Day Tripper

Our annual vacation to the mountains

2011-10-30T11:02:00.004-04:00

Liz and I were married on October 6, 1985 and went to the mountains for our honeymoon. For the last 26 years, we have returned to the mountains for vacation in October as our anniversary gift to each other. We both love the change of seasons with the fall colors and cooler weather.

This year, we rented a 100 year old farm house on the New river. It was a wonderful location with plenty of privacy and lots of character.

The house is on a gravel road following the New river for miles, which made for a good walk.

There were also plenty of opportunities for car hiking and photography.

Liz's sister, Karen and her husband Stan joined us for the week. Our good friends Gail and Leon, from the Tenn. mountains dropped in for a day and a night.

Sunrise of the Charlotte Skyline

2011-10-29T09:12:00.003-04:00

On a previous trip to Charlotte to visit family, I found a great location of the Charlotte skyline. On a recent return trip, I decided to captured Charlotte waking up with a timelapse and still images.

State Fair

2011-10-29T09:06:00.005-04:00

Every year Liz and I go to the State Fair. It's the beginning of our favorite time of year where, for 26 years, we have celebrated our anniversary, taken our annual vacation to the mountains, dusted off the space heaters, and started daydreaming of Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends. Here are some images from this year.

Charlotte Skyline

2011-07-25T17:12:00.000-04:00

On a recent visit to my brother(Tony) in Charlotte, I was taken by the billowing white clouds behind the Charlotte skyline. I wondered where a good vantage point would be for a photo. Location scouting has reached a whole new level as Tony and I sat at his kitchen table..................and found a vantage point..........from his laptop...................with google earth. Here is a comparison of google earth and the actual photograph..........................

From my father's memories

2011-06-25T14:02:00.000-04:00

It was Christmas morning..........either 1953 or 1954.............I remember that horse............It had springs which gave it a lot of action. The Christmas tree was from the woods................The whole family would go to the country together and pick out a tree for Christmas........no tree farm.........just nature...............My father would spray it with this gooey white coating.........you have to love the 50's.........................

From my father's memories

2011-06-24T04:19:00.000-04:00

After my father's passing, I acquired all his slides..........as he was a shutterbug. This is an image of a cabin in the woods I grew up with. I am in my mother's lap. The cabin was built by my grandfather........had electricity but no running water. There was an outhouse for a bathroom. We(the family) would go there on weekends.It was situated on 60 aches of country.........surrounded by nothing but more country. My playground was endless woods and peace and quite.

To this day, I am most at peace when I am by myself................in the country.......................

Tanglewood Park

2011-06-11T16:42:00.000-04:00

Liz and I took a day trip to Tanglewood Park. This was a trip down memory lane for Liz. Growing up in Salisbury, Liz has fond childhood memories of her family going to Tanglewood Park for a picnic and horse back riding.

Memorial Day

2011-05-29T19:02:00.000-04:00

I would like to salute memorial day by honoring my father. He was a world war II vet. Last year, he had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with the "Flight of Honor" program...........to see all the war memorials........and be celebrated for his service. My father loved to travel and, as I was present upon their return at the airport, this photograph says it all..................

On May 8,2011, my father took his last trip as he passed away. He had a military service as this still life has his "Fight of Honor" cap and the shells from the gun salute at his funeral.

My father was a great man and a wonderful father.....................I will miss him dearly..............

An early spring walk in the yard

2011-04-10T08:01:00.000-04:00

The Lilac bush

2011-03-25T17:43:00.001-04:00

When we first moved into our home(26 years ago), we were told the lilac bush was around 25 or more years old. That makes it at least 50 or more years old. Lilac bushes are not even suppose to survive this far south as they thrive on cold winters and temperate summers. Every year, the lilac bush blooms and the smell is beyond description...........Liz and I have a ritual, during lilac bloom season, to smell the lilac blooms every day..........................nothing, in my opinion, smells better..............................

My peach tree

2011-03-13T19:25:00.002-04:00

Around 20 years ago, I was relocating my compost pile when I discovered a baby peach tree sprouting from a discarded peach pit. 15 years later, the peach tree matured enough to bear fruit................but the fruit always died from fungus and disease before they were edible. Around 3 years ago, I researched how to take care of a peach tree, bought a sprayer and the fungus and disease control...........and learned what to do. After a sizable financial investment as well as time spraying and treating the tree, I finally had fruit almost ready to harvest.................and the deer ate all of them. So my peach tree is now a opening act to spring............ food for the bees and deer...........and a great photo opp.

Glass from the past

2011-03-01T17:42:00.000-05:00

Whenever I turn my ground in my garden spot, I usually uncover fragments of glass and pottery from days gone by. Common everyday bottles of the 30's are collectible today because of their artistic shape and vibrant colors. I wonder what will be collectible in the far future that we commonly have today??!!

A trip to the zoo

2011-02-26T05:23:00.000-05:00

Key chain

2011-02-12T07:53:00.000-05:00

Working in a hospital, I wash my hands(up to my wrists) frequently. A wrist watch is not practical so I have a clip watch. It has become my key chain.............The keys are for shelter and travel.............The whistle was a gift from my wife Liz........so I can feel safe..........The artsy camera jewelry is a gift from my sister-in-law Karen......to keep me focused(pun intended) on my own passion as well as the love of family............A day doesn't go by without my key chain.

A walk down memory lane

2011-02-05T09:47:00.000-05:00

For those old enough to remember segregation(as I am), here are two photographs of the Liberty Christmas parade in 1960. The band from the black school were stepping high and looking good in their band uniforms......the band from the white school sat on the back of a truck. Integration was a benefit for all..........

My spot

2011-02-02T16:21:00.000-05:00

I believe everyone has a spot............A spot is where everything in your life is organized into something that appears to makes sense...........if only for a brief moment...........While growing up, my spot was a place called Soapstone Mine.............My parents owned land where my mother grew up in a house beside the barn(in the photo). I grew up at my spot.

Winter walk in the yard

2011-01-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

A day trip down memory lane

2011-01-15T04:50:00.001-05:00

Somewhere around 2 to 3 years of age, I received my first set of guns. I like to think that the tape on my right thumb is because I shot so fast, I had a blister..............my mother told me it was to keep me from sucking my thumb.

A day trip down memory lane

2011-01-15T04:42:00.000-05:00

This is my first Christmas..................Looks like I am developing the concept of possession.

A day trip down memory lane

2011-01-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

Here is an image of my early childhood................I don't remember this moment.........but it feels very familiar. At age 1, I am holding my mother's hand...............

Visiting Phillip

2011-01-02T17:18:00.000-05:00

Phillip is a friend from High School. He is a farmer and master carpenter and still lives on his family land granted by the King of England back in the 1700's. Visiting Phillip is how I water my roots.

The Oak tree in perspective

2010-12-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Here is a pair of images of the same Oak tree in my back yard................during a snow storm..........and reflected in the droplet of an ice cycle.

Snow storm on Dec. 26, 2010

2010-12-27T17:15:00.000-05:00

For this day trip I stepped outside onto my yard to record a snow storm. We ended with 8 inches of snow.

Lunar Eclipse Dec. 21, 2010

2010-12-22T16:09:00.000-05:00

Lisa and Mat

2010-09-12T07:50:00.000-04:00

After a photo session with the whole family, Lisa and Mat agreed to indulge me and posed for a 50's photo setup. Finding the location and a car, along with exploring wardrobe.............all elements of the final results.

Beach trip with the family

2010-06-18T12:45:00.000-04:00

This year's trip to the beach with the family was full of life as the three kids, Maddy, Ella, and Porter all had a great time..........Here are some images of their experiences. For all of us that have moments to relive about our first times at the beach...........let the memories flow.

B.J's country store

2010-06-07T19:02:00.000-04:00

25 years ago Liz and I moved to our place in the country. The community store 1/2 mile down the road was your typical country store. They had all the basics in grocery's as well as hardware for your car, home, and garden. Locals would often gather to catch up on the neighborhood news.......all gossip with a grain of truth.
Best of all was the butcher. Robert's selection of meats and chicken had the reputation of the best in Wake Co. As Liz and I met people from Raleigh and told them where we lived, they would asked us if we lived near B.J.'s community store........they have the best steaks and chicken around.
Several years ago, the store changed owners and the store went downhill from poor management. Robert left....... and the store lost it's reputation. The most recent new owners have brought the store back to it's glory from the pass. The shelves are stocked again..........the locals are back with more neighborhood news......and best of all, Robert is back. Only in a country store will you find air dried sausage.......or a pack of fatback. Robert works on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. and will give you the cut of meat you request. They are......again.....the best steaks in Wake Co.

The little tree that could.

2010-05-02T17:22:00.000-04:00

In 1990, I bought Liz this Japanese maple as a birthday gift. We choose a sunny spot in the yard where it would be prominent. Three years later, I noticed it was not growing and looking for the worse. After some research, I discovered Japanese maples don't like sunny places. It was burning up and would probably die. In 1996, hurricane Fran blew over a 70 foot cedar tree on top of this Japanese maple. Fortunately, there was a hole between two branches and the tree was not harmed. Two weeks later, a cleanup crew came through.........and as they were clearing the cedar tree away, it rolled onto the Japanese maple. The crushed and mangled little tree finally met it's match. By the next spring, I noticed it had some new growth. I cleaned off the dead broken branches and gave it some food and mulch. Every year, this little tree shows lichen growth on it's branches..........which indicates dead branches ..........but it continues to fill out with red leaves. This little survivor is twenty years old and the same size as when we planted it. I realized today that if this little tree can make it............so can I.

2010-04-17T19:51:00.000-04:00

An event called "Flight of Honor" sponsored by Rotary Club 7680 in Charlotte, flew over 100 World War II veterans to Washington D.C. for a tour of the World War II memorial. Upon returning at the airport, they were greeted by over 300 flag waving, hand shaking, cheering, people consisting of family, friends and other veterans. I was moved to tears as one of the W.W.II veterans was my father.

2010-04-17T19:21:00.000-04:00

2010-04-17T19:18:00.000-04:00

2010-04-17T19:08:00.000-04:00

Rocky Mount NC

2010-03-14T15:17:00.001-04:00

The cup

2010-02-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

About a month ago, my favorite drinking cup had a mishap with gravity and I needed another one. This cup was a piece of pottery from the Seagrove area. It had dented sides that fit my hand perfectly. I bought my other cup several years ago........... and to remember where, out of a couple of dozen potters in the area..........was going to be a brain squeeze. Liz took over camera duty so I could focus all my brain cells on finding the right potter. Liz, with her artistic eye, is an excellent photographer and all the images are hers.
I choose a country route through the rolling hills of the Uwharries which took us through Coleridge. Coleridge was a cotton mill community on the Deep river. The mill is no longer producing cotton products or a community....................only photo opportunities.
When we approached the Seagrove area, I knew it was going to be a hit and miss endeavor. Each potter store we explored, I quickly scanned for the cups while Liz was chasing light with her camera. After several false alarms, I recognized "Hard Times pottery" as the place I remembered..........except........it was closed.
I hesitated to leave and wondered, sense this was a private residence, the owner may be sitting in her kitchen......... watching us with binoculars.........trying to decide, are they buyers or lookers. I tried to look as disappointed as I could. I imagined I just found out I was adopted and my parents are from the South Bronx and has never had grits or fried bologna. After a few moments, a car pulled up........and it was the owner.
She had three cups left and one fit perfectly. On the way home, I was thinking that Liz and I just had a wonderful treasure hunt. I found two treasures.....a cup........and another........"remember that time".......with Liz.

Johnsons cheeseburgers

2010-02-22T08:22:00.000-05:00

Liz and I took a day trip to Johnsons in Siler City for cheeseburgers. So you may ask, why go over an hour away and to, of all places, Siler City for cheeseburgers? The best way to answer this is to say...........just go............ and then you will understand. Johnsons is on Highway 64 in Siler City. Mr. Johnson opens around 10:30 A.M. for lunch only and stays open until the hamburger meat runs out. Johnsons was opened in 1946 by Mr. Johnson's father and only the prices have changed. The meat is still bought locally and prepared by Mr. Johnson from the processing to the grill. He tops his cheeseburgers with a generous portion of Velveeta cheese and all the fixins as you request.

Entertainment at Johnsons

2010-02-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

Going to Johnsons for their cheeseburgers is worth the trip alone.............but the entertainment is an added bonus.
The show is a traditional southern event called "who are you?" and is often performed in small local diners, especially if you are from out of town..........you become the star of the show. As I stood at the end of the bar to take an overall photograph of the interior, the person at the end of the bar asked, Who are you with?........a newspaper or a magazine?..........My innocent answer was,"just for me, just for fun." Immediately, the person to his left threw an elbow into his side with the question,"what he say?" The elbows continued down the line until everyone sitting at the bar knew it was just for me, just for fun. I felt like I did when I was a kid and our family would go see our relatives after church on Sunday. I would have to go to the bathroom and prayed I wouldn't fart out loud.
Liz and I sat at the bar where the person on both Liz's right and my left asked,"Who are you?" Liz's friend grew up in Siler City, was in his late 60's and was the baseball coach at his high school. My bar friend was a middle age woman, moved to Siler City 30 years ago from somewhere else. Two years after she moved to Siler City, she lost her husband. He died on duty as a policeman on Christmas night. She is a regular at Johnsons and everybody knew her . She elbowed me(as a rule, always start with an elbow to the side) and pointed to a couple of motorcycle dudes and asked, I wonder who they are and where they are from?" I said, Why don't you go ask them?" She was off her stool before I could finished my sentence and in only a few moments created a group laugh with total strangers. There are no strangers at Johnsons.