Sunday, February 24, 2008

Eilean Donan Castle

February theme-Castles


For those who like to have a royal-like wedding with a castle as the location, Eliean Donan in Scotland is one of the popular venues for this memorable occasion.



Eilean Donan is in Scotland, close to the village of Dornie. It is named after St. Donan, a celtic saint of the Dark Ages.


The original castle was built in 1220 for Alexander II as a defence against the Vikings. By the late 13th century it had become a stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail (later the Earls of Seaforth). In 1511, the MacRaes, as protectors of the MacKenzies, became the hereditary Constables of the Castle.

In 1539 Iain Dubh Matheson, chief of the Clan Matheson died whilst defending the Castle on Eilean Donan island against the Clan MacDonald of Sleat on behalf of the Clan MacRae and Clan MacKenzie.

In April 1719 the castle was occupied by Spanish troops attempting to start another Jacobite Rising. The castle was recaptured, and then demolished, by three Royal Navy frigates on 10–13 May 1719. The Spanish troops were defeated a month later at the Battle of Glen Shiel.

The castle was restored in the years between 1919 and 1932 by Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap. The restoration included the construction of an arched bridge to give easier access to the castle. In 1983 The Conchra Charitable Trust was formed by the MacRae family to care for the Castle.


source of information: wikipedia

Monday, February 04, 2008

Castelo de San Angelo-Rome-Castle

February theme-Castles

Castelo de San Angelo

One of the landmarks visited by the family when my brother was still staying in Italy.



It was built in Rome by the Emperor Hadrian. It was originally created as a tomb but was mostly used as a defense fortress. From its top place, a wonderful view of Rome is presented.

Its original structure was begun in 139 by emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum personal and family (tombs of Adriano), come to be completed by Antoninus Pius in 139. The monument, in travertine, was adorned by a quadriga in bronze, led by Adriano.

Soon, however, its role has changed and is used as a military building.In that capacity, joined the Aurelian Walls at 403.

ts current name dates back to 590, during a major epidemic of plague that struck Rome. At that time, Pope Gregory I said have seen the St. Michael Archangel on the top of the castle, which embainhava your sword, indicating the end of the epidemic. To celebrate this appearance, a statue of an angel crown the building: originally a marble from the Raffaello Montelupo, and since 1753, a bronze statue of Pierre van Verschaffelt on an outline Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

During medieval times this was the most important strongholds belonging to the Popes. Also served as prison for many patriots at the time of the movement of unification of Italy occurred in the nineteenth century.

From its terrace above, it has a magnificent view of the Tiber, the buildings of the city and even the domo top of St. Peter's Basilica.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Château de Chenonceau - France-Castle

February theme-Castles

The Menier family, famous for their chocolates, bought the dilapidated château and asked Bernard Voisin to restore this once used as hospital during World War 1.




Château de Chenonceau in France, was designed by Philibert Delorme and built in the 11th century.

The original manor was torched in 1411 to punish owner Jean Marques for an act of sedition. He rebuilt a castle and fortified mill on the site in the 1430s. Subsequently, his indebted heir Pierre Marques sold the castle to Thomas Bohier, Chamberlain for King Charles VIII of France in 1513. Bohier destroyed the existing castle and built an entirely new residence between 1515 and 1521; the work was sometimes overseen by his wife Katherine Briçonnet, who delighted in hosting French nobility, including King François I on two occasions.

for more of the history of the castle, go to Château de Chenonceau.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Blue Christmas Tree

Blue Christmas Tree

christmas

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Shy Ca t

Ow pardon me but you make me blushed.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Cat for Stew

Don't you forget the kosher salt.

cat

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Lion and Lioness

Sing with me my love.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Lion Yawning

Hohum ,boring.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Glacier

Some beautiful things can be dangerous. Like this glacier.

artnframes

A glacier is a large, slow moving river of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity. The processes and landforms caused by glaciers and related to them are glacial; this term should not be confounded with glacial (noun), a cold period in ice ages .The process of glacier growth and establishment is called glaciation.

The word glacier comes from French via the Vulgar Latin glacia, and ultimately from Latin glacies meaning ice.

Source of description: wikipedia

Monday, December 24, 2007

White Christmas

When snow is too much, White Christmas is no longer cool.



This was taken after the snowstorm.

Even Santa Claus would not dare visit the house which chimney is covered by snow.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Autumn in Germany



Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer usually in September and ends in December in the northern hemisphere.

Here in the States, leaves begin to turn gold, then brown before they fall to the ground.

The colors however are a delight to see. They are like gold swinging in the trees.
When the sun shineth on them, they glitter and sparkle.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Cooking the Noon Day Meal-Fernando Amorsolo

Fernando Amorsolo's Classic Art

Biography of Fernando Amorsolo


amorsolo




Cooking the Noon Day Meal. 1951. Oil on canvas. 24 x 34. The central grouping of lush trees and hills provides an idyllic setting for the workers. The subject was extremely popular, and there are several variants on the theme. In the painting the little girl on the right is added, and the woman's bandana is pink rather than yellow.

source of description: allinson gallery

Painting from a video by Dr. Bill Ramos


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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Planting Rice by Fernando Amorsolo

The Classic Art of Fernando Amorsolo

Biography of Fernando Amorsolo

magtanim
Planting Rice. 1951. Oil on canvas. 24 x 34. Behind the workers, a farmer with a carabao ploughs. In the background is a cluster of nipa huts. The central grouping of lush trees and hills provides an idyllic setting for the workers

source of description: allinson gallery

Painting from a video by Dr. Bill Ramos


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Friday, November 23, 2007