My first video!

My first Video - with my ZEN photography.

It was quiet a new, but great experience for me to learn and to make this video. I know, it's maybe not everything perfect now, but it's a start. All the next videos will be better, I promise! :)

Click, sit back, turn up your volume and ENJOY!
Have a wonderful day!
~Susanne

btw, thank you so much for all your nice comments on my last post. I appreciate every single one!

The bridges of Magnolia Plantation, SC

 

One of the many pretty bridges in Magnolia Gardens, Charleston SC

History of the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Thomas Drayton and his wife Ann arrived from Barbados to the new English colony of Charles Towne and established Magnolia Plantation along the Ashley River in 1679. Thomas and Ann were the first in a direct line of Magnolia family ownership that has lasted more than 300 years and continues to this day.

Magnolia Plantation saw immense wealth and growth through the cultivation of rice during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops would occupy its grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.

The establishment of the early gardens at Magnolia Plantation in the late 17th century would see an explosion of beauty and expansion throughout the 18th century, but it was not until the early 19th century did the gardens at Magnolia truly begin to expand on a grand scale.

Upon his death in 1825, Thomas Drayton, the great grandson of Magnolia’s first Drayton, willed the estate successively to his daughter’s sons, Thomas and John Grimké. As he had no male heirs to leave it to,  he made the condition in the will that they assume their mother’s maiden name of Drayton. Some time later, while in England preparing for the ministry, young John Grimké Drayton received word that his older brother Thomas had died on the steps of the plantation house of a gunshot wound received while riding down the oak avenue during a deer hunt. Thus, having expected to inherit little or nothing as a second son, young John found himself a wealthy plantation owner at the age of 22.

Despite the prestige and wealth inherent in ownership of Magnolia and other plantations, he resolved still to pursue his ministerial career; and in 1838 he entered the Episcopal seminary in New York. While there, he fell in love with, and married, Julia Ewing, daughter of a prominent Philadelphia attorney. Returning to Charleston with his bride, he strove to complete his clerical studies while bearing the burden of managing his large estate. The pressure took its toll, and his fatigue resulted in tuberculosis. His own cure for the illness was working outside in the gardens he loved. He also wanted to create a series of romantic gardens for his wife to make her feel more at home in the South Carolina Lowcountry. A few years later, as though by a miracle, his health returned, allowing him to enter the ministry as rector of nearby Saint Andrews Church, which had served plantation owners since 1706 and still stands just two miles down the highway towards Charleston.

But until his death a half-century later, along with his ministry, Rev. Drayton continued to devote himself to the enhancement of the plantation garden, expressing his desire to a fellow minister in Philadelphia, "...to create an earthly paradise in which my dear Julia may forever forget Philadelphia and her desire to return there."
In tune with the changes he had seen taking place in English gardening away from the very formal design earlier borrowed from the French, John Grimké Drayton moved towards greater emphasis on embellishing the soft natural beauty of the site. More than anyone else he can be credited with the internationally acclaimed informal beauty of the garden today. He introduced the first azaleas to America, and he was among the first to utilize Camellia Japonica in an outdoor setting. A great deal of Magnolia’s horticultural fame today is based on the large and varied collection of varieties of these two species—not the abundant and lovely Southern Magnolia for which the plantation just happened to have been named.


The outbreak of the American Civil War would threaten the welfare of the family, the house, and the gardens themselves. But the plantation would recover from the war to see additional growth of the gardens as they became the focus of the plantation over agriculture when the gardens opened to the public for the first time in 1870 and saved the plantation from ruin. Since that time, the plantation and gardens have evolved and grown into one of the greatest public gardens in America with a rich history. To explore that history in-depth and hear the stories of those who lived and worked there over the centuries, visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens today.



I hope you had a nice read, my friends. I loved to be in Charleston, going around to photograph all the surrounding beauty - and I'm still missing that beautiful city of the South Carolinian Lowcountry today!
~Susanne






http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Wordless Sunday - #6

Have a wonderful Sunday - Schoenen Sonntag allerseits - Buona Domenica per tutti - Je te souhaite une merveilleux Dimanche - Szep vasarnapot kivanom!

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Yeah, weekend is here...

Yeah, weekend is here!

Hi my friends,

I wish you all a good start in your weekend.
Be happy like this pelican it seems to be and enjoy your coming weekend - hopefully not with to much snow shoveling work - -stay warm! Or, come down to sunny Florida, 79F today  :))

Sunshines to you,
~Susanne





http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Almost spring time in Florida

Almost spring time here in Florida...... captured at Lake Washington, FL

Hi my friends,

Thank you very much for all your kind comments to my blog post, I appreciate them. I'm glad, you've enjoyed to read about that famous surfer guy Kelly Slater.

We took a nice walk in the warm sunshine 2 days ago and I have seen already this tree blooming in a pretty yellow. And many bees were out already too and the Lake was sparkling in a wonderful sun light. 

Spring MUST be arrived here in Florida! :)

I wish you a wonderful day - stay warm and secure, my friends up there in the North!!

Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Kelly Slater - Surf World Champion

A sculpture shows Kelly Slater on his bord

 In honor of Kelly Slater beside the sculpture

 

Inside of the Shop with all the fantastic Surfboards 

Front view of the shop

 

The entrance to the shop

Hi my friends,
In one of my last posts I promised you to bring some photos more of the Ron Jon Surf Shop and here they are: pictures also of a sculpture in front of Ron Jon Shop that shows the world famous Surf Champion KELLY  SLATER, born in Cocoa Beach. He holds the record for the most World Championship Tour (WCT) with 39 wins. To read more about this famous surfer guy click here.

I want also thank you for the kind comments to my post yesterday.
I wish you a great start in this new week.
~Susanne



http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Wordless Sunday # 5

Have a wonderful Sunday - Schoenen Sonntag allerseits - Buona Domenica per tutti - Je te souhaite une merveilleux Dimanche - Szep vasarnapot kivanom!

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Architecture is...

Architecture is basically a container of something.

I hope they will enjoy not so much the teacup, but the tea.
Yoshio Taniguchi

 

 

Hi my friends,

Thank you so much for your kind comments to my last post about the Agave plant. All your comments here and on Facebook are very much appreciated. I'm so happy so many of you liked that post!

 

This pictures above is an architectural detail shot of Ron Jon Surf-Shop in Cocoa Beach. 

Enjoy the creative lines and shapes.It's an eye catching landmark in Coco Beach, FL. You'll not miss it. 

I'll bring later some pictures more from here, and also from the fantastic and fun inside, where all the surfers go to buy their sport tools. Next time, go inside and have a look!

I wish you a wonderful start in the weekend - soon!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Agave Tequilana

Agave Tequilana in an artistic color - captured in Casa GrandeAZ

Agave tequilana,
commonly called blue agave, tequila agave, mezcal or maguey is an agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient of tequila, a popular distilled spirit. The high production of sugars—mostly in the form of fructose—in the core of this plant, are the most important element for the preparation of alcoholic beverages.
The tequila agave is a native of Jalisco, Mexico. The tequila agave favors high altitudes of more than 1,500 meters and grows in rich and sandy soils. While commercial and wild agaves have different life cycles, both grow into large succulents, with spiky fleshy leaves, that can reach over two meters in height. Wild Agaves, however, sprout a shoot when about five years old, that can grow an additional five meters and are topped with yellow flowers.

The flowers are pollinated by a native bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) and produce several thousand seeds per plant. The plant then dies. The shoots are removed when about a year old from commercial plants to allow the heart to grow larger. The plants are then reproduced by planting these shoots; this has led to a considerable loss of genetic diversity in cultivated blue agave.

It is rare for one kept as a houseplant to flower; nevertheless, a fifty year old blue agave in Boston grew a 10 m (30 ft) stalk requiring a hole in the greenhouse roof and flowered in the summer of 2006.

Tequila is produced by removing the heart of the plant in its twelfth year. Normally weighing between 35–90 kg (77–198 lb). This heart is stripped of its leaves and heated to remove the sap, which is fermented and distilled. Other beverages like mezcal and pulque are also produced from blue and other agaves by different methods (though still using the sap) and are regarded as more traditional.

Researchers from Mexico's University of Guadalajara believe blue agave contains compounds that may be useful in carrying drugs to the intestines to treat diseases, such as Crohn's disease and colitis.

I hope you'll enjoy the read! Thank you foe all the comments on my last post!

Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

There is a spiritual hunger in the world...

There is a spiritual hunger in the world today - and it cannot be satisfied by better cars on longer credit terms.
Adlai E. Stevenson

 

 

 

Hi my friends,

it's a fast car, it's a Chevy Camaro SS - this as a info for all the people who are interested in cars. 

I just like to photograph them :)

 

Thank you for all the kind comments, my friends. And, yes, my love is back home again - and I'm happy for him and for me. Life has always some surprises ready for us, right? Good ones and not so good ones!

I wish you all only good surprises in your life!

Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Wordless Sunday # 4

Have a wonderful Sunday - Schoenen Sonntag allerseits - Buona Domenica per tutti - Je te souhaite une merveilleux Dimanche - Szep vasarnapot kivanom!

 

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Looking for something good

When birds burp, it must taste like bugs.
Bill Watterson

Hi my friends,

I have no idea what kind of bird this is. He looked for me like a big Ibis, my husband thought it's somewhat like a stork.... do you know the name of this species? :))

 

Thank you for the comments on my last post, they are all very much appreciated.

 

After 2 days stay in the hospital, I hope I can bring hubby back home today. We are waiting for the results of the Cardiologist... cross your fingers for us!

 

I wish you a good start in the weekend! 

See you on Sunday for my "wordless photo" again, right? :)

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

The rising sun can dispel the darkness...

The rising sun can dispel the darkness of night, but it cannot banish the blackness of malice, hatred, bigotry, and selfishness from the hearts of humanity.
David O. McKay

 

 

Hi my friends,

Thank you ALL so much for the wonderful comments to my last "fish" post. 

I appreciate also all the new faces visiting my blog and a special thank to Linda Ellerbee who is the creator of that quote I've used yesterday. Thank you Linda for your encouraging words to my post! It's a great honor for me to get a comment from the author herself.

I wish you all a sunny day!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9       Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

If you believe in your heart...

If you believe in your heart that you are right, you must fight with all your might to do it your way. 

Only dead fish swim with the stream all the time.
Linda Ellerbee

Hi my friends,

Thank you for the kind comments yesterday, I do very much appreciate it!

I love this quote, it's one of my all time favorites. :))

A new week is arrived, new adventures are waiting for you. I wish you only good experiences!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Wordless Sunday - #3 in 2011

Have a wonderful Sunday

Schoenen Sonntag allerseits

Buona Domenica per tutti

Je te souhaite une merveilleux Dimanche

Szep vasarnapot kivanom!

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

There are no rules...

There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

 

 

 Hi my friends,

Thank you for all the comments to my last post.

It's Friday again and we arrived already in the mid of January. 

Time is flying by - it seems it's faster almost than last year...smile...

Sunday I'll bring my "wordless Sunday" photo again, come back to enjoy my picture for you.

Have a wonderful day!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Is the world now up-side-down - or what?

 

Is the world now up-side-down...or what???

Hi my friends,

Thank you so much for commenting on my last post, I appreciate every one of you!

Do you like this photo? 

It shows an unusual angel or also called POV. 

But don't worry, nothing is up-side-down in your world! 

It's just the artist freedom to capture, to produce and to present his art in his own way.

(Cruisship "The Norwegian Sun" is leaving Port Canaveral)

I wish you a NOT to much up-side-down world today! Take it easy and I'll see ya'!

~Susanne 

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Happiness is a summer breeze...

"Happiness is a summer breeze, sand between your toes, and your best friend by your side." 

Source

Hi my friend,

This photo was made at the beach on New years Day - and I like the quote too.

Thank you so much for all your kind comments from my Sunday post!

I have not to much to say today.... Yep, sometimes I can be pretty boring too....LOL... :)

But, I wish you a great start in the new week, make it to a good one!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Wordless Sunday - # 2 in 2011

Have a wonderful Sunday - Schoenen Sonntag allerseits - Buona Domenica per tutti  - 

Je te souhaite une merveilleux Dimanche - Szep vasarnapot kivanom!

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz        Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x       My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh      My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf      David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

The umbrellas was made for....

The umbrella was made for rainy days, the white man uses it for the sun.

~Jamaican Proverb~

Hi my friends,

This photo was made on new years day at the beach, before I got sick. I guess the people with those umbrellas moved back into the dunes because of the strong wind we had directly at the shore. These umbrellas were a nice colorful addition to my shot.

Yesterday I felt better than I do today - I really hope it will be over soon with this annoying flu. It blocks me from being creative and from doing productive work. What's up....everything will be fine one day, I have to be patience... one day it will be over!

Thank you all for all your good wishes, also on facebook! I do appreciate your words and comments also in the new year, my friends!

Have a wonderful day!
~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble

http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall