Belated Sunday Picspam.

[curiouswombat]

Life seems to be running away with me at the moment - I've got all sorts of odd pics that I meant to share - but haven't; from a newt and some garden gargoyles, to some pictures from the notice boards in a couple of local shops, especially for bojojoti who wondered what the notices were on such notice boards around the world.

Work is busy and I have still been acting as occasional furniture remover for D-d - but she is getting quite settled in now. Last night I had taken more stuff down there and she came to the conclusion that, to fit in her small chest of drawers from home where she planned, we would really need to move her, now full, wardrobe by a couple of inches. We put our backs to it, braced ourselves, and went to push - then collapsed into helpless giggles as we both wiggled our bottoms to give extra traction! Oddly enough, it seemed to work - the wardrobe slid the required two inches and the chest of drawers fits perfectly!

Anyway

Firstly - I took these a couple of weeks ago in one of the gardens down beside the sea in Douglas -



They are probably in flower by now - within reach of the sea spray. That particular stretch of seaside garden is decorated with mosaics made by some local groups; I love this guy who just lurks on a bit of rock near the path -



Now a trip to the garden centre, where I was trying out the camera D-d passed to me as being smaller for carrying in my handbag - not flower pics though - here are some owls -



and a few garden gagoyles -



The camera is a lot smaller and lighter - but it isn't so good at macro shots (close-up stuff) - so I think I will end up using both.

However, all these are with the Canon rather than my faithful Fuji. These are the outbuildings at what used to be a working farm but they are now mainly used for storage -



And here is a quiet spot where I could happily sit for an hour or two reading. But perhaps not in the weak winter sunshine - it would be better in a month or two!



Now for those notice-boards. They show a lot of things are on offer if you are bored, and places you might want to go shopping -



I'd be tempted by that classical music concert just to sit and gaze at that pianist (Tolkien-loving friends - I did wonder just what Maglor would look like...!)

And like everywhere we have missing cats and dogs -



Shoprite have a board for small ads - they even provide the cards -




I cropped one of the ads out so that you could read it better as it amused me -



And the final picture shows something I have just got for D-d -




It looks like a framed picture doesn't it? But actually it is a laptray (she realised she no longer had one) - made by this company from one of the pictures D-d took in Thailand. It cost about 20% more than a much less interesting one from a local shop - and took only 5 days to arrive - 2 of which were the weekend. So D-d can have supper in Thailand on her knee in her flat!

I didn't tell her I was getting it - but I think she will probably like it.



I'm sure there were other things I was going to post about - but my brain has just crashed...

Ah - just remembered, about 30 secs after hitting 'post'; thank you so much to Gillo, Maia, and Sharelle for the dragons - I am rather fond of dragons. In fact I think I'll just change my icon...

Comments

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Oh, I *want* one of those adorable owls!!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I fear they might be a bit heavy to post...!

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

...brand new. My dog prefers the couch.
Hee! I've lost count of the number of cat beds which have been purchased and summarily rejected by my cats. They prefer the sofa or (better yet) my lap.
I love the owls!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I know - I thought the same thing when I saw it 'What did she expect?' went through my mind almost instantly!

The owls are rather cute aren't they? I may decide to treat myself...

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

My ob/gyn collects owl statues. She has a lovely collection on her desk.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Sadly these might be a bit heavy to post...

[gamiila.livejournal.com]

Hee! Such a coincidence: I put up a picture of a supermarket notice board today as well ;-)

I'm sure K will love her prezzie.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh - I haven't really looked at my FL - I will dash over to see...

[just-ann-now.livejournal.com]

Oh, those owls are GORGEOUS. As is the pianist *grin*

I really like the rough texture of those outbuildings (*saves picture for inspiration for "texture" bingo card*)

What a great idea that tea-tray is!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The owls are rather cute - I might get one to lurk amongst my pots in the garden.

The outbuildings are built of local stone - I wonder if something similar could be found in the parts of Rohan near rivers?

We use laptrays a lot - for eating off, writing on, all sorts. They have a bean-bag built in so that they sit steadily on the knees. Do you have the same sort of thing?

ETA - I meant to add that the pianist is Petr Limonov (http://petrlimonov.com/).

[just-ann-now.livejournal.com]

I've seen lap desks with the bean baggery, but not with the tea-trays which is too bad because that looks like a brilliant idea.

He's very pretty whatever his name is! His website picture doesn't do him half the justice that flyer does.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I do rather covet that flyer pic...

What a shame that you can't get laptrays - they've been common here for the past 15 years or so - my aunt had a small one with a baize cover for playing patience on at least that long ago and it was quite old. I'm so used to having one down beside my chair that I would really miss them if they suddenly disappeared.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Loved the owls, but I really love the gargoyles. I love gargoyles, but I've never seen garden ones. Now I want one!!! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - rather like the owls I fear they might be a bit heavy to post...

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Your wish became my command. *g*

http://www.designtoscano.com/category/garden+statues/gargoyle+%26+dragon+statues.do?nType=1

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Gosh - Emmett does look very familiar!

[dougalsservant.livejournal.com]

What a lovely collection of owls!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I thought you might rather like them!

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else, I adore the owls, but I think I'll let you post me the pianist instead. *g*

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

He is really rather, um, cute... he is Petr Limonov (http://petrlimonov.com/).

[engarian.livejournal.com]

He is quite lovely, isn't he? Love his eyes.

- Erulisse (one L)

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Things pushing up through the ground already... iz jealous. And look at all those owls and that laptray.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

There are a few daffs actually out now. The owls are rather sweet, aren't they? And I was really pleased at how her laptray had come out - it will be a pleasure to use, I hope.

[shirebound]

I enjoy your pictures very much. My dog prefers the couch, too! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I just thought, when I read that ad, 'but of course the dog will prefer the couch - silly lady!'

[artykat.livejournal.com]

Love your photos, as always. I want that tray! The owls are adorable, but the tray is so practical AND beautiful. and our dog loves the couch AND her beds (she has two, by accident). Our cat, Sylvie, ALSO loves her beds :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It did cost a little more to get the pic onto the tray - but then laptrays, with their beanbag backing, are a bit of an essential of daily life around our family and it does look so good.

So many cats and dogs prefer the couch - I thought the poor woman must have bought what she thought was the ultimate pet bed and been rather disappointed to find she still couldn't sit on her couch!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I love the little lizard.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is really sweet, isn't it? Just a few mosaic pieces, and there he is, basking in the sun. Or the rain today!

[myrhiann.livejournal.com]

Oh, those gargoyles are something else! tThen I went to the Greenman page also, and I want an item from each page. Just wishful thinking, of course, as the freight would make it impossible.

The lap tray turned out well, much prettier than the very basic ones I have seen here.

This post was quite a cornucopia of photography, I loved all the pics.

Oh,, last but not least, Petr Limonov is a very fetching young man.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Gargoyles do look rather friendly, I thought. But a bit heavy to post. I was so pleased to find the lap tray site - and even more pleased with the quality and speed of arrival.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

I have hyacinths that are almost to that stage. It's so encouraging to see those shoots. It may be below freezing, but spring is coming!

And the owls are seriously cute!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I must have a look in the tubs out the back - I think there might be a hyacinth or two in them, too.

Those owls have certainly caught people's eyes.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I'm in KC, so photos will have to wait until I'm back home, but I should get some of Bojoette's place to share.

I've sworn off any more yard art, but I'd be hard pressed to pass up those owls. Good thing they're a long swim away!

I love those outbuildings. The remodeler in me would love to make those into dwellings. It seems a waste to use them for storage. It saddens me to see so many small farms going by the wayside. I wonder if, in my lifetime, all individual businesses and ways of life will disappear, and all we'll be left with is a handful of mega-corporations. I certainly hope not.

Your bulletin boards were far more interesting than mine! I did take my photos at a greasy spoon; I'm sure I'd get a far different view at another location. I'll have to look about. And you have such small phone numbers! Our cell phone numbers are ten digits long.

What a nifty laptray. Your daughter will love that you personalized it.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

A lot of the old barns have been turned into houses - but I rather like seeing them still used as outbuildings as they were originally built. We do still have some small farms working too - like the one whose outbuildings I used as the 'green' pic for Photo-scavenger. And I hope, like you, that we don't end up in a mega-corporation world - it would be a very dull place.

The phone numbers on the bulletin board hadn't really struck me - I'm so used to no-one bothering to put the dialling code as we don't need it within the island. From off-island the land-line numbers (which all begin with a 6 or an 8) have 01624 in front of them, and the mobiles (the 2,3,&4 numbers) have 07624 - but on island the codes are unnecessary.

And, oddly, I was thinking the notices on your board were more interesting! And here (http://gamiila.livejournal.com/484210.html#comments) is one in Gamiila's local Chinese supermarket in the Netherlands which she posted co-incidentally yesterday too - I thought it was fascinating.

Beanbag lap trays are just so useful - I've left her a message to say I have one for her, without saying about the picture, and added - 'and if you don't want it I'll be happy to keep it'. But I don't think I'll get the chance...

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What fascinating photos! I use my laptop on a tray and wish it were as pretty!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you. My own lap tray has cats on it. And I have plain grey one for the laptop, but it has a fan built in to keep the laptop cool.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

Whoever arranged those owls has got a very nice eye for composition. I've seen them before but not arranged so nicely.

I like the idea of a memory foam dog bed. Now I just need a dog....

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

You're right about the owl display - I hadn't thought of it.

As for the memory foam dog bed - the only problem would be that if you did get a dog it would probably prefer the couch... although you could then retire, unhindered, to the dog bed yourself I guess!

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

I'd be tempted by that classical music concert just to sit and gaze at that pianist (Tolkien-loving friends - I did wonder just what Maglor would look like...!)

Same here!! *g*

Dog prefers the couch. Yep. We gave up with dog beds because Billy thinks he's a human.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

He is really a very beautiful young man - and, oh the cheek bones...!

I guess that somewhere in the world there must be a dog that actually uses a dog bed - but I can't think of any I know.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! Love the lap tray. And those owls...I want....!!!!! What a perfect run of pics for the day :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The owls are really rather good - I think I might be tempted.

I must say I liked the idea of combining the practicality of a beanbag laptray with the personal touch of it being one of her pictures - and it turned out very well.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

At least their dog didn't shred the bed in disgust as mine tend to do!

Glad to know D-d is settling in.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I can see quite a lot of dogs demolishing it - and can you imagine how much a memory foam dog-bed must have cost?

D-d is getting well settled in - and considering that much of her furniture came from the charity shops, with the odd donation from home, or from friends, the place looks really good.

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

Lovely pictures, especially the farm building and the quiet spot with its wood bench.

I do hope there are some daffodils left when I get to England in mid-April.

D-d is lucky to have you to help her.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there will still be some daffs!

Mums are the ones who are always there to help - I remember my Mum helping me sort out the transit house we had here when I first came home with a young baby, leaving S2C behind in the NE of England to sort out selling our flat there and so on.