flags

People around here love to fly their flags.  (Thankfully, no Confederate flags in sight.)  This one puzzled me until I looked it up.  It celebrates the "thin blue line".  Basically supporting the police, and probably a reaction to Black Lives Matter.  I learned in Girl Scouts that the American flag should never be used in any other form than the red white and blue flag.  Not as clothing, not as a banner.  Also, the flag is to be protected from the weather, and when it gets old it should be retired and respectfully burned. See here

Hmmm what about this tired flag?

It seems like people who fly the flag should respect it.  Like the one below.

Dawn

On a cloudy day, this is as much of the sun as you can expect to see.

Happy Thanksgiving

I don't think this turkey has to worry about being eaten today, but he's concerned about something.

Maple leaf

The leaves were bright in the rain.

Kale in the rain

Kale seems to be able to survive a lot of cool weather.  I liked the way the misty rain beaded up on the leaf.

Brave little Marigold

These little marigolds just keep blooming.  They are almost lost in the bright leaves from the crepe myrtle, but they just keep going.

Fall Dogwood

The most amazing thing I've found about North Carolina are the beautiful forests.  Even in and around Raleigh the trees are wondrous.  

I've learned lately that this might not always be true.  There is more and more development around the city, cutting down the thick forests.  But even worse, our forests are being cut to make wood pellets that are sent to Europe for Biomass Electrical plants.  The Dogwood Alliance is a group fighting this forest decimation.  Their motto: Our Forests Aren't Fuel.  See here for more information.