This is one of the life-size dioramas found at the Rosie the Riveter /World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, CA. While this was once a huge site with ships rolling off the line day and night, the park is a tiny sliver of that space. I felt it deserved a more complete story than the space allowed. Several of the old buildings still stand but they are now used in modern settings. You drive past thousands of cars - waiting to be loaded on to trains just to get to the site. Still worthwhile for an afternoon.
Edgy /
Another photo from the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - again, not a National Park site, but huge and in the news recently. Lots in interesting canyons and cliffs. Found this tree having on to the edge of one cliff.
Flow /
Another place in the Smoky Mountains. This was just along a stream - not named on a map, on the way to Cades Cove. I walked up the stream about 1/2 mile and took several shots.
Slot /
Located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (not National Park Service site) in Southern Utah this huge area of canyons and mesas and few people is fascinating. CJH and I drove to this slot canyon on a dirt road that went several miles - a portion along a steep cliff yet well worth the effort.
Nest /
This is an Orchard Oriole's nest high on the underside of a palm of some sort. You can just *barely* see the baby bird peaking out of the top. Orioles build a distinctive sort of bottle shipped nest.
"The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will defend and save the city; he will pass over it and rescue it.” Isaiah 31:5 NLT
Memorial /
This is on the gravesite of Andrew Johnson. The eagle is there to represent his fierce defense of the constitution.
Cacti Canyon /
Some of the trails at Joshua Tree National Park lead up and over rock formations into small canyons full of various cacti and Joshua Trees. Made for interesting contrasts on the hike. The canyons were full of wild life.
Shattered Calm /
December 7, 1941 was a Sunday morning like most until the radio's began to crackle with the news of Pearl Harbor. There are pockets of these National Cemeteries across the country. I recommend you visit one this month and just read the names of people who allowed you to live in an era of peace. It should be required reading for any American History class.
This small National Cemetery is in Greenville, TN along with the grave of the 17th President, Andrew Johnson.
Climb /
People climbing the rock face at Pinnacles National Park. Pinnacles is a remote park - at least if you access from the west side, and it is hot.
Glen /
A part of the stream that makes the Muir Woods glen so serene and cool.
Girth /
The Sequoia is not the tallest of the trees, that honor is the coastal Redwoods, but it is the biggest of the trees. These smaller examples are at the Muir Woods National Monument just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.
Welcome to the Season /
So, with the Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg - even though I am far away, the Christmas Season officially starts. So, in lieu of my shooting fireworks at CW, I offer this shot from last week of several trees lit at a local shopping area. I dragged the camera with a slow shutter speed.
“‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised..." Isaiah 38:7 NLT
Raleigh /
Found a neat place to shoot a bit of the Raleigh skyline. It is at what will be Dix Park. It is recently acquired but not yet developed.
Thorny Problem /
This is a Gila Woodpecker on a cactus in the Organ Pipe National Monument. They hollow out spaces to nest in these large cactus. So, how do you begin to carve that hole with your head in constant motion?
Writer's Aerie /
This is the home of playwrite Eugene O'Neill located a bit west (oops, sorry, East) of San Francisco. It was a treat to visit this home, where he may have had his better years, personally, in life of complex drama and problems. He won numerous accolades including an award for the Nobel prize. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_O%27Neill
Creepy?? /
Exploring Raleigh with my grandson, we came upon these larger-than-life-size silhouette figures on the grounds of the old mental hospital. Not sure how I felt about them. So, I have them in the "kinda weird" category.
Ford's Theatre /
Here is the facade of the theatre where Lincoln was shot. The museum in the basement is well done and covers more than the assassination of Lincoln. The box where Lincoln and his party were sitting is still there and you view it both from the stage area and the door where Booth entered. Plays and concerts are still preformed here.
Organ Pipe Cactus /
This is taken in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument along the Mexican boarder in Arizona. A remote and endlessly fascinating place. This shot shows a lot of the Organ Pipe, those are the multi-stemmed cactus along with some Saguaro and Cholla Cacti. This was off a drive on the eastern edge of the NPS site.
Somber /
This is the inside of Ford's Theatre in Washington. The box where Lincoln was assassinated is the one with the bunting that looks festive but somehow that rings hollow. The theatre is still active hosting plays and other performances with modern lighting and staging, it still retains the air of a monument to an amazing man.
"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you." Matthew 15:19,20 NLT
Cease /
It is a good thing this barge on the Cumberland River did not try this during the brief siege of Fort Donelson because it would not have done well. Neither did the Union ironclad gun boats that tried to shell the fort, unlike their sister fort a few miles away. These guns were accurate and hit the seven Union boats repeatedly and delayed the fall of the fort as it was left to the Union troops to assault it over land. They did successfully but narrowly as the Confederates were winning the battle until an order was given to withdraw and the Union regrouped and Grant was now the famous winning general of the Union side.
