Theme Day: Wood

The theme for August is "wood".  So here you have wooden shingles,

And the gnarly trunk of an Osage orange tree.

 

If you can't stand the heat...

This kitchen was the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, 17th president in 1808. (see here).  In those days, kitchens were outbuildings, not in the house, due to the heat and the frequency of fires from the hot cooking fires.  The downstairs was one big open kitchen with a sleeping area upstairs.  This building was moved from it's original place behind a tavern in downtown Raleigh to the Mordecai historic park.

 

Perspective

The image of the ideal plantation life is put to rest with this chilling interpretive sign at the Mordecai historic park.  The owner of the plantation bought Primus and bound him in "body and mind and soul for the rest of his life."

It sounds like a deal only the devil would make.

 

Plantation house

The Mordecai house is the oldest structure in Raleigh still in it's original location.  It was the home of the Mordecai family.  This was the biggest plantation in Wake county and enslaved hundreds of workers. (see here for history of the home.) It is now a historical park with many historic buildings that were moved to this location.

 

Pig on a bike

Ride your bike to work day?

 

Forest bathing

Take a break

 

Mr. and Mrs. Downy

 Mrs. Downy Woodpecker waited patiently for her husband to finish munching at the suet feeder

Coffee time

Join us!

 

Dragonflies

We found sparkplug dragonflies at the roadside shop.

And then the real deal.

 

Piggy

Maybe this pig will fly.

 

Chicken sale...

Chickens anyone?

 

Guards at the gate

These dinos protect a roadside shop, When Pigz Fly.

I've driven by many times, each time thinking I should stop. 

It really is magical.

 

Unsettled

After 3 days of rain, the weather wasn't sure if it should rain more or clear up.  It finally decided and the skies cleared to blue.

 

Resurrection

After days of rain, the resurrection ferns were back to normal.

(See here)

 

Deer

Looking down the path, we found this guy looking back at us.

 

Yellow coneflower

The yellow coneflower looked like they were wearing skirts.

 

Might as well jump

I put my camera on burst mode, and Jim scared the grasshopper.  He was so quick that I got only one good frame as he jumped away.

Here he is right before the jump.

 

Hmmmmm

We're starting to see hummingbirds back at the feeders.  This little lady kept one eye on me while she was checking out the feeder.

 

Center

When I stare at this plant I begin to feel like I'm sliding into its center.

 

Unnatural tree

Walking through the arboretum, you will come upon sculptures that slip easily into the scenery.  

At first glance, it's another tree in the arboretum.  With a second look you can see a carefully designed sculpture.  

 

In the grass

As we walked across the grass, it was alive with hoppers.  They were invisible until they fled from our feet.  Some were small, and some, like this beauty were several inches long.

 

Milkweed

I've been babying a patch of common milkweed that I started from seed a few years ago.  No, this picture is not from my patch.  Mine has become food for rabbits.  I thought milkweed was poisonous and rabbits wouldn't touch it.  Not so.  It has been reduced to a few leafless sticks.

 

Zinnia

This zinnia reminds me of fireworks on the fourth of July.

 

What is it?

It looks like it should do something if you wind it up...but it's a sculpture.  It sits in an open field at the North Carolina Museum of Art's sculpture park.

 

Grand Entrance

Lions guard the gate to the Japanese gardens at JC Raulston Arboretum. 

They look pretty fierce.

 

Mocking

First we heard a cardinal's song, then a towhee, a robin and a chickadee.  Looking around we found him - a mocking bird calling to all his friends.

 

Chairs

Wandering through the North Carolina Museum of Art, we came upon several sets of chairs.  Some looked like you could sit in them.

Some looked like they would be uncomfortable.

Some were downright scary.

Even after reading the Artist's Statement, I'm confused.

 

50% off

 

After every holiday comes the sale.

The Uncle Sam Gnomes must not have been a big seller.

Or the patriotic hand towels.

Red, white and blue ribbon anyone?

Happy July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

 

Summer

 On a hot summer day, no one was lounging under the umbrellas at the Art Museum.  Most everyone was inside the air conditioned building.

Bacon and Eggs

Big Ed's is a southern comfort food restaurant in Raleigh.  It's a busy place for breakfast with a line out the door most mornings.  They offer "country ham" or "city ham"  (very salty or salty) and  if you order unsweet tea they know you're not from around here.

This pig welcomes customers at the counter.