23-JAN-2015
Which one is better? Photo 2
There was a very beautiful light this morning, when the sun came out over my town.
I took several photos from my balcony, which is now my only observatory over the world.
I wonder which of the two photos of this series I prefer might be considered the best one ( or the less poor...)
Your opinion is welcome
There was a very beautiful light this morning, when the sun came out over my town.
I took several photos from my balcony, which is now my only observatory over the world.
I wonder which of the two photos of this series I prefer might be considered the best one ( or the less poor...)
Your opinion is welcome.
23-JAN-2015
Which one is better? Photo 1
There was a very beautiful light this morning, when the sun came out over my town.
I took several photos from my balcony, which is now my only observatory over the world.
I wonder which of the two photos of this series I prefer might be considered the best one ( or the less poor...)
Your opinion is welcome.
22-JAN-2015
Sunset birds...
It has become very hard for me taking photos, because my age has not a very good effect on my bones and my mobility is terribly reduced by now.
But I don't intend to bore anyone with my apparently self-complaining statements.
There are not many options left…Aging is what it is.
But I still love photography and, even though my horizons are now limited to the view I have from my windows and my balcony, I'm lucky enough to live on the top of a small hill overlooking my town and it's really entertaining for me to enjoy such a gorgeous view.
Then I confess to you that I do think I'm the oldest Pbaser in activity and I feel proud of my little record, I'm 93 by now!
Today at sunset the sky was painted in delicate nuances and the bare tree in front of my windows showed its inhabitants, many dark birds, but I'm not sure what kind.
I made an effort and with only one hand I took a few pictures to keep memory of that beautiful moment. One of them, this one, is not too bad, if you consider who took it and in what conditions.
So I decided to share it with you, also to let my few, but faithful and kind visitors that I'm still here.
My love to all of you!
11-NOV-2014
So this is called "Selfie"...
I’m trying to make all possible efforts to be a little up to date, in spite of being a very old lady by now.
I have learnt that photos like this one are not self-portraits, but are “selfies”, which sounds so modern and fashionable, even though the substance of the matter doesn’t change.
I take this opportunity to thank heartily and sincerely all the Pbasers who still remember me and are so kind to leave a message here in my blog.
Unfortunately I cannot manage to write back a personal note to everyone. I’d like to do that, but it’s hard for me, for many reasons I don’t intend to bore you with.
Your friendly attention is a great help for me.
08-NOV-2014
Morning moon....
Eh, yes, I'm still here. And I still like photography, in spite of the limits that my elderly age imposes on me.
I cannot go out now, but I still enjoy the breathtaking view from my windows.
Sometimes , when I see something impressive I feel like taking my camera and trying hard to capture the moment.
I took this picture through the window glass, because for me going out to the balcony takes a too long time.
Luckily my windows are always carefully cleaned, so the final results was not too horrible after all and at least I have the joy to share with you the beautiful view of the Alps mountains already topped with snow and the moon, which is still visible in the sky at the sunrise.
23-APR-2014
Bruna and Sergey
As I have already written in the caption of the former picture I posted, my daily life was brightened up by a very pleasant and unusual event.
Sergey, the jumping traveller, came to visit me and it was really a nice meeting.
I think we are a nice couple, aren't we?
Of course he could be my son!
What a pity I cannot jump together with him!!!
23-APR-2014
The jumping traveller visited me!!!!
As you can imagine, my daily life is based in a very quiet routine.
I'm an elderly lady and I don't go out anymore, so my little world is really a small one.
But sometimes I have very pleasant surprises and enjoyable unexpected visits….
The famous Jumping traveller came to meet me and he jumped….on my balcony, only for me.
Here you can see Sergey performing on my balcony overlooking my town. I had a great time with him!
I hope you'll come over again, Sergey!
You can see his last jumps clicking
HERE
05-MAR-2014
My humble message to the world.
I'm in a very funny mood today, so I have decided that due my elderly age ( I'm 92) I can allow myself to give a simple message.
Don't get angry, it's a waste of time and energy.
Be happy to grow old, if you keep a lucid mind (as for the physical strength, bear with problems and if you cannot do many things anymore, find the pleasure of others).
Enjoy little pleasures of daily life and fell free to eat sweets if you like them, it's good for the mood.
Thank you for thinking of me every now and then and for visiting my galleries.
01-JAN-2014
Happy first day of January to everyone.
This is my first self-portrait of 2014 and it's also my own way to congratulate my-self on being still here after 92 years.
I feel rather well today and I'm positive.
I wish the same to all of you.
Thank you for keeping company to an elderly lady.
13-DEC-2013
Merry Christmas to all of you!
I'm still here, ready to celebrate my 91st Christmas and ready to get into my 92nd New Year!
I'm aware I have not been very present on PBase lately.
I don't intend to bore you with an useless description of the reasons which don't allow me to do certain things anymore.
I'm like an old car, with a worn out engine, so it's still good enough if I can keep on working a little (smile).
One cannot expect I can take part in any formula 1 race by now.
But I switch my computer on every day and I browse around PBase and I enjoy your beautiful pictures.
You don't know that, maybe, but you keep me company and you help me to spend time in a relaxing way, so I think a little less of all the pain in my elderly bones.
I created this Card for all of you; the Christmas tree is mine and I finished decorating it this morning.
Imagine that I'm thanking each of you personally and I'm wishing all the best things you can dream of.
With love and a smile
08-AUG-2013
I'm 91 today...Hurrah for me!
I think there is not any doubt, I'm nearly sure I'm the oldest active member of PBase.
I like thinking I have this privilege.
Today I'm 91. I was born on the 8th of August 1922.
Judy Garland, Ava Gardner and Veronica Lake were born in 1922 as well. It means I was in good company.
The difference? Well, I'm still here and I keep on taking photos the way I can, even though it's always a little difficult to manage.
But even though I might lose my physical ability a little, my mind is always lively and I'm happy for that.
I thank all my PBase friends for their support and their virtual company. It's extremely important for me.
03-AUG-2013
Two elderly people enjoying their balcony
It has been a quite hot summer so far, but we are lucky enough to have large balconies at our home and to live on the hills among a lot of greenery.
We enjoy the cool air of early morning and we still smile at life.
07-JUL-2013
Happy birthday to my husband, Franco!
This gentleman is my husband Franco who today celebrated his 91st birthday. Of course he’s much older than me, because my 91st birthday will be only in a month (we have always liked joking about the month of difference we have in age).
We have been married for 67 years, which, I suppose, can be considered a lot of time.
At our age all kinds of celebrations have become a boredom and heavy to stand.
So we have had a quiet day like all the others of our normal routine. Well, not exactly…my husband received some presents and at lunch we had a fantastic, personalized cake as dessert.
I have tried to take many photos of him, but he doesn’t like posing and I’m old too, so my hands tremble a little and I’m not too quick in capturing his best expressions.
But I think this photo can represent a nice memory of the day.
Here he has two of the presents he received.
A personalized book created by our daughter with the story of his life and a blanked composed with a patchwork of family photos.
He was very happy and so were all the people who care for him.
26-JUN-2013
While I’m still young…
I’m enjoying my hortensia and I even dare to take another self-portrait.
I tell myself I can do that while I’m still young.
In a little more than a month, I’ll get definitely more mature, since I’ll be 91, but so far I’m still in my young age of 90….
26-JUN-2013
Hortensia
A gentleman offered me these flowers.
I love flowers; they bring me the joy of natural scenery directly to my room.
The also give me a chance to take photos.
I don’t want to lose this interest, but sometimes I’m bored because I have the impression I take photos always of the same things, that is the view from my balcony and my room.
My daily world has become very small…
22-MAY-2013
The Alps peeping out from clouds.
It has been the coldest month of May I might remember and you can trust my experience, since I have seen other 90 months of May in my life.
It rains nearly every day and from my window the view is a bit too dull to inspire me for any photo.
The only exception is that sudden half sunny sky among the dark clouds.
It seems to be dramatic and optimistic at once, exactly like many things in our everyday life.
05-MAY-2013
I wish all of you a very happy month of May!
This is the 91th month of May I have seen in my life, nevertheless I’m never tried to welcome a new one.
Spring offers me such a wide display of refreshing colours to enjoy from my balcony and I feel rewarded by the chance I have to live in a green environment, even though I’m in a big town.
I cannot find the words to express my gratitude for your company, my invisible friends of PBase. For an elderly lady like me, who cannot go out anymore, it’s really entertaining to receive little messages from all over the world and to know that there are virtual visitors of my a little banal daily life happenings.
I hope to be able to keep on posting a picture, every now and then, just to have the joy to be in touch with you.
The weather has been very capricious over here for all the month of April, but May seems to be more promising.
Here you can see a corner of my garden which is already all in blossom.
Have a wonderful day, wherever you are!
24-MAR-2013
Sometimes we need very little to feel in very good mood...
When daily life is conditioned by all the usual features of elderly age, it’s normal, I think, to feel a little down, every now and then, when we realize that our body doesn’t respond to our wishes in a perfectly efficient way.
I don’t feel I have changed that much in my mind, so I confess it’s a little difficult for me to remember at any time that I’m 91 years old. Then I realize that I cannot do all what I used to do only a few years ago and I find that frustrating, I feel all the pains of my old bones even deeper…
Then there are still good days. A change in my medicaments which really brings me some improvement, a pleasant visit, a new hair-cut… Little things, which all together are so important and can make me feel infinitely more positive.
I have had a long and very lucky life.
26-FEB-2013
Waiting for spring....
I'm still here and I hope you won't be too bored seeing always such monotonous portraits of an elderly lady.
This is all what I can do to keep in touch with my PBase friends who are so kind to remember me.
You can see the room where I spend most of my days now, my computer desk and the calendar I made with my own photos. A corner of my little world.
I’m looking forward to spring, because this winter has been long and cold.
It will be my 91st spring, but I think each one is different from all the others, as every day is never the same….
I hope to have a chance to take different photos too.
Thank you to all of you for your so enjoyable company!
01-JAN-2013
Happy New Year!
This is my first photo of 2013.
The last moon of the old year is going to sleep and the first sun of the New Year is going to rise.
Of course the moon and the sun are always the same and for them just one of our years means nothing. But I like imagining that they can be slightly different in a different year, reserving some good and positive surprises for each of us.
Happy New Year to all my PBase friends!
09-DEC-2012
My Christmas tree.
I have started decorating my Christmas tree this morning at 11. It took me more than a whole hour to finish. You know, at my age all physical activities, even the most enjoyable one, need a lot of time, I have become very slow…
But I’m really happy and in a way proud of myself because I managed to finish it all by myself, without any help.
It’s not very big, but it looks lovely, doesn’t it?
Then I took a photo and I transformed it in a virtual greeting cards for all of you. Thank you for you so welcome virtual company.
06-DEC-2012
A good way to keep me warm with a smile….
I have received this double present today, something good for my body and for my mood.
Actually when one is as old as I am, various little pains appear suddenly here and there and there is nothing better than warmth to relieve me.
The ladybird is a special cushion which I can warm in microwave over and then it can release warmth gradually and the Winnie Pooh is a funny hot-water bottle which will keep me warm and will give me good mood.
I managed to take this SP to share with you this happy moment.
I cannot leave many comments or be very active on PBase, very often my old hands have troubles in keeping the mouse, but I really feel like thanking all of you, who have supported me for many years and have offered me a very enjoyable virtual company. I’m always happy to read your comments.
This is going to be my 90th Christmas, so I have a certain experience of the matter. I wish all of you to have even more Merry Christmas than the many I have had so far.
06-DEC-2012
Christmas presents are arriving in advance…
I have started receiving the first Christmas present a little in advance this year, but they are always very welcome.
It’s enjoyable for me to have something which breaks a little my daily routine.
I’m old, but I didn’t lose my taste for good things yet and I’ll enjoy all these delightful items, of course sharing them with my dear husband as well…What? Are you saying that this parcel was addressed to him? You are right…but we have shared 65 years of our lives, so we can share spontaneously also a good Panettone and a bottle of Prosecco!
01-NOV-2012
The big air ballon.
The big air balloon keeps on being an attraction for the inhabitants of my town.
They can take a lift and to observe Torino from the sky.
It seems it’s free for children.
I wonder if a 90 years old lady could be included in the category.
In all cases I cannot take any ride by air balloon by now.
I wonder if I would have liked it…
11-NOV-2012
More snow on the Alps
Winter will arrive soon.
The Alps are already all covered by fluffy fresh snow.
From my balcony, as a privileged point of observation, I keep all under control
29-OCT-2012
A view over my town with the first snow on the Alps
I still like taking my camera out every now and then, even though I realize that taking a photo has become a little difficult for me. I must keep the camera with only one hand and the range of subjects is a bit limited.
But I feel comforted by realizing I can see appreciate beauty around me and I think that at my age it’s a great satisfaction.
Then, as I have said, it’s also a pretext to let my kind PBase friend that I’m still present.
I think I’m the oldest Pbaser still in activity and I’m quite proud of my little record!
21-OCT-2012
Autumn is a very good painter.
Autumn has started, like every year, to paint all the natural scenery, using the warmest colours of its palette.
The results are always amazing and never repetitive, even though I have already 90 autumns of experience.
I do what I can, from my balcony, to make a little photographic tribute to autumn’s artistic skills.
It’s also a pretext to let my friends of PBase know that I’m still here…
08-AUG-2012
I'm into my 91st year now!!!
I must say honestly that I’m not the material author of this photo, so theoretically it cannot be called a self-portrait.
But the camera is mine and I was the one who chose the pose and the settings.
The finger which pressed the shutter belonged instead to Emilio, our dear family friend.
The photo was taken on my 90th birthday, that is today and I want to have a memory of the way I looked right now to see the difference with the way I’ll look when I’m 95.
I’m an incurable optimist, maybe it’s also for this reason I could arrive until here in life.
So, even though it’s my birthday, I’d like offer my wishes to all of you as a personal little gift.
I wish all of you to reach the same age I reached today with lucid mind and surrounded by love
21-JUL-2012
The elderly lady of orchids
Once there was a famous literary character called " The Lady of the Camellias".
I'm the elderly lady of orchids instead....
18-JUL-2012
Emilio : one of our « Guardian Angels »
This gentleman is a dear friend of our family, he has become practically a member of our family, I’d say.
He’s Italian and his name is Emilio, he was born in Southern Italy, but he has spent most of his life here in Torino , he married a Piedmont lady as well.
They have been living in our building for so many years and in our old years we can wonderfully rely on their thoughtful and generous affection at every moment we need a little help and, believe me, at our so elderly age, we need help very often….
Emilio is always smiling and positive, even though life has not treated him as nicely as he would have deserved.
Emilio’s contagious optimism is a great moral support, besides all the practical things he does for us.
Thank you, Emilio, if you didn’t exist, someone should urgently invent you!
10-JUL-2012
I’m married to an elderly gentleman…
This gentleman, wearing jacket he received for his birthday on the 7th of July, is my husband; he’s really very old, actually he’s one month older than me, who, as a consequence I’m still very young, since we’ll be of the same age only in 28 day!
It’s a great thing we are still together after so many years; next September we’ll celebrate our 66th wedding anniversary.
Yes, 66 years of marriage, it’s a little record, isn’t it?
05-JUL-2012
I enjoy wearing a new blouse.
I know my activity of amateur photographer has been drastically reduced lately, but my age and my physical conditions are a valid motivation.
In spite of that I keep on browsing PBase and travelling virtually with the help of the wonderful images I admire there.
My days are a little monotonous, but I cannot find an objective reason to complain seriously about my life, I’m 90 and soon I’ll get into my 91st year of life, my mind is still relatively bright ( a little of self-promotion to cheer myself up…) and I consider I have been lucky in my long life.
This poor self-portrait had a huge number of flaws and very few qualities, the most important for me is to prove I can still stand up and take a picture.
I’m also happy to wear my new blouse, I allow myself a little dose of sound coquetry with age and I like bright colours and new additions to my wardrobe, even though I don’t go out anymore.
I wish a merry month of July to all my patient and gentle visitors
21-APR-2012
Local unpretentious version of U.F.O.
My balcony is also my privileged observatory over a part of my town.
My attention was attracted by this kind of air balloon or whatever it is… People who tried to make it fly were probably only enthusiastic amateurs, since after many attempts they managed only to make the things fly for a few seconds and only for a few metres high.
I was following their efforts and I took quickly this photo to celebrate their short moment of glory…
Immediately after that the white balloon sadly felt down on the roof and it didn’t manage to fly anymore….
06-MAY-2012
I’m still here !
Even though one is 90 years old there are still many reasons for smiling…
31-MAR-2012
Springs comes to visit me at home!
A german poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, once wrote
"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."
I think the burst of life which is typical of spring could not be described better.
Here in Italy we have had the warmest month of March of the last two centuries, it seems.
I enjoy flowers in all their forms and shapes, they bring me a special season mood directly into my daily environment.
08-MAR-2012
Mimosa
Mimosa ia a flower which is traditionally offered to ladies on the 8th of March, even though I'd like receiving it more often, withouth being conditioned by a specific date.
I think I might suggest you to have an alternative to the flower with a cocktail , light and delicious, which has the same name.
A Mimosa is a cocktail-like drink composed of one part champagne and one part thoroughly chilled orange juice.
So many enjoyable things can be yellow and uplifting!
15-FEB-2012
This is a better day...
My few kind visitors will wonder why I have become apparently so self-conceited at my age to post often self-portraits.
The matter is that, due to my physical conditions and my age, I can rely on only two main subjects for my photos: the view from my balcony and myself.
Yesterday it was a so-so day, the mood was not there to help me to see any pink hue in the world, but this morning I felt much more positive.
I called my kind hairdresser and she came to my home to wash and cut my hair and after her precious intervention I looked at myself in the mirror and I felt definitely more serene.
So I decided to share my positive feelings with my friends of PBase as a spur to remember them that things are never totally gloomy for a very long time and we must always try hard to find positive energy.
05-FEB-2012
Pinkish winter...
Sunset colours over my town, all dressed up in white to celebrate winter.
It’s very cold and I don’t regret to not be able to go out, unluckily also at my home it’s not as warm as it should be…some problems with the eating, which I hope will be solved soon.
I try to cheer myself up discovering nice scenes from my balcony, as always.
03-FEB-2012
Building a snowman is always so amusing....
There are many things I can still do from my balcony, even though some of them are only virtual ones.
For example I can virtually cooperate in building a snowman together with the children who live in my house and even though it would be probably funny to be down there in the snow too. I think that my wheelchair has not winter tyres up, so maybe I could remain trapped and it would be infinitely less amusing.
Then I’m not sure that the kids would appreciate my suggested dressing code for the snowman, I’m a little formally conservative for all what is related to clothes.
But it was really pleasant to look at them and to take photos!
29-JAN-2012
Snowy Torino
Snowy roof tops are always so charming to see.
I consider my balcony like a privileged observatory, a box in the first row over the stage of my town.
Weather forecasts informed us that a wave of Russian cold will arrive over us from North, so this snow will remain for a while…I’ll take other photos.
29-JAN-2012
Something soft in the sky....
I have mixed feelings...
A snowy landscape is so appealing, but on the other hand I don't regret to be at home.
I have become totally sedentary for reasons of age, but there is always something new in my everyday life, which has the power to surprise me.
29-JAN-2012
Looking better at it....
Actually there is a soft hue reflected in all this fluffy snow....
29-JAN-2012
Black and white world...
When I woke up today I found out that the world had left colours and had offered me a chance to take a natural black and white photo.
It’s still snowing now and from my balcony I have the right to enjoy a different view from ordinary.
25-JAN-2012
Still life for my daily calm life…
Interacting with my thoughtful visitors from all over the world is not only deeply entertaining for me, but it’s also a real inspiration.
I received encouraging comments which invite me to never give up with photography even though I have lost my mobility and I spend practically all my time at home.
I have thought over and I have realized it’s really true I can find many available subjects even in my limited environment.
I do like fruit and I think it’s not only good for health, but also aesthetically beautiful to see.
Here is my unpretentious tribute to the fruit of my fridge!
24-JAN-2012
After all...
"The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity.
The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquillity of the evening.
Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth."
~W. Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up~
24-JAN-2012
I look like an ectoplasm in this picture, but there are good sides also in that.
First of all, please, believe I have not any intention of moaning or self-complaining, I simply explain things the way they are.
I have lost most of my mobility so also my photography is affected by this situation.
Nevertheless I still consider my camera a precious friend, which doesn’t complain if I neglect it for a long while.
Unluckily I cannot have a broad range of photographic subjects at my disposal, since I’m always at home, either in my room or on my balcony.
For this reasons maybe too often I take self-portraits, which are not too satisfying as quality.
Today I felt in good mood and I decided to capture the moment.
I was on my wheelchair, by my desk and I set the tripod on it, but the light from the window was too strong and the result was this ectoplasm’s look on half of my face.
I have told you I’m in good mood today so I see things positively.
It’s true I look like ectoplasm, but at least my wrinkles are less evident!
I take also the opportunity to thank heartily all the kind people who often leave a comment to cheer up the long days of an elderly lady
10-JAN-2012
When I woke up this morning....
It was so enchanting to look at this incredibly pink sky when the moon was ready to set when I woke up.
I made an effort to grab quickly my camera and to do my best to capture the scene.
I think it would have been difficult to describe it without at least an image as support.
23-DEC-2011
Just to wish all the best to all of you!
I took this self-portrait only a few hours ago.
I spare you the half-humorous description of my practical troubles in doing all by myself…the tripod to settle with only one hand ( I need my walking stick in the other hand or else the result would be to get a snap-shot of me smashed down on the floor), the position to keep in only ten seconds ( the short time of the self-timer), which is maybe a long time for a younger person, but it’s very short for me to go from point A to point B on time….
This is the result and this is my 90th Christmas.
I realize I’m not such an appealing subject for a Christmas card…but this is what I have at my disposal and I hope you won’t be bored to see me once again.
I’d like wishing to all the casual visitors of this page a Merry Christmas and a very pleasant New Year.
17-DEC-2011
A lilac sky to cheer me up before dinner....
When I saw the colours of the sky at sunset, I decided to open the door over my balcony and to run the risk to catch a cold just to take a picture of it.
Since I move every slowly by now I was afraid to not arrive on time with my camera, because c skies change so quickly.
I’m happy to confirm I didn’t fell down, I didn’t catch any cold and I could take the picture I wanted.
17-DEC-2011
Mine has probably become a very small world, but it’s still a beautiful one
I won’t repeat too many times that, due to my age, I have been obliged to become totally sedentary.
It means I cannot go out and I spend my days – and night of course! – at home.
Sometimes I feel a little down for that, but then I realize how lucky I am.
One of the positive sides is that from my balcony I have this gorgeous view over the Alps, which changes every day.
The Alps are much older than me and they are equally sedentary, so in a way we keep company to each other…
I took this photo in the afternoon and later I’ll post another photo, taken always today, only a few hours later.
15-DEC-2011
Poinsettia always gives me good mood...
One of the most delightful decorations at Christmas is the poinsettia.
The usual color choice is the deep, vibrant red.
However, there is a wide array of other colors, including pink, white, marbled, speckled and yellow.
The colorful parts of the poinsettia, the bracts, are actually modified leaves.
The poinsettia flower is small, green or yellow and situated in the middle of the bracts.
The poinsettia is named after Joel R. Poinsett, who served as the USA's first ambassador to Mexico, from 1825-1829. He saw this indigenous plant with large scarlet leaves encircling small, greenish yellow blossoms, which was the Mexican Christmas flower.
03-DEC-2011
I'm still here. Thank you for asking!
Many so thoughtful Pbasers have written to me to ask if all was fine with me, since I have not posted any picture for a rather long time.
I’m really moved by your kindness, so I have taken this quick self-portrait to show you, and maybe also to myself, that I’m still here, more or less alive and kicking.
You see, the matter is that I’m 90 years old and my physical condition is not the one it used to be. I have lost my mobility, so it’s a hard for me taking good photos, if I have ever taken good photos.
I must keep the camera with only one hand and to stay in balance, since I’m afraid to fall if I don’t keep firmly my walking stick.
But I still enjoy browsing over PBase and to see so many wonderful photos which still allow me to travel virtually all over the world.
I’m always happy to read your messages, by the way, even though I don’t answer regularly.
I’m also afraid to bore all my patient visitors showing always the same images taken from my balcony, but my horizons have become quite limited by now.
Life is what it is and I cannot complain of mine, which has led me until now and still allows me to enjoy it.
16-SEP-2011
Over 86 years ago....
Believe it or not, it’s me…
This photo was taken over 86 years ago, and I was proudly wearing an odalisque costume…
I think that 86 years later I would not repeat the same experience…
08-SEP-2011
There is always something new to see in one's life...
You might like calculating by yourself how many sunsets I might have seen in nearly 90 years of life….
So theoretically I would not be surprised by the beauty of another sunset that much, but the truth is that there are never two sunsets which look exactly the same and I was totally fascinated by this one when I contemplated it from my balcony.
24-AUG-2011
Tomatoes and eggplants…delicious!
People say that elderly ones feel the discomfort of hot weather a little less.
I suppose, then, that in spite of my 90 years, I’m not old enough yet.
I suffer for this hot weather and I don’t feel like eating warm dishes.
I got inspiration from one of my daughter’s recipes and I really enjoyed this refreshing light dish…
11-AUG-2011
The eldest Pbase member still in activity...
Today I feel well, it's so important at my age to feel well, so when I have the luck to have a good day my mood is incredibly positive.
I'm living in my 90th years of age and I can still take photos!
I took my self-portraits as a challenge today.
One of my arms doesn’t work anymore as I‘d like it could…so I use the remote control and a little tripod and…well I can still manage.…Hurray!!!!
By the way my daughter told me my hair style is a bit punk today, what do you think?
09-AUG-2011
A lady is never too old to enjoy flowers...
I'd like sharing a symbolic image of one of the bouquets I received for my birthday.
It's a way to thank all the kind Pbase members who have left me a message to wish me "Happy Birthday".
I feel moved by your friendly attention.
Do you think I'm the eldest Pbase memeber still in activity?
I think I'd like having this record.
04-AUG-2011
Nearly 90 years old...aughhhh!
On the 8th of August, in four days, I’ll finish my 89 year, a long life, isn’t it?
Unluckily time takes with it a lot of side effects; also my photography has started suffering rather serious with my diminished physical skills.
Anyhow, since I have started posting on PBase, I have taken a self-portrait every year, around my birthday and I tried to do it also this year.
It was quite funny; we have to see funny sides in all to cope with life better.
I put my small camera in uncertain balance and it slipped on a side, so the photo was totally tilted, luckily my daughter could straighten it…
I’d like also expressing my gratitude to all the kind PBase members who keep on leaving kind comments, which keep me company and I’d like apologizing for not being very active on PBase actually I have trouble in writing back.
I don’t want to complain, but just to explain. I cannot use my left arm easily and my right arm starts aching after a while, if I spend too much time typing on my keyboard.
So please consider these words as a general way to thank you all of you for your support and your kindness.
14-JUL-2011
Stormy sky from my balcony
06-JUL-2011
Tomorrow, ont the 7th of July....
My husband Franco was born on the 7th of July 1922, exactly like the famous fashion designer Pierre Cardin.
So tomorrow both of them celebrate their 89th birthday, even though not together...
Maybe my Franco is a little less smart as for clothes and design; nevertheless I won’t change him for Pierre.
His birthday celebration is going to be simple and very private, just another day to add to our calendar in common after 64 years of marriage.
When she was much younger , my daughter liked teasing her father by saying he was born on the same day as Ringo Starr the drummer of The Beatles ( but in different years of course) nevertheless she could not detect in him any talent for rock, so probably horoscopes were really pure silliness.
I might say that, even though my husband has not any talent for fashion design and rock music actually,he has many other more important qualities, so I’m very happy to have him still with me, in amazing good health.
He’s not particularly passionate of photography, but he follows Pbase galleries, so if by chance you are looking at this page now maybe you might kindly leave a comment to wish him “happy Birthday”.
25-JUN-2011
My favourite armchair.
Getting older makes us getting creatures of habits, conditioned by our needs and physical weakness.
I’m very happy because I have an armchair which could not be more comfortable. It has become part of my life indeed.
After lunch, in the afternoon I sit there comfortably to read a book and often it happens to me to feel asleep…not because the book is boring, but because sitting on my armchair is like sitting on a cloud.
21-JUN-2011
I have my own personalized Breton bowl!
I have travelled a rather great deal during my life and now I keep on travelling virtually through images and my memories.
Here you can see in the background my computer screen showing a photo of typical Breton bowl.
I saw it and I told myself “ But I have one” so I found it in my cupboard and I put it in front of the screen to reminds me of the time when I was there too.
21-JUN-2011
Little changes are always positive...
This summer I decided to change something in my balcony and instead of choosing always red geraniums I bought a kind of unusual ( for my habits) bright pink geraniums , which have had so far the power to give me smiling mood when I see them.
I’ll try to take good care of them to keep them alive until late autumn.
Let’s hope it won’t hail too often this summer…
15-JUN-2011
Looking at things closer
Looking at things closer is a way to think over about them
13-Jun-2011
When the sky is on fire...
The view is never the same from my balcony.
I think it's important to look at things with positive eyes, we can find always something new to enjoy in our daily environment.
11-JUN-2011
Flowers are always an excellent means to brighten up a common dull day
My health has not allowed me to do many things lately, I spend all my days at home, but I know it’s important to remain positive and to see always the bright sides of life.
Every day is full of little joys if one has the attention to see them.
I have received this bouquet of flowers even though there was nothing special to celebrate, so the flowers are even more welcome.
My photographic skill are not improving with age, mostly now that I can use only one of my harms, but I do think these cheerful flowers deserve their moment of “glory” even though through a simple snapshot.
17-MAY-2011
I love my balcony and the view I have from it.
I know that my point of observation over world has become quite repetitive lately,
but I think that if one looks at reality with positive eyes,
one can always find new enjoyable little details.
Once again a photo taken from my balcony, but the light is never the same and I liked today the shadow of the clouds on the mountains side and the spot of sunlight on a part of the town.
You can also see some country villages in the background.
15-MAY-2011
Patriotic necklace
This is another scene captured from my balcony.
You already know, maybe, that I’m very old and my health conditions don’t allow me to go out that easily by now, but I have my private observatory over the town: my balcony.
This evening the sky is really colourful.
You can see on the left of this photo the “ Mole Antonelliana” the major landmark of the town , this kind of tower which originally had to be a synagogue.
If you are curious to know more on it, click
HERE , you might also notice that around the tower there is a kind of light “necklace” with the colour of Italian flag, it was created to mark this year the 150th anniversary of unity of Italy.
03-MAY-2011
A little surprise in a clear day
I have quite neglected my erratic blog and my average photography lately.
When one is as old as I am, every daily activity becomes harder and more time consuming.
All my reduced energy has been absorbed lately by not too pleasant matters related with my health and of which I don’t intend to speak, since it would not be of any interest either for you or for me, who prefer to not think of that too much either.
Nevertheless I do my best to see all the positive sides of my daily life and I’m happy to keep on having a joyful side which allows me to enjoy little things of every day.
From my balcony I don’t see only clouds, mountains and trees…sometimes there is also something unexpected which may provoke a child-like enthusiasm in me.
I was sitting on my balcony when I suddenly saw this dirigible; the colour of which matched the sky so well.
I called loud someone asking to take me my camera and I could manage to save this picture of the little event which had amused me for a while.
15-MAR-2011
A flag must be clean and ironed!
Italy has a very long and rich history, an enormous amount of cultural heritage, but it’s a relatively very young country, it is only 150 years old (more or less 60 years older than me in all cases!)
On the 17th March, 1861 – after the wars against the Austrians and once Garibaldi’s expedition to Sicily was concluded – National Unity was proclaimed in Torino and the city became Italy’s first capital ( later the capital was moved to Florence and finally to Rome)
Since I live in Torino, where the unity of Italy was proclaimed in the national Parliament for the first time, I feel involved in this commemoration, even though I feel distant from the present political life of the country.
So I took out my Italian flag from a drawer, I ironed it carefully and then I hung it on my balcony.
It seems there are flags on nearly every balcony and windows in town, but I have not many opportunities to go downtown now, so I simply look at the centre of Torino from my balcony and I add my flag to the others.
09-MAR-2011
A visit to the dentist...
I know I claimed I cannot go out anymore only yesterday… In contradiction with myself today I went out…
Well, it was not a very entertaining social life happening, it was just for a visit to my dentist.
Usually people hate to go to the dentist, but I see something very positive in that…the fact that at my age (I’m 89, don’t forget it!) I have still most of my teeth and I intend to save them.
This photo shows my dentist’s waiting room.
It has an advantage; there are really the most beautiful and various magazines, but one has never time to read all of them.
My dentist has a hobby – modelling – you can see on the table a model of motorcycle.
There were many other things to see and many other magazines to read, but my turn came and I went into his cabinet.
I can reassure you, he’s also a good dentist, and I had not any pain at all!
08-MAR-2011
I received a yellow bouquet this morning
I have found out that the real English name for this flower is Acacia dealbata.
What could I do without Google by now?
If they had told me, only some years ago that I would have been able to find an answer for nearly all my questions just clicking on a keyboard and looking at a kind of personal TV screen I would have smiled with incredulity…
Acacia dealbata…yes, but I prefer to call it mimosa, it sound less pompous and much more evocative.
I’m happy with my flowers, whatever they are called.
I received them this morning and they have brought a big smile on my face.
This is the first post in my blog, I’m learning.
I hope I’ll do better.
I do like learning all what I still can learn.
One is never too old to learn something new!