Walking around Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg yesterday, I saw these buds along the riverfront.
Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what they are, but they look like they are ready to bust with the on-coming spring.
I can't wait to visit again soon and see what the flowers look like.
Friday, March 5
Thursday, March 4
"Need You Now" - Album Review - Lady Antebellum
, I'd already fell in love with Need You Now the title track from their new album which released on Tuesday. Cindy picked it up and after listening to it for the first time, I can defintely say in my opinion that it is as good as the first one if not better.They have the ability to cover a variety of songs from ballads to more upbeat tunes. I love the harmonization that they have. I'm not the world's biggest country fan, but they also have appeal to crossover audiences. It's nice to have a new "favorite group" to listen to.
Wednesday, March 3
Monday, March 1
Sunday, February 28
A Rodeo Fan's Dream.. the 2010 NFR in Vegas
If you enjoy rodeos and bull-riding like Cindy and I do, then the ultimate vacation idea is a trip to the 2010 National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from December 2 to December 11, 2010.
The National Finals Rodeo brings together the best cowboys and cowgirls from the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association to compete for the coveted championship buckles. You get night-after-night of exciting action in a number of events including:
• Bareback Riding
• Steer Wrestling
• Team Roping
• Saddle Bronc Riding
• Tie-Down Roping
• Steer Roping
• Barrel Racing
• Bull Riding
Held every year in Las Vegas, there are also plenty of opportunities to experience all the other attractions that Vegas offers during the daytime, before heading to the Thomas and Mack Arena for the nights activities. There are plenty of chances to meet your favorite cowboys and cowgirls, as well as shop at all the vendors who are located there.
National Finals Rodeo Tickets are already on sale and with the popularity of the event it is not too soon to start making plans to attend now. Don't be stuck watching the finals on ESPN, instead enjoy it in Las Vegas this year from December 2nd until December 11th.
The National Finals Rodeo brings together the best cowboys and cowgirls from the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association to compete for the coveted championship buckles. You get night-after-night of exciting action in a number of events including:
• Bareback Riding
• Steer Wrestling
• Team Roping
• Saddle Bronc Riding
• Tie-Down Roping
• Steer Roping
• Barrel Racing
• Bull Riding
Held every year in Las Vegas, there are also plenty of opportunities to experience all the other attractions that Vegas offers during the daytime, before heading to the Thomas and Mack Arena for the nights activities. There are plenty of chances to meet your favorite cowboys and cowgirls, as well as shop at all the vendors who are located there.National Finals Rodeo Tickets are already on sale and with the popularity of the event it is not too soon to start making plans to attend now. Don't be stuck watching the finals on ESPN, instead enjoy it in Las Vegas this year from December 2nd until December 11th.
Friday, February 26
An Aiken Treasure: Hitchcock Woods
Originally owned by Thomas and Louise Hitchcock, the woods were transferred to the ownership to the Hitchcock Woods Foundation in 1939 to insure that it would be available for the use of future generations of residents. In 2009, the foundation celebrated 70 years of managing the property, without this management, the land would of most likely of been lost to development like much of the surrounding area.
Read more at: http://bit.ly/9XXIZy
Thursday, February 25
Bridge Detail- Trains Thursday
Railroads provide many interesting photographic subjects beyond the engines and cars themselves.
Railroads constructed many elaborate bridges across the United States which still serve today. The Iron and Steel work provides interesting angles and contrasts.
This shot was taken along the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia. The bridge carries the Norfolk Southern Railroad into downtown Augusta where it runs in the middle of the street for several blocks before reaching the yard.
The trains pass the Augusta History Museum which houses a nice railroad display including a retired Steam Locomotive in all it's glory.
The Riverwalk also provides many photographic opprotunities of boats, water, flowers, and birds. Worth a visit if you are in the area.
Railroads constructed many elaborate bridges across the United States which still serve today. The Iron and Steel work provides interesting angles and contrasts.
This shot was taken along the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia. The bridge carries the Norfolk Southern Railroad into downtown Augusta where it runs in the middle of the street for several blocks before reaching the yard.
The trains pass the Augusta History Museum which houses a nice railroad display including a retired Steam Locomotive in all it's glory.
The Riverwalk also provides many photographic opprotunities of boats, water, flowers, and birds. Worth a visit if you are in the area.
Wednesday, February 24
Visit the Elkhorn Inn & Theatre - Destination
The Elkhorn Inn and Theatre in Landgraff, West Virginia is a great destination for railfans, romantics, and for anyone looking for a great bed and breakfast in a remote wilderness setting.
The Inn sits right besides the NS Pokey Subdivision with it's high-volume of coal traffic from West Virginia coal mines travelling past day and night. The Inn is equipped with scanners, wi-fi connections, and the ATCS software so you can always be ready to see the next train when it arrives.
For the non-railfan, the Elkhorn Inn also offers great trout fishing, ATV riding, and various other outdoor activities in the surrounding area.
Elise and Dan Clark also provide delicious dinners at the Inn. They have a varied menu for different tastes and are always tweeting about their latest creations on their account at http://twitter.com/elkhorninn and on facebook.
Cindy and I will be visiting the Inn soon for a ROMANTIC weekend and I plan on having lots of photographs from the area to share with you on my blog and websites.
Visit the Inn's great website and find plan your next trip now.
(originally published at http://railfan.biz/)
For the non-railfan, the Elkhorn Inn also offers great trout fishing, ATV riding, and various other outdoor activities in the surrounding area.
Elise and Dan Clark also provide delicious dinners at the Inn. They have a varied menu for different tastes and are always tweeting about their latest creations on their account at http://twitter.com/elkhorninn and on facebook.
Cindy and I will be visiting the Inn soon for a ROMANTIC weekend and I plan on having lots of photographs from the area to share with you on my blog and websites.
Visit the Inn's great website and find plan your next trip now.
(originally published at http://railfan.biz/)
Tuesday, February 23
Review: The Blue Ridge Parkway (Postcard History Series)
On my last trip in October to the Blue Ridge Parkway, I purchased "The Blue Ridge Parkway
" from the Postcard History Series books at one of the visitor centers.Despite it's name, it is actually a collection of historic postcards all the way from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway in between.
The book written by Karen Hall with the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway has a great variety of postcards. Some of them are of the motels, and other business establishments that the area was famous for. Others are "real-photo" type cards highlighting areas along the BRP and the surrounding area.
If you grew up going to the Blue Ridge or the Smokies then this is a book you will really enjoy as it will bring back memories of childhood. If you didn't grow up in the area, you'll understand a lot more about the "days of old" in the area when you hear about it.
Blue Ridge Overlook
Been listening to podcasts this week from the Great Smokies Mountains National Park and also read a book about historic postcards from the Blue Ridge Parkway and GSMNP.This was my favorite photo from the Blue Ridge Parkway last year. I'm waiting to get back to the mountains soon to make more photos
Monday, February 22
Tired: Slow Food. Wired: Slow Photography! (Article)
Interesting idea about slowing down photography.. goes along with my idea this year of trying to focus more on the details in life.
The article at photojojo begins:
The article at photojojo begins:
We’ve seen slow versions of everything lately: slow food, slow travel, slow shopping, slow dentistry. (We might’ve made one of those up.)It definately sounds like something I want to investigate further.
But have you tried slow photography? It’s like a yoga class for your camera.
Long conversations with subjects, patient exposures, and delicate macros will lend your photos a new calmness and longevity — so vital in these rush-rush go-go slam-crash rock-and-roll times.
Join the Slow Photo movement, and soon you’ll be measuring exposures not in fractions of a second, but in fractions of an eon.
Gethin Thomas on Macro Photography (Guardian)
Really great set of macro shots using the British version of the monopoly board as the background from the Guardian Camera Club in this great article
Friday, February 19
Folkston Water Tower
Do you have any photos of interesting water towers?
I've always liked the tower in Folkston, Georgia in South Georgia which besides being a railfan mecca, is also the "Gateway to the Okefenokee".
I've always liked the tower in Folkston, Georgia in South Georgia which besides being a railfan mecca, is also the "Gateway to the Okefenokee".
Thursday, February 18
RR Crossing
Seeing this picture always makes me want to get the camera out and go train watching.
I'm hoping that the weekend will be decent and I can spend a day out along the track and get some new photos to share with everyone.
I restarted my railfan blog at http://railfan.biz/ and I hope you will visit there to find out more about my railfanning adventures.
I'm hoping that the weekend will be decent and I can spend a day out along the track and get some new photos to share with everyone.
I restarted my railfan blog at http://railfan.biz/ and I hope you will visit there to find out more about my railfanning adventures.
Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday - Lent (Some History)
Wikipedia describes today as:
Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as 4 February or as late as 10 March.On Philly.com today it talks about Lent as:
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister administering ashes recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return", or "Repent, and believe the Gospel."
The fasting associated with Lent spawned pre-Lenten celebrations such as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and Carnivale as a last chance to eat, drink and be merry before the 40 days of self denial began.
Tradition holds that a Philadelphia staple - the soft pretzel - was created by a monk as a Lenten food at a time when the faithful abstained from meat and animal products, such as milk and eggs.
While Lent has traditionally been observed by giving up pleasures, such as sweets, churches now encourage the faithful to something during the season that will help others or enrich their spiritual lives.
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