Idre-natur

Taken by my good friend Susanne W. in Sweden

Fat kitty napping

By D. Bowden
My daughter's cat, Doggie is a fat ball
covered in fur who sleeps all the time.

With prayers and flowers and tears

(AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

Thai and foreign volunteers release balloon lanterns during a ceremony on a beach in Phang Nga province. With prayers and flowers and tears, from Thailand's beaches to the islands of India, mourners paid tribute to their loved ones on the second anniversary of the Asian tsunami.

Sunrise in Mumbai

REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (INDIA)

Sailor are seen on their yachts at sunrise at a harbour in Mumbai December 25, 2006.

A woman walks at sunset

REUTERS/Chris Helgren (CANADA)

A woman walks at sunset on western Vancouver Island's Halfmoon Bay beach, near Ucluelet, British Columbia, December 23, 2006. A series of storms have battered coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest over the last month and further severe weather was expected on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas tree rises on the Moscow Red Square

(AP Photo/Alexei Sazonov)

Surfing Santa

(AFP/Robyn Beck)

Santa's Li'l Helper

(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)

Snowbird

REUTERS/You Sung-Ho (SOUTH KOREA)

Nutcracker rehearsal

(AFP/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)

Ballerinas of the only Spanish classical dance company take part in a dress rehearsal for the ballet the Nutcracker in Madrid.

Wonder and Light

(AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Four years old Moritz Fromm admires his traditional Christmas pyramid, an ornamental tower with tiny wooden figures on a rotating disc propelled by the heat of burning candles, at his home in Erfurt, eastern Germany, Friday, Dec. 8. 2006.

Madrid Dance

(AFP/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)

Members of US Moses Pendleton's dance company
Momix perform during a rehearsal for 'Sunflower Moon' in Madrid.

Sea of Santas

REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN)

Runners dressed as Santa Claus gather in Princes Street Gardens before taking part in The Great Scottish Santa Run in Edinburgh, Scotland December 10, 2006. The 1.5 km charity fun run, now in its third year, has over 2,000 participants taking part.

Happy Holidays

Αποκτήστε τη δωρεάν

Iceberg and pink reflection

(AFP/File/Slim Allagui)

An iceberg is seen in the Ilulissat fjord, on Greenland's western coast, in September 2004. Citing "a frightening lack of leadership" to tackle climate change, UN chief Kofi Annan has demanded world leaders give global warming the same priority as they did to wars and to curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Our Tree

This is why I bother screwing around with the lights every year.
I love my tree.

Morning after snowstorm

I shot this from my patio door early in the morning
after the first snowfall of the season.

Dancers from the Cloud Gate

(AFP/Sam Yeh)
National Theater during a rehearsal in Taipei.

Snowy scene

(AFP/Don Emmert)

Fresh snow covers evergreen trees
seen through a window in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

“Agora" exhibit in Chicago

(Tribune photo by Terrence Antonio James)

The public will get its first official glimpse Thursday of “Agora,” Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz’s 106-figure work of art at the south end of Grant Park.

Day of Appreciation and Love

Norman Rockwell: An American Thanksgiving

D. Bowden(originally published here on Nov. 23, 2005)
Although I have no religious beliefs, I still am very thankful for the many good things in my life. Who am I thankful to? My thanks and appreciation goes to my dear husband for getting up at 4 a.m. every day to drive over an hour to a job where he works hard all day long to provide for his family. I am thankful to him for his love and committment for thirty years of marriage. I thank him for being a loving and helpful father to his three children. I am thankful to my children for their love and the joy they bring into my life. I am thankful to my parents for giving me life. I am thankful to them for raising me and loving me even when I was not very loveable. I am thankful to my doctors for taking care of my health and doing all they can to cure my illnesses, and keep me and my family healthy. I am thankful to the truck driver who hauls my food to the stores where I shop, I am thankful to the farmer who grows and harvests the food. I am thankful to the inventors of all of our modern technology that makes my life so comfortable and convenient. I am thankful to our police officers and soldiers for protecting us. I am thankful to NASA to take us to worlds we cannot see from where we are. I am thankful to the teachers, the explorers, researchers, scientists and others who provide us with information we need to enhance our lives. I am thankful for the entertainers, writers, film makers, artists, musicians, actors, etc. who bring some joy and imagination to our lives. These are the ones to who I owe my thanks.

Thanksgiving is a day to get together with those we appreciate and love and to celebrate that love and appreciation we have for each other. I wish everyone, no matter what your beliefs are, a very happy Thanksgiving Day with all of those who matter most to you, whether there in person or far away but close in heart.

A duck swims across a reflection . . .

REUTERS/Jim Bourg (UNITED STATES)

. . . of the U.S. Capitol building in a reflecting pool in Washington late November 6, 2006.

Changing season

(AFP/Don Emmert)

Bare trees and some with colorful changing leaves are reflected in a lake in Chappaqua, New York.

Chicago Blue Line

Photo by Jason Bowden

Harold Washington Public Library, Chicago

D. Bowden

John Hancock Building - Chicago

D Bowden

Chicago Watertower

D. Bowden

In May of 1969, during the year of its Centennial Anniversary, the Chicago Water Tower was selected by the American Water Works Association to be the first American Water Landmark in the nation. The tower was completed in 1869 and survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The architect was William W. Boyington and the tower is constructed of Joliet limestone blocks quarried in Illinois.

A Chronological History of Chicago: 1673-
Compiled by Chicago Municipal Reference Library, City of Chicago
Updated by Municipal Reference Collection, Chicago Public Library

Sears Tower

D. Bowden

Leaves on our pool cover

Photo by D Bowden

Floating autumn leaves in a Koi pond

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Atlantic Ocean

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Hickory Creek

Photo By D. Bowden

This is Hickory Creek that runs through the center of my town.

Mary age 16 at Grand Canyon - 1998

Photo by D. Bowden

Jack-o-lanterns galore!

Click on image to enlarge

I don't know where this is or who took the photo, but it caught my attention while browsing for images of something else.

Ocean City at end of summer

By D. Bowden

Ocean City Beach on a cloudy day in September

Photo by: D. Bowden

Golden Pheasant

Saw one of these Golden Pheasants at a petting zoo
I was at with my sister and her little grandson.

Here is what this magnificent creature that I saw had to live in.
Set it free! Poor thing!
Top photo from Wikipedia
Bottom photo by D. Bowden

October Gold

John Atkinson Grimshaw - 37.5x29.5"

Doggie, the cat

I have had my daughter's cat now for a couple of months while she is out of town. She is a pretty cat, and very sweet and affectionate. Too bad I am allergic to her.

A hiker rests . . .

. . .near a small lake in the Swiss Alps near Stels, Switzerland, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006. Tourists enjoy the unusual warm and sunny autumn weather in Switzerland. (AP Photo/Keystone, Arno Balzarini)

Golden reflections

A view of the illuminated Golden temple in the holy city of Amritsar on the eve of the Indian festival of Diwali. (AFP/Narinder Nanu)

Fluid motion

(AFP/Timothy A. Clary)

Dancers from the Dance China NY perform during a dress rehearsal at the New York City Center, for the show " One World : A spectacular Global Celebration" Career Transition For Dancers 21st Anniversary Jubilee.

Chicago River - North Branch at Sunset

Chicago River

Photo: D Bowden

Whether you're a serious student of architecture, a visitors to Chicago or a Chicagoan wanting to have a better understanding of the city, the Chicago River Architecture tour appeals to all levels of interest. Wendella Boat Lines offers a 60-minute tour for about $20 and you won't be disappointed.

No pictures, please

Giant Panda Tian Tian is seen sleeping in a tree in his enclosure during the press preview of the new Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. (AFP/Karen Bleier)

Works by Avtandil

LINK: AVTANDIL — Russian artist, Avtandil is equally accomplished as a painter (religious art, sculpture, monumental representation, and much more) and a graphic artist (working both in theater and motion pictures). He worked as a theater set designer for the State Marionette Theatre of Georgia and, in 1989, received with his wife Ketevan first prize for stage design at the International Theater Festival in Hungary. Avtandil is an accomplished master of motion picture animation working as head designer for such films as "Family" and "Waiting," produced in Georgia; he also served as a poster designer for a film distribution company.

An Israeli girl floats in a pool of tomatoes

during a tomato festival in the southern Israeli village of Yevul, next to the Egyptian border, on Oct. 12. The two-day annual tomato festival takes place during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

(AP/Emilio Morenatti)