Get 'Em Early

Apple, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

In order to beat the bugs, birds, and squirrels, we often pick our apples before they reach full size.

This year, we had such an amazing crop that we've harvested some tart apples now for pies, sauces, and salads, and can also wait and see if we can grab some bigger apples later.

Ship Shape

Sunloungers, Pride of America, Hawaii, USA

These sunloungers (aka chaise longues) are ready for enjoyment onboard the NCL Pride of America cruise ship.  As this photo was taken early in the morning as we were about to dock in Hilo, it is likely that most of these sat empty until after the day's trips to volcanoes, waterfalls, and lava tubes.

As a US registered cruise ship, the Pride of America sails around the Hawaiian Islands without needing to dock in a foreign port.  For us, it was a very convenient and enjoyable way to get a taste of the Hawaiian Islands.

Sunshine Slowdown

Interstate 75-85, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

On the radio traffic reports, the term "sunshine slowdown" usually refers to reduced speeds because of bright sunshine impairing visibility.  In our case, we slowed down our routine (not our driving) to notice and enjoy this beautiful composition of sky, clouds, and sun.  The passing car was a bonus!

Breakfast as a Snack

Late Night Snack, Tel Aviv, Israel

Israelis love to eat and they often eat very healthy.  This was the snack our friend had one evening.  As Israelis are often very active physically (walking, biking, out in nature), they consume copious amounts of food but are often very trim.

A Matter of Perspective

Railroad Tracks, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

This is what we imagine railroad tracks look like to squirrels and crawling insects.  It's amazing how different the world looks depending on your vantage point.  From here, you get no sense of the purpose of these tracks nor of their design and construction.

It's Complicated?

Plumeria, Lihue, Hawaii, USA

We spotted these beautiful plumeria flowers at Kalapaki Beach on the island of Kauai.  Also known as Frangipani, if a woman wears a plumeria blossom in her right ear she's looking for a relationship, but if she wears it in her left ear, she's taken.  Even in these days of Facebook, this can be very useful.

A Really Big Chicken

Big Chicken, Marietta, Georgia, USA

There are always local landmarks that you've heard of but never really gone to experience.  Per a special request for lunch, we ventured to Marietta to see the Big Chicken.  The Big Chicken is now a Kentucky Fried Chicken and serves as a local landmark.  By the looks of it, it would appear that this structure was always an original part of this KFC.  However, it really is the other way around.  The restaurant was originally a BBQ chicken place and then was made into a KFC sometime in the 1960's.  There are displays inside the restaurant that chart the history of the Big Chicken and the restaurants that have hosted it.

Color Wheel

SkyView Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

SkyView Atlanta is a new Ferris wheel across from Centennial Olympic Park.  Instead of open air compartments, riders circle in 6 person, air-conditioned capsules.  At night, those on the ground can enjoy watching the rainbow of colors that light up the wheel.

Bright Lights

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Honolulu is well known for Waikiki, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor.  These kept us so busy during the day that at night we decided to kick back on our hotel room balcony and just enjoy the fresh air and city lights.

Let Them Eat Bread

Bread Case, Paris, France

In honor of Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale), here's a display of bread in a nice bakery we visited in Paris' Marais District.  We love this picture because it reminds us of the delicious food in Paris and also because the window pane reflects the beautiful architecture outside the shop.

Living in the City

Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA

This little roadway in Chicago near Millennium Park is a hodgepodge of 20th Century urban living.  From the fire escapes, to the lack of natural daylight, to the narrow roadway, this showcases how folks lived and worked in the earlier days of cities.  Naturally, these buildings are still in use, but this style of living has been replaced by more bright and airy ideas.

Red, White, and Blue

Saab 340's, Memphis International Airport, Tennessee, USA

These cute Saab 340 airliners of commuter service Northwest Airlink were awaiting passengers to transport across the Deep South, Ozarks, and beyond.

This picture features N451XJ, the 500th Saab 340 to roll of the assembly line.

Memphis International Airport (MEM) was a major hub for Northwest Airlines.

In honor of our nation's Independence Day, we share this photo of red and white airliners against a blue sky.