A Door

Away from the road hidden in a forest just below rocky slopes of the mountains is this concrete shelter with a rusty door partly open to the world surrounding it.

This used to be border area, and before Slovenia became independent the borders of what was then Yugoslavia were heavily guarded. Well, it is still border area - there's Austria just across a ridge (or through a tunnel which is now the case and has been for several years) - but the passage between the members of the European Union is now free. However, the relics of an era past still remain.

This morning...

One of the brightest rainbows I have seen in a while set against dramatic sky. The photo was taken from my office so I couldn't choose a more attractive background. Just a few minutes after this picture was taken the sky opened and rain came pouring down in buckets

A sepia pic for a sepia day

I feel a little faded on the edges right now (too busy again)...

New Sightings Of An Invasive Species

A number of shopping carts have been discovered dwelling in the waters just off the west shore of the Istrian peninsula, and reports of new sightings continue to come in. Shopping carts, previously considered a land species, confined mainly to the malls area, now appear to be expanding their habitat to the sea as well. Some say this apparent migration may be the evidence of the evolution taking a reversal course. The scientists fear the invasion might endanger the local fauna and flora. However, a cursory investigation shows that the local populations of tyres and fan worms appear unaffected thus far. Further investigations are underway.

Today in the park

A few very busy days. I use my lunch break for a walk in the park as I often do to clear my head. The colours are still lovely although much of the foliage has already been shed. But the light is diffused. There are misty clouds rolling across the sky. No sunlight to be caught by the remaining leaves.

Between the trees, a movement. A squirrel has found a nut. But it is not alone. Three crows also appear to be after an easy meal. One hops toward the squirrel. The squirrel backs off, then decides to fight back. It's the crow's time to withdraw. But the back up is coming in shape of the other two crows. The squirrel makes one more attempt at defending the nut, then gives up, dashes across the lawn past the near-by tree and finally disappears in the copse.

self-portrait

:o)

Gold and blue

I do not know the name of these flowers but they look pretty against the clear autumn sky, don't they?

A walk

A walk in the autumn countryside on a crisp clear day is a nice experience.

If you look into a copse by the river you can just spot three species of titmice: the great tit, the coal tit, and there, just within the sight, a blue tit.

The beech is a predominant deciduous tree in these latitudes. The trees still look nice but are shedding leaves fast, letting them swirl to the ground in a desultory fashion.

Above the forest in the general direction of the river circled two buzzards, joined later by another one. A kestrel was hunting from a power line, or perhaps it was a sparrowhawk. Bee-like flies sipped nectar from the remaining blossoms.

And humans... well, humans made noise as they always do, drove around too fast on narrow country roads, picked the windfall apples in somebody else's orchard, walked the dogs, walked the babies, and generally messed about as humans are wont to do...

Another trip

Just back from another trip to the coast.

I've been a lousy blogger lately for different reasons, not the least of which being that I seem to be getting fed up with blogging. I do not intend to give it up but perhaps I need a break... maybe a few days or a few weeks, I don't know. Then again, another post may appear here tomorrow. I simply don't know...

Indian Summer

After the abrupt end of the summer at the beginning of the second third of September we had a number of extremely cold days without sunshine. But in the last few days October appears to be making up for some of that cold. Warm and mostly sunny weather with occasional passing clouds draws people out in the open and the paths around the city are full of people enjoying the unexpected gift. However, I wish there were not so many where I walk but...

Changing colour

With a nod to Ruby Tuesday but no energy to join in.

Afternoon nap

Unperturbed by the masses walking past this fellow took a nap by the pond (yawn)

Can Ban?

I took a stroll around the old city during my lunch break one day and found this empty (alas!) beer can and a plastic glass stuck behind bars.

Colour on a grey day

It was a partly overcast and rather cold day so we decided to wander around the island.
On the shore in the town of Vis opposite from where we stayed I came across a stand with these crocs imitations. Not the best framing but I couldn't resist a quick snap.