Nice place but I wouldn't want to live here

It is fortunate that we have so many opinions about where to live or not to live. If everyone wanted to live in Utah Valley, I would probably decide to move because the traffic would be worse than Washington, D.C. Florida, where this image was taken, is a lovely place, but I would soon miss the mountains and deserts. Some of us, by reason of employment, cannot really choose where we are going to live but if that is the case then Florida is a lovely place and you could make the most of where you are planted. Like the saying goes: Bloom where you are planted.

Looking at the Trees

There is a lesson here. This tree is not the usual straight and tall specimen. If you have a forest of lodgepole pines, none of the individual pine trees are noteworthy. We only notice the unusual tree that has been formed by years of hardship and has grown to match the full force of its environment. We are the same. We admire those who are different in good ways and have overcome the vicissitudes of life. The conforming lodgepole probably would not even recognize this image as a tree at all.

Walking Around Florida

We have taken some time in our cross-country trip to walk a bit in Florida. There is quite a contrast in the vegetation between Florida and Maryland where we lived for the past year and it is obviously different than anything we have in Utah Valley. Actually, it is a lot like Mesa, Arizona but with more water and minus the cactus and the mountains and the desert and the weather and about everything else. I guess when I see palm trees it reminds me of where I spent most of my life walking in Arizona.

A Rock with Character

We have always talked about having a rock with character in our front yard. Our idea is that we needed something in our yard that would lend an air of distinction but not be garish like a plastic flamingo or a troll. This has evolved into a general comment about rocks that we see that have character. Of course, we would never be able to actually have such a rock, we have enough rocks already where we live and do have a lot of rocks with character in our backyard area. But this rock certainly qualifies for the category of a rock with character.

Chalice Vine

This is a Chalice Vine flower or Solandra grandiflora. Quoting from Wikipedia: Solandra:

Solandra /soʊˈlændrə/ is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is named after the Swedish naturalist Daniel C. Solander. 

The vines it contains are commonly known as chalice vines and are native to the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. They have very large flowers and glossy foliage. Also called Cup of Gold. 

Solandra grandiflora was once (and likely still is) used by the Huichol of Mexico and other tribes of the region where it is known by the name "kieli" or "kieri" with some archaeological evidence supporting the theory that its use as a hallucinogen predates that of "Peyote" (Lophophora williamsii). A tea from the branches and more so from the roots and fruits is used as an inebriant in native traditions. The alkaloids present include atropine, noratropine, hyoscyamine, and tropine with about 0.15% overall content in the leaves.

This is probably why nightshades are usually referred to a "deadly."

Millstone Pavement

I have to admit, this is the first time I have seen an old millstone used as a paving stone. Of course, now almost all of the millstones left are historic artifacts and date back into antiquity. Millstones come in pairs and another interesting fact is that I have seldom seen two of them together. The pattern on the millstone is designed to cut the wheat berries, grind them into flour, and then feed the flour to the outside edge of the millstone where it can be gathered into bags. Here we see the beginning of a historical mystery: where is the other millstone and where was the mill?

Spanish Moss

We might get a few photos here in Florida for a very short visit. Usually, you see Spanish Moss hanging from tree limbs. Here is a short description from Wikipedia: Spanish Moss.

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon larger trees in tropical and subtropical climates, native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the southern United States, French Polynesia and the West Indies and is also naturalized in Queensland (Australia). It is known as "grandpas beard" in French Polynesia. In the United States from where it is most known, it is commonly found on the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) and bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum) in the lowlands, swamps, and savannas of the southeastern United States from southeast Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas and southern Arkansas.

The key here is that it is not a moss. It is a flowering plant. It is an epiphyte and does not harm the plant like a parasite i.e. mistletoe. 

 

Fall in Georgia

As we move south, the seasons seem to go backward. We had seen most of the leaves fall off the trees in Maryland but when we arrived in Georgia, we saw that they were just turning colors and beginning to fall off the trees. As we continue south, we should see time run backward even more.

National Mall at Sunset

The center of Washington, D.C. is the National Mall. It is a lot longer and more used than you would get from movies and TV shows. There is always something going on and the crowds in November are just as large as they are in summer. One of the benefits of living in Annapolis, Maryland was the proximity to downtown Washington, D.C. and all the attractions. We enjoyed our time in the East but it is time to get back to the mountains and deserts of Utah. 

A Christmas Window Display

Window Display from the Pearl S. Buck House

I am always amazed at the talent people posess to create beautiful things. I love to take photos but it would never occur to me to decorate a window. I spent a few years helping with the Christmas light display at the Mesa, Arizona temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I did the technical and light maintenance work. The artistic placement of the lights was done by others. By the way, the Mesa Temple will not have a light display for the next couple of years while the temple and the grounds are being updated.

Window to the World

I am fascinated by windows. Photography creates its own windows. Each photographic image is a window into the world experienced by the photographer. Consequently, a photograph of a window adds another layer of experience. Most of the windows I photograph are taken in historical buildings. This one was taken in the Pearl S. Buck House, a National Historic Site. As I visit other such sites around the country, I will likely find other windows within windows.

Pearl S Buck Estate, Perkasie, Pennsylvania

This is a remarkable place that was the estate of a remarkable woman. Here is a short sketch of her accomplishments from Wikipedia: Pearl S. Buck.

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (June 26, 1892 – March 6, 1973; also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu; Chinese: 賽珍珠) was an American writer and novelist. As the daughter of missionaries, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, China. Her novel The Good Earth was the best-selling fiction book in the United States in 1931 and 1932 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1938, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces". She was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

After returning to the United States in 1935, she continued writing prolifically, became a prominent advocate of the rights of women and minority groups, and wrote widely on Chinese and Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.

We had an extensive tour of the property in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. 

A Round View of Pennsylvania

We start our trip across the United States with a brief trip to Pensylvania. The weather was cold and there were remnants of snow in places where it had piled up. I have a lot more photos and I will continue to share them as we travel. I would like to spend some time outside, but it is supposed to be 13 degrees above zero overnight and it is unlikely I will go outside much.

Glowing Poinsettia

Since it is Thanksgiving week, Christmas decorations are beginning to appear. I enjoy the beauty of the season and of course, its significance. I hope this lovely poinsettia can help you start to get into the Christmas spirit.

Calder

Quoting from Wikipedia: Alexander Calder:

Alexander Calder (/ˈkɔːldər/; 1898–1976) was an American sculptor who is best known for his colorful, whimsical abstract public sculptures and his innovative mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) which embraced chance in their aesthetic. Born into a family of artists, Calder's work first gained attention in Paris in the 1930s and was soon championed by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, resulting in a retrospective exhibition in 1943. Major retrospectives were also held at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1964) and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (1974). 

Calder's work is in many permanent collections, most notably in the Whitney Museum of American Art, but also the Guggenheim Museum; the Museum of Modern Art; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; and the Centre Georges Pompidou. He produced many large public works, including .125 (at JFK Airport, 1957), Pittsburgh (Carnegie International prize winner 1958, Pittsburgh International Airport) Spirale (UNESCO in Paris, 1958), Flamingo and Universe (both in Chicago, 1974), and Mountains and Clouds (Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 1976). 

Although primarily known for his sculpture, Calder also created paintings and prints, miniatures (such as his famous Cirque Calder), children's book illustrations, theater set design, jewelry design, tapestries and rugs, and political posters. Calder was honored by the US Postal Service with a set of five 32-cent stamps in 1998, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, posthumously in 1977, after refusing to receive it from Gerald Ford one year earlier in protest of the Vietnam War.

I had a year of art history while at the University of Utah and this introduction to the world of art has helped me appreciate my visits to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. 

Knife Edge

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is truly one of the largest art pieces in the country. I mean, the building itself is an artistic masterpiece. The south wall of the building comes to an edge. This photo is not manipulated except for color and contrast. The building really does look like this if you stand right at the edge of the wall.

Food Trucks on the National Mall

Some of the fixtures on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. are the food trucks. They are usually parked along one of the streets that run through the Mall such as these along 7th Street NW. They also park along Independence Avenue just west of 7th Street NW. There are a number of websites that track these food trucks around the entire D.C. area just in case you take a fancy to one or another of these mobile meals. We visited the Mall in November and the crowds of people were almost just as heavy as they were during the summer months. It is interesting that all of the movies and TV series that show scenes from Washington, D.C. seldom show even a glimpse of the food trucks.

Farewell to Annapolis

During the past year, we have been living in Annapolis, Maryland serving as Document Preservation Specialists for FamilySearch and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Maryland State Archives. We have enjoyed discovering the lovely city of Annapolis and watching the seasons change while living here. We arrived in the middle of the ice and snow of Winter and then watched the millions of trees with flowers and new leaves. We endured the humidity and rain and the Summer and now are near the end of the Fall season and the beginning of another Winter. It is now time for us to return home. The domed building in the background is the Chapel on the grounds of the Naval Academy.

Reflections on Vietnam

I seldom post a photo of myself or any identifiable people, but this is an exception. I served on active duty during the Vietnam War but I served in Panama rather than Vietnam. My feelings about the war are complicated and any commentary on my perceptions, understanding, and current knowledge about the war would run into volumes. Had I known what I know today, I am quite certain some of the perceptions I had at the time would have been entirely different.

The Ravages of War

I am quite sure that there is little more that I can say that is not said by the Korean War Memorial. I am constantly thankful for the lives of those who suffered so much in the service of their country. You only have to look at the contrast between North and South Korea today to see a small part of what they were fighting for. Whatever we think about the politics of the time and the politics today, we must still support and remember the soldiers who served on the ground in our nation's wars.

Korean War Memorial in the Fall

Every time I visit this memorable site I am overwhelmed with the memories of those of fought in the "Forgotten War." For several years, I gathered stories from Korean War Veterans and talked with some personally at length. We even helped edit a book written by a former POW in Korea. The Korean War is a story that has yet to end.

Walking the Wall: Veterans Day 2018

For Veterans Day, one of our last days in Maryland, we decided to visit the Memorials in Washington, D.C. It was an overcast day with the threat of rain and quite chilly. We walked from the Jefferson Memorial by each of the memorials ending up at the World War II Memorial. During this Memorial week, I will be posting images from each of the memorials.

Although I did not end up going to Vietnam, many of my friends did. The Vietnam War Memorial or "The Wall" is the most emotionally overpowering place in all of Washington, D.C. We stopped to look at each of the offerings that we placed by the friends, the relatives, and the families of those who names are enshrined on this wall.

Annapolis Main Street in the Rain

Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland is usually bustling with pedestrians but on a rainy day, it looks quite deserted. It is really one city where you can walk around. In Provo, Utah, we also have a walkable downtown area, but the difference here is that there are actually a lot of things to see. We have enjoyed our year living in this lovely city.

Annapolis Street View

Walking down the streets of downtown Annapolis, Maryland is an adventure in itself. The crowds are obviously on the main street but you will seldom find many people on the residential side streets. We particularly enjoyed the Fall leaves and the unusual yards. The leaves all fell in just a very few days and the temperature dropped to freezing so walking became less of an attraction.

USS Maryland Silver Service

The Maryland State House is an interesting place to visit. This is a photo of the Silver Service for the USS Maryland. It was created in 1906 by Samuel Kirk and Son Co. Incorporated in Baltimore, Maryland. Each of the different pieces represent Maryland counties. The detail is extraordinary and this is only one portion of the entire set. I simply cannot imaging making or using this huge silverware collection.

Wandering Around Downtown Annapolis, Maryland

We spent a rainy day wandering around in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. The houses are built right next to each other and few of them have adequate parking. People live right in the middle of the town on the main streets. There is no separate residential district and offices and stores are next to houses and apartments. It is an interesting place to visit.

Fall in Annapolis, Maryland

With all the trees here in Maryland, you would think that Fall would be spectacular. Well, it depends on the weather and the amount of rainfall. There are some beautiful trees, but here we are in November and the leaves on most of the trees have yet to turn at all. This image is a particularly colorful area of government buildings near the historic State House in downtown Annapolis, Maryland.

The Fallen

I spent four years studying military history and a total of eight years in the United States Army. For me, the most memorable locations in and around Washington, D.C. include The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Vietnam Veterans Women's Memorial, The Arlington National Cemetary, The Korean War Veterans Memorial, The World War II Memorial and The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. Although I did not serve in the country of Vietnam, I have many friends and acquaintances who did. I served in the Army because I chose to do so. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Autumn at Arlington National Cemetery

There are lots of interesting places to visit around Washington, D.C. especially if you love art, museums, and walking. There are also some places that are thought-provoking, inspirational, and leave you with a calm feeling of respect and awe for the lives of those who sacrificed all for the country. We spent a considerable time at the Arlington National Cemetery. We walked almost 5 miles, but we had a wonderful experience with lovely Fall weather and inspiration from the miles of memories.

The Needles, Canyonlands National Park

Vehicular access to the part of Canyonlands National Park that is on the other side of this wall of sandstone needles is on a precarious four-wheel-drive road called Elephant Hill. On some days, it is a busy road with dozens of vehicles climbing the steep rocky road to enter the sanctuary. Unless you own the right type of vehicle, you will have to be content with walking in or watching the others try to stay on the road. 

Rugged County

While crossing the Colorado Plateau by automobile, you can get the impression that it is mostly flat country. But when you leave the road, you immediately see that the topographic relief of the country is mostly down from the apparent flat horizontal view. Here you can see the nearly flat looking horizon, but also see the rugged country you would have to cross to get to that horizon. This is part of a series of photos I took while watching the sunrise.