The North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro NC

 “Located just south of Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is seated on a 1,500-acre tract of land in the Uwharrie Mountains.  Approximately 500 acres of this property have been developed into one of the largest "natural habitat" zoos in the United States.  You won't find cages made of steel and concrete there.  The animals are given enclosures that mimic their natural habitats to include trees, ponds, rocks, grass and dirt."

 

 

"The North Carolina Zoo grew from an idea initiated by the Raleigh Jaycees in 1967.  Through a series of fund-raising events--including at least one professional football game-the site was selected and secured to be close to the center of the state.  The Zoo is 75 miles west of Raleigh, 25 miles south of Greensboro and 75 miles northeast of Charlotte."

“The first exhibits opened in 1974 as a temporary facility while the permanent Zoo was being built.  The first permanent exhibit was the "Forest Edge", home to Zebra, Ostrich and Giraffe.  This opened in 1979, and exists today much as it did in the late 1970's.”

-        http://www.nczoo.org/about/index.html

The Angel Oak - Johns Island, SC

The Angel Oak is a Southern Live Oak Tree located on Johns Island, near Charleston, South Carolina.  It is estimated to be in excess of 1500 years old, it stands 65 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet. Its widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feet in length. The tree and surrounding park have been owned by the city of Charleston since 1991.  The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms east of the Mississippi River.  
The Angel Oak stands on part of Abraham Waight's 1717 land grant from the English Colonies. The oak derives its name from the Angel estate, although local folklore told stories of ghosts of former slaves that would appear as angels around the tree. The tree has become a significant tourist attraction. It has survived countless hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and human interference. Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered.  Acorns from the Angel Oak have grown to produce authentic direct-offspring.

National Cathedral - Washington DC

A Rose window (or Catherine window) is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The name “rose window” was not used before the 17th century and according to the Oxford English Dictionary, among other authorities, comes from the English flower name rose.  The term “wheel window” is often applied to a window divided by simple spokes radiating from a central boss or opening, while the term “rose window” is reserved for those windows, sometimes of a highly complex design, which can be seen to bear similarity to a multi-petalled rose. Rose windows are also called Catherine windows after Saint Catherine of Alexandria who was sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel. A circular window without tracery, such as are found in many Italian churches, is referred to as an ocular window or oculus.  Rose windows are particularly characteristic of Gothic architecture and may be seen in all the major Gothic Cathedrals of Northern France. Their origins are much earlier and rose windows may be seen in various forms throughout the Medieval period. Their popularity was revived, with other medieval features, during the Gothic revival of the 19th century so that they are seen in Christian churches all over the world.  The Rose Window that I have photographed here is located inside the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.  http://www.nationalcathedral.org/

Thanks-Giving Square - Dallas, TX

Thanks-Giving Square is a public-private complex in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas. Originally planned as the first of several traffic-relieving complexes in downtown Dallas, it was dedicated in 1976; at the time it was the first public-private partnership of its kind in Dallas. The complex consists of three components: a landscaped park, a major section of the underground pedestrian network and the Bullington Truck Terminal.  The park, designed by architect Philip Johnson, was dedicated in 1976 to promote the concept of giving thanks as a universal, human value. The most prominent and recognizable feature of Thanks-Giving Square is the Chapel of Thanksgiving, a small, spiral tower that features an enclave for prayerful thanks. The entrance to the chapel is at the end of a 125-foot bridge that runs over a cascading waterfall. Inside the chapel, the spiral is topped with stained glass "Glory Window", one of largest horizontally mounted stained-glass pieces in the world. The window was designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France to feature brighter colors as the spiral reached its apex, becoming brighter as it reaches the center. The etched glass window "The Spirit of Thanksgiving," designed by glass engraver John Hutton, features a dove over the doorway. Below the chapel is the Hall of Thanksgiving and Exhibit Area, which tells the story of the American Thanksgiving tradition.

Union Chapel, North Carolina

While visiting family for the holidays I came across this beautiful old barn near the Union Chapel Community in eastern North Carolina.  The rust on the old tin roof and the red tar paper on the front of this barn really caught my eye.  The graffiti is a nice touch also, don't you think?  I love the nostalgic feelings that I get when I see scenes like these.  I remember times from my childhood when life seemed so much simpler and less complicated.