Photo of the Day - July 31, 2010 - Mast General Store

The beautiful Mast General Store in Valle Crucis-built in 1883, and still in operation today. If you haven't been, you outta. They're bound to have something you need.

Photo of the Day - July 30, 2010 - Watch Your Step

Sometimes you just have to laugh. The carefully painted words on this flight of stairs warns "Watch your step, it hurts to get hurt." Just too funny!

Photo of the Day - July 29, 2010 - Let's Go For a Ride

Back to the bike shop--summertime and bikes just go together.

Photo of the Day - July 28, 2010 - Window Shopping

If you live in High Point, you're gonna recognize this. It's is the front window of Bicycle Toy and Hobby on Main St. at night. I always love driving by there at night and seeing all the bikes on display. And I don't even ride!

I took a little creative liberty with the colors--to add a little drama. http://www.bicycletoyandhobby.com/

Photo of the Day - July 26, 2010 - Magnolia Part 2

Here's the second photo in our 3 part series of close ups of a magnolia. This is the stamen (I think that's the right term, if you're a botanist or just someone who knows, feel free to correct me.) Anyhow, it's the doohickey in the center of the flower. And yes, I'm pretty sure that's how you spell doohickey because believe it or not it was in my spell check. And yes, I'm aware that starting my sentences with phrases like "anyhow" and "and yes" is driving you English majors nuts. But honestly, it's how I talk, and this aint an essay so I'm gonna have fun with it. Try to pretend I'm speaking with bad grammar instead of writing with it, maybe that will ease the pain. ;-)

Back to my flower photo. Sorry for the rabbit trail. The centerpiece doohickey reminds me of wild mushrooms we used to gather in the woods when I was a kid. I'm guessing you can't eat the magnolias, but they sure are pretty and full of textures.

Photo of the Day - July 27, 2010 - Magnolia Part 3

This is the third and last in the magnolia series. This petal had caught dozens of the little seeds in it's bowl, and it was just beautiful to me. I love the creamy softness of the petal against the rough but delicate texture of the seeds. I can imagine a summer storm coming through and either blowing them away or filling the petal with rainwater until they float and eventually weigh down the petal until they trickle to the ground.

Photo of the Day - July 25, 2010 - Magnolia Part 1

I've always loved Magnolia blooms for their beauty, but had never looked at them closely. For the next 3 days I want to share some close up images with you, starting with this flower bud. It looks like some poisonous thistle should be birthed with all those spikes. Nature never ceases to fascinate me!

Photo of the Day - July 25 - Feelin' the Heat

If you look, there's beauty in everyday things. This lovely fan is part of the vent work on the top of my air conditioning unit. Now that I think about it, having air conditioning is beautiful even if you're not looking at it with an eye for art. ;-) One of the many things to be grateful for in my life.

Photo of the Day - July 23, 2010- Hidden Beauty

This is what was left after my Irises faded and fell off a while back. They're delicate and stunning when you slow down to look at them. Makes me wonder what else I'm missing out on, you know what I mean?

Feelin' right at home.

My sisters and I were in Knoxville, Tennessee recently, and we found a great little place in the downtown area to have lunch. I knew it was going to be good when we walked in and the hostess had a basket of green beans she was stringing in between taking care of customers. Can't say I've ever seen that before, but it was very welcoming.

You know me, I just had to get a photo. She didn't want me to show her face, but was gracious enough to let me take this pic to share. Hello, Knoxville! You've got a great town there--wish we'd had more time.