timsdd aka Tim’s Digital Darkroom

These are slight variations on the same scene but I just liked them too much to pick and chose, I just chose them all!

I was just loving this particular scene, I hope you can see why!

This one was quite unique and I left it muted to highlight the sun just BLAZING the section of tree on the left. It was one of only a handful of times there was direct sunlight that morning. The one I really wanted I missed, it was on the opposite side of the road (where the fog it) but man, it was a wild sight.

{This was an email fwd so unfortunately I do not know who to thank for this lovely piece}

But I wanted to pass this along since I enjoyed it, i hope you do to!

Merry Christmas!!
————————————————————————————–
Seasons greetings to all!

What’s really interesting at the end is the real meaning of the 12 days of Christmas – I didn’t know that…

Make sure you go all the way to the bottom, the picture and information about Arlington Cemetery in the winter, before Christmas is beautiful!
……………………..

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the ‘Pathway of Peace’ represent the 50 U.S. states.

The world’s largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy’s Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the ‘tree’ is a modern marvel for an ancient city

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo’s nighttime neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague’s Old Town Square, and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.

Venice ’s Murano Island renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost’s arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

‘Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree’: Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany’s Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it’s no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower

In addition to the Vatican’s heavenly evergreen, St. Peter’s Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid’s two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world’s biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britain’s aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer, Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).

…………………….

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol…so pass it on if you wish.’
Merry Christmas Everyone
CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
I wonder why the press hasn’t enlightened the public about it??
Arlington National Cemetery

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell…

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths — some 5,000 — are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He’s done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one of the poorest parts of the state.

Please share this with everyone on your address list. You hear too much about the bad things people do. Everyone should hear about this.

Love this bridge, never thought I would be able to take pics of it from the air!
I thought there might be more than 2 boats on the water though, it was getting late, maybe they had all packed it in already.

SWEET!
The river really adds a nice element to the shot (IMO).
There is a cove 1/2 way between the Congress Bridge and I-35…it is Joe’s Crab Shack! I have taken pics from there before, it’s a good spot to shoot @ night and get the reflection of the building on the water. BUT, in the cove (at least one time) there was a ‘line’ in place to keep trash? from entering or leaving the cove…messed up my reflections!

I had no idea there were 5 bridges down there!
Obviously I need to do some more exploring :-)

UT! While it wasn’t my primary focus, this was prob the best shot of it I got. I need to see if we can hit it again some time, preferably before the temps hit 90 again!

First Baptist Church Pflugerville.

Can you see it?? A life flight helicopter whizzing by us. I’m not sure how I did it but I was able to find, track, and rattle off 3 shots of him. I had to shoot really wide though b/c I did not find him in time to zoom!

Capitol! Love it.

Tough Sky. I am thinking despite the huge shadows that we might encounter in the middle of the day, it would at least be a lot less haze. Love the vantage point of this shot though, can’t beat it!