I can't find her right now, but on twitter there is, or was, a lady who seemed to be an expert who claimed that the basic design for European Cathedrals is from Syrian models, and was brought back to Europe by Crusaders
Having recently travelled the country - from Devon to the Isle of Wight, and Sheffield - I can assure everyone that the may is most definitely 'out' now, for this year, so feel free to cast as many 'clouts' as you like.
It's only when it's in bloom that you realise quite how many hawthorne trees there are in this country!
I walked through this burgeoning cornfield last week, and I thought - 'The Corn is Green' - which appears to be the title of a 1938 play by Emlyn Williams.
But also, I found this:
The corn was springing fresh and green,
and the lark sang loud and high.
And the red was on your lips, Mary,
and the love light in your eyes.
(Broadside Ballads)
I walked through this burgeoning cornfield last week, and I thought - 'The Corn is Green' - which appears to be the title of a 1938 play by Emlyn Williams.
But also, I found this:
The corn was springing fresh and green,
and the lark sang loud and high.
And the red was on your lips, Mary,
and the love light in your eyes.
(Broadside Ballads)
I'm always a bit bemused by the enduiring fascination of sunsets. You'd think it would be a case of "seen one, seen 'em all", but it really isn't.
I can usually remember the moment when I photographed each one. They linger in the mind, somehow.
This one is from the Lac de Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, and was taken about 10 years ago on a day trip to see the nearby Roman ruins.
I'm always a bit bemused by the enduiring fascination of sunsets. You'd think it would be a case of "seen one, seen 'em all", but it really isn't.
I can usually remember the moment when I photographed each one. They linger in the mind, somehow.
This one is from the Lac de Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, and was taken about 10 years ago on a day trip to see the nearby Roman ruins.
Here's a Friday window for Good Friday. In the vestry of the parish church of Mells, in Somerset, is a window made of fragments of mediaeval stained glass, and in the middle of that window sits this face of the sun.
Anyway, it seems like an appropriate symbol of both Easter week and the coming of spring to me. I just can't quite decide though why the sun is looking so sad and serious.
Here's a Friday window for Good Friday. In the vestry of the parish church of Mells, in Somerset, is a window made of fragments of mediaeval stained glass, and in the middle of that window sits this face of the sun.
Anyway, it seems like an appropriate symbol of both Easter week and the coming of spring to me. I just can't quite decide though why the sun is looking so sad and serious.
Look at these fine old beech trees basking in the early spring sunshine. This group lives on the western edge of Dartmoor, near Walkhampton.
Notice that several of them are growing in a line, on a field boundary. They appear to be growing out of a stone wall, but this style of enclosure consists of a double wall with earth between and is known as "Devon banking".
Antony Gormley is one of my favourite sculptors. He has a way of placing figures in a setting that appeals to both the intellect and the emotions.
This piece, entitled Sound II and dating from 1986, can be found in the crypt of Winchester Cathedral, itself dating from 1079. Sometimes the crypt is flooded and sometimes not, making the installation far more dynamic than you might expect.
Antony Gormley is one of my favourite sculptors. He has a way of placing figures in a setting that appeals to both the intellect and the emotions.
This piece, entitled Sound II and dating from 1986, can be found in the crypt of Winchester Cathedral, itself dating from 1079. Sometimes the crypt is flooded and sometimes not, making the installation far more dynamic than you might expect.
Back on the Birdsite, I sometimes used to do #FollowBackFriday or #FollowFriday. It was a good way of finding new people to interact with, but it doesn't seem so popular here.
Now I'm here, I usually do #WindowFriday or #FensterFreitag instead. It's probably more cool, but it's less sociable.
Anyway, if you want to check out my feed and like some of my posts, why not give me a follow, and I will try to reciprocate.
This fine menhir lives at Lostmarc'h, on the Crozon Peninsula, in Brittany. It was once the largest of an alignment of 15 stones, but most of its fellows are now toppled or gone.
It's a great place to cycle to from anywhere on the Peninsula - which, as you can see from my bike being propped up against it, is exactly what I did.
The views are spectacular and the beaches are lovely.
This fine menhir lives at Lostmarc'h, on the Crozon Peninsula, in Brittany. It was once the largest of an alignment of 15 stones, but most of its fellows are now toppled or gone.
It's a great place to cycle to from anywhere on the Peninsula - which, as you can see from my bike being propped up against it, is exactly what I did.
The views are spectacular and the beaches are lovely.
@RickGaehl I imagine that in our country the beach would be fenced off and there would be private cottages right next to the water:)
the scenery is gorgeous, glad you can see such beauty!
Full moon today. You might think of it as the Lenten Moon, or you might think of it as the Worm Moon. Either way, it signifies that it's time for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to start bringing on our seeds for this year's crops.
This is the last full moon of the winter season and the harbinger of spring.
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure to find lots of trees basking in the sunshine. The depths of the forest remain steeped in stygian, indigo gloom though.
At least, that's how it is where I live - probably no bears there though...
These cute little houses are at Kinver Edge, a striking escarpment on the Staffordshire-Worcestershire border. They were hollowed out of a large, sandstone rock, known as Holy Austin, which was once home to a hermit.
There are a number of these 'cave dwellings' at Kinver Edge, and several were still occupied until the 1960s.
We can enjoy imagining what troglodyte life must have been like...
These cute little houses are at Kinver Edge, a striking escarpment on the Staffordshire-Worcestershire border. They were hollowed out of a large, sandstone rock, known as Holy Austin, which was once home to a hermit.
There are a number of these 'cave dwellings' at Kinver Edge, and several were still occupied until the 1960s.
We can enjoy imagining what troglodyte life must have been like...
I was wandering around the night-time streets of Berlin a year or two back, when I was drawn, as many are, to Alexanderplatz. Whilst there, I had a nice Currywurst and took this picture.
On the left, we can see the Marienkirche - oldest church in Berlin - and on the right is the Fernsehturm - iconic relic of the GDR. Peeping above the church is what used, in communist times, to be the Interhotel, but is now the Radisson Park Inn.
I was wandering around the night-time streets of Berlin a year or two back, when I was drawn, as many are, to Alexanderplatz. Whilst there, I had a nice Currywurst and took this picture.
On the left, we can see the Marienkirche - oldest church in Berlin - and on the right is the Fernsehturm - iconic relic of the GDR. Peeping above the church is what used, in communist times, to be the Interhotel, but is now the Radisson Park Inn.
Near where I live, there is a small, ornamental, Japanese garden. The raked gravel, I'm told, represents the sea. The two rocks in the foreground are 'islands', and the mainland, with 'mountains' and 'forests' can be seen at the top of the frame.
It's a peaceful spot for a spell of quiet contemplation.
@RickGaehl I just love Zen gardens. I only know of two here in Britain. One in Kew Gardens which is huge and another tiny one in someones front garden in Totnes that I used to see when I drove my truck past it.
The Kew Gardens one is a place to sit and be calm. The Totnes one was a tiny moment of joy in a busy day full of hard work.
Gregory's Server
@RickGaehl “Professor” Snape, Harry!