Monday, May 17, 2010

Early Automobile Security System?


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.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Scrubbing, Bubbles


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!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Whatever Floats Your Boat


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.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Moor Fabulous Shows


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.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

So pretty it doesn't need to bark for attention!


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!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Anna Ruby Falls Twice


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.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Delicious Blossoms


Apple Blossom, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
These beautiful blossoms contain pollen which fertilize this tree (and others) for the making of apples.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Velvet Sky Fit for The King


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.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Nice and Placid


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.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Floating Five and Dime


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.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Poultry Defrost


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.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Want Some Snow?


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.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

A Grating Experience


Latkes Frying, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Friday night marked the start of Chanukah. Like all Jewish holidays, special foods (or fasts) are integral to the celebration. The miracle of the sanctified Temple oil lasting for eight nights inspired Jews the world over to eat fried foods during Chanukah.

Here were see latkes (potato pancakes) frying to a deep golden brown! To make latkes, we grate potatoes and onions, mix in matzo meal, egg, and seasonings, and fry!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Fresh Falafel


Fresh Falafel in a Pita, Tel Aviv, Israel
Wherever we travel, we love to eat local cuisine and skip the American stuff. In Israel, this is so easy as most of the everyday foods are fast foods. Israeli pita is strong and flexible, so you can pile in falafel balls (fried chickpeas) with pickles, olives, salads, hummus, and hot sauce. A full meal in your hand!