Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

Just dropping in a couple other pics. A random bottle and a bit of snow from the time when there was some.

Nope, no snow any more. Though a few flakes did fall - they immediately melted.

I am enjoying your close-up shots, Pele. It is like another world when you look closer. We got an inch of snow yesterday, but it has all melted. Soon, it will be time for those close-up wildflowers, eh?

Dewdrops are so pretty, I agree. Thanks for sharing, Pele!

I've taken up walking and running again after being stuck in and around bed for a couple weeks, so here's proof:

Hi Pele! I am glad to hear you are up and about! I love those beach photos. It reminds me of some far-off beach in the far-gone land of Beleriand. I can listen to the gulls.

Ants are busy feeding on sunflower pollen and nectar. I have seen them on other flowers, too. Cool shot!

Right. It's been a long while, a whole summer - and I have not been totally photo-less. There's a plenty of flower closeups and such. Here's proof:

As Aiks said, @Pele Alarion. Those are wonderful images. May I ask what country you live in?

I find that close-ups bring out such interesting details in flowers/plants.

I am in Latvia, @Chrysophylax Dives .

Pele Alarion wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2024 1:00 pm I find that close-ups bring out such interesting details in flowers/plants.

I am in Latvia, @Chrysophylax Dives .

Wow. So the sea in some of your photos must be the Baltic. You live on the eastern edge of the old northern world of Beowulf. With long summer nights and dark winters and deep, impenetrable forests - though I guess things have changed a bit since the 6th century. Still, from where I am sitting in the Middel-east, the very idea of living in Latvia seems very romantic!

My city, Liepāja, is nestled right between the Baltic Sea and the Lake Liepāja. While I have to walk about 20 mins to get to the sea, the lake is right outside my window. And yes, forests are still mostly amazing, though clearings in too many places, and it is getting dark-ish slowly in the evenings. But I am too biased - I love Latvia loooooots with all its forests, fields, lakes, sea, and small hills (trust me, those seem crazily steep when I have to scramble up to reach orienteering controls at the top).

Wow. Wow. Wow. I just looked up Liepāja, and also Lake Liepāja, and also the weather in Liepāja - it is raining! And it is scheduled to rain tomorrow. Here it is blistering hot and will be far too hot again tomorrow.

I have a book on my kindle called The Northern Crusades, from which I recall an amazing first chapter all about how this northern part of the world was gradually settled and became agricultural and how, in the process, all these different peoples and cultures met and traded (or slaughtered one another). You have inspired me to go and read it again.

Happy reading, @Chrysophylax Dives !

It was only threatening to rain but didn't actually, so I went for a brisk 7.5 km walk. I'm so glad the heat is finally gone!

Ahh. That is a wonderful photo.

At supper I tried to persuade my family that we should holiday one day in Latvia. I don't know why, but although they share my desire to go north, they all have this weird desire to go to Finland. I cannot understand it at all. So far as I can make out, Finland is just trees and snow (hope nobody from Finland reads this), while Latvia - from what I can see online - has medieval towns, history, and culture, as well as cold weather.

Edit. I just showed them all your photo above, and they have agreed to reconsider.

I agree with the dragon! Excellent photo of the water and sky, Pele! I am also a great fan of close-up plant photos. It is like another world inside a flower or plant.

Thanks for posting! Do more soon!

@Chrysophylax Dives They better reconsider!

A different type of posting this time.

Through the friend who was the one to pull me into all that LOTR stuff, an Estonian school student contacted me and asked to pick one of her pictures and write a story inspired by it. Haven't asked her if I can use her pic here, but at least here's the story (translation from Latvian):

The Road of Thought
Further away, the road turns and runs behind the wall of trees, and it is not known how far it can
still lead, but I keep going. Puddles splash under my booted feet; snow crunches where it is still
spread on the road; a few times I slip in the mud, but somehow manage to keep from falling. Yet
anger and resentment have darkened my mind, so I do not watch where I step. The wet snow
turns to rain at times, and it slowly finds it way through my coat.
Yet, when I reach the turn of the road, I slow my step and begin to ask myself: where should I
go? The town is far away, and only fields and forests are around me. I told my parents in anger
that I would leave and build myself a hut from branches and will live in the forest. But I left the
home with nothing… there will be no warm bed, no tasty food… there will be nothing and no
one.
I stop and glance down into the tree-embraced hollow by the road. It is filled with water and
looks like a small pond. And the wet carpet of old leaves also does not look inviting. As I stand
here, looking around, a breeze of wind makes me feel the unpleasant touch of the wet coat. Brr. I
shiver. I should move on because it is cold.
But where should I go? Perhaps I should return home… I turn around and slowly walk back
towards house, trying to think of excuses to give of why I did not go anywhere far. I should also
think of some apology to mutter under my breath. Soon my slow steps have become faster, when
I see the light in the kitchen window and the smoke streaming out of the chimney. Home.

aw, that is wonderful! A walk around your many photos - but the wetter, autumn ones.
thank you!

It seems to be properly autumn now, even less mushrooms can be found (Latvians must be hobbits because mushrooms are considered almost as a treasure and you don't show your mushrooms spots to people unless they are good friends). So I have commenced knitting a pair of warm socks for oncoming winter. Including a picture of work in progress. Not a high-quality pic, but hey...
P.S. Oh dear. A huuuuge pic, but I'm too lazy to resize it.

Oh, Pele. What kind of yarn is that?

I don't know, Drifa. Something synthetic, but it'll be warm, I figure. One sock is done, started on the other.

Here, finally have some autumn pics from a walk on the trails with my family:

Nice, Pele! I love the colour of the trees in Autumn. You're lucky to see a mushroom. And a wooden owl!

I asked about the yarn because it looks thick and comfy and wondered if it was wool.

That yarn feels very nice to touch, Drifa. I'm down to foot knitting on the second sock.

Reporting that the socks are done and can be worn in a longer or shorter version. I still have to try them out.
Started on a crocheting project because I have to use up this pink thread.

Ooh, lovely, Pele! I have never knitted socks. Maybe someday, I will give it a try. As for crochet, I look forward to seeing what you will create.

Those socks are really warm! Wearing them now.

Dandis's fur looks so soft. Our family had dogs, too, when I was growing up. I have only had one as an adult, and that was my son's dog, whom we were supposed to babysit for two weeks, which turned into five years, hahaha. Have you had dogs?

Nice trail and pretty raindrops!

That is a lovely Christmas Tree. Did you ride the tram? I love the giant Christmas balls all lit up. It's a cool mushroom and a pretty town.

Thanks for sharing!

Drifa, I only happened to take the usual trams whenever I needed the public transport. But saw it a plenty on the streets and from my window.

I haven't taken that many pictures lately. But there's this cat who came with my responsibility of house-sitting for a friend. There was also another cat, black one, a dog and about 30 chickens.

Cats have such interesting faces. I have always associated them with evil for some reason. I mean, look at its eyes.

Cool photo! 30 chickens! Did you have to clean the coop?

That cat is the most fun and affectionate creature, Drifa!

The favourite town is called Talsi, Aiks!

Now... It is the flower time once again.

Pele: Ah I see. Nice colours of those flowers. Quite a pictoresk town from the few pictures that float around online on the web. I think it is little distance from where you are. Thanks for sharing!

Guess what?... More flowers!

More worlds inside the Pistil universe. Nice, Pele!

And these are the little roads I run on. Most Saturdays. This time it was all clad in blue:



And the necessary close-ups:

Wildflowers are so pretty. The road goes ever on...

No more blue flowers.
But still flowers and insects.

It is too hot for my liking. +25ish for the last week. I'll see if I can fish out some more photos. Haven't made too many lately.

You make even beetles look cute!! And I am not a big fan of beetles!

Pele Alarion wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 1:27 pm

@Eldrith You asked for it!

I did! Now, I wonder what I should ask for next!! Because yes, that IS cute!!