Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship II

I tried to find this photo for the challenge and it turned up in my husband’s computer!  So here’s my Friendship ll photo!

 Though miles may lie between us, we’re never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count the miles, it’s measured by the heart.
~Rozina Hasham

At the beach with Gail on St. Simons Island, GA.

  Good friends who don’t see each other often can pick up right where they left off the last time they met.  They can talk all day about what they’ve missed in each other’s lives.   But sometimes friends don’t need to talk at all.  They often share the same thoughts and feelings anyway.  Just sitting side by side, two good friends can enjoy each other’s company, the scenery, and searching for that elusive cormorant bobbing up and down in the waves of the St. Simons sound!!! 😉

In friendship,

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.

Advertisement

Sublime Savannah~

Savannah is a lovely southern city.  We went with our friend, Gail, since it’s only two hours from St. Simons Island.  I’m a fan any kind of architecture and Savannah has beautiful examples of southern style, Colonial, low-country and even the influence of New Orleans style home designs.  We took the trolley tour instead of walking.  Because of that, you will notice  the roof of the trolley in some of my photos!  And there are a few that may look like we were zipping by!  It’s true!  We had one trolley driver with a lead foot!  I tried to take as many photos at stop signs as I could! 😉

One of the charming aspects of Savannah’s city plan and layout, is the implementation of city “squares”.  These parks are throughout the historic section of the city; providing a wonderful green space, a place to sit under the cool shade of trees, a place to walk, and a place for children to run and play.  The squares were part of an original, elaborate plan by the Georgia colony’s founders.  General James Oglethorpe, a colonial representative of King George ll to the colonies, developed the Savannah Plan.  His plan consisted of a series of wards built around central squares, with trust lots on the east and west sides for public buildings and churches.  Tithing lots were planned for the colonists’ private homes on the north and south sites.   Originally there were 24 squares.  Today 21 squares remain, and all are beautifully maintained with fountains, benches, statuary and gardens.   

Click on a photo to start the gallery.

Shops, restaurants…..

The beautiful Talmadge Memorial Bridge over the Savannah River….

The lower level was for horses.

Thanks for traveling with me to Savannah!

If you’d like more information on the history of Savannah, 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.

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.

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.