Busy Bee, Los Angeles, California, USA
While on vacation, the day before we took this shot, we accidentally broke our Canon Powershot A540 of many years. With minutes to spare, we picked up a new inexpensive camera, a Canon PowerShot A3100 IS. While not as full-featured as the A540, the A3100 can take some amazing pictures. This close up of a feeding bee is proof.
Lake Burton, Northeast Georgia, USA
Recently, we took a drive into the mountains of Georgia and stumbled upon Moccasin Creek State Park, the smallest state park in Georgia. Although the park is tiny, the views of Lake Burton and the surrounding mountains are lovely. We sat on a bench and then ventured out onto a dock to enjoy the fresh mountain air and beautiful scenery.
Small Challah Rolls, Kfar Saba, Israel
Unlike the USA, much of the retail commerce in Israel is done in small retail shops that often have residences above. At the bottom of an apartment building on Weizmann Street in Kfar Saba is a favorite little bakery. Not much wider than the doorposts through which we enter, this jam-packed bakery is filled with fresh-baked bourekas, breakfast pastries, cookies, cakes, challah, and these cute little baby challah rolls. When you desire the taste of challah in the middle of the week and want to wait for the Sabbath until your next full size challah, these little rolls are perfect!
Dusk, Alabama, USA
One of the marvels of flying is that you can see the sky unobstructed. Another marvel is that you can seemingly accelerate or retard the passage of time.
On this flight, we left Los Angeles after lunch and watched the sun set just three hours later.
Accented by the airplane's polarized windows, we were awestruck by the deep colors of the sky, the crescent moon, the last glimmers of the retiring sun, and the blanket of clouds sheltering the towns below. Moments like these are one of the reasons we love to fly.
Seagulls, Panama City Beach, Florida, USAThere is something wondrous about seagulls at the beach. We love listening to their calls and watching them fly majestically in the sea breeze.
Tractor, Coweta County, Georgia, USAWe're not real knowledgeable about farming or tractors, but something about this tractor attracted both of us to pull up and take a picture of it. Maybe it was how relatively clean and shiny it was, the apparent simplicity of its design, or how it was just parked out in a front yard. No matter what the reason was, it is part of our memories from a weekend drive.
Railroad Tracks, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA
We were wandering around Stone Mountain Park a few years ago and came upon these railroad tracks. We're not sure if these were for the Stone Mountain Railroad (which circles around the park) or perhaps a set of tracks which bisect the park. Either way, it was a lovely rural setting for a train to traverse.
Rose, Livermore, California, USA
The colors of this big, beautiful rose mess up the famous poem, but it is still lovely to look at.
Boy Exploring, Harpswell, Maine, USA
The boy above is exploring the rocks, shells, sand, and muck. Perhaps he found some snails and other fun creatures. Perhaps he found some sea glass. No matter what he found, he is certainly having fun!
Grilled Mushroom and Cheese Sandwiches, Tel Aviv, Israel
After arriving in Tel Aviv in the early evening, our jet-lagged bodies told us it was time for lunch. Thinking that a light meal would help us sleep for the night, we decided to have these sandwiches with some small salads and fresh juices. Needless to say, we woke up hungry for dinner a few hours later.
Rascal House, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
When Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House Restaurant closed in 2008, it ended the reign of his great Jewish delicatessens on Miami Beach. Joined by Pumpernik's and his namesake Wolfie's, for over 60 years his three restaurants set the gold standard of delicious Jewish comfort food in South Florida.
Sprinkler, Pine Mountain, Georgia, USAThis handsome sprinkler keeps fruits and vegetables hydrated. Designed by an American inventor in the 1930's, impact sprinklers are much more efficient than many older methods of irrigation. As these ingenious devices water front lawns and schoolyard playing fields, many children like to be chased and sprayed by these sprinklers.
Bauhaus Apartments Building, Tel Aviv, Israel
A large part of Tel Aviv is known as the White City because of the more than 4,000 Bauhaus style buildings built in the city from the 1930's onward. Tel Aviv's Bauhaus buildings differ from European counterparts by the usage of white stone and paint, small recessed windows and long overhangs to minimize the effects of the hot sun. Many of the Bauhaus buildings are curved and resemble ships with decks to enjoy the ocean air and breezes.
Corner of Haight and Ashbury, San Francisco, California, USAThis is the famed corner of Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco. We took this picture with a roll of black and white film about 14 years ago. While totally unplanned, the appearance of the vintage Mini Countrymen (or Mini Traveler) in the intersection adds a nice touch.
Boardwalk, Melbourne, Florida, USA
Besides taking a nap, there is nothing so relaxing when we travel as being amongst nature. This boardwalk at Erna Nixon Park allowed us to stroll amongst the trees, bushes, and critters. A very relaxing time indeed.
Pear and Cheese Salad, Pine Mountain, Georgia, USA
We enjoy delicious food, but we're not necessarily gourmet. This pear and cheese salad turned out to be both delicious and gourmet. Made from local produce and cheeses, this salad from the Gardens Restaurant at Callaway Gardens was superb.
Lunch Appetizers, North Atlantic OceanA few years ago, we cashed in our airline miles and realized our dream of flying in Business Class to Europe.On our flight westbound from Paris, just south of Ireland, we were served a delicious lunch which began with this beautiful appetizer plate. This plate could have sufficed as a delicious and filling lunch all by itself.
Lion, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
This lion climbed up to the top of the "mountain" to survey his dominions at the Atlanta Zoo. Even at the zoo, this fellow is very awesome and frightening!
Thermometer and Calendar, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
It can get very hot on Miami Beach, figuratively and literally. However, we are quite sure it's never been 120°F anytime in recent memory, and especially not in October.
Many communities have public clocks, calendars, and thermometers. This one was a little unusual in that it was completely analog and appears to have a little bench to sit on.
The thermometer above was definitely broken, as the record books show that the temperature on October 17, 2004 was no more than 85°F.
Railyard, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Railroads helped build the United States into an industrial powerhouse. Although passenger rail has been passé in much of this country for many decades, shipping goods by rail is still very common and increases significantly each year. This picture demonstrates the awesome amount of construction required to make a nationwide rail network. In this picture alone we can see many railways branching and merging.
Elephants, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
These elephants at the Atlanta Zoo were basking in the weak rays of the winter sun on a very cold day. Elephants are pachyderms, a term derived from the Greek compound word pachydermata which means thick skin. On a day like this, thick skin was definitely helpful!
Panama City Beach, Florida, USA
We had our first dance together at a little disco on Panama City Beach. Every year, we travel there to play on the white beaches and in the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This year, because of the BP oil spill, we likely will not be able to go. In fact, with over 100 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf, we figure it could be a decade or more until we can go again.
Barbecued Chicken, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Americans love to grill out during the summer, especially on holidays. As today is July 4th, America's Independence Day, here's a picture of Marc grilling up some chicken during a prior Independence Day holiday weekend. Note his red, white, and blue attire!
Lake Michigan, USA
The morning sun is shining down on southwestern Lake Michigan. Enroute to Chicago, we were likely in our descent by this time. At 22,400 sq mi (58,000 km2), Lake Michigan is the largest body of water by area wholly in the United States and also the largest by area found entirely within any one country. If you look closely, you can see a large ship plying the waters.
Poppy Seed Pod, Pine Mountain, Georgia, USA
We saw this amazing seed pod at Callaway Gardens. Designed by the greatest architect of all, this beautiful structure is used to hold and then spread poppy seeds.
PS: Many thanks to our friend Scott, an expert in gardening and landscape design, for identifying this structure for us!
Ganei Yehoshua (Joshua Gardens) Park, Tel Aviv, Israel
Everyday, parks and gardens are wonderful places to relax, recharge, and have fun. At Ganei Yehoshua (Joshua Gardens) Park you can have a picnic, play backgammon, sit on a bench, play sports, stroll amongst desert plants and rock gardens, see sculptures, eat at an outdoor cafe, and even rent a boat on a small lake.
CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Standing 1,815 feet tall, the CN Tower is one of the highest free-standing structures in the world. From the Sky Pod observatory, you can look down more than 1,000 feet to the city below.
Rental Sailboats, North Florida, USA
We took this picture in July of 1990. We think these rental sailboats are awaiting sailors at Maclay Gardens near Tallahassee. However, it was so long ago, that we're not quite sure where this photo was taken.
Pasture, Sharpsburg, Georgia, USA
On a recent trip, we decided to travel on smaller state roads instead of the Interstate. This view was one of our many rewards!
Crabs, Redondo Beach, California, USA
These friends have plenty of reasons to be crabby. They're on ice waiting to be somebody's lunch or dinner.
Good Neighbor Day Airshow, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Airshows are wonderful, fun events where you can see airplanes on static display and, especially, in the air performing acrobatic feats.
In the picture above, the AeroShell Acrobatic Team approaches the crowd and readies their formation for more exciting loops, rolls, and dives.
Iridescent Fish, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Bronze Turtle, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Many folks have sculptures and art work in their yards and gardens. This bronze turtle decorates a flower bed but never eats the flora.
Muir Woods, California, USA
The arched tree somehow got bent or knocked down, but kept on growing. This picture is nearly 20 years old, so it would be interesting to know if this flexible tree flourished and grew.
Hood Ornament, Pierce-Arrow Automobile, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Pierce-Arrow was an American automobile manufacturer during the first four decades of the 20th century. They were known for exquisite luxury cars.
Hood ornaments were originally created to decorate radiator caps. After radiators were moved under the hood, hood ornaments continued to provide a way to know a car's maker at first glance.
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Like the cute little anthropomorphic Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner, this fellow is scrubbing and making bubbles. Unlike the bathroom cleaner, his bubbles are from breathing and he has to actually scrub to clean the aquarium's glass panes. With over 8.1 million gallons of water, there is a lot of glass to clean!
Watercraft, Lake Lanier, Georgia, USA
With a mild climate, Georgia's lakes and waterways are enjoyed during much of the year. This picture, at the height of summer, shows a variety of boats, houseboats, and docks. We took this picture from a small propeller plane while flying between Atlanta and Gainesville.
Fabulous Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The Fabulous Fox Theatre originated as a movie palace in the 1920's. It has unique Moorish and Egyptian architecture inside and out and boasts a a 3,662 pipe theatre organ. Though movies are still occasionally shown at the Fabulous Fox, folks usually come to see classical and popular musicians and the Atlanta Ballet.
Dogwood Flower, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The 74th annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival was this past weekend. Here's a dogwood flower soon after opening. After a while, the petals fall to the ground and create a beautiful white ground cover!
Rushing Creek Water, Anna Ruby Falls, Georgia, USA
This picture was taken below the Anna Ruby Falls. Anna Ruby Falls is a twin falls. Two different creeks fall over the same spot and then eventually come together as one.
Apple Blossom, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
These beautiful blossoms contain pollen which fertilize this tree (and others) for the making of apples.
Dusk, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
The clouds in this beautiful evening sky are reminiscent of velvet. Many Elvis lovers enjoy his likeness on velvet wall hangings. Sitting just minutes from Graceland, we enjoyed this magnificent sky.
Pacific Ocean, Point Bonita, California, USA
In Spanish, the word bonito means nice and the word pacifico means peaceful. While the Pacific Ocean is not a placid sea, this spot is both peaceful and beautiful! At the tip of Point Bonita is a working lighthouse which helps guide ships through the Golden Gate (and away from these treacherous rocks and cliffs) to San Francisco and Oakland.
Container Barge and Tugboat, Savannah, Georgia, USA
Everyday over 5 million tons of cargo are shipped in and out of US ports. Over the course of a year, about 2 billion tons of cargo pass through the various ports around the United States. The Port of Savannah is one of the top ten busiest container ports in the United States. This barge is being pulled up the Savannah River into port. It is amazing to think that this giant stack of containers, piled incredibly high, crossed the swelling ocean without any falling overboard.
Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine, USA
This little bird, from Northwest Jet Airlink, is getting de-iced with a warm spray of propylene or ethylene glycol. The de-icing spray washes off existing ice and snow and delays additional accumulation before take-off. Ice is especially dangerous because it reduces the ability to control and lift the aircraft.
Old Port, Portland, Maine, USA
For those of us who live in warmer climes, snow is very exotic. For folks in Portland, this is their routine for many months of the year. This is what it looked like after 8 inches of snow was plowed for traffic.
