Picking some okra from Papaw’s garden:

From the picnic at the Geyser:

In rural France, a new castle is taking shape!  It is being built using medieval techniques on a medieval timetable (an estimated total of 26 years). Read more »

Thanks to Elizabeth for the photo!

Just got back from the beach with Jill’s family and we had a very good week!  Our lasagna went over well and Jill enjoyed holding little Ryan … Read more »

Quite a cool little personal transportation device … for more information, check out the students’ webpage.  They have plenty of information about it and more photos of it – including some of it in action.

Just got an email from To-Tuscany with a cool special in it …

To Tuscany are celebrating too! The leading publishers of guidebooks – Rough Guide – and also Footprint guides have both recommended To Tuscany as a company for people considering travelling to the area.  To celebrate this achievement and we would like to offer guests booking any one-bedroomed apartment a free copy of the Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria.  Bookings must be made before the end of June 2010 and travel must be completed within 2010.  Please enter code “Rough Guide” in the comments section on the booking form.

And, you could stay in one of our favorite vineyards, Casanova di Ama, in a free-standing cottage.  So, if you are planning an Italian trip soon, I would recommend To-Tuscany … the place that we rented through them was very nice and they have very good customer service both inside and outside of Italy.

Charlie Brown's pub showing curiosities brought back by sailors

The National Maritime Museum is on Flickr with a number of sets, including Animals at Sea, photos of the London Port area, and several concerning museum operations (such as conservation and installation).

This collection is another great visual history resource.  I hope that they continue to add images to their collections because I know that they have a great archive of vintage images.

Osler Family at 7 Norham Gardens, Oxford, 1905

From the Marjorie Howard Futcher Photo Collection:

The youngest daughter of the influential McGill University physician and Dean of Medicine Robert Palmer Howard, Gwendolen Marjorie Howard Futcher (1882-1969) was born into a social milieu which included some of the most prominent Canadian business, political, and academic figures and families of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This collection consists of two of her photo albums of images from the 1890s and first decade of the twentieth century, when she was known as Gwendolen Marjorie Howard. It chronicles her school years in Germany and England, her life in Montreal during her late teenage years and early twenties, as well as visits with friends and relatives to various destinations in Canada, Bermuda, Britain, and Europe.

From my quick rummage through the collection, this could be a great resource for a variety of historians.  From the bio of Marjorie, she was an upper-class late-Victorian/Edwardian lady who was well-traveled and well-respected.  Her photo albums provide an interesting peek into both her social life and, for me, the ways (aka photographic technologies used) that memories were preserved.

1958 Mark 6 Saracen

From DriveATank.com:

This 1958 Mark 6 Saracen is now for sale. It has only 205 miles on the clock from new! There were a group of these Saracens sold by the British MOD that were “cold war reserve” meaning they were stored in a shed and never used unless war usage required. This vehicle is equipped with the optional machine gun turret on top and has all of the modern factory updates found on Saracens of its age. It has reverse flow cooling, which pushes the hot air forward rather than into the crew compartment like many of the early models. It has the large comfortable driver’s seat with a tall back and reclines. The interior is fitted with foam insulation that is covered by vinyl to keep the crew compartment cool and quiet. This Saracen even has the “up-armor” package. This means that it was upgraded with even MORE armor by the British Government. This Saracen even has the original pick axe and shovel mounted on the fender. This Saracen is in excellent shape especially for being over 50 years old and all original! The best part of the Saracen is that they are street legal. They have headlights, turn signals, horn, and four way flashers. A Saracen can be registered as a motor vehicle or if you would rather drive on your acreage, skip that part. Either way this Saracen is sure to be 10 tons of fun.

Read more »

The Smallest Car in the Largest City in the World (1913):

Queen Alexandra ordered a miniature Cadillac car for Crown Prince Olav (later King) of Norway and – never ones to miss an advertising opportunity – the manufacturers arranged the filming of the car’s departure from the factory, where it is waved out by an enthusiastic male crowd.

This mini marvel continues its jubilant journey through the streets of London – past the Bank of England, around Trafalgar Square and on to Hyde Park. As crowds cheer and leap in front of the camera, desperate to be preserved on film, the driver’s composure and deadpan facial expression remains one of the most entertaining aspects of this Edwardian glimpse of British pride.

The film ends with some charming footage of a tea party, in which three children run into trouble with the law for speeding!

Again, posted by the BFI. Jeremy drives the smallest car in the world at the BBC – Top Gear (2007):

Jeremy drives the Peel P-50 through central London and into the BBC offices. From Top Gear.

Okay, I have been taking photos since my desktop was packed up and none of them have made it online yet … but that is about to change …

Here are the first ones, from Cliff’s Birthday trip to Wychwood Brewery in Witney.

Unfortunately, none of the photos inside turned out well … anyway, more photos to come soon!