Happy Halloween

Spooky Skeleton and Antebellum Mansion, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


This skeleton strikes a casual pose while perching on the balcony of one of Charleston's antebellum mansions. On this day we celebrate Halloween, a tradition that dates back to the Romans (Parentalia or Festival of the Dead) and the Celts (the celebration of Samhain). Halloween is followed the next day by All Saints Day, a day of solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church and then All Souls Day.

For Halloween in Charleston, there will be trick-or-treating, costume parties, haunted house attractions with corn mazes, the telling of scary stories, and of course, the watching of scary movies.

Boo!

Mosaic and blue Monday.

Mosaic Monday is hosted by Mary of "The little red House"

While we stayed in the park in Spain these two doves came visiting every day and they were always fighting. That day they were so angry that they didn't see me making these photo's.

For more mosaics go here:  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/


      Blue Monday is hosted by Sally of "Smiling Sally"

      These photo's I made in Amsterdam. A real Amsterdam sight:  An advertising pillar and bikes locked together.



Then these next photo's I made in Spain  in the butterfly and bird park. The bird is the pet of this young lady who works in the entrance of the park. She talks to him  and he talks back. When she  miauws he does that too. He goes where she goes and sits  at her desk all the time. Takes your money and gives it to her. LOL. I had to stay a while and take photo's. It was so funny.

For more blue go to Sally's blog : http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

The Beach

We went to the beach today as we had to do a few things over at our beach cottage.  Gosh it was beautiful.  I really didn't want to leave.   

We have a very, very big week this week with Pip's Exhibition at Black & Spiro this Thursday night along with the installation and unveiling of our Christmas Windows and also the launch of our Summer/Christmas vignette over at the online store.  Fingers crossed everything happens like it should.  I am slightly, actually no, I am very anxious!!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the store this Thursday night.  Thank you for the wonderful response we've had. Whenever we have events at Black & Spiro I always worry that nobody will turn up.  The girls think I should be more worried about where we are going to put everyone.  Oh well, I should just stop worrying I suppose!!

I think by Friday I will be ready to head over to the beach again and have a few days away with my boys...that will be so nice.

xx
Anna

View Toward Saint Michael's Church

Saint Michael's Church on Broad Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


On a soft Charleston evening, Saint Michael's Church stands prominently above Broad Street, the steeple being one of the city's iconic landmarks. Broad Street was a main thoroughfare even in colonial days, a focal point in the original walled city. Today it is lined with 19th century commercial architecture replete with real estate companies, law firms, art galleries, restaurants, cafes...
  and of course a couple of churches.

Shadow Shot Sunday.

 This is the second time I participate in Shadow Shot Sunday and it is such fun. So here I have two photo's I took in Spain in a medieval little village called Pals.

 
                            For more Shadow Shot Sunday participants and photo's go here:     http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Celebrity has its Disadvantages

Two Valves, Old Navy Base, North Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Madonna?

Weekend reflections.

Weekend reflections is hosted by James.


I love reflections and here my reflection photo is in Amsterdam of the houses at one of the canals. Hope you can find the reflections in the windows.

Here is te link.    http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/

Happy Friday!

What a week!  It's been madness to say the least.  I thought you might like to see this little snippet of our Christmas/Summer Vignette which will go live over at the online store next Thursday. 

Something very exciting and new for this season is we have people in the vignette including some very well-known Brisbane fashionistas, my children and their friend Charlotte and even I make a little appearance...eeeekk!!   

We also have a beautiful live Christmas tree which is filled to the brim with colourful decorations, some of which we have hand-made ourselves. 

This vignette is definitely my favourite one yet.  I can't wait to launch it next Thursday!!

Hope you have a great weekend. 
xx

Anna

image - elouise van riet-gray

Predictions

Detail of a Red Caboose, Old Depot, Village of Lewisburg, Ohio  © Doug Hickok


It is fashionable to make dire predictions these days.... e-book readers will bring an end to books... according to some the world will end in 2012... global warming will drown half the world's population. But I have my own dire prediction. Beginning today, at 4:58 pm everything will turn into an old red caboose. I know I am no Nostradamus, but I have a really strong feeling. So get ready to don your overalls and engineer's cap, and go for a ride.

Skywatch Friday.

This morning at about quarter past seven we had this beautiful sunrise. Of course I  had to make photo's of it.  This one was the last of a series. Have a look.


.

For more skywatch photo's from all over the world go here: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Doug Turns with the Autumn Leaves

Autumn Sweetgum Tree, Doug's Back Yard, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


To make this autumn abstract, I stood beneath a colorful sweetgum tree, looked up while balancing my camera between nose and forehead, spun around performing a pirouette with arms wide open, like a whirlybird, and belted out an inspirational hymn in my best yodeling voice. I don't know, it seemed to work.

Alphabe Thursday.

Anything autumn for Alphabe Thursday so here I go.
Last year, also in October, we visited  friends who live in a beautiful farmhouse in the middle of the country. I made lots of photo´s then and I thought it was  a good idea to put some of them in collages.The weather was  still very nice but the fallen leaves show that winter was coming.

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/  For more Alphabe.

No Mere Pier

Folly Beach Pier at Night, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok


Do not fear, for it appears this pier is no mere pier, for it provides the perfect place to steer a spear high into the crystal clear celestial sphere.
(Remember dear, as you come near, bring your fishing gear).
And please, pay no attention to the drunken sneer on that cavalier gondolier with the souvenir beer stuck in one ear.

Outdoor Wednesday.

Last week we went for a walk in this lovely little park.  This is what we saw.

Outdoor Wednesday is hosted by Susan of A Southern Daydreamer.

For lots more outdoor photo's go here: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Waterfall of Color

Flower Boxes, Meeting Street, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Window boxes adorn many sills in the historic district of Charleston. This lush growth of vines cascades down the wall in a delightful waterfall of color.

Awareness

Railing and Columns, US Custom House, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


In recognition of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Charleston's Customs House on East Bay Street was spotlighted with pink light at night. For the past 25 years the NBCAM organization has worked hard to enlighten the public about early detection of breast cancer through education and annual check-ups. You can take a look at their website for more information.

Mosaic and blue Monday.

Mosaic Monday is hosted by Mary of http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

While in Spain last month I visited a beautiful butterfly and bird park. I made lots of photo's and here I am showing some of them in  mosaics.

The host of Blue Monday is Sally of    http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Happenings

I may be a bit quiet here on the blog over the next week or so.  When my schedule gets completely crazy it's always the blog that tends to get put on hold.

However, it's not all bad news because in just over one week's time we will be launching our Summer/Christmas Vignette over at the online store.  I am very excited about this vignette because we have gone outside to shoot this season's collection at a beautiful heritage listed seaside cottage.  There will be lots of beautiful and exciting things which will make up 3 vignette pages this season so make sure you keep checking here for updates on the launch day/time.

Another very exciting thing we are gearing up for at Black & Spiro is the debut exhibition of paintings by Pip Boydell and of course the unveiling of our 2011 Black & Spiro Christmas windows which we will be doing on that same night - Thursday 3rd November, 2011.

We can't wait to have, what I hope will be, a fun night with our clients, customers and friends.

So there's lots to do and lots to finalize.

Hope to be back here soon!!
xx
Anna
PS - I would like to thank Jen from Interiors Addict for the lovley interview she did with me on her blog last week.  If you are at all interested in reading it click HERE..xx
image - via

Death and Taxes

18th Century Headstone, Saint Philip's Cemetery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


Charleston is known for its beautiful 18th century funerary art. Its historic cemeteries feature ornate headstones, such as this one in the graveyard of Saint Philip's Church. The portrait of the woman encircled on this stone displays the fashion of the times. While fashions have changed dramatically over the centuries, a few things have not. Even in 18th century Charleston, citizens could not escape paying taxes nor avoid what we ultimately all must face.

Shadow Shot Sunday.

Through Maggie from "Normandy Life" I found this new (for me) meme  Shadow shot Sunday which is hosted by  Hey Harriet.

Thought I would give it a try.

 These photo's I made when we stayed in the Ardeche in the south of France a few weeks ago.

       I made this photo in a little medieval village called Loriol.

      Our hotel was here at the foot of the mountain in the village  Le Pouzin. Beautiful.

      For more shadow shots go here: http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Rustica Red Chairs

Two Red Chairs, Pizza Rustica, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


My wife and I used to grab slices of fresh pizza at this little restaurant when we were walking around Charleston. It was a favorite spot of ours, near King Street. But the restaurant business is very competitive and although the hand made pizza was varied and delicious, the shop eventually closed down. Another restaurant is there now. I have no idea what it is. Time continues at its constant pace. No moment can ever be lived over. Which is why a solid foundation, steady and reliable, is invaluable,
like coming home to loved ones after a long day at work.


Here's to memorable moments with loved ones!

Pink Saturday

As every week Saturday is for many of us Pink Saturday. So also for me.
I am running out of pink now and then ,  also this week so I went through my files and made a collage of some summer  photo's from last year.

Pink Saturday is hosted by Beverly . See the link here >  http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog

The Whole World in His Hand?

Statue of Charlemagne, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome, Italy  ©  Doug Hickok


 This imposing sculpture of Charlemagne (Charles the Great) adorns the exterior of the Church of St. Louis of the French, the French National church of Rome. This baroque basilica is famous for its masterworks of art, including the Caravaggio painting I linked you to on Monday's post.

Charlemagne, often referred to as Pater Europae (Father of Europe) was the first Holy Roman Emperor and united most of Western Europe in a time of strife and darkness.  Maybe that's why he's got the whole world in his hand... though the small size of the orb seems to indicate that the emperor may have had a magnificently large ego.

Hope you have a magnificent weekend!

Skywatch Friday.

This evening while having dinner with our grandchildren we saw these different skies in about 45 minutes times.
First the rainbow , one very clear and there is a very soft one next to it. A bit later, sunset with dark clouds and the last one our 12 year old granddaughter made when it was dark.

For more skywatch photo's from all over the world go here : http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Mist in the Cove

Cades Cove Meadow, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee  © Doug Hickok


When the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was established, the plan was to allow Cades Cove to return to its natural, original condition. But the plan was changed when park authorities decided to keep the meadows intact, and to preserve the old cabins, churches and mills.

Today a loop road encircles the secluded mountain valley making it possible for modern day visitors to get a glimpse of the 1800's, of a place that seems like a time capsule of pioneer life 150 years ago. You can see part of the loop road (along the fence line) in this picture, which also shows smoky mists rising from the valley.

Road Curving into Autumn Woods

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee  © Doug Hickok



This dirt road leads off the beaten path of the Cades Cove Auto Tour, and winds its way through forest to an old 19th century church. Like a Robert Frost poem, the autumn colors and curving road take us back to another time that we recognize in our distant memories or dreams.


We like Cades Cove so much that we named our son Adam Cade (because "Adam Great Smoky Mountain National Park Hickok" seemed a bit much).

Outdoor Wednesday.

Amsterdam part 2.

Today I am showing you more photo's of Amsterdam, today not the canals round the centre where later  the rich lived but more of the old centre where Amsterdam was founded round the 13th century. It started its existance as a little fishing village and draws  its name from the river Amstel. There are not many houses left of that time  because houses were built of wood  and easily got burnt until it was forbidden to do so.

                Lovely facades on those narrow houses. Little boats in every canal in Amsterdam.

                      

 

Did I mention bycicles?

D

café near the market

for sale.

All for sale on the Nieuwmarkt.

On the back  is the St Nicolaaschurch.St Nicolaas is the patron of the men at sea and many churches are called after him.

It was a beautiful sunny day so everywhere the terraces in front iof the café's and restaurants were full with relaxing people  drinking a beer or a glass of wine.

'Look at the facades.

Aren't the facades of these houses beautiful?

It was a busy day in Amsterdam. There was a marathon going on so many visitors.


Outdoor Wednesday is hosted by Susan at  :http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/