Bottle Garden on a Wall at Glossop

This bottle garden on a wall is not a conventional mural but nonetheless an effective way of decorating the stonework. Plastic bottles have been used as planters.

It was originally created in 2014 by Wendy Kirby of Glossop Craft Centre on Smithy Fold off High Street East. Some photographs of it in all its colourful glory can be found on the Craft Centre's Facebook Group pages.

The wall is opposite the centre on Smithy Fold which leads to the Old Stables Photographic Studio. In the background is the Howard Town Mill development.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

ABC Wednesday:K is for Knipling

Lace shop in Tønder, Denmark, 1988.

Thanks to all those who made such great responses to last week's post Just because ...

For more K posts visit ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday - K is for Katikati Haiku Pathway

ABC Wednesday: K is for Katikati Haiku Pathway

beneath the moon
the heron's slow step
towards frog sound

Michael Dylan Welch

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

The Katikati Haiku Pathway was the brainchild of Catherine Mair. It was created as part of a millennium project that sought to reclaim wasteland around the Uretara Stream which seperated the centre of this Western Bay of Plenty District town in New Zealand from the Highfields area.

watchful the night heron lowers his neck into shadow

Janice Bostok

(photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england).

I visited Catherine in 2001 and she took me on guided tour. She told me about how she came to choose the haiku used, and about the way the town co-operated, despite certain opposition, with its creation. The boulders had weathered well. After rain, water gathers in small pools on some of the lettering. We poked our fingers into one such pool. I wrote

splash of water
trickles down the stone
finds its own pathway

after visiting the above boulder.

on the farmland
new houses
slowly rising

Patricia Prime

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

shadows
on the river
darker than the birds

Catherine Mair

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

Holding the water,
held by it -
the dark mud.

William J Higginson

(photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england)

Catherine tells me in a recent email that since my visit there has been massive development.

1. The 'river flats' are now a jig-saw of roofs and burgeoning gardens.
2. Haiku on 24 boulders has been repainted.
3. Two damaged author nameplates have been replaced.
4. A much more visible sign has been designed
5. Information boards are being designed and will be in place soon at the main car park.
6. Three new boulders have been engraved adjacent to the original landing.
7. Stepping stones have been installed to one boulder.
8. A viewing area has been cleared to another boulder situated in the river bed.
9. The Haiku Pathway booklet has been updated and reprinted.

Catherine Mair standing by the exit from the Haiku Path near two carved pieces created by a Maori carver representing one of the three marae in the district. They have since been removed for restoration.

in the evening
the bridge becomes dangerous
tonight's moon

Takebe Ayatari

(photograph © 2008 Sandra Simpson)

Secretary of the Pathway Focus Committee, Sandra Simpson tells me

We now have 30 engraved haiku boulders, which we believe to be the largest such grouping in English anywhere and the largest outside Japan. The poems are by 26 poets from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US, Japan, Poland and England (Alan Summers).

The Haiku Pathway guidebook was updated and reprinted to coincide with the dedication of the 3 new boulders last winter (our winter May/June).

The next 2 big projects to bring to fruition are a major new entry sign, the design of which is in keeping with the pathway, and information boards for visitors, including items such as a map of all the boulders and some background to haiku.

One of the new boulders is

summer clouds
the river and I
inclined to the sea

Peter Yovu

(photograph © 2008 Sandra Simpson)

Further information is available at Katikati Mural Town.

Discover other ABC Wednesday posts by visiting Mrs. Nesbitt's Place.

Hyde Photo of the Year 2006: Runner-up

Today's theme on Hyde DP is Photo of the Year. I couldn't pick just one out of all the photos I'd published this year, so selected ten contenders, created a web page and asked all my readers to vote for their choice. I want to thank all the people who took the trouble to vote. The winning picture is shown on Hyde DP. The close runner-up is shown above.

Here are the results, together with links to the original postings and some comments from voters. All ten photographs can be viewed together at The Best of Hyde Daily 2006

1. April 28th: Jack Curvis (139)

He looks so jolly and so not an American.. is he a typical Brit? ** I just love how that picture looks like it belongs somewhere and isn't from where I'm from. ** I just love the smile on Jack's face and the warmth I see in the conversation he's probably having with you. ** I love the man's wonderful outfit and smile. ** for sheer colour and that welcoming smile ** I always prefer people shots and that portrait has lots of elements to make a good photo! ** A guy with a hat like that in a typically english shop. Great.

2. October 27th: Looking up Treacle Brow (114)

I love the way the road bends around the picture, such a lovely place. ** That's very English to me. ** The cobblestone street is so very beautiful. ** It is my image of Hyde, treacle is so English and only in England do you have Brows. ** for layout and pespective.

3. April 10th: Hyde Chapel (93)

Breathtaking. ** Wonderful. ** Scenery has good balance. Green color gives me relax feeling. Of course, Chapel itself is beautiful! Houses at the front is nice too, the view far away seems like an ocean. This kind of photo takes me to quick trip to another world!

4. November 18th: Salvation Army Buskers (64)

I love the Salvation Army buskers. ** It's a classic!

5. July 10th: Booth's Well (62)

It illustrates the past(Mad Hatter), present (the flowers), and the future (stained glass-time memorial)...also has a 2006 date which stamps its mark in time.

6. August 18th: Old Railway Cutting Wall (60)

Old railway lines are a passion. ** This wall full of ferns is just beautiful. ** I think the heritage of a location is most important.

7. July 30th: Stained Glass in Hyde Bus Station (58)

Lovely and evokes emotion. ** Wonderful.

8. June 2nd: It's a Dogs Life (56)

I have a golden retreiver ** Wonderful.

9. September 12th: Mayor Rings a Bell (30)

I really like 'Mayor rings a bell'. Clanging in a New Year, I guess. ** Lovely and evokes emotion.

10. September 9th: Inside the Theatre Royal (16)

I'm a firm beleiver in the preservation of the Theatre Royal.

Christmas Crib

For the last few years or so we haven't gone in for a lot of Christmas decorations. However we do continue one family tradition. At the beginning of December we unearth this crib and display it until January 6th when it gets packed away until the following year.

Christine bought this wooden crib and these figures as a kit more than thirty years ago. She had steady hands then and put it together carefully. She painted all the figures herself. Although they all fit snugly in the crib, they often seem to end up in different positions each year.