Monday, September 30, 2024

Autumn Colors in Banff

Autumn can have some stunning color combinations.  I fell in love with this tiny patch of ground cover filled with autumn color under some pine trees near a hotel parking lot in Banff, Canada.  


Autumn colors by Jeanne Selep
Image 1: Autumn Colors

In this patch, nature leaned into bright colors paired with warm and cool browns.  


Red foliage in ground cover
Image 2: Red Autumn Colors

Some leaves had bright reds blending into chartreuse.


Magenta foliage in ground cover
Image 3: Magenta Autumn Colors

Other leaves can only be described as a shade of magenta. 


Autumn foliage in ground cover
Image 4: Gold Autumn Colors

Other leaves with golds and yellows also blended into chartreuse (like the reds).  (Notice the grey pinecone!) 


Green foliage
Image 5: Green Autumn Colors

Meanwhile, the same patch had some awesome shades of bright (emerald?) green.

And to make the patch even more interesting many of the leaves had polka dots! I paused at this patch of ground almost every time I passed it during the day.  The colors made my heart sing.  

Below is other nearby ground cover. 


Autumn colors
Image 6: Another nearby patch of autumn color

You might be wondering, why share "parking lot" pictures if I'm in Banff National Park in Canada in fall?  Why share photos that might be taken almost anywhere in North America?  Because September has been crazy busy, (daughter moved, some house work done, other major projects acomplished), and I didn't finish the post I actually wanted to post.  


I've been working on a much longer post on Larch trees in Banff Canada since August, and now I need to post any September post to meet my personal goals, ...


But here is a teaser from my future Larch trees in Banff post.  Below is a favorite photo from the post I didn't finish yet.  


Here are some other favorite autumn colors from Banff...


Lake Agnes Canada view
Image 7: Larch Trees and Mountain View in Banff National Park, Canada

I consider this one of my best photos from that trip.




Enjoy a wonderful Fall Season!






Click on the images to see them enlarged.  Leave a comment if you have the time, they brighten my day!




If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Yellowstone
El Capitan
Italy
Bow Lake
Appalachia
Lotus Garden
Flowers
Orchids
Spring Nest
Glass Flowers P2
Rock Window
Mosaics
Winter Garden
Bluebirds


NY Egg Hunt












































































I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 393 (Entry 84x of --)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 331 Mon 4a (Entry 150 of --)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 486 (Entry 41 of 44.)
My Random: Anything Goes 432 (Entry 55 of 67.)
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 7 of 7.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 32 of 36.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 30x of --)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 24 of 26.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 548 Mon 1p (l Entry 26 of --)
Keeping it Real: Party 432 (Entry 32 of 43.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens 453 (Entry 11 of 14.)
My Slices of Life: Talking about it Tue (s Entry 18 of 78.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 324 (m Entry 22 of 51.)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me 748 Mon 3p (l Entry 22 of --)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 22 of 41)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 464 (Entry 10 of 13)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up Tues 444 (m Entry 33)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 18r)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 597 (l Entry 28)
Esmesalon: Wordless Wed (l Entry 7)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues 607 (l Entry 3x)
Joanne Viola: Lets have coffee (Entry 18)
Also Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade 52 (m Entry 97r)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 420 Wed (m Entry 18)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 33)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 3r of 34r)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home (Entry )
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm Wed 459 (m Entry 18)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop Wed (Entry 16)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry --b)
Always Write: Wednesday Quotes (Entry --)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty Th 362 (Entry 20)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry )
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry c120)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 1*)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 5)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 500 Fri (s Entry 8r)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 6)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 509 8p (i Entry 53)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 638 Fr 8a (L Entry 4)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry h--)
Bosworth Life: PoCoLo Fri (Entry 11)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry 37)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 35)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry --)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow 643 (L Entry 16x)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 37)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry na)
Pams Party: Dare to share Fri 11p (m Entry 31)
Pennys Passion: Wonderful Wed (Entry 66r)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 399 (l Entry 4)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 217 7a (Entry 34)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 273 Sun 3p (l Entry 14)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even (l Entry )
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry )
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry )
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 497 Sun a (Entry )
Also Love my Mess: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry )
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop Mon 4a (Entry )
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry 7)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

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Hurricane Helene


Saturday, August 31, 2024

Whimsical Mosaic Bench

Mosaic Butterfly Detail by Jeanne Selep
Image 1: Detail of Mosaic Bench

I found a whimsical cat bench at a rummage sale several years ago.  The quirky cat legs made the bench unique, and I snapped it up as a base for a quick mosaic project. 


Mosaic Bench with butterfly
Image 2: Whimsical Mosaic Cat Bench

The bench was some kind of composite material, making it light in weight, a big bonus for me.



Mosaic Bench Top with butterfly
Image 3: Mosaic Bench Top

When starting to mosaic the top, I wanted to create a distinct border, so I used the red rim from some china plates and created the edge first.  I wanted to experiment with a new color palette, and I wanted to use a fair amount of patterned china, and I'm showing you the finished bench.  Sometimes I find myself making goals, executing them, and then I am left scratching my head the result.   


Mosaic Bench detail with butterfly
Image 4: Mosaic Butterfly detail

I liked how the interior mosaic turned out.  I got to use the fun butterfly piece (above), and I like the colorful "chinz" style.  The red in some of the individual pieces was supposed to echo the red in the border; but the final result didn't work with the border as well as I thought it would.  The interior ended up "reading" as sort of pastel, with a loud red border.   Oh well....   


Mosaic Bench detail with butterfly
Image 5: Mosaic detail

The bench works well outside and I use it as an outside table for gardening and as a miscellaneous horizontal surface.  It's another picassiette mosaic project I've finished, and it has been useful.  (Except the cat's definitely don't deter chipmunks or rabbits...)     


Mosaic Bench detail with butterfly
Image 6: Mosaic Garden Bench



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Mosaic Notes: The term picassiette in mosaics (or pique assiette) indicates the main mosaic material is broken china.  The word comes from pique assiette in French, meaning 'stolen from plate', but the french spelling and pronunciation has been shortened to picassiette by some English speaking artists.


Skills are improved by
practice and reflection!

 

 

Project Notes: I try to improve my skills by thinking about how a project turned out once completed.  I use these 3 questions.
1.  What went well, 
2.  What could have gone better, and 
3.  What would I do differently if I could re-do it. 


Applying these questions to this bench, I think I could improve it.  Here are my thoughts:
What went well:
I got to up-cycle a funky inexpensive bench!
I used vintage china to create a picassiette mosaic.
I tried a new color palette.
I'm happy with the materials used - clear silicon caulk, sanded grout, grout sealer.
I finished the mosaic in a short time period.
The project was fast, and finished! 

What could have gone better:
The impromptu color palette doesn't go as well with the border as I had hoped it would..
I did a sloppy job on the grout on the side.


What would I change in a do-over?
I might select a different border color.  Or interior color.  Or something.
I wouldn't have slopped grout all over the side.
I still could paint the grout to match the bench.


Answering these questions for completed projects is something I encourage people to try. 



Mosaic Butterfly Detail by Jeanne Selep
Image 7: Butterfly detail in Mosaic


Enjoy the end of Summer!






Click on the images to see them enlarged.  Leave a comment if you have the time, they brighten my day!




If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

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Glass Flowers
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Snowy
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Bluebird
Hot Tub Party



































I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Sun-Mon 388 (Entry 1x of 53x.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 326 Mon 4a (Entry 37 of 182.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me 482 Mon 9a (Entry 4 of 74.)
My Random: Anything Goes 429 (Entry 3 of 30.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 22)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 18x)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 1 of 19.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 543 Mon 1p (l Entry 21)
Keeping it Real: Party 428 (Entry 28)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 10 of 100)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 323 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 18)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 3p (l Entry 3)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 20)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 440 Link-up Tues (m Entry 8)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 25r)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 593 (l Entry 8)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues (l Entry x)
Eclectic Red Barn: You are the Star (Entry 23)
Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed 137 (m Entry 13r of 58r)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 416 Wed (m Entry 16 of 34)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 1 of 5)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry )
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 98 (Entry 9r of 36r)
Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 455 Wed (m Entry 14 of 36)
Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead Blog Hop Wed (Entry )
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 438 Wed 6p (Entry 5)
Always Write: Wednesday Quotes (Entry )
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 358 Th (Entry 11 of 31)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry --)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 2 of 14)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry )
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 496 Fri (s Entry 21r of 45r)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 21 of 44)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 81 of 109)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 634 Fr 8a (L Entry 17)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry )
Fiesta Friday: Fiesta Fri (Entry )
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry )
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 35)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 207 (L Entry 9 of 23)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 639 (L Entry x of 45)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party 54 Fri (Entry 1)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry )
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry )
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 35)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 212 7a (Entry 39)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade 112 Sun a (Entry 14)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 268 Sun 3p (l Entry 14)
Grace filled Moments: Sweet Tea Friends (Entry 35)
Bosworth Life: Garden year August (Entry 2)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even (l Entry )
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry )
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 8)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 548 Sun a (Entry 14)
Also Love my Mess: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry )
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 31 monthly)

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Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Italian White Peacocks

White Peacocks in Park Pallavicino by Jeanne Selep May 2024
Image 1: White Peacocks in Park Pallavicino Garden in Italy

Ciao! 

In Italy, the peacocks are white!  Or at least many of the peacocks I saw in Italy were white, which strikes me as odd - I don't think I have ever seen white peacocks in the USA; AND I don't think white peacocks are exactly common in Italy. 


White Peacock Leucistic by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: White Peacock in Park Pallavicino in Italy

But some of the gardens in the Lake Maggiore region of Italy have white peacocks lounging around and looking lovely.  My daughter and I saw white peacocks at Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Park Pallavicino.


White Peacock by Jeanne Selep
Image 3: White Peacock (male) strutting his stuff!

Finding the white peacocks was easy - finding a male showing off his feathers seemed impossible.  


Backlit White Peacock by Jeanne Selep
Image 4: Backlit White Peacock - the feathers are so lovely!

At Isola Bella we ate outdoors within feet of several white peacocks, some of whom were grooming and teasing us by fluffing their feathers for more than 20 minutes.  The birds moved in and out of the shade of nearby plants, creating wonderful lighting effects.  The birds, and the texture of the feathers was mesmerizing.   


White Peacock by Jeanne Selep
Image 5: A White Peacock's portrait

Other peacocks were parked around the gardens, and many visitors watched whenever the peacocks moved, hoping for a show, but the peacocks didn't cooperate while we wandered the garden.


White Peacock at Isola Bella Garden Italy
Image 6: White Peacock at Isola Bella Garden in Italy

At Isola Madre we saw more white peacocks, but never with their tails open.  At other gardens we only saw peacocks in gift shop images. We left having seen beautiful gardens, flowers and palaces, but not white peacocks showing off their tails.  We said it wasn't meant to be and left for other adventures. 


White Peacock Leucistic by Jeanne Selep
Image 7: White Peacocks wandering in Gardens in Italy

But then - while leaving the Lake Maggiore region, we had a small 45 minute time-window, so we made an unplanned stop at the Pallavicino Garden, which  featured a zoo and farm.  There our peacock luck changed! 


White Peacocks in Park Pallavicino Italy by Jeanne Selep May 2024
Image 8: White Peacocks in Park Pallavicino in Italy

Not one, but two white peacocks vied for attention from some unseen nearby female.  Seeing male white peacocks with their tail feathers open is a breath-taking sight - the tails remind me of fireworks exploding.  They shake and move in a way that is hard to describe.   


White Peacock Leucistic by Jeanne Selep
Image 9: White Peacock in Park Pallavicino in Italy

We stayed long past our 45 minute time window.  But when you travel thousands of miles to see sights you probably will never see again, sometimes you become late for (or even miss) the next site while enjoying an unforgettable sight right in front of you.  As an old saying goes, "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush"...  I'm glad I was able to be flexible when traveling this time.


White Peacock tail feather detail by Jeanne Selep May 2024
Image 10: Isn't this feather pattern incredible?

The patterns and textures of the peacock's tail feathers look stunning!

At the Pallavicino Park we also saw a traditional male peacock showing off it's tail. 


White Peacock Leucistic by Jeanne Selep
Image 11: Male Peacock in Park Pallavicino Garden in Italy

A female peahen darted out of nowhere, and wow, did both of the birds move! What happened next has been redacted to keep this post family friendly.


Peacocks dancing peafowl by Jeanne Selep
Image 12: Fast moving female Peahen and Peacock

Comparing the different "peafowls" added to the visual fun.  This peacock and peahen were the only traditional peacocks I saw in Italy. 


Peacock Feather Details
Image 13: Traditional Peacock Feather Details

Notes: In researching this post, I found out white peacocks (also know as leucistic peafowl) have a genetic mutation known as leucism, which inhibits melanin from being deposited in their feathers.  Source here.



Backlit White Peacock by Jeanne Selep
Image 14: My favorite Non-Traditional Peacock photo - Click to Enlarge


Have you ever seen a white peacock?  If so, where, what country/park/zoo?  Let me know, I'm curious as to where these beautiful birds can be seen.



As always, Click on the images to see them enlarged.
There is so much more detail to see in my photos!



If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Yellowstone
El Capitan
Bow Lake
Appalachia
Lotus Garden
Flowers
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Spring Nest
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Rock Window
Mosaics
Winter Garden
Bluebirds


NY Egg Hunt






































I am linking up to these parties:
April Harris: Hearth and Soul (Entry 32 sept monthly)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 322 Mon 4a (Entry 50 of 190.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 478 9a (Entry 1 of 90.)    mosaic post
My Random: Anything Goes 429 (Entry 2 of **) 
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 6 of 6.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 17 of 26.
)
Also Pienilintu: Good Fun Mon (Entry
17 of 26.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 19x of **)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 14 of **)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 543 Mon 1p (l Entry 22 of **)
Keeping it Real: Party 428 (Entry 33 of **)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 16 of 18.)
Kristin-Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 323 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 19 of **)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me 744 Mon 3p (l Entry 2 of 103**)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up 455 (Entry 34 of 45.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 455 (Entry 10 of 16.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 435 Tues (m Entry 30 of 93.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 263 (Entry 49r of 119r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 588 (l Entry 26 of 30.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (l Entry 28 of 115.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 600 Tues (l Entry 4x of 102x.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry r)
Also Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed 132 (m Entry 119r of 135r.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 411 Wed (m Entry 21 of 59.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 7 of gone.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 20r of 45r.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 93 (Entry 22 of 97i.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 450 Wed (m Entry 21 of 55.)
Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead Blog Hop 508 Wed (Entry 4 of 44.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 438 Wed 6p (Entry 6 of **)
Grace filled moments: August Link-up (Entry 3 of 205.)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 353 Th (Entry 14 of 34.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 18 of 147.)
Bosworth Life: Garden year August (Entry 4 of 5.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 3 of 14.)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry --)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 491 Fri (s Entry 4r of 113r.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 6 of 101.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 500 8p (i Entry 10 of 119.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Fr 8a (L Entry 15 of **)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 359 (Entry 23
of 112.)
Pandora and Max: All Seasons (Entry 3
of gone.)
Marsha in the Middle: Weekend Traffic Jam 60 (Entry 7 of 72.
)
Bosworth: PoCoLo (Entry 8 of 10.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 36 of 48.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 202 (L Entry 39 of 59.)
Shabby Art: Create-grow-gather 634 (L Entry 24x of 108x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party 49 Fri (Entry 4 of 32.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 5 of 94.)
Ready Attention Gallery: Wild Bird Wed (Entry 5r of 8r.)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 390 (l Entry 3 of 9.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 208 (Entry 30 of 109.)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 16 of 79.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 264 (l Entry 10 of 91.)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even 631 (l Entry 3 of 106.)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry --)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 27 of 98.)
Pienilintu: Wed Around the World (Entry )
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home (m Entry 5 of 25.)
For Love: Little bit of Everything 321 (Entry 5 of 31.)

673012