My Spot

Learning Braille

2012-01-27T09:14:00.001-08:00

Learning Braille, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

About two weeks ago, after seenig a TV documentary on blind people and literature, I became interested in Braille. When I studied it more closely, I came to the conclusion that it's a genius way of writing information: computers complicate with a bunch of zeroes and ones: when I wrote my name that way, I used up 2 pages. Braille, however, only takes a few dots. I therefore decided to learn Braille. I looked up a tutorial on the internet and went to work. I memorized the alphabet, the numbers and a few symbols in a couple of hours. I also practiced reading and writing by drawing the dots on paper. A couple of days ago I went to Ljubljana and bought a Braille slate (it's the silver plate on the photo), which is used to write proper Braille as little bumps on paper. Before, I learnt Braille visually by looking at the dots, but now I'm learning it properly: blind writing and reading by touch. The writing must be done in the negative: you have to write from right to left and mirror the letters, so that when you turn the page over everything is written correctly and you can read from left to right. I'm pretty good at writing already and I actually find it easier to write with my eyes closed, just feeling the cells and the dots. Reading, however, is trickier, mainly due to the fact that my feeling of touch is not particularly sharp yet, but I can recognize the letters and words by feeling the bumps already. Practice makes perfect, right? ;-)

I intend to introduce as many people as I can to Braille. This way, people will get to know each other better and start living together, not just existing side by side. The world will be a better place then, I believe... :-)

On A Lunchbreak...

2012-01-19T05:01:00.001-08:00

On A Lunchbreak..., a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I finally managed to get a clear and closeup shot of a robin! This little bird has been living in my garden for quite a while, but it's very shy. However, a delicious lunch did the trick: the bird came up to my window and had a delicious meal on the branch about 2 metres away from my camera. It's the first time this little robin did something like this. I've been feeding the birds in our garden for years, but the robin never came to the birdfeeder - it just picked up what the other birds dropped down. I hope it will keep coming back! :-)

Mission: Duct Tape, or, How To Get Rid Of Funny Or Poisonous Smells Coming From Your Neighbours' Apartments

2012-01-08T02:18:00.001-08:00

Mission: Duct Tape, or, How To Get Rid Of Funny Or Poisonous Smells Coming From Your Neighbours' Apartments, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

First of all, let me explain that these photos were made and put together as an instruction, so this is not meant to be artistic.

Do you live in an apartment building / a block of flats and you have neighbours upstairs, downstairs or to the sides of your apartment / flat who smoke all kinds of stuff, from normal cigarettes to drugs? Your apartment / flat gets all stinky and life in it becomes nearly unbareable, even dangerous (don't forget: drugs are poisonous!!!). You get completely frustrated about what to do. Well, we've been living like this for almost two years. My entire family suffered from medical conditions (skin rash, inflamation of eyes, breathing problems, irritation of the upper bronchial system and lungs). We've bought four air purifiers so far and these little machines really do wonders. However, having four machines each producing 50 decibels of noise is just not comfortable. In fact, sleeping in all that noise is just not working on the long run. Over time our neighbours have started to produce far more stench than our machines can handle. So, I had to come up with something that would block the smell completely. I had to think about the problem from a different direction:

1) Where does the stench come from?
2) How to seal the stench-outlets?

Well, the stench travels through the electrical wiring system. This means that all the electrical switches and outlets (where you plug in stuff) are a major source of poisonous stench - if you remove them, you discover big holes with wires sticking out and that's where the stench comes out. Messing with the electricity is dangerous and a complete rewiring of the apartment is too expensive for the time being. Therefore the cheapest and the quickest solution to seal the stench out almost completely is good old DUCT TAPE! Here's an instruction on how to do it:

1) Get some strong transparent duct tape. DO NOT USE PACKAGING TAPE - that one is usually cellophane, which does not seal properly. The tape has to be plastic. In my case I used a 3M tape, which is quite thick and has a very stron sticky side. THe duct tape MUST be at least 5 cm / 2.5 inches wide.

2) Get the tools. You will need a pair of scissors and an old ruler.

3) Prepare the material. Cut the tape into strips that are at least 2.5 cm / 1 inch longer that your electrical outlet.

4) Start sticking. Half of the strip must cover the outlet and the other half of the strip will come on the wall.

5) Always stick the strip of duct tape on the outlet first. Then, take the ruler and pres the duct tape along the edges of the outlet. Then just press the tape onto the wall. Do this one strip at a time, edge for edge.

6) Use your fingers and press all the duct tape neatly on the outlet and on the wall. There must be no creases, cracks or air bubbles in the tape for the seal to work.

7) If your electrical switches have bolts in them (as you can see here on the photo - top left corner), be sure to cover them completely with duct tape.

8) Go around the apartment and do this with all the electrical outlets, the switches, and wire crossings.

9) Check the electrical outlets for use. Do you use all of them? The outlets that you do not use should be additionally sealed. You can do that by "child-proofing" the outlets: plug in those safety-plug caps. They are cheap, but they will block the holes in the outlets and the stench will not come out.

10) BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS! DO NOT PUSH THE DUCT TAPE INTO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET! DO NOT TAPE AROUND WIRES INSIDE THE WALL! ALL OF THESE THINGS COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR CAUSE FIRE! ALWAYS DO THIS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTLETS, SWITCHES AND WIRE CROSSINGS ONLY!

11) Think about other outlets of stench, too: lights on the ceiling, the fuse box, etc. Stick duct tape around all of those, too.

12) Sit back and enjoy your newly gained fresh air :-)

I've done this all around our apartment / flat yesterday evening and thonight was our first night in peace and quiet and fresh air in two years! The air purifiers were not necessary and there was no stench at all. Now, some of you might say that some stench will still enter your apartment / flat occasionally. I'm not saying that this will block the stench completely, but I guarantee you that it will remove 98 % of the stench. Do your sticking carefully and precisely and I guarantee you fresh air :-)

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-31T07:55:00.001-08:00

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Have fun! :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

2011-12-24T10:42:00.001-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! :-)

Paper Snowflake

2011-12-12T06:58:00.001-08:00

Paper Snowflake, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Christmas is getting closer and closer, which means lots of Christmas lights, decorations and other ornaments, and lost of baked goodies :-) I've been making decorations for the past few days. This is a paper snowflake. I found the instructions for making these on the Internet and they are simply great! If you have lots of rooms to decorate, these are the perfect ornaments. Depending on the size of the squares used to make each point, the star can turn out pretty big (this one is about 30 cm / 15 inches in diameter). Hang a few around the house and they will fill the rooms with festive spirit :-)

An Elegant Evening Purse

2011-12-05T08:56:00.001-08:00

An Elegant Evening Purse, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I crocheted this little purse with glass beads. The beads are crocheted into the purse, not sewn on. I have another purse like this in the making, where I used the same type of beads, only in a different colour.

A Happy Summer Bag

2011-12-03T06:20:00.001-08:00

A Happy Summer Bag, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

A while ago I bought two boxes of pony beads. The boxes contained these lovely pendants, too. I liked them very much, but I just couldn't decide what to make with them. After putting them on a string I discovered that they make a lovely jingling sound when they clash together. I immediately decided to make a crocheted bag with them. The pendants are not sewn on, but are actually crocheted into the bag and the bag jingles when you walk. It's going to be a lovely accessory for the summer next year :-)

Feather Sticks

2011-11-28T02:31:00.001-08:00

Feather Sticks, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I just got a new microscope. I can hook it up to the computer and make photos. This is the first slide I made myself. It's a piece of a crow feather under 40x magnification. I can't wait to discover more of these wonderful worlds hidden to the naked eye! :-)

A little bit of spring in the late autumn :-)

2011-11-18T08:43:00.001-08:00

A little bit of spring in the wintertime :-), a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

We've had a pretty warm autumn so far and the plants are all getting confused. The bulbs are growing like crazy already and these primroses are in full blossom!

The temperatures have dropped below zero over the past few days, so we probably won't be seeing such delights again until spring.

Double-bar Bracelet

2011-11-16T08:44:00.001-08:00

Double-bar Bracelet, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I made this according to the instructions by tiat (Tying It All Together) on Youtube. The bracelet turned out quite well and I like wearing it very much :-)

Tiat makes the most instructional instructions about knotting. He works slowly, so that you can work your own knots along with his video, and his demonstrations are very clear. If you want to learn about knotting, check his instructions out!

Autumn Colours

2011-11-15T03:21:00.001-08:00

Autumn Colours, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I love the golden tones of trees in autumn!

Handmade watch strap

2011-11-14T10:32:00.001-08:00

Handmade watch strap, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

My old wrist-watch strap was getting old, so I decided I needed a new one. Instead of buying one I made one myself. It took me about half an hour to make it. I had lots of fun making it and the strap is unique :-)

For those of you keen on survival gear: the strap is made of a single 5-metre piece of cord, so you have quite an emergency backup in it!

Happy Birthday Echo :-)

2011-11-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Echo :-), a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

It's my birthday today. Happy birthday to me! :-)

Dehumidifying My Laundry

2011-10-25T03:33:00.001-07:00

Dehumidifying My Laundry, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

With the weather being bad most of the time, I can't dry my laundry outside any more. I had to come up with another solution. A laundry dryer was my first thought, but there are three major problems with those machines: the high price, the fact that it can ruin your clothes, and the fact that I have absolutely nowhere to put it. I therefore decided that, from now on, I shall dehumidify my laundry. I bought a dehumidifier with the "Drying Laundry" option and it works great! I hang all my laundry in the hall, place my dehumidifier under the laundry and direct the air-blower into the laundry. The entire load of laundry, taken straight from the washing machine, is dry in about an hour, but if I only hang up a T-shirt of some small item like that, it's dry in about ten minutes.

There's another positive side to the dehumidifier, too. It blows out warm air while in the "Laundry Drying" mode, so my entire appartment gets so warm that I can run around in nothng but T-shirts and shorts! Not only do I dry my laundry, I also save up on the heating :-) The dehumidifier simultaneously swallows up all the damp from the entire apartment, as well, so there's no mold or any other yucky thing like that on my walls or in the closets.

Santa does exist!

2011-10-07T00:31:00.001-07:00

The Sun on a Hot Tin Roof, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

While taking shots of a beautiful sunrise, I captured Santa Claus! Click on the photo to go to my Flickr page, where you can see a bigger version of the photo.

The Life of the Little Yellow Mushroom

2011-09-12T09:35:00.001-07:00

The Life of the Little Yellow Mushroom, a set on Flickr.

My Dracaena Massangeana palm tree got a "roommate", or, perhaps a better expression would be a "flower-pot-mate". Yesterday evening I noticed that a little yellow mushroom was growing comfortably in the dry soil. I watered the plant and this morning the mushroom opened up completely. In the afternoon the mushroom shrivelled up in a geometrically correct shape of a triangle. This evening the mushroom bowed gracefully and withered away. I can conclude that the Little Yellow Mushroom had a short, but very happy life :-)

Waffles, waffles, waffles...

2011-08-22T08:28:00.001-07:00

Waffles, waffles, waffles..., a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Despite the terrible heat we've been having for the past couple of days (35°C and more), I decided to heat up the waffle-maker. After about half an hour of hard labour, the waffles were ready. I like to pour some maple syrup on them, but since I didn't have it at home then, I just tore up a few waffles and made some heart-sandwiches with chocolate cream. Delicious! :-)

Gentle Beauty

2011-08-22T06:28:00.001-07:00

Gentle Beauty, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

My Mum found this wonderful butterfly in our balcony. The little fellow was quite prepared to sit on my Mum's hand while I took some photos. You can get the idea about the butterfly's size if you compare it to the fingers of a grownup in the background (the span of its wings was about 6 cm / 3 inches).

I think this is a small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene).

The Bat That Made It on to the Net

2011-08-15T03:55:00.001-07:00

Something flew into my photo! (The Bat That Made It on to the Net), a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Sometimes, when taking photos, you get lucky and you get a little jewel into the frame. The other day I was shooting the pink evening sky and all of a sudden a bat flew into my photo! What a lovely accidental catch :-)

How to Pack Properly for the Holiday: A Master Tutorial

2011-07-18T10:32:00.001-07:00

How to Pack Properly for the Holiday: A Master Tutorial, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

It's summertime already, but still: here's how to pack properly for the summer holiday this year.

The manual:

1. First of all, put a tin coffin on the roof of your car, so that you'll be stored properly in case you croak under the hot summer sun.

2. Next, make sure that you have plenty of backup vehicles on top of the tin coffin, just in case your car breaks down. And remember to keep backups for the backups handy, as well.

3. Always bring good mood with you. Therefore it is highly recommended to install a toy synthesizer directly on your windshield on top of the windshield wipers. Screw the wipers - it'll be hot and sunny anyway!

4. You mustn't starve, so bring a little bag with 5 huge potatoes with you. In case of an emergency, you can fry your chips directly on the highway.

5. Stay in touch with the world, therefore always bring a two-way radio (CB station) with you. Radio waves never fail and they never get bad coverage.

6. In case the sea dries out when you get there, bring along the biggest satellite dish you can get your hands on, just so that you can have a decent bath in it anyway. In this case, don't forget to pray for the rain well in advance!

7. For a decent airconditioning, simply leave the trunk open before you start your journey.

8. Go to the nearest dump-site and stuff the inside of your car so thoroughly with as much junk as you can get. This way you'll be safely jammed between the steering wheel and the back of your seat, so you won't need neither the airbags nor the safety belt, because you won't be able to move anyway.

9. Make sure your back suspension is neatly broken, so that your car sits very aerodynamically on the ground. This way you don't have to worry about the breaks even on the steepest hill.

10. Have lots of fun, since a safe journey is guaranteed in any case!

(P.S. This is NOT my car, nor is this my way of packing!)

Lavender Visitor

2011-06-28T10:06:00.001-07:00

Lavender Visitor, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Last summer I planted two lavender bushes in our garden. This year they're in full blossom and are regularly visited by different bugs, bees and bumblebees. This little fellow is a young bumblebee, who spent more than half an hour on my lavender bushes today :-)

Stag Beetle

2011-06-20T08:16:00.001-07:00

Stag Beetle, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

This photo was taken at our friend's house. It's a huge stag beetle, which has been living by our friend's door frame for the past couple of days. I took a photo of the beetle with my mobile phone, but the photo didn't turn out that well. So, our friend let me use her camera (I took the photo so that her granddaughters will be able to see the beetle, too) and she sent me the photo. Thank you! :-)

Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full Moon: 15th June 2011

2011-06-16T06:26:00.001-07:00

Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full Moon: 15th June 2011, a set on Flickr.

Yesterday was a real treat. I spent two hours on the balcony shooting the total lunar eclipse of the full moon! I made a total of 60 photos. Here are the three that show the main stages of the Moon.

Crocheted Hats

2011-06-13T23:46:00.001-07:00

Crocheted Hats, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

These are my mum's crocheted summer hats. She started making small ones for babies and then discovered that they would look quite nice on adults, too. This is the latest collection. The hats come in different colours and each hat is unique. They offer great protection from the sun in the hot summer days :-)

Google Guitar

2011-06-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I love the new Google Guitar gadget! I've already made some creations :-)

Kuža pazi (a Slovene song for children)
Marko skače" (a Slovene song for children)
Čuk se je oženil (another Slovene song)
Jager pa jaga (another Slovene song)
Jaz sem mala miška (another Slovene song)
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Jingle Bells"
Ten green bottles
Old McDonald had a farm
100 bottles of beer on the wall"

Yeeey, I can play the guitar! :-)

(I appologize if some of the rhythms are messed up, but the recordings could only be about 30 second long.)

ID Portrait of "Big Mama"

2011-05-18T04:51:00.001-07:00

ID Portrait, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

This is "Big Mama". She's a long-eared owl and I presume she's the mother of the little owl I posted a few days ago. She was sleeping on the same branch as her baby. It was funny how I noticed her: she nearly pooped on my head - and it was one huge poop that fell down right behind my back. I grabbed my camera and made a few shots.

I managed to get Big Mama's portrait at the exact moment when she opened her eyes - although it was still daytime!

Little Yellow Cushions

2011-05-14T01:08:00.001-07:00

Little Yellow Cushions, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I brought these daisies ( the roots) from a nearby meadow last year and planted them in our garden. They are absolutely gorgeous now that they are in full blossom :-)

Constructing Away...

2011-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

I love construction toys. These two are my latest discoveries: Zoob building "bones" and Clics building plates. Both are absolutely fabulous to work with and I'm having loads of fun with them :-)

Zoob building "bones":

Clics building plates:

From our garden :-)

2011-05-09T05:01:00.001-07:00

Blue Beauties, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I love forget-me-nots...

A visit from a small long-eared owl

2011-05-07T07:06:00.001-07:00

I'm watching you!, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Fresh from my garden: this little long-eared owl started "singing" (it makes funny noises: "poop-poop-poop-poop") in the middle of the day, so I took my camera and made a couple of shots. It took me quite some time to find the bird in the tree, but when I did, the bird decided to wake up and look straight into the camera for a nice portrait-shot :-)

Geraniums on my window

2011-05-02T07:26:00.001-07:00

Geraniums on my window, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

This year we decided to plant dark pink geraniums. We've had them on our windows for about 3 weeks and they're in full blossom already. They look absolutely gorgeous :-)

Dinner Portrait

2011-04-10T10:55:00.001-07:00

Dinner Portrait, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

There are some goldfinches that live in the trees around our house. The birds actually recognize me and every time I come out into the garden they start singing and flying above my head. In fact, they are so tame that they let me take closeup photos like this when they come to the birdfeeder on my window sill.

The Daffodil Visitor

2011-03-28T05:21:00.001-07:00

"Do capture my best side, please!", a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I love watching bees how they land and crawl into blossoms. The smaller the blossom, the more popular it is with bees :-)

Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-27T08:21:00.001-07:00

Earth Hour 2011, a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Yesterday from 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. was Earth Hour. Like so many good things, Earth Hour was born in Australia in 2007 and it takes place every year on the last Saturday in March. I've never missed Earth Hour, so yesterday I turned off all the electrical appliances and lights and went back to basics: I lit two tealight candles and enjoyed a quiet evening.

A Little Bit of Spring: The First Hyacinth in Our Garden This Year

2011-03-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

A Little Bit of Spring: The First Hyacinth in Our Garden This Year , a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Our garden is beginning to blossom in all its glory. The hyacinths are all out, but not fully opened yet. This little blue lady decided to win the race and open up completely, though :-)

Full Moon Closest to Earth

2011-03-19T12:39:00.001-07:00

Full Moon Closest to Earth a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

It's Full Moon again tonight. However, tonight the Moon is closest to Earth after 19 years! A very special occassion that has to be "frozen" on a photo, as well :-)

Opened up on Women's Day

2011-03-08T06:15:00.001-08:00

a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Yesterday's beauty opened up completely in today's warm sun for all the women in the world :-)

Happy Women's Day! :-)

The first crocus this year! :-)

2011-03-07T09:33:00.001-08:00

The first crocus this year! :-) a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

Our garden is slowly becoming colourful :-) Today, the first crocus this year opened up. It was bathing in the warm sun all day. This crocus is special for another reason, too: it's a cross of some kind. It's violet at the top, with a white line in the middle, and orange at the bottom. I can't wait to see more of these in our garden! :-)

Aboriginal

2011-03-05T03:50:00.001-08:00

Aboriginal a photo by Cobra_11 on Flickr.

I love Australia and everything that comes from Down Under. So, after a long search I finally managed to get some colourful duct tape in the colours of the Aboriginal flag. This morning I had a great time making these four wallets. The first one is the "Aboriginal Flag" wallet (the flag is made on each side of the wallet and the two pockets inside are lined with a piece of yellow and red tape), the other three are just plain red, yellow and black.

Do you know that every part of the Aboriginal flag means something? The red is for the red land, the black is for the black people and the yellow is for the sun, shining on both, the people and the land.

Hahahahahahahaha...... :-)))

2011-03-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best videos I've seen! :-)

Duct Tape Wallet

2011-02-27T03:05:00.001-08:00

Duct Tape Wallet
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Sitting around and doing nothing has never been my thing. I like to spend my time creatively, so I'm always on the lookout for fun things that I can make, build or do. My latest project are duct tape things: wallets, pencil cases, etc.

I learnt how to make these a few days ago, when I found a tutorial on the Internet. So far, I've made 5 wallets and a pencil case. And I used up almost an entire roll of duct tape :-)

This one is made entirely of duct tape. I also made two wallets with transparent pockets, which I made out of an old plastic folder.

Knotted Necklace and Bracelet

2011-02-26T11:14:00.001-08:00

Knotted Necklace and Bracelet
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

These two are my latest macrame products: a necklace and a bracelet made in the "knotted beads" technique.

Christmas rose

2011-02-10T04:11:00.001-08:00

Fragile Beauty
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Although it's still early and spring is not quite here yet, the temperatures are already quite high and Christmas roses are already blossoming.

Spring is here :-)

2011-02-09T07:15:00.001-08:00

Spring is here :-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

These three snowdrops are growing in our backyard. They are just three of many that I have planted around the house over the years. However, these grow closest to the wall of the house, so they get plenty of warmth and sunlight every day. And, as you can see, they absolutely love it :-)

Greenfinch at Lunch

2011-02-09T04:25:00.001-08:00

Greenfinch at Lunch
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

We've had temperatures up to 20°C already over the past few days and the sunlight is absolutely wonderful - for my suntan as well as for taking photos :-)

Knotted Bracelets

2011-01-31T08:26:00.001-08:00

Knotted Bracelets
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I've been making these bracelets, using shoelaces instead of paracord (which is usually used to make these bracelets). The bracelets are knotted with macrame knots and only take about 20 minutes or half an hour to make. The patterns would look even better if I had laces of various colours at my disposal. Still, I like the way these turned out :-)

My window garden has a mind of its own...

2011-01-30T04:20:00.001-08:00

My window garden has a mind of its own...
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

My window veggie patch has decided that it will grow in the first pot only (basil, which you can see here), hibernate in the second pot (chives next to the basil) and not to grow in the third pot (parsley on the other side just won't grow).

Oh, well, at least I'll have home-grown basil to brag about :-)

Does anyone know what's wrong with this bird's foot?

2011-01-29T11:17:00.001-08:00

Does anyone know what's wrong with this bird's foot?
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

This finch was on my seed bowl for the first time this morning. There was some sort of growth on its foot. The growth didn't seem to bother the bird at all. The bird looked healthy and it had a huge appetite.

I also noticed a similar problem on a goldfinch that comes to the seed bowl regularly, but that bird has problems with its feet - the goldfinch can't stand properly.

Does anyone know what this is?

Pen Tapping

2011-01-28T07:22:00.000-08:00

I have discovered a new use for pens, pencils, felt-tip pens, etc. - basically any type of pen except fountain pens (they will splatter ink all over the place). I'm practicing dilligently already ;-)

I found this video on Youtube and it's a video of one of the best pen tappers I've ever seen!

Winter Window Veggie Patch

2011-01-12T07:16:00.001-08:00

Winter Window Veggie Patch
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I like growing stuff - even in the middle of winter :-)

Marsh Tit

2011-01-07T11:49:00.001-08:00

Marsh Tit
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Birdwatching is such a beautiful activity :-)

Mutant Cyclamen (Part 2)

2011-01-05T01:11:00.001-08:00

Mutant Cyclamen (Part 2)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Here you can see the front side of the mutant cyclamen. As you can see, it has three gigantic flowers: two at the front and one at the back :-)

Mutant Cyclamen (Part 1)

2011-01-05T01:10:00.001-08:00

Mutant Cyclamen (Part 1)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

We have cyclamens in flower pots and they've been growing like crazy since the end of summer. They even produced this mutant. Here's the back side of the mutant, which consists of three flowers grown together at the stem.

Winter scene

2011-01-03T01:21:00.001-08:00

"I'm so gorgeously big..."
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

If you feed the birds in the wintertime, they'll keep coming back and you'll get a chance to see them in their best poses :-)

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T07:22:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and enlightened 2011! :-)

How to make custom bokeh

2010-12-28T04:12:00.001-08:00

How to make custom bokeh
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

My crafts project that I made in a matter of minutes this morning. For the instructions on how to make it, click this photo. The result of taking a photo with this baby on the lens can be found on my Flickr page :-)

On a winter morning...

2010-12-27T02:20:00.001-08:00

On a winter morning...
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Nature can be so wonderful at this time of the year :-)

Micro Robot

2010-12-20T11:34:00.001-08:00

Micro Robot
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I'm still building Lego Micro Figures... :-)

Hello, World!

2010-12-06T01:19:00.001-08:00

Hello, World!
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Winter is a perfect time for birdwatchers, since birds migrate to the vicinity of human houses to feed in various bird-houses and feast on other goodies that humans prepare for them. With patience and a fistfull of seeds it is possible to tame the birds. This way they're not afraid of you when you stand in front of them with a huge camera :-)

Soft Light

2010-12-03T06:37:00.001-08:00

Soft Light
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I'm enjoying the large amounts of snow these days :-)

However, today is also the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I often think of the disabled people when I shovel the snow these days. Snow can make a pretty big obstacle for the disabled, especially those in wheelchairs or with other phisical impairments. We should never take things for granted - not even such simple things as a clean sidewalk or driveway.

First Snow This Year :-)

2010-11-26T08:20:00.001-08:00

First Snow This Year :-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Finally!!! Now I can make a big fat snowman again :-)

My Dietary Birthday Cake :-)

2010-11-18T02:23:00.001-08:00

My Birthday Cupcake with a Candle on Top
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I "baked" this cake for my birthday. It's the perfect form of food: you won't get fat from eating it and it has no expiration date, which means you can keep it around forever as a memory of the happy day :-)

Convert yourself to binary ;-)

2010-11-13T06:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a little bit of fun for everyone :-)

Convert yourself to binary

Now, get yourself converted ;-)

(I've added the link into my Links list - on the right side of this blog.)

Sunny Autumn

2010-11-10T01:01:00.001-08:00

Sunny Autumn Freshness
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Why can't there be more sun at this time of the year?!

Micro World

2010-11-08T09:40:00.001-08:00

Micro Train Engine on the Railway Tracks
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I've stared making Lego micro models. Each model is only about 2cm (1 inch) big, some are even smaller. The models consist of only a few blocks and they take about a minute to build. I'm having loads of fun building them :-)

I started Micro World as a way of taking a few minutes off while I was studying and it's been growing ever since :-)

Summer memories...

2010-10-15T08:47:00.001-07:00

Summer memories...
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I wish we had some sun...

Back again :-)

2010-10-12T09:23:00.001-07:00

Back again :-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I haven't posted anything for a while. I've been busy with my studies, but now I'm back again :-)

The Curious Discoveries of Zadoc the Imperial Jumptrooper

2010-09-18T01:29:00.001-07:00

Zadoc the Imperial Jumptrooper waves to the world
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I love doing little photo-projects. So far, I've done a 365-day project "A Wisdom A Day" and a project "The Unbelievable Adventures of Fred the Rapper". A few days ago I started a new project: "The Curious Discoveries of Zadoc the Imperial Jumptrooper" and I'm having a great time following Zadoc around, while he makes his discoveries :-)

Sunny Morning

2010-09-11T01:43:00.001-07:00

Sunny Cyclamens
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I bought these cyclamens when I went to the nursery the other day. There is nothing more beautiful than to wake up in the morning and see this pretty sight: sunlit cyclamens :-)

Backyard Provanse

2010-09-06T00:12:00.001-07:00

Backyard Provanse
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I love lavender and this summer I decided to plant some. The saplings were pretty shabby when I got them, but a little bit of TLC can do wonders, so now my lovely lavender is blossoming and I'm enjoying my autumn backyard Provance :-)

The summer moved on...

2010-09-04T02:53:00.001-07:00

The summer moved on...
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

A couple of days ago I was sitting in the garden, catching the last sunrays, when I saw this golden leaf in the grass... Autumn is here, I guess. And there is nothing I enjoy more than an Indian Summer :-)

Penny buns

2010-08-16T03:06:00.001-07:00

Tonight we're going to have a most delicious supper...
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Freshly picked today. Delicious! :-)

A Moth

2010-08-13T04:44:00.001-07:00

White Lady
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I found this little beauty on my window sill yesterday :-)

Spike

2010-07-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

Spike Greets the World :-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Yesterday night I found this little fellow in my garden. It was a young hedgehog, which I haven't seen before. I picked it up and brought it inside so that I could check it for ticks, feed it and, of course, take some photos. This is the third hedgehog in my garden (there are two more: the oldest and the biggest is called MacGyver, and the second one is called Pete). I've decided to name this one Spike :-)

Birds

2010-07-07T08:38:00.001-07:00

Give me some!
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I manage to capture this shot the other day. It was quite fun to watch these two wagtails :-)

Bus-Stop Library

2010-06-22T09:09:00.001-07:00

Bus-Stop Library
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Ljubljana is the World Book Capital 2010. So, to encourage people to read more, a special project is taking place: the Bus-Stop Library. There are 23 different bus stops that have books hanging on the glass walls. You can borrow any book you want, take it home, read it and then bring it back to any of the 23 bus-stop librares. I decided to borrow The Little Prince today - in German (Der Kleine Prinz). So, there are books in other languages as well as in Slovene - something for everyone. I like this project very much! In fact, more projects like this should be organized more often :-)

Jack

2010-06-15T23:40:00.001-07:00

Jack
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

This is Jack. I've decided to make him in the colours of the flag of Australian Aborigines.

Woodies

2010-06-15T07:05:00.001-07:00

Meet Woody
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I got a bucket of wooden beads today and I decided to make little figures, which I named Woodies. Each figure is about 10 cm (4 inches) long. You can stretch them and twist them into any position you want. They are very easy to make, and they are great fun :-)

Missing something?

2010-06-14T12:00:00.001-07:00

Missing something?
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

If you want something really bad, just think of this wisdom first :-)

British Beauty

2010-06-09T12:49:00.001-07:00

Classic in Red
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

This photo is kind of a must, me being a teacher of English and all, right? ;-)

Delicious Calories ;-)

2010-06-09T12:47:00.001-07:00

Halva - Delicious Calories ;-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

There goes another pair of jeans, landing at the bottom of my wardrobe ;-) But it was just so bloody good!

Kangaroo

2010-06-08T01:37:00.001-07:00

Kangaroo
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

A little bit of Australia for my desk :-)

Dragon

2010-06-04T00:47:00.001-07:00

Dragon
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

This one's a little more complicated to make than the Spanish boxes. I made it some tima ago and I found it yesterday in a box of origami figures. I think it's quite scary ;-)

Origami Art

2010-06-03T10:21:00.001-07:00

Spanish Boxes
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I love making origami creations. I made these today, while I was watching TV. They are very easy to make and they brighten up the room. If you keep them on your coffee table, every guest that comes around for a visit will want one, too :-)

Hawfinch Attitude

2010-06-03T10:17:00.001-07:00

You lookin' at me?
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

This hawfinch is a regular guest on my window-sill bird feeder. At first, he (yes, it's a boy) was very shy, but now he's so used to me and my camera that I can get as close as 20cm and he'll still pose on the seed bowl, eating merrily and making squeaky noises.

Morning Surprise

2010-06-02T10:38:00.001-07:00

Morning Surprise
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Sometimes it pays off to pay attention to the details :-)

Alone against the world

2010-06-01T09:04:00.001-07:00

Alone against the world
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I've decided to post another wisdom :-)

Rubber-band Bracelets

2010-05-29T04:14:00.001-07:00

Rubber-band Bracelets
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I made these rubber-band bracelets yesterday. They are great fun to make and ready to wear in a couple of minutes! You only have to be careful to use enough rubber bands, so that the bracelet is not too tight. Wearing tight rubber bands around your wrist all the time could cause serious injury (it could stop the bloodstream in your hand), so if you're going to make these, make them nice and loose.

Virginity Imprisoned

2010-05-25T11:39:00.001-07:00

Virginity Imprisoned
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I love black-and-white photography, because it has something I would call "a soul". So, whenever I find a really good motive, I make it into a black and white photo :-)

Summery Fresh

2010-05-24T12:13:00.001-07:00

Summery Fresh
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

The summer is coming... :-)

I picked these daisies on one of my morning walks. They brighten up the room so nicely :-)

Pogs Reborn :-)

2010-05-24T06:36:00.001-07:00

Pogs Reborn :-)
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Remember Pogs? They were also known as Flippo's in Holland. It was a game that was popular in the 1990s. These tokens were unfortunately never available here in Slovenia. However, I once managed to get one original Pog somewhere. I found the original specimen recently in a box of old toys, and got the Pog-bug again ;-) So, I decided to revive the game. I got some empty tokens from some old bottle caps and made some Pogs myself :-)

Aussie Windmill - Part 2

2010-05-21T06:11:00.001-07:00

Aussie Windmill - Part 2
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I made this one today. It's not quite like the big Australian original yet, but it's closer, since this time it's metal, not plastic. It's made from an old beer can. It's thinner (it's only about an inch / 2cm at ist widest part in the centre) and lighter than the plastic-bottle ones, so it spins at the slightest breeze, as well. It took me about an hour to make it, but only because I had to work slowly to avoid cuts on the sharp metal.

My private little Australian windmill tower

2010-05-20T10:46:00.001-07:00

My private little Australian windmill tower
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Other women buy makeup and jewelry, I buy tools. So, I got a new cordless drill a few days ago and now I'm making things. This is the creation I made today. I've always liked Australian windmills (waterpumps), so I wanted to make something like that. However, since I don't have the space to put up a big windmill, I had to come up with something small. These windmills are made from old plastic bottles. The tower is made in such a way that no matter which way the wind blows, there's always at least one windmill spinning at high speed. Each windmill takes about 20 minutes to make. They don't pump water like the big windmills in Australia do, but they sure are fun to watch :-) How do you like my creation?

Yellow Beauty

2010-05-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

Yellow Beauty
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Just a little something to brighten up the day :-)

Rope Bracelets

2010-05-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

Rope Bracelets
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I've been making these since last week. Rope is a perfect material to make bracelets. It doesn't slip when you tie a knot and it's resistant so that the bracelets can't tear up that easily. It's also very cheap (a ball with 60 metres of rope only costs about 2 €), so I can make a whole bunch of these from just one ball of rope! This also means that I can experiment with new designs - if I stuff up, I can just throw it away and start a new one without too much damage :-) These are great fun to make! I'm actually thinking of making myself a belt for my jeans with the flat and straight macrame pattern (as you can see on the top three bracelets).

Henry und Jochen

2010-05-02T11:09:00.001-07:00

Henry und Jochen
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

My new garden friends :-)

Here's something about garden gnomes:

(From the German magazine Bild der Frau:)
The history of the garden gnomes began about 6000 years ago in the Turkish Kapadokia. The miners carried clay gnomes with them as good-luck charms. The gnomes were supposed to protect them from the kobolds. The gnomes were brought to Germany in the 15th century as decorations for the Barock gardens. The garden gnomes gained their fame around 1880, when Philipp Griebel from Tueringen made the first garden gnome in its modern form. They have been produced and exported world wide from Tueringen ever since. Since the 1990s there are also female garden gnomes.

Blossoming apple tree

2010-04-28T10:20:00.001-07:00

Blossoming apple tree
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

I went on my morning walk today and I went past some beautiful blossoming trees. This was a blossoming apple tree. It smelled absolutely gorgeous and it was buzzing with bees - a lovely spring scene :-)

Earth Day

2010-04-22T11:27:00.001-07:00

Earth Day
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

I know that it's a photo of the Sun, but still. After all, life on Earth wouldn't exist without the Sun, would it? ;-)

Let's clean Slovenia in one day!

2010-04-17T05:29:00.001-07:00

Let's clean Slovenia in one day!
Originally uploaded by Cobra_11

Today was a big day for my country. All over Slovenia, volunteers gathered to clean up all the illegal dumping grounds and other hidden garbage dumped in the nature round our beautiful country. Over 200.000 people officially signed up for the action, but practically everybody was involved. You could see entire families picking up garbage and having a great time doing it - especially little kids! Naturally, I did my civic duty and cleaned along the road where I usually go for my morning walks. I ended up with two huge garbage bags full of old cans, bottles, and other rubbish!

I hope that after today sites like this will no longer exist in Slovenia!

Try to organize such cleanup action in your country, as well! You'll have a feeling of belonging and huge satisfaction! :-)