Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Work

Work.   “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.”

There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.
~Henry Ford

 

Our church mission team went to New Orleans in 2010 and 2011 to help with the ongoing efforts to rebuild homes after Katrina.   Over those two years, we worked on four homes and a daycare center.  It was immensely satisfying work.  It was especially  gratifying when we met the homeowners and families, the daycare center director, teachers and adorable children, who benefitted from the work we did.  They were so thankful and excited to have the work progress.

I have three photos from one home we worked on.  Three friends and I spent the entire week sanding and re-mudding the daughter’s bedroom.   A shady contractor had done a terrible drywall job, leaving 1/4″- 1/2″ thick, lumpy drywall mud in places in the home;  then left with the homeowner’s money without finishing the work to repair the entire home.

 This photo shows my friend applying new drywall mud after we’d sanded the entire bedroom and patched many places the previous contractor had not.
The homeowner showed us where the water level from Katrina came well above the window sill.   The family had slept in this, their new home, only one night before Katrina hit and they had to evacuate.

….

In this photo you can see my friends in the background and me (foreground), sanding drywall.

Drywall dustbowl!

In the photo below, my friends are chiseling and chopping mortar off bricks and then stacking them for reuse.

…..

For a week I did some of the hardest physical work I’ve ever done.   I feel very blessed to be able to help those in need in New Orleans.

Thanks for viewing…

Judy
All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Salamander Glacier, Glacier National Park, MT.

Salamander Glacier is located in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, Montana.  You should be able to see the body of a salamander-like creature on the mountain.   The “head” is pointed toward the left, the “tail” toward the right.  According to Wikipedia, a 2005 assessment of Salamander Glacier showed its size at 43 acres.  Unfortunately the glacier  has suffered a 23% reduction in size since 1966.

Salamander Glacier.

The water is turquoise-blue because of the silt-like rock flour that is created by glacial erosion.  The rock flour enters the lake and remains in suspension, causing the color of the lakes or rivers to change.  The lake in the foreground is Grinnell Lake.  At first, Grinnell Glacier overtook Salamander Glacier.  But as the years passed, the two glaciers separated.

To learn more about Salamander Glacier, click here.           

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI.

Hi everyone!

I’ve posted about Frederik Meijer Gardens before;  but we went there in late April, and I wanted to share some of the spring photos.
Frederik Meijer began one of the largest grocery chains in Michigan.   It ultimately grew to serve Illinois, Ohio and Indiana too.   Since Grand Rapids is his home base, he began Frederik Meijer Gardens as a place where the community and visitors from all over the world, can come, relax and enjoy the surroundings.

 A pond in the garden with a simple bench for reading or relaxing.

A pond in the gardens with an inviting bench.

 

A simple shed turns into a magical place with pink dogwood branches making an entrance arch.

A shed is tucked away under spring flowers, like a secret house.

Pretty falls sparkle in the sun; splashing water on the rocks as it tumbles to the bottom.

Cool spring water flows softly down the rocky falls, diving into the pond.

The palace must be her home, she thinks, as this dainty royal purple tulip bows her head.

A heavy water-laden purple tulip bows royally.

After a sleepy winter, the pond awakes with soft colors, mirroring the new buds around its perimeter.

A pond shows off its reflection with new spring buds.

A quick storm blows through and sets off a flurry of activity in the sky.  The clouds form amazing, cotton candy puffs and colors to dazzle the eyes.

The storm is over; the clouds have a party in the sky.

Shades of blue and pink decorate the late evening sky. What a treat!

Thanks for going to Grand Rapids with me!
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Seagulls

When it blows here, even the seagulls walk.  ~Nick Faldo

It doesn’t sound appropriate to say “I shot some seagulls” when we were on St. Simons Island.
But that’s what I did!   With a camera, of course!

Seagull.

“AHHHH!  I see some Northerners down there.  They always have food for us!”

Seagull lands in front of people.

“What’cha got for me?  I like any crumbs.  Come on, I know you’re good for a treat.”

Seagull pleading.

“Whaddaya mean you’ve got nothing?!  Hmmmph! What good are ya?  (giving the cold gull shoulder)”

…….

“Forget it.  Just FORGET IT.”

“SO LONG AMIGOS!  I’m OUTTA HERE!”

…….

“Hey….WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT?”  ;)

Have a good day and make sure you laugh!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Vehicle

A vehicle, as defined in Wikipedia:  is a mobile machine that is designed or used to transport people or cargo.

Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners.   ~E. Joseph Cossman

Savannah police car.

I took the photo of this great police car from the “tour trolley” in Savannah.  Note the awesome “red light”!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused

Poor Punky Peony….very blurry!

So much for focusing the peony that day!!

Hope your eyes aren’t crossed!

Judy

Tour stop #2~Sapelo Island, GA.

Hello blogger buddies!  Climb aboard.  The ferry to Sapelo Island is leaving!  It will take about 15-20 minutes to get to the island.

The earliest humans on Sapelo Island lived there over 4000 years ago.  Those inhabitants were the Paleo-Indians who left evidence of their lives on the island with shell middens, that can still be seen today.  Middens are mounds or deposits of shells or bones.   There were others before him, but  Sapelo Island was purchased by Thomas Spaulding in the 1800′s.  Spaulding was an amateur agriculturist, who built a large home on the south end of the island.  In 1911, Howard Coffin, founder of the Hudson Motor Company in Detroit, MI,  purchased the island, living there until 1933.  Using the foundation of the Spaulding home, the Coffins renovated and expanded the home, making it quite a showplace.   From 1933-1965, RJ Reynolds owned the island and upgraded the home again.  As the others before him, he enjoyed agricultural experimentation.

Today the island is under the direction of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.   The island is home to the Sapelo Island Natural Estuarine Research Reserve.  (SINERR)  The reserve enables visitors to see the elements of a natural barrier island, such as: diverse wildlife in the upland forests, vast expanses of the Spartina salt marsh, and the complex beach and dunes system.  Tours also enable the visitor to experience the African-American community of Hog Hammock, the mansion and the lighthouse.

PLEASE CLICK ON ONE OF THE THUMBNAILS TO START THE GALLERY!

They kept 100 lb cannons here to protect the Darrien harbor nearby during the Spanish-American war in 1898. They never shot one cannon.

I love this huge “pot” on the grounds of the home.

The lovely, unspoiled beach is just over the dunes. No cottages, we were the only ones there!

The cemetery sign, made from tabby.

The well-kept African American cemetery on the island in Hog Hammock. Some graves date back centuries.

Back on the mainland! What a great day!

This is only half of the mansion. There’s another half to the right!

Even the back of the mansion is beautiful.

The awesome barn on the mansion’s property.

The lighthouse for the island.

My husband found a sand dollar on the beach!

Sapelo Island welcome sign.

Tabby was used as a building material. Tabby is made of oyster shells, lime, sand and water. This tabby is from the cane pressing bldg.

For more information on Sapelo Island, GA.  click here

Thanks for joining me on the tour!  I hope you had fun and learned something new!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

First tour stop: St. Simons Island, GA!

Hello everyone!  

Between sorting and editing photos, we’ve had internet problems.  Then I got a new laptop and a new photo editing program!  eek!  The learning curve is back!  Thank you for your patience with me!
I got shut out last night again by ATT.  New router….no one can figure out the answer.  

Are you ready to start our trip?  Climb aboard!  Today we visit lovely, lush, sub-tropical St. Simons Island, Georgia.  St. Simons Island is a barrier island off the coast of Georgia, along with Jekyll, Sea Island and privately owned Little Simons Island.  Of the four Golden Isles, St Simons is the largest with 16.6 square miles of land, and 1.3 square miles of water.  Their temperatures average  in the 80′s in the late spring and summer, and the 50′s in the winter.  July is usually hottest with temperatures in the 90′s.  (information from weather.com)

My best friend from college, Gail,  is fortunate to live on St. Simons, so we stayed with her.   Gail took us to some new places we haven’t been and that was fun.  As always, my camera was stuck to my hip!

As we pass over the causeway from the mainland, we can see the marsh, where a variety of fauna live.

The marsh.

We are greeted by a bustling marina!

The marina.

St. Simons Island is known for their beautiful Live Oak trees, often draped with lacy Spanish Moss.  This street is an example.  It’s like driving through a lush green tunnel!

Street on St. Simons Island.

Spanish Moss in Gail’s yard.  Spanish Moss is an air plant.

Spanish Moss.

If you love beautiful beaches, come to St. Simons Island for a visit!  They have long stretches of sandy beaches and they even have some rocky areas!  They’ve got it all!

Wide sandy beaches with the tide out.

Rocky coastline.  ”Splash on the rocks”

The St. Simons Lighthouse has been in existence since 1807, when it was commissioned to be erected on the site known as Couper’s Point.  That lighthouse was 85 feet tall.  In 1862, during the Civil War,  Federal troops formed a blockade and invaded Georgia, and caused the Confederate army to evacuate the area.   Before leaving, the Confederate army destroyed the lighthouse so the Federal troops could not use it as a navigational aid.  The new lighthouse was built in 1872 by Charles Cluskey, a world-renowned architect from Georgia.  It is 104 feet tall and has a 129 step cast iron spiral stairway.  (I know because I walked on each of those steps!!)  The lighthouse has a third order Fresnel Lens that projects its beam 18 miles.

The lighthouse today.

St. Simons Island is a great place to catch the last rays of the sun.  We stood on the long pier to watch the colors change and enjoy the soft, balmy breeze.

St. Simons sunset from the pier.

The last shot of the day…….palms in the sunset….Good Night!

Thanks for joining me on our trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia!  
If you’d like tourist information on St. Simons, click here.
If you’d like information on the history of St. Simons, click here
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Shelter

Definition of Shelter:  ”A place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger.”  (Google Search)

Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous place of shelter, Fallingwater, is located in the mountains of western Pennsylvania.   The home he designed for the Kaufmann family affords many areas of shelter. While the entire home is a shelter, there are also sheltered doorways, sheltered walkways, sheltered terraces, and a sheltered carport.   In addition, Wright’s design of wide overhanging rooflines, gives shelter in storms, allowing windows to be open during rain.  They also keep the house cool in hot weather when the sun is high in the sky, and provide solar heat in the winter when the sun is low in the sky. 

In my photo, look for some of Wright’s “Mature Organic” design characteristics:

 *wide overhanging rooflines
*long horizontal lines in the home’s design
*typical red paned windows, often with glass meeting glass in corners
*blending the house with nature

Unable to see here: but Wright’s front doors were hidden from view of the regular pedestrian. He felt that would keep solicitors away!
Also unable to see in this photo: Wright kept the entrance to his homes small, with a low roof.  When you opened the door, you entered a room with higher ceilings and more room.  This was the effect that Wright desired.  Feeling compression…..then a delightful expansion when you entered the home. 

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright.

This is not the traditional view of Fallingwater.  That will come soon!
For more info on Frank Lloyd Wright’s shelter designs,  click here.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Together

Together, the double stairways leading to the front entrance of this Savannah home give it an elegant presence.  They also help provide protection from flooding, by raising the first and second stories off the street level.  The architectural style of this type of southern home, where the main stories are a full story above ground level,  is called “Low Country”.   Homes situated in the “low country” were more likely to flood than those on higher ground.

Together, double stairways lead to the front door in this Savannah home.

 

Thanks for visiting!

Judy
All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.