Sue's Daily Photography

The Old Mill 1886

2009-07-16T18:18:00.006-04:00

We've experienced a historic grist mill on the edge of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. A country store w/ fresh ground cornmeal, jams, country hams, candles and quality gifts. The 1886 room
is full of antiques, lamps, furniture's and quality smalls. The 1930 Gift Shop offers Cherokee made baskets, arts and crafts, Collectors will find Civil War, Indian Artifacts, southern pottery and more.

It's amazing, "The Old Mill" is still working

View from the inside to the spinning water wheel

You can buy all kind of nostalgic items

Coca-Cola on everything you can think about

Or, do you need some "new" refurbished chairs at home?
Will you hang them also on the wall?...LOL...

That Old Mill

is alive in the light of day

harsh wind grabbing
your windpipe, breath of winter-chill

icicle eyes staring dimly
at the scene, leftover pussy
willows as
stiff fingers beside river's bank.

Within view an ancient mill
memories
dulled
by the passage of time.

Images of life return as a photo
album, deer
within shadows
cows flicking horse flies

kids painting the barn and
three dogs chasing.

Childhood is splashing in the
creek, pages from life
a long time ago.

*****

I hope you enjoyed my post about "The Old Mill" in the Smokeys of NC!

See you tomorrow!
oohh...btw, ...comments are always very welcome :)
Susanne

What color has the soul?

2009-07-15T17:29:00.004-04:00

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.

~ Marcus Aurelius ~

Hi my friends,

Thanks for all your visit and all the comments to my blog!

It's time for us to figure out in what directions we want be traveling again... tomorrow we will leave this beautiful region of The Smokies and heading towards North/North-West, without a clear plan, just now.... I'll let you know where we will be, what we will be doing and exploring.

Just stay with me and cross your fingers for me, to have a better connection there than I head in the last week.

See you there!
Susanne and David

Meeting Roger Bansemer, an extraordinary artist in NC

2009-07-14T14:44:00.006-04:00

We were cruising along in the hills near Flat Rock in NC, looking for a particular artist and his Gallery. David knew of his works and had admired his painting style for a long time. When we found the gallery Dave was very happy to meet Roger Bansemer in person. It was a nice experience for me, also. If you happen to be in the Flat Rock area of North Carolina, stop by and say hello to Roger and his lovely wife Sarah, they like to have guests and I'm sure you would love his work.

Roger Bansemer

is one of today’s most versatile and insightful artists. Spanning four prolific decades, his paintings cover a wide spectrum from earlier abstract works to the present day representational paintings of landscapes, shorebirds, wildlife, beachscapes, and nautical themes. After authoring and carefully rendering hundreds of paintings used in his books on lighthouses, he has become known as America's premier painter of lighthouses.

Read more about the artist here

We had the great opportunity to watch him painting and we had also interesting conversations about art of course, but not just that, also about their traveling. Roger and Sarah will be on the road soon and he will be painting a lot of new impressions of the West while taping segments of their new series of art demonstrations soon to be seen on PBS television.

This is the view of his studio where many of his extraordinary original paintings are hanging and matted prints are also offered for sale.

Dave and Roger talking about their mutual travel, internet and art interests

Bansemer became the 112th person to dive to the Titanic, the sixth person under the stern, and the first artist to have painted Titanic on site. This book chronicles his journey in a mixture paintings, photos, and digitally-painted images. He almost didn’t make it out to the site as a hurricane churning in the southeast Atlantic kept him in St. John’s, Newfoundland, waiting. But an artist uses his time to observe and paint, and his love of painting nature and lighthouses thus play their part in this book too. Then his lifelong fascination with painting ships takes over as he sails out to the research vessel Keldysh. All the details of the adventure, the wondrous submersible Mir, and finally the ghostly remains of the Titanic appear from the artist’s brush.

Roger Bansemer published many Art-Books. You can see them here: http://www.bansemer.com/books/books.htm

Hi my friends,

Finally I had a better connection again and could finally bring this post online.

Thanks for all your kind comments to my last post. It's a great feeling to read all your wonderful compliments about my photography, thank you so much! :)

We will be heading tomorrow towards NC again and then probably up to direction NW.... we don't know it for sure just now, where we will be and where to go , but I heard also that Montana must be beautiful. Any suggestions...? :)

Stay with me - and see you there!
Susanne and David

My Wordless Sunday in North Carolina

2009-07-11T21:40:00.002-04:00

Here comes the gang....

2009-07-10T18:37:00.004-04:00

“When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.”

~ James Whitcomb Riley ~

Hi my friends,

we have still gray and rainy clouds here in the hills of North Carolina... that's a good weather to be gambling in a Casino! We went this afternoon in the Harrah's Casino in Cherokee - and we won....yeah! Not quiet a lot this time, but won is won...right...?... and we are happy :)

Thanks for all your wonderful compliments to my last post - love you all! :)

Stay with me and enjoy my today's post too.
Susanne and David

In The Smokey Mountains, NC

2009-07-09T16:28:00.007-04:00

We have visited yesterday Boone in NC and on the way back to Asheville, NC we had some rain for minutes. Later, the sun came back and "smog" started to come up everywhere in the hills, like the hills are on fire. That was again a beautiful show of mother nature - that's where the hills of North Carolina get the name from : Smokey Mountains.

The Great Smoky Mountains
are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the Smokey Mountains, and the name is commonly shortened to the Smokies. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was established in 1934, and with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States.

The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia.

The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve. The range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres (760 km²) of old growth forest, constituting the largest such stand east of the Mississippi River. The cove hardwood forests in the range's lower elevations are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America, and the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest that coats the range's upper elevations is the largest of its kind. The Great Smokies are also home to the densest black bear population in the Eastern United States and the most diverse salamander population outside of the tropics.

Pretty light on the side of the road

Hi my friends,

All your kind comments make always my day, thanks for that! :)

The rain came back yesterday evening and also in the night, and this morning it was raining too - too boring! We decided to stay here in the Asheville area for another day and to relax. Traveling is a hard job, you know that too.... right? ...LOL...

Tomorrow we will be heading West in NC... I heard there is somewhere a Casino and you can win there easy a lot of money...LOL... we will try it again :) I'll let you know if we won... LOL... :)

See you there!
Susanne

It feels like the time stand still in Saluda NC

2009-07-08T23:51:00.007-04:00

We have visited Saluda in North Carolina, again. And we have also visited the more than 100 years old General Merchandise store in the main street of this small village - you cannot miss it!

Saluda

is a city in Henderson and Polk counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 575 at the 2000 census. Saluda is famous for sitting at the top of the Norfolk Southern Railway's Saluda Grade, the steepest standard gauge railroad line in the United States. The main street has been improved since 1995 with new restaurants and art galleries. Tourists and cyclists are common on summer and fall weekends. The town festival is named Coon Dog Day, after raccoon hunting dogs. Their fire department is the first department in Polk County that received heavy rescue achievement. They have around 10 trucks, and a good staff along with a supposedly excellent dive team. There are 8 certified members.

The Henderson County portion of Saluda is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The owner of the store is Mr. R. Pace who is working there every day. Go and have a small talk with him, he is an interesting and humorous, nice gentleman.

In the store you can find everything you need: socks, crochet-cotton, buttons....

There are also objects to see behind glass from 100 years ago when the store started out, like this items and a book keeping book

Saluda is famous for sitting at the top of the Norfolk Southern Railway's Saluda Grade, the steepest standard gauge railroad line in the United States.

Even a real railroad cap is available to buy...

...or do you prefer a pretty colorful scarf?

...or maybe a t-shirt, that tells: Be proud of to be a customer here since more than 100 years..? :)

The store offers also P.O.Boxes and it works as a little gallery beside all the useful items to buy for your gardening work

This is the office desk of Mr. R. Pace, located also in the store

I wrote last year already a post about Saluda and about this store, see it here:
http://sues-daily-photos.blogspot.com/search?q=Saluda

Hi my friends,

thank you, thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and compliments to my last post!

Yesterday I had no Internet connections again... we were sitting on a campground somewhere in the woods and missed you all...LOL... I ask my self often: what the hick I did with all my time before I was blogging.... :)

Tomorrow I'll show you some pictures of the "Smokies"... I experienced the Smoky Mountains after a light summer rain., it was just beautiful!

See you tomorrow :)
Susanne

They are sunshine....

2009-07-06T22:49:00.003-04:00

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.
~ Luther Burbank ~

Hi my friends,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your good wishes to my yesterdays Birthday, you're all so great! :)

We are on the way to the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, visiting Asheville and other pretty places up there. I love NC and its beautiful hills!

See you there!
Susanne

Once upon a time....

2009-07-05T22:29:00.006-04:00

Yes, that's me.... 59 years and 2 months ago..... yep... it was my Birthday today! :)

I had a nice day and I'm thankful for everything and every person who crossed my way in my 60 years on this earth - and YOU, all my friends are included in this! :)

Somebody smart told once these word:

Count your life by smiles, not tears.
Count your age by friends, not years

Have a toast with me of the next 60 years to come...LOL...

Outer Banks Good Bye

2009-07-03T23:41:00.009-04:00

It was getting dark and it was looking like this here - thunder storms were approaching this morning. That was the reason why we left the Outer Banks up to the main land again.

I like to capture pictures from the same spots, but driving back the same way where we came in - the pictures look always different :)

Pretty sand scenes and pretty water colors

Vacation homes located close on/in the water in Nags Head

After driving many hours on country back roads trough National Nature Refuge, pretty little fishing villages, we arrived in New Bern. And I felt suddenly - as a Swiss of course - my heart beating faster...LOL... After seeing New Glarus in Wisconsin I have seen now New Bern...unbelievable! But, what has this New Bern to do with the Capitol of Switzerland: the real BERN? Read the answer under the next picture please...

New Bern's "flag" is a bear - of course!

New Bern
is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 23,128 as of the 2000 census. The estimated population in 2006 was 27,650. It is located at the convergence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers, 87 miles (140 km) northeast of Wilmington. New Bern is the second oldest town in North Carolina and served as the capital of the North Carolina colonial government and then briefly as the state capital. It is the county seat of Craven County and the principal city of the New Bern Micropolitan Statistical Area. Originally a Swiss settlement, the city is named after the capital of Switzerland, Bern and shares its flag. The Swiss connection (just as the Dutch in New Amsterdam, and German immigrants in Pennsylvania Dutch) with England was established by Marian exiles and marriages of the Royal House of Stuart, important people in the history of the Calvinism. New Bern is commonly known as the birthplace of Pepsi Cola.

Hi my friends,

You all are so great!! You made my day with all your kind comments and wonderful compliments on my blog, thank you so much! :)

We are sitting somewhere in the deepest woods on a campground - every one is sleeping already around us - it's late - only me and my laptop are "working"...LOL.. it was a beautiful day today and a little bit also sad, that we couldn't stay longer at the Outer Banks, but now we are here, heading up to the cool hills of NC...

The 4th of July is a special day for all you Americans, I know - and I'm so proud to be here and to have the opportunity to see all the beauty of this exciting country! I met a lot of wonderful people allover the 27 States we have visited in this soon 6 months on the road and driving more than 15'000 miles already. I have enjoyed every single moment!

God bless you all and a Happy 4th of July !!

Susanne

On the 5th I have a special day coming up....LOL... smile... :)

The Way out to the Outer Banks, NC

2009-07-02T22:01:00.007-04:00

We had to cross over two long bridges to get to the Outer Banks - this was the first one...

...and this was the 2nd one - the white stripe there on the horizon are sand dunes

A friendly sign at the visitor center welcomes you to the Outer Banks

We had to make a quick decision - which way to chose :)

We entered the National Seashore Park on Cape Hatteras

We've visited the Bodie Island Lighthouse:

The current Bodie Island Lighthouse is the third that has stood in this vicinity of Bodie Island on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and was built in 1872. It stands 156 feet tall and is located on the Roanoke Sound side of the first island that is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The lighthouse is just south of Nag's Head, a few miles before Oregon Inlet. It is currently not climbable by the public, but plans are in place to make it safe for climbing.

I love this sometimes scurrilous but stunning architecture in these beach houses that you can see all over the island. And the cars are parked in the sand beside the street.

Hi my friends,

thanks for all your visit to my blog and all the wonderful comments. :)

We will be leaving tomorrow, heading back to the cool mountains of NC with a lot of fresher air than here on the beach...LOL.. is this a sign of getting older - or what...?...LOL... it's way to HOT for us here and the mosquitoes are eating me up like crazy - it's no fun....!

Stay with me.... see you there! :)
Susanne

The House in the Dunes

2009-07-01T20:46:00.004-04:00

We arrived today in a pretty fishing village in the Outer Banks, close to Nags Head, at the beautiful and HOT Atlantic Coast of North Carolina
(more pictures will follow).

The Outer Banks

is a 200-mile (320-km) long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States. They cover approximately half the northern North Carolina coastline, separating the Currituck Sound, Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Outer Banks is a major tourist destination and is known for its temperate climate and wide expanse of open beachfront. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore has four campgrounds where visitors may camp.

The Wright brothers' first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air vehicle took place on the Outer Banks on December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills near the seafront town of Kitty Hawk. The Wright Brothers National Monument commemorates the historic flights, and First Flight Airport is a small, general-aviation airfield located there.

The English Roanoke Colony—where the first person of English descent, Virginia Dare, was born on American soil - vanished from Roanoke Island in 1587. The Lost Colony, written and performed to commemorate the original colonists, is the longest running outdoor drama in the United States and its theater acts as a cultural focal point for much of the Outer Banks.

The treacherous seas off the Outer Banks and the large number of shipwrecks that have occurred there have given these seas the nickname Graveyard of the Atlantic. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is located in Hatteras Village near the United States Coast Guard facility and Hatteras ferry.

Hi my friends,

We made it! We arrived today in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.

It was also a long dreamed dream of mine to see this pretty strings of narrow barrier islands, out in the Atlantic, many miles off the shores. I'm not sure if I can see the wild mustangs, they are located on another, separate island. It's not possible to drive there with our RV. But I have some shots made from some of the lighthouses here and I will show you them soon. I'm a big fan of lighthouses!

And of course, I'll watch out for "the message in a bottle" on the shores of the blue Atlantic... smile.... you never know... :)

I'm happy you liked my last post, your comments and compliments are very appreciated!

Stay with me, you'll don't regret :)
Susanne

After a Light Summer Rain....

2009-06-30T18:08:00.006-04:00

One day we were looking out for a night place to stay somewhere in Tennessee. We've found one and it was a very pretty one too. The rain just stopped some minutes ago before we arrived there and I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot some pictures with fog rising over the pond, enjoy!

Mystic in blue, green and purple...

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”
~ Author unknown ~

If you click in (all) the picture(s) you'll see this over sized, amazing, pretty flower bigger

Covered with rain drops...

The same flower, another framing...

Hi my friends,

I love the rain! ... what about you...? :)

Thanks for all the many comments to my last post, thanks for taking your time to visit my blog and to read all my "bla bla bla's"....LOL... :))

Stay tuned, there will be more coming :)
Susanne

From Virginia to North Carolina

2009-06-29T17:56:00.006-04:00

A last view to the Blue Ridge Mountains

There was an almost endless forest to cross on I-64 East until the Junction to I-95 came up, heading further towards the South

Crossing over the James River, we are still in Virginia

The James River
in the U.S. state of Virginia is a 410-mile (660 km) long river, including its Jackson River source. It drains a catchment comprising 10,432 square miles (27,020 km²). The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million people (2000). It is the 12th longest river in the United States that remains entirely within a single state.

Pretty wild flowers by a rest area place, before we entered to the State of North Carolina

Hello my friends,

We spent now 6 days in North Carolina and heading tomorrow down to the Ocean. I'm very excited to see the water again :)

Thanks for all your nice comments, very much appreciated!:)

Have a wonderful time and stay connected with me....
Susanne

My Wordless Sunday in North Carolina

2009-06-28T11:10:00.004-04:00

The Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway in Virginia

2009-06-27T15:15:00.010-04:00

After leaving my cousin in Nashville, Tennessee we crossed the border to Virginia, the beautiful "green" State with pretty farm lands, a lot of forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains as a part of The Appalachian Mountains.

We've decided to take a ride trough the Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway

The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains,

is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division. The province consists of the Northern and Southern physiographic sections, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. This a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. To the west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies the Great Valley, bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province. The mountains are well known for their bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color.

Beyond the Great Valley, among the Alleghenies, stand Big House and Little House Mountains, though in the distance their outlines merge into a single profile.

Within the Blue Ridge province are two distinct sections: the Shenandoah in the northern section and the Great Smoky Mountains in the southern section. The Blue Ridge also contains the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway that connects the two parks and is located along the ridge crestlines along the Appalachian Trail.

The beautiful view from this overlook offers a look at the mountain town of
Buena Vista.
Around you see the magnificent mountains rising straight up from the valley below. The green valley extends as far as your eyes can see.

The ride at the Blue Ridge Parkway was very nice, but tiring also. We were not used anymore to drive on small and steep, serpentine roads. But we were happy we did it, it's an experience you will never forget!

After this field of hey balls we've found a real campground, hidden away DEEP in the woods. :)

Hi my friends,

thanks again for all your visits and kind comments to my last post about Nashville, you make always my day with your words. :)

I hope you still enjoy traveling with us, where ever the wind blows us, there we will be going. Next goal will be the Outer Banks on the Atlantic shores. I hope there to find some wild mustangs to photograph - who knows...... :)

Let's keep in touch together!
Susanne and David

Music City USA: Nashville TN

2009-06-25T17:03:00.009-04:00

As I mentioned already yesterday, Marti and Byron (my cousin and her fiance) drove us to down town in Nashville to see all the great spots and to enjoy all the fantastic music sounds in the bars.

Tennessee State Capitol Building
A commanding presence atop a hill in downtown Nashville, this is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture. Built in the mid 1800's by noted architect William Strickland, this is a must-see for history buffs. Several areas, including library and government chambers, have been restored to their 19th century appearance. For a spectacular view of the city, be sure to stand outside the building during the early evening hours. On weekdays, the staff offers guided tours generally on the hour, except at noon. Groups need to telephone ahead and make reservations.

The Shelby Street Bridge
(sometimes called the Shelby Avenue Bridge) is a truss bridge that spans the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It was originally opened on July 5, 1909, and was reopened as a pedestrian bridge on August 3, 2003. The bridge spans 960 m (3,150 ft) and is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world.

Sunlight over the skyline of Nashville's architecture

Batman Building in Nashville

The AT&T Building (formerly the South Central Bell Building and Bell-South Building, also known as the Batman Building) is a 630.5 ft (192 m), 32-story skyscraper completed in August 1994 and located in Nashville, Tennessee. The structure is designed as an office tower capable of housing 2,000 workers and as of 2008 is occupied by two companies. It is currently the tallest building in the state of Tennessee.

Another shot of the fascinating architecture of Nashville, where old and new greet each other

The Union Station Hotel
This classic downtown Nashville Tennessee hotel is a shining gateway to the past, perfectly blending modern convenience with warm, historic elegance. Marvel at our 65-foot, barrel-vaulted lobby ceiling ... featuring gold-leaf medallions, 100-year-old, original stained glass, and rare bas-relief sculptures.
Indulge in old-fashioned Southern charm, complete with state-of-the-art comforts like wireless and high-speed Internet access and premium-cable television. Choose from more than 12,000 square feet of stately meeting space - offering the latest in technology.
Whether you're here for a conference, wedding, or vacation, you'll delight in the amenities at this enchanting downtown Wyndham Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

One of the wonderful arty glass windows in the Hotel

The Shermerhorn Symphony Center

For 22 years, Music Director and Principal Conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn led the Nashville Symphony, until his death in April 2005. The orchestra's profile increased during his tenure, through recordings, television broadcasts, and tours. Following Schermerhorn's death, in August 2006, Leonard Slatkin was named the orchestra's artistic advisor, for a contract of three years, through 2009.

In September 2006, the Symphony opened Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a US$123 million project, which includes Laura Turner Concert Hall. Slatkin conducted the orchestra's first concert in the new hall on September 9, 2006, which included works by Shostakovich, Barber, Mahler, and a world premiere Triple Concerto by Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer.

The Merchants Restaurant
With the start of the Grand Ol’ Opry across the street at the Ryman in 1925, some notable folks started staying at the hotel: Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Roy Acuff. Other notables included Will Rogers, Wild Bill Hickock and the James Boys (they shot someone on Broadway). As the years went by the quality of the hotel began to decline. In the Roaring Twenties it became a “speakeasy” and was affiliated with Al Capone. In the 1940’s it was a brothel. In the 70’s it became a honky-tonk and “dive” bar. By the 1980’s it was ready for the wrecking ball, but Ed Stolman and the Nashville Arts Commission saved it by having it listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

BBKing Bar
B.B. King's Nashville offers a variety of great Creole Cuisine fused with flavors from around the globe that is sure to please all of your guests. Our highly trained staff are experts in all aspects of event planning and can handle any and all of your needs. The incredible facility that consists of two different levels ranging from our cozy fireplace nooks in the 1st Avenue Dining Rooms to the raucous atmosphere of the deep blues. We can accommodate small intimate groups of 30 to grand celebrations of 1100.

Broadway in Nashville
They don't call Nashville "Music City, USA" for nothing. Nashville boasts one of the most fertile music scenes in the world and is home to a multitude of live music clubs, concert venues, music publishers, record companies recording studios and recording stars. You can catch today's stars at one of Nashville's concert venues or the stars of tomorrow at one of Nashville's clubs!

Horse carriages are to see also in busy Nashville down town :)

Founded by legendeary musican Ernest Tubb, The Ernest Tubb Record shop has been providing country, gospel, & bluegrass music products for over 58 years. The shop specializes in hard to find videos, DVDs, cassettes, and books.

In addition to all the unique items available, visitors can also tour The Green Hornet. This was the tour bus occupied by Tubb and his band from 1970 - 1979. The bus traveled all over over the country including 48 states and Canada. Today, the big green bus is on display for visitors to enjoy.

View inside in the record shop where you can find every style you like in country music

Hi my friends,

I've enjoyed every single moment in Nashville, the city is great, vivid, colorful and fascinating - and a feast for every photographer and his camera :)

Thanks for all your kind comments and compliments to my photos, very much appreciated!

I wish you all a nice coming up weekend and stay with me - we are in North Carolina :)
Susanne and David

The "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville

2009-06-24T21:10:00.005-04:00

My cousin Marti and her fiance Byron showed us around in Nashville and we started with the "Grand Ole Opry", the Mecca for country music stars & fans.

Thank you Marti and Byron, for your hospitality and for your kindness to show us all the fascination of country music in Nashville's Down Town. David and I, we've enjoyed that Saturday afternoon and evening in Nashville together with you very much! :)

All the famous country music stars started their big break trough career here in Nashville

Inside view of the theater

A piece of the original wooden floor - from the old music theater "Hall of Fame" - was integrated in the new "Grand Ole Opry" house

The Grand Ole Opry
No trip to Nashville would be complete without experiencing the music phenomenon of the world-famous 4,400-seat Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry is the world's longest-running radio show and showcases the best in country music, bluegrass and more. On October 5,1925, the National Life & Accident Insurance Company launched Nashville's first radio station. Its call letters were WSM and the abbreviation stood for the insurance company's motto, "We Shield Millions."

Top-charting country music acts performed there during the Ryman years, including Roy Acuff, called the King of Country Music, and also Red Foley, Hank Williams Sr, Webb Pierce, Faron Young, Martha Carson, Lefty Frizzell, and so many others.

The Opry was nationally broadcast by the NBC Radio Network from 1944 to 1956; for much of its run, it aired one hour after the program that had inspired it, National Barn Dance. From October 1955 to September 1956, ABC-TV aired an hour-long television version once a month on Saturday nights (sponsored by Ralston-Purina), pre-empting one hour of the then-90-minute Ozark Jubilee.

On October 2, 1954, a teenage Elvis Presley made his first (and only) performance there. Although the public reacted politely to his revolutionary brand of rockabilly music, after the show he was told by one of the organizers (Opry manager Jim Denny) that he ought to return to Memphis to resume his truck-driving career, prompting him to swear never to return. In an era when the Grand Ole Opry represented solely country music, audiences did not accept Elvis on the Opry because of his infusion of rhythm and blues as well as his infamous body gyrations, which many viewed as vulgar. In the 1990s Garth Brooks was made an member of the Opry and was credited with selling more records than any other singer since Presley. Brooks commented that one of the best parts of playing on the Opry was that he appeared on the same stage as Presley.

In the 1960s, as the hippie counterculture movement built, the Opry maintained a straight-laced, conservative image; "longhairs" were almost never featured on the show. The Byrds were a notable exception. Gram Parsons, one of the pioneers of the country rock genre, had worked with The Byrds on a country album and was allowed to perform with the band at the Ryman in March 1968. Audience response was muted.

Hi my friends,

I hope you have enjoyed my little report about the Grand Ole Opry! It was a wonderful experience for me to see this famous house of country music from the inside and also backstage - I felt like a star myself :)

Tomorrow I'll show you some picture impressions from our afternoon in down town Nashville in the HOT June sun - yes we get sunburned all together - and photos also from the streets where all the famous bars are located and where you can just sit down and listen to good country bands, have a drink or two... and I have also seen a happy couple they were dancing to the rhythms of great country music - yes, it was my pretty cousin and her fiance - it was exciting to watch this two "love birds" :)

We arrived in North Carolina and plan to stay for a while on this place and explore the beautiful shores at the Atlantic... I missed the ocean on our trip!

Stay with me and scroll trough my last posts, so called "Older Posts" - any comment is very welcome and is appreciated.

Susanne and David

My two Cousins

2009-06-23T23:26:00.004-04:00

Friday night we arrived in Nashville, where I have two cousins. Marti (right) is my first cousin and her daughter Maggy is my second cousin. I have seen them for the very first time in my life and it was quiet a wonderful experience to see my lovely family members.

As soon as I will have good connections again, I will show you more photos from our great time we had together in Nashville. Marti took us out last Saturday evening and it was big fun - and VERY HOT!! :)

Sue & Sue are meeting in Paducah,KY

2009-06-18T18:27:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, I had the great chance to meet a very nice blog friend of mine in Paducah, KY: Sue Henry, she is an excellent fine art photographer and I love to visit her blog! We had a great time together. While eating Ice creme, we were talking about this and that and of course about photography! I've enjoyed every single moment to meet you, Sue!
Thanks for taking your time.
Please, visit her blog at:
http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com

Pretty house facades on Broadway Street in Paducah, where also our meeting point was: the Ice creme shop - the right place to meet on a HOT June afternoon :)

After so much talking, David got hungry and we get the great insider tip, from Sue, to try the "WHALER's CATCH" Seafood Restaurant - it was agood tip, Sue - thanks again! :)

WAHLER's CATCH - Restaurant in Paducah
Located in the Historic Johnson Building on Second Street, Paducah, Kentucky, Whaler's Catch Restaurant has a rich and varied past. Commonly known as "Whaler's" by local Paducahans, the first-of-its-kind fresh seafood restaurant and fish market was started in 1977 by Roberta Shelby Morse.

The food was delicious and the interiour deco was a bit of a maritime New Orleans atmosphere, very nice!

Next time, we will visit the National Quilt Museum for sure - we spent to much time eating in the Restaunt :)

National Quilt Museum Paducah
The National Quilt Museum was constructed in 1991 for use by the museum.

Its facility has been integral to the museum's success. The 27,000 square-foot building was specially designed by Paul Gresham of Gresham & Associates, Inc. and constructed by Vanguard Contractors for the activities of the museum. The museum includes three galleries; two classrooms, one of which can be divided into two spaces for smaller classrooms; a lobby; an atrium; a conference room; a Museum Shop and a storage vault in addition to staff offices and work areas.
The galleries were custom-designed for effectively exhibiting even very large quilts.

Indian Sculptures in front of the Quilt Museum
The National Quilt Museum is proud to bring On the Trail of Discovery, five life size bronze sculptures celebrating the Lewis & Clark Expedition to historic downtown Paducah. The statues were donated by Bill and Meredith Schroeder, founders of the museum. The Lewis & Clark Expedition statues provide exciting outdoor art, accessible day and night.
The sculptures are a permanent addition to the museum’s front lawn and link the museum to the history of Paducah and to Paducah's historic riverfront.

Click into the picture, to read the text to ON THE TRAIL OF DISCOVERY better - it belongs to the photo above.

Nice window details in the Main Street in Paducah

This reminds me to a scene out of "West Side Story" - but it's the Brick Lane in Paducah

Paducah has a lot of treasures to capture with the camera :)

Grandma loves her Quilts :) a window decoration at a gift shop

I have enjoyed our stay in Paducah, yes! Around every corner you'll find some pretty subjects and details. Take your time and visit Paducah too - and meet Sue! :)

Hi my friends,

FINALLY, I got my good old FAST connection back and I'm able to post again :)

And I got also my health back again, it was a bad day for me today: I got sick! And I think it was probably from the Oysters I eat yesterday.

Now I'm back to life again and I'm happy to show you my last impressions of Paducah and our nice meeting with Sue Henry! Let's keep in touch together, Sue! :)

Stay with me... we are heading to Nashville tomorrow!
Susanne and David

New Glarus WI - Metropolis IL - Paducah KY

2009-06-15T23:30:00.007-04:00

We have visited NEW GLARUS in Wisconsin yesterday afternoon and an impressive Swiss flag was greeting all the tourists - for moments I thought, I'm "home" again :)

The Swiss church in the back looks almost like the one in Glarus Switzerland and all the pretty Swiss Chalet houses too

There were many amazing painted Swiss cows as decorations in front of the stores. This one is dressed in "clothes" of a farmer in Appenzell, Switzerland

America's "Little Switzerland" New Glarus
is located in the heart of Green County in Southern Wisconsin. Its rolling hills dotted with small towns, farms, and woodland pastures are much like the alpine farmlands of Glarus, Switzerland. When you arrive at the village entrance, you will quickly understand its popularity as a destination. New Glarus is America's "Little Switzerland."

Every year, thousands of visitors, including hundreds of Swiss tourists, are drawn to New Glarus to enjoy the atmosphere that thrives here and nowhere else outside of Switzerland. With small town friendliness and enthusiasm, New Glarus is proud to share its Swiss heritage, its chalet-style architecture, its two fine museums, its famous ethnic festivals, and a wealth of specialty shops and restaurants serving savory Swiss food.

Today we have seen the "Giant Superman" in Metropolis, IL

Metropolis is the the self-proclaimed "Hometown of Superman," celebrating its local hero every possible way it can. The local bank is "home of super financial services." The town newspaper calls itself The Planet. A sign in the grocery store informs customers: "Just as Superman stands for truth, justice and the American Way, Food World stands for quality, convenience and friendly service."

In Metropilis is also the Harrah's Casino located
of course went there to play and WE WON, yeah! :)

We made it to Paducah in Kentucky! A pretty and very arty town at the Ohio River.

Paducah, originally called Pekin, began around 1815 as a mixed community of Native Americans and white settlers who were attracted by its location at the confluence of many waterways.

According to legend, Chief Paduke, most likely a Chickasaw, welcomed the people traveling down the Ohio and Tennessee on flatboats. His wigwam, located on a low bluff at the mouth of Island Creek, served as the counsel lodge for his village. The settlers, appreciative of his hospitality, and respectful of his ways, settled across the creek.

The two communities lived in harmony trading goods and services enjoying the novelty of each other's culture. The settlers had brought horses and mules which they used to pull the flatboats upstream to farms, logging camps, trading posts and other settlements along the waterways, establishing a primitive, but thriving economy.

This cultural interaction continued until William Clark, famed leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, arrived in 1827 with a title deed to the land upon which Pekin sat. Clark was the superintendent of Native American affairs for the Mississippi-Missouri River region. He asked the Chief and the settlers to move along, which they did, offering little resistance probably because the deed was issued by the United States Supreme Court. Though the deed cost only $5.00 to process, it carried with it the full authority of the U. S. Government backed by the United States Army.

Clark surveyed his new property and laid out the grid for a new town which remains evident to this day. The Chief and his villagers moved to Mississippi allowing Clark to continue with the building of the new city which he named Paducah in honor of the Chief. Upon completion of the platt, Clark sent envoys to Mississippi to invite Chief Paduke back to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but he died of malaria in the boat while making the return trip. The settlers had been allowed to purchase tracts within the new grid but most of them moved on to less developed areas.

My Wordless Sunday in Illinois

2009-06-14T21:18:00.002-04:00

A Pretty Day at the Mississippi River Shores

2009-06-12T20:32:00.008-04:00

We arrived in Cassville, Wisconsin. Here, David has a cousin who owns a very nice resort called, "Eagles Roost Resort & Motel" - The resort has five rental cabins and Motel with a wonderful view of the Mississippi river and its side water ways.

View of the cabins.

Davids relatives are very nice and friendly people, they invited us spontaneously to stay a day or two in one of the Motel rooms.

Thank you very much, Ron and Linda
for your great hospitality! We have really enjoyed sleeping in real beds again...LOL... and we are now relaxed and ready to start our next traveling adventures!

The Mississippi River rolls by Cassville as it has for thousands of years and the residents spend much time on the river with boating and fishing.

It must be like heaven for all fishing friends. You can rent fishing boats at the "Eagles Roost Resort" and spend some hours, days, weekends or even weeks out here at the Mississippi shores in Cassville.

There were small boats riding the river up and down.....

...and there were also bigger and very attractive, nostalgic looking boats at the "good old Mississipp" to see...

with a real paddle wheel on the back... that was fun to see!

Beautiful landscapes and pretty clouds

Every day comes to it's end with nice sunset reflections over the water

It's a pretty sunset today!

Reflections of the trees at the Mississippi shores
(click in the photos to see them bigger)

Hi my friends,

we spent two happy, quiet and relaxed days on the Mississippi shores, - one more of all the hundreds of great places we have seen on our travel. I think, tomorrow we will be may on the road again - we want to explore Wisconsin a little bit more :)

Thank you for all the comments!

Stay with me and see you there...! :)
Susanne and David

Is this Heaven ? No, it's Iowa....

2009-06-10T22:34:00.006-04:00

You do know for sure the movie "Field of Dreams"...right? This is the place where the movie was made and it's located in Dyersville, Iowa

There is the baseball waiting to be played by the visitors of the place

Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy/drama film, directed and adapted by Phil Alden Robinson from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella. The movie stars Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffmann, Ray Liotta, Timothy Busfield, James Earl Jones, Frank Whaley, and Burt Lancaster in his last film appearance.

Field of Dreams was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Music, Original Score, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is a novice farmer who lives in rural Iowa with his wife, Annie (Amy Madigan), and their young daughter Karin (Gaby Hoffmann).

While walking through his cornfield, Ray hears a voice whisper, "If you build it, he will come", and sees a vision of a baseball field. Believing he is somehow being asked to build it, and fearing he is in danger of "turning into" his father - whom he resented for his lack of spontaneity - Ray strongly wishes to do so. Although skeptical, Annie is supportive. Watched by incredulous neighbours, Ray plows under his corn and builds the field. A year passes without incident.

Ray and Annie are eventually forced to consider replacing the field with corn to stay financially solvent. At this point Karin spots a man on the ballfield, who Ray discovers is Shoeless Joe Jackson, a baseball player idolized by his father. Joe is thrilled to be able to play baseball again, and asks to bring others with him to the field. He later returns with the seven other players banned in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, emerging from the corn by the outfield.

Read more about the story in the movie here or watch the video at the end

View of the field and the house where the main actor Kevin Costner was living with his wife Anne (Amy Madigan) and his little girl Karin (Gaby Hoffmann) - in the movie set

There are signs with descriptions about the movie and about the house and its owner

The souvenir shop

http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/distance.html

Hi my friends,

We are now arrived in WISCONSIN and are enjoying the Mississippi River. It was exciting to see the place where the movie "Dream of Field" was made, we have seen also the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, one of the finest examples of true medieval Gothic architecture in the Midwest. It was a very interesting afternoon :)

....and yes, I got new shoes yesterday, 2 new jeans and some new shirts... whatever, but that's not so interesting for you to know about...LOL... :)

Thanks for visiting my blog, my loyal friends - I appreciate all your kind comments!

See you again tomorrow or the next day....
Susanne

A Nice Afternoon in Amana, Iowa

2009-06-08T23:00:00.011-04:00

Twin County Dairy
was built in 1946 by a group of Amish and Mennonite farmers. It was named Twin County Dairy because the 32 members, who formed a co-op, lived in the adjacent counties of Washington and Johnson. They hired Swiss-born John Roetlin, Sr., who had migrated to the United States in 1928. He learned the art of cheese making from his father in Switzerland. Under his direction, the new dairy made its first milk collection and produced its first wheels of Swiss cheese on March 17, 1947. In 1955, the factory changed from making wheels of Swiss to blocks of Swiss, simplifying storage and handling. In 1956 the cooperative incorporated and became the Twin County Dairy, Inc. In 1963 they expanded from producing only Swiss cheese to a diversified manufacturer of cheddar, colby, brick and Swiss. Twin County Dairy, Inc. was acquired by John Roetlin, Sr. and sons in 1967. In 1970, John Roetlin, Sr. retired and his two sons purchased the business. In 1985, John Roetlin, Jr. and his wife, Joanne, became the sole owners. Over the years, Twin County Dairy, Inc. has received many awards in cheese judging contests, including second place in the world.

It was the red Swiss Flag that was catching my eyes first - no wonder, as a Swiss my self...LOL.. :)

After visiting the cheese factory we drove to Amana and visited there the still working "Amana Woolen Mill"

The SULZER weaving machines are also an export product of Switzerland

The red wool spool belongs to the red cloth in the machine above

It was very interesting to see the weaving machines working

Ancestors of the Amana people came together in Germany in the 1700’s as a religious sect known as inspirationists. Through the years, religious persecution forced them to seek shelter on large estates. A few of the inspirationists were particularly skilled in managing the production of woolen goods. In 1832, a woolen mill was established on the Armenburg estate and in 1838 on the Herrnhaag estate. Their enterprises helped to support the community and ultimately to finance the move from Germany to the United States. As the group continued to pursue religious freedom, they purchased land near Buffalo, New York. They moved to America in 1842 and established the community of Ebenezer. There they chose to live communally. A large portion of the woolen mill machinery was shipped to America and a mill was established in 1846.

As the growth of Buffalo encroached on their lifestyle, they looked west. In 1855, they began their move to the Iowa River valley in Iowa and named their community Amana (which means to remain faithful). Again, mill equipment was moved and construction of a woolen mill in Amana was begun in 1857. The mill not only produced goods for the community’s use, but gained a reputation nationally for their goods.

The Amana Woolen Mill has had a colorful history, surviving fires, floods and wind storms. Through it all, the mill’s attention to quality has remained steadfast.

When you own an Amana blanket, you can feel proud that it was made in the heartland of the USA and represents a legacy handed down for generations.

A lot of pretty and useful products in the mill internal store are offered to buy

A colorful rug

We have visited also the Amana Colonies Visitors Center

A cute decoration in front of the "Schnitzelbank" store

The Heritage Design, a house for quilting and needlework

Colorful detail

The Chocolate Haus
Part of the world famous, historic Amana Colonies, The Chocolate Haus endures to preserve the fine art of preparing chocolate sweets for chocolate lovers everywhere. Tourists from across the globe have watched as we create chocolate delights, hand-dip strawberries and fashion our mouth-watering fudge. Our charming brick exterior and warm store welcome over one million visitors a year.

The Meat Shop. I had to shoppe in this shop here! :)

The history of the Amana Meat Shop dates to 1855 when the Amana community was founded. German-American settlers established the seven villages of Amana on 26,000 acres in the Iowa River Valley. They lived communally until 1932, embracing a simple way of life. Each village had a meat shop and smokehouse where ham, bacon and sausage were cured in the old world way with long held recipes and a commitment to quality.

The tradition of the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse, which began when families enjoyed meals together in roomy kitchen houses, continues today. The same quality meats are available to Amana visitors. In fact, thousands of visitors stop by the meat shop each year and purchase delectable food offerings, while many others also order from their online store at amanameatshop.com.

Condiments like relishes, mustards and specialty mayonnaise are popular here as is their line of jams and jellies. An assortment of cheeses and fresh, smoked, and specialty meats (pickled ham, dried beef, jerky, smoked turkey, breaded pork tenderloin) are also popular favorites. In addition to condiments the famous Amana hams, steaks and chops, another favorite is the array of smoked sausages offered including a spicy Andouille sausage.

Let’s eat! One of the attractions of the Seven Villages of Amana is the great food found here! When you visit this July for the Summer Rally, be sure to stop in at the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse.

Hi my friends,

We spent today a very nice afternoon in Amana Clonies Village and I made again a lot of photos - of course! We eat also in a German Restaurant so called authentic German food, that was recommended to us from more than one person as VERY good - but I guess, we were expecting probably to much and their kitchen doesn't meet our expectations.

Thank you for all the kind comments again to my last post, very much appreciated :)

Tomorrow we want go on towards to the "Field of Dreams" - or maybe we will be also just shopping in the nearby mall - I need some new shoes :) we will see....

Stay with me and see you soon!
Susanne and David