Lens Artists Challenge – Topic – On the Move

This week Journeys with Johnbo has us looking at our travel preferences. Do we like to travel and if so, what is our preferred mode of transportation.

So I’ll get flying out of the way first – not a fan!! I recognize that in some cases, it’s necessary, but if it can be avoided then I will avoid. I had a horrible experience in the late 1970’s which instilled major fear. But certain trips, like last year’s trip to Las Vegas, makes it necessary.

We love road trips. Most of our travels are within 8 hours, so we’ll drive. We listen to a good recorded book and try to find a good place to eat while on the road. I also like the freedom to stop and take photos along the way.

When our daughters were younger, we used to take short day trips during their school breaks. Today, they are called staycations. One of our favorite staycations these days is going out on the boat. We purchased it 3 years ago when we moved to our new home. It’s a great way to get away for a few hours and see things from a different perspective.

Thanks John for a great topic this week!

Lens Artists Challenge (and taking a break)

Our challenge this week is an SAT word – Ephemeral. Tina provided the definition on her site thank goodness!! It is something that lasts for a short time. My first example shows up here in mid- April and is gone by November and they are one of the most fun birds to watch!!

Those of you who have raised children know that each stage and age is ephemeral and before you know it, they are old enough to drive! This lucky young lady got a new truck for her Sweet 16.

Spring bulbs bring welcome color after the colder weather but they are short lived in many cases.

My last photo is one I took on November 5 of the supermoon. Unfortunately we had a cloudy night so the moon itself wasn’t detailed. These moons only occur 3-4 times/year.

I will return sometime next week! Take care everyone!

CFFC – Cultural Venues

A couple of years ago we went to a The Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida. While not the typical cultural venue, it showcases a piece of Americana. Here are a few photos from that visit.

If you’re in the area, it’s worth the visit.

Happy Halloween

We’ve been to this restaurant in Maggie Valley, NC twice and they always have the best Halloween decor.

Lens Artists Challenge – Street Details

Street photography where I live is not typical of busy cities. I can honestly say that I was on a street for these photos but most were taken while still in my car since narrow country roads don’t have sidewalks or even safe places to pull over. However there is little traffic on these roads so I have the opportunity stop on the road to take a photo from the car without worrying about encountering ANY traffic.

Since we are surrounded by farms it’s not unusual to see chickens on the side of the road.

This pretty dog was patrolling the quiet road. I shot the photo through the car windshield which accounts for the decreased clarity and detail.

What’s a country road without a cow – even if it’s a statue in someone’s yard. I think the bell is a nice touch.

There are plenty of fences to photograph. This one caught my eye because of the backlit plant.

Near our neighborhood, there is a wooded area which is home to some feral cats. They are well fed by people who live nearby. I believe someone captures them to have them spayed/neutered, then releases them back into their woodsy home.

Last but not least, one can’t go far without seeing beautiful horses just off the roads.

So that’s street photography in a rural area. Something different but hopefully fun!

CFFC – Topic – Retail Food

Eat something healthy then have dessert!!

Lens Artists Challenge – Topic – Ancient

We’re looking to the past for this week’s challenge – hosted by Ritva. Please see her site for some beautiful examples.

There are some things that are not even 100 years old but are ancient by today’s standards due to rapidly evolving technology. One example is the camera. My first camera in the 1950’s was a Brownie Flash. You had to put the film in, attach it to the winder, be sure to close the door so as not to expose the film and hope that half your pictures turned out when you developed the film. And don’t get me started on the flash bulb issue. Personally, I love where we are with today’s cameras.

In the animal kingdom, jellyfish have been around for at least 500 million years and were on earth before dinosaurs. This makes them the oldest multi-organ animal group, having survived numerous mass extinction events. Pretty good survival skills for a mass of gelatinous material.

One of our favorite places in the fall is Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountains seen there are part of the Appalachian Mountain range believed to be the oldest range in America. It started forming over a billion years ago.

Water was one of the first things to appear on our planet. Here’s what Google says about the ocean:

The Earth’s oceans are about 3.8 billion years old, though the water itself is as old as the solar system, about 4.5 billion years old. The primordial ocean formed as the planet cooled and water vapor condensed to rain, filling the basins on Earth’s surface.

That’s ancient!! But I’m glad it’s still here and will hopefully remain as long as we are good stewards of it.

Taking a Break

See you some time next week!!

CFFC – Subjects Framed by Nature

Hummingbird

Lens Artists Challenge – Everyone Should See This

This week’s challenge is from Joanne Mason Photography and we are sharing photographs of things/people/places that are inspiring.

One of my favorite places is Pea Island Wildlife refuge which was established in 1938 to provide nesting, resting, and wintering habitat for migratory birds, including the greater snow geese and other migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, and and other migrants. The refuge is located on the north end of Hatteras Island. Even in the summer, the beaches are deserted due to the lack of vacation homes in the area. It’s so peaceful there!

Keeping with the beach theme, we have a lot of surfers in the family but there’s nothing more joyful to see than a new surfer get their first ride.

While in Las Vegas, we attended a movie in The Sphere called “Postcards from the Earth”. It was excellent and had a great message about taking care of our planet. The outside of the sphere is pretty cool too with the changes that are made every few minutes.

One of the most awe inspiring places we went is Cape Canaveral Space Center. The ticket is well worth the price and if you do go, take the bus tour first.

We’ve been to Rincon, Puerto Rico twice and for me, it is one of the most relaxing vacations we have taken. The beaches are beautiful and in Feb/March, the surf is great for those in our family who surf. While we were there we visited a place called Cabo Rojo. This picture says it all.

I’ll close with a couple of drone show images. We went to a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jockey’s Ridge (in the Outer Banks). At dark, they had a drone show which was spectacular. If you ever get a chance to see one, it’s pretty awesome.

Thanks Joanne for a great topic.