Treemendous Sunset

Sunset, Denver, Colorado, USA

Beautiful sunsets are not just about unobstructed skies and ocean reflections.  This stunning sunset in Denver showcases the silhouettes of trees and the vibrant colors of the sky to make a wondrous landscape.

As today is the last day of 2013, we thought we'd send the year off with a beautiful sunset.

Tennessee in Georgia

Railroad Track, Buford, Georgia, USA

Despite the Tennessee markings on this track, we took this photo while driving on Georgia's backroads.  We really like the various shades of red and brown in this photo.

Desperately Seeking Seafood?

Seafood Restaurant, Panama City, Florida, USA

Whenever we go to the Florida Panhandle, we have a craving for hushpuppies and deep fried fish and seafood.  This simple, unpretentious, down home place sure did deliver the goods.  We found Hunt's Oyster Bar by accident, but a lot of other folks seem to know about it too.  Check it out the next time you're in Panama City.

Soundstage

DeSoto Theater, Rome, Georgia, USA

The DeSoto Theater was specially built in 1928 for the new talking pictures.  It opened in 1929 and was the first movie theater in the Southeast to show talkies.  The typography and lights on the marquee and the box office in the entryway hearken back to an earlier time.  With movies now shown mostly in multiplexes, the theater is now used for stage plays.

Winter?

United Airlines Boeing 777, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

While much of the nation is in the cold of winter, it is usually warm in Hawaii during December and every other month.

At most airports, you can only see the planes through thick panes of glass.  At Honolulu International Airport (HNL), you can enjoy a stroll outside and see and hear the planes while you await your flight.  They even have lovely gardens to enjoy.

Lookout Below

Tennessee River, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Back in the 1990's, we took a trip to Chattanooga during a cold December.  We took this picture from a rock ledge in Point Park atop Lookout Mountain.  We remember the beautiful scenery, but also the bitter cold of that day.

Ice Themed Cone

Pine Cone, Evergreen, Colorado, USA

We saw this pine cone sitting on Evergreen Lake and zoomed in on it to capture this magical scene.

Holiday Travels

Downtown Connector, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Many people are on the roads today traveling to friends and family for the holidays.  Unlike the quiet scene above, Atlanta's highways are likely jam packed today.

Atlanta's Downtown Connector is the combined highway of Interstates 75 and 85.  At the spot pictured above, you can see downtown Atlanta and the ramps to and from Interstate 20.

Atlanta isn't just a leader in air travel (Atlanta has the world's busiest airport), it is also a major hub for road traffic.  You can travel I-75 from South Florida to Canada, I-85 from Alabama to Virginia, and I-20 from South Carolina to Texas.

Lift to Work

Construction Cranes, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These cranes helped build new freeway ramps between Interstate 85 and Georgia 400.  While construction may have slowed the morning commute for many, drivers were rewarded with majestic views like the above.

Christmas Dinner

Egg Rolls, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Many Jews around the USA will be enjoying Chinese food on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  While their Christian friends are eating ham, they'll be enjoying egg drop soup, egg rolls, and sweet and sour chicken at their local Chinese restaurants.

Hawaiian Twins

One Waterfront Towers, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Honolulu comes in fourth for US cities with the most skyscrapers.  The One Waterfront Towers, named Mauka and Makai, were built in 1990 and were for a time the tallest buildings in all of Hawaii.  The Hawaiian word Mauka means towards the mountains and Makai means towards the sea.

Winter Wonderland

Southwestern Norway

During a trip to Israel from the States, we made our European landfall over western Norway.  Surprisingly, it added very little mileage to our trip.  This was the amazing view as we soared through the sky.

Harbor Hues

Boats, Portland, Maine, USA

This week's Canadian Clipper likely has Portland deep in snow today.  This was the scene by the harbor on a nice fall day back in 2001.

Cone of Lula

Pine Cone, Lula, Georgia, USA

We really struggled to come up with a title and text for this photo.  We decided to be simple and title it "Cone of Lula".

Angelic Request

Angel Sculpture, Prague, Czech Republic

We saw this dramatic angel while walking towards the Royal Castle in Prague.  We loved his expressive, heartfelt pleading to Heaven.

A Trifle of an Orange

Trifoliate Orange, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This is a trifoliate orange, also known as a Chinese bitter orange and a hardy orange.  It is a relative of citrus, but is grown on a thorny shrub instead of a large tree.

To take this photo, we put the fruit on a white table and placed the iPhone 4 just inches away.

Echoes of the Past

Ruins, Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs, Georgia, USA

While touring Sweetwater Creek State Park, we visited the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company textile mill.  The mill was built before the U.S. Civil War and was powered by Sweetwater Creek (the creek is more like a river).  The Union Army shut down and burned the mill and then arrested all of the employees.  The ruins are now a reminder of times and struggles long ago.

Shrunk By Sprawl

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Unlike the dense megalopoli of Chicago and New York, many sprawling cities look like a collection of small cities from the air.  Whereas New York is a continuous city of skyscrapers, Atlanta's skyscrapers are spread out in groups.

Essential Oil

Chanukah Sufganyot, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Besides lighting the Chanukah Menorah, cooking in oil is essential during Chanukah.  For kids and adults alike, these delicious Sufganyot (doughnuts) are fun to make and eat!

While olive oil is preferred for Chanukah cooking, vegetable oil is better for cooking sweets like Sufganyot.

Everyday is Winding Road

Clear Creek Canyon Road, Golden, Colorado, USA

Clear Creek Canyon Road is a section of U.S. Route 6 linking Idaho Springs and Golden.  We took this photo from a vista in Lookout Mountain Park.

Before the Latkes

Young Apple, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This little apple was just beginning to grow from a bud and blossom.  By mid-summer it was ready to be made into apple sauce, a perfect condiment for Chanukah latkes!

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, so we'll be getting stuffed with latkes, sufganyot, and more.  There will be no break for our tummies, as tomorrow is Thanksgiving!

A Big Compact

Mayflower Compact Monument, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA

The Mayflower Compact Monument commemorates the first governing document by the Pilgrims in North America.  The compact was signed in Provincetown Harbor in November 1620, a year before the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The next time you're in Provincetown, check it out.

What Time is It?

Clock Tower, Bartow County Courthouse, Catersville, Georgia, USA

Citizens of Cartersville have been able to set their watches since 1902 using the clock tower of the Bartow County Courthouse.  In the days before atomic clocks, cell phones, and telephone time and temperature numbers, citizens used local clock towers and church bells to synchronize their watches.

Orange You Thankful?

Sweet Potatoes, Portland, Maine, USA

This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the USA and there's a good chance we'll be eating sweet potatoes.  Between sweet potatoes, carrot souffles, and pumpkin pies, it's surprising that we don't all turn orange after our Thanksgiving feasts.

Jefferson's Capitol

State Capitol, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA

Built in 1917, the Missouri State Capitol is a glorious building, inside and out.  Next time you're in Jeff City, we encourage you to take a leisurely tour of this grand structure and the surrounding grounds.

We took this picture on a summer evening around sunset.

An Eight Legged Pumpkin

Spider, Cornelia, Georgia, USA

This orange marbled orb-weaver spider was walking on the side of the road likely heading for a pile of leaves in the nearby woodlands.  It is totally harmless to humans and usually isn't seen after the first hard freeze of winter.

To take this picture, I simply put the camera on the road very close to the spider.  There was no need to use my zoom lens as these spiders have poor vision and it didn't seem afraid of me.

Rome If You Want To

Downtown, Rome, Georgia, USA

When we travel, we enjoy seeing old buildings, signs, and facades.  We loved the front of the Partridge Restaurant, which has been a fixture in downtown Rome since 1933.  Although we didn't get to eat there during our brief visit, we figure it's probably good since it's been there so long!  Maybe we'll drop in during our next visit.

Unplanned History

Schwinn Bicycle, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

We were visiting the Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum (aka the Delta Flight Museum) and came upon this unplanned museum piece as we were entering the hangar.

Southern Comfort

Southern Cafeteria Food, Tucker, Georgia, USA

Sometimes, simpler is better.  Matthews Cafeteria sits on Main Street in Tucker as it has since 1956.  To say it's not fancy is an understatement, but the food is wonderful.  This meal of chicken and dumplings, butter beans, cabbage, cornbread, and cherry pie was outstanding.  They're also known for fried chicken, mac and cheese, pole beans, and many other Southern comfort foods.

Sharp Green

Cactus, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

We find cacti fascinating for many reasons.  Coming in all shapes and sizes, some are like plants, and some like trees.  Some have big spines, and some have tiny, little ones.  The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix sure had a wide variety for us to enjoy.

In Shape to Swim

Hotel Pool, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Set on a rooftop outside the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, this round pool in a right triangular space was really cool to look at and interesting to visit.  Although it was in some ways similar to a backyard above ground swimming pool that had somehow been recessed, it was fun to sit around while enjoying a snack and drink.  They even had a small bar and barbecue set up for guests.

A Hard Call to Make

Foxhole Display, Imperial War Museum, London, England

In honor of Veterans Day, we thank all of the Veterans of our nation and those allied with her who helped make our freedom and good lives possible.
 
On this date 95 years ago, the major hostilities of World War I (aka the Great War) came to an end.  Celebrated as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in some countries, today is now dedicated to all Veterans, not just those who served in WWI.


In our time, calling on the telephone is easy.  During World War I, a phone-like wireless (radio) was used to communicate by voice.  Poor sound quality mixed with nearby artillery made its use difficult, at best.

Saucy Cooking

Thunderbird Restaurant, Mount Carmel, Utah, USA

We didn't eat at the Thunderbird Restaurant, but we did like their colorful sign.

Farming on the Mighty Mississippi

Mississippi River, Illinois and Missouri, USA

Flying along a river, especially one as storied as the Mighty Mississippi, reminds us of how much of our nation's growth flows from river commerce and agriculture.  These fluffy, low hanging clouds add to the beauty of the river and farmlands.

Expanded Contraction

Lake Talquin, Florida, USA

Lake Talquin is located between the North Florida cities of Tallahassee and Quincy.  The lake was formed by a dam on the Ochlockonee River and its name is a contraction of the nearby two cities.  However it got made and named, we just think it's pretty.  This is how it looked in the spring of 1992.

Chasing the Sun

Sunflower, Chamblee, Georgia, USA

We found this incredibly large and beautiful sunflower at the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) in Chamblee.  Just like many of the planes, this big flower was chasing the sun.

Golden Arch

Golden, Colorado, USA

Golden greeted us with a warm welcome, but we still needed winter coats.  Golden was a cute town where he had fun shopping in quaint shops, walking down the main drag, and staying and dining at the cute Table Mountain Inn.

Too Hot to Pick

Light Bulb, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This orange bulb resembleas a shiny fruit.  We took this on the patio of a favorite restaurant last summer.  On some days, it's still warm enough to eat outside, but it won't be for long.

Fall Favorite

Caramel Apples, Helen, Georgia, USA

Halloween may have just passed, but caramel (aka toffee) apples continue to be in style for the rest of the fall.

Tracks to Nowhere

MARTA Tracks, Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These are overflow tracks for the end of the MARTA north and south lines.  The last station is just behind where this photo was taken.

Keep Climbing

Delta Jetliner, Atlanta, Georgia

Delta at one time followed the up the wonderful "Delta Is Ready When You Are" slogan with the banal "Delta Gets You There".  This picture exemplifies their current slogan, "Keep Climbing".

Meet Jack O'Lantern

Halloween Pumpkin, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The stem on this pumpkin was so big and interesting that we made this sideways Jack O'Lantern.

Go Team!

Flowers, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada

These flowers remind us of cheerleader pom poms!

Can You Hear Winthrop Sing?

Priority Mail Box, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

In the Music Man, little Winthrop and the whole town sang excitedly about the Wells Fargo Wagon bringing packages from far away.  The mail now comes in a blue truck, but it's still exciting to get a big package, even when it's just water filters for the kitchen sink.

Sweet, Shiny, and Delicious

Krispy Kreme Doughuts, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are a Southern delight.  Hot and fresh Krispy Kreme's smell so good and it is exciting to see the doughnuts being fried and glazed right before arriving in our box!  These are so delicious that you can't stop at just one.
 
We once brought a dozen with us on an El Al flight to Israel for a friend.  It's a good thing our Krispy Kreme store is certified Kosher!  Our friend was so excited that he invited his whole family over to delight in these American doughnuts!

Dusky Gradient

Water Tower, Hoschton, Georgia, USA

We love this picture for the shape of the water tower, the ladder tube, and especially the perfect gradient of the sky at dusk.

A Line in the Sand

Subdivisions, Metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, USA

This abrupt change from subdivisions to desert is like a line in the sand.

Strength and Beauty

Eiffel Tower,  Paris, France

This exquisite structure is a triumph of architecture and good taste.  We loved seeing it from afar and up close.  Seeing it lit up by the late summer sun and then ascending it at dusk was a treat.  The tower is simply beautiful and worth visiting.

Groovy

Mushroom, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

We found this mushroom just growing in wood chips and fallen leaves.  If we ate it, perhaps the world would look as distorted and curvy as it does!

A Colorful Buffet

Hotel Breakfast, Eilat, Israel

When we travel, we like to indulge in the local foods.  Like the USA, Israel is a melting pot of many different cultures and cuisines.  This breakfast was a small sampling of the offerings at the Dan Panorama's breakfast smörgåsbord.  It was all delicious!