Charlotte Christmas Village

We went to the Charlotte Christmas Village this weekend. It was 40 degrees out and certainly had that Christmas vibe going on. One of the stalls has a mini doughnut maker that cranks out delicious tiny little doughnuts. I'm tempted to try to install one of those at the house!

It's not the largest Christmas market in the world (half of the park is blocked off for an NCAA event that never happened, thanks to Governor McCrory's HB2) but we still had a lot of fun! It's a great start for the very first year and I'm looking forward to watching it grow every year as it becomes a Charlotte Christmas tradition!

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Kneeling Deer

This deer was taking a nap just outside of our window. When I opened the window to take a photograph of her, she woke up and slowly got to her feet for a look around. I've never really seen a deer kneeling before... she sort of looked like a cat waking up from a nap.  

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Greetings from Springfield, U.S.A.

The Simpsons area of Universal Orlando might be a bit small but it's a ton of fun! We actually got to sit at the bar in Moe's Tavern and drink a Duff beer. If you're a fan, it doesn't get any better than that! 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Life in the Clouds

Today is International Mountain Day. This is the view from the top of Beech Mountain when the the clouds roll in. At a mile high, you have a unique vantage point of the top of the clouds as they snake their way through the valleys far below. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Grand Pavilion at Wild Dunes

In keeping with the theme of warmer times, this is one of my favorite places in the world, The Grand Pavilion at Wild Dunes. I remember as a kid playing at the old open-air beach pavilion before Hugo took it away. They did a tremendous job rebuilding and keeping the spirit of the old pavilion alive.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Easy Day

With the cold hitting the US hard this week, I thought I'd take it back to last spring on Siesta Key Beach in Florida. Unlike most beaches, where the sand is made out of mostly coral and shells, the sand at Siesta Key Beach is very fine quartz from the Appalachian Mountains. It's almost white and it's reflective properties make it cool to bare feet even in the middle of the summer.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Beech Mountain Deer

The deer are everywhere on Beech Mountain. From spring to fall, it's nearly impossible to spend a day on the mountain and not run into one or two... or twenty! As you can see, they're quite healthy, too! 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Landy Window Decal

The sheer volume and quality of classic Land Rovers at Overland Expo alone make it worth the trip. Nothing captures the spirit of overlanding like a Series II Land Rover, straight from a trip across Africa. I'm not sure of the providence of this particular Landy but it was definitely a keeper.

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Little Dragon

This cool little guy lives at the Charlotte Nature Museum in the Butterfly Pavilion. I bet he enjoys the climate but I wasn't expecting an iguana among the butterflies!

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

The Trees Have Eyes

This giant Jack of the Wood can often be found wandering through the Carolinas Renaissance Festival. Despite being eight feet tall, he's a gentle giant, taking time to post with children. If you look closely, you'll see eyes behind that mask.

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.