Modern Design Home Decor

RMS Titanic Walking Tour

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I jumped at a recent opportunity to visit</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Titanic exhibit at Southampton's SeaCity Museum</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having sunk 100 years ago,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this temporary exhibit is timely</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">( no photos allowed, <i>again</i> )</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know the Titanic was discovered only in September 1985?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGYdoc5-k-4q1cR6cklRBSdhuj24z8HOArByEqXVvHNKZX5xC4PWwZFy4FodP_fjviVt0J2_pA4aEC0xXtjnpFGEdxqHkmKnxG4AAJCvKPLIbTMC1PiXZtd97fDEnRLAKmDfsGFduIW_/s1600/Titanic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGYdoc5-k-4q1cR6cklRBSdhuj24z8HOArByEqXVvHNKZX5xC4PWwZFy4FodP_fjviVt0J2_pA4aEC0xXtjnpFGEdxqHkmKnxG4AAJCvKPLIbTMC1PiXZtd97fDEnRLAKmDfsGFduIW_/s640/Titanic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RMS Titanic<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic">wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To manage your expectations,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this exhibit was quite small and had few, if any, actual artifacts</div><div style="text-align: center;">from the sunken ship</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The exhibit did showcase replicas of items,</div><div style="text-align: center;">original documents from the White Star Line office,</div><div style="text-align: center;">interesting facts, theories, and displays</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It gave an excellent glimpse into the Edwardian times of 1912,</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its clear class division, high unemployment, strikes,</div><div style="text-align: center;">emigration, and extravagant wealthy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the museum pointed out,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Titanic was a microcosm of society at that time</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its cargo serves as an interesting time capsule</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Displays posed the ethical question</div><div style="text-align: center;">of leaving the site sacred as an underwater grave</div><div style="text-align: center;">or</div><div style="text-align: center;">salvaging artifacts to be sold </div><div style="text-align: center;">to help fund the undersea excavation</div><div style="text-align: center;">(thousands of items sold already)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM31OshwbUp3Okpz1Pm6c22kyUY0doise5NCx7L2SH1Fqju2t1LR-PZUUq1Ma3MDR5mG5J2BR78gjKSxqO3ag5esuO_MJ11wt02GKQcJxffCoDdamJ4Ba4ErgfJ4aSRfbe4HpKn4_6DHy/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM31OshwbUp3Okpz1Pm6c22kyUY0doise5NCx7L2SH1Fqju2t1LR-PZUUq1Ma3MDR5mG5J2BR78gjKSxqO3ag5esuO_MJ11wt02GKQcJxffCoDdamJ4Ba4ErgfJ4aSRfbe4HpKn4_6DHy/s640/IMG_2518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SeaCity Museum, Southampton</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><div>Controversy continues</div><div>as to if they should resurface the Titanic</div><div>or leave it alone</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhafprTTb8ihDx9LJuo8IPHqMA1SIYAysyMXVRPJcH1m2mG_0Vm-SFlE0hkUEXgWAVVQqIAjp2eNrRMM-WFRhYGoPN5SfulD6u1qL9UslHrme6deZc8Q5DB1JMaNsWg6-_7bt-FWorBUx1/s1600/IMG_2527-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhafprTTb8ihDx9LJuo8IPHqMA1SIYAysyMXVRPJcH1m2mG_0Vm-SFlE0hkUEXgWAVVQqIAjp2eNrRMM-WFRhYGoPN5SfulD6u1qL9UslHrme6deZc8Q5DB1JMaNsWg6-_7bt-FWorBUx1/s640/IMG_2527-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div>The exhibit was an excellent starting point<br />for our self-guided walking tour<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div>The sinking of the Titanic devastated the town of Southampton</div></div><div></div><div>There are 220 Titanic memorials throughout the city</div><div><br /></div><div>549 persons from Southampton lost their lives on April 15, 1912</div><div>3/4 of the crew were from there</div><div>- Staggering -</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO8_dFzKXOLvS1v9MZikv62ppb7WtxomUXoQhEiHA8NnupW2IqnWTNQXZ8-bh2rJdV2xyf-jVJ5gu6ELcQq0AsQKajK6VIeCdlANeHMgWkhH_uCxPQ4ogC6ZY42hafLXlzp2aj_IjlaO3/s1600/IMG_2541-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO8_dFzKXOLvS1v9MZikv62ppb7WtxomUXoQhEiHA8NnupW2IqnWTNQXZ8-bh2rJdV2xyf-jVJ5gu6ELcQq0AsQKajK6VIeCdlANeHMgWkhH_uCxPQ4ogC6ZY42hafLXlzp2aj_IjlaO3/s400/IMG_2541-001.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titanic Memorial Fountain</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few more stops along the tour...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm4gZfJ__dvbLUgt2RXEhzszobhl0v3PvmJjsu5O66yxSDP0NMrDLQsyjvDArYiONKrpckDArOp3vFN2LsfQpbWhW5ZzTNhU-whZG78sh_UPEqf9OKun6oh8vQtQndHZVAUnTuTkQA2PP/s1600/IMG_2544-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm4gZfJ__dvbLUgt2RXEhzszobhl0v3PvmJjsu5O66yxSDP0NMrDLQsyjvDArYiONKrpckDArOp3vFN2LsfQpbWhW5ZzTNhU-whZG78sh_UPEqf9OKun6oh8vQtQndHZVAUnTuTkQA2PP/s640/IMG_2544-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platform Tavern (purple)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you were looking toward the water from the Platform Tavern in early April 1912,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you would have seen the Titanic dominating the view</div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a popular tavern for dockers and seaman, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and provided lodging for Titanic passengers and crew</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the 1997 blockbuster <i>Titanic</i> by James Cameron, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Jack (Leonardo Di Caprio) won his passage ticket in a game of poker in a tavern</div><div style="text-align: center;">which was filmed there<br />(Needing to see that film again)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mrnpTYTrNwnsAvwH_VqVE1TtEHRv9Nx01eXXvu6e_9SAMVzSkTqBFjxSj4oNL9ytBFPrlVlF9gRDPufupNdkfmzPDlf9LNURdoLGNwMTyNirjylq0FYUwz7zLHIFRHuESF5_N2ZnuwG6/s1600/IMG_2530-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mrnpTYTrNwnsAvwH_VqVE1TtEHRv9Nx01eXXvu6e_9SAMVzSkTqBFjxSj4oNL9ytBFPrlVlF9gRDPufupNdkfmzPDlf9LNURdoLGNwMTyNirjylq0FYUwz7zLHIFRHuESF5_N2ZnuwG6/s640/IMG_2530-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dock Gate 4, Titanic Berth</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beyond this brown building<br />the Titanic awaited her maiden voyage<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Only authorized persons were allowed to proceed past this point on our visit,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we'll have to use our imagination :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sUmKhPDbpV_QMFXKPivAcMRahe8RbobAxXH6968nfVQ4RQk1hDas8tJLD0uFllci0MtFIFx4buUBjj5fvzWhqjFlqBgyJfuuOiqsWoHjDSHucSxrLLDo76a2TocwYkX8RsGbEQrZvmk0/s1600/IMG_2526-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sUmKhPDbpV_QMFXKPivAcMRahe8RbobAxXH6968nfVQ4RQk1hDas8tJLD0uFllci0MtFIFx4buUBjj5fvzWhqjFlqBgyJfuuOiqsWoHjDSHucSxrLLDo76a2TocwYkX8RsGbEQrZvmk0/s640/IMG_2526-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiralty House/ previous Post Office</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Saving the most interesting tidbit for last,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the very important 'RMS' prefix to Titanic refers to <b>Royal Mail Ship</b>(!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">which was carrying 1,300 bags of mail with five postal workers on board</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wanting more? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Currently the Titanic <a href="http://www.seacitymuseum.co.uk/">exhibit</a> plans to remain open until August 2013</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out one of the online walking tours such as this <a href="http://www.oceanvillagesouthampton.com/visit/self-guided-walks/titanic-tour/">one</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I purr at the history that surrounds me in England<br />Just pick a time period and throw a dart at the map<br /><br />Do I appreciate living here?<br />You bet I do<br />:)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">all photos by me</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">unless otherwise indicated</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

RMS Titanic Walking Tour

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK I jumped at a recent opportunity to visit the Titanic exhibit at Southampton's SeaCity Museum Having sunk 1...

11:43 PM

THE TROUBLE WITH PAINT COLORS....

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE ART OF CHOOSING COLOR</span></div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhb4wM0uJy-qqo86XPUp0H-aS5hOw7GaeU5caNoNX-n3FO37w1FXIc9E6NWq7lF4XTJwoI0H8-vrVkTU6ZM8MOSgHJvE6xzeLZ13mBp-xPaTmcZ5aM5TaCNaoX7Pk1JBEgz42Xllr8_Fvw/s1600/bl-st_pillows_on_settee__southernchateau_bs_com%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhb4wM0uJy-qqo86XPUp0H-aS5hOw7GaeU5caNoNX-n3FO37w1FXIc9E6NWq7lF4XTJwoI0H8-vrVkTU6ZM8MOSgHJvE6xzeLZ13mBp-xPaTmcZ5aM5TaCNaoX7Pk1JBEgz42Xllr8_Fvw/s640/bl-st_pillows_on_settee__southernchateau_bs_com%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.southernchateau.blogspot.com/">Southern Chateau</a></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />Today, I'm addressing a challenge a lot of us have. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />Whether we are using a fabric swatch, a photograph, or standing in front of hundreds of little colored squares</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />there is one thing we all face when decorating, or redecorating our homes.... </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />TROUBLE PICKING PAINT</div><br /><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-trouble-with-paint-colors.html#more">Read more »</a>

THE TROUBLE WITH PAINT COLORS....

THE ART OF CHOOSING COLOR Southern Chateau Today, I'm addressing a challenge a lot of us have. Whether we are using a fabric swatch, ...

9:38 PM

DRIFTWOOD

<br><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />GRAY AND BEIGE ARE FRIENDS</div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYv5YgOh7v_N8F8Bepcvmx4aOovZ6Zp8HhIcAKswXMuGxZbtqe5oDUOUlNPoXxcZGR6griK50JPY1ZnnnatSGNJqJo3lZK2QFFe7OpJ4ssrPFX4PoLaHLgmXPMa5xHqBIY3zev4ZSsty/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYv5YgOh7v_N8F8Bepcvmx4aOovZ6Zp8HhIcAKswXMuGxZbtqe5oDUOUlNPoXxcZGR6griK50JPY1ZnnnatSGNJqJo3lZK2QFFe7OpJ4ssrPFX4PoLaHLgmXPMa5xHqBIY3zev4ZSsty/s640/IMG_3614.JPG" width="426"></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skagway, Alaska<br><br />Driftwood store front</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><br />I took this photo while cruising the beautiful waters of Alaska.  I could blog on and on about the colors of the water, the mountains, the glaciers, the sky....and I probably will, one day.  Alaska - incredible scenery and fun little towns like Ketchikan and Skagway, where I couldn't resist this little building completely covered in lovely, soft gray driftwood.... charming, isn't it?<br><br /><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2012/09/driftwood.html#more">Read more »</a>

DRIFTWOOD

GRAY AND BEIGE ARE FRIENDS Skagway, Alaska Driftwood store front I took this photo while cruising the beautiful waters of Alaska. I could b...

3:23 PM

Preparing For Autumn

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In England, it is called Autumn,</div><div style="text-align: center;">not Fall</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you know hard it is to not say Fall?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's a little peek into my world<br /><br />In front of my house<br />the leaves are subtly changing<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ekEaN9l6daFUgE23lDbP9Bs-cDBvReRbdOfQlZAxhiIGf1W1SiF0Rck37NgTqV_YgVFm8As_KFlDug40zstcec22xvDtnP1_32Bpbqy9NO9IG4U7fNaJ-Arp1K6PWqLMgtYWuFJ9tPX7/s1600/IMG_2515-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ekEaN9l6daFUgE23lDbP9Bs-cDBvReRbdOfQlZAxhiIGf1W1SiF0Rck37NgTqV_YgVFm8As_KFlDug40zstcec22xvDtnP1_32Bpbqy9NO9IG4U7fNaJ-Arp1K6PWqLMgtYWuFJ9tPX7/s640/IMG_2515-014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And as I drove through the Cotswolds last week,<br />final harvests were being made in the fields</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo5fCIKvZtAggHnja5HRba74XWspNMjMf7yRHkXYvZejpxc66Vf9JA2o2T30BI3-rTqFascEpGdguXmVuETQZY4AJIcPqHjWVpnh_AxkfvkSd0YDzTwR1Rzl34v5drTdkrGDNiadMpNuG/s1600/IMG_2505-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo5fCIKvZtAggHnja5HRba74XWspNMjMf7yRHkXYvZejpxc66Vf9JA2o2T30BI3-rTqFascEpGdguXmVuETQZY4AJIcPqHjWVpnh_AxkfvkSd0YDzTwR1Rzl34v5drTdkrGDNiadMpNuG/s640/IMG_2505-009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a Herculean feat,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took this photo with my camera pointed backwards as I drove away</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(so I wouldn't look too suspicious)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hedge-trimmers were busy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0VG66uqRdioM3Ris3k8osQDrzuH5r4Bm8xSM4FPYmF9BMvOJxXHRGPIpMgVuko-ly8Kf-ZgD_NcuGT_yUlKs3X9gYWV1i2ak5Ba3JLmaW4TZCHqcESgK-NPjntTnDEy6kasVaZNmE_Kb/s1600/IMG_2512-024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0VG66uqRdioM3Ris3k8osQDrzuH5r4Bm8xSM4FPYmF9BMvOJxXHRGPIpMgVuko-ly8Kf-ZgD_NcuGT_yUlKs3X9gYWV1i2ak5Ba3JLmaW4TZCHqcESgK-NPjntTnDEy6kasVaZNmE_Kb/s640/IMG_2512-024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And you know I'm a sucker for an interesting sign :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one indicates a lack of reflectors on a single carriageway</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as roadworks continue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lmniVXIFpEnhi_lg0cDU4IaUZVuaNEj4S_K0yeF_p6fBrtRZ2atA74SWEvvd_KLMVUpmIJRlzcOC8wqNwbRnvDN5iDcfjNGrUvxAq3psNT435_dqW18_FBVWcPpnyf7xXKuMLcnUnN4w/s1600/IMG_2513-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lmniVXIFpEnhi_lg0cDU4IaUZVuaNEj4S_K0yeF_p6fBrtRZ2atA74SWEvvd_KLMVUpmIJRlzcOC8wqNwbRnvDN5iDcfjNGrUvxAq3psNT435_dqW18_FBVWcPpnyf7xXKuMLcnUnN4w/s640/IMG_2513-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Shot during the Olympics,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this image well reflects the rains we've encountered lately</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Brollies' are a must this season</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpO_r6rDn3VTo-_pWEBTmWz0eYYGkR5HzkFPY_IKkyNtFE1pjSWL18MhKpBUn9deAb-WBBQolc2T9GwEuXIRS-KfRQhUfTghoKu3prBGVaBz3dXGxGUxhWHnIpkxEE9CwqwI9iGkJbr5G/s1600/DSC01693-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpO_r6rDn3VTo-_pWEBTmWz0eYYGkR5HzkFPY_IKkyNtFE1pjSWL18MhKpBUn9deAb-WBBQolc2T9GwEuXIRS-KfRQhUfTghoKu3prBGVaBz3dXGxGUxhWHnIpkxEE9CwqwI9iGkJbr5G/s640/DSC01693-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's definitely a chilly nip in the air</div><div style="text-align: center;">and more darkness surrounds my morning and evening routines</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep, Autumn has arrived</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'm dying to say Fall!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a wonderful new season,</div><div style="text-align: center;">wherever you are</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And however you may say it :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. If you have signed up to receive my posts via email, thank you! I apologize that it may send you random old posts from time to time (like last night). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Preparing For Autumn

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK In England, it is called Autumn, not Fall Do you know hard it is to not say Fall?! :) So here's a little pe...

11:07 PM

A Visit To Prince Charles's Highgrove Garden

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">In 1980</div><div style="text-align: center;">Prince Charles bought Highgrove in Gloucestershire</div><div style="text-align: center;">as his home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The following year</div><div style="text-align: center;">he moved in and</div><div style="text-align: center;">proposed to Lady Diana Spencer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With easy access to London, Wales,<br />and other Western counties where the Duchy has most of its properties,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Highgrove continues to be Prince Charles's primary residence today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lucky for me, the gardens are open to the public</div><div style="text-align: center;">a few times a year :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- sadly, no photography allowed -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCefpuwsHHMm9WdG6vklR2X22i2Xp7nXzVe3cKRuE5ovfbXxsyWeEZ066QwLcfO96x4_wUyQSjf5-JG8dMvVOMWdXl80BgjsWaN-mwvY2Pg4RNBO0kFeZcp57flCnK9OlOI_HVTPgpP_FV/s1600/fp-house-sundial2+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCefpuwsHHMm9WdG6vklR2X22i2Xp7nXzVe3cKRuE5ovfbXxsyWeEZ066QwLcfO96x4_wUyQSjf5-JG8dMvVOMWdXl80BgjsWaN-mwvY2Pg4RNBO0kFeZcp57flCnK9OlOI_HVTPgpP_FV/s640/fp-house-sundial2+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.highgrovegardens.com/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Prince Charles is widely known for being </div><div style="text-align: center;">an 'environmental ambassador' (my words)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So not surprisingly,</div><div style="text-align: center;">his garden is chemical-free & organic</div><div style="text-align: center;">with many sustainable features</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU05l_-yyh4ys1-C3Cy0m3WovT27Uvv0lNx4zLCGvPOsTXY8bIG1ExePnMQhtC47S7kOkHA7otXY2PVvrAHVvdBm7gTLfJJFY0yklXzRTJu0ngvXq2fnDCUoQ8cbWfporG8G9cMH8iRJOo/s1600/highgrove_350x250_8440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU05l_-yyh4ys1-C3Cy0m3WovT27Uvv0lNx4zLCGvPOsTXY8bIG1ExePnMQhtC47S7kOkHA7otXY2PVvrAHVvdBm7gTLfJJFY0yklXzRTJu0ngvXq2fnDCUoQ8cbWfporG8G9cMH8iRJOo/s400/highgrove_350x250_8440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carpet Garden<br /><a href="http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/your_home_and_garden/outdoors/highgrovegardens.html">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Prince of Wales saw the property as a blank canvas</div><div style="text-align: center;">and was keen to create a garden that would</div><div style="text-align: center;">'feed the soul, warm the heart, and delight the eye'</div><div style="text-align: center;">as well as a space to experiment with some of his ideas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although his 15 acres of cultivated gardens are managed by 15 gardeners,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can definitely sense he has a strong role<br />in the planning and upkeep of the gardens</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The property holds a national collection of ferns, hostas, and beech trees</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And there are many different garden 'rooms' which hold exotic plants and flowers</div><div style="text-align: center;">as well as gifts from famous people and heads of state<br /><br />I couldn't wait to see what surprise was around the next corner!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK7Q0Y_Y3dKinMw-_CvKxweGW-FQdBfO_pxcqlrzCHKkWuO5mxIRuyX4BjT9Fqwah_gvvbZrBaQesYSzDLl7fibPEfU6_ae3_CSgm8z4og6TLLqIKlwuSDepZOC-4DqbHWV6SP2_-QPbE/s1600/highgrove_garden11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK7Q0Y_Y3dKinMw-_CvKxweGW-FQdBfO_pxcqlrzCHKkWuO5mxIRuyX4BjT9Fqwah_gvvbZrBaQesYSzDLl7fibPEfU6_ae3_CSgm8z4og6TLLqIKlwuSDepZOC-4DqbHWV6SP2_-QPbE/s640/highgrove_garden11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/10/25/prince-charles-highgrove-postmodern-garden-design/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although quirky,</div><div style="text-align: center;">each gardener has his or her own yew topiary to clip as they please (above)</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a bit of a competition among themselves</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just one example of how this garden is quite unique</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another interesting feature is the stumpery</div><div style="text-align: center;">which was popular during the fern-crazed Victorian era</div><div style="text-align: center;">but rarely seen in gardens today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A stumpery is an area of placed dead trees and stumps</div><div style="text-align: center;">providing natural vessels for plants (i.e. ferns & hostas)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7l0mkxD7M91ZtH02bI7LGgPdJtmApVLDhQMFj9vQKVRggNbjaQTfvEpA6PXtnTTDqq2UzT2er15tabChLkLYTdYcgjalcMYmjgtrSSewNdEkUV4RJATYZncM-q_sRcVXml2C_W98GMX7/s1600/3054993931_d152629302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7l0mkxD7M91ZtH02bI7LGgPdJtmApVLDhQMFj9vQKVRggNbjaQTfvEpA6PXtnTTDqq2UzT2er15tabChLkLYTdYcgjalcMYmjgtrSSewNdEkUV4RJATYZncM-q_sRcVXml2C_W98GMX7/s640/3054993931_d152629302.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stumpery<br /><a href="http://bannermandesign.com/page/detail/highgrove">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Other unusual spaces include</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Carpet Garden that looks like an oriental rug,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a potager designed in a St George's Cross and St Andrew's Cross,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the delightful playhouse built for Princes William and Harry</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We finished our tour with yummy lunch and tea in The Orchard Room</div><div style="text-align: center;">and nosed around the shop</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I walked away with this onsite quote (in hieroglyphs) buzzing in my head:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>'The flowers in the garden are a reflection of the stars in the sky'</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are a gardener, this innovate garden is a must see :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tour information: <a href="http://www.highgrovegardens.com/garden-tours.html">Highgrove</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alternatively, buy 'The Garden At Highgrove' book <a href="http://www.highgroveshop.com/gifts-stationery/gifts--stationery/art-books-film-music/the-garden-at-highgrove-hardback/c-boo0267/">here</a></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Visit To Prince Charles's Highgrove Garden

In 1980 Prince Charles bought Highgrove in Gloucestershire as his home The following year he moved in and proposed to Lady Diana Spencer Wit...

1:37 AM

Images Of England

Posted By Happy Homemaker<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My kids are away for the week on a school trip,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so I've had a chance to see more of England</div><div style="text-align: center;">at a more leisurely pace</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTAK8SHqMtc0KZitGylQJF8WpFIpPboOs0TbnlLqqtJeDIWLGlMhlE3RDxj4Zc01tisZo-PX3C-fCxeGGvO_1oQ2DwVizpoEk1TvnpsBH-YUcZy2weNsdqv6LWj90HREC_0fhSy_BmlSR/s1600/IMG_2465-022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTAK8SHqMtc0KZitGylQJF8WpFIpPboOs0TbnlLqqtJeDIWLGlMhlE3RDxj4Zc01tisZo-PX3C-fCxeGGvO_1oQ2DwVizpoEk1TvnpsBH-YUcZy2weNsdqv6LWj90HREC_0fhSy_BmlSR/s640/IMG_2465-022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a few photos from the week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that to me</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">seem unmistakably <b>British</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjqkQ4RyWizo7soOXlSzxGCcle6U0vAVCgkAeWa1x0lhwzK4bC_PbQsaw5_LVxzS_Ey5pONyRg7GJWl3GAsMMCJUHrXRCrG1GZ21ji6juVZ2hxnmsm74aChsi9OyrorZl1oM-fOoUYKBa/s640/IMG_2480-007.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A tour of Prince Charles's private garden at <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/a-visit-to-prince-charless-highgrove.html">Highgrove</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">brought me to the charming town of </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tetbury in the Cotswolds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK_m-EPR4re_kK9EtGC4FB_eU5bnnYUz3OwSWfaIIzKa80SsAyXXUmCZy8h9nDfV4OfCSG5w4VdstsveM2zDyE3gs6u2OD0hA12bEknHE27SScgJuGi629CiZplqTwU3v5Mzoyf1xzrJ2/s1600/IMG_2421-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK_m-EPR4re_kK9EtGC4FB_eU5bnnYUz3OwSWfaIIzKa80SsAyXXUmCZy8h9nDfV4OfCSG5w4VdstsveM2zDyE3gs6u2OD0hA12bEknHE27SScgJuGi629CiZplqTwU3v5Mzoyf1xzrJ2/s640/IMG_2421-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhAnJer-JVfxYguUFx1noPD-8tNzizM-pYVlVjv-tjMEOIJvXEP95joPU47zpJNgC14LVvHayKSUFM32HcyarMTbvKVzPwZT-WBCTRvKGu72r1TjTHPY34PjlE2g8IzkYpwM6kTkMoU14/s1600/IMG_2490-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhAnJer-JVfxYguUFx1noPD-8tNzizM-pYVlVjv-tjMEOIJvXEP95joPU47zpJNgC14LVvHayKSUFM32HcyarMTbvKVzPwZT-WBCTRvKGu72r1TjTHPY34PjlE2g8IzkYpwM6kTkMoU14/s640/IMG_2490-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I wandered York for the day,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">a beautiful, historically rich walled city in northern England,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> easily accessible by a 2 hour train ride from London</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNwH6Q6e3RrywN_8tJV-VGswzF1woq7PyqYOOrTUMv7lZWTrWBMdPHSunLmHuG_-JHfnHKrZZ90fxrASGEyX-jH5ZHqyAG0a1dD1WSiS4U7GNSM6DOclw-NaypvBYYwYXqYl7bm777oGM/s1600/IMG_2369-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNwH6Q6e3RrywN_8tJV-VGswzF1woq7PyqYOOrTUMv7lZWTrWBMdPHSunLmHuG_-JHfnHKrZZ90fxrASGEyX-jH5ZHqyAG0a1dD1WSiS4U7GNSM6DOclw-NaypvBYYwYXqYl7bm777oGM/s640/IMG_2369-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZkdzkwCf7MaBRvEpftbZAwtgZBc1jzV0IXoOpUbxmFeDXrCV6CzmIwXMjKgvXj6zK6awocBa_u7DQHYg9yihA7lLFskpcOBxGQsEu78USJ12JpL1DtItgqipgMmoY5t48_NLCQZD2IRk/s1600/IMG_2396-013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZkdzkwCf7MaBRvEpftbZAwtgZBc1jzV0IXoOpUbxmFeDXrCV6CzmIwXMjKgvXj6zK6awocBa_u7DQHYg9yihA7lLFskpcOBxGQsEu78USJ12JpL1DtItgqipgMmoY5t48_NLCQZD2IRk/s640/IMG_2396-013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The weather has been good this week</div><div style="text-align: center;">and since I have time to eek out one more day trip,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am off to fulfill a garden quest today<br /><br />Hoping to return with some wonderful photos to share with you</div><div style="text-align: center;">: )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Images Of England

Posted By Happy Homemaker My kids are away for the week on a school trip, so I've had a chance to see more of England at a more leisurel...

11:10 PM

Camping In England

Camping In England

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Long shadows of Autumn The New Forest, Hampshire (which is actually an old forest, btw) In the US, you can pitc...

8:45 AM

Avalon beauty

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I'm always drawn to the houses of Sydney's Northern Beaches - they have that effortless, laid-back charm I find really appealing. This home has just been listed for sale, and as I've never met a beachy weatherboard I didn't like, it's going straight to the inspiration folder:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlOKD448Rz0vjglF7oq0K9R2qMqa_yVxSs4i75XAb-Cse0sRyJ-uaQxrog6i6qiDy18RKIHtfqcESTlRk4hps2Auo-vRgJlJ-o-CttNzac4-Awyf3lETGt8XHFc7G3nq9dx5daD601skD/s1600/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlOKD448Rz0vjglF7oq0K9R2qMqa_yVxSs4i75XAb-Cse0sRyJ-uaQxrog6i6qiDy18RKIHtfqcESTlRk4hps2Auo-vRgJlJ-o-CttNzac4-Awyf3lETGt8XHFc7G3nq9dx5daD601skD/s640/main.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPyzCAzMMHgFWZP3yYwpcIuUnGBoL9p67kjmE13qPqWaHHPGXY34Mwa6cuGx5qvdRiOaNcC3lspwOYosjjESb1SWXz0-K295n-4QQlcQokRQy5LmG5YeSWwQJGT52b8fUUOdLsar7VxIs/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPyzCAzMMHgFWZP3yYwpcIuUnGBoL9p67kjmE13qPqWaHHPGXY34Mwa6cuGx5qvdRiOaNcC3lspwOYosjjESb1SWXz0-K295n-4QQlcQokRQy5LmG5YeSWwQJGT52b8fUUOdLsar7VxIs/s640/image2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarbNIaDi1-ulVAWOlWhOZ41bWa5WEUkOxuSqf68q1x5kUFOgyYtiXDCSwYgUfFgFHkhxavhljwzeRxqe9HKiJyO8a-au2boGkkJkehaJpP7fFDykBKzpghq2upxUrW_8T7e7qr3tCwlJs/s1600/image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarbNIaDi1-ulVAWOlWhOZ41bWa5WEUkOxuSqf68q1x5kUFOgyYtiXDCSwYgUfFgFHkhxavhljwzeRxqe9HKiJyO8a-au2boGkkJkehaJpP7fFDykBKzpghq2upxUrW_8T7e7qr3tCwlJs/s640/image3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs-2vL7BJys83ieUJlgmbng4-ilTFP6c0bsBf6fuY0zi2GL0Gl8KAMCkqahYmrIMu5LGw9-LNnLRiJ0wfRRiFcenQJD6mtmSNmzFVFjsQiqqkaZcRZ5GKuYTq-16cJdChuOWzY7Xh7lWZ/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs-2vL7BJys83ieUJlgmbng4-ilTFP6c0bsBf6fuY0zi2GL0Gl8KAMCkqahYmrIMu5LGw9-LNnLRiJ0wfRRiFcenQJD6mtmSNmzFVFjsQiqqkaZcRZ5GKuYTq-16cJdChuOWzY7Xh7lWZ/s640/image4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXNvtQpx9wPMVCKQSokbDWmtFi8NlihhHocdXztB8Sza1Momz2jB8CKRWgNGXCvKbjbZuHBU0NhcP8HUtvsvHwfCm6b2YbLd-2pFEyMGMifgFYnYrwyX-MaxwqbAFLKFVVLUoW6qZKYe-/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXNvtQpx9wPMVCKQSokbDWmtFi8NlihhHocdXztB8Sza1Momz2jB8CKRWgNGXCvKbjbZuHBU0NhcP8HUtvsvHwfCm6b2YbLd-2pFEyMGMifgFYnYrwyX-MaxwqbAFLKFVVLUoW6qZKYe-/s640/image5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"> I love the tray ceiling - one of my fave design details</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1ZGwyVkDVSALd5bbLUxmpxMrl8FsbthkgG_YpPtE3xYo_8Qa5DbXqBJ3hUAOsdbKJK_o8cvlHsm4SmwqOc2IQsdIEbq_HiO8SC6DRzlNTF_3fbLg1HxldnZ4mPqO_iHm1kyTZdTLuL81/s1600/image6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1ZGwyVkDVSALd5bbLUxmpxMrl8FsbthkgG_YpPtE3xYo_8Qa5DbXqBJ3hUAOsdbKJK_o8cvlHsm4SmwqOc2IQsdIEbq_HiO8SC6DRzlNTF_3fbLg1HxldnZ4mPqO_iHm1kyTZdTLuL81/s640/image6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDq1QDSPM-_unYG9s6kiqVwB_9f4PQuZRf0JMWL4TVmYvt_8SgsvWSZnVo_FUAdyHUXu_XTCEKiu4cQS8Qb-8cHdnxC2NeO0yvBX3RvgetkO2FonwiPpviyRWMFxTxTeZWq_uZoH113uB/s1600/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDq1QDSPM-_unYG9s6kiqVwB_9f4PQuZRf0JMWL4TVmYvt_8SgsvWSZnVo_FUAdyHUXu_XTCEKiu4cQS8Qb-8cHdnxC2NeO0yvBX3RvgetkO2FonwiPpviyRWMFxTxTeZWq_uZoH113uB/s640/image7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97q7qL1ZQH3_IBiAvqqQMgCpEqkpI0ZtjfR88QWdE9MA8Dqfx54lXaBVWgIAHH77r6cR-AtYKuaJjSktLEHwNDygNHNIDUqKmYcI1xX2wd_7ml3ba_k7WhmdIRcjA4gr6pZ9TSZgs968-/s1600/image10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97q7qL1ZQH3_IBiAvqqQMgCpEqkpI0ZtjfR88QWdE9MA8Dqfx54lXaBVWgIAHH77r6cR-AtYKuaJjSktLEHwNDygNHNIDUqKmYcI1xX2wd_7ml3ba_k7WhmdIRcjA4gr6pZ9TSZgs968-/s640/image10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnmtPFesMbTM5ekM5Xf6AopcKnDHbwplcq8JbwdjlgMt3Vm8jy64eUQdSJ6l7-zpcTnsKgGjCu2o86jHfuqyHyCH5B0btVxFZzLRDV_k7DTlC1_c8s6Iuo0q-eocueETCmzYtPMH6L4iv/s1600/image11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnmtPFesMbTM5ekM5Xf6AopcKnDHbwplcq8JbwdjlgMt3Vm8jy64eUQdSJ6l7-zpcTnsKgGjCu2o86jHfuqyHyCH5B0btVxFZzLRDV_k7DTlC1_c8s6Iuo0q-eocueETCmzYtPMH6L4iv/s640/image11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhET91S5jvyxdHaKrhfYANyC44dsffFfYdVVYcwB8qhEZREOJFjPxTSHfKrP8u4RKnja-vRuS6K9ntt2rO5zpShVhsw-QL1WWB5V44Ja_pjxh0FqJ_1MJP_IT5INewEshOP96qLhkD2CVz/s1600/image8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhET91S5jvyxdHaKrhfYANyC44dsffFfYdVVYcwB8qhEZREOJFjPxTSHfKrP8u4RKnja-vRuS6K9ntt2rO5zpShVhsw-QL1WWB5V44Ja_pjxh0FqJ_1MJP_IT5INewEshOP96qLhkD2CVz/s640/image8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQAPxBRwhKD0L7Z3AdsFK1ABdaEj1IStG-KlfplIefpYojvY0AUKB3PGufdBtghYcPlYvl0rktaHHesnn2WYQk75p0FPIuPz_qjHQq_F7ebpxfMtWLYAOYV_o4IReQ0PO5WouTz3XDy-n/s1600/image9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQAPxBRwhKD0L7Z3AdsFK1ABdaEj1IStG-KlfplIefpYojvY0AUKB3PGufdBtghYcPlYvl0rktaHHesnn2WYQk75p0FPIuPz_qjHQq_F7ebpxfMtWLYAOYV_o4IReQ0PO5WouTz3XDy-n/s640/image9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fNt1S-Q9FjL4eDlBjiXmEVtqmQ41vskRyFrQitRtrMoMWfPO7I6RfKjXK9hptAHuknfMoWfbOxDnXSnmG7133BG3v-gQ1idb4fH5b8pPin2EkpU8vX1ke-Ih3teOkA3w3TlChZ9e8POV/s1600/floorplan1+(1)+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fNt1S-Q9FjL4eDlBjiXmEVtqmQ41vskRyFrQitRtrMoMWfPO7I6RfKjXK9hptAHuknfMoWfbOxDnXSnmG7133BG3v-gQ1idb4fH5b8pPin2EkpU8vX1ke-Ih3teOkA3w3TlChZ9e8POV/s640/floorplan1+(1)+large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can find the link <a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-avalon-111482555" target="_blank">here</a> while it lasts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

Avalon beauty

I'm always drawn to the houses of Sydney's Northern Beaches - they have that effortless, laid-back charm I find really appealing. Th...

2:37 PM

About 'Keep Calm And Carry On'

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today</div><div style="text-align: center;">countless variations of this popular slogan</div><div style="text-align: center;">can be seen throughout the UK and US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cEI7otDI57L3MDYK4AQcxssVN13d-tLBE0Y9LhoHuPCyqPsHgPEMvGFfFS2gH2d7edLBY30XqFevMi5DSNh1XiK7pBBy0RnfipQEXe67Y-R6PpRfZq93TRA2nbLLrj4Dbj7a_ade-6YX/s1600/il_570xN.309989207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cEI7otDI57L3MDYK4AQcxssVN13d-tLBE0Y9LhoHuPCyqPsHgPEMvGFfFS2gH2d7edLBY30XqFevMi5DSNh1XiK7pBBy0RnfipQEXe67Y-R6PpRfZq93TRA2nbLLrj4Dbj7a_ade-6YX/s400/il_570xN.309989207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyHandmade123">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it is well known to have been a WWII morale-booster poster in the UK,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it actually was not well distributed at the time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It wasn't until the year 2000</div><div style="text-align: center;">that it was rediscovered in a used bookstore in Northumberland</div><div style="text-align: center;">which started to make reprints for customers</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the rest is history</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQzeAVctKWBViEXaNEXw751GMNX7hh20E1RbI3zLQoKe6Mq4MPEOZyYWQbJHY-PO1GqvS5T8UYZ-RMi3kcvby9awLlQCxWd3Xxify13JUsMuN3_cHQ7utVQ6QnaHaBH2PVuKfrhsH-drY/s1600/il_570xN.373212071_kxov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQzeAVctKWBViEXaNEXw751GMNX7hh20E1RbI3zLQoKe6Mq4MPEOZyYWQbJHY-PO1GqvS5T8UYZ-RMi3kcvby9awLlQCxWd3Xxify13JUsMuN3_cHQ7utVQ6QnaHaBH2PVuKfrhsH-drY/s400/il_570xN.373212071_kxov.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite version :)<br />via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/decalhappy">Decal Happy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But what I find most interesting is that it encapsulates </div><div style="text-align: center;">both the English and American cultures</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>differently</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the Americans it means</div><div style="text-align: center;">be 'zen'</div><div style="text-align: center;">while persevering</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">While in England it means</div><div style="text-align: center;">keep a stiff upper lip</div><div style="text-align: center;">while trudging on, 'get on with it'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Described by The Economist,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it 'taps directly into the [England's] country's mystic image of itself:</div><div style="text-align: center;">unshowily brave and just a little stiff,</div><div style="text-align: center;">brewing tea as the bombs fall'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How does the expression speak to you?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_calm_and_carry_on">Wikipedia</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

About 'Keep Calm And Carry On'

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Today countless variations of this popular slogan can be seen throughout the UK and US Available on Etsy Althou...

11:06 PM

Identity Through Sports

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zwzcZpUJ_W4dtMpxCumqD7hwgzerDOaYBg_Ebkky_hpVcrQhXow9xg9ZpEgRt9l9i-ab8CySxk6tEMtPeip0SnkokHbofO1qoh_RUC4cBEfmy3Mh3LZrtOWLlovGor5KfQKS909TjQw/s1600/IMG_0469-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zwzcZpUJ_W4dtMpxCumqD7hwgzerDOaYBg_Ebkky_hpVcrQhXow9xg9ZpEgRt9l9i-ab8CySxk6tEMtPeip0SnkokHbofO1qoh_RUC4cBEfmy3Mh3LZrtOWLlovGor5KfQKS909TjQw/s640/IMG_0469-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Displayed during the Summer Olympics</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">A local taxi driver recently mentioned</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">the county of Middlesex disappeared in 1965</div><div style="text-align: center;">when divided among <span style="background-color: white;">counties Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Greater London</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then he said, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I guess it would be like one of your American states</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>becoming part of another one</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">That idea blew my mind</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Two US states combining as one?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Never</i></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehJ4HNXh_aW6F27z8sSC4aX8yiD3Y7Tswh-i3rZwS7ESint7hrwyfr3pUlmWPeDbaRVao3bgLKWUigb7_V3fet2XGpSeh3i3c4DYddWO7u2jhVHPbQjR7a6SQhuy4kkBusjmoZh0-N7o/s1600/US-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehJ4HNXh_aW6F27z8sSC4aX8yiD3Y7Tswh-i3rZwS7ESint7hrwyfr3pUlmWPeDbaRVao3bgLKWUigb7_V3fet2XGpSeh3i3c4DYddWO7u2jhVHPbQjR7a6SQhuy4kkBusjmoZh0-N7o/s640/US-002.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalkboard Map for sale via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtsastudio?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Each US state has its own laws and even driver's license tests,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">their own flag, motto, and state flower</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">I love all the different state licence plates seen on the highways</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">In most schools, months are dedicated</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to study the history of their state</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even stronger still</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">each state has its own 'patriotism', if you will</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now I'm not a huge sports fan,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">but really, sports is a huge community unifier</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">whether you rally behind </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">the </span><span style="background-color: white;">state's </span><span style="background-color: white;">university</span><span style="background-color: white;"> or professional team</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">The most popular spectator sports in the US</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">are American football, basketball, and baseball</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGIB-hXqZfbF2qQgM3zmy7gHI2QAozZq3OFMwoz0dzOjHyon9Cwxped9g8xQc5iXFQ5mQcL-_A5MOM_QYnw5hfzQJXs9FgLFKp9S88RBmk0JvlQzKfItl3OcMQeTQVKLOMsBNO4EZ2g/s1600/baseball-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGIB-hXqZfbF2qQgM3zmy7gHI2QAozZq3OFMwoz0dzOjHyon9Cwxped9g8xQc5iXFQ5mQcL-_A5MOM_QYnw5hfzQJXs9FgLFKp9S88RBmk0JvlQzKfItl3OcMQeTQVKLOMsBNO4EZ2g/s640/baseball-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customized print by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shawnstpeter?ref=seller_info">Shawn St Peter</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">And in a way, America is on a bit of a sports island as</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">we rarely play other countries in these sports</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">for few share our </span><span style="background-color: white;">enthusiasm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">So we compete against each other within our American borders</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">and have friendly rivalries with other states</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">On the sports page,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">this makes us look inwardly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">not globally</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2DFa-T-bSG0_WfXcKxN_7kHtgdYhkndXc9dnGn1dY4KibbIlP88RtAJuxYCaOc_TmbrGAsYObYINAeXQjqumFGyOJDNJErtY9KUa88NZ7f0wsGB1egQHhxXi4wio4lsmxcJySaB82uU/s1600/opera+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2DFa-T-bSG0_WfXcKxN_7kHtgdYhkndXc9dnGn1dY4KibbIlP88RtAJuxYCaOc_TmbrGAsYObYINAeXQjqumFGyOJDNJErtY9KUa88NZ7f0wsGB1egQHhxXi4wio4lsmxcJySaB82uU/s400/opera+glasses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageShoppingSpree?ref=seller_info">Vintage Shopping Spree</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">In contrast, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">by sharing an interest in more globally popular sports</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">England's sports page has more of an international scope</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">increasing their worldwide connection</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">A UK reporter recently said they feel a kinship (and rivalry) with Australia</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">because they share enthusiasm for similar sports,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">including rugby and cricket</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-_5LOKNfws3v_er9B3eE9JVg5nqnEUjXH4QaUkaLjo06uBP-udeMufZhu2tFGPObbrd54O26mLX0dR_y9p86YYi40c6E-tQzNs06qOx4BoCYpHzMg5V8JPfD6_DiVz0GuLYWXMtZYts/s1600/DSC_0020-11.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-_5LOKNfws3v_er9B3eE9JVg5nqnEUjXH4QaUkaLjo06uBP-udeMufZhu2tFGPObbrd54O26mLX0dR_y9p86YYi40c6E-tQzNs06qOx4BoCYpHzMg5V8JPfD6_DiVz0GuLYWXMtZYts/s640/DSC_0020-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Furthermore, most countries have a bond </div><div style="text-align: center;">over the love of soccer/football and play against each other</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">English (or British) patriotism peeks its head<br />during the Olympics, FIFA World Cup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rugby World Cup, <span style="background-color: white;">and The Ashes</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">to name a few</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">To my knowledge,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">English counties don't have their own sport teams (except for cricket)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">so they cheer their favorite football team (often not local)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">and their national teams</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">As a result, you never hear a 'Rah, Rah Surrey!' as you would in the US</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">partly due to not having a county team to get behind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So could Oklahoma become a part of Texas one day?</div><div style="text-align: center;">(with their huge college football rivalry)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">or better yet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Texas become a part of Oklahoma?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">( now I'm being cheeky )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No, that just wouldn't fly :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6mp8FCPRROwLqz8nqtcMwMK2uJGQrPlRM_TlaptT4P8ragvd_NtIFi5gnleBFmUXj8EtYNclvsKmM5Vl85bzVRkmo-COU5bPyqGpSUK7GsQiX_TfPKy8Tv6Ci9oC45uWw1FsbRlWOfQ/s1600/DSC01555-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6mp8FCPRROwLqz8nqtcMwMK2uJGQrPlRM_TlaptT4P8ragvd_NtIFi5gnleBFmUXj8EtYNclvsKmM5Vl85bzVRkmo-COU5bPyqGpSUK7GsQiX_TfPKy8Tv6Ci9oC45uWw1FsbRlWOfQ/s640/DSC01555-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's Olympic Road Race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I must say</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Olympics is one of the few times most Americans </div><div style="text-align: center;">watch athletes from other countries compete</div><div style="text-align: center;">And they love it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Identity Through Sports

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Displayed during the Summer Olympics A local taxi driver recently mentioned the county of Middlesex disappeared...

12:45 AM