Happy Easter

Happy Easter. It's probably too much to ask for another day like yesterday but spring will eventually come to town. Followed by another miserably hot and dry summer.

This is the Trinity Episcopal Church of the Ridge in Edgefield, South Carolina. It sit a block off of Main Street where Bacon Street T's at Simkins Street.

My Little Chickadee

Of all the birds who have visited my little bird feeders the Black Capped Chickadee is the only non-repeat customer I've seen. I've had a lot of company lately, the ever present Juncos, the eat everything Starlings, a couple different Sparrows, Downys, Red-bellieds,  (there was a one time visit from a nuthatch), Cowbirds and Dove. I'm set for weekend bird posts for a while now.

Edgefield Fire Department, SC

Edgefield Fire Department, 402 Main Street, Edgefield, South Carolina. Edgefield County. EFD was organized in 1928, is one of five departments in the county and is all volunteer. The station sits on the east southeast side of downtown along Route 25. Looks like they have an old FMC and I think that's an American LaFrance Pioneer Engine on the right.

Charlotte Knights' Water Tower

This is the water tower just outside the Charlotte Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Taken out the side window while cruising Interstate 77 at 70 MPH. Charlotte is actually about 10 minutes north of here and across the North Carolina border. The stadium was built in 1990 and won the International League's Governor's Cup in 1996 with Charlie Manuel as the manager and Jim Thome at bat. They were with the Indians back then, now they're the Chicago White Sox AAA team.

Lee Clothes at Israel Mukashy's (PG 184)

More from Edgefield, South Carolina. And a return of the Painted Gentlemen. This old Lee Work Clothes ad was painted on the side of the old Israel Mukashy's store on Main Street on the Square. And see that sign tacked onto the 'W'? Chef Bob's Cafe. Go to Edgefield for Chef Bob's stay for the Turkey Museum. But by all means find your way down the alley and belly up to the buffet. Skip breakfast. Don't plan on supper. Eat lunch. Like Chef Bob told us, "If  you go away hungry, it's no my fault." The building you see here was built in 1891 and Mr. Mukashy sold his wares from this address from 1920 to 1950. Lee Jeans were first produced in Salina, Kansas in 1889.

National Wild Turkey Museum

Edgefield, South Carolina, besides being the home of ten Governors is the home of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Wild Turkey Museum. While siting eating breakfast at the hotel and discussing what to do for a few hours a brochure for the Turkey Museum was brought to the table. Not really expecting it to happen we soon headed north on 25. It turned out to be educational. Not huge, but big enough to keep you interested without getting bored. A morning well spent. The NWTF was founded in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1973 and soon moved it's headquarters to Edgefield, SC.

Town Square, Edgefield, SC

I made a quick unscheduled trip to South Carolina last week and visited the small town of Edgefield while there. While there are a few more pictures to be posted. today all you get to see is the town square. Classic. The county courthouse was built in 1839 and the statue you see there in center frame is Senator Strom Thurmond, just one of many famous people from these parts.

Busy Two Weeks

This is some of the firefighters resting and changing air cylinders at the latest house fire. The fourth in two weeks. This in addition to one as a mutual aid company and a vehicle accident with fly out. Sometimes you sit around for weeks and not turn a wheel. Other times you pay for that rest.

Buffleheads on the Duck Pond

Driving past the Duck Pond, aka Dykeman's Spring, I noticed, again, some non-mallards floating around. This time it was a pair of Buffleheads. The Shoveler seems to have continued his solo flight north. It was early morning and overcast. I should have grabbed my monopod, It might have made the pictures a little more clear. I've seen these ducks before down at Chincoteague. It's the first time I've seen them up here.

2 Thousand Zero Zero

But this party ain't over. Oops.

Been a little busy this week, so, no post yesterday. I wanted to take some time with this post. Who'da thunk that way pack at Post No. 1 that there would ever be a post 2000? It has been slowed at times but the train kept'a rollin'. Will there be another 2000? You never know. From day one this has been my blog and when it is no longer fun or too big of a pain in my ass I have no qualms walking. So enjoy it while you can. I mean I'm on facepage for cripesake. How much lower can I stoop for some viewers?

Happy Spring

Happy Spring. I don't have any flower pictures to brighten your day so this blue sky will have to do. Sure it's cold. Sure I was shoveling snow less than 48 hours ago. That is all a better thought than the weekly mowing and the ninety degree days I'll suffer through soon enough.

Manhattan Bridge

This is the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge along Canal Street in Chinatown. This bridge crosses the East River. The bridge opened in 1909 and this elaborate Arch and Colonnade was added in 1915. Total Length: 6855 feet. The Manhattan is the center of the tree bridges to and from Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. The Brooklyn Bridge is downstream and the Williamsburg Bridge is upstream.

Long Gone Barn

This barn, like the old building I posted on Tuesday, is gone. I had a moment of doubt brought upon me after that post so this past weekend I had to swing by. Yes, the old building along the creek is gone. Seems a flood had ravaged the foundation and it was best it be put down. Well on my weekend detour I found that this old barn and farm house (off to the right) are just as gone. This old barn was so long without paint I'd bet you could've heard it slurping if you would have tried to paint it.

The Hitching Post

This shot was taken just after we returned to base camp from our hunting camp. About a 2 hour ride down to here. My steed was the third horse form the right. I think it was Doc. Base camp sits down amongst the quakies, camp was up in the pines.

Gulls in Flight

It's always fun while strolling the beach to try and follow the gulls with your camera while they fly all around you. Thank God for digital cameras because you end up throwing 6 or 7 away for every good picture. Even more for a really good one. But at the beach is the perfect time to try this. Gulls have little fear of you. You could never do this at home. Most of these  tweety birds see you get near and they're gone. These were from a long walk in North Myrtle Beach, SC while everyone else was snoozing back at the hotel.

Alpha Fire Company No. 1, Littlestown, Pa.

Alpha Fire Company No. 1, 40 East King Street, Littlestown Pa. Adams County Company 20.   Founded in 1885 and built their first fire station in 1886. It's still there, it's just behind a new facade from later renovations. In 1913 Alpha took delivery of a 1919 American LaFrance combination pumper and chemical truck. This unit was the first motorized piece of fire apparatus in Adams County. Many addition have been added to the old 1886 station. Bays to the east side of the old station, in front of the old school building and later a larger addition was built to the rear. Alpha currently have apparatus exiting the front, the east, behind the old school, and to the rear of the firehouse.

Quiet Time

Some people go on vacation to rest and relax. I can do that at home and not lose vacation time. I go on vacation for the adventure. Not some canned, follow the rest of the sheep, vacation, though. When I go to the beach I'm up before the sun. Some days I'll walk the shoreline while the sun peeks over the surf to greet the day. Others may just be spent on a slow drive watching the world around me come alive. Sure you see the sun rise any morning at home, too. But seeing the sun rise above the truck in front of you on the interstate isn't the same. Most of us can't just pull over to the side of the road and absorb the pinks and oranges of the morning. So next time your on holiday, haul your butt out of bed and live the day. Afternoon naps are also an important part of vacation, too.

Sorry, Out of Order

 

The old school gas pump at Keck's Store in Huntsdale, Pa.

County Line

I think this is an old mill that used to sit along Old Mill Road/Bard Road at the county line. It's not there anymore. The stream is Middle Spring Creek. The creek is the border of Shippensburg Township, Cumberland County and Southampton Township, Franklin County. This picture was taken almost 5 years ago when I took some pictures to show the flooding in and around the old dam on Middle Spring Creek in the village of Middle Spring. It's gone now, too.

Main Street Chincoteague

I've posted pictures of these two buildings before but I can't help myself. These are two of the coolest buildings on Chincoteague Island. The left is currently a Realtor and the right is the Chincoteague Island Library. They sit on Main Street.

The Mallards

Went back in to Dykeman's Springs again yesterday. The Shoveler was still hanging around. I had better light and had my monopod with me so the pictures came out a whole lot better. I was a little disappointed though, there weren't that many other birds hanging out. I'll keep an eye on this once spring gets here.

Northern Shoveler

The Northern Shoveler is easily to pick out among it's other duck friend. Yeah, it looks like a mallard with a fat lip but the spoon shaped bill is used to strain the water for food. It eats plankton and other small invertebrates, so it likes to hang out in shallow ponds and marshes.  This is the first time I've seen them around town, I have pictures of them on Assateague Island, Virginia.