The photo above is exactly as it was taken, in the name of all that doesn’t need any changes. The gallery below has more of such creatures, some more surprising than others.

But first, a poem of how it used to be three days ago in Rome.

Ruckus in the still of the morning

Holiday morning.
As still as Italy gets.

Blueness,
skyness,
greenness,
stillness.

Pine.
Crane.
Gulls.
Parrots.

Parrots?
One,
two,
three.

They might look
serene,
quiet
and still up there

but imagine the ruckus
they made
that made me look up
in the first place.

Before we look at the photo evidence, I wish to thank Patrick for his challenge prompts that have provided a much needed spur into motion, or if you prefer, kick in the butt. See you next year on my new blog, Patrick and everybody!

In response to Patrick Jennings’ Pic and a Word…

Norm says to do a recap of this year doorwise, and so I have. I like recaps. They help you see.

It felt good going through my year in doors especially since this blog is about to close. Yes, again. I guess I’m eating up space like chocolate. This one lasted only a year!

Even though some who know me well (looking at you, Dan!) hinted that I’d have a hard time keeping my door recap below 50, I somehow managed.

Above is a selection of my favourite door photos as posted on Thursdays throughout the year for my favourite photo challenge. You can view all posts here.

Don’t worry about this blog closing because the new one is starting, as is my habit. Apparently it’s not true that every WP user only gets three free blogs because my forth is ready to be launched with the new year…

Not only my parents, we hosted another travelling couple. Capalbio provided the doors and the view.

One of the visitors is a photographer and enjoyed the narrow streets and hidden corners of Capalbio, the town on the hill above us. No matter how often I go up there, there is always something new to capture. The arches are certainly not new but some flowers could be. Either that or you will have forgotten by now that you have seen a door or two already, just in different light, right down to the last mystery: there is glass but all it is protecting is brick wall. Waitaminute! Must be one of them damn Instagram corners. :p

For Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors challenge.

Capalbio is the town on the hill in Maremma closest to me and these are some of its doors.

I often bring visitors here because it’s a charming old town, so it’s small wonder that during our a bit more than just a bloggers’ meeting in late September this is where we concluded our last day together.

By we I mean I and no other than Norm himself, the host of the Thursday Doors challenge of many years.

At the end of the gallery you will find two photos that he took for which, as for his many other acts of goodness, including running this challenge, I wish to thank him profusely.

This town gave me a previous Thursday doorscursion and chances are I will go there again. If not for other, for the splendid green door with the view in the golden hour, featured above, which spells Tuscany for me…