Countries, Miss Universe 2011 and a little honey

tere paevast

(Estonian for 'good day')

Miss Estonia - Madli Vilsar

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

As I am continuing to feature the 46 countries that have viewed different pages on my blog*, I thought I might also add in some photos of the same countries'

Miss Universe 2011 Pageant contestants.

*since around April, 2011

Just for fun, you know!

I am quite aware of all the controversy that has swirled around this pageant,

 and all beauty pageants since they began.

And yes, I have opinions.

But for today, we will just show some photos of some beautiful women,

with oh-my-gosh-great-fun earrings and necklaces.

Truly, they are quite outstanding.

Also, in some of the photos you get a peek at the incredibly fancy beadwork, embroidery and lace on the dresses they are wearing.

Miss Ireland - Aoife Hannon

Miss Universe 2011 pageant contestant

Another thing I love especially about the International competition is the costumes.

Wow.

They have a section where the different contestants come out in a costume that represents their country.

It truly is amazing.

Of course, the Miss USA is decked out in some form of red, white and blue.

But think sequins, spangles, and outrageous!

I still remember Miss Puerto Rico's costume from a past year.

Miss USA - Alyssa Campanella 

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

The United States has made the most page views of my blog.

That is only normal, since it is an English language blog,

and I live in the US.

Thanks!

Miss Canada - Chelsae Durocher

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

But every other country that looks at my pages is just a delight to me!

Canada is pretty much always in the top 4 countries that look at pages every day.

I am looking forward to returning to Canada someday.

When I was in my teens my family made a road trip

from Arizona to British Columbia, Canada.

I have (somewhere) a picture of our dog playing in the snow in Canada.

Rare treat for a dog that spent the last couple of years in Phoenix, AZ!

Miss Great Britain - Chloe-Beth Morgan

Miss Universe 2011 contest

My page views list The United Kingdom as one country,

but every so often, at the whim of that great blogspotter poo-bah,

I will get views from Ireland, Wales and Scotland!

I need to brush up on just what the United Kingdom represents.

For another day.

Today I am sending a BIG THANK YOU to

Sri Lanka -

Miss Sri Lanka - Stephanie Siriwardhana

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

and

Finland -

Miss Finland - Pia Pakarinen

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

and to

Croatia -

Miss Croatia - Natalija Prica

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I have already featured Brazil, the Czech Republic and Japan in previous blogs.

But today, I would like to recognize them, and say

THANKS for reading and sharing my blog.

Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Czech Republic - Jitka Novackova

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Japan - Maria Kamiyama

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I have previously featured paperdolls that were from these countries; they have also viewed my blog -

THANKS

Miss Netherlands - Kelly Weekers

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Denmark - Sandra Amer

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Germany - Valeria Bystritskaia

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Turkey - Melisa Asli Pamuk

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I will be featuring paper dolls from other countries in future blogs.

Here are some of the countries, who have also checked out my blog!

Miss France - Laury Thilleman

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Argentina - Natalia Rodriguez

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Sweden - Ronnia Fornstedt

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Spain - Paula Guillo

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

Up next, a big THANK YOU to Australia and to New Zealand for checking out my blog on a regular basis!

Miss Australia - Scherri-Lee Biggs

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss New Zealand - Priyani Puketapu

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

  

Well, I have run out of blogging time.

I have a room to paint with Michael. I picked a really nice, fairly bright yellow color, for 1 or 2 walls. I like it. I hope I like it as well when it is up on the walls!

I have had 46 different countries check out my blog,

so you know I have a few still to feature and say

a big thanks to.

I had hoped to fit in a little about

September is National Honey Month

But that will have to wait for another day!

Have a wonderful weekend.

I will take pictures of the finished room,

but don't expect it tomorrow!!

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Beautiful Birds

Good Day

c.1911

Well, it turns out I guess I have a stomach/intestinal bug.

sigh.

Been sleeping poorly, and have spent wayyyy

too much time in the bathroom.

When I feel better, I have to clean the corners of said bathroom.

I have dust bunnies that are about ready to take over the world....

I wanted to do a blog, but really don't feel too well,

so today's time will be about

Birds.

Probably not too much talky-talk.

However, I did find some wonderful pictures of a variety of birds.

In no particular order, and some I don't know the name of the birds, but

let's share them together -

Australian lorikeets

Birds sing after a storm;

why shouldn't people feel as free to delight

 in whatever remains to them?

- Rose Kennedy

Bath time



'Tweety-Bird', Warner Bros.



“Did you ever see an unhappy horse?

Did you ever see bird that had the blues?

One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because

they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.”

…Dale Carnegie

steely vented hummingbird, Costa Rica

c.1869

 

a stork

 

Parrot Flowers

 my favorite Big Yellow Bird aka...Big Bird, Sesame Street

hummingbird http://www.englilsh-narixa.blogspot.com/

pigeon

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man

than the way in which they can build

and yet leave a landscape as it was before.

  ~Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays

c.1879

ruby throated hummingbird

Her wings beat approximately 53x per second.

Kate Greenaway poem and illustration

A scherensnitte I cut of doves and a tree.

You can see the fold line in the middle,

as I cut both halves at the same time.



That's it for today.

I hope I have made you smile today,

and find a little wonderment (is that a word? I like it.)

and a little awe of all the different kinds of God's creations in the bird world.

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

c.1917

Here is a rather simple scherensnitte pattern for you.

I'm cutting one that I intend to keep flat,

but the original pattern is for a tri-fold card

that fits into a standard business size envelope.

The first dashed line is for a mountain fold.

The second dashed line is for a valley fold.

from a Backstreet Orginal book, out of print