Monday 19 September 2022

[Don]

Good morning all. Another week starting today.

Exciting time for DW and me on Saturday. On our way to turn in my photos at the Georgia National Fair, about to make a right turn when DW starts shouting "Oh No, Oh No, call 911, Oh No!".  What the heck???? I look up to see a car literally flying through the air, hits the ground, starts cart wheeling before coming to a rest on a fence. She is out of the car and running before I barely got our car stopped. "Call 911" she says, running up the hill. She was first to the car, couldn't get the door open. I'm trying to explain to the 911 operator where we are and what happened. Another car or two had stopped by now and a man got up there and managed to get the door opened. Pulled out a young woman who started running, stripping off her clothes as she ran. (Yes, you heard me). By the time she got down the hill, nothing on! She immediately went to our car, got in the drivers seat and locked the door. Couldn't get her out, wouldn't cover up, obviously in shock. Tried to start our car to drive away but a lady (who was a doctor) had managed to get in the passenger seat and handed out DW's purse, so without a key she couldn't drive away. She kept fooling around the steering column, looking for a key but our car is key less. Anyway, EMTs got there and managed to get her out and in an ambulance. LEOs there as well. Not sure what the full story was, but the other person in the car said she had some mental issues (You think?). Not sure why she was driving, but she was going at a high rate of speed when she tried to make that turn. She had told the doctor there was a snake in the car. Fortunately, neither person was seriously injured. I think the guy in the car might have had some bruised ribs. We were finally able to leave the scene and get to Perry with the photos. After we turned in the photos and went to lunch, we both had a much deserved glass of wine with lunch. So, how was your weekend? 

I spent a fair amount of time yesterday arranging a trip to a birding festival in Laredo Texas. Airline tickets, rental car, hotel rooms, all take time to research and book. We had eTickets from trips that were cancelled due to Covid a couple of years ago, so that helped, but rental car cost is through the roof now. We were going to drive, but after thinking about it decided to fly instead. Less wear and tear on the old body.

Edit: I forgot to answer Rich's question about exposure. As I recall, the photo of the church was around 2 seconds. It was a bit under exposed though as I had miscalculated because of reading the light meter wrong.

[Rich]

Back later but.....

[damar]

OH--MY.
What a scene that must have been.
They are lucky to be alive.
I hope she gets some help.
And, great reporting, Don!
Thanks for starting the Daily!

Nacoochee Indian Mound
(near Helen, GA also Great Smokey Mountains region)

   

[damar]

Hi Rich!!!

[Luv2shoot]

Hey all, and glad to join you all in the Monday daily thanks to Don's exciting and dramatic post.
I cannot imagine what the rest of your day must have been like.  I have seen an accident or two and it throws me off for the rest of the day.  Your wife was courageous to run up that hill and try to assist the gal and her passenger, not knowing what might have happened as she approached the car. I am glad the rest of your day was calm and you had a lovely relaxing lunch.  Your photo makes me upset just looking at it.  Looking at it make me think that it was a miracle that they came away with so little injuries.  Maybe being slightly "NOT ALL THERE" helps you survive such a horrible accident.

Hey Patty, thanks for including the plaque that explains the MOUND.  I was just about to go research it and then I scrolled down to see your second image.  That was very interesting. 

Hi Ya, Rich.

Here is an image that I hope brings a little calmness to you. It was taken at the Wild and Wind festival that I went to two weeks ago.  So far this is the ONLY photo that I can say that was good enough to share.  There are a few others, but I would label them as SNAPSHOTS.
I took this in the PUPPY TENT.  There was a huge tent loaded with MANY dog crates containing loads and loads of puppies for sale.  Lots of labs, retrievers, springer spaniels, etc.  Here are two that I suspect would be sold by the end of the day.

I used this image for yesterday's SUNDAY SLIDERS in FLICKR.

BROTHERS

[Rich]

Don, that had to be one scary moment! Quite the story! Glad everybody survived! I would have had some wine too!

Thanks for the exposure time on the pinhole camera. I enjoyed using my homemade one years ago. Could only expose one sheet of film then back to the darkroom!

Patty, interesting story on the mound. Looks like a great location.

Lorell, what a couple of tugs on the ol" heartstrings they are! I bet they were sold quick. I like the treatment you gave them, perfect!


Well, I had a car weekend too. Had a cruise in of classic cars.
Here is one of my favorite ones, I have many!
A 1954 Chevy.

[Luv2shoot]

Rich, an awesome vehicle.  I actually like the mat finish. I wonder if they are going to add a hood ornament. Always something to see in your downtown.

[Rich]

Lorell, I like the matt finish too! Here is a shot of the dash with George Barris' signature.

[Dave]

Wow Don. It's fortunate that good people like you and your wife were there to jump in and help.

damar, that mound suggests that the site was part of the vast Mississippian culture.

DIGRESSION on prehistoric Native American cultures follows. If this isn't your thing, please ignore...

The Mississippian culture covered much of the US interior, from the Canadian border south to the gulf coast, and as far west as Oklahoma. It is characterized by mound building: earthen mounds, usually square in shape; often displaying a sophisticated knowledge of astronomy. In most Mississippian sites maize was the primary food crop.

The greatest of the Mississippian cities was Cahokia, located in southern Illinois just across the Mississippi from present day St. Louis. Cahokia had established trade routes as long as 1000 miles. At its peak, Cahokia probably had a population exceeding that of London at the time. Cahokia (and the Mississippian culture as well), flourished for about 800 years; from before 800 AD until the mid 1500s.

The largest mound at Cahokia is called Monk's Mound. It is a rectangular, multi-terraced mound made of earth carried one basketball at a tine. It is now around 100 feet high, and its perimeter exceeds that of the largest of the Egyptian pyramids. Another feature is the woodhenge; a circle of tall wooden posts and a central viewing station that together were very accurate in determining the solstices, critical to knowing when to plant crops

So what happened to Cahokia (and the Mississippian culture)? Current thinking suggest two causes for their demise:

1) DeSoto's explorations in the mid 1500s brought measles and smallpox, diseases against which the native Americans had to resistance. About the same time a climatic event called the Little Ice Age took place, likely having serious effects on the cultivation of maize.

Remnants of the Cahokia lineage live on in the Cherokee and Natchez peoples.

Cahokia has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

I was fortunate to have spent my last college term on an archaeological dig at Cahokia. It was a great summer. My college girlfriend talked her way into the group and joined us after a few days. We got engaged there and against the odds are still together.

Apologies for digressing.

Hi Lorell. What a cute photo!

Rich, you posted while I was correcting my many typos. Your first two photos show a husky, classic beauty. And about the third one,  I know it's a realistic capture, but I really like the abstract quality to it. Nice!.

Ron's roses are struggling to hang on, and the one that is faring the worst is my favorite - the Ketchup & Mustard rose. This is the lone K-M rose spotted on today's morning walk; it is surrounded by weeds and overshadowed by taller growth...


   

[Rich]

Lorell, I don't think he will go with the hoof ornament. It has a nice clean look. I talked with him for 10 minutes or so. He is from Le Mars, Iowa. Has been in Mitchell several times for shows. Owns a couple more bad boys.

Dave interesting info on the Indian mound. I think you were quite interested with our Prehistoric Indian Village at one time. You haven't made the trip out here yet!!  Here are links to our site.
Thanks for the comments!
Still a pretty rose, my favorite, even if it is in a bed of thorns!

Link is to several info pages on our site.

Mitchell Indian Village