My wife and I visited the Ark Encounter on my 70th birthday, Sept. 23. Definitely something else and well worth going to see. My best pictures are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/roger.bruner/media_set?set=a.10207436720940888.1373607278&type=3 for anyone who's interested. :-)

Unfortunately, it sounded to me like the book was unfinished because of Happy's death.

I passed the link for your pix to a friend in Hollywood who's a writer and somewhat of a historian about movie-related stuff. Here's his response:

Thanks, Roger. I know that set well, of course. My parents first took me there when I was 11 and then I spent my 16th birthday there. Happy Shahan, who owned the place, became a very good friend of mine. We were working on his autobiography when he died.

Sad to say, the place is a wreck now. I don't know if it's even salvagable. The Alamo set doesn't even resemble the Alamo anymore. They're making this new mini-series on the birth of Texas and I'm just praying they don't go there to shoot it.

Thanks, Sue. Windows are a real challenge sometimes, aren't they?

Thank you, Ron. I prefer that one, too.

Thanks so much. Wonder if that bush will see any snow this year...

Thank you, Georgie. *S*

Thanks, but the camera gets most of the credit. *G* BTW, I'm SO glad I moved these to my laptop before posting here. While I was busy with some other pictures, I didn't notice that my miniature dachshund, Happy, was busy pulling the 8-gig card out of the adapter and chewing on it--irretrievably, it turns out. Fortunately, the losses were minimal. *S*

Good description! *LOL*

I planted a tiny Pyracantha bush when I moved here eleven years ago. Now it almost surrounds the front porch and provides a pleasant view from the sofa where I normally spend much of my day writing. My wife had seen squirrels in the bush--it's more of a tree, but still considered a bush--but this visitor was the first one I'd seen. I clamped on my 300mm lens and stood probably no more than six feet away, but (s)he seemed totally unaware of my presence.

Picture One (through the window)


Picture Two (through the window)

My pleasure, Sarge. We saved for that week for many months, but it was well worth it. Hmm. *looking at the clock* Bedtime for me. G'night. *waving*

Photo Girl, I'm not sure I'll ever top them. Glad you love the sunrise and sunset. I was disappointed that the ocean was to the east--so no sunset over the water. At least nothing worth taking a picture of.

Sandbridge Beach is just south of Virginia Beach, and it's Virginia's best kept secret. Because most of the beach is lined by rental properties, the beach isn't very crowded. And because we went after Labor Day, renting a place for the week was reasonable. My two stepdaughters (and new son-in-law) came from NYC and Las Vegas to keep us company; unfortunately, my daughter and her family couldn't make it. We had a great time, though--and I was always post-processing pictures or taking more. I'll add more pictures after these first three process. Not looking for critiques this time around. Just enjoy them if they appeal to you.

Probably my favorite sunrise picture


Reflections of my wife & my mini dachshund


Sunrise with clouds


Best picture I've ever taken of my wife, Kathleen


Sunset from the beach


Yes, and I spent time playing my guitar, too


Met an old friend I'd only seen once in the last fifty years. We're trying to remember the theme song our trio used.


My stepdaughters


My first capture of not one, but two birds in flight


Not exactly a beauty contest winner, but I like the picture because it's so clear


This is all of us in front of Blue Pete's Restaurant, a local favorite


Mother and elder daughter enjoying the surf


Finally (for now, anyhow), our rental house

Love it! Petting a koala was high point of visits to Australia. Incidentally, somewhere I have video I took of a very energetic koala. If I recall correctly, it jumped from one tree to another and then actually ran around the pen for a minute or two at a very good clip. *LOL*

Thanks, Jeanbug.