Some random pictures (nature, animals, art)

[Kirsten]

Here in Germany, we're having the worst summer I've ever seen - dark, rainy, and gloomy. Chances for summer pictures are rare this year, which I think is very depressing. At the top of it, I'm dealing with severe back problems again. I hope it's something my physio can fix tomorrow. If not, I can see another surgery coming.

Anyway, here are the few attempts when I was trying to capture a little bit of summer:













At least I was able to capture the rising of the full moon; a few nights ago:




Here's Emma (I think I have also posted this in Dog General a while ago):



And this lovely girl is Frida, which a friend of mine is recently fostering, but who has now found a furever home:

[Kirsten]

This summer, the renowned art exhibition Documenta is taking place in Kassel, which is only a few kilometers away from here. Don't know if anyone has heard about this event, but we had Brad Pitt here the other day! I went there two days after he left, and took pictures.

These are two of the venues (but as far as I know, Brad Pitt has only visited the first one of these buildings):







Since it's requested not to violate the visitors' privacy by photographing them, I played around with some techniques to blur them. Hope these pics are not too artsy, though:











I may post some more pictures tomorrow, but now I need to rest my back, and go to bed...

[Bengalz]

Awesome photos as always Kirsten - thank you. Your summer sounds like ours did until yesterday - it's beautiful this weekend - there is hope.

I hope you can get some relief in your back - get some rest.

[phesina]

Oh Kirsten... these photographs are stunning.. breathtaking and beautiful. Thank you for creating these wondrous scenes and sharing them with us.

Prayers and good wishes that your back troubles will be fixed up soon without the need for more surgery.

God bless, and ,
Pat and cats

[Karen]

One golden moment
All the heat and strength of the summer sun
Caught within lacy blossoms of story yarrow
Roasting in the sunset glow
Radiating life and heat and storing it
Deep within seed heads
For colder days to come

[Laura's Babies]

Lordy girl! You had to have heard me yelling "OH MY GOD" at every one of them.. Those were just awesome.... the colors in the first ones took my breath, I almost fainted at the moon picture and I just love, love, love the building pictures! WOW! WOW! WOW! I am always amazed at your pictures and you didn't let me down here either! WONDERFUL JOB!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Wonderful pictures as always. Thanks for sharing these with us.

[Karen]

The last light of day catches
The golden building and sets it aglow
Against the lowering slate blue clouds
Storm gathering in the distance
But the building sits solid and widespread,
Sturdy and strong against all weather
I shall endure, it says, and
Lit by the setting sun it beckons
All who view it to come
Come inside, into the luxury of my being
Within these walls, you will be safe and warm
And the coming rains just a musical patter against my windows
Come inside, while you still can
And then let the storms come
I will persevere.

[Kirsten]

Karen, again, this is a beautiful poem which describes a summer evening perfectly! So far, there were too few of those evenings this year, but I sure hope more will come.
Thanks a lot for these beautiful words!


Thank you everyone so very much for taking the time to look at my pics.

Laura, it makes me happy you enjoyed them so much!

As for my back: the appointment I had with my physio this evening was cancelled; his wife is in labour. Luckily, I felt slightly better today, but I hope I can see him tomorrow and that he will be able to fix it.


BTW, I took a series of self portraits last night 'cause I wanted new profile pictures for Facebook. Thought I'd share two of them with you; hope they won't scare you!





I was in pain when I took them, but I think I was able to hide it.

[Kirsten]

Ahh, Karen, we've just posted the same minute; just saw your second poem! It's wonderful, such a nice tribute to this building which was once built in 1701 as a summer residence for a landgrave.

[Karen]

Oh, you're welcome! Hey, did you know smiling actually produces some positive effects in brain chemistry, so maybe smiling for your pictures helped the pain a bit! Your self portraits are lovely, thanks for sharing them with us. It is good to see you smile!

[Kirsten]

Thank you; Karen! Well, I'm still in pain, so I guess my efforts smiling didn't help here! lol

[Karen]

Thank you; Karen! Well, I'm still in pain, so I guess my efforts smiling didn't help here! lol

Aww, that's too bad. Gig you get to see your physiotherapist? Hope you get some relief soon! If only we could swap out parts on humans like we do cars ... Maybe someday they will be able to replace a spine like they currently can with hips and knees.

[Scooter's Mom]

Your photos are so beautiful. I could look at them for hours!

[Karen]

This one looks like it could be the opening image or book cover for some post-apocalyptic book/movie:




In the last days before the world changed, we watched the skies, half-interested, as jets crossed, leaving contrails that blurred into oblivion. Power lines thrummed as we took for granted the electricity that allowed us to live our lives in perpetual sunshine indoors, and projected images of blue skies and daisies on our walls, ignoring the orange tinge that had infected out atmosphere outside. We jumped from show to show, game to game, never looking up from our tablets and laptops and e-readers to catch the early warnings the earth had blazed across the sky in a futile attempt to bring us to our senses ...