HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I return to Dougie McLean's version of "Auld Lang Syne" in the Scots language year after year. No pictures in the video, just sound and lyrics with English translation. I added a couple of photos from my travels in Scotland.

LARGE MUSHROOMS IN THE GARDEN

 

The mushrooms have been cut  because the lawn had to be mown, alas. The mushroom above is about 4 inches in diameter and the curled mushroom below is about 8 inches.  Though the two don't look much alike, they were growing fairly close to each other. They grew inches in diameter by the day.

The stems and undersides of the mushrooms are pictured below.  I think they may be the same species at different stages of growth.

CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE, OXFORD

I snapped the photo as I breakfasted in solitary splendor in the great hall in Christ Church. The reason I had breakfast alone is because I had the time wrong, and when I arrived breakfast was over. With a true sob story about having to take the bus to Heathrow, I asked if I could have a light breakfast of cereal and toast, and the manager was kind enough to allow it.

The Rev Richard Haggis was my personal guide around Christ Church College and Oxford, and a splendid guide he was. He should hire himself out. A delicious moment at the great Hall at Christ Church was when I called to Richard's attention that we were cutting the long queue of the hoard of tourists, and he said quite naturally and spontaneously, "This is my place." Not the most inspirational moment, but delicious, and I cherish those small, delicious moments. Nor did I pay the entrance fee, since I was Richard's guest. 

All quotes below are from Richard.

Autumn colors in the vine growing on the wall above a tunnel at Christ Church.  The entire walk was lovely. The picture is not photo-shopped but shows the true color of the turning leaves.

"The tunnel is to contain an ancient brook which passes under Christ Church and various other parts of the city of Oxford, joining the canal, I believe, a little further north. It can be viewed, covered in this splendid creeper, from the walkway through the War Memorial Garden." 

"It is, I believe, creeping jasmine, approaching the south doorway to the historic cloister of S. Frideswide's priory, which Cardinal Wolsey purloined to begin his Oxford college, which Henry VIII later purloined in turn to make Christ Church a college and a diocesan cathedral. It is one of the most ancient parts of the college."

The secret garden with the tiny fountain and a lovely weeping willow.  The building in the background is the Faculty of Music and the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments.

Statue of Mercury in Tom Quad.

"'Mercury, beckoning the tourists into Christ Church'.  Mercury was initially male, but there was an incident with a firework, and he has been re-assigned. Like Jan Morris, the college's first 'old girl'." 

THE BLACK MOUNTAINS - WALES

While I was in England, my friend Erika took me on a day trip by car through the Black Mountains to the town of Hay-on Wye in northeastern Wales.   In a later post, I will show my pictures of the town.

The mountains are hills, as my friend Kevin, who lives near the Cascades in the US, reminded me. Whatever - the scenes are beautiful, as you see from the pictures.

The beauty of Wales is one of Britain's well-kept secrets, at least it was to me. I had no idea of the loveliness of the countryside until our visit.

The photo shows plainly a few of the many crevices in the rocky hills.

The animal in the photo is a wild horse. Erika hoped we would see a herd of horses, but one is better than none.  Though if I remember correctly, there may have been another horse in view but too far away to capture in the same picture.

AROUND THE MEADOW AT CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE, OXFORD

My friend Richard and I walked the path around the meadow at Christ Church while I was in Oxford.

The buildings of the college are far in the distance.

As sunset approached, but before Mr Sun disappeared over the horizon, he gave us the wonderful display of color against the dark clouds.

The different appearance of the sky in the various pictures makes it hard even for me to believe that the photos were taken on the same walk.  In the center and to the right, the small brown speck is a deer.

A drainage canal beside the path around the meadow, which Richard said is, "...vitally needed because the land is immensely soggy, and otherwise the cows' hooves would rot....  It's a very damp place, Oxford."

CATS ON THE BACK OF THE CHAIR

Stormy on the left and Wendy on the right

If I say so myself, these are splendid pictures of the two cats who allow my son and his family to live with them.  Wendy settled herself comfortably on top of the back of the recliner, and, with not much space left, Stormy decided that he wanted to relax on top of the chair back, too, and squeezed his large self into the small space. 
 

Wendy on the left and Stormy on the right

Above is another view of Wendy sprawled out and Stormy in the small space left over.  The two have the occasional confrontation, but they mostly get along well.  Stormy and Wendy are well-loved and well-spoiled by the family.

Click on the pictures for the larger view.

UPDATE: Please pray for our friend whiteycat's Sammy Cat who has been ill for the past week.

MY FAVORITE NOT-AT-THE-CONVENTION PICTURES

President Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha watch Michelle Obama's speech

Hilary Clinton watches Bill Clinton's speech from East Timor in SE Asia

PICTURES THAT RESTORE YOUR FAITH IN HUMANITY

Interaction between Guatemalan girl and tourist.  Sweet!

Chicago Christians at Gay Pride parade apologize for homophobia in the church

Sign at an awesome bookshop

Villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during flood Cuttack City, India

See the rest of the pictures at BuzzFeed.  Please click the link; you won't be sorry.

Thanks to Paul (A.)

I AM A CAT AND I WILL SLEEP WHERE I LIKE !!

Tuxedo kitteh on the keys



Tabby kitteh on the strings (almost)



Will the little plant make it?



The larger plant will make it.



The tree will survive, but will the kitteh?

Thanks to Doug.