Prairie

Houghton Mill

In the better weather months, I love to walk to the nearby villages of Hemmingford Grey, Hemmingford Abbots and Houghton.  In the summertime, the fields are dotted with - people, people pushing prams, people pushing geriatrics in wheelchairs, kids on bikes and lots of puppy dogs - all walking the well-used paths in the fields. Everyone out and about, enjoying the beauty of rural England, and hopefully an appearance from the sun.  Along the way, one might stop at the pub for a cold beer, at a tea room for a cuppa or an ice cream from the local grocers. It really is, one large social gathering of people from all over the country.  A very big attraction on this scenic walk is Houghton Mill.  I found this wonderful, old black and white photo, taken in the early 1900's.  The Mill looks very much the same today.

Since before the Norman Conquest, there has always been a mill at this site.  This current mill dates from approximately -  the 18th century. It sets on an island foundation and is the last working water mill on the Great Ouse.  Today, the mill is owned and cared for by the National Trust.  It still has a working water wheel which is operational on weekends and Bank Holidays. One can actually purchase a sack of flour which has been ground by this ancient mill. The history of the mills that have set on this historic site - is detailed, some destroyed by fire, owned by monks, a Quaker and Kings even. I've only provided a few historic facts about Houghton Mill - I'll leave it up to you, to do the research - I'm here for the photography of this lovely old building.  This photo was borrowed from Kevin Sinclair's website. He gives permission to use it, as long as I give him credit for the photo. Fair enough.  I have no photo of the mill in it's entirety, as I like to take photos a bit differently. I like to examine the architectural detail in bits and pieces. Many years ago,  I was fortunate enough to work for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the experience inspired me so much - I now have a fierce love for architectural detail.  If you ever visit Phoenix, Arizona - please be sure to tour FLW's  "winter camp" - Taliesin - for an example of Wrights organic architecture.

That's a real bird sitting up there ! Quack, quack !

This is the hut which houses the impressive mill wheel.

This is the retired mill wheel that sits right outside Houghton Mill - it has an ancient beauty.

I do believe this is the Wardens(?) House - the person who looks after Houghton Mill. Maybe they call them caretakers here in England ? The house is right across the street from the mill and always has unique, orange flowers growing by it's door in the summer months.  A delightful house !

Behind Houghton Mill, right after you cross the bridge, you'll find a small group of punts and the man who rents them out. I hope you enjoyed looking at my images of Houghton Mill in detail, the beauty of  it's bricks, dark, rough wood and remnants of steel on brick and mortar. 

If you enjoy reading my blog, please pass my link on to - well - everyone !!   Thank you for reading Prairie !   

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-houghtonmill

Images of Cambridge

This was the first thing I saw in Cambridge last Sunday - a busker in a rubbish bin. I wonder if it stinks in there ?  The weather was decent and the city crowded !

I loved this row of bikes that seemed to go on forever.  Makes you wonder how many are nicked each year.

These people were taking tea and coffee at Auntie's Tea shop - and getting a tan.  Just kidding about the tan part. Is this not the most adorable dress ?  This little market stand always has such wonderful, kitsch clothes.

This is Kings College - just playing a bit with the photo here.  The reality photo is below. 

There are several of these carvings on this building. In a former life, it was a bank.  Today, it's part of Corpus Christi College. The city of Cambridge just dedicated this £1 million dollar clock. It's not your ordinary clock. It features this creepy, sci-fi grasshopper, which looks like something I use to see in my nightmares as a child.  The insect moves mechanically, crawling and turning the clock dial which lights up the time in blue lights. As you can see - it was approximately 2:25 p.m. when I took the picture.  I do believe the famous Physicist Stephan Hawkins dedicated the Corpus Clock at the official unveiling ceremony. It's a spectacular and bizarre design.

I peeked through a fence and saw this lovely courtyard - looks even better in sepia.

I even ran into a very inebriated Johnny Depp imposter.  Believe me, If that had really been Johnny Depp, I would have pulled a Borat: put a cloth bag over his head, slung him over my shoulder and taken him back to my place. Captain Jack,  was in a big hurry to get back to his ship to swill some rum - so I had to quickly snap his photo with the car in the background.  I hate that.

To see a great clip of the Corpus Clock and a narration by the inventor - look on YouTube of course !

Tanner Leuellen

To keep up with current events, I read approximately five on-line newspapers every morning - U.S. as well as British - it's the same depressing headlines day after day - like eating hamburger, it tastes the same, just cooked with a different recipie. So it was refreshing to happen upon the video clip of this enthusiastic, little buster - Tanner Leuellen.  

I don't know what his mother's been feeding him - whatever it is, I want to package and sell it. He's only eight years old and he's looking to learn - he's looking for an apprentice position !

Tanner created his own business cards which say:  

"Tanner Leuellen, apprentice creator, specializing in everything I can learn with interest in almost anything you can teach me.  Call or email me today with help for your next project."

He recently networked at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing Dinner & Expo, handing out his cards and doing a bit of handshaking.  Tanner charges $5.00 (£3.46) per hour.  He's booked for Spring Break but his weekends are free.  

This video made me smile.

La Muse

Tucked away, just off Bridge Street in St. Ives, is the charming, fashion boutique - La Muse. Lovely window vignettes, featuring ball gowns, evening wear, jewelry and other exquisite bits and pieces, distinguish La Muse, as being very different to the other shops of St. Ives. 

I called in on La Muse's proprietor, Corrine Harwood-Davey, to find out more about this dreamy boutique.Corrine told me, that La Muse officially launched in 2003 and has been going strong ever since. Being a woman who knows the fashion business, she realised there was a potential niche market for ball gowns and prom dresses in St. Ives, when she had an overwhelming number of requests from customers. 

Corrine estimates that her clientele travels from as far away as fifty miles to shop for special occasion attire and possibly, further afield.  The boutique's busiest times are - January to June - with Spring months being the prelude to Prom, as the ultimate busiest.  Prom dresses and gowns are available from size 0 to 24 - and special orders possibly arriving by next day - depending on the company and gown style. La Muse also provides alteration services for gowns, at a very modest cost.

The choice of gown styles and luscious colours are endless. Most afternoons in La Muse, you will find a gaggle of excited girls, fresh out of school for the day - trying on prom gowns and playing Princess. It's not unusual for entire families, Mum, Dad and even Grandparents, to help with the decision of which gown to purchase.  After all - Prom, is a very special event for these young women.

In addition to a stylish selection of shoes, La Muse carries hire-out hats as well - £25 for the week !

The jewelry in La Muse is very smart indeed.   Corrine hand picks every piece when at exhibition - bits from Spain, France and Italy.  She also commissions handmade designs by a local jewelry artisan from St. Ives. 

If you were to explore the back room of the boutique, you would find a whimsical display of children's things in a pretty, vintage armoire. Clothes, slippers, hats, jumpers, pajamas, soft fuzzy rabbits and many more playful items !

The women who work at Muse are extremely helpful - suitable fashion consultants so to speak - they give solid fashion advice and will assist with selecting a party dress or a sporty outfit for that holiday abroad and also accessorizing the entire outfit.. La Muse is so much more than prom dresses - it carries scarves, handbags and sophisticated coordinates: trousers, jumpers, summer dresses and adorable shirts and tops. Most of the day wear clothing are from small, individual, European labels. 

 

La Muse hours are: Monday to Saturday - 10 to 6

It's a lovely little shop !

La Muse

1 The Broadway

St. Ives, Cambridgeshire

PE27 5BX

01480 494400

www.lamuse.co.uk

Astrud Gilberto

Here's the lovely Astud Gilberto singing the eternally  famous "Girl From Ipanema"  I use to listen to this song when I was a young girl and it was considered to be very sophisticated for it's day. How about that Astrud ? She's a bit out of control with her emotions - eh ? Maybe the hair bow is too tight. I wonder if she's any relation to Bebel Gilberto ? Another songbird I love to listen to.

Do you recognize the the man playing sax ?  It's Stan Getz, the famous jazz musician.  I love this vintage video clip. Astrud is so phlegmatic and reserved, not even a wince of emotion. 

This music clip is from the cheesy, 1964 movie { "Get Yourself a College Girl" } which stars Nancy Sinatra and some other names you may recognize. It's corny good fun !  By the way  - Astrud flashes a smile at the very end of the song. 

The History of My Photography

The first time I ever used a camera - I was eleven.  My Mum gave me an old, black, shutter box camera and told me to take photos of a dog's funeral.  Although he had a proper home and a family who loved him, in the hearts of the town's children, Gomer - a chocolate-coloured, hound dog - belonged to all of us.  He was gentle and lazy and we all loved him.  Day or night you could find him, sleeping outside the local pub door, waiting to accompany his master safely home.  He would raise his head to anyone who spoke his name and with a grunt, welcome a scratch behind his ear, a rub on his tummy and of course a beef jerky treat. 

All the young persons, from six to eighteen years, protested his death.  A poster size petition nailed to a fence was signed by all the town's youngsters, including a few adults.  Sadly, no amount of signatures could save him.  The Town Council had a witness - saying he saw Gomer - killing two of Mr. Remsing's sheep.  Shortly after that meeting, Gomer was spirited away to a field where he was shot - then buried at an undisclosed location.

The "mock" funeral was held on a Saturday. The boys, wearing over-sized, cast off, charity shop suits, loud ties and sneakers, rode their bikes in procession down Main Street, pulling a wagon that carried an empty wooden box with "Gomer" painted on the side.  I captured these childhood memories, to black and white film. Taking most all the images - vertically - I ordered my ragtag friends about, scrunching them closely together around the grave site so as to fit them all into the picture.  Typically a shy and quiet girl, here I was bossing everyone around.  That day, I truly was - "a photographer"

When I look through these wonderful childhood images from the 1960's - I remember how excited I was to be the recorder of that special day, when we all said goodbye to our beloved Gomer.  As the years rush by, I continue to document the substance of my life in photos.  I snap thousands - of married life, babies, family reunions, pets, holidays and sunsets. 

The more photos I take, the more I experiment - attempting to take something artsy and profound.I become that bossy little girl all over again - ordering my little dog around, I pose him on the arm of the sofa and splayed out on my bed.  I dress him up in toddler's clothes - stripy, orange turtle neck sweaters. I tape one ear up and one ear down, I make him wear little hats. I manipulate and tempt him with doggie biscuits to sit for me in the most outrageous scenarios that no normal dog could be coaxed into doing.  He becomes addicted to the camera.  The instant he sees my Pentax K1000, he yaps with excitement and runs around in little circles. Programmed now - he jumps on the arm of the sofa and vogues for me.  I have, created a monster.

I proceed to take photos of my daughters, eating, sleeping, watching TV, sitting on the toilet.  My daughters become very afraid and lock themselves in their bedrooms.  I've become a lunatic and no one is safe from my madness.  I am - ashamed.  Fortunately, my daughters came out of it unscathed and are fairly normal young women today - no counseling was needed.  I go on to take photo after photo - even crossing the globe to Nepal, where I'm assigned as official photographer for the 2003 Everest Marathon. I stand for ten hours in a dusty, dank potato field - waiting to take photos of the runners as they cross the finish line. 

And here I am today, living on this lovely, green, ancient Isle called Britain. I look through my camera lens and frame; countryside, river, lakes, sheep, birds, graveyards, architecture, little old ladies with shopping carts and COWS.  I am a woman with a camera who has gone wild in the wilds. I use the soft light that filters through the windows of this flat and experiment with still shots, especially fruit and flowers.  I set my camera on time exposure, daring to take nude images of myself.  I join the local Photography Club, meeting a group of very congenial hobbyists and suffer through some of the most boring, yet amusingly eccentric meetings I've ever attended.  A new life, a new country and I even have a new motto which is:

"You can never take enough photos of cows!"

Saturday in Oundle

For the second time this year, I visited Oundle - an ancient, market village with splendid, olde world, Jurassic limestone buildings.  The town is comfortably positioned near the River Nene and surrounded by flat, marshland fields which play host to a plethora of wildlife - a paradise of palettes, for artists and photographers.  I like the fact that Oundle has very little of the typical high-street market chain type stores. The streets are clean and the buildings regal - a perfect place to shoot a BBC period drama.  Here are a few photo memoirs of my day.

The black and white photograph of the cottage above, is the same as the one below.  I like to play !!

These little busters were waiting faithfully for their mistress - right outside the local Oxfam shop. 

I'm not sure if this building was a private residence or Council offices. I thought it very dignified.

A red door - The American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright - loved red doors and I love Frank !!

I loved this old stone wall with it's bits of moss, old wood door and the skyline of rooftops and chimneys.

Spring is blossoming in England - yippee !!  Cheerful, yellow daffodils are springing up everywhere.

I took this photo from the car whilst driving past - a man, his two children, a wooden cart full of wicker baskets and a fabulous white horse, more interested in eating than pulling.  I tried cropping the signs but the image lost it's scale - so I purposely left them in the scene.  Transformed to black and white, except for the little girl's cap - which was red.  The scene is somewhat charming - yes ??

The English fields are dotted white, with precious lambs - hopping about and springing straight up into the air.  I wanted to take one home, they are too adorable !!  I felt sorry for this Mother sheep, she had five newborns chasing her for a mouthful of lunch.  The clumps lying all over the ground are sugar beets, left by the farmer - a source of energy and sustenance.  No wonder those little lambs are so hyper - sugar beets !!

Amélie-les-crayons

I would queue miles to see Amélie-les-crayons in concert.  There were so many YouTube videos of her that I liked - it was a difficult choice trying to choose just one.  This one is dreamy and beautifully done. 

Happy Sunday - enjoy !!

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

You may have noticed some small changes to this blog site recently.  I've posted a new Prairie banner, a photo of some very  naughty cows - and notice the brown letters that spell out "Prairie?"  Well - that's actually cow poo. My cows are so clever, I can train them to do anything!  Also - after several complaints about how ghastly my personal photo looked, I've changed that out also.  I was told by a friend that my old photo looked like one of those sweet, little-old, murderous women in the movie "Arsenic And Old Lace."   I was wondering why no one would let me make them a cup of tea lately.  Okay - on to today's movie post.

Better grab an ice cold cider or a beer will do nicely.  Aye, aye, aye - always the beer with me. You must think me a big lush by now. I'm warning you though, it's going to get hot and steamy watching this movie clip !!  When you feel the perspiration beading up on your brow, just take that ice cold bottle of beer and roll it across your face and neck - mercy that feels good !  I so love this movie. Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor - a sizzling combo.  Now I ask you, how many female readers of this blog have ever met, dated or married a man named "Brick?"  How about that sultry music playing in the background - eh?  

Great escapism to the 1950's.  Enjoy !

Bearcreek Cemetery

Bearcreek, Montana is a nearly forgotten mining town that's being resurrected as one of the safest and most desirable places to live. The promise of employment with Smith Coal Mining Company in the early 1900's lured emigrant families from all nationalities: Italian, Croatian, English, Irish, Polish, Welsh - just to name a few.  Today, as in the 1900's, Bearcreek is experiencing an influx of new residents, not looking to secure mining jobs, but desiring to retire in this popular valley and take opportunity to explore the pristine wilderness of beautiful Montana. Come with pockets full of money - land is expensive here !!

A small, western town bursting with history, Bearcreek is very close in proximity to the Beartooth Mountain Range - aka Snowy Mountains - and  neighbouring, legendary Red Lodge, another historical historical mining township.  Below are a few photos of the Beartooth Mountains.

Hoo boy - I'm sure I will burn for this - I had nothing in my photo archive so I borrowed these from another website.  I lived in Montana for 20 years and being very proud of this state, I wanted to share the splendor of this mountain range with you.

The first time I visited Bearcreek Cemetery, it was a very emotional experience for me. Historically, it's a memorial to many souls, men, women and children from all races.  I wonder how it would have been back in the day to live in this town, where everyone spoke a different language - a mix of cultural differences.  And because it was a mining town - these men from different backgrounds had to get along and work as a team deep in that mine shaft, as their lives depended on it. I took these black and white images about seven years ago with my trusty 35 mm film camera - a Pentax K1000.

In the distance lies urban Bearcreek.  Concealed just beyond those low hills and at the base of that big mountain range is Red lodge and the gateway to the Beartooth Mountains Pass. The pass is usually snowed in until the latter part of May - sometimes until early June.  The drive is spectacular and will take you into Wyoming and some of the best trout fishing in the world.  

I hope you don't think me too morbid for posting images of headstones - but I wanted to show you  the history and diversity of people and children buried here.  Two significant things happened in this area in the early 1900's.  The first one - around 1918, the the most virulent flu epidemic in history passed through, killing approximately 5000 souls in Montana.  I noticed many inscriptions of babies and toddlers on the tombstones - children struck down by this flu. Many families journeying to the west coast, with destinations of Oregon, Washington and California, in just a matter of a few days, lost family to the pandemic - many left behind, laid to rest in this dry basin, brimming with sagebrush and dashed dreams.

Secondly, in 1943, an explosion in the Smith Mine, claimed the lives of 74 men - three miners escaped alive. After the closure of the mine, Bearcreek more or less faded away. Houses were demolished or moved away bit by bit until there was not much left of the once thriving community. Today, the town has a heartbeat once again.  At the back of the cemetery, you will find a memorial tombstone to all the men who lost their lives in this mining tragedy.  I was touched by the lovely, composed angel who stands in the middle of this graveyard.  With bowed head, eyes looking downward - she serenely watches and waits for a miracle.

I happened to catch a lightening strike in the distance - just on the horizon.  If you ever visit Bearcreek, you will sense a spiritual energy in this valley, of melancholy memories as well as hope for new beginnings.  

http://www.bearcreekmt.com/index.htm

Crufts 2009

I was looking through some older photos recently and thought it would be fun to post these images from Crufts, taken in 2004.  Serendipity !!  I happened to look at the Crufts website last night and discovered the event begins today in Birmingham at the NEC, running until Sunday.  It's a huge event, so if you abhor wading through crowds of people, then stay away from this event - it's jam-packed, chaotic and smells like dog pee. On the other hand, if you enjoy chockablock public events - dive in right in and embrace it !!  Just be careful where you step. 

I love puppy dogs - but am divided about this event as to whether it's a good thing for pooches.  Whilst some dogs seem to enjoy being centre stage and relish performing in the limelight - I couldn't help but sense some misery as I walked around taking pictures.  Lots of bored looks and heavy sighs.  I'm not a dog whisperer, but I translated the canine sighs and vacant looks to mean - "Mommy - Daddy, can I go home now?"  It is the opinion of some veterinarians - that dragging a dog to this event to perform, is sadistic.

The above photo - was the performance event for Australian Shepherds.  It's incredible how well these lovely creatures heed commands. Unfortunately, I happened to sit in front of some very irritating American women who were up and down and up and down in their seats. Every time they got up or down, they would knock me in the back of the head with the huge handbags they were carrying.  Not only that !  They spent the entire time talking on their mobiles to their husbands - who were golfing - and talking to each other.  Very loud, bossy types.  I begin to sigh like those unhappy little dogs and wished at that moment that I was home.  Those American women were sadists. I wanted to tell them off but they were a lot bigger than me and I decided I would get the doggy doo knocked out of me - so I just sighed a lot instead.

If you can't be there in person, you can catch it on Crufts very first ever, live broadcast via the internet. How nice is that ?!  No pushing through crowds, stepping in pee and doggy doo or getting knocked in the head by handbags. I can sit back comfortably with a bottle(s) of pear cider, a bag of crisps and cheer for my favourite canine. Woof, woof !!

http://www.crufts.org.uk/

http://www.cruftslive.tv/

Six Billion Others

Many months ago, I happened upon a website called Six Billion Others.  It's been passed around the world wide web for a long time now and most likely you've seen it already.  I think it's worthy of yet - another posting on this, Prairie - just one of the 13 million blogs here in the UK.  Now - 13 million may seem  like a lot, but it's nothing compared to the 380 million active blogs in the US.  It's like a run away train I tell you !! Gives me a headache just thinking about it.  I'm just a little pea in a gigantic pea patch - I try.

"Six Billion Others" is a project by a fascinating and talented man - Yann Arthus-Bertrand - you may recognise his popular "Earth From Above" project, a spectacular  ariel photographic survey of the earth.  I cannot imagine the energy put into the undertaking of this work. The book sold over three million copies.  

Is this posting full of numbers today or what ?!  Six mill here - three bill there !!

Whilst Yann Arthus-Bertrand was doing the "Earth" project, he decided to send his crew to 65 countries, where they conducted over 4000 close up, personal interviews  of people being asked simple questions about life, love, dreams, fears and so on. You will realise after watching the faces of these people from far away countries, that no matter what language or colour of skin, people have common human needs. We are not that different - we feel, fear, love and dream - we are all connected. I suspect that this is the message Yann, wanted to get across.  It's compelling - please have a look !

http://www.6milliardsdautres.org/

Yann's website:

http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com/v2/yab_us.htm