var homeoff = new Image();
  homeoff.src = "images/home_off.jpg";
  var homeon = new Image();
  homeon.src = "images/home_on.jpg";

  var aboutusoff = new Image();
  aboutusoff.src = "images/about_us_off.jpg";
  var aboutuson = new Image();
  aboutuson.src = "images/about_us_on.jpg";

  var annexoff = new Image();
  annexoff.src = "images/annex_off.jpg";
  var annexon = new Image();
  annexon.src = "images/annex_on.jpg";

  var blacksmithingoff = new Image();
  blacksmithingoff.src = "images/blacksmithing_off.jpg";
  var blacksmithingon = new Image();
  blacksmithingon.src = "images/blacksmithing_on.jpg";

  var cutleryoff = new Image();
  cutleryoff.src = "images/cutlery_off.jpg";
  var cutleryon = new Image();
  cutleryon.src = "images/cutlery_on.jpg";

  var artglassoff = new Image();
  artglassoff.src = "images/art_glass_off.jpg";
  var artglasson = new Image();
  artglasson.src = "images/art_glass_on.jpg";

  var frogmanoff = new Image();
  frogmanoff.src = "images/frogman_off.jpg";
  var frogmanon = new Image();
  frogmanon.src = "images/frogman_on.jpg";

  var galleryoff = new Image();
  galleryoff.src = "images/gallery_off.jpg";
  var galleryon = new Image();
  galleryon.src = "images/gallery_on.jpg";

  var balconyoff = new Image();
  balconyoff.src = "images/balcony_off.jpg";
  var balconyon = new Image();
  balconyon.src = "images/balcony_on.jpg";

  var contactusoff = new Image();
  contactusoff.src = "images/contact_us_off.jpg";
  var contactuson = new Image();
  contactuson.src = "images/contact_us_on.jpg";

  var linksoff = new Image();
  linksoff.src = "images/links_off.jpg";
  var linkson = new Image();
  linkson.src = "images/links_on.jpg";


var isMenuAct = false; // the menu is not active yet

function actMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = true; // the menu is now active
  act(imgName);
  inact(defImg);
}

function inactMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = false; // the menu is no longer active
  if (document.images) {
    inact(imgName);
    timerID = setTimeout('if (!isMenuAct) act("' +  defImg + '")', 100);
  }
}

function act(imgName) {
  if (document.images) 
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "on.src");
}

function inact(imgName) {
  if (document.images)
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "off.src");
}