Chihuly, a close-up look

I spent an hour with a new camera taking close-ups of some of the glass on exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art.  The Chihuly exhibit will be there until Oct 5th and is worth seeing for the unique way the glass is manipulated and displayed, and for the explosion of colour.

These first 2 shots are from the enormous structure that sits, outside, in front of the museum.  It's shown in the third shot.

Chatsworth House

 Chatsworth House was built in the 17th Century and has been in the same family for 16 generations.  It was used as Pemberly in the most current movie of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  In this and other photos, all you can see belongs to the estate!

 As well as the old masters lining the walls in the house, each generation has added contemporary art.  The dogs above, the wicker sculpture in the garden below.

 This overlooks the back of the house with the vegetable and flower gardens in the forefront.  Both are huge! 

 These two pictures are of the stepped fountain.  Each of the steps is built differently, allowing the water to make a different sound as it cascades over each one.

 Some of the modern art that was on exhibit in the garden. 

Canal Boating

 We spent a lovely week travelling on a canal boat in England with our friends Linda and Mick.  We did a loop south of Birmingham starting in Alvechurch.   I left the excitement of steering the 66' boat to the others and enjoyed sitting on the bow watching the world go by.  I did do my share of locks and found muscles I didn't know I had!

 We went through a number of tunnels and it was always fun to see the end with a lovely picture framed by the walls and reflection.  Sometimes we went over things - as this roadway leading into Birmingham, below.

 It was quite a contrast to go from the tree lined canals right into the heart of a bustling city.  Birmingham has done a great job of making the area attractive and accessible.  It was fun to moor up and go for a walk-about.

 Our first lock.  One of many that we did.  On 2 days we had over 30 to open and close.  Since the boat barely moves, we basically spent the day walking. 

 And the rest of the time enjoyed vistas like this.  Very calming and peaceful, even though we knew that roads and towns were just on the other side of the greenery. 

Mick put together a little utube clip of our trip if you'd like a sense of what it was like.  Just click on the link below.

http://youtu.be/eI9GcaIRixA

Comments are always appreciated!  Thanks for reading.