Canine decorating

One of the things I loved about this house when I looked at it the first time was the bathroom tile. I'd never seen a pattern quite like it-it creates a basket weave effect. I worked very hard to decorate around that tile, determined to enjoy it as long as I could since it has to be at least 30 years old. When the landscapers worked in the back yard, there were bits of broken tile that tell me the floor has been redone at least once, and the house was built in 1930ish. Anyway, aside from the towel that is askew and the random coat hanger, this room is one of my favorites. It's also Gus'. When we go for a walk and he wants to cool off, he goes to the bathroom floor. When I shower, he lies on the floor against the wall, just like this. When I can't find him anywhere else, I look in the bathroom and there he is on the floor. What I didn't realize until I snapped this shot is how nicely he coordinates with the room. Better even than the bath mat he has shoved out of his way.

Now I know: I can use Gus to match towels and bathmats. I will borrow one from the store, run out to the car, and check it against his fur for a match.

Boom!

Last night I went to watch the fireworks at the park. I was really looking forward to it because I wanted to try to take pictures. These are the ones I like best for one reason or another. This was F11, 400 speed. And no tripod, I was too self conscious. Next year, tripod. Still, the results were better than I expected. But I found myself just watching instead of snapping because I LOVE fireworks.

Despite the fact that it looks like I twirled the camera while the shutter was open, I put this one here because it was an unusual display that was repeated on top of the building we were in, and at the head of the park. And it was the big finale.

Stained Glass

Just two days ago I was lamenting the lack of butterflies on my butterfly bush. I wondered if something had happened to them the way it has to the bees. But this morning, when I went out to water (legally), this guy was on the butterfly bush. With the light behind the wings, it looks like stained glass, don't you think?

And I've learned the burned edge effect in Photoshop Elements. Not that I can remember all the steps. But I like the look.

Happy Independence Day!

Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Assisi, Italy)

This is me, standing in front of a column of the Temple of Minerva (see below) that was built 25 years before Christ. According to one of the umpteen guidebooks that I read before, during and after my trip. I was so awestruck by the age of the structure below. It was built by the Romans, for pete's sake.

A priest came out and we thought we had done something wrong. But we hadn't. He invited us in to see the church that the Roman temple had become. The interior was a complete shock. See for yourself. I had to find a photo on the web (thanks whoever) because we could not take pictures inside. It was just amazing. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the trip.

And here we are with the priest. Clever, he was. We all made contributions to the box inside.