_Monika_ - photoblog

The fjording horse II

Monika Ziola — 2008-10-10T00:00:00Z

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The fjording horse I

Monika Ziola — 2008-10-08T00:00:00Z

Norse Mythology tells of immortal horses, beloved by the Gods. When the Viking warrior maidens, the Valkyrie, ride their horses through the heavens bearing fallen heroes to Valhalla, the home of the Gods, it is seen by the mortals as the mysterious, ever-shifting glow of the Northern Lights. (Lana Slaton) Beloved by the Gods. Deemed worthy to perform this most important heavenly task. No ordinary horse is this, to inspire such high regard. What makes this horse so special? Imagine a horse the color of a wheat field, with a most unusual and unique feature, a mane like that of no other horse. Cut into a crescent shape to accent the proud arch of their muscular necks, the hairs stand upright, white hairs on the outside and black in the center. This dark dorsal stripe continues on down the middle of the back to the tail. A beautiful head with small alert ears and wide set, dark, gentle eyes evokes love at first sight. The horse of the Valkyrie would need to be easy to mount, not too tall. But it must certainly be exceptionally strong and sure footed. Most essential should be a calm, gentle nature and a charming and loving personality. This would be a "Fjording." An ancient horse, treasured by the Vikings. In a children's coloring book, "Horses In History," author Lana Slaton tells of the Vikings love for their horses. "They were the rarely given gift of sacrifice to the Gods and the only suitable gift of Kings. Three worldly possessions were viewed as sacred by the Vikings and they would only be buried with these. Their iron swords, their long ships, and their most beloved animal, the Norwegian Dun or Fjording. Horse skulls graced the prows of their long ships to warn of hidden dangers and were hung about the home to protect the family against evil. Never risking their horses in battle, they rode them to and from the scene and then dismounted to fight on foot. Chieftains used their horses to be visible to their men and to direct the battle. This is where the expression "Getting on your high horse" originated." (Lana Slaton) Not just a myth, more than immortal, a horse with a history and a future. The Fjord (pronounced Fee-ord) is the oldest equine breed, more than four thousand years old. They are direct descendants of the ancient wild horse "Preswalski," who is now nearly extinct. The Fjord's dorsal stripe and zebra markings on the legs attest to their ice age origins. They are also the oldest known domesticated horse, having been selectively bred in Norway for more than two thousand years. This very old breed is relatively new in America. In the early 1950's twenty one Fjordings were imported from Norway. These sixteen mares and five stallions were the foundation breeding stock for the United States. Widespread interest in the Norwegian Fjord Horse didn't begin until the early 1970's. Considered an all purpose horse, they have always been and still are used for riding, driving, packing, and pulling. A strong and versatile horse with a gentle, people oriented personality, a most unique appearance and a wonderful story. This is a horse for all; the practical, the lover, and the dreamer. As you gaze into those soft brown eyes or they lay their head across your shoulder, as if in embrace, you know without a doubt, these are indeed very special horses. by Shelene Weholt Slaton, Lana. Horses in History. Los Angeles. Troubador Press. 1987 source: http://www.horse-previews.com/998articles/thefjording.html

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Sunset on Thames

Monika Ziola — 2008-10-06T00:00:00Z

Sunset on Thames - picture taken from Greenwich. *** For great choice of cactus and other plants visit here: www.cactusplaza.com - that's my friendly nursery which sells online:)

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Parliament Building, Oslo

Monika Ziola — 2008-10-04T00:00:00Z

The Storting, Norway's parliament, meets in this building located in the city of Oslo, capital of Norway. The Storting's 165 members are elected every four years. Beautiful old buildings such as this are intermixed with contemporary architecture in Oslo. *** For great choice of cactus and other plants visit here: www.cactusplaza.com - that's my friendly nursery which sells online:)

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Oslo City Hall II

Monika Ziola — 2008-10-02T00:00:00Z

The Oslo City Hall houses the City Coucil, City administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks, and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony makes it one of Oslo's most famous buildings. It was designed by Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson. It is situated in Pipervika in central downtown Oslo. The area was completely renovated and rebuilt to make room for the new City Hall, back in the late 1920's. In June 2005 it was named Oslo's "structure of the century", with 30.4% of the votes. Nobel prize for peace is given to the winner on 10th of December each year in Oslo city hall. *** For great choice of cactus and other plants visit here: www.cactusplaza.com - that's my friendly nursery which sells online:)

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Oslo City Hall I

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-30T00:00:00Z

The Oslo City Hall houses the City Council, City administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks, and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony makes it one of Oslo's most famous buildings. It was designed by Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson. It is situated in Pipervika in central downtown Oslo. The area was completely renovated and rebuilt to make room for the new City Hall, back in the late 1920's. In June 2005 it was named Oslo's "structure of the century", with 30.4% of the votes. Nobel prize for peace is given to the winner on 10th of December each year in Oslo city hall. *** For great choice of cactus and other plants visit here: www.cactusplaza.com - that's my friendly nursery which sells online:)

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Scarlet Lily beetle II

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-28T00:00:00Z

I am (slowly) catching up! Scarlet lily beetle again. More info about this pest here: http://www.monika.shutterchance.com/photoblog/Lily_beetle_/ I have no idea why there are these white dots here, there are not present on original file :/ *** For great choice of cactus and other plants visit here: www.cactusplaza.com - that's my friendly nursery which sells online:)

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Oslo Impressions - 'Oh no, not another bird...'

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-26T00:00:00Z

One of my pictures from weekend break in Oslo. Not the prettiest sight but I like the expression on sculptures' faces, like saying: 'Oh no, not another bird...'

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Mussenden Temple

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-24T00:00:00Z

I have got some hectic weeks these days and I am very sorry I could not contribute to SC as much as I used to. First I had my family visiting (and the legacy of this time is approx. 1200 pictures awaiting my attention!) and then I had a short city break in Oslo, Norway. All together around 2000 pictures - that will keep me busy throughout the winter! ;) Until I find some time I am still digging into my archives, that is a picture from my May trip to Ireland. Mussenden Temple appeared on a few of my pictures already but here goes a reminder about it: Mussenden Temple is a small circular building located on cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry, high above theAtlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland. It was built in 1785 and forms part of the estate of Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry. Built as a library and modeled on the Temple of Vasta in Italy, it is dedicated to the memory of Hervey's cousin Frideswide Mussenden. Over the years the erosion of the cliff face at Downhill has brought Mussenden Temple ever closer to the edge, and in 1997 the National Trust carried out cliff stabilisation work to prevent the loss of the building. The inscription around the building reads, "Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore/ The rolling ship, and hear the tempest roar." The quotation is from Lucretius. The Temple offers magnificent views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and to the east Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and [Fairhead]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussenden_Temple

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Leeds Castle knight

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-20T00:00:00Z

Leeds Castle Built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur to replace the earlier Saxon manor of Esledes, the castle became a royal palace for King Edward I of England and his queen, Eleanor of Castile in 1278. Major improvements were made during his time, including the Barbican, made up of three parts, each with its own entrance, drawbridge, gateway, and portcullis. The medieval keep is called the "Gloriette" in honour of Queen Eleanor. In 1321, King Edward II besieged the castle after his queen was refused admission, and used ballistas, or springalds, to force its defenders to surrender. Richard II's first wife, Anne of Bohemia, spent the winter of 1381 at the Castle on her way to be married to the King, and in 1395, King Richard II received the French chronicler Jean Froissart there, as Froissart described in his Chronicles. Henry VIII transformed the castle for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and a painting commemorating his meeting with Francis I of France still hangs there. His daughter, Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the castle for a time before her coronation. The castle escaped destruction during the English Civil War because its owners, the Culpeper family, sided with the Parliamentarians. The last private owner of the castle was the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie, a daughter of Almeric Paget, 1st Baron Queenborough, and his first wife, Pauline Payne Whitney, an American heiress. Lady Baillie bought the castle in 1926. She redecorated the interior, first working with the French architect and designer Armand-Albert Rateau (who also oversaw exterior alterations as well as added interior features such as a 16th-century-style carved-oak staircase) and then, later, with the Paris decorator Stéphane Boudin. Baillie established the Leeds Castle Foundation. The castle was opened to the public in 1976. On 17 July 1978, the castle was the site of a meeting between the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan in preparation for the Camp David Accords. In September 1999, Sir Elton John played two sold-out solo concerts in the grounds of Leeds Castle. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_castle

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Monika Ziola — 2008-09-18T00:00:00Z

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Lily beetle

Monika Ziola — 2008-09-16T00:00:00Z

Although this beetle look nice on pictures, in fact it is a pest. There is so info about it below. Scarlet lily beetleLilioceris lilii Look for These bright red beetles are very distinctive and therefore quite easy to spot on affected plants. Also, look for holes in leaves, stems and flowers, left by the small slimy black larvae. Plants affected They're highly destructive to lilies (Lilium), and fritillaries (Fritillaria). Red lily beetle adults feed on leaves, flowers and stems. Infestations can prevent flowering, destroy bulbs or kill plants depending on the level of infestation. About scarlet lily beetle These bright red beetles, with distinctive black legs and antennae, are an invasive species which was first recorded in the UK during the 1940s. They're also known as red lily beetles and are now commonly found across the south-east of England, and have recently been reported in parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. When disturbed, adults emit a high pitch squeak, perhaps as a warning to other beetles. Adults overwinter in the soil and emerge in late-March to early April. Adults will continue to mate and feed from spring until autumn. After mating, females will lay small groups of bright orange eggs on the underside of leaves. Larvae hatch a few days later as red or orange-coloured grubs with black heads and three pairs of legs on their upper body. As they feed, the larvae cover themselves in their own sticky black excrement. Red lily beetle larvae are usually found on the underside of leaves where they feed from the tip and work back to the stem. Any larvae which survive to become adults will drop to the soil in late autumn to overwinter, and emerge again the next spring. Treatment Chemical Products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on scarlet lily beetle: Imidicloprid Bifenthrin Pyrethrum Natural fatty acids Surfactant-based products Note: It is important to read manufacturer's instructions for use and the associated safety data information before applying chemical treatments. Organic Inspect plants carefully in early spring and remove any adults and larvae by hand to prevent infestations becoming established. Use netting and fleece to contain the pests and stop adults moving between plants. Replant pot-grown lilies and fritillarias using fresh compost in early spring before the overwintering adult beetles emerge from the soil. There are no natural enemies commercially available, although a range of native parasites and predators will feed on both adult and larval stages. So encourage these by establishing a natural balance of wildlife in your garden and avoid using chemicals. Prevention Check plants regularly for signs of infestation and deal with them as soon as they appear. Encourage insect-eating birds by putting up feeders in winter and provide nesting boxes in spring. source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/nonflash_index.shtml?scarlet_lily_beetle

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