Friday, December 28, 2007

Happy New Year


Happy New Year!



red rose bud from a wild rose bush




I would like to dedicate this post to all my readers.

When I first started my website in April 2007, I added a blog feature with the intention of using it as a tool for posting photo tips, technology, and techniques.

It wasn't until the summer that I had some time to really explore blogland - and I was pleasantly surprised about what I found.

There are some really terrific people out there with some great blogs - and I became hooked.

I have learned so much from many of your interesting posts and have virtually visited all corners of the earth, the space above it, and the depths within it.

The images you post and the stories behind them are always a joy to read.

I am honored to have each of you as my friends in blogland and thank you for enriching me with pieces of what you love and enjoy in this life - I can share in it through your posts.

I wish you all nothing but the best for the New Year.

Stay safe and Enjoy!





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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

ABC Wednesday - W

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


W is for Walkway to the Ocean .......




walkway to the ocean



This boardwalk is built into the sand dunes of a small park beside the ocean.

The visitors are not allowed off the walkway in order to protect the flora and fauna that make their homes in this beautiful area.

The blue ocean is just over the crest of the walkway that comes to an abrupt end on the sandy beach.

The swaying grasses and stunted pines are unique to this particular area in Maine.






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Wordless Wednesday - Ford Hood Ornament


Ford Hood Ornament


antique ford hood ornament



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Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy Holidays


Happy Holidays!



christmas chocolate fudge



Happy Holidays
Felices Fiestas
Bonnes Fêtes
Feste Felici
Feriados Felizes
Frohe Feiertage
Gelukkige Vakantie
Glad Fridager
ευτυχείς διακοπές
счастливый отпуск
幸福的假期
행복한 휴일



Wishing a happy holiday season to all my readers and all the best for the New Year!





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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

ABC Wednesday - V

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


V is for Violet .......




a small purple violet wildflower



This sweet little wildflower was transplanted into my rock garden about seven years ago.

It was only a small patch with a couple of blooms.

Over the years, these little purple Violet wildflowers have spread beyond the garden and into the yard.

In fact, the lawn mowing had to be postponed until these little beauties had passed.

Wonder how many there will be this spring.

I used my Tamron 90mm macro lens to capture this close-up - I love the bokeh this lens produces as well as its sharp images.






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Wordless Wednesday - Snow on the Net


Snow on the Net


abstract of snow on a net



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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Snow Covered Pines


Snow Covered Pines for Green Thumb Sunday


snow covered balsam pine trees




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


This is how my Balsam Fir Pine trees looked yesterday morning after 10 inches of snow fell the night before.

We are getting a major snowstorm tomorrow, so I fear the poor things will be completely drooped after we get the predicted 12 inches.

One of these was going to be our Christmas tree this year but it looks as if we will have to come up with another idea.








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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

ABC Wednesday - U

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


U is for Under the Bridge .......




water under a stone bridge



This old foot bridge is constructed of solid Granite blocks.

It is in a local park and is named Pierce Bridge, after our 14th US President, Franklin Pierce.

The park was established in 1884, and is one of the oldest in our state.

It is enjoyed by families and individuals in all our New England seasons.




old stone foot bridge made of granite






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Wordless Wednesday - Stone Fireplace


Stone Fireplace


a fireplace constructed of stones



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Sunday, December 9, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Ice Drop


Ice Drop for Green Thumb Sunday


ice formed around a rose hip




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


My little Wild Rose bush is still beautiful in the winter.

Gone are the abundant bright pink blooms of the summer and fall.

The pretty little green buds and foliage are also missing.

After a recent ice storm, a crystal drop was formed atop one of the dried thorny stalks.

As soon as the temperature rises above freezing, this little work of art will be gone.

Mother Nature sure knows how to put on a show!






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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

ABC Wednesday - T

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


T is for Toe Socks .......




colorful striped toe socks



Having a pair of these colorful toe socks was all the rage back when I was a teenager.

When I saw them in a store a couple years ago, I couldn't resist buying a pair for my daughter.

Needless to say, she was quite unimpressed and folded them away in her drawer and soon forgot them.

When they reappeared in the "give away" pile, I couldn't help rescuing them for a few shots.

They will find a spot in my drawer - to be worn when it is least expected - just for old times sake!






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Wordless Wednesday - Reflections


Reflections


reflections in the window of an old log cabin



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Saturday, December 1, 2007

Awards Celebration Continued


This post will be a continuation of yesterday's post. We have a couple more loaves of banana
bread to get us through.


two loaves of freshly baked banana bread


Debbie, over at the New England Lighthouse Blog, honored my blog with several awards. It was quite a wonderful surprise to see her sailing over with these awards!

I am a huge lighthouse fan and have been enjoying her posts for these last couple of months.

Her blog is filled with gorgeous photos and lots of information on the Lighthouses of New England, which is right up my alley as I am familiar with many of them.

She also covers the news and happenings of the many lighthouses around the rest of the US and Canada. A wealth of info and great links await her readers - enjoy a visit today!





I am passing on the Best Blogging Buddies award to, Aiyana, over at Water When Dry.

She blogs about gardening in the desert, and her posts contain beautiful photos of cactus and succulent plants.

I found her blog through our Green Thumb Sunday memes and have enjoyed it ever since!





The Be the Blog award goes to Serena, over at Searen Art and Design.

She is a gifted artist and her drawings and paintings never fail to astound me.

Her blog is worth a visit to view this wonderful artwork for yourself!






The Blogging that hits the Mark Award goes to Fruity, over at Fruit Species.

Fruity writes about many different fruits, and has introduced us to some really exotic kinds that don't appear edible at first glance.

This blog is full of information and photos of the fruits and seeds - I am always anxious for the next post to see what Fruity has to share with us!







The Smile Award goes to Lynda, over at Peripheral Vision - Inner Sights by Lynda Lehmann.

Lynda takes astounding nature photography and is a beautiful painter also!

Once you view her images and paintings, and feel the peacefulness they bring, you too will smile!




Many thanks are given to Debbie for sharing these awards with me, and I hope my recipients are also pleased. You are welcome to pass them forward to deserving blogs that you visit. Enjoy!!






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Friday, November 30, 2007

Awards Celebration with Banana Bread


My blog has had an exciting week as it has been honored with several awards from some fine fellow bloggers. I invite my readers to shar
e in the celebration with a slice of freshly baked Banana Bread with mini chocolate chips.


freshly baked banana bread in the pan


The first award I received is from Bob, over at Blackholes and Astrostuff. He sent me the Amazing Blogger award, and I am most honored to receive it from such an outstanding blogger.

He posts amazing photos of the moon and the planets that he takes himself with his telescope that is quite an impressive size - in fact it has it's own little house!

With his unique sense of humor and his love for all things in the night sky, he writes his posts in easy language so we can all enjoy it too.

Many thanks to him for giving me this award!





It is now my turn to pass it on to another deserving blog. We are going to leave outer space and head under the sea to find the recipient.

If you have not visited Bobbie and Jerry over at, The Right Blue, then you are missing out on an extraordinary underwater adventure.

These two have been diving for decades all over the globe and they have such amazing photos.

They share their exciting experiences as well as the proper names for the sea life - their knowledge is vast!

It makes one yearn to explore the ocean depths and see for ourselves the underwater beauty that they photograph and share with us.

They are Amazing Bloggers and are so deserving of this award - stop in for a visit, they will soon become one of your favorites too!


I have received several more awards that I will list in another post - I think I need to make some more banana bread - we are running out!







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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

ABC Wednesday - S

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


S is for Soft yet Sharp .......




a furry cat paw with sharp claws



While the cat was dozing on the warm hood of the car, I slowly and quietly crept up on him and snapped a few photos.

This soft, furry paw is so enticing to stroke - the fur is almost hiding his sharp claws.

I've seen them in action many times, and I would not want to cross this tough little feral cat.

After cracking open an eye to prove I wasn't getting anything over him, he cast a disgusting glance at the black box that is always after him, and went back to napping.

Nothing was going to interrupt his warm delicious nap on this chilly afternoon.






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Wordless Wednesday - Old Log Cabin


Old Log Cabin



old log cabin for camping



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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Boot Planter


Boot Planter for Green Thumb Sunday


hens and chickens succulent in a boot planter




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


I did a post titled Green Succulent on 11/11. It was a macro image of a Hens and Chickens succulent in a boot planter.

A couple of viewers requested that they would like to see the whole planter.

Today's post shows the entire recycled boot that is used as a planter in the garden.

It also made a unique display by the doorstep and on the steps.

It was interesting to see this hardy garden plant used in another setting - and it adapted itself quite well.






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Wednesday, November 21, 2007

ABC Wednesday - Rusty Car

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


R is for Rusty Car .......




a rusty old car in the junkyard



An old car from days gone by sits rusting in a salvage yard.

Destroyed by fire, there are no tires or interior.

There is also no roof - which makes me think it must have been a convertible.

Not sure there are too many good parts left on this one except the heavy metal frame and exterior panels.

It must have found a home somewhere - it was gone the next time I went back.





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Wordless Wednesday - Bridge to the Ocean


Bridge to the Ocean



bridge to the ocean



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Sunday, November 18, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Grasses in the Water


Grasses in the Water for Green Thumb Sunday


backlit grasses in the water




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


It was an overcast day when we climbed a small mountain to this little spring fed pond.

The light reflecting off the water was enough to make these water grasses appear to glow.

By using a polarizer, the glare was cut down on the water, and the roots became visible beneath the surface.





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Saturday, November 17, 2007

Mixing and Baking

A very busy week is ahead with the baking, cleaning, and preparations for Thanksgiving on Thursday.


electric mixer with batter and flour


I will do my best to keep up with my meme posts for this week.

Please forgive me for the tardiness that will happen - I will be hosting Thanksgiving at my home and will have a full house with tons of work to go along with it.

I will make my rounds and visits once things have settled down - thanks for your patience!






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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

ABC Wednesday - Q

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


Q is for Quilt .......




a log cabin pattern quilt on the clothesline



A quilt is draped over the clothesline, drying in the warm summer breeze.

It is the Log Cabin pattern made from several green and purple flowered calicos.

It is completely hand-stitched and is the first (and only) quilt that I have made.

The quilting on the first block in the center is atrocious but by the third block I finally mastered the stitching technique.

I have had to stop myself many times from redoing those first couple of squares, reminding myself that there is no such thing as perfection.

They are are part of the history of this creation, and my kids remember my frustration with it in the beginning.

To "fix" it would change it's story and the lessons it can teach.






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Wordless Wednesday - Dragonfly Macro


Dragonfly Macro



macro of a dragonfly against the blue sky



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Sunday, November 11, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Green Succulent


Green Succulent for Green Thumb Sunday


hens and chickens plant in a boot planter




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


This is a macro of a Hens and Chickens succulent plant.

You can see the sole of a boot just under the leaves on the lower left.

This old, worn out boot was recycled into a planter for this little plant, and it is totally filled with all sizes of Hens and Chicks.

My sister came up with this clever idea and it is a unique, beautiful addition to her garden.





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Friday, November 9, 2007

Broken Links


I have been working on the side bar on my blog to make it appear more organized.


macro of a large rusty chain link



As of this post, I belong to three different blog memes that have rather long blogrolls.

I now post only the link to the blogroll instead of having the entire list on the sidebar.

To do this, you need to create a blog post that is way back dated. Then you post the link to that entry on the sidebar.

To create these pages you need to know some html codes. Since I only know the very basic, my pages are not too fancy, but they accomplish what I want them to.

Broken links on a web page is very irritating, so I make sure that each link I create gets tested. I also use them periodically to make sure they are current and working.

I have the pages set up now so it is as easy to add a new link as it was before with the blogger link system.

The copy and paste keys are my best friends - especially since I have them programmed into my mouse - two clicks and it's done!







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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

ABC Wednesday - P

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


P is for Paw Print.......




a dog paw print in the sand



A paw print in the wet sand - not yet disturbed from a passer-by.

Hard to tell from the photo, but this was a large print.

There was only one as it was just a small sandy spot - glad the dog chose to walk through it.








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Wordless Wednesday - The Harbor Marker


The Harbor Marker



harbor marker on the breaker wall at the ocean



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Sunday, November 4, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Variegated Hosta


Variegated Hosta for Green Thumb Sunday


macro of green and cream variegated hosta




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


I did a post titled Green Hosta on 10/26, and posted a photo showing the changes the plant had made.

Today's post has an image of the Hosta that has not changed.

The beautiful greens and creams are swirled along the length of each leaf.

The leaves are smaller, thicker, curlier, and they have more pronounced details in the veins.

They are a beautiful ground cover that lasts all season.






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Friday, November 2, 2007

Google PageRank



Time to celebrate - my blog now has PageRank!


macro shot of homemade toffee candy



Google must have done an update on their PageRank algorithm - both my blog and and my website are showing a ranking that was not there last week.

I use the Firefox browser with the Google Toolbar add-on. It shows the rank of each page that gets loaded in the browser, and I just noticed that I have a green bar on both of my sites now.

One of the factors that Google uses to help determine the rank are the number of links that a website has coming into it from other websites.

And for that - I owe a huge thank you to all of you who have included a link to my site on your site.

And I offer you each a piece of homemade toffee in appreciation!

It was hard to photograph this bowl of candy - the chocolate kept melting under the hot lights and I had to keep sticking it in the fridge to firm it back up.

The all-natural ingredients include just butter and sugar with chocolate melted on the top. A simple and sinful treat that melts in your mouth - Enjoy!!






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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

ABC Wednesday - O

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


O is for Opened Drawer.......




an opened drawer of an antique jewelry box



The drawer of an antique jewelry box is opened - beaconing one to explore the treasures inside.

This handmade piece is constructed of rock maple with little brass drawer pulls.

It was a gift given to my mother from my father before they were married.

I remember it always standing atop her hope chest during my childhood.









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Wordless Wednesday - Bright Autumn Leaves


Bright Autumn Leaves



bright autumn leaves against the green grass



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Monday, October 29, 2007

Sweet Treat Award

I received the Sweet Treat Award from Under the Sea this morning which was a nice surprise on a Monday.




This award is given to new visitors of one's blog and it was originated by the blogger Hootin' Anni's.

I am pleased to pass it along to these new visitors to my blog:

Miss Flower
The Oswegan
Water When Dry


Many thanks to Under the Sea for this award!!





Sunday, October 28, 2007

Green Thumb Sunday - Columbine


Purple Columbine for Green Thumb Sunday


macro of back lit purple columbine




Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


A macro shot of Purple Columbine taken in the spring.

Taken with the Tamron 90mm macro lens




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Friday, October 26, 2007

Green Hosta

This is a macro shot of Green Hosta leaves from the garden.

macro of green hosta leaves


My mother in law shared five of these roots with me many years ago. They are a green and white variegated hybrid of the Hosta.

They have grown each summer into beautiful large cream colored leaves with dark green edges. All five have grown larger each year with these colors - until this summer.

One of the end clusters decided this year to go back to it's origins, and grew as only green leaves - no cream colors at all. The leaves were bigger than the variegated ones and the green is a lighter color.

I have seen this happen with several hybrid rose plants over the years also - they go back to their origins - the dominant genes taking over.

I wonder sometimes if the cold winters affect them or if it is just nature taking its course.

It will be interesting next summer to see if any of the remaining four hostas follow the one on the end.






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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

ABC Wednesday - N

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


N is for Napping Kitty.......




a rust colored cat sleeping in the evening light



This feral cat adopted us about 5 years ago, shortly after our cat had passed away.

He appears at the front door each morning for some breakfast, and makes another round about supper time for a handout.

He is very wary of anyone but us, and I was fortunate enough to catch him one evening as he was napping.







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Wordless Wednesday - Blue Reflection


Blue Reflection



the reflection of blue light from a glass globe



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Saturday, October 20, 2007

300ZX

A stock image of a gear shifter from a 1986 Nissan 300ZX.


gear shifter on a sports car


She has almost two hundred thousand miles on her now, but she still handles like a dream. Owning her for the last ten years has been a pleasure.

The joy I felt the first time I drove her has not diminished over the years.

As with all sports cars, she has needed more than her share of repairs which has kept her performance and handling smooth and tight.

The New England winters have been hard on her. She is put up as soon as it snows, but no matter how I keep her cleaned off and run regularly, the rust has begun to eat into her frame.

She is to the point that she needs too much work now - more than my husband can do to keep her safely on the road.

Come spring she will have to find a new home - hopefully someone who will have the resources to restore her and will appreciate what this little classic Z car has to offer.





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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

ABC Wednesday - M

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


M is for Milkweed.......




silky white milkweed seeds in the autumn



Silky white milkweed seeds ready to catch a ride on the wind.

The texture of the dried, cracked pod creates contrast against the soft fluff.






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Wordless Wednesday - Hand Tied Flies


Hand Tied Flies



a box of colorful hand tied flies for fishing



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Monday, October 15, 2007

Blog Action Day - Photography's Contribution to the Environment

Today, October 15, bloggers around the world are uniting for Blog Action Day. The environment is the topic, and I would like to post about the positive affect that digital photography has had on it.


the landfill


There are many landfills in the small towns across America, and they appear much like the above image - most of them are much larger . These landfills contain many years of trash, refuse, chemicals, and materials both man-made and natural.

Many years ago when I was first learning the skills of photography, I was also learning the back-end of the art - the darkroom. While mixing and using the many chemicals to process the film and then produce the prints, I never gave much thought to their disposal when I was finished with them.

After moving to a small town, it became obvious to me what was happening with these chemicals - they were ending up in the landfill where they would continue to leach into the ground and air for many years to come.

I am so pleased with the direction that photography has taken in the last ten years. The digital camera has been a gift to the environment - there is no need for the toxic chemicals to develop the images.

The batteries in the cameras are rechargeable which is another positive for the environment.

It is a good feeling to be able to enjoy this art that I so dearly love and not have to worry about the damage that my actions would be causing to the environment. And all the money that I am saving is just an added bonus!



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Saturday, October 13, 2007

Blog Action Day


Monday, October 15, is Blog Action Day, and you can sign up for it and read more about it here.

The topic for this year is the Environment, and each blogger can write about it in their own way pertaining to their blog's main topic or off-topic if they prefer.

The object is to get people thinking and discussing the environment from all of our different thoughts, angles, and viewpoints.

Register your blog here, and join the thousands of other concerned bloggers around the world.


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Friday, October 12, 2007

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and this post is in support of this cause.



pink heart with breast cancer pink ribbon



I am dedicating this post to two dear friends who have passed away from breast cancer in the last few years.

Cathy was my mother's best friend for as long as I can remember. Her long red hair portrayed her exuberance for life and to know her was to like her. She lived every minute of her 56 years to the fullest.

Sally was the wife of my husband's best friend whom I met shortly after getting married. This big hearted lady always had a smile and I liked her the moment I met her. I think of Sally every time I make peanut butter fudge - her recipe for it is the most divine I have ever tasted. She was 43.

Neither of these ladies have breast cancer in their families. Both were mothers who were always on top of their yearly exams and mammograms. They were active and lived healthy lifestyles.

They will live on in the hearts of their friends and family, and we will continue to promote awareness and self care in their memories - as that is the way they would want it to be.




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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

ABC Wednesday - L

(The Wordless Wednesday post is beneath this post.)


L is for Lacrosse Stick.......




a white lacrosse stick and ball



A brand new nice and clean white lacrosse stick with an orange ball.

After the first game the net was brown from the mud and there were green grass stains along the worn edges.

Glad my son let me borrow it before he took it into action!




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