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Looking Up

I made this image a long time ago but can't remember if I posted it.  I was walking around downtown this afternoon and decided to make another image of it.  There's just something I love about this perspective of looking up from the cellar stairs of this business.  

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Potted Plants

This is just one of the potted plants in front of the art center/museum in downtown Abilene, TX.

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Upside Down and Graffiti

While I was walking around downtown today, I saw this.  There was a lot of chalk graffiti on the ground, so the art center probably had a children's event recently.  

My heart is grateful that:

some people believe in children's art

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A Boy and His Dog

This is a sculpture outside one of the art buildings in downtown Abilene.

My heart is grateful for:

the time I spent walking around downtown AGAIN looking for photo ops

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Almost Black and White

There's a ballet school in town and this artwork is on the outside of the building.  It's a beautiful graphic with just a touch of red in the hair.

My heart is grateful for: 

the very peaceful day I had today

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Planters

Another image from the plant nursery.  I think the planters are pretty and I love the decor for sale on the wall.

My heart is grateful for:

the line dancing lesson I went to today

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Leaves

My photo group took a field trip to one of the local Nurseries tonight.  I'm not really an avid nature photographer and it was 100 degrees while we were there so I really struggled with feeling enthusiastic and with subject matter.

I saw this beautiful houseplant though and decided to take a close-up shot of the gorgeous leaves.

I think I must have known the name of this plant once upon a time, but I don't remember the name now.  Hopefully you can enjoy the image without knowing the name.

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Alaska-Siberia Lend-Lease Memorial

I didn't know anything about this program during WWII.  I never heard a word about it in school and only found out about it after I made this image.

During WWII Russia was unable to manufacture all the equipment it needed for the war, so the United States and Russia developed a program where the US would lend planes to Russia so it could

fight effectively against our enemies.  (Other European countries also participated in the program and there was some sort of a low repayment program).

Planes were shuttled to Fairbanks from the lower 48 and a combination of Russian and American pilots would fly the planes to Russia. Approximately 8,000 aircraft were lent in this program.

This statue is located in Griffin Park, downtown Fairbanks. It was designed & created

by R.T. Wallen and was unveiled on August 27, 2006.

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Quilting Mural

This is a section of a beautiful mural seen on the side of a building in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.  Once upon a time the building contained That Old Sew & Sew, a fabric/quilt shop, but it has been closed for a couple of years.

The mural was created by Zoe Rabjohns who currently lives in Fairbanks and owns the 

Hello Sunshine Tattoo Parlor. 

She can be found online if you'd be interested in seeing more of her work.

My heart is grateful for:

artwork in all forms that beautifies our towns & cities

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Sculpture on Downtown Building

This sculpture is seen on the Alaska Court System building in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.  It was created by Keith Appel with Doug Morris & Nelson Gingrich in 2001.

It's called Arctic Sonata

and it changes color with the ambient lighting conditions.

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Paddleboarder

As I was walking across the Chena River bridge, I wanted to take a photo of the water and the trees, but this paddle boarder was in the scene, so that was a bonus.  By the time I had my camera focused I noticed that she might be taking a selfie.  Another bonus.

I personally wouldn't take my phone anywhere near a body of water, but each to their own I guess.

My heart was happy:

to come across an unexpected scene

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Outside Tables

These table are outside a business in downtown Fairbanks, AK called the Fudge Pot.  The establishment sells food and, of course, fudge.

I didn't go inside because I was afraid I'd succumb to my love of fudge, but I enjoyed getting this image of the outside of the business.

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Another perspective of the Creamery Visitor Center.  

I was walking around, waiting for my companion to show up, when I saw a young man on a bicycle on the path just looking around at the building.  I took a few photos and then went to the parking area.  When I turned back around the young man had parked his bike next to the building and he was taking photos of the structure.  I was so tempted to talk to him and see what he was seeing that I might have missed, but I didn't.

My heart is happy that:

We all see things differently and can share those visions with others

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Another trip back to the Creamery on the edge of Fairbanks.  It was another spectacularly beautiful day and I managed to get another perspective on the visitor's center.  

My heart is grateful for:

the salmon dinner I had last night when we all went out to celebrate a delayed Father's Day

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A Retro Gas Pump

I saw this pump in the side yard of a house as I was walking down the road one day a couple of weeks ago in upstate NY.  Don't know why I didn't post it yet, but how cool is it?

My heart is grateful for:

people who preserve history

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White Birch

At a pond located at a tourist stop in Fairbanks these birch are clustered on the opposite bank.

I just thought it was an interesting composition.

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Quilt Square on Barn

There is a tourist area with walking trials on the edge of Fairbanks, Ak.  I went there this morning with my dil and saw this incredible reminder of the area I lived in most of my life.

Where I used to live, many people would pay for someone to design a wooden quilt square 

and they'd put it on their barn or their house.  There was a map of the locations

for all the squares, so it could be a day-long trip to follow the trail and see all the squares.

This is the only one I've seen here, but I love it.

My heart is happy that:

I had the chance to spend some outdoor time with my dil today.

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Farmer's Market

Every Wed evening and Sat morning throughout the summer, there's a Farmer's Market.  These are some random people walking around.  It was a beautiful day. We spent about an hour checking out all the booths.

There were some photographers there selling their images.  Some were beautiful, some were average. I often wonder how much stock the sellers much have to do the Farmer's Market circuit~~and where do they store it all after the season?

My heart is grateful that:

my grand baby had a good report from his visit with the midwife

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Pickle Ball

I'm posting another Pickle Ball image because this afternoon my son wanted to go play with some friends and somehow he talked me into playing.  Obviously I'm not in this image, but I probably played for about an hour.  

It was actually more fun than I thought it would be but I still prefer racketball. 

Hopefully I'll get to play again before returning home...

The weather was stunningly beautiful today.

My heart is grateful that:

I let myself get talked into trying Pickle Ball and I enjoyed it

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Trap Club

I've seen gun ranges before, but never a range dedicated for trap shooting.  This place is open two times a week according to the sign but maybe the members get together other times as well.

The bottom line says "Home of the Midnight Sun Shoot" and that's not an exaggeration--it doesn't get dark during the early summer, so at midnight it's like daytime.  

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Empty Shed

I took a photo of this shed the last time I was here in the winter.  I'm not sure what it's for, but it's right on the corner of the property so maybe it is (or was) a shed for school kids to be in while waiting for the school bus. Other than that I have no idea.  

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Immaculate Conception Church

This Catholic Church is located on the bank of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.  Constructed in 1904,  it was the first Roman Catholic Church in the interior of Alaska.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April of 1976.

 

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Totem Pole

This totem pole is located on the campus of Alaska University Fairbanks.  It was completed in 1963 by Amos Wallace. It's 48 feet tall and contains 8 figures from top to bottom: raven, frog, giant cannibal, frog, mosquito, frog, bear, wolf.

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Flowering Tree

I have no idea what this tree is, but it sure is pretty.  It's the only one of this road.

My heart is grateful for:

the beautiful weather today

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Unknown First Family

A stunning statue of an Alaskan family seen in the Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, sitting atop a fountain.

The park is situated alongside the Chena River and is host to many outdoor activities throughout the year.

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Pickle Ball

I don't understand the appeal of this game.  It's been the fastest growing American sport for the past three years.  Why?

To be honest, I've never played it so maybe I don't have the right to judge it like I do.  My game of choice is racketball.

I knew two people who were playing this morning so I couldn't resist making some images.  They were having great fun, but I'm not even tempted.

Each to his own I guess. 

My heart is grateful that:

there seems to be something for everyone

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Campus Architecture

This building is located on the campus of Alaska University Fairbanks.

My heart is grateful that:

we were able to have dinner at a friend's house tonight and spend some time with them

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Another Skylink Sign

This Skylink sign was at the bottom level of the escalator directing people to the shuttles to other gates.  It provided a look at the runway where an Alaska flight was being situated for take-off.

My heart is grateful that:

we were able to get our flight shortly after this plane left

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Saying Hi Sculpture

Seen on the campus of Alaska University Fairbanks.  It's one of a pair that stand facing each other saying hi to each other.

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Abstract Sculpture on Alaska University Fairbanks

While I was waiting for some friends so we could attend a musical concert their children were part of, I wandered around the Alaska campus for a few minutes.  

This sculpture is in front of the library building.  I didn't see any explanation or name for it, but I thought it was interesting.

My heart is grateful for:

the gift of music that's been given to us from the Lord

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Hopscotch on the Bridge

This hop scotch design is painted on the walkway of the pedestrian bridge that goes across the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.

What a treat for the kids as they walk with their parents.  Maybe a treat for the adults too.

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Pink Flower Graffiti

This pink flower mural is painted on the side wall of a business in downtown Fairbanks, AK.

My heart is grateful for:

beautiful weather

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Walking Bridge

This is the walking bridge that crosses over the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, AK.

Once on the bridge the view from either side is spectacular.

Everything is green and the river weaves itself through the town.

My heart is grateful for:

beautiful scenery

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Airport Store

I was in the airport for an incredibly long time.  My flight was delayed about three times and then finally, when we were in line to board, the flight was canceled because of bad weather.  So, because it was canceled due to bad weather, none of us were issued vouchers for an overnight stay at a motel. 

Most of us spent between 4-5 hours standing in line to rebook our flights.  

The line crept along.  No one got angry, no one became cantankerous.  We all just waited our turns.  The only thing that was a benefit to me in that very long wait was that the guy behind me started a conversation and we talked about 30 random topics through the entire unpleasant ordeal.

By the time I got to the booking window it was probably 1:30 am.  The soonest flight they could get me

on was at around 2 pm, so that was another 12 hour wait.

About an hour before boarding, it finally occurred to me to get my camera out of my bag and start taking photos. Duh!!!  At that point in time I couldn't go very far from my gate because I didn't want to miss my plane so I was pretty limited in what I could photograph.

I watched this store close the night before and then I watched it open back up in the morning.  I thought it was pretty interesting and even though I waited quite a while for that guy to move, he was engrossed with something on his phone, so I just decided to grab the shot and move along to another image.

My heart is grateful today:

that I was able to get out and get some images in a different place for a change

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My Favorite Airline

I've flown this airline in the past and loved it, and I had the chance to fly it again recently and still loved it.  Too bad the other airlines don't use it for a business model.

  

My heart is grateful that:

I was finally able to arrive at my destination and see my son, dil and their new baby, who is absolutely the cutest baby!!

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Inside the Dallas Airport

This sign is located at the escalator leading people to the shuttles to gates throughout the airport.  To the right of the image are windows which look out onto the runway and the ramps that enable customers to get onto their planes.  

my heart is grateful that:

my trip finally ended although it took three times longer than it should have due to cancelled flights because of bad weather