Birdhouses (Casas de Passarinhos) [Vogelhuisjes]

In my village there are lots and lots of houses with well manicured gardens - and birdhouses. During months I have photographed some of them in order to post here. Sometimes my husband was very irritaded about me because he had an impression I was invading private space - but I think it was just his perception of my act. I do not invade gardens - I just need to step in them for two or three seconds in order o make my clicks.

Photos above and below: www.hetvogelhuisje.nl

The 8 photos below were made by be in my village. I am always taking different routes to the school of my kids on Wednesdays in order to investigate gardens and back yards. If I spot a certain birdhouse somewhere and I do not have the photo camera at the moment with me then I make a mental note to come back later. It can take me sometimes weeks to have a proper light and dry weather - and no one wondering behind the windows why the hell I am taking pics of birdhouses. After all I AM a shy person.

You can find such birdhouses at garden centers (Tuincentra) and greenhouses. Once I have seen a red wooden one at Bijenkorf. I doubted for a long moment because my husband doesn't want to have birds "shiting all around the back yard". I didn't buy it then. But I would like to give a helping hand to birds during winter with extra food and shelter. So sooner or later I will find one.

In the sequence below all 5 projects are from Droog Design and the photos are from www.apartdesign.nl La crème de la crème in birdhouse design !
Above: a three-star restaurant for birds, project by Marcel Wanders.

Eva Solo bird houses above (porcelaine) and below.



Above: "Rond", below: "Vogel voeder tafel"

Elephant Parade [Desfile de Elefantes]

Have you ever heard of the Cow Parade ? Well, there is now in Amsterdam an open air-exhibition called the Elephant Parade. From 5th september to 31st October a hundred sculptures can be admired in the following spots: Museum Square, Spui, Westermarkt, Koningsplein and Kalvertoren.

photo above: Central Station, Amsterdam

Vocês já ouviram falar da Cow Parade ? Pois é... Agora existe a Elephant Parade. O Desfile dos Elefantes é uma exibição ao ar livre que depois de passar por Antuérpia e Roterdã agora esta em Amsterdã de 5 de setembro até 31 de outubro. Há mais de 100 obras espalhadas por diversas praças da cidade.

Maybe this is one of my favourites. Excess of cuteness ! Pink nails, I guess it is a girl elephant.

Um dos meus exemplares favoritos é essa elefantinha holandesa, fofa, fofa, excesso de fofice !

I have seen in other blogs and flicks some quite interesting photos of such elephants. I will be next week after work in Amsterdam in order to interview someone for this blog, so maybe I will be photographing more in order to post here. I hope therewill be no rain or bad weather. Maybe I will visit the shop in the Kalvertoren, I have already my preferences. Anyway, it it is difficult to elect one favourite above all !

Photo above: Westermarkt Square.

Eu estarei semana que vem em Amsterdã depois do trabalho para fazer uma entrevista pro blog, então farei mais fotos se o tempo e a luz ajudar. É difícil no meio de 100 elefantes escolher o mais interessante ou favorito, mas acho que já tenho umas preferências. Se der, vou visitar a lojinha na Kalvertoren também.

In the offical site of the Elephant Parade you can read: "This project aims to raise attention for the Asian elephant, that is threatened with extinction. (...) The benefits of the Elephant Parade are donated to the Elephant Family, the largest elephant charity in the world". Well, I guess such initiative proves one more time that financial issues are not solved by money. I always say that financial problems are (mostly) solved by imagination and creativity.

If you wish to buy one elephant then visit the web shop clicking here while the link lasts.

Um elefante tomatinho. Há mais, muito mais para se ver pela cidade. Se você quiser dar uma olhada na lojinha da web clica aqui. No final do evento, as obras serão recolhidas para um galpão e ocorrerá um leilão para empresas que desejam adquirir um exemplar. O dinheiro arrecadado com o projeto Desfile dos Elefantes será doado para The Elephant Family, que é a maior obra de caridade para proteção dos elefantes no mundo. Esse projeto visa recolher não só fundos mas também chamar a atenção para o elefante asiático, seriamente ameaçado de extinção. Taí galera, essa é mais uma prova de que problemas financeiros não se resolvem com dinheiro. Eu sempre digo que problemas financeiros são, na maioria das vezes, resolvidos com imaginação e criatividade.

http://www.elephantparade.com/