Magi & Mister Ed

Posted on February 23, 2012 by orples

Okay folks sing along . . . “A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless of course it’s a talking horse…”. Okay Magi couldn’t talk, but for those of you old enough to remember Mister Ed, that was not the case. Below is a photo of my guy, Magi. We spent 19 years together riding the trails and being buds. Now, sometimes to reclaim that feeling of closeness, I find myself watching old reruns of “Mister Ed”.

Magi in 2007, 23 years old +/-

Mister Ed was a palomino, whereas Magi is a Red Dunn, but still they resemble each other enough to remind me of one another. And so of course, Mister Ed also holds a place in my heart… a reminder of my early childhood days.

You can check out the program if you are unfamiliar with Mister Ed, or if you know exactly who he was, and would like to stroll down the road of nostalgia. The show ran from 1961 to 1966. It was typical of the comedies of the day, just a fun family show, everyone could watch together. Unlike today, we were not shielded from television due to explicit sex scenes,foul language, or violence. Mister Ed was typical of the comedies of the day. Very creative and entertaining, and now a classic. Mister Ed’s real name was Bamboo Harvester. He died in 1970 due to health complications. So sad. Of all of the original cast members, only Wilber (Alan Young) is still alive. He is now 92 years old.

Sunday Photo Challenge. Color 2 . Fishy Business

Posted on February 22, 2012 by orples

This beautiful little fishy is my oldest grandson’s creation. He was about 7 years old when he drew/colored it. I love the way the colors pop out and the balance of the elements. Thus, I decided to show it off. One day I will have it framed and matted and return it to him as a gift. I may make some greeting cards with it in the meantime. At any rate, it is a favorite of mine, I felt worthy of sharing.

From the eye of a child.

Playing Peek a Boo

Posted on February 21, 2012 by orples

When I first got my Corel program and had not a clue as how to use it, I started by experimenting with some of the features. For practice, I made this little game sheet for my grandchildren to either cut out and paste, or to draw the squares into the squares. These types of puzzles were (and maybe still are popular) in the activities sections of some newspapers. Of course, you can draw the picture, then cut out the blocks and paste over your drawing too if you are really bored. Please feel free to print off and cut out these squares for your own use if you would like. Hopefully this will be big enough to work with. The original sheet I gave to my grandchildren to cut out is 8 1/2″ x 11″. I used card stock to print it on for better results.

Magi playing Peek a boo . game cutout sheet

Below is the actual photo I used as my ‘test’ subject. First, I obviously cropped the photo, then bit-mapped it. Corel has some cool features to distort the original photograph for an artsy look.

Magi playing peek a boo with me before our ride

The Maymont Bears

Posted on February 20, 2012 by orples

Recently, I introduced you to Maymont Park in General. Today’s focus is on the Bears that reside there. Over the years, different Bears have been lucky enough to call Maymont Park Home. These bears don’t have to worry about being hunted or where they will find food. They have ample room to roam and a large pond to frolic in on hot summer days. Not to mention, they have plenty of visitors who marvel at their size and beauty.

The bear display is on the left.

If you come to the bear display from the petting farm, the enclosure is on your left. There is a sheltered area under the sign boards, somewhat underground. I don’t have any photos to share, but you can take my word for it. The backboard of the structure shown is used to display announcements for upcoming events as well as artwork done by the children from local schools. It is a nice place to sit and rest for a few minutes and from which to observe the bears through the windows. As you can see, there are also permanent plaques with information about the bears and other wildlife that share their habitat.

The Bear Enclosure at Maymont Park

Showing off for an audience.

The bears seems to enjoy the attention. Sadly, about five years ago, a mother and her young son (5 years old ?) visited the bears. Despite the signs clearly stating the bears were not to be fed, and the walls with plastic windows (allowing the children to view the bears), Mom just had to break the rules. Her irresponsible actions costs two of the bears their lives.

Time for a swim

Bear Watching

The woman decided to let her child hand feed the bears an apple. She went beyond the lower fence on the far side of their enclosure, then let her child feed the bear through a second chain linked fence. When the bear reached for the apple, he scratched the boy accidentally. Since no one knew which bear scratched the child, both bears were destroyed. It was not like the kid was attacked, but the park officials panicked and after a brief meeting decided the only thing to do was to euthanize the bears to test them for rabies. Their feeble excuse was that the bears could not be quarantined. Hello! The bears WERE quarantined all along. This was not a bear attack, it was an accident that could have been avoided altogether. The people of Richmond and the surrounding areas were outraged. Then to add insult to injury, the bears corpses were hauled off to the local dump. That little move really iced the cake. The backboard shown above was filled with teddy bears and notes of grievance and anger, directed at those responsible for the decision to have the bears ‘murdered’. Local radio shows were overrun with calls from the citizens demanding that something be done to commemorate the bears, and to give them the recognition they deserved. Even Doug Wilder, our Mayor at the time, was outraged that these bears were unjustly killed.

Statue to Commemorate the Maymont Bears

It took several days, combing the landfill to find those two corpses to give them a proper burial upon the insistence of the public. A local funeral home cremated the two bears and they now forever RIP in their own private little plot off the path leading to the bear pen. In another location a bronze statue was erected to honor ALL Maymont bears. The children love to play on the statue as you can see. While the statue is a lovely gesture, it would have been nice to have been donated to the park, less the tragedy that prompted its placement.

Sunday Photo Challenge . Colorful

Posted on February 19, 2012 by orples

Out of all of my ‘colorful’ photographs, I think I’ll start with these two shots. My beautiful little winged friends are enjoying their ‘butterfly bush’.

Beauty in Flight

These are but two of the lovely little visitors I captured in flight. This bush was a magnet, thus its name, for all sorts of winged wonders.

Sharing with my friend.

Weekly Photo Challenge . Down #2

Posted on February 18, 2012 by orples

This is a fun little photo I couldn’t resist snapping off out in the pasture. I was heading out to round up my fine steed for a little romp across the back forty, when I looked “DOWN” and saw these happy little mushrooms emerging from the recycled plants surrounding them.

Watch your step . Better look "Down".

I dedicate this post to kardzbykris in contrast to the colorful mushroom posted on his site. It was that mushroom that brought this little pair of happy campers into the conversation.

Kris,as promised, here is your photo of mushrooms in manure. LOL. Enjoy! 😉

Weekly Photo Challenge . Down

Posted on February 18, 2012 by orples

This is a page from my book “How Orples Came To Be“. In this scene, Jack and Mr. Zimp have just discussed creating more orples with the intent of experimenting on them.

Taking the express route to the basement.

Mrs. Mouse is hurrying home, so she can eavesdrop on Jack and his Dad as they discuss their plans. The humans are using the stairs to go ‘down’ to the basement.

Introduction to Maymont Park

Posted on February 17, 2012 by orples

If you ever come to Richmond, Virginia, I suggest you allow yourself an extra day to explore Maymont Park. This post, as the title suggests, is merely an introduction to Richmond’s crowned jewel.

The petting barn from a distance

They have so much to offer, you may want to plan on bringing a picnic lunch and comfortable walking shoes. And by all means, bring your camera.

A few of the Maymont critters loving life

The petting barn has all kinds of sweet little animals for old and young alike to enjoy. Pictured is a mere fraction of the critters they have to love on. There are also horses, donkeys, lots of goats, peacocks, bunnies, chickens, and more.

Hmm, How am I going to get down from here?

There are bears. The Maymont bears are usually placed in captivity for misbehaving in the National park, although some of the bears they’ve displayed in past years were orphaned. In a future post, I have a sad story to tell about two bears that resided here, but for now, the focus of this writing is a general overview of the park. As time goes on, I will pick apart specific areas. I could write a book on this marvelous park. I didn’t even mention the deer,buffalo,foxes,eagles, and other prey birds on display that are wounded and would not survive in the wild. Maymont is a refuge for all kinds of critters, that in turn are a delight for all to enjoy.

The Gazebo in the Japanese Garden

I love this little gazebo, although Maymont has several dotted throughout the estate. I think this is my favorite. This gazebo is a new addition, while some of the others that stand have been there for over 100 years.

The Italian Gardens

Above the Japanese Gardens, you will find the Italian Gardens. This photo does not really show the beauty that is displayed later in the season, but it does present an excellent view of the flower beds. There are also fountains among the beds. Sadly this photo does not show anymore than the corner of one of them. This is a popular wedding spot throughout the year. Although it is an expensive spot to tie the knot in, the money collected is used to support the operating costs of the park. There are other paid attractions as well. They have a handicapped accessible tram to transport people that prefer not to, or cannot, walk. Or, if you prefer, you can rent carriage rides through the park. It is free to visit with the exception of the Nature Center and tours of the Mansion. There are also donation boxes set up for those who would like to contribute to the cause on a voluntary basis.

We always walked the park, cutting through the numerous paths and shortcuts over the hills, to get from point A to B. If you have trouble sleeping at night, Maymont will wear you out. It beats any sleeping pill on the market, I assure you.

The Nature Center

The Nature Center was added maybe 10 or 15 years ago and is full of various displays, including fish tanks, and all kinds of educational setups designed to teach children about our natural environment, focusing on life on the James River. They have snakes, and frogs, and all sorts of fish in huge tanks set into the rocks. There are even a pair of otters who love to show off for their audience. If you go around the corner, the pumps that operate the filtering system are displayed as well so the children can see how they work. Set back behind the display area is a play room for the children stocked full of animal puppets, toys, and books. On occasion storytellers come to delight the children with all kinds of information about nature and wildlife. I practically raised my own children here.

A glimpse inside of the Nature Center

The Maymont Mansion

The Maymont Mansion was the home of Major(Civil War) and Mrs Dooley, a childless couple that donated their estate to the city of Richmond to share with all. Mrs. Dooley died in 1925, thus leaving our capital city one of her greatest treasures for all to enjoy.

Parital model of the park encased in glass.

I wish I had a better model to present to show the overview of Maymont, but the model was so big and with the glare on the glass, it was hard to get it all. These pictures can not begin to describe the beauty of the park anyway. You just have to visit to really enjoy the impact of this lovely gift left to us all by Major Dooley and his lovely bride, Sallie May Dooley. May they both RIP.

Bird Watching. Listening?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by orples

This morning the birds were in full harmony welcoming this new day. In celebration of their song, I felt it only appropriate to share the joys of last summer. While looking for something else in the garage, I came across this little birdhouse and decided it was useless where it was. So I bought a bracket and put the little house up on a fence post just outside the porch window. It was a wise decision. My reward for my efforts was the pleasure of new neighbors. It was delightful, watching Mom and Dad take turns tending the nest.

Feeding the young just before they flew the coup.

They would fly back and forth with a watchful eye, exchanging places to tend their young. As the baby birds developed in the nest, sitting on the porch, I could hear them chirping away, singing their songs of life. The day I took this photo, was the day they finally took flight, leaving an empty nest and the sounds of silence. It was a rather sad farewell. I hope they will return this year to keep me company once again. If not, the birds are in abundance here, as was evident in their song this morning.

Black Hollyhocks

Posted on February 15, 2012 by orples

Today’s post is a little lame, but in keeping up with my postaday challenge, I wanted to add something to the conversation. I finally have a paying job coming my way today, so need to be on the job site in a few minutes and may not get time later to post. Please forgive me for not coming up with something a little more stimulating to make it worth your time to drop in for a visit today.