Monday 29 September 2008

Nature's Law

Sometimes a chameleon visits our garden. They are amazing animals, truly prehistoric in appearance.

This one, as you can see has turned black in terror. One of the dogs caught it and inflicted a deadly wound before Estella could rescue it. It won't last long. So sad...

Tuesday 23 September 2008

The other country

This is not the sea shore. It is the shore of the lake of Köyceğiz, a big lake connected by a strait with the sea.

It is an hour drive from our home, and once in a while we go there to have dinner. The charm of the place is that it is totally devoid of tourists, just the locals around. It has a sleepy, relaxing feeling, added by the fact that instead of tables and chairs, sofas have been aligned to form what looks like living rooms, cozy and inviting to lounge by the sunset.


P.S. this is a small elaboration on the last post (Bundle of joy):

Although people who know us better can imagine the spirit in which it was written, we got an anonymous comment accusing us of cruelty, and I feel that I may have offended some.

No cruelty was intended, certainly not by the mother. Traditions are inspired by necessity. Do you know that the agriculture in Turkey is mostly very primitive, and that is mainly done by women? Young mothers bring their babies with them to the fields, tied to their backs in those cribs, what are than hung from a tree, while the mother works. For the mother, keeping her baby immobile is keeping hem safe. And do you know that thousands of villages in Turkey don’t have any form of running water, what has to be brought, again by women, in jerry cans, often from a great distance? As has to be done with wood to heat the water? Diapers are not to be taken for granted.

In this spirit, of taking in consideration the ‘other-ness’ of the country, and, yes, seeing the humor in it, was that post written.

Saturday 20 September 2008

Bundle of Joy

The custom of swaddling babies is a very old one. All kind of benefits are attributed to swaddling: babies cry less, they grow with nice straight limbs, etc. And it sure makes a nice, easy to carry, package.

This illustration, from 15th century England’s manuscript, is one of the oldest that remain.


These Tudor ladies, the twins Cholmondley sisters, married on the same day and gave birth on the same day. They appear stultified by the fact in this portrait, dating from 1610.

In the new world, the native Americans, like this Chippeway mother, carried their babies in much the same fashion.

This sweet doll in a glass cabinet is from 19th century Sicily.



In the Netherlands, where the custom of swaddling felt in disuse at the beginning of the 19th century, it became ‘in’ again the last fifteen years or so, along with the rest of the western world. Nowadays, a brisk trade in swaddle blankets, muslin's and such, can be found on the net. Also numerous sites give detailed information on how to convert your baby in a true bundle of joy.



The luckiest though, is this little guy in eastern Turkey. His mum knows how to combine century old traditions with the modern commodity of in-crib plumbing. Hurray!!


Photographer, alas, unknown.

Friday 19 September 2008

Friday Findings: Jellyfish

Sometimes I find it hard to find a different subject for the friday findings, but after making our Jellyfishes for the giftshop and looking around at Etsy it was not difficult anymore.

GiftsandStars

JKphotography


zolboph

Wednesday 17 September 2008

Magical Night

Could it be? After the clouds and rain friday findings, that it is really going to happen soon?
These clouds give us hope! Atleast we enjoyed the magical night with a full moon and gorgeous clouds, the sky was like marble!


Marmaris looks magical!


And now hoping that the magical water drops will soon fall down...

Sunday 14 September 2008

Ramadan Column

(andykehoe)


It is again that time of the year, the month of Ramadan, when practicing Muslims fast from sunrise till sunset. No food, no water, no smoke and no medicine is allowed to pass their lips. When the sun sets, the believer implores Gods approval to break the fast and gives thank for the gifts of the Lord. The fasting during Ramadan is one of the five corner stones of the Muslim religion.

I have earlier written about this, here, what my thoughts are on the matter. I think it an unhealthy custom, what also disrupts every day life that already is not very organized here, at the best of times.

There are enough Turks, however, who take the issue with a pinch of salt. This week, a columnist of Milliyet, one of the mayor newspapers, had a Ramadan Column. Enjoy!

A declared atheist, was walking in the woods, admiring the wonders of nature, when all of a sudden an enormous bear appeared between the trees and started chasing the man.

(dsbrennan)

The guy runs for his life, but his foot gets caught in a tree root and the man fells. The bear jumps on the guy and lifts a paw.

And the professed atheist exclaims:
'Oh, my God! '

At that moment, time comes to a still stand. The bear froze, even the creek in the wood ceased to run. And from the sky a blinding light falls on the man’s face.

Coming from very deep, a divine voice, says to the man:

'All those years, you didn’t believe in Me; the creation was for you a cosmic accident. Now you call me. Can I count you from now on one of my servants? '

The man, not wanting to loose face (or life!) says:

'After all of those years it wouldn’t be fair to you to start to believe. But maybe you can make a believer of the bear? '

'So be it' – says the voice, and disappears.
The creek starts running again, every thing goes back to normal.

The bear lifts both fore paws to the sky and says:

'My Lord, with your approval, I break my fast; be praised for your gifts, my Lord…'



(nicholevb)

Friday 12 September 2008

Friday Findings: Rain

Still hot here, soon we will start a 'Rain dance' but for now we are looking at pretties to get a little the feeling of rain.

ticklebean