foto friday « Cosmic-Observation

Foto Friday: Critter Collections 8.0

Posted on January 6, 2023 Updated on January 6, 2023

I haven’t posted any critter shots in 3 1/2 years. Previous post, here. ~Vic

Leaf Critter Image One — Small bug that looks like a leaf.
05-31-2019
Click for a larger view.

Bee Face Image Two — Got a bee’s face!
05-31-2019
Click for a larger view.

Iris Bug Image Three — Cute bug but, I have no idea.
04-30-2019
Click for a larger view.

Dragonfly Image Four — Skivvy waver dragonfly. LOL!
Brighter shot than the original.
05-17-2019
Click for a larger view.

Mantis Image Five — Young mantis.
Different angle from the original.
05-31-2019
Click for a larger view.

Missing Spider Image Six — Beautiful web.
Where is the spider?
10-13-2018
Click for a larger view.

This entry was posted in Nature, Photography, Unusual and tagged 2018, 2019, american photography, april 30, bee face, camera hound, camera nut, cameraphone, cosmic-observation photography, critter collections, critters, curious critters, cute bug, dragonfly, evening walk, foto friday, fotos, green critter, hillsborough photography, images, leaf bug, may 17, may 31, north carolina photography, october 13, photographer, photographs, photos, pictures, samsung S7, shutterbug, snapshots, stupidphone.

Shutterbug Saturday: Land of Oz 4.0

Posted on December 17, 2022 Updated on December 17, 2022

More from my Land of Oz photo collection. Previous posts are here, here & here. It has been over a year since I posted any of these. More to come. ~Vic

Blue Ridge Mountain Shot Image One — The Blue Ridge Mountains
as seen from the Park.
Circa: Early 1970s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Entrance Fountain Image Two — Fountain at the Entrance to the Park.
Circa: Early 1970s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Bust of Dorothy Image Three — Dorothy & Toto Sculpture
It is my understanding that this bust
is missing…stolen like other artifacts.
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Yellow Brick Road Dance Image Four — Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Circa: Early 1970s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Scarecrow Image Five — Scarecrow
Circa: Middle 90s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Tin Man House Image Six — Tin Man’s House
Salvaged in the early 90s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Cowardly Lion Image Seven — Cowardly Lion
Circa: Middle 90s
I swear he looks more like Stephen King’s IT
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

Wizard Image Eight — You found the Wizard.
Circa: Middle 90s
Image Credit: **Emerald Mountain Realty**

This entry was posted in Art, Funny, History, Thoughts, Unusual, Weird and tagged 1970s, blue ridge parkway, bust, cowardly lion, dorothy, early 1970s, emerald mountain realty, entrance, follow the yellow brick road, foto friday, fotos, fountain, house, IT, land of oz, mountains, north carolina, scarecrow, sculpture, shutterbug, shutterbug saturday, stephen king, stolen, tin man, tin man house, toto, wizard, wizard of oz, yellow brick road.

Foto Friday: Land of Oz 3.0

Posted on November 26, 2021 Updated on November 26, 2021

More shots from the Land of Oz in the 70s. ~Vic

Previous posts are here and here. Images are from Emerald Mountain Realty.

Debbie Reynolds Image One — Lovely close-up of Debbie Reynolds in a museum that was once there.
Click for a larger view.

Dorothy's Dress Image Two — Land of Oz’s first Dorothy viewing one of Judy Garland’s dresses.
The dress was stolen in the 1980s.
Click for a larger view.

Ski Lifts Image Three — Ski lift gondolas.
Click for a larger view.

Balloon Ride Image Four — This was a balloon ride that was created from the ski lifts.
I rode it, once, with my parents in a blinding rain storm.
Click for a larger view.

Brochure Image Five — Brochure from around 1973.
Click for a larger view.

Brochure Image Six — Another brochure.
Click for a larger view.

Brochure Image Seven — Second page.
Click for a larger view.

Additional Reading:
Land of Oz (Romantic Asheville)
Land of Oz (My Home/UNC-TV)
Land of Oz Theme Park (Wikipedia)

This entry was posted in History, Photography and tagged 1970s, american photography, autumn at oz, balloon ride, beech mountain, brochure, brochures, debbie reynolds, dress, emerald mountain realty, first dorothy, foto friday, fotos, gondolas, images, judy garland, land of oz, museum, north carolina photography, oz theme park, photographs, photos, pictures, rain storm, romantic asheville, ski lift, snapshots, stolen dress, unc tv, unctv, wikipedia.

Foto Friday: Furry Characters

Posted on August 21, 2020 Updated on August 20, 2020

These four furries showed up at one of our local Farmers’ Markets on October 18, 2014. Why they appeared there, I have no clue. Their costumes were really cute. Digeri was the only one that spoke. The pictures turned out surprisingly well from my old flip phone. Click on each image for a larger view. ~Vic

Dog & Tiger Image Two — I think the dog may be a Husky
with the different colored eyes.

Group Shot Image Four — The Group Shot
One of the farmers assisted.

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts, Unusual and tagged 2014, american photography, camera hound, cameraphone, cosmic-observation photography, digeri, farmers markets, foto friday, furries, furry, group shot, hillsborough photography, north carolina photography, october 18, photographer, ray tutterow, samsung alias II, samsung flip phone, saturday morning, shutterbug, siku, the cat, the dog, the fox, the tiger, visitors.

Foto Friday: Sky Gazing 5.0

Posted on July 3, 2020 Updated on July 3, 2020

These are companion shots to my POTD: Sunset post, as well as previous Sky Gazing posts. This town can have some of the most glorious sunsets and quirky cloud formations. ~Vic

Eno River Sunset Image One — Standing on the bridge over the Eno River.
06-24-2020

Sunset Over Garage Image Two — Walking up to the parking garage.

Sunset Over The Trees Image Three — On top of the garage and the colors develop.

Sunset Over The Building Image Four — Sweeping over the adjacent building.

Sunset Over The Town Image Five — Looking out across the town.

Sunset In Full Bloom Image Six — Breathtaking rich colors and contrasts.

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged 2020, american photography, blue tones, breathtaking, bridge, camera hound, cameraphone, colors, companion posts, contrasts, cosmic-observation photography, eno river, evening walk, foto friday, fotos, glorious sunsets, golden tones, government building, hillsborough photography, june 24, north carolina photography, parking garage, photographer, photos, pictures, quirky clouds, riverwalk, samsung S7, shutterbug, sky gazing, sky gazing 5.0, sky on fire, snapshots, sunset, sunset over the garage, sunset over the town, sunset over the water, top of the garage, town sunset.

Foto Friday: Virus Humor

Posted on April 17, 2020

We have a few comedians in town. I can appreciate. These are cute and clever. That being said, I am getting tired of the TV telling me to social distance, stay at home and wash my hands. I heard you the first fifty times. Enough already. All photos are my personal collection. © ~Vic

Crownavirus Image One — Sidewalk railing in front of a house on the corner.
The homeowners are known for wiring things
to the railing.
04-15-2020

Crow With Mask Image Two — Crow demonstrates how to wear a mask.

Crow With Bunny Ears Image Three — Crow with bunny ears…and mask.

Jack With Rider Image Four — This is Jack, which, I’m pretty sure
is short for jackass. He is well known
around town. The green critter on his
back is a Disney character, I guess.
04-16-2020

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged american photography, around town, comedians, coronavirus humor, coronavirus nonsense, cosmic-observation photography, crows, crows with masks, foto friday, fotos, humor, mask, north carolina photography, photographer, photographs, photos, pix, samsung S7, silly photos, snapshots, town comedians, virus humor, virus nonsense, wear your mask.

Foto Friday: Halloween Local 3.0

Posted on November 8, 2019 Updated on December 10, 2020

I was planning to do a Flick Friday for 1954. No such luck. In fact, sticking with Friday and sticking with 1954, there are no releases until well into December. *sigh* So, you gets pix! All photos are my personal collection. ~Vic

Halloween Local 2.0
Take a look at Old Halloween Stuff

Halloween Image One — Minimalist decorations for a home originally built in 1860.
Taken: 10-27-2018

Halloween Image Two — Rest in pieces. Love the black rose.
Taken: 10-28-2018

Halloween Image Three — Opposite side. Twins?

Halloween Image Four — I think this is supposed to be a ghost/skeleton mix. Not totally sure…

Halloween Image Five — Just hanging out on the porch with the dog…and a gargoyle.

Halloween Image Six — Hanging around.
Lovely home built in 1936.

Halloween Image Seven — That is one big spider.
Can you see the barbie doll and the two baby spiders?

Halloween Image Eight — Let me out!
Taken: 10-30-2018

Halloween Image Nine — Skeletons can garden, too.

Halloween Image Ten — Resting under the tree.

This entry was posted in Halloween Stuff, Photography, Thoughts, Unusual and tagged 1860, 1936, baby spider, baby spiders, barbie doll, big spider, black rose, black spider, chains, chrysanthemums, foto friday, fotos, garden, gargoyle, ghost, halloween, halloween local, halloween pix, hanging out, let me out, lovely home, lovely homes, minimalist decoration, mums, october 27, october 28, october 30, old halloween stuff, on the porch, photographer, photographs, photos, pics, pictures, pix, rest in pieces, resting, shutterbug, skeleton, skeleton dog, spider, under the tree, wheel barrow.

Foto Friday: Sky Gazing

Posted on October 4, 2019 Updated on April 19, 2020

Flick Friday is a bust. No releases for today. So, it’s another installment of Foto Friday. Submitted for your approval…my walk this evening. ~Vic

See Sunsets Local as well.

Sunset Over Garden Image One — Capturing the sunset in the Butterfly Garden
at Gold Park

Waxing Crescent Moon Image Two — Waxing crescent Moon above the pines.

Glowing With The Moon Image Three — A glow beside the Moon.

Pink Glow Image Five — Pink glow amid the wild flowers.

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged butterfly garden, evening shot, evening sky, evening walk, foto friday, fotos, glowing sky, gold park, moon, moon gazing, photo, photographer, photos, picture, pictures, pink glow, pix, samsung S7, shutterbug, sky gazing, sky on fire, sunset, waxing crescent, wild flowers.

Foto Friday: Ice Storm 2014

Posted on July 5, 2019

Since we are in the 90s+, here are some pix of cooler weather. We got a lot of these things back in the 70s when I was a kid. They are a little more rare, now. ~Vic

Ice On My Car Image One — Ice all bunched up on the back of my, then, 2010 Chevy Cobalt.
03-07-2014

Sugar Maple Image Two — Sugar Maple encased in ice.

Maple Tree Image Three — Ice branches.
Narcissus in the process of blooming. They don’t care.

Feel cooler, now?

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged 2010, 2014, black car, chevy cobalt, cool off, foto friday, ice branches, ice storm, ice world, icy bushes, march 73, narcissus, sugar maple.

Foto Friday: Critter Collections 5.0

Posted on June 7, 2019 Updated on February 16, 2020

All Things Critter
All photos are my personal collection. ~Vic
Part I/Part II/Part III/Part IV

McKinley Spider Image One — A McKinley by the lamp post at the First Baptist Church.
The web was enormous.
09-02-2017

Orb Weaver Image Two — An Orb Weaver off the corner of the front porch.
09-22-2017

Preying Mantis Image Three — I guess she was enjoying the flowers.
10-02-2017

Preying Mantis Image Four — She posed for me.
What a ham.

Slug Image Five — Slug on the front porch.
10-18-2017

Lady Beetle Image Six — It took me a while to find this one.
Google “black bug, yellow dots” and you will get tons of pix.
This is an Asian lady beetle larva.
10-28-2017

Slug Image Seven — Larger slug on the side of the house.
06-16-2018

Moth Image Eight — Moth on the kitchen window.
04-03-2019

This entry was posted in Photography and tagged 2017, 2018, 2019, april 3, argiope aurantia, asian lady beetle larva, critter collections, first baptist church, flowers, foto friday, fotos, front porch, huge web, june 16, kitchen window, lamp post, mckinley spider, moth, moth video, october 18, october 2, october 28, orb weaver, posed, preying mantis, september 2, september 22, slug, what a ham, zigzag spider.

Foto Friday: Critter Collections 4.0

Posted on May 31, 2019 Updated on February 16, 2020

My fourth installment of all things critter. All photos and video are my personal collection. ~Vic
Part I/Part II/Part III

Spiderweb Image One — Lovely web.
04-15-2017

Spiderweb Image Two — Spider nowhere to be found.

Stink Bug Image Three — Oh, the stink bugs…
It’s a cat toy when it gets in the house.
Brown Marmorated Halyomorpha Halys
07-10-2017

Green Critter Image Four — Grasshopper of some sort.
He seems comfortable on my Coleus.
07-14-2017

Garden Spider Image Five — Argiope Aurantia, McKinley spider or zigzag spider.
It maintained a web in the Sedums for several days.
07-25-2017

Daddy Longlegs Image Six — Opilione, harvester, harvestman or Daddy Longlegs.
Ever seen a group of them bob? It’s a weird thing to see.
07-25-2017

Spider Hole Image Seven — I see feet but, I don’t know what kind it is.
07-25-2017

Orb Weaver Image Eight — Neoscona Crucifera, Orb Weaver or big, fat spider on the house.
09-17-2017

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged 2017, april 15, argiope aurantia, big fat spider, bobbing, brown marmorated halyomorpha halys, cat toy, coleus, critter collections, daddy longlegs, driveway, foto friday, grasshopper, green critter, harvester, harvestman, july 10, july 14, july 25, lovely web, mckinley spider, neoscona crucifera, no spider, nowhere, opilione, orb weaver, railing, sedums, shutterbug, spider feet, spider hole, spiderweb, stink bug, zigzag spider.

Foto Friday: Tuesday Evening Trek 2.0

Posted on March 15, 2019 Updated on February 16, 2020

I suppose I should have labeled the first post as Part I but…I neglected. Oh, well… All photos are my personal collection except the very last one. ~Vic

Tuesday Trek Image One — 03-12-2019
Portrait angle of the same flower gathering.

Tuesday Trek Image Two — Opposite angle of that big tree.

Tuesday Trek Image Three — Setting sun.
Another flower group.
Bizarre rock pile beyond that.

Tuesday Trek Image Four — There are so many trails that run along the Eno.
So many lovely views…

Tuesday Trek Image Five — I can almost feel the sun’s warmth from this shot.

Tuesday Trek Image Six — Odd porcupine-looking tree formation.

Tuesday Trek Image Seven — What’s left of the old Eno River Pumping Station.

Open Durham Image Eight — Image Credit: opendurham.org
You can see the rock formation I had to climb over on the right.
All that’s left is the base.
Circa 1905

This entry was posted in Photography, Thoughts and tagged 1905, 2019, beautiful shots, big tree, downed tree, dunnagan trail, eno river, eno river pumping station, flower garden, flower gathering, foto friday, march 12, nature preserve, nature shots, pile of rocks, porcupine tree, setting sun, sun's warmth, tuesday trek part two.

Foto Friday: Feathers 2.0

Posted on March 1, 2019 Updated on February 16, 2020

Feathers Image One — Photo Credit: Photo Stock Editor on Unsplash

More birdie stuff. I will have more, tomorrow. Here is my first post:
Part I

Feathers Image Two — All Photos Are My Personal Collection
Indoor bird-cage at the Salisbury Veterans’ Home
12-13-2012

Feathers Image Three — I think this is a Finch of some sort.

Feathers Image Four — Colorful little things.

Feathers Image Five — I’m not sure what the little brown bird is.

Feathers Image Seven — The bouncer goose returned with the quacking entourage.
02-03-2017

Feathers Image Eight — Comfortable enough to munch as well.

Feathers Image Ten — Still standing guard behind the Japanese Maple.

This entry was posted in Photography and tagged 2012, 2017, bird cage, bodyguard, bouncer goose, cute little birds, december 13, drakes, ducks, feathers part two, february 3, finches, foto friday, salisbury veterans home.

Foto Friday: Office Humor

Posted on February 15, 2019 Updated on August 15, 2020

I’ve been digging around in some old images on my computer. There was a rash of cube farm/office humor that circulated on emails back in the middle 2000s. They may have eventually made it to Facebook but, I don’t remember seeing these. Anyway, I thought I would share some silliness. These were labeled “Cutbacks” and someone went to a lot of trouble for the detail. I will hit you up with some more next Friday. They are not mine and I have no idea where they originated from.