Floral Couture

Getting ready to throw out our vase of faded flowers, I was struck by the fact that even though they are tired and droopy, they still have beauty.  Playing with my macro lens, these images made me think of a ballerina's tutu (left) and an haute couture ballgown (right).

In other news, we have been "treated" to a series of loud, disruptive fire alarms this morning, which have made poor Mabel a nervous wreck!  Apparently a water valve had some sort of malfunction on the 18th floor, which set off the alarms, necessitating the arrival of four  fire engines, and loud recorded messages piped in to every apartment telling us to stay put unless otherwise instructed.  Needless to say all this was accompanied by forceful and strident barking!