The Light Within

This lamp is in the Colorado Belle, a casino and hotel I visited a few weeks ago for Danny's mom's wedding.  The whole thing was rather fun.  The hotel was Mississippi steam boat themed, and all of the decorations were a bit kitschy.  This lamp and corresponding wall paper were two of my favourite decorations.

Loughlin, Nevada, USA

Like this?  You may want a nice Late Dinner.

Desert Rose

I had never been to the Southwest USA in my life.  When I got out of the airport in Las Vegas, I was stunned. Those films about the area, where all of the houses looked so foreign,  there were palm trees and cities were surrounded by miles upon miles of desert.... they weren't joking.  It was beautiful!  The plants were particularly fascinating to me.  Despite the lack of moisture, so many pretty flowers were blooming.  Like these ones.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Love this?  Take a look at Fairy Tale.

Hey Pumpkin

This photo is from this past fall.  There was a wonderful street market in Madison Square Park in October last year, and the highlight, for me at least, was a wooden house structure full of pumpkins.  Some were the big meaty kind, perfect for a halloween jack-o-lantern, and others were like this, dainty and decorative.  

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

If you like this, I think you'll love Beautiful Disaster.

When You Wish Upon a Star

This was some of the cutest grafitti I think that I have ever seen.  These star motifs were all over a bridge on the Hike and Bike trail- and someone drew a different cute smiley face on every single one of them.  As we walked over the bridge, I couldn't help but smile as well.

Austin, Texas, USA

Like this?  Check out some other fun grafitti with Close Minded.

The Rainbow Connection

Can you see the rainbow in the fountain?

Someday we'll find it

The rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me

Austin, Texas, USA

To see another photograph taken on the Hike and Bike Trail, take a look at Close Minded.

My Little One

A statue in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The way that the mother and child are holding one another is so tender.  It makes me want to curl up in the arms of a loved one.

London, England, UK

The Queen is In

When the Queen is present at a royal residence, the Union Jack flies high overhead.

The day that I visited Windsor Castle, she was in.

Windsor, England, UK

If you loved this, you'll absolutely fall head over heels for Atop the Crags.

Odette

I thought that black swans were a myth. 

Like unicorns, manticores and dragons, I thought that black swans were invented creatures who lived in our imaginations, not in the real world. St. James Park proved me wrong.  I came across this beauty, who walked right up to me, then proceeded to groom itself in the shallow water.  The music of swan lake filled my mind as I watched.

London, England, UK

If you like this, then you'll love a good Fairy Tale.

Wiser Ones

This little guy is a member of Castel Caerdydd, or Cardiff Castle's nifty collection of hawks, falcons and owls on display for the public.  The Castle is located in central Cardiff, and is rather picturesque, with a moted medieval keep in the center.  The occasional squawking of the birds enhanced the atmostphere.

Honestly, I just thought this one was cute.

Cardiff, Wales, UK

Like this?  Try out We See the Truth.

The Skinny One

This statue is displayed in the British Museum, right next to the more rotund statue of Buddha from the previous post.  I don't remember if this is supposed to be Buddha or not, but it is from the same era, and also from China.  

As opposed to Chubby Buddha, this statue makes me feel more reverent, calm, and at peace with the world around me. 

London, England, UK

If this made you feel zen, take a look at Zen.

Chubby Buddha

A Chinese Buddha statue in the British Museum.

He seems so delightfully jolly- I almost want to do a little dance.  Anyone else?

London, England, UK

Candied

Candy Apples in the window of a sweet shop.

I wanted one so badly.  I should have had one.

But then I would have had to take one from this lovely display..... and that would have been completely unacceptable.  It looked to pretty to mess up.  

Bath, England, UK

If you liked this, then check out another window in Bath, Rupert.

In the Lamplight

The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

St. James Park, London, England, UK

If you enjoyed this, I think you might be For Scotland!

Photobook

A book of old photos from Japan on display in the British Museum. 

I want to own each one of them individually and plaster them all over my walls.  

London, England, UK

Like this?  Try out Display.

Snowy Garden

This is a view of St. James Park in London.  Everyone in London gets terrified when there is this much snow.  Planes don't fly.  People stock up on food.  Having grown up in the Northeastern United States, I thought this was absolutely ridiculous.  I love a little dusting of snow.  I think it's pretty.  This photograph seems to prove my case.

London, England, UK

If you like this photograph, you'll love All in a Row.

Frogger

This is probably the coolest fountain that I have ever seen.  It's in the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles, Louis XV's grand palace in France.  When it is turned on, it is spectacular.  But, when the water is not running, it looks nifty as well.  Animals spit water in different directions, creating lines of water that curve in beautiful patterns.

Versailles, France

If you like this, you'll love Zen.

Rupert

Rupert the Bear was one of my favourite television shows as a kid.  I secretly loved the days that I was sick sometimes, because I could sit at home and watch this show, David the Gnome, and all of the other cute and queer things I loved as a kid.  This is a display in a store full of dollhouse miniatures and small books.  One of my other loves, Shakespeare, is mentioned in the background.

Bath, England, UK

Like this?  Like Window Shopping.

Lace

The best window decorations I've seen yet.

I want to do this to my apartment so badly.

Bruges, Belgium

Better Than Candles accompanies this one quite nicely.

Wellies

I decided I would stick with the fun and funky character of the last post and let you enjoy some nice wellies!  For those of you 'Muricans like me out there, wellies are rain boots.  And they are so delightful.  What can be better than sloshing through puddles on a rainy day without the fear of wetting your socks?  Well, lots of things, but that is rather nice.  These ones were on sale at Camden Market.

Camden, London, England, UK

If you think this is rad, then you will love Ello Puppets.

The Lone Flame

If you have been reading Travel and Toile for a bit, you will probably have become aware that I really like candles.  If you are new, first of all, welcome!  I hope you like what you see.  Oh, and by the way- I like candles.  Especially these things in churches with the racks full of them.  This one really intrigued me- only one lone candle was burning, and it was burning rather brightly.  Caught my fancy, and my camera lens.

Bath, England, UK

Like this?  Check out Beautiful Disaster.