The Creative Discovery Museum

The Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga is a tourist attraction catering to children. It's a hands-on museum and when my kids were young they enjoyed going there. The exhibits change frequently enough to keep families coming back.

A special thanks this week to Dutchie of Rotterdam Daily Photo for updating my blogs while the family and I enjoy a vacation in Florida. We'll be enjoying Walt Disney World until June 4th.

Magnolia Blossom

I took this close-up of a magnolia blossoms. When I think of the Southern US, I think of Magnolias. I hope you like this little slice of the South.

Memorial Day

I chose this picture for today because I think it's reflective of the USA with front porches (not mine but in the neighborhood), hanging flower baskets and flags flying for Memorial Day.

I also want to express concern for those in Indonesia affected by the terrible earthquake. You may wish to visit Santy on Jakarta Daily Photo to find out more about this tragedy or to let her know her countrymen are in your thoughts.

The Insyde Outsyde Man

I pass by an antiques shop on my way to work everyday. As you can see by this guy's apron, it's called The Insyde Outsyde Shop. When my boys were younger and we'd pass by the shop they'd always point out that the words were misspelled. It bothered them that someone would intentionally misspell a word especially one as important as the name of a store.

Great American pastime

I was driving by the ball fields the other night and just had to stop and snap this picture of a little league game.

A load of sod

I don't know if this is as popular in other parts of the country, but in this area this is how most newly constructed homes get their lawns--with sod. Unload it and lay it down and instant lawn!
Supposedly, Chattanooga is a difficult area for lawns because our climate is too hot in the summer for cool weather grasses and too cold in the winter for warm weather grasses. So, you can plant either kind but neither one thrives on its own without lots of help.

Waiting...

Soon after I took this picture at the high school the bell rang and these buses were swarming with students. I decided to use it now because today is the last day of school. Tomorrow is "make up day". That is, if you missed taking any of the final exams you can take them. If not, you do not have to attend.

Interesting light fixture

I saw this interesting light fixture in one of the stores at the mall. If you click on it and look at the larger version, you can see that there's writing on on the papers. My son was with me and was totally embarrassed that I was taking a picture of it but I think it's neat.

Chattanooga Lifestyle Center

This is the Chattanooga Lifestyle Center run by Erlanger Hospital in downtown Chattanooga. The building itself dates back to the 1920's when it was built as a Lincoln automobile dealership. The Center offers preventative services as well as rehabilitative services to heart attack patients. For more information about it look here.

Rainbow

We have been having a lot of rain this week. One good thing about all the rainy weather was this rainbow. The interesting thing about this rainbow was that it went in front of the trees. I don't know how clearly you can see it on this picture but I think it shows some.

Marieta from Daily Pics of South Africa recently had a rainbow on her blog. If you'd like to see what a South African rainbow looks like, take a look at her blog from Friday, May 19th. I tried to link directly to the picture but it didn't work. But the above link to her blog works.

Tivoli

My husband actually took this picture of the Tivoli Theater sign all lit up. We were driving through downtown and sign was on his side so he snapped the picture for me when we stopped for a red light. The Tivoli has been called the "Jewel of the South". If you'd like to read more about it you can do so here.

Water sale

I was buying gas today on my way home from work and this display between the pumps caught my eye. Maybe it's the colors, but I felt like I had to take a picture.

A breezy day

As you can see, we had a windy day in Chattanooga. This giant flag is in front of the Chick-fila restaurant.

Burgers on the go

When you're hungry and in a hurry, Central Park is a good spot to get a hamburger. This colorful little restaurant is a drive through and features hamburgers, fries and milkshakes as well as chicken. I don't know about other parts of the country, but they have quite a few in Chattanooga.

Ramsgate

I took this picture at an exclusive subdivision (Ramsgate) that we drove through and admired the homes. This was one of the common areas. I spotted at least one more man-made pond with another fountain and a swimming pool and club house. And no, I don't live there.

Chattanooga's version of the LA river

I took this picture of a drainage ditch near the mall where my son works. It's on a much smaller scale, but it reminds me of pictures I've seen of the Los Angeles River.

A different kind of mailbox

I took this picture of a mailbox in front of the Post Office. If you read the sign posted on it you'll realize it's not an ordinary mailbox despite its location. The placard on top states that it's for the proper disposal of worn-out flags. I'm not sure who picks up the ones in this box, but The American Legion has a special ceremony for the disposal of flags. If interested, you can read more about it here.

Evening clouds

I noticed a couple of people had posted pictures of clouds recently and I really liked those shots. This evening we had some really beautiful ones and I managed to get a fairly decent shot.

Butterflies in my garden

I love taking pictures of the butterflies that come to my yard. Butterflies are much easier to photograph than all the birds. The birds scatter and fly away , but the butterflies tend to keep doing what they're doing as long as I don't get the camera too close. I'll try not bore everyone with butterfly pictures over the course of this summer, but if I get some really great shots I'll probably post them.

"Neither snow nor rain...

not heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Contrary to popular belief, that's not the motto of the US Postal Service. I stop at the Post Office every morning on my way to work to check our box and decided to take a picture of all the boxes.

Beat the summer rush...

I saw this sign yesterday.

Crazy paint job

I see this van in everyday in the high school parking lot when I pick my sons up from school.

We were here first

I took this picture of "the cows" yesterday on my way home from Walmart. Ever since we've lived here (1997) there has been cows in this little field. There's a nearby elementary school, a brand new subdivision and new Walmart. All kinds of things are being built around them but they're still there in their little corner of the city. They're pretty curious too. If you stop your car as I did they will usually come over to the fence. Unfortunately I couldn't get closer or linger because it's a pretty busy street and no place to park

This morning

I took this photo this morning. I took my camera with me when I took my sons to school just in case and all I had to do was walk out my front door this morning. Hope you enjoy.

Waiting...

I drive by this place on my way to work everyday and I see this old car sitting there. It looks to me like it's waiting for someone to see the potential and restore it. I don't know what kind of car it is, but it looks like the ones from the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.

Rainy day

I took this picture on my way home from work while I was stopped in traffic. A truck was blocking the road and as I sat there I noticed the view toward this side street.

Big brother is watching

The police now have a camera at this intersection to catch people going through the red light. The person in charge of sending out the tickets to violators said she gets a lot of calls from lots of angry people. She said she views each tape very carefully (and more than once) before sending out the tickets. I go by here every day and I still see people speeding through the red light. They must think they won't get caught.

Strange bird

I don't know what these are called but I've seen a few of them around. I took this one as it wandered around a neighbor's yard. My son said he thinks people have them to eat bugs. Maybe someone will know what they are called.

Interesting delivery

I wish I could have thought of a better title but I just took this pictures minutes ago and decided it was my picture of the day. There is a house under construction across the street and they were delivering drywall this morning.

Peonies ready to pop

My peonies are getting ready to open. This was a plant I got as a bargain at the end of summer and it took several years before it began to flower. Now it has gorgeous flowers.

A dune buggy with no dunes

I took this picture in the parking lot of a shopping center. I thought it was a unique form of transportation. We used to call these dune buggys. I don't know what they're called these days.