Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. I will resume again next week.

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Pioneer Wonder

Pioneer Wonder from my viewpoint I find it amazing that settlers managed to create and literally carve out a normal existence. Hand made bench's, doors, windows and forged iron was just a way of life. Is our generation strong enough to survive the same way our ancestors did? I doubt we are. This photograph is a meeting hall, hand built many years ago. Looking through the window at the deep shadows and hard wood bench's maybe you can imagine your self there.

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That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

A very Merry Christmas to all of you!

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Small Town Christmas Parade

Well attended by the locals this parade is always a big hit. Business Civic and Public agencies are featured. This truck is from the local Truck Museum.

Tony's Ice Cream shows up with there beautifully restored ice cream truck.

And of course the parade is complete with the appearance of Santa Claus. Much to the kids delight.

Thanks for stopping by. Come back next week for something different.


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Gateway Trail

Down the Gateway Trail, a very unassuming quiet walk in a wooded park. This area is next to an abandoned quarry. From the size of some of the rocks along the way you can see why. Sun shade trees and wildlife abound. 

As you can see from this photograph the trail will connect to Crowders Mountain, a Sate Park, a few miles left to go though.

As you can see the size of this rock. A bit deceiving this one is at least a ton.

But a nice walk in the park or an easy ride on your bike.
Thanks for stopping by this week. Come back next week for something else, whatever I happen to find.
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On the Cape Fear River

On a recent trip to the Southport area of North Carolina I traveled on the Ferry across the river a couple of times. For a West Texas boy this is always fun for me. This week I thought I would share a couple of photographs that I shot then.

This is a passing car ferry.

This ship was going in the opposite direction.

I am always amused at the Sea Gulls when I am around the ocean. These guys work very hard to get a handout. They follow every ship and rest when they get tired. 

This shot is one vying for a landing spot on a crowded rail.

That's it for this week, thanks for stopping by. 

Please check next week for whatever I come up with.

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Having Given Thanks

The leaves are raked the work is done.

The wood is cut and ready for the fireplace.

Time to walk down the wooded path and head for home.

Thanks for reading, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be sure and stop by next week.

All the Leaves Are Brown

Fall is always a wonderful time of year in North Carolina. Wood fires burning and the smell of smoke and foliage. The air has a crisp feeling without the bitter cold to come.

 

 

The slow march to Thanksgiving and the fast run to Christmas is upon us. Enjoy the season. Stay warm and cozy. Stop by next week.

 

Beauty of Nature

Sometimes things in nature just have a surreal feeling. This log half in the water is an example. It is just where it fell. A passing storm or just age, it came down in that spot.

The trees and foliage reflected in the water which has some green algae color to it and creates a mirror effect. A peaceful serene stetting for you to enjoy.

So be a little more peaceful this week. Thanks for reading stop by next week.

Old Brunswick NC Jail

Solid as a rock this old jail is still standing. Now a museum for the county it is an interesting side trip if your along the coast in the Southport area. Walls are about a foot thick with large solid iron bars to keep the resident inside.

The barred windows now look out on well manicured grounds.

 

 

One of the more interesting aspects of this old jail is that the jailer and his family actually lived there with the inmates. A necessity I assume but not a pleasant place for your family. This photograph shows an original turn of the century stove that was used by the jailer's family.

 

 

That's it for this week. Stop in again and check out the blog. Thanks for reading.

Along the Intercoastal Waterway in North Carolina

It was an eventful trip for me with some unplanned stops to fix my truck. Nice weather all the way though. From Ferry rides to beaches and boats the coast is very pretty this time of year. Here are a few photographs that hopefully show some of the beauty.

Of course on the water your are always trailed by flocks of Seagulls looking for a handout.

 

 

Here are some getting ready to follow the Ferry.

Sandy beach along the waterway, and in the background a fishing pier that stays busy.

 

 

Finally the sun setting over the Charleston bridge on US 17. A famous bridge, now redone and a comfortable crossing into Charleston.

Thanks for stopping in this week. Next week will bring something different.

Fall at the North Carolina Beach

It's about like up state North Carolina. I have been here all week, very pleasant area. Sort of turned cool though. 

I have a lot of photographs that need to be edited but still have a ways to travel. Friday I will be driving a bit farther South to Charleston and then heading back to the foothills. Not looking forward to the drive but should be uneventful. So next week I hope to post some pictures, at least of the car ferry that we kept riding back and forth (several times).

So have a great week and stop in again.

Cotton Ginning

A cotton gin short for cotton engine is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed by hand. The fibers are processed into cotton goods, and the seeds may be used to grow more cotton or to produce cottonseed oil; if they are badly damaged, they are disposed of. The first modern industrial gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, used a combination of a wire screen and small wire hooks to pull the cotton through, while brushes continuously removed the loose cotton lint to prevent jams. Larger, more complex automated versions of the cotton gin remain a crucial part of the cotton industry today.

So there you have it. A big fuss in the South since we still grow a lot of cotton. So big infact that once a year we have the annual "Cotton Ginning Days" and thousands of folks show up to look at cotton and of course tractors, lots of tractors.

This is a shot of a "Cotton Gin" Fairbanks Morse engine from early 1900s, still working today.

We take cotton for granted but cleaning and combing it is still labor intensive, especially the old way. Here is a shot of uncleaned cotton in a basket getting ready to load.

If your in North Carolina next Fall plan a visit to the event. See you next week. I hope to have a few good shots of the North Carolina coast.

 

The County Fair

On the midway. The sounds and smells can overwhelm your senses. Like moths to a flame people line up for all the rides and cruise the food selections which are vast. From deep fried Oreo's to cheese on a stick "ya pay yer money and take yer chance".

Even if your not a big fan of events you still can get caught up in the excitement of the day. Pay some money and get a chance to take home a big Sponge Bob "no home complete without one"

Of course my personal favorite is the really big banana, now that's a keeper for sure.

Young or old there is something for everyone, for me I went to take pictures, I just happened to find a really great Philly Cheese steak sandwich along the way. Well we all have our favorites. See ya at the Fair next year.

Dune Buggies Sand Rails and Rail Jobs

Whatever you call them the VW powered modified vehicles are loads of fun and cheap to drive. They started way back when some person stripped down and old car to run on the beach. There was a big hayday in the 70s and I had one. A bit more comfy than riding a motorcycle, they are powerful and breezy to say the least. Most used to just be a VW sedan with the body off and pan strengthened, some are more rail and use various VW running gear. With no body, they tend to be pretty light weight and the stock VW motor will run it along as fast as you care to go. They are still out there and I found this group at a car show in North Carolina. Shot on film with a Nikon F4.

Thanks for stopping by. Check in next week and see whats new!

Rusty Fascination
Photographers seem to be fascinated with some things. Rusting relics are one of my favorites. It just seems to say a lot, which photographs should do. When the rust is attached to an old car then the possibilties increase. Two passions, old cars and rust, life is good now. Here is one of my favorites.

Brian Cole (BrianColePhotography) is another rust chaser and a very talented photographer. This example of a rusting 1957 Chevy shows off his talent.

Brian comments on this photograph:
My girlfriend told me of some old cars her dad had abandoned out next to the woods. (they have a humongous farm) I decided to go find them and took my camera thinking maybe I would see a deer or some sort of wildlife. I saw the 57, covered by a rosebush and brush. It took me around 30 minutes to get enough stomped down to even get this angle.
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, 1/13/2011, f/6.3, Exp: 1/100, ISO: 400, Focal: 35mm
The car was already black, I adjusted the strength and amount of color in Photoshop.

Visit Brians or my photographs my clicking on the images above. Thanks for reading this weeks blog. Be sure and check back next week.

Chasing

I am off chasing cameras this week. See you next week!

Stop in then!

Texas Oil Well

Well the good old days at least. This was a well being drilled in East Texas a very long time ago. I grew up with the smell of oil and gas as well as the chug chug of many pumpers. Not something you dwell on as a kid. Most all of the kids I went to school with were children of "roughnecks" not a wealthy crowd by any means but hard work kept there family together

When the subject of energy comes up my mind go's back to when I was young and there were just thousands of pumping oil and gas wells and hundreds of thousands of people who were in the "oil business". Maybe some one knows why that is not happening anymore?

This oil well is long in the past. Shot around 1969.

Thanks for reading stop in again next week.

Summers End

The shadows are longer and the sun sets a little sooner. Putting away the Summer toys and going back to school.

The Fall colors will soon start to appear and the Winter fun will begin.

I hope you enjoyed your Summer.

Visit the Blog next week. Thanks for reading.

Carolina Cruising

A local favorite to show off your hot rod or muscle car is Swoogers a great burger and ice cream place. Famous around here, Swoogers is in Kings Mountain NC. There cruise in is every third Saturday evening from May until October.

Reflections of the car show in the open sign.

In the area, stop by and watch all the Classic's roll out, you will enjoy it. Great food and friendly folks.

Stop in next week for another blog!

The Joy Theater 

Apply named I think because of all the joy I received as a child going to the theater or "movies" as we called them and staying all day.

And I do mean all day. I even took lunch with me. But since the admission was 9 cents it was a pretty good deal. Popcorn and a Coke were a dime. Not always easy to come by when I was a kid.

Thanks for reading this week. Leave a comment if you would like. Hope to see you next week.

Signs of our times

More jobs lost each week and the economy is staggering under a huge debt. Expressions of all this are showing up in different way. Here are a couple.

Local aid is cropping up as never before with food banks and soup kitchens coming more on the scene. Are you doing your part to support America?

Now more than ever do we need to stand up for America and out Flag.

Thanks for reading, come back next week.

Golden Age of Flying in style!

Gee dad what was it like in the olden days. Well by cracky flying was a real experience back then. At least the crews were nicer and you didn't have to contend with TSA.

Millions of people, mostly GI's have flown on the DC-3 or Military version C-47, they are still out there flying today. This aircraft was my second flying experience, a puddle jump from Biloxi,MS to Lafayette,LA to see my parents. A noisy ride for sure and I believe I received a pack of peanuts and a coke. It was a real adventure.

This beauty is in an air museum in North Carolina completely restored and still flying, it makes it's rounds to air shows in the US.

Great fun and a great airplane.

Stop in next week for a new blog, thanks for reading.

Flamingo Party 

Flamingos always seem to be very social, like they have there own cocktail party's.

They mill around and make "flamingo noises" and constantly check there appearance.

really one of my favorite birds. Here is my party picture:

A Simple View Photographs

Seems to love Flamingos as well and singled out one called "Drama Queen"

every family has at least one, and so does every party.

Visit her site, she has some very nice photograph.

Thanks for reading and commenting, more next week.

Traveling North Carolina Pearson Falls

 

One of the more scenic areas in North Carolina, Pearson Falls is a private reserve between Tryon and Saluda in Polk County.
The waterfall itself is about 90 foot high and the stream runs about a half a mile down to the main road.

 

The water runs fast and cold as it winds down the stream. If you go, wear your hiking boots since it is about a half mile in, and a slight upward climb.

More next week!

Fire in the Sky

I have always had a love affair with sunsets and sunrises. Many shots I have taken over the years have involved the sun in some form or another. This was the proverbial "lucky shot". Done in the early Fall last year, I caught it just as I returned to my truck. 

Thanks for reading please check back next week

Black and White Reality 

Life can be stark sometimes but it is not all Black and White. This idea for this photograph and the subtle humor behind it just intrigued me.

Vintage Wall Light Fixture

This vintage light fixture was used to illuminate the back of a dark, town alley.
Eabby Verhoeven Jacobs is a young photographer with a great eye for unusual photography opportunity's. Vist her work on Etsy by following the link in the picture,