Interesting Buildings

Thanksgiving Tower (Dallas) Reflections

Taken in April, 2017. This is a photo of the reflections of the Gables Republic Tower (many years ago it was the headquarters of the Republic Bank). The Republic building's exterior is made to look like "Diamond Plate Metal" and it is reflected in the exterior glass of the Thanksgiving Tower just across the street. I LOVE the crazy reflections, so this is one of my favorite architectural photos that I've taken recently.

City Reflections

May 21, 2017 Reflections in a downtown Oklahoma City building. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a light filled day my friends! Linda

Inquiring Minds Have Wanted to Know..............

May 19, 2017 "Where is the Chattanooga Choo-Choo?" Well, here it is - it's on top of a hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a fun day today my friends! Linda

Juxtaposition

March 27, 2017 This is a residential building in Boston, MA. I loved the juxtaposition of the section of patina-ed bronze against the dark, dry-stacked bricks. The architecture here was so interesting and unique. "Here's what I see all across this great city - people working together to make Boston a better place to live and to raise children, to grow and pursue dreams." ~ Thomas Menino Have an amazing day today my friends. I really appreciate your comments on my photos. Thank you. Linda

The Needle in Blue Tones

March 20, 2017 I stumbled across this photo recently and did some touch up on it. I remembered taking it from the balcony of the funky hotel (Hotel Max) that we stayed in while in Seattle in 2008. It was taken around 7:30 in the evening. I liked the blue tones and the fading sun behind as I looked at it again. Seattle is a great place to visit. I hope to go back again some day. I remember seeing the Space Needle on TV when I was a young girl, and I thought it was so futuristic looking, and loved it. It's still cool today. The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington, a landmark of the Pacific Northwest, and an icon of Seattle. It was built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World's Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors, when nearly 20,000 people a day used its elevators. "This is Seattle. We're supposed to have superior taste." ~ Maria Semple Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a special day! Linda

Reflections

December 27, 2016 While in Boston recently, I saw the great reflections in the windows of this building as we drove by, so I snapped a quick "drive-by" photo of it, and was pleased with it's outcome. I'm never sure what the drive by shots are going to yield, but am often times pleasantly surprised. "People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a fantastic day! Linda

Powerful Reminder

December 8, 2016 For those of you that commented on my photo yesterday, I thank you very much. As mentioned in yesterday's commentary I promised to post a close up of a small portion of the numbers that are etched on the glass panels of the six towers that make up the New England Holocaust memorial in Boston. The numbers represent the 6,000,000 Jewish people that tagically lost their lives from 1939 - 1945. If you find yourself in Boston, I would encourage you to go spend some time at this incredible and moving memorial. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Linda

A Somber, Yet Very Powerful Memorial

December 7, 2016 We were able to walk through the New England Holocaust Memorial while we were in Boston recently. I don't even know how to explain the power of this memorial. I can tell you, as me and many other people walked through the six towers and read the quotes (some from survivors), not a word was spoken. The people there while I was there were quitely honoring the memory of the many who were lost and respectful of the memorial. There are 6 glass towers just like this one, that have numbers etched in the glass panels. Smoky mist rises from the floor that is said to be reiminscent of the gas chambers. In order for me to do the memorial justice in describing it, I'm providing the following information from Wikipedia: "Designed by Stanley Saitowitz and erected in 1995, the memorial consists of six glass towers under which a visitor may walk. Engraved on the outside walls of each tower are groups of numbers representing the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. Inscribed on the inner walls are quotes from survivors of each camp. Underneath the towers, steam rises up through metal grates from a dark floor with twinkling lights on it. Each tower symbolizes a different major extermination camp (Majdanek, Chełmno, Sobibor, Treblinka, Bełżec, and Auschwitz-Birkenau), but can also be taken to be menorah candles, the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust (one million per column), and the six years that the mass extermination took place, 1939-1945. Each tower consists of twenty-four individual panels of glass. Twenty-two of the panels are inscribed with seven digit numbers and two of the panels are inscribed with messages. In total there are 132 panels from the six towers inscribed with numbers, however each panel is identical. A single panel contains 17,280 unique numbers which are subsequently repeated throughout the memorial. Numbers are arranged in eight by ten blocks, with each block consisting of sets of six numbers arranged in a six by six grid. In total there are 2,280,960 non-unique numbers listed on the 132 panels. The site is maintained by the Boston National Historic Park and is located in Carmen Park, along Congress and Union Streets, near Faneuil Hall. Carmen Park was named in recognition of William Carmen's service to the community and his vision and leadership in creating the New England Holocaust Memorial." Please see my post tomorrow for more detail of the glass panels. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a peaceful day today my friends. And, I'm particularly thankful for your comments on my Canna potd yesterday. Linda

Ye Old Restaurant

December 2, 2016 According to Wikipedia: "Ye Olde Union Oyster House, open to diners since 1826, is among the oldest operating restaurants in the United States of America, and the oldest that has been continuously operating since being opened. It is located at 41-43 Union Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The building itself was built prior to 1714, most likely in 1704. Before it became a restaurant, Hopestill Capen's dress goods business occupied the property. In 1771 printer Isaiah Thomas published his newspaper, The Massachusetts Spy, from the second floor. The restaurant originally opened as the Atwood & Bacon Oyster House on August 3, 1826. The Union Oyster House has a number of famous people in history as diners, including the Kennedy clan and Daniel Webster. Webster was known for regularly consuming at least six plates of oysters. Perhaps most surprising, in 1796 Louis Philippe, king of France from 1830 to 1848, lived in exile on the second floor. He earned his living by teaching French to young women. America's first waitress, Rose Carey, worked there starting in the early 1920s. Her picture is on the wall on the stairway up to the second floor. Labor economist and president of Haverford College John Royston Coleman worked there incognito as a "salad-and-sandwich man" for a time in the 1970s and documented the experience in his book The Blue Collar Journal. The food is traditional New England fare, including seafoods such as oysters, clams, and lobsters, as well as poultry, baked beans, steak and chops. The toothpick was said to have been popularized in America starting at the Oyster House." Over the years, I've traveled to Boston four times, and each time - I make a point of having dinner here. It's good food and the history of the place is (to me) irresistible. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have super day today my friends! Linda

Old Windows

May 12, 2016 For whatever reason, windows and doors (particularly old ones) just fascinate me. I suppose it has something to do with my curiosity of what goes on behind them. These windows were on a residential building in Nassau. I LOVE the red shutters. "Let there be many windows to your soul, that all the glory of the world may beautify it." ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a "red-letter" day today my friends! Linda

The Red Onion Saloon

February 13, 2016 A visit to Skagway would not be complete without a stop at the Historic Red Onion Saloon. Located on the corner of 2nd & Broadway, the Red Onion is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. Built in 1897, the Red Onion Saloon is rumored to be haunted, and operated as one the finest bordellos in Skagway and though times have changed, the spirit has not. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a "spirited" day today my friends. Linda

Evening Light

January 22, 2016 Thanks to everyone for your comments on my America the Beautiful, Alaska, the Lovely photo of the day yesterday. I really appreciated all the comments and critiques. Today's photo is a shot of one of the large electric transmission towers that is not to far from where we live. I really liked the soft evening light here. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a lovely day today my friends! Linda

Ivy Covered Walls

December 9, 2015 This building in downtown Vancouver, B.C. was almost totally covered with ivy, or some sort of plant. I snapped this through the windshield of a tour bus. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a very nice day! Linda

Driftwood Building

December 6, 2015 The facade of this building was completely covered in old driftwood - some 8,800 pieces. Camp Skagway was built in 1899 as the Arctic Brotherhood Hall. It is rumored to be the most photographed building in Alaska. I can assure you, it is definitely the most photographed building in Skagway. We stood for several minutes just looking at the many myriad shapes of the pieces of wood. Best viewed in the larger sizes. Thank you for your comments and critiques. I'm off again tomorrow for another week of business travel. I'm hopeful that it's my last business trip this year. Fingers crossed. Have a unique and glorious day today my friends. Linda

On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever

October 11, 2015 This wonderful lighthouse was taken several years ago when Bill and I took a whale watching cruise near Victoria, BC. I loved all the lighthouses that we saw along the way. I wish I could recall where we were, or the name of the lighthouse, but I do not. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know. "Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships." ~ Charles Simic Thank you for your comments and critiques! I'm going to be late commenting because this afternoon is our annual car club picnic at our house. We are expecting about 80 people here. Wish us luck. :-) Have a de-lightful day today my friends! Linda Late Post: Thanks to John Murphy he has identified this as Sister's Inlet Lighthouse.

If This Bridge Could Talk......

September 11, 2015 This is an old and very narrow bridge somewhere in Oklahoma. I liked the narrow road (one car only can traverse the bridge at a time), the simple construction and the mostly bare winter/fall trees around it. "The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn." ~ David Russell Thank you for your critiques and comments. Have a wonderful day! Linda

Reflections At The Glacier

September 10, 2015 This is Jeff, the gentleman that drove the dog sled for us on top of Mendenhall Glacier. He lives on the glacier for 9 months a year to train dogs when he's not entering qualifying races. At the time we met him, he had I believe 2 or 3 more races to go before he can qualify for the Iditarod race. If you check this out in the larger sizes, you'll see a selfie of me in the reflection of his sunglasses. To my left (in the reflection) is Bill and to my right is our friend Dennis. In the other lens you can see his outstretched arm and a portion of the vast snow field of the glacier. "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." ~ Samuel Butler quotes Have a fantastic day today my friends! Tomorrow is Friday! Thank you for your comments and critiques. Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

One-Sided Suspension Bridge

September 3, 2015 This isn't just half of a suspension bridge, it's the whole bridge that spans across a large fault line on the Klondike Highway about 25 miles north of Skagway, Alaska. There is no more structure on this bridge - the road spans a few hundred feet past the right side of this photo, but this is it - no more. It's the oddest bridge I've ever seen. The construction of the bridge was very unique. According to our tour bus driver, it's one of two suspension bridges in the U.S. that just have one super-structure. I was not able to verify that fact via the Internet however. Nevertheless, it is quite an odd looking bridge. In this shot, we were a fair distance away from the bridge, and the clouds were quite low which gave the air a hazy or misty feel. Thank you for your comments and critiques. Have a great day! "The biggest emotion in creation is the bridge to optimism." ~ Brian May Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

Vancouver, BC Central Business District

August 19, 2015 As Bill and I enjoyed a glass of tea one afternoon on Vancouver's Granville Island, I took this photo of a small portion of downtown Vancouver. I am a student of architecture, and love seeing old, new and not so new buildings and studying their elements. I was pleased to see Vancouver's CBD buildings, they were very neat. They reminded me a little bit of the buildings in Chicago. "I'm amazed every time I come back to Vancouver at how much it's changed. You go away for a month and there's three more skyscrapers." ~ Bryan Adams Thank you for your comments and critiques! Have a soaring day today my friends! Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

Lion's Gate Bridge - Vancouver, BC

August 11, 2015 WOW!!! Thank you friends for your comments and your "welcome back" notes on my Daily post yesterday of our dog sled adventure. Very much appreciated! Thank you friends! Today's "Daily" is one of the first photos that I took as we began our two week Alaska adventure. This is the Lion's Gate suspension bridge in Vancouver, BC. While we were in Vancouver, we got to meet and spend some time with our fellow Smugmugger Terry Allen. I'll post a photo of us later in the week. According to Wikipedia: "The Lions Gate Bridge, opened in 1938, officially known as the First Narrows Bridge, it is a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of Burrard Inlet and connects the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, to the North Shore municipalities of the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and West Vancouver. The term "Lions Gate" refers to The Lions, a pair of mountain peaks north of Vancouver. Northbound traffic on the bridge heads in their general direction. A pair of cast concrete lions, designed by sculptor Charles Marega, were placed on either side of the south approach to the bridge in January, 1939." As you can tell, this photo was taken on a very gray and rainy day in Vancouver. " We arrived in Vancouver from Dallas around noon on Sunday, July 12th.. We took a 4 hour city tour that afternoon. This is one of the stops on the city tour. The next day in Vancouver we spent several hours with Terry Allen - it was a delightful day! Then we boarded the ship at mid-afternoon & set sail for Alaska at 4:00 p.m. that day. "I love just how beautiful Vancouver is. I mean, everywhere you look it's just mountains and ocean." ~ Emma Bell Thanks again for your comments my friends! Hugs, Linda http;//lgood.smugmug.com

Bridge Architecture

July 11, 2015 This is another of the wonderful bridges in Oregon, the architecture of the ones I saw in the state just blows me away, because they are so unique and lovely.. This photo was taken a few years ago on one of our driving vacations along the west coast. Thank you for your comments & critiques. Well friends, Bill and I leave early in the morning to fly to Vancouver, Canada to start our two-week vacation to Alaska. I'm very excited about the trip. I've never taken two weeks off from work before. We get home around 11:00 p.m. in the evening of 7/25, and then I have to get on another plane the following afternoon (less than 24 hours after returning from vacation) to fly for 9.5 hours to Madrid, Spain for a business trip. I leave at 3:30 on Sunday, and arrive on Monday at 8:00 a.m. Madrid time - 1:00 a.m. my body clock time. I return from Madrid on 8/1 and leave again for another business trip to Birmingham, AL on 8/3. So I'm on the road for 4 weeks straight. Therefore, with all this travel, I'm going to take a break from posting on Smugmug for at least 5 weeks. I'll try to browse and comment as I can during this time, but I will not be able to post new photos. I'll miss you guys, but I will rejoin as soon as I can. Take care, stay safe and enjoy your family! Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

The Second Sister

June 28, 2015 This photo was taken with my P&S out of the car window as I passed by this spot (which I do every day that I'm in Dallas). This is the start of the second Santiago Calatrava bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas. His first bridge is the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge, and this one will be the Margaret McDermont bridge. When speaking of the three bridges that he has designed for Dallas, Calatrava says that he designed them to be similar yet different, like three sisters. There's a bit of controversy in City Council as to whether the third bridge will be built or not due to cost. But this, the second bridge's construction is underway. His bridges are just incredible in design, so I'm anxious to see this one in it's finished state. According to Wikipedia, Calatrava "is a Spanish neofuturistic architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter. He has offices in New York City, Doha, and Zürich, where he now resides." If you get a chance to google his bridges, you will see that they are indeed amazing. I've posted several photos of his first bridge in Dallas, this will be his second, we'll have to wait and see if there's a third. Have an amazing day today my friends! Thank you for your comments and critiques. Linda http://www.smugmug.com

Hawks of Some Sort

June 15, 2015 This is an older version of the towers that carry power & telephone lines around our house. Quite simple compared to the metal monsters I posted a few days ago. But I had to stop & take a photo of this one since there were two hawks of some kind on the structure. Thank you so much for your comments & critiques, they are always very much appreciated. Have a great day! Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

Green & Gorgeous

June 6, 2015 I loved the structure of this bridge. I "think" it was taken as we were crossing over from Washington State to Astoria, Oregon. Taken through the windshield of the car. Thank you for your comments and critiques! Have a grand day today my friends! Linda http://www.lgood.smugmug.com

Church Window

February 4, 2015 This photo was taken many years ago of a little church window somewhere in New Mexico near the border. I ran across it again as I was going through some older folders. I recall that the window niche was high above the door to the church and just below where the steeple began. Although it's not the greatest photo in the world, and the green tint to the window doesn't do much for the Madonna statue, I loved the rock work of the church's exterior, and they was just something that drew me to the tiny window. Have a great day my friends! Thank you for your comments and critiques. Linda http://lgood.smugmug.com

The Little Church in the Country

July, 2013 Bethel Methodist church built in 1924 near Boz, Texas The interior was used in the movie "Places in the Heart" - the exterior (in the movie) was of another church in Palmer, Texas

A Country Church from Places in the Heart

July 24, 2013 This is one of the windows in the beautiful Bethel Methodist Church near the now non-existent town of Boz, Texas about 3 miles from where we live. The current church was built in 1924 and stands across the streeet from an old cemtary that was established in approximately 1860. It is a lovely, small church and just a real gem in the area. It was used in the opening and closing scenes of the movie "Places in the Heart" that was filmed around Waxahachie's general area. The church that was seen most in the movie was in nearby Palmer, Texas. According to a local blog, This church was used in the beginning and the end of the movie. At the end was an emotional scene about forgiveness. It's a very interesting peaceful setting. The church is in the vicinity of the community of Boz. To see an exterior photo of the church, click here: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Architecture/Buildings/7752393_7Pg76q#!i=2646591988&k=tqrrdjX Have a blessed day today my friends, Linda

The Margaret Hill Hunt Bridge in Dallas, Texas

July 22, 2013 Another "B" photo = Bridge. I loaded my 'real' B photo and this photo for Monday on Saturday afternoon. However, I forgot to hide this one for a little while. I didn't even realize that mistake, until I got the three comments from Art, Godschild and Juan - sorry for the confusion my friends, but I do appreciate the comments. This is the glorious Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas, TX that was opened in 2010 with quite a celebration and much fanfare. It is absolutely stunning. Coming home from the airport on Friday, the traffic on I-35 was a bumper-to-bumper nightmare, so I decided to get off the beaten path and find a slightly less crowded way to get home. As I drove under this magnificent bridge, I stuck my little point & shoot camera out the driver's window and clicked, and hoped for the best. I was quite pleased with this shot. According to Wikipedia: The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is one of three Santiago Calatrava-designed bridges being built over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas as part of the Trinity River Project. Construction on the bridge began in spring 2007 with the steel being manufactured in an Italian steel factory often used by Calatrava to manufacture his designs. The factory made the steel for his Athens stadium. The cable-stayed bridge is 1,870 feet (570 m) with a main-span of 1,197 feet (365 m), and an apex-height of 400 feet (122 m). On Saturday, June 26, 2010, the signature, 40-story center-support-arch was topped-off with a central curved span, providing an additional feature to the Dallas skyline, as it can now be seen from many miles away from several directions. This is just the apex of the bridge and not the whole structure. I hope to go spend some time on a Sunday afternoon (avoiding as much traffic as I can) and do a lot more shots of this beautiful structure. "You only get to live life once, so make smart choices, overuse I love you, & think before you speak sometimes the bridges you burn today you may need tomorrow. " ~ Nishan Panwar quotes Have a "Merry" Monday. Linda

July, 2013 This is a wonderful old house in Bristol, TX that we stumbled upon during our Bluebonnet photo safari in April, 2013. I used a high key filter to process as some of the darker areas in the original photo were a little blown out. I liked the result. It's just such a shame that is has fallen to such disrepair. Notice all the lovely fretwork (around here, we call it "Gingerbread" trim) around the porch. And I thought all the lightening rods on top were cool too. What a beauty this would have been during it's heyday, it's just sad to see it in such condition. This is posted as a daily photo also, but with a sepia tone. You can see that by clicking here. Let me know which you like best. http://lgood.smugmug.com/Other/Daily-Photos/12484643_NvHx9n#!i=2592657491&k=4vTHTH4 Have a happy home day today! Linda

A Sad State of Disrepair

July 13, 2013 "The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home." ~ Confucius This is a wonderful old house in Bristol, TX that we stumbled upon during our Bluebonnet photo safari in April, 2013. I used a sepia filter here. In the original photo and this sepia version presented here, you will see that the darker areas were blown out. But. I liked this sepia version because it "aged" the photo. In a second rendition of this shot, I used a high key filter, to lighten the dark areas, and I left some of the color in, you can see it in the link below; http://lgood.smugmug.com/Architecture/Buildings/7752393_7Pg76q#!i=2592665800&k=fhFK7KB Which do you like better? I really had a hard time choosing between the two versions. It's just such a shame that this house has fallen to such disrepair. Notice all the lovely fretwork (around here, we call it "Gingerbread" trim) around the porch. And I thought all the lightening rods on top were cool too. What a beauty this would have been during it's heyday, it's just sad to see it in such condition. Critiques always welcome. Enjoy your time at home today. Linda

Ellis County Courthouse

March 28, 2013 Our friend DreamCatcherPhotography recently posted a beautiful photo of the Ellis County Texas court house, located in Waxahachie, TX which is my home town. I've been mining some of my older photos that I hadn't posted before in the Daily Community (because I haven't been out to photograph anything new lately) and ran across this shot of the old courthouse. So I thought you might enjoy seeing the whole building. Have good day my friends! Thank you for your comments on the Grand twins shot yesterday Linda

March 23, 2013 St. Paul's Episcopal church. This church was just across the street from the St. Mary's in the Mountains church that I posted a shot of yesterday. It looked even older than St. Mary's, but the history of this lovely little church wasn't posted anywhere we could easily see it. And it was difficult to get the whole church in the shot, and not get shadows in the afternoon sun. And of course, those ever present telephone wires. LOL Hope you enjoy, and have been enjoying this series from Nevada. Thank you all for your support and great comments. Linda

March 22, 2013 "An instinctive taste teaches men to build their churches with spire steeples which point as with a silent finger to the sky and stars.” ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge This is the steeple of the Saint Mary's in the Mountains church in Virginia City, Nevada. It is a wonderful church that was originally built in 1868, burned in 1875 (when nearly the whole town was lost to fire), then rebuilt again in 1876. A testament to the tenacity of the people of this city. The church is still in use today. To see the rest of church, click here: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Architecture/Buildings/7752393_7Pg76q#!i=2402005699&k=Vxc3pLB Have a blessed day today my friends. Linda

From our trip to the Safari Club International show in Reno, Nevada in January, 2013. Bill and I got one day off to explore, so we visited Carson City and Virginia City (south of Reno) and some of the country side just north of Reno. This is St. Mary's in the Mountains church in Virginia City. Originally built in 1868, burned in 1875 and then rebuilt in 1876. Vignette added.

Bonanza!

March 16, 2013 OK, for those of you that don't remember, or didn't guess the names of the characters from the 1960's hit TV show called "Bonanza" that I posted yesterday, see below. If it weren't for the modern cars and the telephone wires, this shot could have been taken "in the day" and in the era where Bonanza could have taken place. Converted to BW with Nik Effects Pro, Sepia tone added & vignette added. For Smugger's that may not recall the TV series "Bonanza" here's snipits of what Wikipedia tells us: The show Bonanza chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, headed by the thrice-widowed patriarch Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene). He had three sons, each by a different wife: the eldest was the urbane architect Adam Cartwright (Pernell Roberts) who built the ranch house; the second was the warm and lovable giant Eric "Hoss" (Dan Blocker); and the youngest was the hotheaded and impetuous Joseph or "Little Joe" (Michael Landon). Via exposition (Bonanza, "Rose For Lotta", premiere September 12, 1959) and flashback episodes, each wife was accorded a different ethnicity: English (Bonanza, "Elizabeth My Love"; episode #65) Swedish (Bonanza, "Inger My Love", episode #95) and French Creole (Bonanza, "Marie My Love", episode #120) respectively. The family's cook was the Chinese immigrant Hop Sing (Victor Sen Yung). The family lived on a 600,000+ acre (937.5 square-mile) ranch called the Ponderosa on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada.[4] The vast size of the Cartwrights' land was quietly revised to "half a million acres" on Lorne Greene's 1964 song, "Saga of the Ponderosa." The ranch name refers to the Ponderosa Pine, common in the West. The nearest town to the Ponderosa was Virginia City, where the Cartwrights would go to converse with Sheriff Roy Coffee (played by veteran actor Ray Teal), or his deputy Clem Foster (Bing Russell). Bonanza was considered an atypical western for its time, as the core of the storylines dealt less about the range but more with Ben and his three dissimilar sons, how they cared for one another, their neighbors, and just causes. "You always saw stories about family on comedies or on an anthology, but Bonanza was the first series that was week-to-week about a family and the troubles it went through. Bonanza was a period drama that attempted to confront contemporary social issues. That was very difficult to do on television. Most shows that tried to do it failed because the sponsors didn't like it, and the networks were nervous about getting letters", explains Stephen Battaglio, a senior editor for TV Guide magazine (Paulette Cohn, "Bonanza: TV Trailblazer", American Profile Magazine, p. 12, June 5, 2009). Hope you enjoy reminising about the iconic show called Bonanza. I hope you have a Bonanza of a day my friends!! Linda

Virginia City, Nevada - Molinelli's Hotel over the Silver Queen Saloon. Taken in January, 2013

March 11, 2013 Molinelli's Hotel is located over the Silver Queen Saloon in Virginia City. There was a great fire in 1875 that wiped out about 300 buildings in the city. The Silver Queen and Molinelli's Hotel were rebuilt and reopened in approximately 1878. As mentioned before, it was impossible to keep the telephone wires and poles out of any of the photos taken at Virgina City. And too - this one's angle is as it is because I was trying to exclude the many cars parked along the street. Here's another view from a different vantage point: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Architecture/Buildings/7752393_7Pg76q#!i=2389204448&k=KhL8ZMJ Not sure, but the bright spot in the sky must be from lens flare. Virgina City is a must see if you're ever in northern Nevada. I'm headed out this morning for another work trip. I'll be gone all week. Keep the great photos coming, and I will do my best to comment! Have a fantastic week my friends!!! Linda

March 7, 2013 This is as close as I felt comfortable to getting to this old abandoned and overgrown mine building. The bright red KEEP OUT lettered sign was plainly meant for me - I was abundantly clear about its message - plus there was a deep culvert to cross to get to the buildig.. This was a foreboding and spooky place that had an eerie feeling surrounding the old building. We explored nearby, but did not tresspass. When we were there, It was a bitterly cold day (I do have Southern blood, you know). And even though I had on my fur coat, I was chilled to the bone. Nevertheless, the cold seemed to help conjur up imagined ghosts of the old silver mine near Silver City, Nevada. This is worth viewing in larger sizes. I converted to B&W then added SC to highight the sign. Click below to see the original, full color version. Let me know which you like better, I had a hard time choosing between the two versions, but thought this one had more of the feel of the ghost town. http://lgood.smugmug.com/Travel/Rural-Decay/19318468_ntn7qF/#!i=2371331677&k=79t8r7c Thanks to all you fantastic Smugmuggers for your comments on my snow clouds in the mountains shot yesterday! You made a difficult day better. Thanks for giving me smiles!!!! Have a fantastic day today my friends! Linda

February 28, 2013 Here's another unexpected find on our drive from Carson City to Virginia City, Nevada in the hills just south of Virginia City – the Gold Hill Hotel. According to www.guardianlv.com : "[The hotel is] nestled in the hills a mile south of historic Virginia City, Nevada, in the Comstock Lode mining community I found an unexpected golden nugget, the Gold Hill Hotel. Known as Nevada’s oldest operating hotel, the Gold Hill hotel was established in 1861; first known as the Riesen House. Although the hotel has been through several proprietors over its 151 year lifespan, the current owners may be the most surprising. Comstock Mining, Inc. purchased the property when the latest owners, Carol and Bill Fain, were ready to retire. After two years of being on the market, it became apparent the combination hotel, restaurant, and bar might have closed down if it were not for the interest of the mining company and their future vision for the revitalization of the Comstock Lode community." We didn't stop as we wanted to get to Virginia City, so this shot is "again" taken from the car as we drove past. Hopefully some day we'll have time to go back and explore tomorrow. Have a "golden" kind of day today my friends. Linda

Abandoned .... Many Years Ago,

February, 2013 This is an old mining building in the ghost town of Silver City, Nevada. I've no idea what it's use was, but I found it very interesting. And, I was very curious why all the openings in the roof. If anyone knows - please drop me a line. Here's a processed version of this building that I used for my Daily; http://lgood.smugmug.com/Other/Daily-Photos/12484643_NvHx9n#!i=2359553027&k=vrLtXpF Let me know which you like best. Linda

Silver City, Nevada

February 25, 2013 As Bill and I were driving from Carson City, Nevada to Virginia City we went through this old mining town called Silver City, Nevada. There's not too much left of the town, but it is full of old buildings and mines. I really liked this one because of the obvious age of the buildings, the colors of the rusty tin on the outside, the signs, and of course the old truck. Please check this out in X3, there's so much to see. According to www.alllaketahoe.com : Though Nevada is dotted with many ghost towns of former mining communities, none can be compared to the history of Silver City. Many visitors come from around the world to see such a well-preserved 19th century community. In fact, people are delighted to see that many things were left much the way they were, right down to general store cash registers and countless other artifacts. Silver City, Nevada, is filled with the history of mining, a veritable ghost town. It is considered by most to be one of the state's best preserved, offering views of many of the remaining buildings that once thrived as a massive settlement during the gold and silver rushes of the 19th century. Today, tourists can enjoy wandering through the buildings, seeing artifacts and getting tours, learning all there is to know about this exciting place. The settlement shows a clear picture of what life was like during those days. They soon discover the history behind it, and the inevitable decline in its economy and population as the ore supplies ran out. We really enjoyed exploring this little town, and I hope you enjoy too! Linda

Governor's Mansion, Carson City, Nevada

February 23, 2013 The governor's mansion in Carson City, Nevada. What a lovely place. It was a little tough to get the right settings due to all the shade thrown by the trees. According to www.carsonpedia.com : For over a hundred years, this has been the residence and offices of Nevada's Governor. Construction was completed in 1909. The total cost was $22,700. The land the mansion sits on was donated to the state by T.B. Rickey, whose house still sits across the street to the south at 512 Mountain. Legend has it that it was actually Rickey's wife who donated the land, while he was out of town on business. Upon his return he was distressed to learn of his wife's generosity on his behalf, but it was too late to renege on the deal without losing face. Thanks to everyone for your fantastic comments on my photos this week. I apologize that I've been totally invisible to making comments on your shots this week. It was a difficult week for work in Birmingham, long, tough days. And in the evenings I had the pleasure of my husband's company so I chose to spend the time with him rather than Smugmug. HOWEVER, I will do my best to look at, enjoy and comment on as many of your photos as I can over the weekend. You SmugMuggers ROCK!!!!!! Enjoy! Linda

January 29, 2013 Oh what stories these windows in this old house could tell.................. SOOC - best viewed in larger sizes. Have a great day my friends! Best, Linda

January 2, 2013 See today's daily for more information on this old building, which is the original home of the Nocona Boot factory in Nocona, Texas. http://lgood.smugmug.com/Other/Daily-Photos/12484643_NvHx9n#!i=2299528299&k=d5SSCgP

Morman's Row Outbuilding

October 17, 2012 "There are elements of intrinsic beauty in the simplification of a house built on the log cabin idea." ~ Gustav Stickley I couldn't resist posting this close up shot of the logs and workmanship in the iconic barn (photographed I'd guess by hundreds of thousands of people) at Morman Row. I love the craftmanship and how it was all put together. Wood is one of my favorite materials, I like the colors and textures here. To see the whole barn, click on the following to see it in one of my recent Daily photos: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Other/Daily-Photos/12484643_NvHx9n#!i=2117746114&k=c9VfMVx Best viewed in larger sizes for detail. This is SOOC except for the frame made in Picasa. Click here for an even closer view of the workmanship in this building: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Travel/Vacations/18186464_wfxNtK#!i=2132514956&k=QGK77nX Have a warm and wonderful day today my friends. Linda

John Moulton 's Barn - Mormon Row, Utah

October 1, 2012 "On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche This barn is one of a very few remaining buildings left at Morman Row near the town of Moose, Wyoming. I'm sure this is one of the most photographed barns in the United States, the setting is just amazing and the condition of the barn is strong, although deserted and not in use. While we were in the valley known as Jackson Hole, Wyoming we saw such wonderful places and beautiful country. As mentioned before, the haze that hung in the air from the nearby grass fires made it very difficult to get clear photographs of the Teton Mountains. It was disappointing, because they are so magnificent. However, I was very pleased that at least in this shot, they are clear against the blue sky on the day this shot was taken. According to Wikipedia: Mormon Row is a line of homestead complexes along the Jackson-Moran Road near the southeast corner of Grand Teton National Park, in the valley called Jackson Hole. The rural historic landscape's period of significance includes the construction of the Andy Chambers, T.A. Moulton and John Moulton farms from 1908 to the 1950s. Six building clusters and a separate ruin illustrate Mormon settlement in the area and comprise such features as drainage systems, barns, fields and corrals. The area is also known as Antelope Flats, situated between the towns of Moose and Kelly. It is a popular destination for tourists and photographers on account of the historic buildings, the herds of bison, and the spectacular Teton Range rising in the background. The alluvial soil to the east of Blacktail Butte was more suitable than most locations in Jackson Hole for farming, somewhat hampered by a lack of readily available water. The Mormon homesteaders began to arrive in the 1890s from Idaho, creating a community called "Grovont," with a total of 27 homesteads. The Mormon settlers tended to create clustered communities, in contrast to the isolated homesteads more typical of Jackson Hole. Please take a moment to view this in the larger sizes, it's one of my favorite shots from the trip. And thanks to everyone for your kind comments on this series. There's still more photos to go through and process. It could take months. :-)) But I'll be posting more in the coming weeks. Check this view out - it's really cool too: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Travel/Vacations/18186464_wfxNtK#!i=2120891933&k=LZkhwzr I'm back out on another trip to Birmingham, Alabama this week, then Orlando the following week. My ability to comment will be somewhat limited, but I'll do my best to keep up. Have a wonderful day today my friends!

The Old Church in the Meadow

September 13, 2012 First of all let me say, "Happy Birthday to my granddaughter Ashlee." She's 13 today - gee, that's hard to believe. But she's a wonderful young lady, full of grace and love, and.......in all honors classes this year. "A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." ~ Max Muller On our vacation we drove all the small highways that we could through Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. As we left Paris, Idaho (see yesterday's and Tuesday's potds) we found this wonderful old church on Highway 89 between Paris and Ovid, Idaho. What a wonderful old building, and how sad that it is boarded up and not in use anymore. Nevertheless, I had to stop and take a lot of photos of it. I would have loved to have seen it in it's heyday, and been able to go inside. Frame by Picmonkey. here's another shot of this fab old church - it stole my heart: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Travel/Vacations/18186464_wfxNtK/#!i=2077362413&k=GxQ2hbw Have a wonderful day my friends, Linda

September 11, 2012 As we left the Bonneville Salt Flats (you still may see more photos yet), we began meandering our way through Utah and decided to spend the night in Logan, UT. The next day we enjoyed our time, took our time and wondered around through the backroads of Utah and into Idaho. We passed through this picturesque little town of Paris, ID and decided to stop and explore. We found this wonderful old Paris Tabernacle built in 1889. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring and taking photos of it. From the "Visit Idaho" website, I find the following information: "This place of worship is recognized as one of the true pioneer landmarks of the West and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1889, this Romanesque Mormon tabernacle was constructed of red sandstone that had to be transported by wagon or sled from a quarry 18 miles away." Inside, there are wonderful, soaring ceilings, an awesome interior and just wonderful architecture inside and out. I went inside, and found a gentleman playing the amazing organ. I was the only one inside, and I'm sure he never new I was there. I was so thrilled to sit there for quite sometime listiening to his music. Click the following link for an interior photo of the tabernacle: http://lgood.smugmug.com/Travel/Vacations/18186464_wfxNtK/#!i=2077011430&k=gXD9RNZ Have a joyous day today my friends. Remember and pray for the souls that were lost 9/11/01. Linda

Backroads and Barns

August 9, 2012 "Divine Nature gave the fields, human art built the cities." ~ Marcus Terentius Varro Another drive by shot from our trip to Kentucky. I loved the old barn surrounded by the lovely green fields. I don't recall if this was a field of corn or maze, or something different, but I do remember how pretty it was. I guess I was a day ahead of myself this morning when I made my starter comment. I was "wishing" it was Friday because I'd be home. But alas, I soon realized that it is just Thursday, and I'm still in Birmingham. LOL, such is the life of a road warrior, you don't remember what city you are in. Have a fantastic day today my friends! Linda