Category: Architecture

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The Beauty of Catalonia, Spain

A gorgeous Faro (Lighthouse) at Cap Sant Sebastia.
Amazing pink cliffs from Parador L’Aiguablava.
The Costa Brava has walkways for much of the coast – this at Platja de la Fosca.
The vineyards in the Alta Empurada with sheep near Peralada.
South of the French border we took a walk near La Jonquera through a cork forest.
We went searching for this Menhir Circle, Bas Baleta I. Incredible.
The Menhir Cirlce has a center stone but not sure if it is meant to be a sundial or what the significance is.
Nearby is the Bas Baleta II, a Dolmen that has collapsed.
A short walk took us to Dolmen Estanys II.
There is also the Menhir dels Estanys II – we wonder what these meant.
And then onto Dolmen del Querafumat.
We had some more urban walks, this in the medieval city of Pals.
And here with the Catalan Christmas Log in Peratallada.
This tower in Peralada suggests it is time to head for wine o’clock!
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Iberian City Settlements

  Ullastret is the largest Iberian settlement discovered so far in Spain. Picture is from 3D movie recreation.
The excavated 5th Century BC Ruins today. We used an audio wand (in English) which assisted with interpretation of what we were viewing.
This is what it would be like to walk the streets as shown in the 3D recreation.
Looking over a dry moat you could see the enemy approaching for a long ways.
We were the only ones in the 3D movie shown on 3 walls, so realistic how it brings to life the old city.
The stone work on the thick walls around the city is amazing.
The interior spaces appeared to be comfortable.
Nearby is Sant Sebastia de la Guarda, an interpretive Iberian park.
This was very well explained and we learned a bit more about Iberic life.
The storage cisterns were at both sites – one was 15 feet deep into the ground and shaped life a large vase.
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Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Ozark National Scenic Riverways was the first National Park area to protect a river system.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) would be responsible for reforesting public lands, building roads, trails, bridges, and buildings in state and national parks and other public lands across America during the 1930’s. 
Historic Big Springs has a CCC built lodge and cabins as well as several additional buildings like this.
The Big Spring has a wonderful water color.
The CCC also built an impressive flood control dike that is now part of a hiking trail from the campground.
The CCC workers laid out a trail along the cliff to the back of the spring that blended in with the natural environment. They also built a stone ledge wall in the spring branch to stop animals from entering.
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Salt Marsh-ing to Charleston

Crossing into Brunswick/St Simons Island on a beautiful crystal clear day.
Looking over the salt marshes towards the Atlantic Ocean – very flat.
Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. He had started Savannah in 1733 laid out with many park squares highlighting the grid layout.
Now we move into the revolutionary wars visiting a few of these forts: Pulaski, and Sumter.
Ft Pulaski National Monument: completion of an interesting “modern” brick fortress built in 1847 put it on the front lines in 1861 when S Carolina and Georgia seceded from the United States. The Union forces took control of Savannah harbor from here in the American Civil War.
Now the huge shipping containers have full use of the harbor keeping our supply chain active.
Skidaway Island State Park, near Savannah was another outstanding Georgia State Park. A short walk took us to this overlook over the inland Salt Marsh, or the renamed “Moon River” after the song.
Archeological remains from the not so distance past history of prohibition.
Enjoying the water front in Charleston after exploring Beaufort with is interesting history and the new Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
This is our turning point to head back West…How far is that?
Chatting up a new friend…
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On the road to Arkansas

After a few weeks of enjoying the comforts of home…
We started a trip to Florida –  glad for the dry roads near South Fork.
Capulin Volcano National Monument (NM) was our first lunch stop.
We walked the rim of the cauldera.
We camped at Clayton Lakes State Park with these amazing dinosaur tracks.
After a great dinner/camp with family, we paid our respects to Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring the lives lost April 19,1995.
We spent the night at Chickasaw National Rec Area. We are going to follow the sad trail to Shiloh. Such tragic history to displace people from their home land.
Historic Washington State Park in Arkansas had this magnolia tree planted in 1839.
Bois D’Arc Lake near Hope after visiting President Clinton’s boyhood home.
We enjoyed relaxing and watching the sunset on Bois D’Arc Lake.
We walked around the grounds of President Clinton’s library in Little Rock on the Arkansas River.
An interesting art exhibit of climate change globes like this on pollinators.
We drove by the 1915 state capitol, a replica of the national capitol.Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.
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San Lorenzo Canyon and Salinas Pueblos Missions

We dispersed camped here at San Lorenzo Canyon BLM area to enjoy the sunshine.
We walked into the canyon areas and enjoyed the natural beauty of the rock formations.
Interesting colors and layers – very fun to climb on and explore. We were here last year and it was worth returning. https://tealsky.com/2021/02/08/san-lorenzo-and-bosque-del-apache/
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument has 3 different areas that were built by 17th century Spanish Franciscan missionaries in Native American areas.
These were huge cathedral style buildings built in the ancestor puebloan style using stones from the local areas.
Really wonderful construction details and such height!
The third building has a different type of grey rock in the area which was interesting.
An area to learn how to be an archeologist – sifting out the sand.
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Bandelier National Monument, NM

4 January 2022 – clear roads beckoned us to head south into New Mexico.
We explored Los Alamos with a nice take out spicy lunch. Then Bandelier National Monument where had our choice of any campsite.
We hiked from campground at top of mesa to the Valley below to enjoy the remnants from the past.
Gorgeous scenery along the way – keeping our eyes open for cliff dwellings.
Ladders to reach those dwelling above us.
A rock formation that looks carved but is natural.
The second day we hiked further down the canyon to the waterfall where we enjoyed sunshine and solitude.
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Fireplace / TV Cabinet Project

TV / ART Screen in dramatic Motion
Mid July we created an area for the Fireplace/TV.
We framed new wall for symmetry after centering TV.
This shelf is the top of exposed TV area.
Practicing our dry-walling skills.
Meanwhile in the garage we created this curved panel.
The curved panel position when the wall is completed.
This art panel we built to move up behind above feature and down to cover TV, powered by….
A Linear Actuator. Ours is an 8′ extended length with a 4′ retracted length and 4′ stroke length.
Wave tiles are made of recycled wood. We cut off edges for a continuous book-matched pattern.
The high gloss white paint that matches doors/trim created some light and shadows.
Cabinet for computer media streamer.
We splashed in some waves on the kitchen prep area too.
 Kashmire Cream Granite installed Dec 2 to match kitchen. Both by Tile&Art Durango
TV revealed with a photo of Colorful Colorado.
Turn up the jazz and pour the wine. Our custom frame around the artwork really added finishing touch.