July 8, 2007
· Filed under Fun, Photography
I’d like to dedicate one day a week to a topical photo series. This will be a great way for me to practice a hobby I really enjoy while passing on some inspiring photos of places and things you may not experience in your own neck of the woods. I’d be interested in hearing what sort of series interest you so don’t be shy!
Goats have horizontal slit-shaped pupils.
Pregnancy duration is approximately 150 days. Twins are the usual result, as with this litter. Birthing is known as “kidding”.
On Yom Kippur two goats were chosen and lots were drawn for them. One was sacrificed and the other allowed to escape into the wilderness, symbolically carrying with it the sins of the community. From this comes the word “scapegoat”.
July 8, 2007
· Filed under Favorite Things
Typically I am not a huge fan of store-bought flowers. I love wildflower arrangements but am not a huge “bouquet of roses” fan. I would rather spend time soaking up their sweetness in a garden, and plucking a few pretties for home to remind me of moments spent in their living presence. However, when my hubby brings home an armful of orchids, I can’t help but gush over them. I love selecting the perfect vase, perfect vantage point, and accompanying pieces for each bunch that seem to exude their own personality. The following arrangement found its home in the corner of our family room in a pitcher that never fails to make me think of warm milk splashing into a bowl of Irish oatmeal. Such pleasantries…
Did you know that there are upwards of 17,000 species of orchids in the world (and that is a conservative estimate)?! In fact, the orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants in the world. We are not just talking about variations of color, but the variations of design/shape are amazing. You would never think flowers like some of these even existed! I see God’s handiwork every time I look at an orchid and I think how satisfying it must have been to create so delicate and beautiful a flower. It is as if I can see His hand reaching down and painting the intricate patterns on their petals.
Feast your eyes on some beautiful photos that have resulted through the work of Howard Schatz (first photo on the left) and Greg Allikas (all other photos).
Strangely enough, such a beautiful flower received its name on account of its resemblance to what is known in Greek as the “orchis”. The fashion in which the flower unfolds, typically being a single petal unfolding atop two lateral petals, form the appearance of the aforementioned shape. And while this is all so fascinating, the most interesting tidbit gathered today was the knowledge that the vanilla bean is the fruit of an orchid.
