ARCHIVE DAY

My volunteer day with the Alameda County Sheriff's Archive is today. I leave too early for a lengthy blog, so I'll get back to Turkey in earnest tomorrow. Above is the beautiful writing in a manuscript from the Aramada Hotel, Istanbul.

An old Roman aqueduct. Usla said, "those people are not supposed to be up there."

Usla teasing us about his new car. (Not his, it belongs to the owner of the hotel.)

The Armada has turtles in the lobby. Reminds me of the Peabody Ducks.

And, of course, tulips everywhere. I DID tell you that tulips originated in Turkey, right? They were taken to Amsterdam many years ago.

And, thank you Virginia for answering my question about a (correct spelling) caliph, a religious leader.

DAFFODILS AND TULIPS.

Let me set the stage. Jim and I were talking about going to daffodil hill, fifty miles away. Kautz Ironstone Winery does a great job with a daffodil show of their own. You walk their extensive gardens and view barrel after barrel of gorgeous flowers. Not only daffodils but tulips and pansies and hyacinths. They host a daffodil show, inside, which to me is less interesting than the gorgeous outside gardens.

It was all the more enjoyable because the weather was perfect, but the flowers speak for themselves.

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Still, Kautz advertises this as a Daffodil Show. And people every year come from miles around to show off their efforts.

In one area undercover, but out-of-doors, is a contest of daffodil bouquets. Kind of reminds me of place settings at the County Fair. They are interesting.

This particular setting won a silver bowl.  Suffice it to say, there is a lot to see if you decide to attend next year.

Again, setting the scene, this is the daffodil show room. Their placement and how they are judged is for you to see by attending. I question how anyone can choose one daffodil over another since they are all  beautiful and here you find perfection.

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For a more complete view of his lovely place, you can click on my album to view many more pictures: A full screen slide show is gorgeous.

2014-3-16-KautzDaffodilShw

COME AND ENJOY THE FLOWERS

Some people really get into their photography and I enjoyed watching this woman's technique. Tulips are ablaze where the daffodils have finished. At Kautz Ironstone Winery, you can Tiptoe Through The Tulips. Come up and enjoy the flowers.