Oxford Museum of Natural History + Makings

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Welcome to the Oxford Museum of Natural History. WordPress yet again cannot understand the concept of a portrait photograph, so apologies.

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The building dates from the 1860s and was designed as a cathedral to glorify the natural world with its soaring iron arches and great use of glass.

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The iron arches were decorated in similar motifs to Medieval decorated churches.

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The dinosaurs are a big draw.

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Reconstruction of the face.

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This Diictodon had such a sweet face. I had to share.

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Children are encouraged to touch exhibits such as this black bear. It is probably the only opportunity most would get to feel the layers of its warm coat.

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The floor tiles in a corridor had me thinking of pieced borders.

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Each arch has a different motif.

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Upstairs you can appreciate the light, space and vision of the architect.

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There is a small cafe hiding up here. Some scenes for Inspector Morse have been filmed here.

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There is a cloister feel to the quad around the glassed atrium centre.

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Many small dinosaurs.

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Statues of the great and good by the entrance.

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As beautiful as it is, the building remains unfinished. The carving around the door is incomplete.

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The building I shared on the moonlight walk to the right of the museum. I love its quirkiness.

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The outside of the Gothic-revival style museum.

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If we carry along Parks Road we come to the Art Deco part of the Bodleian Library on the corner of Broad Street. You wouldn’t believe that parts of it are underneath the roads here, linking with Duke Humfrey’s Library which is behind the Clarendon Building in the centre of the photo.

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To the right of the Clarendon Building on Broad Street is the Sheldonian Theatre with the Emperor’s Heads surrounding it (cake in a previous post).

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Inspector Morse has also been known to pop in The White Horse on Broad Street.

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Broad Street with Balliol College to the right.

I hope you enjoyed a little trip around Oxford. Next time I will take you to see Waterperry Gardens.

Now for a little crafting update:
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Pumpkinville 8 Block is finished.

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As well as Pumpkinville 9.

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My 3rd pair of mittens designed by Aino Sibelius the wife of the Finnish composer. These have now arrived with their new owner.  Lots more bits in the pipeline! Will share as soon as they are finished.


Posted in Crafts, Knitting, Quilts, Sewing, Travels by with 8 comments.

Daylight walk, Friday Night With Friends, Makings

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I promised you last time the same walk as the moonlight walk but in the day. This is the path across Marston Meadows.

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A lot more of the photos came out so this will have to be a part 1. A lot of the ice in the ditches at the side of the path had melted.

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Parson’s Pleasure- see previous post for details.

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The rollers for punts so they can go from one level of the river to another.

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WordPress still isn’t recognising portrait photos, but this is a beautiful tree in Uni Park.- details in previous post.

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In the early Victorian period, this was sheep and cattle grazing with elm trees. Many other varieties have since been planted (1865 onwards) which can cope with poor soil.

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Dogwood (Cornus alba) really makes a stunning display at this time of the year when there is so little colour.

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Rainbow Bridge a graceful 1923-4 construction.

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Looking up river from Rainbow Bridge towards Lady Margaret Hall.

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Down river view.

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Close up of the down river view of Uni Park.

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These birds all took off at once, I was lucky to get a photo.

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The duck pond created in 1925.

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The cricket pavilion designed by Sir Thomas Jackson, who had a hand in how Oxford looks today.

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This is the only first class cricket ground where you can watch for free in England.

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North lodge

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Keble College- see link in previous post.

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Natural History Museum. Want to go inside next time?

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Here’s what I’ve been making this week- a cardi for my daughter in a darker blue than pictured.

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A second pair of Aino Sibelius  mittens as designed by the wife of Sibelius, as sold in a kit by The Flying Mitten Jarvenpaa, Finland.

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I am feeling a bit like I have broken through a glass ceiling having finally finished Pumpkinville 7 by Bunny Hill Designs. This block has waited for months and months. I thought of it as a wip but it was really a UFO.

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Last night was Friday Night With Friends,  (42 of us if you want to see) so I prepared Pumpkinville 8 to be needle turned that evening. I didn’t have time for the embroidery but at least all the shapes are on.


Posted in Knitting, Quilts, Travels by with 19 comments.