Picturesque World

y "Treasure of the Year" from 2009 was purchased at an Antique show.  It was a 2 volume set of books from 1878 titled "Picturesque World".  These books were basically travel picture books, from a time before photography was available.  The pictures in the books are engravings of many famous locations, and each volume has over 400 wood engravings, and about 25 steel engravings.  (Steel engravings are extra special - they have a tissue sheet separating the engraving from the other pages in the book.)



I have fallen in love with the crispness and beauty of these engravings.  Each engraving is a work of art, with beautiful composition, from a time when the modes of transportation were walking, animals, and animal powered vehicles.  There was no electricity, and therefore no electric lines, and the "picturesque" and quaintly dressed people in the pictures (in theory) reflect the actual way it was.  Since there are over 800 pictures in the two volumes, some of these landmark locations are no longer in existence, or their current appearance is different then the volumes pictured.

Oh, there is so much to love about these books!  The ornamental letters that start some chapters.  The intricately tooled leather covers.  The feel a book that is over 120 years old. Since I got the 2 volume set, I purchased a 3 volume set "Picturesque Europe" on-line, an I have added a couple more old books with engravings to my "collection".

Check out the leather tooling on the cover.

I could go on about these books, but not today.


So, how is this post thrifty?  Well, with 4 children ages 10-16, I won't be traveling internationally soon, so I go on-line and look up the places in the books with google images, and it's my thrifty way to travel.  : )

Click on the images to see them larger.

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See more great finds and treasure! Visit 
Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thursday (I was entry 25 of 50.)
Diane for 2nd Time Around, (I was entry 27 of 28)
Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures (Entry 105 of 105.)
Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday (Entry 8 of 67)
Debbie for Garage Salen Party (I was entry 11 of 31.)
Visit Romantic Home for Show and Tell (I was entry 22 of 144+) 
Claudia at Fridays Finding Beauty. (I was entry 3 of 10+)
A Few of My Favorite Things for Favorite Things Friday. (I was entry 11 of 113+)
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays (I was entry 81)

Flowers and Birch Trees at the Chicago Botanic

These Narcissus flowers were in bloom under the birch trees at the Chicago Botanic Garden when I went there on May 3, 2010. 

The flowers where also in bloom when I visited a week earlier, and I took several pictures, but at that time I couldn't find an angle I liked that didn't show the brick building these trees are next to, or the edge of a path or fountain.  When I went back and the flowers were still in bloom, I walked around for several minutes working to find an angle that didn't show any walls or paths.  I like this image much better.  


Click on an image to see it enlarged.


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I am linking up to these memes: 
Scenic Sunday. (I was entry 32)
Outdoor Wednesday (I was entry 35 of 137).
Woo Hoo Wednesday (I was entry 26 of 57.) 
Boardwalk Bragfest (I was entry 18 of 61.)
Wordful Wednesday. (I was entry 179 of 188)
Blooming Tuesday (I was entry 21).
Oh the Place I've been. (May 2013)

Portrait with Yellow

I am entering this portrait in the I Heart Faces "yellow" challenge this week.  I considered using this portrait for last weeks "flower" challenge, but this is a favorite portrait I have with yellow.  Soft buttery yellow looks so beautiful on a little girl...

The I Heart Faces challenge this week is yellow. (I was entry no. 15)

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This photo is from one of the funnest weddings I photographed.  This pose continues to be a favorite.  I love how expressive eyes can be.  

The I Heart Faces challenge this week is faces and flowers - the photo should have both!  (I was entry no. 508 of 646).


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Wisteria Bonsai Tree in Bloom

 
This Japanese Wisteria bonsai tree was in bloom at the Chicago Botanic Garden when I went there on May 3, 2010. 


This is what it looked like on April 29, 2010, 3 days earlier.

 
I didn't expect to see it blooming, but I got lucky when my husband agreed to go with me on May 3, 2010.  I love it!

The Chicago Botanic Garden has one of the largest public collections of Bonsai trees in the United States.  They have over 180 trees, and they rotate displaying the trees outside, featuring the trees when they are the most beautiful.  I guess I will have to go back in fall!  They had probably more then 25 trees displayed outside on the days I was there. 
 

 

 

Click on the images to see them larger. 

 

 

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I am linking up to these memes:
For the 27th time - Outdoor Wednesday. (I was entry 9 of 158).
Scenic Sunday 96. (I was entry 36 of 59)
Fridays Finding Beauty. (I was entry 26 of 27 now gone.).
Blooming Tuesday (I was entry 16)
Wordful Wednesday (I was entry 17)
Macro Flower Saturday (I was entry 18 of 20)

Chicago Botanic Garden

Spring has arrived at the Chicago Botanic Garden, located on the north side of Chicago.  For years it has been a goal of mine to go see these gardens, and on April 29, 2010 I finally did. 
I knew from the flowering trees around Milwaukee that the gardens might be at a peak time for spring, and so my daughter Miranda and I took the day to go check out the flowers.

The gardens did not disappoint - in fact, I became a member and plan to return several times this summer.

The tulip colors were incredible.  I see why speculators in Holland went wild over tulip bulbs several century's ago, resulting in a economic crash.  Tulips are so much more exciting then financial derivatives will ever be. 
 

It is easy to take all the color around us for granted.  In pioneering times, you really wouldn't see much color all winter.  Blue sky, whites, browns, grays and blacks, dark evergreen colors.  The occasional red cardinal or red berries, and occasionally vivid sunsets.  Spring brings welcome green and the colors of flowers, but rarely would you see such a cluster of colors like I got to enjoy on Thursday.  

I love being part of this century - with all the colors of dyes for fabric that are available, the vivid print colors of inks that I can printout even at home, or view on a screen.  I can take a photo and even as the memory dims the colors a day later, I can review them within minutes on my PC monitor.  Wow.

OK, so this blog post kind of rambles, but spring makes me happy,  flowers make me happy, and colors make me happy.  I hope you get out and enjoy spring.

Click on the images to see them larger. 

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I am linking up to these memes:
The Tablescaper: Oh the Places I've Been party. (I was entry 34) April 2013

Scenic Sunday 94 (I was entry 15 of 68)
Outdoor Wednesday. (I was entry 52 of 150).
Wordful Wednesday (I was entry 175 of 179).
Macro Flower Saturday (I was entry 20) 
Favorite Photo Friday (I was entry 4)
Watery Wednesday.  (I was entry 137 of 138). 2nd image has water!