Holiday decorations

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - It doesn't seem like people are decorating outside their homes like in holidays past.  It's hard to look forward to the holidays with everything that has happened with covid-19 and will probably continue like this for a good long time.  As some signs say:  Wash up; mask up; back up.  Stay safe.
 

Cruising on a Saturday afternoon

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - It's sunny and cool. A great afternoon for boating.  However, the vast majority of sailboats and cruisers on the Halifax Intracoastal Waterway are heading south toward Miami or the Keys.  Guess these folks didn't get the message.

On the fifth day of Christmas

 

Fancy an soggy drive on the beach??

Don't get your toes wet

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - 9 a.m. Tuesday morning; high tide; light wave action; 40-degrees.  Perfect weather for a drive on the beach except for soft sand and soggy conditions.  Where's my 4-wheel drive?  Anyway, other than the 15-mph wind it was beautiful.  We've had a lot of hot (for the winter months) weather lately so this cold was refreshing.  Of course, I had on gloves; a wool/fleece cap pulled over my ears; long-sleeve T plus fleece plus heavy wind breaker; jeans; long socks and Keen sandals so no problem...except when walking into the wind. 

     Don't worry it hasn't lasted as it will be in the upper 70's on Friday.

The ibis stroll...

Follow me, gang

And now for a little exercise

Just in case you don't have any decorating ideas...Lowes does

The holiday decorations are shining bright

Snowflakes and green wrapping adorn the lamp light poles

Our city hall / library complex

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Somebody in Ormond Beach facility operations flicked a switch early last night (Nov. 24) and now it's holiday time.  These pics were shot about 6:15am so it looks a bit light out.  All the different lights look really neat when it's 5am dark, but then the flash pops off and ruins trying to make  'artsy' photos.  It may be mid-70's during the day, but with the decorations shining in the night it does give you a holiday feeling. 

Liftoff!!!

 

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Liftoff!! The SPACE-X Crew-1 rocket seemed to hover over the Daytona Beach Bridge and skyline before rising slowly (with a crew of 4) on its way to the International Space Station.  The 7:27pm liftoff made for spectacular viewing.

Our house in OB is one block from a park with a short pier stretching out into the Halifax River.  Depending on the launch angle it's a great place for night or day watching.  And note that the pic was taken with an IPhone 6xs...not new, not fancy...while my expensive cameras stayed home in my camera bag.

Butterfly checking out the drinking fountain

Time for a drop of water

 

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - I should have looked closer at my butterfly pics.  On the previous post this BF has a very nice wing spread.  Then I looked closer at another frame and the water droplets caught my eye. Check out the previous post for what a good green thumb can accomplish.  Hint...I can only claim work on the hibiscus and cassis.

Hot weather and rain equals more blooms

Waterlily

Cassia or Golden rain tree

Bird of paradise

Hibiscus

Another hibiscus with buds getting ready to blom

And a butterfly on a Mexican petunia

Early morning in Orlando Wetlands

Little green heron hiding among the greenery

Catching the early morning rays

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Tuesday's weather appeared promising as we left OB at 5am headed for Christmas, FL and Orlando Wetlands Park.  Cloud patterns as we got closer (the park is 72 miles from OB) did not look like the weather forecast. However, we were in luck...at least for a while.  So, the plan was to take a lot of pics while the light was good.

A portion of the wetlands

Unidentified flying objects

Great blue heron focusing on finding breakfast

Spectacular sunrise

Early morning sunrise and reflections on the Halifax River

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Yes, we've returned home to OB.  Our time in West End, NC was cool...literally, according to the thermometer.  So, why return??  Well, Oct. - Nov. are doctor visit months as are Feb., Mar. and Apr. And if you're heading for your 78th birthday in Dec. then you want to make sure that the parts you have left are functioning...like having the oil in  your car changed; the tires rotated and a tune up.
 

Time to stop and smell the roses

 In this 2004 pic an elk, with a great pair of antlers, stops to smell (or munch) wild roses near Jasper in Alberta, Canada.

A look back..76 years ago today (10/6)

WEST END, NC - -  It started out as a trip to a BBQ we'd not been to before.  And ended up as a look back at two military heroes of Moore County, NC.   James Rodgers McConnell died 103 years in World War I.  Robert "Hoyle" Upchurch 'vanished' 76 years ago on Oct. 6, 1944 in WW II.

     The Pic 'N' Pig BBQ sits right alongside the 2,500' runway of the private Gilliam-McConnell Airfield.  If you want to watch small planes take off within touching distance, this is the place.  But what really caught my imagination was the memorial to the fallen airmen mentioned above

     McConnell was a member of the famous "Flying Tigers" who flew sorties in China to fight Japanese Air Force.  He crashed while over mountainous terrain on a mission.  His remains were recovered in by locals and, although the Chinese could not identify him, they gave him a heroes burial.  They honored the pilot on the anniversary of his death each year.

     He was identified 60 years later (through DNA)  by individuals searching for remains of American individuals listed as 'missing in action.'  He is now buried in High Falls, NC.

     Flying for France.  James Rodgers McConnell, was a native of Carthage and where the airfield (in part) bears his name.  He joined the French forces (before US involvement) and hoped to fly. Instead he started out driving an ambulance and ended up being awarded the  "Croix de Guerre" for bravery.

     Soon after, he and 6 other airmen, became founding members of the Lafayette Escadrille.  This squadron of American pilots flew for France against the axis forces.  He died in battle with German aircraft on March 19, 1917.

     The top mural  depicts McConnell in a military pose with his biplane.  The bottom mural depicts aerial action.  The winged statue, on the University of Virginia campus,  is  tribute to McConnell as the first UVA alumni to die in WWI.  

     Of note is the sculptor of the piece...Gutzon Borglum, who went on to  create the monument on Stone Mountain (GA) and spend a good part of his life designing/sculpting Mt. Rushmore.

    

     

People will collect anything...and Santa goes foer a train ride

WEST END, NC
 

Persimmons, anyone?? plus NC humor

Fresh persimmon fruit, right near our front door

Light, shadow and sunken wood beams

 

WEST END, NC - - Sometimes photo ops present themselves, but don't always fit into a theme.  In that case,  why not toss them altogether?  This is especially true when there are signs involved such as below

If it's concealed how do you know...??

Everyday can be a cupcake day

The 'Roast Office' happens to be close by

It's time to decorate for Fall

WEST END, NC - - Less than a mile from where we are staying is this farm stand with everything you need to decorate your home ...inside and out..for autumn and Halloween. And that includes fruits and veggies plus jams and jellies.  And did I mention the large selection of lawn statues.

 
 

Builld it yourself...from scratch

 A lot of do-it-yourself builders buy a kit and put the pre-made pieces together.  Then, there are the folks who obtain a set of plans; buy everything needed and then put the project together.  If you end up with things leftover...no real problem.  Unless it's an airplane you're building.  Then, comes the real test .. will it fly..because, if it doesn't you may end up as bug-splatter.

    

This experimental open-cockpit replica looked pretty nifty in the air and on the ground.  Unfortunately, I didn't meet the builder / pilot.

     A bit of research by a good friend found BowersFlyBaby.com.  The bare-bones info states that the design is from  1960 and describes it as: "a single seat, open cockpit, folding wing mono plane powered by engines ranging from 65 to 100 hp."

Getting into the swing of things

WEST END, NC - - On any Sunday...and any other day of the week, the 9 18-hole links at Pinehurst Country Club are busy and so are the many other  golf courses in the area.  We drive by here nearly every day of the week...early; mid day; afternoon...and there are golfers all around.  This pic only shows the starting area / driving range / practice putting green near the club house.      

     The PCC has been the site of golf's U.S. Open three times with a 2024 date upcoming.  Maybe playing a round on a famous course is on you bucket list so how much is it going to cost???   You don't want to ask.   

Old time farming

WEST END, NC - - It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Or Eagle Springs to be exact.  The typical farm photo includes:  high, fleecy clouds;  a field of tobacco getting ready for harvest time;  a trio of mailboxes at the start of long road / driveway and railroad tracks...with a peach orchard nearby.  Seeing a tobacco crop is beginning to be an anomaly as tobacco products are falling out of favor.
     And the pine cone??  Just another fancy photo.