Thematic Photography - Lights On.

This is a view from the window in our hotel room in Padstow.

But when it gets dark we need 

Lights on

The view outside changes too

More lights on

That's it for this holiday week. See more at  Thematic-photographic-422.

Sunday Stamps B3 Belgium, Belize, Canada

By a coincidence two of the countries I have this week begin with 'B'. However their subjects are also related to 'B'.

Belgium - 10 September 1953
King Baudouin

Baudouin came to the throne after the abdication of of his father King Leopold III. Baudouin was the fifth king of the Belgians from 1951 until his death in 1993.

The marine life on the Belize Coral Reef includes this fish - 

Belize - 27 February 1984
Four-eyed Butterfly Fish

The species gets its name from the dark spots on its dorsal fin.

I wonder whether it contains many bones.

Canada - 5 May 2016
Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy

Even if you are not a Star Trek fan you may pick the bones of more 'B' stamps at Sunday-stamps-b.

Thematic Photography - Many, many things

I can only drool over the many, many things in Carmi's photo this week and keep my eye on more mundane sights.

A chattering of starlings

You can hear them from some distance away.

This is the time of year when many berries appear.

Many, many elderberries from just one flower head

The oak trees have many clusters of acorns like this - before the squirrels start to stash them away.

August acorns

The rattling of some seed heads may catch your attention.

Many, many seed heads - but count the seeds and there's even more.

Some trees have already begun dropping their fruit.

Beech mast on the footpath

I guess you could say that that would have qualified for the 'floored' theme last week as could - 

Many, many pebbles in our drive.

But how did those two weeds get there?

You may dip into many, many scrumptious things at Thematic-photographic-421.

Sunday Stamps A3 USA

As we start a third round of A-Z it seemed appropriate to start with American stamps and with a President.

USA - 28 July 1938
John Quincy Adams

Alexandria's bicentennial was commemorated in 1949 by a stamp showing John Carlyle's House, Alexandria's Seal and Gadsby's Tavern.

USA - 11 May 1949

At this time of year I look out of our windows and wonder how soon it would be before our apples are ready to eat. I guess that the America pioneer nursery man would have known.

USA - 27 September 1966
Johnny Appleseed

Would apple cider have been available at Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria when visited by the man who was the second President of the USA?

USA - 3 June 1938
President John Adam

To check other 'A' related stamps just visit our host at Sunday-stamps-a.

Thematic Photography - Floored

You should not slip up on the industrial flooring that Carmi has posted for this prompt.

It reminded me that every day on my walk to collect a newspaper I pass over these studs warning the blind or poorly sighted that there is a road to be crossed.

Many drives to houses have been blocked paved but there are some that are more interesting.

Pebbles and a mixture of stones set in concrete

I guess that they are a bit of a bumpy ride; much smoother are these recycled cobbles.

However the first uncarpeted floor I see each day is the one in our kitchen - with tiles that originated in Spain.

To check out Carmi's post and any other contributors follow the links at Thematic-photographic-420-floored.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'Z' Romania, South Africa

Following a suggestion on my 'Y' post for a Zeppelin I searched my stamps in vain.

South African flowers allow me to present arum lilies as a tribute to the work that Violet puts in each week hosting Sunday Stamps now that we have ended the second A-Z round.

South Africa -20 November 1974
Zantedeschia aethiopica

Bucharest Zoological Gardens  has some splendid birds as shown on this stamp from 1964.

Romania 14 October 1964
 Black Crowned Cranes

I've enjoyed this second A-Z, to round it off all that's left is the check on Sunday-stamps-z to see what others have contributed this week.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'Y' - USA, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia

Two stamps with the emphasis on youth and one just because I only have a few from there.

In date of issue order - 

USA - 11 August 1948

I guess I could have used the next stamp under 'J' - 

Rwanda- 31 May 1966 - Youth and Football

1966 was the year in which England won the world cup.

Saudi Arabia  switches the theme from youth - 

Saudi Arabia - 25 May 1976 - Yuba Mosque

Now I will have to start the search for a 'Z' related stamp to end this second round of A-Z on Sunday-Stamps-y.