Loic
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Your PicturesWe used to have such a thread. How about sharing with us certain snapshots of your life?
Playing beach cricket. You'd need eagle eyes to spot where I am.
Andre, what do you think of my bowling?
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Deborah
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You have very good legs, loic!
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Loic
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Well, my legs are good enough to carry me to the bowling crease. I have no complaints!
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Shouga
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Everyone else is too shy to share their photos?
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Porthos
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Or maybe we don't have photos!
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Loic
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Christmas is around the corner and photo taking is almost de rigeur, surely!
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Deborah
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André, here are the pictures of my Cape Daisies that you requested, taken a couple of days ago. They're on my "deck", which is the roof of the 1-story garage that was added onto the 2-story building I live in (I have the upper floor). I planted them rather late in the year and thought that the 6-7 flowers that were opening at that time would be the last. I ignored them for a few weeks, and...
(For those of you who don't know your flowers, the Cape Daisies are in the center of the picture.)
This batch of blooms haven't opened up all the way, but we're expecting a heavy rainstorm and I wanted to get pictures before the poor little things got battered.
Here's a picture from the top so you can see their faces. 
I took these pictures when I didn't have my contact lenses in and couldn't see clearly. We feed a lot of birds, and the deck was covered with sunflower seed shells. I didn't feel like sweeping up just then, and without my lenses I thought the sunflower seed shells just made the deck look as if it had an interesting surface. However, now I can see that it just looks as if it's covered with sunflower seed shells. 
More excuses...the marigolds (bottom left) and petunias (upper left) are on their last legs, but they're annuals, so they're supposed to die... 
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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Oh wow Deborah, those daisies are beautiful!  It's actually amazing that they grow so well in SF! TLC... 
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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I thought of you when I took this picture yesterday near St. Francis, Deborah. The small patch of flowers just looked so beautiful between the green plants. The pic was taken in a nature reserve right next to the beach.
This is what it looks like there. I was standing close to the flowers when I took this picture.
And some more pictures from there...
And the flowers again...
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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And I just have to post this pic... my brother-in-law with my little angel (their son)
Edrich (three years old) (a rare opportunity, he refuses to be photographed)
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Deborah
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Ooooh -- beautiful beach pictures!
| Quote: | | It's actually amazing that they grow so well in SF! TLC... |
TLC, indeed! This is how I described my care: "I ignored them for a few weeks, and... "
It shouldn't be too surprising that Cape Daisies grow well here. After all, your neighborhood and mine are both considered to have Mediterranean climates. But I will be surprised if they survive the wind today. The rain last night turned to be not so heavy, but the wind was fierce. This morning half of the pots on my deck had been knocked over and I didn't bother setting them aright because I figured they'd just be knocked over again. The daisies looked so brave, with their petals closed in, backs to the wind, hunching their shoulders up around their necks. (Am I anthropomorphizing?)
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Deborah
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Oops! You posted your last picture while I was writing my last post. Awww, cute little nephew!
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| Deborah wrote: | Ooooh -- beautiful beach pictures!
| Quote: | | It's actually amazing that they grow so well in SF! TLC... |
TLC, indeed! This is how I described my care: "I ignored them for a few weeks, and... "
It shouldn't be too surprising that Cape Daisies grow well here. After all, your neighborhood and mine are both considered to have Mediterranean climates. But I will be surprised if they survive the wind today. The rain last night turned to be not so heavy, but the wind was fierce. This morning half of the pots on my deck had been knocked over and I didn't bother setting them aright because I figured they'd just be knocked over again. The daisies looked so brave, with their petals closed in, backs to the wind, hunching their shoulders up around their necks. (Am I anthropomorphizing?) |
You're right, I've been thinking about that! Cape Daisies, despite their dainty look, are very strong flowers. Namaqualand, the area in SA where they really flourish, is a harsh area (almost semi-desert). Maybe ignoring them for a few weeks was what did the trick! Your last sentence about them looking brave, etc. is a wonderful description!
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| Deborah wrote: | | Oops! You posted your last picture while I was writing my last post. Awww, cute little nephew! |
Die punt van my hart!! It's amazing to watch his (already strong) personality grow. I know I shouldn't have favourites amongst my nephews and nieces, but....
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Deborah
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I took these pictures a couple of hours ago, on my afternoon break -- it was late afternoon, not the best lighting for point-and-click photography. I work a short walk from the Embarcadero, where most of the pictures were taken.
This is the ice skating rink that goes up every November and comes down in January:
Pelicans?
The Ferry Building:
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Deborah
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Can anyone explain why this happens?
I tried to use the Attach File feature, just as in the other pictures I posted.
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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Over this weekend I'll be moving into my new house. I took some pictures in the estate where the house is today.
Springboks...
Sheep...
My house is one of those in the background
A watering hole. I haven't been there yet, but there are various game around there.
Ostriches
And I couldn't resist taking this pic....
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| Deborah wrote: | Can anyone explain why this happens?
I tried to use the Attach File feature, just as in the other pictures I posted. |
All I can think of, is that there was something wrong with the picture. The feature worked fine for me now.
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Shouga
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I love your pictures, André. I can't imagine living in a country where it's common to see springbok and ostriches walking around. Even the sheep look completely different from English sheep. And, you live in that village?! I'd love to see more pictures of the village and the houses, if possible. Do you have any more pictures to share with us?
I hope other people post pictures up too! I'm interested in seeing the kind of places where you all live.
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Loic
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I must say, the South African landscape bears a passing resemblance to the outback in Western Australia.
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| Shouga wrote: | I love your pictures, André. I can't imagine living in a country where it's common to see springbok and ostriches walking around. Even the sheep look completely different from English sheep. And, you live in that village?! I'd love to see more pictures of the village and the houses, if possible. Do you have any more pictures to share with us?
I hope other people post pictures up too! I'm interested in seeing the kind of places where you all live. |
Thanks, Shouga! Well, it depends on where you live, of course. The estate (or village) where I live is about 5km outside of the city. What with my...er... somewhat busy schedule since moving here, I haven't really had time yet to explore the place, but I'm planning to do so during the next week or two and will take more pictures then.
Loic: Remember that this is the Southern Free State, other parts of SA look very different. But a comparison between SA and Western Australia isn't far fetched. Perth is a very popular destination for South Africans emigrating to Australia, because the climate and lifestyle is apparently much the same as Cape Town.
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Uriel
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Andre's house would fit right in in New Mexico, too:
Although two stories are uncommon here -- difficult to keep the top floor cool.
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fab
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Is there a city or town nearby ?
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Uriel
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The top house -- well, that's a mansion, really -- is outside of Santa Fe -- you can see the roofs of all kinds of houses near it. The second one I don't know where it is, but it looks fairly suburban. You don't have trees growing in the wild, or without a good sprinkler system. That could be in my neighborhood -- we all have half-acre lots and are technically in the city limits of Las Cruces (although we are about 10 minutes down the highway from where the city looks like it starts.)
Our cities out here tend to sprawl -- there's no reason to build houses close together; space is not at a premium. But you really don't see houses like this out in the middle of nowhere, either -- these are fairly pricey, and their owners would want the amenities of civilization -- running water and electricity. So they would undoubtedly be on the outskirts of town.
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Fredrik
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Uriel wrote: | Quote: | | You don't have trees growing in the wild, or without a good sprinkler system. |
Highly exotic notion!  
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Porthos
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I always heard Las Cruces was really nice. The local scenery is said to be beautiful. At least that is what I've heard. Is this so?
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fab
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Thank you Uriel.
but I was actually asking André, I identified your as sort of suburbian situation, but in his photos I had the impression it to be in the middle of the bushland...
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| fab wrote: | Thank you Uriel.
but I was actually asking André, I identified your as sort of suburbian situation, but in his photos I had the impression it to be in the middle of the bushland... |
Sorry, I actually also thought your question was for Uriel, following after her pics!
Yes, the city of Bloemfontein is less than 5 km away. I was standing with my back to the city when I took the pics, but you can't see the city from here anyway. It's about a 20 minutes drive from my home to my office in the city centre.
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Uriel
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| Porthos wrote: | | I always heard Las Cruces was really nice. The local scenery is said to be beautiful. At least that is what I've heard. Is this so? |
The city isn't that exciting to look at, but the surrounding scenery is pretty gorgeous -- in a stark, geographic way. It was an acquired taste at first, but now I find it really majestic. We have mountains in all directions, but the ones just up from my house (about 5 miles away) look like this about now, with a fine dusting of snow:
Climb up them (or drive up to the pass), and you can see for at least a hundred miles:
Fredrik, mesquite bushes can get taller than a man, and so can ocotilloand yucca-- two or three times a person's height -- so we do have tall plants. But they aren't really trees, per se. Most of our vegetation is low scrub, cactus, and wildflowers. We don't even have much in the way of native grasses around here, although grass has been introduced. you won't see it in the wild, though, except along the riverbanks and up at higher elevations. In the montane regions you will find aspen and pine forests, but not on our particular mountains, as you can see.
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Walker
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The weather isn't much fun so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took last summer.
Two friends of mine were back in town.
Well, this last one's from Christmas Eve.
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Deborah
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Hey, André! I bought some more Cape daisies, but these are purple. You often see thes beautiful flowers in San Francisco cascading down the retaining walls in front of houses that are built up above the sidewalks, on hills.
(Did you know that the botanical name of the Cape daisy is osteospermum)
Walker, I just saw the pictures you took last summer -- they're very pretty. And so are your friends.
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Pauline
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Deborah,
It's a beautiful flower!!! It must be wonderful to see many of them on the walls.
Walker
i like those photos as well.
here are some photos of Wallonia:
  
 
the tree who drinks:
The photographer has written of this picture:
| photographer wrote: | TEC is the public company of bus of Wallonia... Here is a picture taken in the center of Nivelles. You can see that nearly all the busses have Nivelles as destination.
In the background, the collegiate church of Saint Gertrude, patron saint of the city, dates from the 11th to the 13th century and is one of the best examples of Romanesque style in Belgium. It has been classified as one of Europe’s major heritage sites. Tombs from the Merovingian (7th century) and Carolingian (9th century) periods have been found under the church. The Romanesque crypt is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
The two-meter-tall statue that strikes the hours in one of the towers (French: jacquemart) is affectionately known as “Jean de Nivelles” (or Djan Djan). Jean dates from around 1400. |
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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Ah yes, the purple daisies are beautiful! Here are some of them in the veld with other colours.
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Yelina
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In Brittany, we very often see hydrangeas. The more popular are pink and blue, but we also see some white at times.
Usually, every traditional Breton house has hydrangeas in front of its door.
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fab
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Pauline,
Lorsqu'on voit tes photos de la Wallonie, on se dit qu'il est assez injuste de limiter l'image que l'on a de la Belgique au "plat pays"... qui correspond en fait ŕ la Flandre seulement.
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Pauline
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| fab wrote: | Pauline,
Lorsqu'on voit tes photos de la Wallonie, on se dit qu'il est assez injuste de limiter l'image que l'on a de la Belgique au "plat pays"... qui correspond en fait ŕ la Flandre seulement. |
Yes, it's Flanders only whta's flat. Wllonie is very hilly. Probably people think that Belgium is flat because of Flanders and because of the history - it was part of the Netherlands until 1830, and then it was indeed the majority of the country completely flat. I think as well that Flanders is more famous in other countrys because there were famous flemish, but famous walloons there are (were) few except Poirot and Tintin LOL!!! 
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Walker
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Thanks for your comments! Pauline, those photos are fantastic! Do you live near any of those places?
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Pauline
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I don't live in those villages or towns but not far away. Wallonia isn't large, it's about 17.000 km2. Where I live it's bit lesser hilly that those places on the pictures, but it's hilly as well and there're pine forests, also some forests with other trees.
On my computer now some of the pictures don't appear, but a little icon. If you've the same problem you can see those pictures: click quote then you can see the url.Copy and paste one of those on your computer on the place for the website adress and it will be possible to see the photo.
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Walker
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Mmm... pine forests! I have some Wallonie ancestry, you know, maybe that's where my liking of pine trees comes from!
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Deborah
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Here are a couple of recent pictures.
My brother took the first one in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I liked this picture because of the Rocky Mountains in the background. (That's an unimaginative name for a mountain range, isn't it? It's like naming a lake "Watery Lake".)
Click to see full size image
I took the next one at the birthday party of a friend (who can be be seen dimly in the doorway) at his wonderful home in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.
Click to see full size image
I lived in this house for a year, more than 20 years ago. My room was in the basement and was pretty dark and sort of dank, but it looked out on a beautiful, jungle-y garden in the back, and of course I could come out of my burrow and enjoy the common areas of the house.
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Loic
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And it is a very pretty house, Deborah. The exterior has a very noble countenance.
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Deborah
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Yes, that neighborhood is full of noble houses. It was spared the 1906 post-earthquake fire.
And now...
Click to see full size image
The amazing Ball-O-Cat!
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Loic
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If I hadn't clicked on the image to enlarge it, I'd have thought that you were spinning a ball of yarn, no pun intended!
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Walker
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What a nice house! Different indeed.
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Deborah
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| Walker wrote: | | What a nice house! Different indeed. |
Structurally, the house is not at all out of place for the neighborhood. But the manner of painting is slightly different, and of course the stairway is very distinctive.
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Pauline
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It seems like a builidng by Gaudí. It's beautiful!!!!! The cat is incredible as well
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Deborah
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The interior of the house has undergone many changes since the owner bought it in 1967 or '68. But one bathroom was left with it's original, day-glo paintings.
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Walker
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| Deborah wrote: | | Walker wrote: | | What a nice house! Different indeed. |
Structurally, the house is not at all out of place for the neighborhood. But the manner of painting is slightly different, and of course the stairway is very distinctive. |
Yes, the colors was what struck me first. That light blue in particular.
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Deborah
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I forgot to say who the cat is. He's my younger cat, Ratso, who is about 14 years old.
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Deborah
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And here's another picture of Ratso, unfurled. His eye color, when it's not altered by a flash, is greener than this.
Click to see full size image
I have more pictures of him than of the other cats in the household because he follows me everywhere and thus is always at hand -- often literally on hand. Here's another picture of him in his favorite place when I'm at the computer:
[Well, the computer is refusing to let me attach another picture; I'll try later.]
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Mathijs
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My studio is one block from here.
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Deborah
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| Mathijs wrote: | | My studio is one block from here. |
Wow! Is your block as beautiful as this scene?
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Mathijs
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No, but is has it's charm, it's one of those old real narrow streets ...
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André in Zuid-Afrika
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| Mathijs wrote: |
My studio is one block from here. |
Ghent is high on my list of places to see.
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Mathijs
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Same scenery again
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Uriel
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| Quote: | | My brother took the first one in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I liked this picture because of the Rocky Mountains in the background. (That's an unimaginative name for a mountain range, isn't it? It's like naming a lake "Watery Lake".) |
No worse than "Great Sandy Desert", though. There's a housing development right next to mine that has named all of its streets after deserts, and it's amusing to drive down Kalahari, Atacama, Great Basin, Mohave, etc. , and then turn onto .... Great Sandy Drive!
Mathijs!!! "Bout time you came back!
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