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THEME DAY: FOUNTAINS • Just my luck that the fountains in the large decorative pool at the Rizal Park weren't on when my cousin and I went on an impromptu photo walk. Even the swans should have been spouting water—I took a close look and there are pipes inside their mouths.




Get your (virtual) feet wet in fountains all over the world with City Daily Photo bloggers. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Heidi Montag Breast Model Wallpaper

Searching for Heidi Montag breast? Oh this is very sexy Heidi Montag wallpaper, you can clearly look at her breast, it's look perfect and sexy breast. I just want to touch her breast.. LOL!

This Heidi Montag model wallpaper available in high wide resolution 1920 x 1200. Too sexy to your desktop background.

- Click her breast to enlarge, and then right click to save as..
- Another Heidi Montag Wallpapers.
- Back to Model-Wallpaper.

Palm Beach Trolley

Today's picture was taken in 1905 and shows a horse drawn trolley. The picture was taken in Palm Beach, Florida. The trolley travels on a track, and is pulled by a horse. I wonder what the advantage was of running on a track compared to a normal carriage.

Suddenly Sunday

Suddenly Sunday is a weekly event where I recap all the exciting things that have been going on here! If you want to join in on this weekly meme, feel free to do so, just link back to this blog :)

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Hello everyone! I hope your Sunday has been a delightful conclusion to the week and the end of January... how did that happen? January has been a busy month for me, but I have managed to read a number of books, so keep an eye out for my reviews... February will be full of them! My schedule of events for Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog is filling up quickly, and I am so excited about what I have planned for your historical fiction enjoyment. But before I start to ramble on and giveaway all my plans, let's take a peak at what's been going on here and what's coming up this week:

Reviewed this past week:

• India Black by Carol K. Carr

Coming up this week on Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog:

• Reviews:
• Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
• The Gentleman Poet by Kathryn Johnson
• The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan HIgginbotham

In my mailbox for review:

  

Be sure to check out my current giveaway! 

The Princess of Nowhere by Prince Lorenze Borghese

You might have noticed I have changed the layout and background of blog. I am very excited about the new look for Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog! In addition to the overall look, I have created a new rating system

which will be present in every book review. 

Over the coming months, I will be introducing some new features on my blog. One feature already in place is the page "Historical Figures, Historical Times..." which can be found directly under the header. This page lists popular historical figures, events and time periods, followed by recommended books (HistFic & Non-Fic) pertaining to those topics. I will be updating this page constantly, so be sure to check it out now and then!

Have a great week & happy reading!

Refuge

Hidden among the tall office and condominium buildings of Ortigas Center is the tiny Ortigas Park, which has several cafés nearby. We were there on New Year's Eve—the first time I've been there—and most of the benches were occupied, I assume by residents of the many condominiums in the area. Metro Manila needs more havens like it.

Early 1900's

Welcome to early 1900's week here at OPOD. I really find the era betweeen 1900 and 1915 to be very interesting. It was a time when cars were just becoming popular, and you would see scenes with both horse carriages and cars sharing the same street. Peope dressed nicely, and everything seemed so nice and proper. I have found some great pictures and hope you enjoy the week.

Domestic Update:

I have been busy this week and have built a plant nursery in the garage. It is a place where I can get vegetables started without taking up space in the greenhouse. 

The system uses the same hydroponic buckets that are used in the Bean Barn. The lights and irrigation are on timers, so it should not take any time to keep going. Once the plants get big and are ready to produce, the bucket will be moved to the greenhouse, and new plants will be started. This should allow me to grow more in the greenhouse, since growing space will not be taken by plants just getting started.

Handsome Jack has been very busy as well this week. His work crews are back, and it definitely looks like some sort of construction is going on behind Chickie Town. I was able to snap a few pictures from the Oak Grove.

It appears that some sort of welding is going on. I also noticed some heavy equipment starting to move steal beams into place. 

I continued to watch the work and tried to look for a chance to go ask to workers what was going on. They took a break and I got my shot.

I started to walk up to them to ask them what they were building, but then Handsome saw me, and jumped in front of me, and distracted me with all his feathers. When he does that I become mesmerized, and start counting all the eyes he has.

Isn't that magnificent feathers he has. Have you ever seen so many eyes. It is like they are all looking at you at the same time. What a magnificent bird.

33rd Graffiti Art

Graffiti Art Mural. Subway graffiti on Auto Body Shop, 33rd Av & 12th St, LIC

Giveaway! The Princess of Nowhere by Lorenze Borghese

Thanks to the generosity of Harper Collins Publishers, I have one brand new copy of The Princess of Nowhere by Lorenze Borghese up for grabs! 

Publish Date: December 2010

Paperback: 308pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Princess Pauline Borghese was one of the most fascinating women of her day. Now her story is unforgettably told by one of her descendants....

The sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, Pauline knows that her sole purpose has always been to make an advantageous marriage to further her ambitious brother's goals. But her joie de vivre cannot be contained—much to the dismay of her new husband, Prince Camillo Borghese. Pauline and Camillo's relationship is tempestuous at best, with Pauline constantly seeking the attention of other men—especially after a heartbreaking loss leaves her devastated, desperate for attention, and searching for answers. Yet despite everything, the love that brought Pauline and Camillo together, as imperfect as it might be, can never truly be stifled.

As seen through the eyes of the young woman who served as Pauline's lady-in-waiting and surrogate daughter, The Princess of Nowhere is an unforgettable tale of a remarkable life that was a study in the excesses of the time and of the power of a woman strong enough to defy expectations."

Giveaway Guidelines:

~10 possible entries~

• +1 entry for posting a comment and leaving your e-mail. (no e-mail = no entry) 
• +5 entries for becoming a Follower, or already being a Follower. (if possible, please follow through "google friend connect" so I can verify) 
• + 3 entries for adding a link to this giveaway on your sidebar or for posting about it on your blog. (please post link with your comment) 
• + 1 entry for tweeting about this giveaway. (please post link with your comment) 

~Please post all your entries in one comment, thanks :)

~This giveaway will be open to USA residents only.

~Ends February 20th~

Good Luck everyone!

Book Review: India Black by Carol K. Carr

Publish Date: January 4th 2011

Format: Paperback 304pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"When Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office dies from a heart attack while visiting her brothel, Madam India Black is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly game between Russian and British agents who are seeking the military secrets Latham carried.

Blackmailed into recovering the missing documents by the British spy known as French, India finds herself dodging Russian agents-and the attraction she starts to feel for the handsome conspirator."

My Review:

India Black, the madam of Lotus House and shrewd business woman, knows how to keep her tarts in line and her customers well cared for. For India it is just another Sunday; an afternoon of bookkeeping and preparing the establishment for another nights business... that is until one of her regular customers mysteriously dies while with one of her employees. Knowing that the reputation of Lotus House will suffer greatly if it becomes known that a death has occurred on the premise, India quickly devises a way to dispose of the body. But when a stranger catches India in the midst the disposal, and offers to help without requesting anything in return, she is immediately wary, for she has learned nothing comes without a price. 

Despite India's best efforts to return to the normal duties of Lotus House, she finds that it is impossible to do so when spies, assassins, and the British government all want something from you. Thrown into a deadly game of espionage, India must team up with the spy known as French in attempt to thwart the ruthless foreign agents mission and save England from an inconceivable fate.

When I first began reading India Black, I was disappointed with the novels pace and plot depth. The first hundred and fifty pages were thick with conversations that did not amount to much, and I found myself wanting to look ahead in order to see when something intriguing might happen. While the plot remained thin, the pace began to pick up speed half-way through the novel. I was extremely pleased when the last hundred pages flew by; the intensity building every time I turned the page. It was during this time that India and French began working together, which complimented the novels newfound pace quite well. Their partnership was a delight and I often found myself smiling at their banter and blunders.

Despite the slow beginning and thin plot, India Black was an enjoyable read. The author has shown a talent for creating suspenseful scenarios that grow with great intensity. If she can capture the readers attention with this talent right from the beginning, fans of India Black will be in for some excellent reading adventures. 

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Intrigued by India Black? Check out my interview with the author, Carol K. Carr: India Black, author interview.

Not for the faint of heart

Another Castillan gastronomic legacy beloved of Manileños: cochinillo asado. Also known as lechon de leche or, in English, roast suckling pig, it is so succulent and tender, it can be cut with a plate. Casa Armas Tapas Bar y Restaurante, which has four restaurants in the metro, has a specially-made box for it so people can bring it home.

Graffiti Tags | Alphabet Graffiti Archaeology

Graffiti Archaeology is a project devoted to the study of graffiti-covered walls as they change over time. The core of the project is a timelapse collage, made of photos of graffiti taken at the same location by many different photographers over a span of several years. The photos were taken in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and other cities, over a timespan from the late 1990's to the present.

Mystery Person Contest

With my stunning victory last week, can I possibly win again this week? Time will tell. Let the Contest Begin!

For a rainy day

BPI Family Savings Bank is a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, the oldest bank still operating in the country. It is owned by the Ayala Corporation, whose extensive real estate developments I have featured many times in this blog.

Skateboard Graffiti Alphabets

Skateboard graffiti alphabet letters black and white. Sketch graffiti alphabet AZ and numbers also can be colored according to your tastes. Free printable graffiti alphabet letters with style skateboard

Belle Glade, Florida

To me, this is the saddest picture we have seen all week. The picture was taken in Belle Glade, Florida. It shows two of the eleven children of a migrant family. The older boy is caring for the younger one, who has been sick and lost lots of weight. The family is stuck in Belle Glade, because the parents lost the car. I really wish that I could hear the story of how their lives played out . . . were they able to overcome this poverty and lead happy lives?

Lauren Willig Reading Challenge

As you all know, Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation Series is a favorite of mine and I have been wanting to re-read through the series for quite some time; well now I have the perfect reason to do so (not that I need a reason to divulge in these fabulous books)! Thanks to Lizzy over at Historically Obsessed, there is a lovely challenge dedicated to this wonderful series, the Lauren Willig Reading Challenge 2011. I had actually thought of hosting a challenge similar to this myself... see how popular this series is! Here are the challenge details:

The Goal:
To read as many books in the series during 2011

The Levels:
Eighth Level: Orchid
Seventh Level: Mistletoe
Sixth Level: Lily
Fifth Level: Jasmine
Fourth Level: Rose
Third Level: Ring
Second Level: Tulip
First Level: Carnation

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My Goal: Level Orchid

My Progress:

1. -
2. -
3. -
4. -
5. -
6. -
7. -
8. -

Jane Austen Reading Challenge 2011

Yes, I know I just signed up for an Austen challenge, but can there ever be too much Jane Austen? I think not! Therefore, bring on the second Jane Austen challenge for 2011. This is the second year I am participating in this particular challenge. Unlike The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge, this one shall encompass all of Jane Austen's works. The Jane Austen Challenge 2011 is hosted by Haley at The Life (and lies) of an inanimate object. Here are the challenge details:

Rules:

--Challenge runs January 1st 2011—December 31 2011.

--overlap with other challenges is fine.

--Any format counts: bound book, e-book (check online for free downloads of J.A’s copyright-free books), audio book, or any other thing you can think of. Just no abridged stuff!

--You can change which level you read!

--you don't have to be a blogger or reviewer, just leave a comment letting me know you're joining.


Levels:

**Newbie, 4 books total: 2 books by J. Austen, and 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

**Lover, 8 books total: 4 books by J. Austen, 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

** Fanatic, 12+ books total 6+ books by J. Austen, 6+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
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I will be updating my status here on this post. You can easily find it via the "Challenges" page tab at the top of this blog, or by clicking the Challenge Picture on the left hand side of this blog.

My Goal: Newbie, 4 books total: 2 books by J. Austen, and 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs
My Progress:

1. - 
2. -
3. -
4. -

The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011

I have been looking for a good Jane Austen challenge to participate in this year and it seems I have finally found one! The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 is hosted by Laurel Ann Nattress at Austenprose. Here is what the challenge entails: 

About: If you have not read Jane Austen’s masterpiece or would like to revisit it in honor of its significant anniversary, see all of the movies or read all of the sequels and spinoffs, this is the year to join the challenge along with other Janeites, historical fiction readers and period drama movie lovers.

Time-line: The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 runs January 1, through December 31, 2011.

Levels of participation: Neophyte: 1 – 4 selections, Disciple: 5 – 8 selections, Aficionada: 9 – 12 selections.

Enrollment: Sign up’s are open until March 1, 2011. First, select your level of participation. Second, copy the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 graphic and include it in your blog post detailing the novels or movies that you commit to reading and watching in 2011. Third, leave a comment linking back to your blog post in the comments of this announcement post. If you do not have a blog you can still participate. Just leave your commitment to the challenge in the comments below.

Check Back Monthly: The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 officially begins on Wednesday, January 26, 2010 with my review of the novelThe Three Weismanns of Westport. Check back on the 4th Wednesday of each month for my next review in the challenge.

Your Participation: Once the challenge starts you will see a tab included at the top of Austenprose called Reading Challenges. Click on the tab and select the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011. Leave a comment including the name of the book or movie read or viewed and a link to your blog review. If you do not have a blog, just leave a comment about your selection that you finished with a brief reaction or remark. It’s that easy.
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I will be updating my status here on this post. You can easily find it via the "Challenges" page tab at the top of this blog, or by clicking the Challenge Picture on the left hand side of this blog.

My Goal: Neophyte: 1 – 4 selections
My Progress: 

1. -
2. -
3. -
4. -

Child King

The Feast of the Child Jesus occurs on the third Sunday of January but so many Filipinos have a devotion to the Santo Niño that January effectively has become his month. Three of the four biggest and most well-known festivals in the Philippines during January are dedicated to the Sto. Niño. He also has his own chapel in the Manila Cathedral.

Turkish-Patterned Cap

I ordered some of Knit Picks' Chroma yarn to test out for colorwork. This is the Turkish-Patterned Cap from Charlene Schurch's excellent book Hats On! I used size 4 (US) needles and Cascade 220 in black and Chroma worsted weight in the mid-winter colorway.

There is still a lot of the Chroma left (see above) so I think I'll also do some stranded fingerless mitts.

The single-ply Chroma was a lot softer than I expected although I wish it was more elastic.

This shows the colors the best. I only did one repeat of the chart before the crown decreases. The decreases are a bit confusing -  I started the decreases one stitch before the row marker for the beginning of the row.

Tips For Drawing Graffiti Sketch to Coloring

The following tips on drawing / writing graffiti from sketch to coloring graffiti on the wall

In particular the use of the bold style lettering is really distinctive to graffiti art. The images themselves will usually be hard hitting, and be painted in stark colours utilising strong shadows and outlines to add depth and definition. Images usually depict social or political issues close to the artist's heart.

Before you start a piece of graffiti art, you should draw a small scale version of the large piece you want to create first, then when you begin your actual piece, its a simple task of just scaling up your graffiti sketch.

If you need ideas for a graffiti font to use, there are plenty of sites online that have examples for you to copy. For the outlines, use a fine marker pen. In order to produce a 3D effect, shade around the letters you've outlined with a different colour. Then use permanent markers to colour in your letters.

Once you are ready to paint your sketch on to your larger canvas or wall, you need to draw a reference grid over your small drawing. Sketch a full size replica of the grid on to your wall or canvas that you are using for your scaled up graffiti piece. Use either chalk, charcoal or diluted paint to draw the large grid. To make marking the grid out easier, the simplest thing to do is to use a piece of string.

Use chalk or charcoal to transfer your small drawing on to you larger canvas. Use an aerosol can to paint the background in using diluted paint, keep the layer thin and allow it to dry before you start your colouring. When you've finished the outline and the background, it's time to add the colours and detail. Again use aerosols to add the colours. Start with the lightest colours first and the largest sections, and then move on to the detail and the smaller areas last.

When you've coloured your work in, you can add the fine definition with a brush to enhance the fine lines and borders around your figures and letters. You can preserve it for years to come with a thin layer of varnish.

Dalhart, Texas

One of the things that made the Great Depression so bad is that right in the middle of one of the worst financial crisis in the US's history, there was a drought of epic proportion. The rains just stopped. The picture above was taken near Dalhart, Texas, and you can see the conditions were such that farming or ranching was impossible.

What's New Wednesday: A Look at Next Week's New Releases

~ For the week of January 30th - February 5th ~

The Tudor Secret by C.W. Gortner

Publish Date: February 1st 2011

Format: Hardcover 352pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Summer 1553: A time of danger and deceit. Brendan Prescott, an orphan, is reared in the household of the powerful Dudley family. Brought to court, he finds himself sent on an illicit mission to the King's brilliant but enigmatic sister, Princess Elizabeth. But Brendan is soon compelled to work as a double agent by Elizabeth's protector, William Cecil--who promises in exchange to help him unravel the secret of his own mysterious past. A dark plot swirls around Elizabeth's quest to unravel the truth about the ominous disappearance of her seriously ill brother, King Edward VI. With Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting at his side, Brendan plunges into a ruthless gambit of half-truths, lies, and murder. Filled with the intrigue and pageantry of Tudor England, THE TUDOR SECRET is the first book in the Elizabeth I Spymaster series."

The Irish Princess by Karen Harper

Publish Date: February 1st 2011

Format: Paperback 416pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"A grand-scale historical novel from the national bestselling author ofMistress Shakespeare.

Born into a first family of Ireland, with royal ties on both sides, Elizabeth Fitzgerald-known as Gera-finds her world overturned when Henry VIII imprisons her father, the Earl of Kildare, and brutally destroys her family. Torn from the home she loves, her remaining family scattered, Gera dares not deny the refuge offered her in England's glittering royal court. There she must navigate ever-shifting alliances even as she nurtures her secret desire for revenge. From County Kildare's lush green fields to London's rough-and-tumble streets and the royal court's luxurious pageantry, The Irish Princess follows the journey of a daring woman whose will cannot be tamed, and who won't be satisfied until she restores her family to its rightful place in Ireland."

Pale Rose of England by Sandra Worth

Publish Date: February 1st 2011

Format: Paperback 464pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"From the award-winning author of The King's Daughter comes a story of love and defiance during the War of the Roses.

It is 1497. The news of the survival of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, has set royal houses ablaze with intrigue and rocked the fledgling Tudor dynasty. With the support of Scotland's King James IV, Richard-known to most of England as Perkin Warbeck-has come to reclaim his rightful crown from Henry Tudor. Stepping finally onto English soil, Lady Catherine Gordon has no doubt that her husband will succeed in his quest.

But rather than assuming the throne, Catherine would soon be prisoner of King Henry VII, and her beloved husband would be stamped as an imposter. With Richard facing execution for treason, Catherine, alone in the glittering but deadly Tudor Court, must find the courage to spurn a cruel monarch, shape her own destiny, and win the admiration of a nation."

Crossing over

Known as the Manunggul Jar after the name of the cave in the province of Palawan where it was found, this burial jar was dated to 890–710 BC. Aside from the fact that it was found intact, it is remarkable for the incised decoration on its body and lid, colored with hematite, and the two figures on a boat on the lid. This is believed to represent souls sailing to the afterworld, a particular crossing over belief that is common—with slight variations—in many cultures all over the world. The Manunggul Jar is considered a national treasure and is housed in the Museum of the Filipino People. It also appears on the back of our one thousand peso bill.

LES PSYKOPATHES